Melodrama and Dreams

Not to complain or anything, but OH MY GOODNESS, what I wouldn't give to be living in the land of the healthy again.  Especially at bed time, I feel like I'm living in this really awful and immature soap opera:

Our story continues with Nora, who sweetly falls asleep at 7, appearing to be the sweet angel she was before she was taken hostage by the cold from hell.  But no!  She's WIDE AWAKE again at 8:15, with no intention of going back to sleep anytime soon.  "Muah ha ha!" she cries out, "That's just what Mom gets for trying to get me in bed early, even though that's the best thing for me right now because I'm sick and exhausted."  
Meanwhile, Oliver takes his day in stride, not showing many symptoms and being a generally happy baby, napping well and cracking the occasional smile.  That is, until his sister is finally asleep, at which point there is no way he could possibly ever sleep because his nose is sooo stuffy and his cough is sooo unbearable...

Am I being melodramatic?  I'm being melodramatic.  These sleepless nights will do that to you.  Thankfully, these rough weeks are few are far between, but man, when they come around...

With all of the meltdowns and the boogers I've been dealing with, I need to spend some time zoned out, dreaming about a few things that sound absolutely wonderful right about now.

1.  Reading Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen. I think I need to start making some time in my day to just sit and read a book.  I often complain about how I never have any time to read, when in fact I'm letting a lot of time just mosey on past me when I'm on Facebook or Pinterest.  No more excuses!  If I have to get up a little earlier to enjoy my book and my coffee, so be it.  And I think I'll start with this book--something new from an author I've never read before, I'll let you know how it goes!













2. Taking a bubble bath. Which wouldn't be too hard, except that we don't have a tub... The person who lived in our house before us was disabled, so they installed a roll-in shower.  Perfect for someone in a wheelchair, not so perfect for two little kids or a mom who needs a break for twenty minutes.

3. Going to Disneyworld.  Who doesn't dream about going to the happiest place on the earth??  I love everything about Disneyworld, and am beyond excited for the first time we get to take the babies there.  Nothing like seeing a little girl's eyes light up when she meets Cinderella. :)

[And on that note, little man has finally dozed off.  Sweet dreams!]

Lazy Monday

Phew, we survived the weekend with an incredibly miserable two year old.  Thankfully, she seems to be on the mend, but she's still so sleepy and just not her usual happy self.  I didn't want to take her anywhere yesterday, so we stayed home from work to have a lazy, easy day.

[Side note: I had planned on at least part of this laziness occurring on Sunday and I was going to post Andy Samberg's video Lazy Sunday and it was going to be perfect.  Lazy Monday isn't nearly as perfect, but  I'm still going to post the video because it ignited my undying love for Andy. <3

Ok, back to our day now...]

We started our lazy day off by watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates, reading blogs and eating cinnamon rolls for far too long.  Then, a small miracle happened: both children were bathed without a single tear being shed.  If this had been the only accomplishment for the day, I would have been tickled pink.  But the real highlight of our day was baking cupcakes.  Nora's sweet, tired face complete lit up when I told her we could even make the frosting pink.  She did a pretty awesome job with the sprinkles, didn't she? :)

["I love those cupcakes like McAdams loves Gosling..."]

She started fading pretty quickly after we cleaned up our mess, so we returned to being lazy, alternating between reading books and watching Veggie Tales.  She finally couldn't do anymore and fell asleep on the floor watching basketball with TK.  Poor thing couldn't even make it through our lazy day. :(. I'm praying she gets better very soon, I don't know how much longer I can be without my wild child!

This Week's Bests

Seriously, sick babies are no fun at all.  Nora woke up Friday with this awful cough, and she's been getting worse ever since.  She had a fever all day yesterday, and then Taylor was up with her all night because her cough just wouldn't let up.  To top it all off, Ollie woke up with a stuffy nose and a little cough this morning.  :(  I'm praying that Nora gets better soon and that Ollie doesn't get any worse!

Despite everybody being sick, our week wasn't all that bad.  This week's bests were:

Operation Lose This Baby Weight Update:  I lost 2.8 lbs this week! 8.6% of the way to my goal. :) It was so nice to see some hard work paying off, and it was just what I needed to see to keep my motivation up.  Last week, I wrote up a plan to lose the weight (here), but the only part I stuck to was tracking my calories with My Fitness Pal.  Hopefully, this week I'll be able to fit in some exercise, I don't know about the diet coke though (It's just sooo good!)...

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: I LOVE Jimmy Fallon.  I haven't watched The Tonight Show in years, mostly because I'm an old lady who loves going to bed, but Taylor and I have watched every episode on Hulu since Jimmy started hosting last Monday and I love love love it.  Especially Will Smith talking about curling ("That's a sport that I really think I could add something to!") and Bono's impromptu motivational speech about a coffee mug  ("It can be full of love, or bad thoughts.").  And how great is it that it's on Hulu?  Now this old lady can still watch late night without having to sacrifice my sleep. :)

Ollie's Cheeks: How great are these cheeks?? They are so fat and droopy, I could just kiss them all day long.

P.S. This is Nora when she was a month old, them chubby cheeks must run in the family!

Peace and Quiet

Nora is sick and fell asleep on the way home from the grocery store.  Taylor is out coaching a basketball game.  So my wild Friday night?? Hanging out with this happy dude. :)

Is he not the cutest?!

Actually, Ollie fell asleep 5 minutes after I took this picture, so here I sit, eating my luxurious dinner of chicken nuggets and diet coke.  This is the probably the best way for me to be spending my night, though.  Some much needed peace and quiet and mindless Hulu-watching after a long week.  Some time to unwind and not get up for diaper changes or snacks or work.  It's funny how things change: a few years ago this would have been the most boring thing in the world.  But now, what a luxury an hour by myself is! :) Okay, no more talking, I have lots of Vampire Diaries to catch up on !

One of Those Days...

Yesterday was one of those days. Where nothing was particularly bad, nothing went noticeably wrong, but by the end of the day, I was beyond done.

In short, Nora had the most major case of selective deafness, and Oliver was crankier than usual because he was having a hard time pooping (the struggle is real for this one-month-old).  I must have repeated myself a billion times, and it nearly drove me crazy.  "Nora, please don't throw your cup on the ground...  Please pick up your cup... Nora, your cup is still on the floor..."

It was like Nora was playing this twisted game with me called "What Can I Get Away With Before Mommy Starts Ripping Her Hair Out?"  There were dish towels thrown in the trash, half eaten cinnamon rolls hidden in drawers and under beds, and Ollie was woken up multiple times, usually just after I had coaxed him to sleep.  I hung in there pretty well for most of the day, but by the time dinner came around, I wanted nothing more than to hide in my room and curl up under my blanket with some Ben & Jerry's.

The craziness lasted all the way up until bedtime.  Taylor had to work late and had just gotten home.  Nora and I gave him good night kisses and trudged into her room, both completely worn out. We laid down.  She looked at me, yawned the biggest yawn, and asked me to read her her Thomas the Tank Engine book.  We said our prayers, and closed our eyes. Then, my little girl, who had worn my patience down to nothing just minutes earlier, touched my cheek, kissed my forehead and told me she loved me most.  Instantly, tears ran down my face and the stress from the day slid off my shoulders.  It was the most innocent reminder that I so desperately needed:  This day was done.  The craziness was all over.  We both had a rough day, but she was still my sweet Nora, and she still loved her Mommy most.

It may have been "one of those days," but thankfully, that's all it was...one day. I think this is the most wonderful part of being a mother: no matter how frustrated or upset or impatient I get, no matter how drained I feel, it only takes a second, a kiss on the forehead, to make my heart completely full again.

Operation: Lose This Baby Weight!

Alright, the time has come!

I waited until yesterday to weigh myself.  I didn't want to see a number on the scale that I wouldn't be happy with and wouldn't have the ability to do anything about.  But Oliver is four weeks old now and my body feels ready for some diet and (light) exercise, so I'm ready to tackle this baby weight..  I'm not thrilled about sharing this information with who-knows-how-many people, but I'm hoping that it will provide some much needed accountability.  Without further ado, here's the numbers...

Final weigh-in before Oliver: 192.9 lbs. (uggghhh)
4 weeks post pregnancy weight: 162.4
Weight loss so far: 30.5 lbs (yay!)
Pounds to go: 32.4 (That's to get to my goal, 130.  My pre-pregnancy weight was 140, so I technically only have 22.4 lbs of baby weight to lose ;)

My ideal weight is 125 lbs, but I had a really difficult time getting to that point after I had Nora, so my official goal weight is 130. I'm almost half-way there!  Ideally I'll lose 1.5-2 lbs a week, so hopefully in 4-5 months I'll be rocking my skinny jeans again. :)  My plan to get there is to:

• Use My Fitness Pal to track my calories and exercise.  When I lost my baby weight after I had Nora, I tracked religiously with Weight Watchers and it worked like a charm.  I'm going to try MFP first (it's free, but I would have to pay for WW).  The only downside with MFP is that there isn't a built in option for nursing moms, so a lot of the analysis won't be correct. The upside?  Way more information, like how much fat, protein, sodium, and cholesterol I'm taking in.
• Try DailyBurn.com for working out.  I see the Daily Burn ads on Hulu all of the time, and since I would much rather do a guided workout than run on the treadmill, I think this will be great for me.  Plus, I love that there are so many different options, like yoga, zumba and cardio.
• Stop drinking Diet Coke.  This is not going to be easy, I am definitely a Diet Coke junkie, but I know there is absolutely nothing beneficial about drinking diet soda.  I don't plan on giving up my morning coffee, but after I'm done with that morning pick-me-up, just water for me! 
• Be patient!  This may be even harder than no diet coke. :/  I am generally a very impatient person, but I need to remind myself that I didn't put this extra weight on overnight, it sure won't come off overnight either.  

I'm going to do my best to stick to these four things for the next two weeks, and then I'll update on how it's going and any changes to the plan.  Here's to getting rid of my spare tire! :)

This Week's Bests

Call me Stella, I think I may be getting my groove back.

Okay, that was awful and cheesy.  But seriously, I finally feel like I've gotten my sea legs and can decently maneuver this two-kid business.  I am getting a fair amount of sleep (thanks Ollie!) and my crazy hormones have evened out, so I'm feeling more level-headed and in control.  And because of that, I've been able to be more patient with everyone, including myself, and enjoy even the longest of days.

This week I've been able to slow down, take things a little less seriously, and soak up some amazing moments with my babies.  The best things this week have been:

• Nora's manners at the dinner table:  I kid you not, my two-and-a-half year old said this exact quote to me, in the most serious tone: "Mom, don't talk with food in your mouth...It will make your tummy hurt."  First off, I promise I'm not some gross person who talks with their mouth full of food, I was almost done with my bite!  And second, what am I supposed to say to that?  Haha, I mean she's half right, and if it keeps her from talking with food in her mouth... 
• Our Valentine's Day double date: I had a wonderfully simple Valentine's Day with my favorite people.  Nora and I made cards for Dad and the grandparents, I got a rose from my hubby, and then Taylor and I went on a double date to the Mayan Palace for some Mexican food we'd both been craving.  Only thing was, Taylor and I both brought our own dates.  His date kept trying to tickle him, sang the VeggieTales theme song multiple times and very reluctantly ate her taco.  My date slept the whole time.  It was perfect.
• About Time: Hands down, best movie I've seen in a really long time.  I'm a sucker for British accents, Rachel McAdams, and movies that make me cry, so of course I loved this one.  It was exactly the reminder I didn't know I needed.  "I just try to live every day as if I've deliberately come back to this one day, to enjoy it, as if it was the full final day of my extraordinary, ordinary life."
• Oliver sleeping on my chest: There is something so comforting about having a sleeping baby on your chest.  I love when Ollie is curled up on me--my own little heater, shamelessly snoring, and occasionally waking up for a few seconds, like he's checking to make sure I'm still in awe of him.  Like nothing else, it relaxes me, relieves my stress, removes some of the heaviness I may have on my heart.  I thank God every day for this kid.  :)

[It's amazing to see how much things change in a year.  I did a few 'This Week's Best' posts at the beginning of last year, what a difference! I'm hoping to make this a regular post again--you can check out the old posts here, here, here, here, and here.]

Taking Stock

[I've seen this on a few different blogs, specifically here and here, and it seemed like a fun thing to do since I'm in an especially reflective mood today.]

Making: plans for anchorage in march.
Cooking: nothing today.  love having leftovers in the fridge!
Drinking: my morning coffee.
Reading: lots of blogs, and the complete guide to money by dave ramsey.
Wanting: anything chocolate. too bad I told Nora no chocolate until after lunch.
Looking: for things to do with the babies during the week.  i'm starting to get some serious cabin fever, and the return of 35 below isn't helping that at all.
Playing: with play-doh with nora.
Wasting: time watching the good wife on hulu.  two seasons down, two and a half to go.
Sewing: well, i started making curtains for the kitchen six months ago, I should probably get around to finishing them...
Wishing: that I could be back in my normal jeans already. working out can start in five days, I've never been more excited to exercise.
Enjoying: my new baby boy.  he is changing so much quickly right now, its unbelievable. we're starting to get some sweet half-smiles and coos out of him, so sweet!
Waiting: for after lunch so that Nora and I can have some chocolate. :)
Liking: spending so much time with our favorite family, the hansens. they came over for dinner saturday night, and like usual, nora and tucker played while clark and taylor gave hailey and me a hard time about, well, everything.  :)  
Loving: being at home the majority of the time with my babies.  i especially love spending lazy mornings in our pajamas together, when i get to relax and enjoy my coffee and we don't have anywhere to rush off to.
Hoping: it warms up soon, i thought we might have made it through the nastiest part of winter, but apparently not.
Marveling: at my beautiful daughter in her Minnie Mouse pjs and crazy bed head. she is such a big kid now, and she's so smart. I can't believe that only two and a half years ago she was as little as Ollie! (cue the emotional mommy sobbing...)
Needing: a massage.
Smelling: the most wonderful smell in the whole, wide world. coffee <3
Wearing: a tank and yoga pants.
Following: some new blogs. 
Noticing: the sun is out, nothing better than the return of the sun after a couple months of darkness.
Knowing: that the days are going by so quickly.
Thinking: about getting up and doing the dishes...bleh.
Feeling: refreshed. Ollie slept so well last night!
Bookmarking: freezer recipes. 
Opening: my Bible more often these days.
Giggling: when Nora talks to her little brother: "heeeyyyy buddy!"