Happy Friday!

Happy 2013…it’s February…already.  Where does the time go?  I mean, am I the only one that still feels like I’m 20??  Well, except for the house and kids and job and husband and all that other “grown-up” stuff.  Seems like yesterday that I was sitting at college with friends, deciding which happy hour we should hit up for free dinner.  Oh Lord, I do not miss those days.  The freedom, maybe.  But not all that unknown.  Not all the mistakes I made.  It’s good to be grounded.  To have roots.  To realize that everything in life worth living for requires time and attention and love.  And to realize too, that life is often hard.  Relationships are hard.  But that life is oh so much more fun when you’ve filled your “space” with family and good friends and keeping them close is WORTH the work, every ounce of it!

Ok, that is my rant for the day.  Just thinking about how life gets busy and schedules get hectic and people see each other less frequently.  It’s easy to have guilt over that.  I’m trying to let go of that guilt…..and to realize that however/whenever/wherever my girlfriends and I can squeeze in some time, it’ll be good and we’ll pick up where we left off.  Sounds cheesy, but it literally makes my heart happy just to see their faces!  Most of them have babies now, or are pregnant….and they “get it”.  This busy mom thing.  And as much as I love my babies, I do enjoy a night away with the girls, laughing over our stupid husbands (ok, they’re not stupid…but any woman with a husband knows what I’m talking about), mindless chit chat about kids, yoga pants, GOSSIP…all that good stuff!  So, cheers to friends!!!  And lots of love to my gal pals…I love you all!

Anyhoo, not really sure what my “point” was.  I write to write.  And today is Friday and I’m happy and I’ve had 2 cups of coffee.  AND I get a date night with my husband.  So it’s a good day!  And yeah, that mess my kids made last night in the living room.  The dust storm of soot and ashes (picture below)…

...well, I got it all picked up and we’re back in business.  When I say “I” got it all picked up, I mean that I put the kids to bed and poured myself a big glass of wine and stood looking at the mess and before long, Travis came home from work and cleaned up the mess with the shop-vac.  It is HIS shop-vac after all.  Our carpet was already gross.  I’d like to rip it out and start over.  But for now, I’ll just take a deep breath, smooch my babies and not care about my stained carpet because they don’t know it’s not perfect!  And if you happen to come to my house, don’t judge me.  It’s not clean like it used to be.  We have messy floors, smudges on all the appliances, crusted chunks of soggy cracker stuck on cupboard doors, crayon artwork on the walls, and a dining room table that has been well-loved by many a banging fork and spoon.  The laundry is often in piles on the floor and the windows are filled with tiny hand-prints.  And wet nose prints from Sasha.  Yeah, because this is how they all wait for daddy to come home each night...

  

We also have endless laughter, the sound of feet pounding through the kitchen, our own steel-drum band courtesy of some old pots and pans, booty shaking dance parties, wet kisses from babies that need us for everything.  The trade off is good.  Very good, indeed.  Because I get to see these faces each day. 

Can you believe they made that mess???

And so……a VERY HAPPY WEEKEND to all of you!  We have a fun one planned.  Date night tonight!  Skating with the kiddos tomorrow and lunch at Pizza Lola.  Super Bowl!  Then maybe I’ll work at cleaning up the house a bit.  Maybe… :)

3 Sweet Years!

The sweetest 3 years...

My sister took a few pictures of Marley today! We made the trip to her studio (it's amazing) and she captured the little miss just as she is...here is a peek!

21 Day Sugar Detox--Success!!!

I never thought I would actually be typing these words, but I DID IT!!!  I completed my first round (more on that later) of the 21 Day Sugar Detox.  And as Tony the Tiger said, “I feel grrrrrr-eat!”  Except he probably didn’t after eating those frosted flakes…just sayin’!

My journey with this whole gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, Paleo lifestyle began shortly after my second baby was born.  He was having some issues with acid reflux and so I brought him to my chiropractor to see if we could “fix him”.  She suggested that I remove all gluten and dairy from my diet in an effort to heal my gut, in turn healing him (since I was breastfeeding).  At the time, I didn’t know enough about those lifestyle changes to even consider them.  And so I gave him the baby zantac that my doctor had prescribed.  Long story short, he grew out of his reflux and I kept researching/reading about gluten-free diets, Paleo, etc.  I read the Primal Blue Print, and what finally pushed me over the edge was a Christmas gift…a box with the most beautiful book ever, Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo.  I read that book cover to cover over the next couple days.  I had post-its all over the pages.  It moved from my coffee table, to my kitchen counter, to my nightstand.  Never out of sight.  Gosh, I love that book!

After linking up with the Balanced Bites facebook page, I heard of the 21 Day Sugar Detox and my sister and I decided to dive in on January 1^st.  I wasn’t so much looking for weight loss, but rather I wanted to feel better!  I was blaming my lack of energy on having 2 kids and a full-time job and a husband and a house to keep up.  I was eating like crap or not eating at all because it was “all I had time for”.  And I could feel it.  I felt lousy.  Tired.  Bloated.  Blah.

Five days in and I felt amazing.  Refreshed.  Energized.  And I stuck with it.  My sister and I gushed about how “easy” the recipes were because they involved so few ingredients.  For me, the success was due to careful planning as well.  Which turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I’ve been quite guilty of having “poor meal planning skills” ever since my life got so busy with babies!  I prepped each Sunday for the week ahead.  Made a meal plan, went to the grocery store, cut the veggies.  Not only did the 21 Days make my BODY feel great, my life feels less cluttered.  I have a grip on “feeding my family”, and that has been equally as satisfying. 

Other results…I began the 21 days already below my pre-pregnancy weight.  But I was “soft”…you know, the kind of soft that comes with the territory when you’ve had 2 kids.  The weight had come off, but I was a softer version of my old self.  And so I was happy to see that I lost about 4lbs on the detox.  More importantly, I lost 2 ½ inches off my waist, 3 ½ inches off my tummy (measured at my most problematic area, right below my belly button), and 3 inches off my hips.  What an added bonus!

So, thank you to the entire 21 Day Sugar Detox community!  I’m on my way to a healthier way of life (and my family too) and I couldn’t be happier!  And thank you to my sister for sticking to it with me...for being my motivation and for being someone that I had to be accountable to!  We did it!!!    

Donut Shoppe Success!

Marley's party was a hit! Thank you to my sister for grabbing some pics of the birthday girl in all her glory! She was a happy little sugar crazed miss...and she LOVED her donut earrings! Oh, Claire's. You think of everything "cheesy"...

Happy Birthday, Mars!

My Marley Jean…
Today is your 3rd birthday and what a completely awesome 3 years these have been. Never before would I have thought that I would love a little human being as much as I love you. I have had more fun these last 3 years, watching you grow and learn and explore, than I have ever had in my whole life. I wonder where the time has gone…not all that long ago you were so small. Just a chubby little miss with a very bald head and a big ol’ smile! And suddenly you stretched out. You grew into a string bean, actually! That smile remained, complete with the most adorable dimple! As for your hair, we’re still waiting on that, aren’t we?!

But besides growing up physically, you have become this little person that I just wouldn’t in a million years have imagined. You are so outgoing. You have a personality as big as Texas! You know what you want, and you know the rules, and what you want is more important than those silly rules! So brave, and stubborn, and strong-willed. And FUNNY!! You are a true comedienne in the making! A spotlight seeker and one who loves to “put on a show” and entertain a group! The little lady with a million facial expressions. You earned your nickname girl……MARLEY MONSTER! Some days you are more than I can handle. But beneath all that sass lies a sweet girl. My baby girl. The one who still wants me to sing rock-a-bye baby before bed at night. The one who yells out her door, “I love you soooooo much.” The one that gives the best kisses and hugs and takes care of her Bella baby as if she were real. The one that is constantly asking me if we can do something and always follows it up by saying, “Won’t that be fun?” I love laying on our bellies in the big bed, talking about plans, listening to your stories, hearing you tell me about your friends and new things you learned. You are so smart, kiddo.

I love you for many reasons….because you make me smile, because you make me laugh, because you are MINE. But I also love you because I know you are growing into an independent brave young lady, and that’s what I want you to be. I know that you’ll stick up for people and speak your mind and blaze a trail. And I want that for you. I want you to go after all your dreams, no matter how big or small. And to do it will all of your heart. Keep being your inquisitive, silly, frog-chasing, dirt loving little self and you’ll go places, my dear. I love everything about you, exactly how you are at this very moment.

Happy Birthday, doll face! We’re going to have fun today! And this is going to be a great YEAR!! I just know it!

XO,
Mama

Happy Birthday Jax Thomas!!

My dearest Jax,

One whole year has passed since we first met.  A whole year…can you believe it?  I’m often left wondering where the days went.  Time sure does go fast.  I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday.  All 9lb 6oz of your chubby little self….you were such a handsome baby.  Mama was not prepared to fall SO IN LOVE with this new little boy!  But you turned me into mush and melted my heart from the moment I saw you.  I have never been so in love as I am with you and your sister, and your daddy too.  And I thank God EVERY DAY that you are mine…that somehow, out of that miracle that is pregnancy I got YOU!!!  Just so perfectly sweet my heart aches.  How blessed we are... 

You'll have to excuse me because, you see, your birthday is a hard thing for me to wrap my head around.  Not that I want you to stay little forever, but I get a little emotional thinking that, with each passing day, you are growing away from me.  Gaining independence.  Learning new tricks.  Living life through your eyes is the BEST and I don't ever want to lose that.  I have loved every minute of watching you grow this year.  You have thrown mama a few curve balls…no doubt.  Crawling before you could sit up?  Now what was that all about??  I never had a moment to let you just SIT on a blanket and play because you were already off and crawling, chasing that crazy sister of yours.  And soon after, you were walking…sigh!  You know, watching her is going to make you learn things so much more quickly…like I can’t believe when I hand you daddy’s keys and tell you to bring them to him, you walk down the hall and do it.  Amazing.  You are amazing.  It has been a JOY to watch you, cuddle you, feed you, soothe you…taking note of your discoveries and seeing your face light up with that HUGE smile!  You make me so happy, I just want you to know that!

Which brings me to now, on the eve of your 1st birthday...I wish you the happiest of birthdays little man.  You are one of my everythings...and I don't ever want you to be anything other than happy.  Happy with who you are, with how you treat people, with your life.  And I'm going to tell you this a million times as you grow older...but you can be ANYTHING you want to be and I will never love you any less.  I promise I will always have your back.  Always.  You can always and forever count on your mama, so please don't ever forget about me as you get bigger and less interested in being my sweet mama's boy.  

 

Jax Thomas, I love you little buddy!!  Thank you for making my heart so full!!!!  Here's to the first of a lifetime of birthdays we will get to celebrate with you!!

XO!

Mama

Thankful...

Sometimes I feel like a total mom-failure…for many reasons, but mostly because of my severe lack of time.  Darn job gets in the way of EVERYTHING, I swear!  Between work and sick kids and sick me (ugh) and Trav’s crazy work schedule and the upcoming months filled with holidays and both kids birthdays and our anniversary, I have no time for things like cleaning the house, laundry, finishing craft projects, etc.  Yep, not even time to carve pumpkins with my kiddos on Jax buddy’s 1^st Halloween this year…..how’s that for a total MOM FAIL?!  No bueno, my friends. 

I’m sure many of you read that sweet little blog post from a mama that talks about how “maybe next year” she’ll have time for x, y, and z.  And I relate to her completely.  I’m in that spot right now, smack dab in the middle of what I told my mom is the “depths of hell” with my children—not that I’m saying life with my children is hell, but that we are at the most difficult/time-consuming/challenging stages with the kids.  Jax NEEDS me for EVERYTHING.  He has separation anxiety when I get out of sight and has this cry, it’s this very particular cry, and all it means is, “Mama, pick me up.”    

And then there is Marley.  So opinionated and stubborn.  Her favorite word is, you guessed it, NO!!  She can go from sweet little girl to Marley Monster in about 1 second.  I can see the change happen in her eyes.  She challenges me on everything.  So many battles in our day…especially at bedtime.  Her excuses for not going to bed are endless (and hilarious).  The other night, for example.  I tuck her in, she has all her friends, she’s gone potty, had a drink of water, brushed her teeth….I’ve covered my bases.  I say goodnight and kiss her and leave her room.  Moments later she’s at her door (she doesn’t open it) saying, “Mama, I can’t see.  I can’t see my room.”  So I go back in her room and she has turned her nightlight off and she giggles at me, I turn it back on, tuck her back in, and leave.  I hear her shuffling around in her dresser and then she goes back to her bed.  Then, “Mama, I can’t find my sock.”  She wasn’t wearing socks when I put her to bed.  So, we turn the lights on, go through her blankets and find the missing sock.  And after all that, she decides that she doesn’t want to wear them anyway.  I kiss her and say goodnight.  “Mama, oh no, I lost my earring.”  So I go in and sure enough, she pulled it out and we can’t find it.  I tuck her back in and she says, “You smell like a chip, what you got in there?”  Points to my mouth.  I said, “Well, baby girl…mama is hungry.  I haven’t eaten dinner yet and it’s 9:30pm.”  Followed by, “I’m hungee too!”  And that is where I draw the line…I tell her that she has a really big day ahead of her and she’ll need to rest up.  Then I head to the kitchen, get myself a bowl of multigrain Cheerios, and call it a night.  Give myself another check mark for mom-fail…not being able to coordinate a “family dinner” time when I’m home alone with the kids at night.  Sometimes it’s just easier to not eat!

Which brings me to Travis…oh, my poor sweet hubby.  He’s working 16-18 hour days.  So busy with his “day” job, working for his dad, and then slammed with side jobs.  He has streaks like this and he looks exhausted and ready to collapse.  But he keeps his head up and just says, “When it rains, it pours.”  Of course, I miss him (and his help with the kids at night)…but the wheel keeps spinning and he is our rock that keeps our world moving ‘round. 

It doesn’t get much busier or crazier than our house.  And when the going gets tough, it’s so easy for me to say how much all this go-go-go just stinks.  But I’m quickly reminded of how fortunate we are and that kind of “brings me back to earth”…we are lucky to have good jobs and a roof over our head and food to eat.  Great extended families and friends.  Health benefits.  Most importantly, we have been blessed with 2 wonderful children, and not a day goes by that I don’t look at them and thank God that they are mine.  Marley and Jax…they just amaze me.  For all the craziness you two bring to my life, you pay me back 1000 times over with your hugs, smiles, laughs, and snuggles.  I’ll never in a million years be able to adequately express how much I love my babies and how much my life has changed, for the better, because of them.  And so, as we do at this time of year, I’m reflecting on all that I have to be thankful for…all my blessings, big and small.  

I’m sure that we’re all in the same boat when we look ahead to our upcoming calendars.  Busy months ahead with holidays and family get-togethers.  This year, we are hosting the Severson family for Thanksgiving at our house.  Just a few short weeks later, we’ll celebrate JAX BUDDY’S 1^ST BIRTHDAY!!!  We actually have tickets to Disney on Ice that night, December 6^th!  I’m sure Marley will get WAY more out of this family outing than anyone, but hey…it’s going to be fun!!  And Jax will get his Cookie Monster party on December 8^th!  Can’t believe my little man is going to be 1…oh boy!  Soak it up, mama...that's what I keep telling myself.

And don't forget...in just 45 short days Christmas is upon us!  My FAVORITE time of year!  Followed in January by Miss Marley’s 3^rd birthday!  Keep the craziness coming!!

Happy November to all of you!  Wishing you all a fabulous Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, food, pajamas (hey…I’m especially thankful for pajamas or a good pair of yoga pants, oh and wine, can’t forget the wine)!!

XO!