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!    

Adventures in Potty Training...

Bootcamp…potty training bootcamp.  We “quit” diapers cold turkey on Sunday morning.  We were forced to because the DIAPER FAIRY came to our house on Saturday night and took all the diapers out of the house, except for Jax buddy’s because he’s still a baby, you know.  She took all of Marley’s diapers and left her with a plethora of cute undies and a fun sticker chart!  In the week leading up to the Diaper Fairy’s visit, we talked all about her and what she was going to do.  She was bringing the diapers to other babies that needed them...and since Marley is a BIG GIRL now, she has no use for her diapers.  At 2 ½ years old, Marley is BEYOND ready and she told EVERYONE about the Diaper Fairy’s upcoming visit to our house.  So, Sunday morning came and thankfully went off without a hitch. 

Marley stayed in her undies and a t-shirt all weekend and we STAYED HOME!  The first day was a HUGE success, in my opinion.  She had 2 accidents (pee) in her undies early in the day…but then she got the hang of the kitchen timer that I was using to alert her it was time to sit on the potty chair.  By the end of the day, when the timer would go off, she’d tell me, “I don’t have to go potty yet, mama…5 more minutes!”  Her stall tactics did lead to one more accident (pee) on the couch, but she knew right away what she had done and wanted to change her undies and sit on the potty. 

For naptime, we had a new package of Minnie Mouse “nighttime undies” (pull-ups).  Thanks to my friend, Sarah for the “nighttime undies” term!  I think it really helps to get rid of the word “diapers” altogether!  Just an example of how smart my little monster is…she put her nighttime undies on and laid down for her nap.  About an hour later I heard her playing around in her room, drawers opening and closing.  So, I walk in and I instantly smell poo…..fearing another disaster, I frantically look around her room for where she might have smeared it.  Nothing.  And she looks at me and points to the pull-up laying on the floor, “Mama, I went poop…so I took that off and wiped my butt.  And I put beem  (cream) on and new nighttime undies.”  And there she was, all dressed in new clothes and a new, dry pull-up…she kissed me and went back down for her nap!  Sweet little thing!

Day 2 was even more successful!  She started out with 2 accidents (pee) in the morning…but quickly got excited about her potty chart and the prizes.  No more accidents all day, 11 times in the potty, poop in her pull-up at naptime.  She was 1 sticker short of filling her entire potty chart and collecting her BIG PRIZE, which is really a little shopping trip to Target to pick out a new toy or maybe a Disney “pincess” movie! 

She went to daycare on Tuesday morning…bag full of undies, rubber training pants, potty chart in hand.  And on the first day she struggled.  I’m sure there was so much excitement there.  Her friends.  A different routine than what we have at home.  More commotion.  All good things for Marley, but she’ll need to learn to adjust to that.  Day 2 at daycare was much better, according to Robin!  And yesterday morning, when I left the house, I gave Mars a big pep talk!  Funny how when you change your tone to pure EXCITEMENT kids get excited too!  So we high-fived and talked about getting more stickers on her potty chart at daycare!  She seems to be "getting it" a bit more each day and I’m hoping she finishes off the week on a high note.  Daycare is closed for the following 2 weeks, so this potty training boot camp couldn’t have come at a better time.  Travis will be off and home with the kiddos for the 1^st week and I’ll be off the 2^nd week.  Crossing my fingers that by the end of September we have an (almost) potty trained little lady in our house!

On a side note…seeing her cute little butt in a pair of big girl underwear does make me a bit sad.  Like another teeny part of her being a baby is going out the door.  Well, it’s the last baby part about her, really.  Independence gained for her.  Less dependent on mommy.  I’m excited for her, but sad at the same time….because where have the last 2 ½ years gone??  She’s no longer my rolly-polly, chubby-cheeked, drooly baby girl.  No.  She’s a knobby-knee’d, tall, stubborn and comedic little miss.  All running and jumping and hippie dancing across my living room floor!  Yep, she dances like a hippie.  Like she should have dreads and be at a Fish concert or something.  It’s hilarious!

Anyway…this weekend I’m packing up Jax & Marley and spending the weekend at my mom’s.  Travis has been sledge-hammering up our basement floor…sounds fun, huh?  Our basement remodel is officially underway and we’re hoping to have it complete by Thanksgiving.  This weekend they are putting the “guts” (new electrical and plumbing) in the basement and it’s going to be a loud, noisy mess.  Travis has most of the framing done already and is hoping to have the new laundry room tiled within the next week (after the plumbing is all re-worked).  A laundry room…gasp!  I’ve never had one of those!  I’m sooooooooo excited!  I’ll post some pictures of the progress after the weekend…

Happy weekend everyone!