Weekend Recap

On Friday night our friends the Leyvas came over for dinner. It had been way too long since we had all hung out.  Because their three girls are basically the exact same ages as our three, they completely understand how insane life is right now!  We treasure the time we get to spend with them.  Here is a pic of the babies and babydaddies.

On the potty-training front, Jax is doing really well.  He's not to the point of telling me he needs to go yet, but every hour-and-a-half or so, I take him and he goes.  He finally started relaxing last week and going #2 on a regular basis. 

Tonight Jason is doing his annual fireworks show for Tulsa FBC.  He's been doing it for a good five or six years now, on the property of a family friend in Broken Arrow.  He and his friend Randy (aka Bull) and Uncle Trav are lighting some high-powered fireworks, and every year I pray he comes home with all his fingers intact.  As he was leaving, I told him I didn't want him coming home wearing an eyepatch, either.  Thankfully they wear safety goggles and gloves, but it still makes me nervous. 

I took the kids to CiCi's Pizza tonight just to get out of the house and to keep it cheap.  Each of them ate 3 pieces of pizza and were asking for more.  Unbelievable!  I think they're both going through some serious growth spurts right now... it's like I can't fill their bellies fast enough.  Hayden has been spitting up more than usual the last two days.  I'm wondering if her teeth are finally about to spring forth, since I haven't been eating any dairy or anything unusual that would've triggered it.  

On Thursday Hayden and I are flying to Peoria to see Miley, Eric, Avery and baby Hudson!  I can't wait!  Hayden & Hudson... doesn't that just sound so cute?!  Hayden has become quite the little jet-setter, travelling once a month for the last three months.  I have my fingers crossed that her teething won't be a major issue on the plane.  

Below are pictures of one of Emerson and Jax's favorite things in the whole world.  Sometimes we wait in the front yard for Daddy to come home, and occasionally he'll ask them if they'd like to go for a ride.  He takes each of them for a spin around the block on his lap, and they get to hold the steering wheel.  It is a BIG DEAL.  I caught each of them in a picture, and the last one makes me smile.  Jaxeypoo is waiting his turn for his ride, wearing his training underpants.   

Happy Fourth of July! 

I'm Gonna DO IT.

Today's the day.  I am beginning the climb toward getting my body back. 

I have lost all 40 pounds that I put on with pregnancy, plus 3 more.  The thing is, those 43 have come off without my intentional focus and with no exercise.  So now I have to actually work at it.  Bummer. 

This morning Jason and I got up at 5 a.m. and started P90X.  We did the Chest & Back DVD, and those push-ups and pull-ups kicked my rear.  I only gave about 70% effort... I know better than to push myself to the max and risk a reduction in my milk supply.  I'm also going to have to make sure I eat enough during the day, which is sometimes hard to do.

This is a heartfelt farewell to the old me, the heavy and flabby version of myself that I've known for way too long now.  I have no unrealistic goals for my new self... I have no doubt that my boobs will never be their perky selves again and that my leftover baby belly will never morph into the flat, washboard stomach I once had.  With this I have made peace.  Perky ta-tas and a six-pack mean nothing compared to the three people I brought into this world and fed for their first year of life. 

What I haven't made peace with is the 20 pounds I now face.  The 20 pounds that stand between me and the weight at which I feel like myself.  The 20 pounds that stand between me and my favorite pair of jeans that have been hanging in my closet for years now, staring me in the face and mocking me each time I look at them.  I refuse to stay at this weight and become one of those women who are in their 40s or 50s, blaming their weight on their children.  I mean, come on. 

My plan is simple: eat well and exercise.  Isn't it amazing that that's all it really takes?  For any of us? 

I simply want to look and feel my best, and I know myself well enough to know I can't do that at this weight.  Call it vanity, call it pride, but I'm better than this. 

So here's to a new beginning, a reclaiming of my thinner self. 

Watch out, jeans.  Here I come. 
  

Scenes from lunchtime

Lunchtime is always fun around here.  It usually begins with Emerson asking, at around 11:15, "Mommy?  What are we having for lunch?"  Jax then pipes in, "Mommy, what we haffing for yunch?"  I pretty much always answer, "I'm not sure yet.  We'll have to see."  Then begins my magician-like production of some sort of a healthy lunch concocted from all sorts of odds and ends in the fridge and pantry.  I used to be so good about meal planning my kids' lunches, but that has all fallen by the wayside since Hayden was born.  I have a feeling I'll get back to it, but I'm giving myself grace right now.

I think the fact that it's summer has a lot to do with it, too.  I'm grilling lean cuts of meat for most of our dinners, so I don't have any casserole leftovers for lunches.  So, most days it's a sandwich of some sort, a veggie, and a fruit.  Exciting!  I'm guessing Emerson asks what's on the menu each day with a secret hope that one of these days I'll once again produce some thrilling lunch fare.  Perhaps when the weather cools off...

Here they are proudly showing me the peanut butter they dip their celery in.  Technically, Jax doesn't actually have any peanut butter on his finger, but that doesn't stop him from getting in on the fun.

And here's Baby Hane getting in on the fun as well.  She's strong enough to start using the booster/activity thingy, and she's having a blast being eye level with her siblings.  This smile of hers ranks pretty high on my joy meter as of late.  It's the same smile she gives right before her best giggles spring forth. 

And one last picture... I found a recipe online for some healthy popsicles a few weeks ago and made them with Emerson and Jax.  All you do is cut a banana in half vertically and put a popsicle/craft stick in each half.  Then dip the banana in yogurt (I buy plain yogurt from Aldi and blend with strawberries and honey) and roll in Cheerios.  I froze them for a few hours and they turned out great.  Yummy, healthy, summertime snack!   

Houston & Father's Day Recap

Houston was fabulous!  Well, almost.  Hayden experienced teething at its worst all weekend long, so she cried quite a bit, even with Orajel and an occasional dose of Tylenol in her system.  Poor baby.  But the flights weren't too bad, and hanging with Lisa for 48 hours was so much fun! 

We spent time shopping at a great mall, found a Sephora (a tradition we always stick to), hung out at her house, went to Ikea (my first time), picked up her new Ford Edge (gorgeous!), snuck in a few Sonic drinks, and ate at the best Mexican restaurant I've ever been to.  Hands down.  We had beef fajitas that were sent straight from heaven.  Oh wow, I'm still thinking about the fajitas.  I have inserted a picture of them below, mainly so that I can come back to this post from time to time and relive their deliciousness in my mind. 

Dida, thank you for letting us come see you!  I miss you dearly, but this will get me through until the next time you come to T-Town. 

We had a great Father's Day at our house yesterday.  Emerson and Jax woke Daddy up with his Father's Day card and some sweet kisses.  After church and lunch, the kids napped while Jason lounged on the couch watching the U.S. Open (I was excited to see Rory McIlroy win, by the way... only 22 years old... it was precious to watch footage of him and his Dad, and it's nice to root for an up-and-comer now that Tiger's off my radar). 

I snuck out to pick up some groceries for a dessert and wash and vacuum Jason's car.  Since I got home Saturday evening from Houston, I didn't have time to marinate my own ribs, so I picked up Rib Crib ribs on the way home, and Pa-Pa, MeMaw and Uncle Trav joined us for dinner.  We sat and watched the kids play in their new Lightning McQueen sprinkler, courtesy of Uncle Trav.  It's funny how entertaining it is just to sit on the porch and watch children play.  I guess it's the unpredictability of what they're going to say or do.

Here are some pictures from the day.  Emerson and I took silly pictures of ourselves, Daddy got some snuggle time in with his girls, and he posed with his Father's Day ties the kids made him at church. 

At lunch, I thought it would be fun to ask Emerson and Jax why they love Daddy on Father's Day.  Emerson replied, "He's so handsome."  Jax replied, "Why???"

I asked again and Emerson answered, "Because I love to take care of him."  Jax answered, "Because I said so." 
Happy Father's Day to the head of our household, the fierce protector of his babies, the man who loves with everything in him.

Houston, Here I Come

Technically, it's Houston, here WE come.  Tomorrow Hayden and I are getting on a plane to go see my friend Lisa.  I canNOT even begin to tell you how excited I am!  It's been over a year since she moved away, and this will be the first time I have had the chance to see her new digs.  Talking to her today, we realized it will also be the one and only trip that I have to make with a child.  Until Emerson's old enough for a fun girls' weekend, of course.  Jason's staying home Friday to full-time-Daddy it with Em and Jax.  They are going to have the best weekend with him.

In unrelated news, we had Hayden's 4-month photo session today in Owasso.  We went to our photographer's parents' home, and they have a gorgeous outdoor patio area where she shot most of the pictures.  We had Hayden on her belly on the sidewalk on a beautiful little vintage blanket, and that little toot rolled over for the first time.  It was so fun to experience it right there with Daddy!  It seems like most of those milestones are usually Mommy-only gifts that happen while daddies are at work.  The session went really well despite Hayden's occasional crying from her pre-teething.  That girl has been pre-teething for almost six weeks now, and I'm dying for those little teeth to pop out already.  I know she'll have immediate relief and be back to her happy little self. 

Happy early weekend... happy early Father's Day! 

 

4-month comparisons

Pics of all three at four months old, Emerson first. I'm always amazed when I look back at pictures of Jax.  The sheer size of that boy... his rolls were amazing.  His michelin man arms don't even look natural in this picture.  I mean, you can't even see an elbow through all the chubbiness.