I am on Spring Break this week and I am totally loving it. Normally, we travel to Pittsburgh to visit my husband's family. This year, he is on call all week and is unable to take leave. So, I get to have a relaxing week filled with household projects AND am able to send the kids to daycare!! BONUS!
So far, I have switched out Emma's outgrown clothes for her "new" spring/summer wardrobe. One good thing about having had 3 girls is that by the 3rd one, we don't need to buy any new clothes! I also pulled out some "new" clothes for Megan. She is growing like a weed and desperately needed new spring/summer stuff as well. She might not be able to wear as much as Sarah's old stuff as I would prefer, since she's got a little more junk in her trunk than the 5 slims will allow. The clothes have all been washed and are waiting to be put away.
Yesterday was the day I had set aside for Sears to come and do the annual maintenance on the washer & dryer as well as the dishwasher. While waiting for the 2 different repairmen to come I was able to take care of my "annual maintenance" at the gyn. as well as pay bills and begin organizing the files in the basement. I received a surprise visit from a nice young man from Verizon in the afternoon who has convinced me to save about $40 a month by switching to Fios. {If anyone has anything good or bad to say about Fios, please let me know. I can still cancel.}
Today I have finished copying all the paperwork needed for our Refinance and have worked out. Will tackle the remainder of the organizing in the basement and possibly wash the slipcover on the sofa. I am procrastinating on cleaning out the fridge, but will get to that at some point this week.
Not too shabby!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sunday Morning Musings
I was woken very early this morning and am now up for the day. There is something inherently wrong with waking on a Sunday morning before the sun has risen.
Yesterday was such a busy day for us. Megan had TBall practice in a wind tunnel at 9am. I had to take the other two girls since Pat had to go into work for a few hours. Meg did not feel like participating at first, but who would blame her. She finally fell into line and did ok. Our neighbor across the street was another story. He refused to go out on the field and play. His dad didn't give in either. They stood there and watched, in the cold wind, until practice was over.
Sarah had her first soccer game at 10:30. Thankfully, Pat was home with enough time to take her for me. That way Megan could warm up and the baby could go down for an actual nap. Turns out Sarah did pretty well and scored two goals! The two of them got home with just enough time to eat a quick lunch and for Pat to shower before we headed off to Grandma & Pappy's house. We had to drop off Daughters 1 & 3 so that the middle child could have her special day with Mommy and Daddy.
We took Megan to see Dora Live downtown. She had been looking forward to this for weeks. It was great, because we have been using it as a way to get her to cooperate when she was being difficult. Like on Thursday when we went to the toy store to buy a birthday gift for Sarah's friend Grace--Megan wouldn't get out of the car unless I told her I would buy her a toy in the store. Of course that wasn't going to happen. So I just reminded her that she didn't have to go to Dora. As soon as I said it, another mom in the car next to us said that she would love to go to Dora. That little bugger couldn't get out of the car fast enough!
It was nice to spend a few hours with just one child. Megan needed that time with us and I'm so glad that we did it. She is your typical middle child (I should know, I was too) and definitely needs reassurance that we love her. It was so fun to watch her enjoy the show. She sang along and got into the whole thing. It was wonderful. Pat and I kept looking over at her and giggling at her delight! She also ate a whole HUGE box of Mike and Ike candies, so we did have to deal with a sugar crash later on the way home from Grandma's though!
We got home just in time to eat a rushed dinner and straighten up for our tax guy to come over with our completed returns. We actually fared better on our taxes than we thought we would. All in all, it was a busy yet fun filled day. A nice way to start Spring Break!
The sun has now risen and I need to brew my coffee. Maybe I'll even get to read some of the paper this morning!
Yesterday was such a busy day for us. Megan had TBall practice in a wind tunnel at 9am. I had to take the other two girls since Pat had to go into work for a few hours. Meg did not feel like participating at first, but who would blame her. She finally fell into line and did ok. Our neighbor across the street was another story. He refused to go out on the field and play. His dad didn't give in either. They stood there and watched, in the cold wind, until practice was over.
Sarah had her first soccer game at 10:30. Thankfully, Pat was home with enough time to take her for me. That way Megan could warm up and the baby could go down for an actual nap. Turns out Sarah did pretty well and scored two goals! The two of them got home with just enough time to eat a quick lunch and for Pat to shower before we headed off to Grandma & Pappy's house. We had to drop off Daughters 1 & 3 so that the middle child could have her special day with Mommy and Daddy.
We took Megan to see Dora Live downtown. She had been looking forward to this for weeks. It was great, because we have been using it as a way to get her to cooperate when she was being difficult. Like on Thursday when we went to the toy store to buy a birthday gift for Sarah's friend Grace--Megan wouldn't get out of the car unless I told her I would buy her a toy in the store. Of course that wasn't going to happen. So I just reminded her that she didn't have to go to Dora. As soon as I said it, another mom in the car next to us said that she would love to go to Dora. That little bugger couldn't get out of the car fast enough!
It was nice to spend a few hours with just one child. Megan needed that time with us and I'm so glad that we did it. She is your typical middle child (I should know, I was too) and definitely needs reassurance that we love her. It was so fun to watch her enjoy the show. She sang along and got into the whole thing. It was wonderful. Pat and I kept looking over at her and giggling at her delight! She also ate a whole HUGE box of Mike and Ike candies, so we did have to deal with a sugar crash later on the way home from Grandma's though!
We got home just in time to eat a rushed dinner and straighten up for our tax guy to come over with our completed returns. We actually fared better on our taxes than we thought we would. All in all, it was a busy yet fun filled day. A nice way to start Spring Break!
The sun has now risen and I need to brew my coffee. Maybe I'll even get to read some of the paper this morning!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Weight loss failure
I need to give back my 5 lb button!
I had lost 5 lbs with the Sisterhood, but I did not manage to keep it off! I put 2lbs back on. I am horrible at this. My grandiose plans of losing 30 lbs by my beach trip to North Carolina in July is shot to hell.
Good news is, my baby turns 1 in a few weeks and I won't be all stressed out about breastfeeding. In my head I had planned a very slow weight loss until Spring Break and then I would really kick it into gear. So, now I get to just do the "kick it into gear" part of my plan.
Hopefully when I check in with you all next week, there will be a positive weight loss to post this time around.
Since I am super self conscious, I am taking a page from Lisa @ Rude Manor and posting my numbers this way
Previous Weight 1_8.4
Current Weight 1_0.4
Total loss/gain +2 lbs
I had lost 5 lbs with the Sisterhood, but I did not manage to keep it off! I put 2lbs back on. I am horrible at this. My grandiose plans of losing 30 lbs by my beach trip to North Carolina in July is shot to hell.
Good news is, my baby turns 1 in a few weeks and I won't be all stressed out about breastfeeding. In my head I had planned a very slow weight loss until Spring Break and then I would really kick it into gear. So, now I get to just do the "kick it into gear" part of my plan.
Hopefully when I check in with you all next week, there will be a positive weight loss to post this time around.
Since I am super self conscious, I am taking a page from Lisa @ Rude Manor and posting my numbers this way
Previous Weight 1_8.4
Current Weight 1_0.4
Total loss/gain +2 lbs
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Dinnertime battles
I have come to dread dinnertime. Lately I never know when I meal I make will meet with my children's approval. Fortunately for me, I've stopped caring!
Long ago I decided to stop being a short order cook; my girls would have to eat what I make, or not eat. I often modify what I serve them so that it was more palatable for them. For example, If I were making Balsamic chicken, I take some chicken out of the pan before adding the balsamic sauce. My standard rule is that they must try a bite, if they don't like it still, they can have a bowl of cereal but then no dessert. I think it is a pretty fair system. My children, usually Megan, don't agree.
The other night I made this yummy lime chicken taco recipe I found here. I served the girls theirs without the salsa and corn. Sarah ate her taco and didn't complain. I don't think she'll want to eat one again, but I was so proud of her for trying something new. Megan was a different story. She refused to eat it before she even saw it. She immediately requested a bowl of cheerios for her dinner. I told her that she had to try a bit of chicken first. She sat on the table complaining and refusing to eat anything.
By now the rest of us were done eating and I was cleaning up the kitchen. I told her that if she hadn't eaten anything by the time I was done, she would get nothing to eat until breakfast. Megan was steadfast in her pursuit of a bowl of cheerios. This was a battle of wills and I was determined not to back down. Little ms. headstrong finally decided that she would try the chicken. I popped a piece in her mouth, she chewed, swallowed and announced she didn't like it and said, "can I have my cheerios now?"
I reminded Megan that she would not be able to eat dessert later in the evening. Upon hearing that she told us that she would skip the cheerios and eat her dessert later. I reminded her that since she did not eat the dinner I made she can't have dessert. She was absolutely devastated and collapsed into a tantrum. She eventually came around and decided that she would eat her cheerios.
She ate the cheerios and the rest of the evening continued as usual, until just before bed. When her sister was having her dessert, Megan kept telling us that she was starving, "starving to death". She even fell out on the floor and played dead! The melodramatics continued for some time. She was being so noisy and difficult. When I asked her to stop talking so I could listen to the presidential news conference her response was, "If you give me dessert I'll stop". Oh sure, let me just give into an almost 5 year-old's irrational demands in the midst of a tantrum!
She eventually calmed down and crawled into my lap. Within 10 minutes she was fast asleep. I have a feeling that Megan is really struggling with this whole growing up thing. She is desperately trying to hold onto being a little kid and trying so hard not to grow up, but then at times wanting to be a big girl. I know that this roller coaster ride has only just begun so we have a long road ahead of us. It may kill us both!
Long ago I decided to stop being a short order cook; my girls would have to eat what I make, or not eat. I often modify what I serve them so that it was more palatable for them. For example, If I were making Balsamic chicken, I take some chicken out of the pan before adding the balsamic sauce. My standard rule is that they must try a bite, if they don't like it still, they can have a bowl of cereal but then no dessert. I think it is a pretty fair system. My children, usually Megan, don't agree.
The other night I made this yummy lime chicken taco recipe I found here. I served the girls theirs without the salsa and corn. Sarah ate her taco and didn't complain. I don't think she'll want to eat one again, but I was so proud of her for trying something new. Megan was a different story. She refused to eat it before she even saw it. She immediately requested a bowl of cheerios for her dinner. I told her that she had to try a bit of chicken first. She sat on the table complaining and refusing to eat anything.
By now the rest of us were done eating and I was cleaning up the kitchen. I told her that if she hadn't eaten anything by the time I was done, she would get nothing to eat until breakfast. Megan was steadfast in her pursuit of a bowl of cheerios. This was a battle of wills and I was determined not to back down. Little ms. headstrong finally decided that she would try the chicken. I popped a piece in her mouth, she chewed, swallowed and announced she didn't like it and said, "can I have my cheerios now?"
I reminded Megan that she would not be able to eat dessert later in the evening. Upon hearing that she told us that she would skip the cheerios and eat her dessert later. I reminded her that since she did not eat the dinner I made she can't have dessert. She was absolutely devastated and collapsed into a tantrum. She eventually came around and decided that she would eat her cheerios.
She ate the cheerios and the rest of the evening continued as usual, until just before bed. When her sister was having her dessert, Megan kept telling us that she was starving, "starving to death". She even fell out on the floor and played dead! The melodramatics continued for some time. She was being so noisy and difficult. When I asked her to stop talking so I could listen to the presidential news conference her response was, "If you give me dessert I'll stop". Oh sure, let me just give into an almost 5 year-old's irrational demands in the midst of a tantrum!
She eventually calmed down and crawled into my lap. Within 10 minutes she was fast asleep. I have a feeling that Megan is really struggling with this whole growing up thing. She is desperately trying to hold onto being a little kid and trying so hard not to grow up, but then at times wanting to be a big girl. I know that this roller coaster ride has only just begun so we have a long road ahead of us. It may kill us both!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tough Love- update
Well, after a few nights of Crying-It-Out, I think we have reached a milestone. Emma has been sleeping through the night almost every night!
Since I last posted, her new pattern seems to be sleep through the night for two to three nights in a row and then she'll have a "bad" night. Usually she'll just get up once at some point halfway through the night.
I really wasn't expecting her sleep issues to resolve so quickly! The funny thing is Pat and I were just discussing this yesterday morning. He asked me if I felt anymore rested during the day. Unfortunately for both of us, the answer is no! Not sure why my back still hurts and I feel tired still, but hopefully that will resolve itself too!
Since I last posted, her new pattern seems to be sleep through the night for two to three nights in a row and then she'll have a "bad" night. Usually she'll just get up once at some point halfway through the night.
I really wasn't expecting her sleep issues to resolve so quickly! The funny thing is Pat and I were just discussing this yesterday morning. He asked me if I felt anymore rested during the day. Unfortunately for both of us, the answer is no! Not sure why my back still hurts and I feel tired still, but hopefully that will resolve itself too!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Tough Love
Six months ago I committed one of the cardinal sins of parenthood - I starting bringing Emma, then almost 6 months old, into our bed at night. I knew exactly what I was doing, especially since I'm not a first time mom. I started bringing her in the bed shortly after my meltdown because neither of us was sleeping and I was beginning to lose my mind. She would wake every few hours and it was taking it's toll. My rationale behind this strategic move was that I could just nurse her in the bed and she and I would be able to get back to sleep more quickly. Don't get me wrong, she didn't spend the whole night in our bed. She would start out in her crib and sleep from about 8:30 pm to around 12:30-1:00 am. I would then get her out of the crib and bring her back to bed with me.
I mentioned it at her 6month doctor's appointment and the pediatrician made sure to let me know that this was going to be a habit that Emma would not break on her own. I convinced myself that it was a temporary fix and as soon as she was old enough to sleep through the night, we would be ok.
At her 9 month appointment, the pediatrician asked about it. Evidently she had written in her notes "tell mom it's time to cry it out". I actually saw it written in the file! I hadn't intended to still be doing this at 9months, but I hadn't prepared myself for the battle needed to break the habit.
Well, this past week was all it took to help push me over the edge and decide once and for all to get Emma out of my bed! Sunday night, she tossed and turned and seemed to want to nurse all night. Monday night, it got worse. I only got about 4 hours of sleep and I'm not sure Emma did much better. Tuesday night was the last straw. She fought with me all night. She wanted to nurse, but didn't want to nurse. She rolled around and I was unable to sleep. Finally at 2:30, when I broke down in tears, Pat took her downstairs where she was unable to smell my milk and fussed a bit until she fell asleep. The two of them slept in his recliner for a few hours while I got 2 hours of sleep upstairs before my alarm went off at 4:45am!
It was Wednesday morning that the two of us decided we needed to stop the madness and we were going to practice tough love! That night she got up a few times, but I only went in twice. We let her "cry it out" a bit and I am proud to say that she slept all night in her own bed. It has gotten better each night since. I hope that by her 12 month appointment I can tell the pediatrician that Emma is sleeping all night in her own bed!
I mentioned it at her 6month doctor's appointment and the pediatrician made sure to let me know that this was going to be a habit that Emma would not break on her own. I convinced myself that it was a temporary fix and as soon as she was old enough to sleep through the night, we would be ok.
At her 9 month appointment, the pediatrician asked about it. Evidently she had written in her notes "tell mom it's time to cry it out". I actually saw it written in the file! I hadn't intended to still be doing this at 9months, but I hadn't prepared myself for the battle needed to break the habit.
Well, this past week was all it took to help push me over the edge and decide once and for all to get Emma out of my bed! Sunday night, she tossed and turned and seemed to want to nurse all night. Monday night, it got worse. I only got about 4 hours of sleep and I'm not sure Emma did much better. Tuesday night was the last straw. She fought with me all night. She wanted to nurse, but didn't want to nurse. She rolled around and I was unable to sleep. Finally at 2:30, when I broke down in tears, Pat took her downstairs where she was unable to smell my milk and fussed a bit until she fell asleep. The two of them slept in his recliner for a few hours while I got 2 hours of sleep upstairs before my alarm went off at 4:45am!
It was Wednesday morning that the two of us decided we needed to stop the madness and we were going to practice tough love! That night she got up a few times, but I only went in twice. We let her "cry it out" a bit and I am proud to say that she slept all night in her own bed. It has gotten better each night since. I hope that by her 12 month appointment I can tell the pediatrician that Emma is sleeping all night in her own bed!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Weigh-In Wednesday
I've skipped a few weigh-ins lately, but am back in the saddle! Now that February is over, my major stress at work has lessened and I feel "normal" again. Just thought I'd pop in and comment that I have finally lost 5lbs! It has only taken 2 months, but I did it!
I decided that I would give up something for Lent this year. I didn't do it last year because I was pregnant, but since I am trying to lose a few, this was a good year to "sacrifice". When I began to think about what to give up I immediately thought of ice cream or chocolate. I pondered these two things and decided that I am not a total glutton for punishment and could not do both. Then I realized, I am a wimp and can't handle the thought of no chocolate. So my idea of sacrifice is to give up my nightly bowl of ice cream.
I announced my plans to one of my girlfriends at work and she then decided that she would give up chocolate. Another co-worker got in on the whole "lent" thing and she decided no chocolate too. Yesterday we were all talking and they decided to broaden it to all sweets. I felt totally guilty with just giving up my ice cream. So now I have relented and am doing my best to go along with them on the whole non-sweets thing.
I may regret this later when I'm totally jonesing for my chocolate fix.
I decided that I would give up something for Lent this year. I didn't do it last year because I was pregnant, but since I am trying to lose a few, this was a good year to "sacrifice". When I began to think about what to give up I immediately thought of ice cream or chocolate. I pondered these two things and decided that I am not a total glutton for punishment and could not do both. Then I realized, I am a wimp and can't handle the thought of no chocolate. So my idea of sacrifice is to give up my nightly bowl of ice cream.
I announced my plans to one of my girlfriends at work and she then decided that she would give up chocolate. Another co-worker got in on the whole "lent" thing and she decided no chocolate too. Yesterday we were all talking and they decided to broaden it to all sweets. I felt totally guilty with just giving up my ice cream. So now I have relented and am doing my best to go along with them on the whole non-sweets thing.
I may regret this later when I'm totally jonesing for my chocolate fix.
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