Mommies On A Mission ~ Week 4

<center> <a <span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span></span>="http://<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lifeasalake</span></span>.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">blogspot</span></span>.com/2012/07/mommies-on-mission-week-1.html"><<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span></span> <span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span></span>="http://i190.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">photobucket</span></span>.com/albums/z7/Abbeylake07/weight-loss_after-baby1.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">jpg</span></span>" /></a></center>   Months Postpartum: 7 1/2 Last Weeks Weight: 125 This Weeks Weight: 124   So I missed last week because we had this crazy flu bug hit our house and I was a walking Zombie from the lack of sleep! But we are back this week:)   Even though the kiddos were sick, I still got some exercising done.  Daddy was home sick also for a bit and he let me go for a couple of morning runs. AND I did a ton of yard work, which probably doesn't sound like much but I felt it for days!   Anyways, I am happy I am losing weight.  It is coming off slowly but surely.   I started following a new blog called Bikini Body Mommy.  She has a 90 day challenge going on and I think I may join in!  I can't believe what she has accomplished!  It is very encouraging:) I will post my scores next week.    

7 Things... About My Home birth Babies

Besides being born at home, my home birth babies have a few other things in common...

1. They hate their baths... Even the one born in the tub!

2. Cloth diapers give them the worst rashes.

3. They love falling asleep on Daddy.

4. They hate sleeping in a crib.

5. They play with my hair when they are sleepy or hurt.

6. They can't wait to catch up with their older brother and sister.

7. They came into this world in the most peaceful and natural way:)

If you haven't already, you can read their birth stories here and here.

We've Been...

We've (the kids and hubby) been sick!  These last two weeks have been sleepless nights, high fevers, breathing treatments, double ear infections, nasty coughs and lots of snuggling.

BUT!!  There were a lot of other things going on too:)

Believe it or not, life goes on even when the family has the flu!

So we've been...

 Pulling ourselves up onto furniture (at 7 months!!)

 

Crashing

Climbing

Eating lots of fresh eggs

Running

Having dirt road date nights with my man

 

Watching Peter Pan... Over and over

Getting ready for kindergarten

Doing some late night reading

Sick and pathetic:(

Doing yard work

Bonding with Sugar

 

Yes, life goes on... WAY too fast!

Mommies On A Mission ~ Week 2

<center> <a <span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span>="http://<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lifeasalake</span>.<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">blogspot</span>.com/2012/07/mommies-on-mission-week-1.html"><<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span> <span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span>="http://i190.<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">photobucket</span>.com/albums/z7/Abbeylake07/weight-loss_after-baby1.<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">jpg</span>" /></a></center>   Weeks Postpartum: 32 (does that still count as postpartum???) Last Weeks Weight: 127 This Weeks Weight: 125   So like I said last week, all I need to do is run/work out and I will lose weight... well guess what, that's what I did!! 2lbs! I am pretty happy about that considering the week I had!  And the fact that I really only ran once and did 3 days of Jillian Michaels.   I realized this week how fast your body falls out of shape AND how fast it comes back!! I haven't ran in over 3 months and I figured I would pay for that and not be able to run my usual 3 miles, but I did!  I ran all of it with the double jogger and baby:)  It kicked my but and wasn't as easy as 3 months ago, but I ran it all without stopping.  Our bodies are seriously amazing! Oh, and the new Jillian Michael's DVD I have kicked my butt also... Every move I make is sore now, and I love it!   Lastly, last weekend was a tough one for me (emotionally spent).  So Daddy took the kids for the day and I "relaxed" in the only way a mommy can... I went grocery shopping by myself and made Mason Jar Salads for the week.  They are so yummy (even Daddy likes them) and they are awesome to just grab and eat when I am busy (which is pretty much all the time).   Don't forget to check in with Emily and Angela:)

7 Things... Baby C Says

Two year olds are so stinkin' cute!

They think they are so grown up, yet they are trying to figure it all out.

When Baby C turned two, he started talking. He has his own little way of getting things across to us and while most of what he says is right on, he has a few words he had made up along the way that he is unwilling to change:)

I don't want to forget these words in 6 months... So here they are!!

1. Duby Duby, Dupe Dupe (chuga chuga, choo choo)

2. Cookie (thank you)

3. YaEe (Zane)

4. Sisses (Jaden)

5. Wa (water)

6. NaNa (all done)

7. Everything in a Brooklyn accent, hehe!

Here he is singing a lullaby to Sugar, our new bunny:)
I love this kid!!

 

 

Mommies On A Mission ~ Week 1 (Again)

<center> <a <span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span></span>="http://<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lifeasalake</span></span>.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">blogspot</span></span>.com/2012/07/mommies-on-mission-week-1.html"><<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span></span> <span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span></span>="http://i190.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">photobucket</span></span>.com/albums/z7/Abbeylake07/weight-loss_after-baby1.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">jpg</span></span>" /></a></center>

So here we go again:)
Just like with blogging, losing weight has been on a break too!

But we are back at it!!
Joining me and Emily @ Don't Call Me Crunchy, is Angela @ The Harmon Baby Farm.
Angela is also a natural childbirther, who is just 6 weeks postpartum... And guess what? She had her baby in her car on the way to the birth center! You rock mama!

Back to Mommies On A Mission...
I am now 31 (yikes) weeks postpartum!! Where does the time go?? Squeaker is 7 months!
The last time I checked in with you all, I was 129lbs. Since then, I lost 4lbs and was down to 125, then I stopped running and the holidays came and I gained 2 lbs:(
So I am resetting at 127lbs.
To remind you and me, my goal is 115!

I WILL get there.

How??

By not getting discouraged... I know how to loose weight, I need to run!!
So I am getting back at it.

I can't wait to check back in next week!

Pinteresting ~ For Yammie

Just like most woman my age, I am addicted to Pinterest:)

I am always on there looking for new recipes and crafts.

So after pinning about 300 recipes and trying out a handful, I have found a few favorites.

This post is dedicated to my mom... Yammie:)

Whenever she is out my house watching the kids, we (usually) feed her.  And every time, she says "can you send me this recipe?".

And if you didn't gather from yesterday's post, I am a little tired and overwhelmed... so she doesn't get them sent to her!!

So here they are:)

Quinoa BBQ Salad

 

Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins

 

 

Veggie Enchiladas

 

Chipotle Guacamole

 

 

Don't forget to follow my while you are checking these out!

Getting Real

So again... I have been missing for a month!

I got to thinking about it this evening and I really have no reason other then I am exhausted!!

I have time to blog in the evening and (sometimes) at nap time. But honestly I am exhausted.

Being a mom of 4 young kids is not easy work.

It is:

2am feedings

5:30 wake up calls

Breakfast for a mini army

Cleaning, dressing and grooming everyone

2hrs & over 80 miles in the car for drop off/pick ups

A dozen or so diaper changes

Correcting, encouraging, teaching in everything we do

Attempting to keep my cool

Rocking, nursing, praying for nap time

Never ending cleaning, sweeping, picking up

Laundry and laundry

Kissing boo boos, wiping noses, breathing treatments

Entertaining and story time

Preparing lunch, snacks and treats

Discipline, time outs, frustration

Homework, puzzle making, swing pushing

NOISY

Evening melt downs

Double recipe dinners

Assembly line baths

Snuggle rotations

And if I am lucky, a few minutes with Daddy before we both pass out.

Let me be clear... I am NOT complaining. I love staying home with my kids, we make a lot of sacrifices so that I can be the one to raise them. But it is an exhausting job. And the sleep deprivation and consistent mental and physical exertion is finally catching up to me!

So in my "free time", I try to recoup and reenergize for whatever is coming next. And even then my mind goes to the million worries and thoughts of the day.

But, I miss blogging. I remember it being therapeutic to look back on the day. Blogging brings out the good parts of our days and reminds me that there is a bigger picture. It also helps me remember our days... Yes, it's sad that I have to be reminded of our days. But honestly, our life is racing by in a blur lately!

So here I go again... No promises and no plans. Just a single statement.

I am going to blog again:)

Wordless Wednesday ~ Christmas Card

Weekend Festivities

This weekend went by in a flash!

Our original plan was to stay home and work on the kids attitudes (they have been having a few issues lately) but miraculously they made a quick adjustment, which meant we got to go have some fun:)

I was SO glad they did because this was the first year we were able to go to our small town's Christmas celebration!

There were carriage rides, crafts, lunch, cupcakes and all the kids got 3 gifts each!!

It was amazing to see what the community club puts on for the town kids... I have said it before and I will say it again, I LOVE my small town!!  The people are amazing and I am happy to belong here:)

They also had over a dozen bikes that they raffled off.  Each kid was given a ticket and they could put it in for which ever bike they wanted.  We didn't expect to win anything, but we stuck around until the announcements and Baby C won!!!!  He was SO excited:)  Lucky Boy.

After that was over we headed to a local tree farm with some friends to get Christmas trees.

I was pretty spent from the day, so I let Daddy and the kids pick a tree while I took pictures and nursed the baby.  They did a really good job!

 

We spent the rest of the evening having dinner with our friends, so we didn't have time to set up or decorate the tree.  We got the tree up Sunday morning but had lots of chores to get done, so the kids waited until the sun was down to decorate!

They sat patiently while Daddy and I put the lights on and then got busy putting on the ornaments.  Luckily there was only one ornament that they broke and it wasn't a special one:)

 

Bubba Love Update...

Bubba Love has been BUSY!

She has been in all day kindergarten, 4H, horse riding lessons and gymnastics:)

She is doing AMAZING in school!

I didn't have doubts, but she has really blown me away...

After being in school for only a month she was given a Falcon Feather Award for kindness at her school!!

A Falcon Feather Award is an award given out monthly to a few students in each grade for showing positive character traits... apparently it is a very big deal!

So we received a letter in her folder informing us that she would be having lunch and a treat with the principle and then there was an assembly to follow where she would be presented with her award.

Her teacher told me that she has never met a kinder or more caring girl then Bubba Love:)

I am BEYOND proud of this little girl!!

 

I have been fortunate enough to have my mom close and retired, which means when any of the kids have a school function I can attend!  

In October Bubba Love had a trip to the local barn for a festival and a Halloween party that I co-organized.  She had lots of fun:)

 

And then in November I co-organized her Thanksgiving feast at school also.

It turned out cute and the kids had a blast:)

 

There is lots more coming for Bubba Love, I hope she can keep up:)

Mama & Daddy Update...

I thought I would give you a little update on what we have been doing the last few months!

I guess I am being selfish, because I am going to update you on ME first:)

I have been busy trying to introduce myself into the adult world again!  After being pregnant or nursing for 6 years, I think I have forgotten how to be a person and not just a mom! 

So for starters in the last 3 months, Daddy and I have been to TWO concerts!!  That is more in 3 months then in our whole 8 1/2 year relationship:)

One of the concerts Squeaker went with us because I wasn't ready to try him on a bottle yet.  We got him some camo ear protection and he slept happily in the Ergo throughout the concert!

 

We also did a 5K mud run in October... I think I had mentioned that coming in an older post.

I had been doing the couch to 5K app on my phone and I felt pretty good about running it!

Obviously I was nervous, but I ran the whole thing and came in 11th out of 127 in my age group and 38th out of 371 females!!  Not bad for having a baby 3 1/2 months earlier:)

It was a LOT of fun!  Bubba Love even did the mini run!

We also enjoyed an evening out supporting our local firefighters our little towns annual Octoberfest.  It's the third year we have gone... The first year I was preggo with Baby C and the second year we got preggo with Squeaker when we got home:)  SO I knew we would have a good time!

Good friends, good food and beer... what else could you ask for??

Lastly, Daddy spoiled me and took me to buy my first hand gun!  I was pretty excited and our new date nights consist of dinner and the shooting range:)

I slowly feel like I am becoming a person again (not just a baby making machine)!!

I am excited to see what fun we get into next...