I thought I was done…

with writing on this blog…just in case you thought I was going to announce a pregnancy-no.  I am pretty sure I am done with that!  Anyway, usually I write about how I haven’t written and where has the time gone-yada yada yada.  But I haven’t written because I was done with this blog.  I thought.  I was going to start another one with another focus, but I haven’t discovered that focus yet.  And I realize I am writing for me, so I doesn’t matter if anyone is reading this.  I am not looking to make money off advertising-I don’t have any.  And actually the reason I was going to start a new one is for more annonymity but no one is reading this, so I think I’m fine.  Now if I start feeling the need to tell deep dark secrets (I don’t really have any by the way) then I guess I’ll need a secret blog, but for now, we’re good.

I just re-read a blog I wrote in Sept.  about getting fit.  Well, it’s February and I am still working out and trying to eat right.  I have lost about 15 pounds and at least 1-2 dress sizes.  At the end of my store, there where some clothes that didn’t fit (just had a baby) but I thought might fit someday.  So, I brought them home and now they fit.  Actually, some aren’t fitting that well any more-too big.  So I am making progress, just slower than I would like or I thought.  I really like working out now, so that is good.  I am trying to do something everyday.  It is hard however in 3 feet of snow to lug 3 kids to the nursery at the gym.  And if they have gone several days in a row, then they really don’t want to go.  So I have ordered a few workout tapes for the home and have been doing those too.  I’ll keep you posted on the progress.  I signed up for Jillian Michaels website, too.  But I don’t think it is for me.  She has a lot of good things on the website, but I need more than just exercises.  I am a class girl.  I need either a class, a trainer, or the tv with a workout.  Otherwise I just walk around at the gym.  I might walk on the treadmill or do some crunches, but I will stop as soon as I start to sweat.  I know myself.  I need the direction.

So, I am working out-trainer once a week.  Yoga about twice a week.  Zumba-once-to-twice a week.  A new ballet workout-hard-will now be doing once a week.  And a mix of others.  We’ll see how that goes.  My goal will be something everyday for at least 30 minutes.  My main problem is eating however.  For me, a stay-at-home-mom, I am home a lot.  And there’s this kitchen in it that has food in it.  A lot of food.  Even when it seems like we don’t have anything.  I can always find something.  So, I think I am eating out of boredom.  I will work on that.  I think just writing everyday on here will help because at least that is 10-15 minutes that I am not eating!

In a magazine I started picking up, Oxygen, it says it’s an 80/20 relationship.  80% is from the food I am eating.  SO with that in mind, I have to change my eating.  I think I have been eating healthier and eating less.  But obviously I can do more.  I think the main thing is taking the time and making a menu, then a list and then sticking to it.  So that will be my goal for eating for the rest of February.  My goal is too lose 5 pounds a month for the next 5-6 months!  I haven’t quite been on that pace yet.  Hopefully I can ramp it up.  I am going to use this blog as my j9urnal.  At that pace of 5 pounds a month, that would be 20 pounds by the 10th of June-which is about when we’ll be moving to Oklahoma and opening our pool.  So, that means bathing suit season!  Today, I did 30 minutes of yoga for beginners and a ballet conditioning workout.  The ballet workout was just what I have been looking for.  Ballet barre exercises and then some additional moves also.  It was hard!  I keep thinking, “how would these have felt in Sept?” when I was just starting out.  I know I’ve gotten stronger and have a little better cardio.  I guess I was just a lot more out of shape than I realized. 

So to recap-workout 30 minutes everyday!

Make a menu, list and stick to it!  That will also help with grocery bills since I won’t be shopping mindlessly.  I must say, last week I purchased whole grain pasta (angel hair and spaghetti) and I loved it!  I actually liked it better than I like regular spaghetti.  And I used turkey instead of beef in my chilli, and I thought it tasted pretty much the same.  Now, my ground beef is usally lean anyways since I either buy ground sirloin or use the ground beef we get when we get 1/4 of a cow.  But I tried the turkey too and I must admit it was good.  Okay, baby is fussing.  So, off I go.

Zoo Today

So, I think  I am a little crazy.  I don’t even like to take all 3 kids to the park together because someone always has to go the bathroom right in the middle of everything and it’s difficult to leave what we’re doing to get to the bathroom, etc., but today I am taking everyone to the zoo.  A friend and her daughter were suppose to go with us, but the daughter is sick.  And since we have talked about going to the zoo all week….it’s off to the zoo we go.  Wish me luck!

Work it out

So with the coming of fall, kids in school (yeah), a nursery at the gym…I no longer have any excuses for not getting fit!  This is the year.  Last year while I was pregnant, again, I spent a lot of time getting the house in order and organized in anticipation of the new baby.  Now with the new baby here, I am going to spend some serious time getting myself in order.  So, I started today.  I went to the gym.  I thought there was a class at 10 am, but it starts next week which turned out to be fine since then I could start slow.  I got on the treadmill and walked for 2 miles.  Then I stretched and did some situps.  Then after visiting the nursery to feed #3, I got to take a shower…all by myself without worrying what my children were doing!!!!  That fear is what they don’t tell you about in the birthing class.  Next I picked up #3, and off we went to the grocery store, which is very easy to navigate with only one child instead of 3!  First we ate lunch there-a great salad.  Then we shopped.  Since I just ate, I wasn’t tempted to get all the foods that are bad for you.  I basically bought all fruits and vegetables…a fresh fruit bowl with pineapples, grapes, cantaloupe, green melon, apples, and blueberries, then more grapes, bananas, green peppers, lettuce, potatoes, onions, celery, mushrooms and carrots.  I already have a lot of chicken and beef in the house, so now I should be set to have healthy snacks and meals at all times.  So after I picked #1 and 2 up from school we came home and had fresh fruit for our snack!  Tonight I am meeting my book club out at a restaurant, but I know they have Weight Watcher options at the restaurant so I’ll pick one of those. 

So, day 1 down-working out-check…eating healthy-check check. 

Wish me luck on day 2!

Summer is Over

Here in Oklahoma, summer is over.  It’s official.  Why?  Because school has started.  “What?”  You say, “Already on August 13?”  Yes, actually many school systems started yesterday on the 12.   Now really, in these economic times of distress…with everyone wanting to be a little thriftier..why wouldn’t you start a little later so that you’re not fighting the August heat.  Because the August heat is usually a killer in Oklahoma.  So, now every school air conditioner is running full force.  I guess when it’s not your money;  you’re just not as thrifty.  The schools get out like mid-May here, so there is time to readjust their schedule later into the year.  Additionally, it just passed in Oklahoma that schools can count hours instead of days to get their full time allotment.   So one school is adding hours onto the day and closing on Fridays.  I would love that!  I know as a working parent that might be difficult, but perhaps in what you save in after school care, you would spend on Friday care.  So, maybe it would even out.   

On a sidenote that will now become the main issue, I always think it is ironic that some districts that have really short school days (Milwaukee:  I’m talking to you) don’t think there is any connection to short school days and low test scores.  Now that’s like saying there’s no connection between me being a really good golfer and the hours I practice.  Now, sure there are going to be some people who are just naturally good at things and don’t need to practice as much as other people, but we all know to be GREAT at something you have to practice.  And to remember that when you’re not practicing-they are.  So, why in all areas except education do people accept that you have to practice.  I’m a good, quick reader.  Why?  Because I read a lot.  I practice reading all the time.  Therefore, I am faster than a lot of other people who don’t read all the time.  Sure everyone reads a little everyday.  It’s hard to get through the day without reading, but I go into withdrawl if I am not reading a book or two, a magazine and 1-2 newspapers a day.  That’s my practice.   So schools:  start teaching your students how to practice by example.  If your school days start after 8 am but end around 2-please examine what you’re doing and the result you’re getting.  And then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!  Which I am sure you will do only to change everything in another  year or two.  That’s the great thing about schools…there’s always a new reform right around the corner.  But sometimes the reform you need is simply more practice.

May 7?

Thank God I don’t have lots of readers depending on me to write.  I mean really…May 7 was the last time I wrote?  I mean sure, I had a baby 10 days later-a very healthy baby boy.  We love love love him.  But I haven’t had one minute since then to post?  I find that hard to believe.  Although I did pack up the fam-newborn and all and move to Oklahoma for the summer and only got re-connected to the internet yesterday,…so does that count as an excuse?  Perhaps…Anyway-like I said we’re in OK for the summer.   We bought a house here.  Just trying to do my part for the econonmy.  We are loving it.  The hubby came in on Friday for the week.  We had a big swimming party on Saturday with lots of friends and family.  Loved it.  And that folks is why we came for the summer…friends and family.  If you have that-you have everything.  I’ve stolen a quote from a book about job hunting, but I think it sums up nicely many things..

                   “Ordinary career sucess is a real good job, but real career success is a real good life.”  Ernie Zelinski.

We are trying to figure out for our family what that exactly entails.  I keep feeling that even if you live until 90-life is short.  All the mottos apply-just do it, don’t blink, JUMP.  Sometimes you just have to do all of that. When I lived in Holland, my friend Laura and I noticed that the Dutch work to live and that Americans Live to work.  So, in that sense, I want to be Dutch.  I want to work just enough to pay for my life but not let my life be only about my work.  I want to have time to watch my kids grow up and play outside.  I want to just spend time with my husband.   And enjoy that time.   This summer I have had a lot of time to watch the kids play and it has been wonderful.   And peaceful and calm.  I told my husband that if we do nothing else this week, I want him to sit outside with me on the porch at night and watch the kids play.  Our yard is nice and big and PRIVATE.  I LOVE IT.  After having our last 2 houses without a fence and no privacy plus having neighbors who didn’t understand boundaries-physically and mentally-this is heaven.  I said this summer I wanted to isolate myself and be an island…and when I’ve wanted to do that -we can.  Now, we love to have friends and family over.  We love to entertain, but on our terms.  I don’t want to be responsible for the neighbor kids or talk with the neighbors everyday.  Let’s just wave and be on our way.  I invite many people into my life-let me invite you.  Don’t just barge in.  Okay- enough written.  Babies are waking up and needing some loving-so go watch your kids play today.  You’ll thank me for the memory later.

Library Renewals online

So be it resolved….that I will severely limit my fines at the library by renewing frequently all of my books online from the library.  It seems that I always have one or two books overdue, and while I don’t mind paying since it is much cheaper than buying the book or renting the movie…it still irks me when I have a fine.  Usually because I have already finished reading the book and just haven’t returne it to the library.  Therefore I must announce my new love:  online renewal.  I have used it before, but now have decided that it is my new best friend!  Technology coupled with laziness…priceless.

Why?

We have hit the “why” stage with our oldest child.  Thankfully only one child can talk.  Everything is WHY?  Why is the sky blue?  Why is there wind?  Why is there rain?  EVERYTHING is WHY!  We try to keep patient and answer with love in our voices, but it is hard sometimes.  You want your child to be curious and learn by experiencing the outside world, but sometimes you just want….quiet.  It is also sometimes difficult to give an answer that a 3 year old will truly understand and be content with.  Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that he just wants to know the time-not how the watch is made!  Like the other day when he asked how Baby was going to get out of my stomach.  HHhmmm.   I don’t think I am up to telling the entire truth on that matter.  My husband said the baby was coming out of my belly button.  I just said he’s coming out at the hospital.   I kind of skipped over the exact how.  I think that is my right as a mother to edit the information he receives.  It’s traumatic enough to learn how you arrived in the world when you’re a teenager.  No need to start the trauma this early.  I’ve lots of years to do that to my children.  So, like all phases of child-rearing, I know the “why” phase will pass.  Until it’s the next two’s turn.  And then when it is all over, I will think back and reminisce about the sweetness and innocence of it all.  And that makes me smile today.

Motherhood

Motherhood is impending for us again.  This will be our third and probably last child.  I feel like I have been pregnant for the last 4 years-and with a 3 yr old, a 17 mo. old and now a baby due within the next month-I kind of have been.  So, while we are VERY grateful for the miracle of life, we are ready for Baby Henry to make his appearance.  We are not quite sure when he is coming except sometime in May.  Not all of his dates match up, but we’ll take him when he comes.  Of course the doctors don’t like that things don’t match up and want to read all sorts of things into it…but we just want him to make an appearance and however he appears will be loved.

It is so funny that for thousands-millions of years women had babies pretty much only assisted by other women who had had babies and NOW…..things are very different.  Yes, women and babies died sometimes…but for the most part your body knows instinctively what to do.  Amazing.  Simply Amazing.  It truly is a miracle.

Retail Therapy

So, in order to help with the national economy retail crisis…I have decided to do my patriotic duty and shop. I know it is a brave move on my part, but really, I love my country. I am willing and able in these trying times to help out. So far this week, I’ve helped out TJ Maxx, Marshalls (twice), Target (twice), Sam’s Club and Walgreens. I think of this week as MISSION BIG BOX. Next week, I will refine my shopping at the specialty stores in the area with MISSION SHOP LOCAL. Currently I am working on what I call “destroying the evidence.” That means before my husband gets home, put everything away! Luckily he’s not home until tomorrow from his vacation. Where you ask did my husband go? Oh, Vegas. With friends. Without me. The pregnant wife and mother of his two small children. So, not that I am quid pro quo type person. But really. I think a little shopping and a day at the spa (a full day at the spa) are not out line. Since after number 3 comes, I will never be alone for the next year or more. And when I say never alone, those of you with small children know what I mean. Again, I say all I am trying to do is help the economy. There’s really nothing in it for me. I mean the new bedding is for Jacob. The train decor is for the playroom. The new drapes are for the windows. Once again, it is for everyone else. I’m a giver.

And then the Kitchen…

Quick note to stay that under all of my bins in the kitchen I discovered ceramic countertops.  Okay, I had seen them previously like once or twice but now they are clear and clean.  I had at least 4 junk buckets full of junk.  Now I have none.  I have decided having a junk bucket just encourages you to have more junk!  So I will try to not have any more.   I wish I had done all this before I cooked Christmas Dinner-when I really needed the counterspace.  Oh well, there’s always next year.   I organized my junk drawers and found all the pens, calculators, and tape we couldn’t find a few weeks ago.  So, it is simply amazing.  It is like shopping at your own house without spending a penny. 

On Wednesday night/Thursday (New Year’s Eve and Day) our big plans are to organize the study.  You know all those piles of paperwork you think you need, but then never file correctly.  That is our wild night in.  Today, maybe I’ll tackle a toy/bookcase in the living room.  Maybe.  I am feeling pretty crafty.  Let’s see what happens next….