Boys Will Be Boys....

I have taken many pictures over the last couple of years that truly show just how boys can be. There's been lots of mud, painted faces, having to do everything Daddy does (hence the motorcycle get up--he would "race" his toys motorcycles wearing this), lots of energy, noises I would rather not discuss, and tractors, trucks and construction/destruction. It has certainly been interesting and I must admit, I am a tad scared of the next 15 years.....

Here are just a few quotes that I find very very true :)

** Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable

--Plato

** Boys are beyond the ways of sure understanding, at least when they are between the ages of 18 months and 90

--James Thurber

** My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it!

--Mark Twain

(this is so very true. As much as my boys keep me on my toes, I wouldn't change a thing)

** See things from a boys point of view

--Robert Baden Powell

( This I need to learn because then I may understand the fascination with mud :) )

**Boys are God's way of telling you that your house is too neat!

-- Author Unknown

(AMEN TO THIS ONE)

And this is my favorite:

**If I have a monument in this world, it is my son.

-- Maya Angelou

Yes, I know I will never understand things about my boys, but I know that I love them, muddy faces, disgusting noises and all.♥♥♥

Show and Tell

Here's a pic that I found that always makes me laugh. Will was so excited for his new "jammers" that he was determined to get them on....all by himself. Don't think he was too successful though

Thoughts of a 5 Year Old

Here are just a few of the things that Troy has said recently. Some make you chuckle, others, you just can't believe how honest young children are.

"Mommy, I can hear the ocean in this shell" (holds it to his ear) "Hmmm, I can't hear a thing. The batteries must be dead"

Me: "Troy. How did you get so skinny?" Troy: "Daddy made me that way. Mommy, who made you fat?"

"If someone gets in a wreck and they were paying attention, is it called a car purpose?"

"Mommy, why don't you know so much"

"When I grow up, I am going to marry you and Daddy and live here forever"

"I love you Mommy. I am never going to sell you."

You Can Lead A Horse....

Just a disclaimer to all those who are preggo or have infants--Troy is not the normal so don't let this scare you at all.

Troy's sleep has been an issue with me since birth. He was the child that didn't sleep through the night consistently until age 3. He has always been an early riser--I am talking 4:30/5AM for months (yes, so all of you who complain about not getting to sleep past 7 or 8, I have chuckled), he has had issues with nightmares and even worse, night terrors. He is the lightest sleeper so any noise--even a creak in a floorboard outside his room would wake him. It was so bad that I would isolate myself to one room and not leave until he was awake. He was a short napper--think 30-45 min--as an infant that didn't improve much even when everyone swore he would get better. "Once he starts crawling, he'll sleep so much better." "Once he's on one nap, he'll nap for 2 or more hours." Never happened. He did start napping for about 1 hour 15 min on average when he was about 2.5 but nothing like what other people said would happen. Now, he's 5 and he's done with naps. We still make him do quiet time because we both need the break, but he doesn't sleep usually. Yes, everyone said, "Take away his nap and I bet he'll sleep in." Guess what everyone?!?!?! They're wrong. He's been getting up earlier than normal since he stopped napping so now he's sleeping maybe 10 hours a night on a good night and he's been getting up around 5:30/5:45. Luckily, he's not allowed out of his room until 7 so it doesn't affect me too often (unless he starts singing, drops his books or talks to himself). We have done everything people have suggested--a nice quiet bedtime routine, putting him to bed earlier, white noise, avoiding sugar at night.....and it remains the same. I hate worrying about it but I am so afraid that it's going to affect him at school because I can see him getting really grumpy, tired and just exhausted, but as the saying goes...

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. Yep, I can do all the things right, but I can't force my child to actually fall asleep, stay asleep and understand that when you do wake up, you can actually go back to sleep. Maybe one day, I will stop being so frustrated, but for now, I continue to get aggravated. On the positive side, getting him up and ready when he starts Kindergarten next Fall won't be such a challenge.

Can't Believe I am Admitting This....

Now that I have been on a healthier living kick and have made a new best friend in My Fitness Pal, I probably should have just left well enough alone. I am doing really well considering how things were. I have been very pleased, yet today, I was just curious as to just how bad my diet was. I don't even want to admit it, it's SOOOOOOO humiliating, but hopefully it will help everyone understand why this was such an important step for me. I decided to input a diet very similar to what I was eating before I began this quest. Let me first say that according to the website, I should be eating 1280 calories to lose weight at a rate of 1lb per week. I put in a sample diet from before and I was eating.......

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Are you ready for this?

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2500-3000 calories on a regular basis!! HOLY CRAP! I was shocked. I knew I had problems and I have to even admit, this is probably low for some days. I can't even believe it and I am so disappointed in myself because of my background in health and fitness. I have never been a smart eater, but I have finally started and am seeing results. I have lost 4 lbs since beginning tracking my diet, I am exercising almost daily (some days are just a walk), I feel better, I sleep 10X better....and I am starting my training for the 10K this weekend. Thank God I realized that I needed help and actually am doing something about it before it was too late. I have a long way to go--weight wise and eating wise--since I still find myself choosing junk when I have the extra calories, but I am learning from my mistakes.

Cleaning made FUN!

Last Friday, the vacuum fairy (AKA my mother) left a Roomba on my doorstep. The vacuum fairy just loved hers and knew that my house would greatly benefit from it. The boys have been begging me to let "Mighty Mac" (Troy's name for it) do his thing and I finally got around to it today. At first, I was frustrated because the boys were very resistant to picking up their toys to give "Mighty Mac" room to work, but after the threat of the toys finding a new home, the task was complete (with still much grumping). I think we may have found a new way to get the boys to help because I think they enjoyed it. Maybe now when I want them to pick up the toys I just have to say "Mighty Mac to the rescue!!!" Let's just hope the novelty doesn't wear off :D Thanks Vacuum Fairy!

Little Sponges

Children are little sponges--they absorb everything you say and do. Sometimes this isn't the best thing like when your children repeat words or lyrics that may not be so nice for a preschooler or toddler. Or when you hear your preschooler scream at his brother in such a way you are appalled and then realize they are just repeating what you did (not that this has happened to me.....). You certainly learn a lot about yourself when you have children! However, there are times when you find yourself bursting with pride at the things they have picked up on. Today was one of the days I was bursting with pride. Troy generally is a very nice, sweet child. He has his moments, but for the most part, I am very proud of his behavior. Will is a typical 2 year old and we have been having major struggles lately. He has really been testing the boundaries and pretty much driving me up a wall. I have had thoughts of calling Supernanny. Kidding! Well, kinda anyway. Well this morning, he did something I was so amazed and proud of. We are a church going family and pray before meals and at bedtime. Lately, Will has been using bedtime prayer to delay (or so I thought) the inevitable. He will continuously ask me to keep praying so I do because it's hard to deny that. This morning, I left him sitting on the futon for a moment. When I came back, he was sitting there with his hands clasped and moving his lips in silence. I asked what he was doing and he replied, "Praying. Auntie Jack" and just smiled. I melted--one big huge puddle I was. This is my sister he was praying for--my sister whose husband is deployed to Iraq. My sister who is a teacher and now a single mom of 2 young children for the time being who has been under a lot of stress. My sister who just recently found out that Iraq is still a very dangerous place (nothing to my brother in law, but nearby). My sister who was in need of prayer and my 2 year old on his own, said a prayer in his own way. Talk about being a proud Mommy. I love that they are little sponges--for the good and the bad!

A New Year, A New Me

I am not making any big resolutions other than to continue on my journey to better health (update at end). I don't really like making resolutions, but I like making goals. Let's not talk about last years goals though..... Anyway, this year, I am setting goals and having them written for people to see will surely help....right?!?!?!

Goals for 2011:

1) Continue on healthier living:

*Eating recommended fruits/veggies

*Exercise 6 days a week

*Try new activity--still trying to decide what though

2) Develop more patience. Not sure how to measure this one, yet it is much needed. I really need to stop yelling and remember that my boys are only 5 and 2. This is tough because I have HIGH expectations of them, so I need to learn to relax that a bit. Any tips for me? I really need help here, so bring em on!!

3) Run the Ukrops 10K in 62 min

4) Run the Cville Womens' 4 Miler in 36 min

5) Change my spending habits

*Eat out no more than 2 times a week (I have been absolutely horrible with this and was

looking at finances today. BAD BAD BAD Mommy......) This is a necessary change!

*Stick to budget for gift giving

* Put money aside for Sept. beach trip

I don't think any of these are out of my reach. I will struggle at times, but see how I have refrained from saying "Stop....." because as much as I would like to stop certain things, I can't so I am just vowing to change. Definitely doable!

Now, onto my update on my healthier living...It started in October so I am 3 months into this and am doing really well for the most part. The holidays brought on a bit of challenge, but compared to years past, I did soooo much better. I won't say I kept to my 1 treat a day, but I held back considerably--having 2 cookies instead of...well, lots more (too embarrassed to even say what it used to be). I still have only had 1 beer and no more than 1 soda a day a few times a week. I have only had 1 glass of sweet tea and I am not snacking after dinner. Exercise wise, I am doing really well. I had 2 fantabulous weeks at a gym (a friend gave me a pass) and took tons of classes that really helped. Unfortunately, it made me realize how much I miss being a member of a gym, but alas, being a SAHM--that's one luxury that went bye bye. The most important thing though is that I have found a new tool. I was really wondering how much I have been eating--wanting to see just how horrible I eat. I was directed to My Fitness Pal and this has been a godsend for me. I can track exercise and food intake and really analyze what I have been doing. This is a necessity for me so I am extremely glad that I have found it. It really makes me 2nd guess what I am choosing since I keep a food diary now. Hopefully this will make goal number 1 much easier. Oh and did I mention it's totally free?!?!?! Oh yeah, did I also mention that weight wise, I am weighing less than I have in 7 years and I fit into a dress that is a smaller size ;) Talk about incentive to keep it up!