Deagan and Santa

My Birthday Present!

Well, my birthday isn't for another two months (December 30th), but since it's my big 2-5 that means it's my last "big" birthday from my parents. After this year it's just cards and cake, lol. So this is the present I picked out for myself. I have no time to go to the gym, but I do have space in the garage. So after Deagan gets put to bed at night, momma's gonna be workin on some fitness. Working out is pretty much the only thing that motivates me to eat right. So, hopefully by next summer I'll be about 30lbs lighter. Just in time to start running after a mobile baby!

P.S. I learned today that my bestie from high school is getting engaged, yay! Congrats Kimmy-face!

6 and 1/2 month update:

Deagan had his check up yesterday. Started off with head circumference and length, then got the weight. I posted the percentiles on Facebook, but I did some research and realized that I used a really generic calculator and found one specifically for ages 0-3 years. Here's the stats:

Weight: 15lb. and 13oz. - 37th percentile
Height: 28in. - 97th percentile (Dude is TALL!)
Head: 42cm. - 26th percentile

We had a good rest of the day hanging out. He got two more immunizations so he was pretty needy all day. So the dishes and laundry did not get done. Today Bobby was off with him and they had a good boys day. When I got home from work I was greeted in the driveway with Deagan on Bobby's shoulders. We had a good laugh at the shadow, lol. It was SO funny, Bobby looked exceptionally tall (well, taller than he already is at 6'5") and then Deagan's tiny head poking up from Bobby's head.

I found out Deagan's food limit today. We were concerned that his weight was still pretty low, we figured he'd be caught up by now so I decided to feed him until he stopped opening his mouth. FYI--- NOT a smart idea. So he had a full container of carrots and applesauce, and he still seemed like he could eat more. So I pulled out a veggie blend and started with that. We got the last bite of that one in and I was just telling Deagan what I big boy he was eating so much food. And then it ALL came back up!!! Carrots and all. It really scared me at first, but I calmed down when he looked at me and smiled. So for future reference... Two 3.5oz containers of food is enough for my little man for now. We both needed a bath tonight. Lol.

Oh and he's learned to vibrate his tongue on the roof of his mouth. I have a video of it. As soon as I upload it and figure out how to post it I'll get it up here. It SOOO cute!

Ok so I've been busy... I'm a mom. Sue me. :o)

I realize it has been quite some time since I've updated. The only time I have to get on the computer is at night after Deagan is tucked into bed. And after I get done checking email, researching various topic that have popped into myhead that day and catching up with friends and family on Facebook, my blog has gone by the wayside. Hopefully I can get back on track with more frequent updates.

Deagan has a 6 month appointment tomorrow. I'm sure I'll be on to blog about it tomorrow night. Goodnight family and friends.

Labor Day 2009 - Family Pictures

Pictures courtesy of Karita Chason, my wonderful aunt!

What's New...

Here's the latest on the sweet baby boy:

We started him on rice cereal about a week ago. He LOVES it! In fact I think he's put on a full pound since then! Well, at least he looks chubbier anyway. He's sitting in his highchair to eat like a big boy. He hates to lay on his back... so mom and I went to Target tonight for a Bumbo. He uses one at daycare and loves it. He really likes to sit up and see what's going on around him. On my days off I can't get any landry or dishes done because he wants to just sit in my lap while I help him sit up by putting his hands on top of mine. It's really cute, but sometimes I gotta pee! And I hate to hear him cry when I put him down on his blanket in the floor.

We also got him some more teething rings, more spoons and some stage 1 veggies. We got squash, pees, carrots, green beans and sweet potatoes. I think we're gonna try a green veggie first. I definately want him to get used to veggies before we add in fruits. I took him to his 4 month appointment on August 20th. He weighed 13lb. and 9oz. and was 26in. long. He's still only in the 10th percentile, but he's making steady progress. I can't wait until Oct. 21st at his 6 month appointment to see how much he's grown with the solid food.

That's all for now. Time for bed...

Excitement!

I can't wait to go to Tennessee tomorrow for Megan and Jamie's Bridal Shower! They'll get to see how big Deagan has gotten.

Pics from July

Deagan's First Baseball Game

My Surfer Boy!

Sleepy Boy...

In Daddy's 'Gears of War' Beenie

My Sweet Angel... Who Forever Has My Heart.

Bad Blogger

I know, I know. I've been a BAD BLOGGER lately! To be perfectly honest it has a lot to do with it being back-to-school season at work. As soon as I get Deagan bathed and put to bed I usually end up checking my facebook and then watching some TV so my brain has time to unwind from the days events.

I've also fallen off the bandwagon as far as the weight loss goes. But I am determined to get back on track. I was watching a women's triathlon on TV Sunday, they have it every year at Lake Lanier Island here in GA. It's sponsored by IronGirl. I'm actually really interested in doing one. I feel like I need more motivation than just looking good, because some day I could care less what I look like. What I need is a goal, a training schedule that I can stick to, rain or shine and a support group.

I researched a group called North Atlanta Multisport Club. All of the members compete in local and/or national events. I believe I'm going to contact them and see if I can sit in on a meeting or even an event to see if it's something I really want to do. Bobby's cousin Meghan did one last year and her Bridal Party is the weekend after next, so I fully intend on picking her brains.

Deagan is doing absolutely wonderful. My heart swells when I go pick him up from daycare and he gives me a big gummy smile and laughs. I'm pretty sure he is getting ready to start teething though. His hands are CONSTANTLY in his mouth. I got him some rings that we can put in the fridge and get cold and he likes to suck on those for a while, until it gets to be room temp, then it's back to the hands.

He's only waking up once through the night if he sleeps in his crib. If I bring him in our bed he sleeps all night. I'm not gonna lie, I've brought him in our bed a couple of times last week, lol. Ok, ok last night too. He is getting so long! I have to put him in 6-9 month sleepers because the 3-6 month aren't long enough and the feet pockets are too small. His poor little toes curl up at the bottom. Lol.

Hopefully we'll get some family pics done soon. I'm still determined to lose 10 lbs. before we do though. Actually I'd love to lose 20, but hey, you gotta set realistic goals in order to attain them. It'll come. I plan to be 155 be September.

Well, that's been life lately. I'll post some pics here shortly...

My Talkative Baby Boy!

I was off today so Deagan and I had a fun filled day. After his bottle at 7:45am we played together on the floor. And I got this video while he was being really vocal.

Then we met Mom for lunch... we won't even talk about how our burgers were literally still mooing. Eww, needless to say we sent them back. Then I went to go visit my best friend Cait at work. She was really excited to see Deagan. We made plans to go to the festival downtown this Saturday. Then on the way home Brittany called. She was getting an estimate on her brakes so I picked her up and we hung out for a little while. Took her back to her car when they were done and then headed to Target for formula and rice cereal.

Tonight was the first night I put a little in his bottle. I've heard that it will make them sleep longer. But that's really not why I'm doing it. He just seems to not be fulfilled with formula. I'll get about 5 oz. in him and he refuses the nipple like he's done but 5 minutes later he'll chew on his hands and fuss, but when I try to give him more formula he refuses it again. So I started out with 1 tsp in his 4 oz. bottle. He seemed to have no problem sucking it down.

I guess it's too soon to tell if it'll help him sleep longer. I just put him down at 9pm, it's only been a half an hour since then. I just hope it keeps him full since he won't take anymore formula after 5 oz.

Sister-in-laws Rock!

So yesterday Bobby's sister Kayla came to hang with me and Deagan on my day off. We went to Rite-Aid to get my brother a birthday card and to pick out some hair color for me. Then we went home and played with Deagan for a while, fed him and during his nap I cleaned my bathroom and Kayla downloaded me the lasted cool tunes. I've been out of the loop for a while on my music...

So Kayla's job was to keep me current. She hooked me up with some 3OH!3, All Time Low, Flyleaf, Hey Monday and so much more. When I took her home we went in to visit with Stan so Deagan could see his grandad. He is so sweet with him, Deagan was smiling up a storm. His uncle Kirk held him for a while too, until he got hungry then it was time to head home, lol.

My girlfriend Brittany came over to do my hair after that and gossip. Yes, we gossip, but not anything bad, more like... current events chatter. Lol. You know, who's dating who, who has a problem with the two who's that are dating, etc. And by the way, it was the first time I'd done my hair from a store bought box, so I didn't trust myself to do it alone. Ha Ha Ha... Knowing me I'd end up with either purple hair or none at all!

It was also my brother's 26th birthday. We all sang him happy birthday and ate some ice cream cake. Sat around to shoot the bull. Gave Deagan a bath, then went to bed. All in all it was a fun day.

My hair color inspiration:

Megan Fox... she's so hot. I'll post a pic of my newly darkened hair this weekend when I actually have time to do it.

Germany and Panama City

What do these places have in common? People that I love will be there this weekend... Dad works for a company based out of Germany, so he's gotta go for business and mom decided to take a vacation so she's going with him. My brother and his girlfriend are going to Panama City, Florida for a couple of nights. How romantical! I wish I could go on vacation. But MY vacation time was spent confined to a bed. I don't accumulate another full week until about October, so I guess that's when I'm taking mine. I was thinking of going to visit my girlfriend Jessica at law school in VA for a couple of nights. I might even wait until November just so I can go when New Moon comes out since we're both Twi-hards. (For those of you who are UNCOOL and don't know, Twi-hard is a Hardcore Twilight fan, lol.) I guess I'll make that decision when it gets closer to November.

I know, I know...

I've been slacking on my blogging lately. I'm sorry, it's just been really busy lately. Let's see where to start. Work has been crazy lately. I normally get off at 4pm but almost all of last week and this week I've gotten off at 4:45pm, leaving me no time to go to the gym. In fact I'm thinking about cancelling my membership all together. I think I could do a better job on my own. I've got a safe neighborhood to run in, one of those big ab balls, some free weights and I think not worrying about how fat my ass looks in my workout pants will help me stay on track too. I'm tired of standing next to these gym-bunnies with mirrors all around me to remind me that I will probably never be that small again. By the way I can work out while Deagan naps instead of leaving him at daycare so long or relying on someone else to watch him. So that's where my frame of mind is at on that subject...

Picture Time!

Ready, Set, GROW!

So earlier today Mom and I noticed that it seemed like Deagan was working really hard to get milk out of his bottle. He's been on the slow flow nipples since he was born. Today we changed to the medium flow and the boy sucked down some milk!!! He normally eats about 3 to 4oz before drifting off to sleep. He ate 5oz, and then an hour and a half later he ate another 3oz! I gave him a bath after that and put him in his crib. He barely even flinched when I laid him down!

Oh, by the way... the whole "let him cry" deal from my previous blog... well, let's just put it this way, after his bottle he was snuggled up to me in my bed for the rest of the night. LOL. I'm not ready for him to not need my comfort to fall asleep. Maybe at 6 months... But I'm hoping with him eating more with the medium flow nipples he'll sleep longer anyway. Score... he sleeps longer and I still get my cuddles!

Deagan Update - 2 Month Appointment

I took Deagan to his 2 month well child apointment today. He got his first set of vaccinations. It was heartbreaking... I had to hold his arms down. He screamed louder than I've ever hear him scream before and he turned a pretty shade of purple. He was better as soon as I got him back in his car seat and a pacie in his mouth. He got some pretty bugs bunny bandaids on his thighs to show for it. He actually did a lot better than I thought, I figured he would cry all the way home but he was asleep by the time I went up to get a copy of the shot records for daycare.

Some stats: When he was born he was in the 11th percentile for height and weight. Today he's up to the 25th percentile. So, still a little guy but Dr. Ryan said he was growing right on track and should be up to average in another month or so. He was 10lbs and 8oz and 23 inches long. He still eats 4oz every 3 to 4 hours during the day. We have a new feeding plan for night time...

Dr. Ryan told me how to get Deagan to sleep through the night, although I'm going to HATE this method! It involves letting him cry... Here are my rules: I have to establish a set night time routine. So he'll have his bath after his 7pm bottle and say goodnight to everyone. I have to put him in his crib awake. If he cries I can't pick him up for 15 minutes. After that 15 minutes if he's still crying then I can soothe him and try to put him down again if it's not time for him to eat yet. I have to stretch his feedings to 4 hours durng the night for a week, then 5 hours for a week, then 6 hours. He said 6 hours is considered a "full night sleep". He's crying as I'm typing this and it's killing me... My computer is right outside his bedroom. :o( I don't like this, but I know it's necessary.

He said that this will teach him that when he's in his bed it's time to sleep, not eat. Also it'll teach him to fall asleep on his own without outside comfort, like being held or a swing or vibrating chair. That way when he wakes up in his crib he'll be able to just fall back sleep if he wakes up. It's gonna be hard, but I can do it. He ate at 8:30, it's 11:33pm now, I'm gonna try to get him to midnight... Wish me luck.

Another trip to the doctor...

Deagan does have an ear infection after all. We took him back to Dr. Ryan today. He was running a temp of 101 degrees. He checked him out again and as soon as he stuck the little light in his ear Deagan started screaming bloody murder... it was the loudest and most intense I've ever heard him cry. Poor baby. :o( We got a prescription for ammoxicillin and he told us to get some baby Tylenol.

I tried to give him the ammoxicillin before his bottle. I figured it would help wash the medicine down. That was a huge mistake... It came up right after his burp, all of it. And this wasn't just a little spit up. He launched it, all of it! I had to bathe him and change my clothes there was so much. I didn't give him any more medicine since he'd had it in his system about 20 minutes before the bottle. I don't wanna overdose him...

He just got done eating, he wouldn't even finish 2 ounces. I gave him some Tylenol since he seemed a little fussy and whiny. I'm sure his little ears are hurting... I hope that Tylenol makes it feel better. I'll try the ammoxicillin again AFTER his next bottle. Dr. Ryan said with the antibiotic and Tylenol combined he should be feeling better tomorrow morning. He's gonna call me in the morning to check on him.

I'm really happy with my pediatrician choice. First of all, that's HIS practice and he's the only doctor there. So Deagan gets really personal attention. He has a twin brother that has a family practice also in our town, so when he goes on vacation we can go to his brother's facility and it's no big deal. I found out that I actually know his wife. She comes into the copy center a lot. She does homeschooling, they have 6 or 7 kids I believe. So I know he really loves kids which is why he does what he does. On top of it all he's just an all around nice guy.

The Professor is Back! And Naked!

:o(

My poor baby is sick. It breaks my heart. My only comfort is that the only time he is not crying is when he's snuggled up on top of my chest. That feels good, it must be one of those weird mom things. Like only you have the power to calm your baby. I called the doctor at 8am as soon as they opened and they were able to get him in at 10:45am. His cough was concerning me, I definately don't want to chalk it up to just being a cold when in fact it turns out to be worse like pnemonia.

We went in and before I took Deagan out of his carrier Dr. Ryan listened to his chest while he was still calm. Then he took him out and listened some more while he was breathing normally. He said it didn't sound like it was in his chest. By that time Deagan was starting to wail and he listened while he cried and the result was the same. He weighed him, my baby boy is 10.5lbs! He also took his temp and it was 98.4 so he's not running a fever and checked hs ears for infection, there was none.

Dr. Ryan said it was a head cold and it would just take a few days for him to recover. In the mean time just keep aspirating his nose and keep him elevated while he sleeps so the mucus doesn't drain down to his ears and cause an infection. (Which we'd been doing that the past 2 nights anyway, mom's recommendation, thanks mom!) I'm relieved that it wasn't more serious than a cold. It still sucks to see my little man look so pitiful though. :o( Hi little eyes are runny and he HATES the aspirator. I usually do it right before his bottle so at least he can be comforted with a meal after getting him worked up. The boy has got a good set of lungs...

Oh my goodness...

My hips are going to FALL OFF! My bestie Cait and I took a "Butt, Thighs and Abs" class at the gym this morning. It really did kick my booty, but in a very good way. I have to do all of the "easy" options. I say "easy" because even the "easy" is not that easy... I hope my schedule stays the same as this week so I can keep going to that class. I liked it a lot and I'm sure I'll enjoy it even more when I start seeing more results. Tomorrow is my day off and I get a whole day with my little man, yay! Well, I'm going to take a little nap before work.

Get you some.

Words just don't do it anymore... here's some pics!

I LOVE THIS BABY!!!

Hanging with the momma. (Thanks to Briana for my wrap sling! He LOVES it!)

Work was hell, until I checked my phone on my break and had this little surprise in there. It made the day bearable and my heart melt.

Smiles

Deagan gave me the biggest gummy smile this morning. It melted my heart... and brought tears to my eyes. That kid has me by the heart strings and knows exactly when to tug.

I've found it...

The photography studio that I want to do our family portrait. I've Googled photographers in Cartersville, Acworth, Kennesaw and Atlanta looking meticulously through each website trying to find a place with the talent and prices that I could be comfortable with. I've finally found it today. It's a father-daughter team and they can either do studio or location. For this first one think I really want to keep it in the studio. I LOVE their style and I can't wait to talk it over with Bobby and call them up to book our appointment. They also have a Little Wonders program that will photograph Deagan at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months and we get a 20 page hardcover book with shots from each session at the end of the program. I'll have to think about that one first... it's $99 for the year (Each session would normally be a $65 sitting fee, so already a steal of a deal) and I would have to purchase at least $150 worth of prints each session. I'm sure I could manage that pretty easily since I'll want one of everything in all sizes, lol.

Here is the wesite and blog:
www.springfieldphotography.com
http://www.springfieldphotography.blogspot.com/

Let me know what you guys think!!

Owwie...

I went to my first group class today... BodyPump. Colleen, the class instructor set me up with a bar and the smallest amount of weights. At the beginning of the class she asked if there were any newbies. I was the only newbie... I told her I just started back at the gym after having a baby and I was on bedrest for the last 3 months of my pregnancy. So I started with baby weights, 5 lbs on each side of the bar.

The first 10 minutes was cake. I almost went and got some more weight. The next 50 minutes... not so much. My legs were burning during the lunges, absolutely on fire. I think I'll stick with the baby weights the first 3 classes before moving up. Oh my goodness, I forgot how great it felt to really work it out and sweat. My muscles are a little stiff tonight, especially going up and down the stairs. I know tomorrow they'll be screaming, but it hurts so good. If that makes sense... I'm proud of myself though. I did every exercise no matter how much it hurt. Go me!

I think monday I'm going to try the BodyStep class. I've done that one once at another gym. I think all the gyms around here use the Les Mills programs. Anyway... Tuesday there's a "Thighs, Butt and Abs" class at 9:30am. I'm off that day and Deagan will be in daycare. Let's see if I have the will power to get up that early for the gym, lol.

Get your fix...

I couldn't resist snapping this one before leaving for work this morning. They are two peas in a pod...

Whoa, bad hair day.

Tummy time turned into sleepy time.

Guilty as Charged

So we had an awesome weekend in Tennessee for Blaine and Lorna's wedding. It was the first time a lot of that side of the family met Deagan. I would've had some great pictures, BUT... I forgot to grab my camera and the charger before I left. Friday I had to work so Deagan and I didn't make it to Tennessee for the rehearsal (Bobby was one of the groomsmen), but we made it for the dinner. I was in such a rush so that we could at least make the dinner on time I forgot to run back upstairs and grab it. So no pics... :o( Maybe Stan will send me some that he took with his camera. I'll have to ask him.

I had to work on Memorial Day, but I requested to work. I had SOOO much to do and thankfully I got most of it done. Not only was there a lot of stuff to catch up on, but tomorrow we're rolling out our new "Quality First" initiative. Getting ready for that has been hell since I only had a week to prepare and train people. I'm off tomorrow so hopefully they'll do ok with it. The biggest change is that our production log is now electronic, so we have to input the order info on the computer instead of recording it in a book. I like the "idea" so far, we'll see how I like it after actually doing it.

More pics to come soon... My battery is all charged up.

American Idol

YAY for Kris Allen!!

Week 3 Weigh-In

I forgot to post my week 3 results, though they're nothing to blog about or anything...

Starting Weight: 168.4 lb.
Week 1: 165.8 lb.
Week 2: 166.0 lb.
Week 3: 166.4
Weekly Gain/Loss: +0.4 lb.
Total Gain/Loss: Loss -2 lb.
Comments: I think I'm flucuating right now... We'll see how a week at the gym goes for the next weigh in.

I did better than I thought I would...

Yep, today was the day I've been dreading for weeks... Not only was it Deagan's first day in daycare, it was also my first day back at work. I got up and we (and by we I mean Deagan only, lol) ate breakfast. I got all his stuff together, with mom's help of course. We were out the door by 7:15-ish. Deagan was fast asleep when I dropped him off. I got my code for the door all worked out and I'm able to clock him in and out of the computer at drop off and pickup. Talked to the girl that works in the infant room for a little bit, let her know when he ate last and let her know that he was a slow and messy eater. She loved how tiny he was, she scooped him up and cuddled him while I put the carseat in the closet.

Whoops, time for Deagan's bath... I'll come back as soon as he's asleep in his crib.

Ok, I'm back. Anyway, so I gave him a kiss goodbye and told her to call me if she had any problems or questions. I got in the car and started heading the 10 miles to work. I started tearing up just about the time the daycare sign was out of sight. :o( It's hard leaving your baby with stangers! I know they won't always be strangers, but it's like leaving your arm or your leg. I need those to function ya know! I think if he would've been awake when I dropped him off it would've been harder. I tried to check on him on my first break and again at lunchtime. Both times the line was busy. I figured if they weren't callin me then he's probably just fine.

My first day bac went pretty good. There's only been some minor changes since I was last there. I had Emily with me today so she was telling me all of the new things as she remembered. I pretty much jumped right back into my normal routine. Did my monday reports and reconcilations, looked at the supplies to see if any needed ordering, followed up on the third party orders and then started on the orders left over from the previous night. All in all it was an ok day. I saw one of my regulars and had to bust out the pictures on my phone, lol.

So then I went to the GYM today, yay!! I did pretty good, but I didn't want to overdo it. So I went on the stationary bike for 25 minutes (9 miles), then did some lower body weight lifting. I am SO much weaker than I was a year ago... but I'll get there. It felt really good to sweat, get all that stress out. The whole time I was on the bike I was imaging that I was riding on my bike on my way to get Deagan. It was good motivation to go fast! Lol. I have a meeting in Austell tomorrow, it's a Copy Center Specialist and General Manager meeting so I get to ride with my honey! We'll both take Deagan to daycare tomorrow, that way I can show him how to clock him in and out and where to put the carseat.

When I picked him up there was only one other baby there, he seemed about 3 months I guess. Deagan was just alert and awake sitting there looking at the daycare lady. She was a cute girl, he was probably trying to flirt, lol. I scooped him up and loved on him for about 5 minutes before putting him in the carseat. As soon as we got in the car he was passed out. When we got home I loved on him a little more, then let mom love on him. After she had only had him about 3 minutes, I pouted my lip and said, "I want him back..." Lol. I missed him so much! I am so glad I got those precious 6 weeks with him where I snuggled him as much as possible. I know that now that I'm back at work the days will just fly by and he'll just get bigger and bigger. :o(

So that was my day...

One more week...

First of all, for my very first Mother's Day Bobby told me that we were going to get family portraits done! Yay! I get to pick the place and when. I told him I wanted to loose at least 10 more pounds before that happens though. Hopefully it won't take me that long.

I go back to work next week. So that means Deagan will be in daycare. :o( Our plan is for me to have every Tuesday off and Bobby have every Thursday off and Deagan will go Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Of course I found out that next Tuesday I have a meeting, so I'll have to send him on Tuesday and be off on Wednesday. Good thing with taking him part time it can be any 3 days in the week and they don't have to be the same days from week to week. But I'm going to try to keep it as consistent as possible.

Even though I dread going back to work, I couldn't be a stay at home mom. I love to work. I may not like my job, but I do like to work. I really hope once I'm back on my feet my leg muscles will get stronger and I'll be able to run again soon. For now it's just going to be the elliptical machine and the bike at the gym. I loose the most weight if I run though... A few summers ago a friend and I used to run every morning before working at the restaurant in the afternoon. My legs looked fabulously athletic and toned. I can't wait to have "my" body back...

Deagan is doing great. I love on him all day... he's getting spoiled though. I try to put him down to eat or pee and he fusses at me. As soon as I pick him up though he's all good. At least he's good about sleeping in his own crib. Though usually after his first feeding of the day (around 5 or 6am) I bring him to bed to sleep with me since Bobby gets up for work then. I gotta have one of my boys in bed with me! Lol. He sleeps good with Mommy. I lay on my side and he snuggles up to the front of me and his head is right there where I can just lean down and kiss him on his forehead every so often. I usually stroke from his sideburns down to the side of his cheek, he loves it... and I gotta admit, I probably love it more. :o)

Prayer for Mothers

Because I am horrible at poems and can't write my own, I went to good ole google to search for one. I stumbled across this prayer for mothers and it is exactly the things I would say about my mother. If you are a mother - Happy Mother's Day! If you're not - please wish your mom a Happy Mother's Day... she deserves it. :o)

Mom: I love more than words can ever say. I am so grateful for all that you do to help and support me in any and everything I do. I'm so glad that I have you to teach me how to be a wonderful mother, just like you. I love you and Deagan loves his Meme too!

Dear Lord,

today we pray for mothers--

our own mothers, and mothers everywhere,

who have made such a major contribution

to the good qualities we have, sometimes through genetics,

more often through great effort and patient instruction,

and who have done their best

to gently polish away our rough edges.

Lord, please bless our mothers

for the endless hours of time they spent

and the boundless energy they invested in us.

Bless our mothers for their sacrifices on our behalf

as they often gave up or deferred their own dreams

so that we could have ours.

Bless our mothers for always being there for us,

for being the person we know we can turn to

when we need comfort, encouragement, or just a hug.

Bless our mothers for making a home for us

where we could feel safe, where we felt we belonged.

Most of all, Lord,

bless our mothers for their unconditional love,

for loving us no matter what,

and for frequently showing love

in ways that make us feel valued and cherished.

Lord, please bless our mothers mightily.

Strengthen them, soothe them,

wrap them in Your infinite love

and shower them with blessings

too numerous to count, too magnificent to describe.

We love them, admire them, respect them,

and we wish that You would give them back

many times the good they gave to us.

In Jesus' name we pray; Amen.

By Joanna Fuchs

Week 2 Weigh-In

Starting Weight: 168.4 lb.
Week 1: 165.8 lb.
Week 2: 166.0 lb.
Weekly Gain/Loss: +0.2 lb.
Total Gain/Loss: Loss -2.4 lb.
Comments: Well, this week I pretty much just stayed the same. It was raining all week so I couldn't really get out and exercize at all. And last night Bobby and I went on date night while mom and dad kept Deagan. I had a BBQ Chicken Sandwich... I have no idea how many points it was and I'm afraid to look. Lol. I will do better in Week 3. Hopefully it won't be so rainy.

Cutie Pa-tutie!

Aww...

Hey there ladies...

Napping in the pack-n-play.

The Weigh-In

Starting Weight: 168.4lb.
Week 1: 165.8lb.
Gain/Loss: Loss - 2.6lb.
Comments: Not bad for only walking around the neighborhood twice this week and keeping track of points. I can't wait to see the pounds melt off when I get my booty back in the gym.

Washing Machine Mishap

Ok, so today I was gathering laundry to do a load for Deagan and trying to pick up a little bit at the same time. My grandma brought over some of those disposable hospital pads from where my grandpa had heart surgery. Well, in those pads are cool absorbant "fluff", so we use them to change Deagan on top of so he doesn't ruin his changing pad cover if a blow-out occurs. Somehow (actually, it was completely my doing), it got thrown in the laundry basket mixed with a changing pad cover and I didn't notice it. I just threw the entire load in the washer and went about my day.

When I came back to put the clothes in the dryer there was this gel-like goo on everything. It was horrific! I started pulling stuff out and came across the blue and white disposable pad... followed by some choice explitives at myself. I figure the same absorbant stuff is in diapers too, so I googled "diaper in the washing machine" and luckily I'm not the only person in the world that this has happened to! I ended up letting it dry then taking our little shark vaccum and sucking all the little gooey boogers out of there. Then I ran it on the cleanse cycle with some bleach. The people on google said to just shake off the clothes and dry them, the absorbant goo would dry and most likely get caught in the lint trap.

They were right, they came out without so much as a spot on them, but I went ahead and rewashed them on the heavy duty cycle and dried then again. That was definately a mistake you only have to make once to learn your lesson. I guess I need to stop being so scatterbrained during my daily tasks. I'm just glad it didn't mess up the washer... I would've cried. Oh the joys of mommyhood.

Start Slow Liz...

That's what my dad told me last night (and I'm sure it's what my shins were screaming at me) after I tried to go right back into running. Not such a good idea with the extra pounds on my body and being on bedrest for 3 months straight. I had to do a walk/run combo. I think for at least the first month I'll stick to walking or the eliptical at the gym to get my leg muscles strong again. I'm definately gonna hit the weights when I start going back to the gym. I'm actually really excited about going back. One of my favorite feelings is walking out of the gym doors with my face all red and sweaty and feeling the cool air hit me like a ton of bricks. It reminds me of practicing in the wresting room with no windows and the doors closed and it was like 100 degrees in there. We'd practically be begging at the doors at the end of practice to get out. I just hope they have group classes that will fit into my schedule. I'll be posting my weight on Friday. I've already sneaked on the scale once this morning, but I'm going to try to not weigh myself until the end of each week. Well, off to play with Deagan, he's demanding some attention.

And it begins...

So today starts my "Biggest Loser via Blogspot" venture. My parents used to do weight watchers so I still have all the materials from that and I'll be counting points. I've tried to do it before, but I wasn't really serious about it... I was a cheater, lol. Then when I got pregnant I said screw it. So I'm letting it be known, I hope I can keep the will power this time.

I really want to be back to a weight I'm comfortable with. I saw a picture my dad took the other day and saw how large my legs were. I cried for a bit... Bobby, bless his heart, tried to cheer me up. I wasn't having it though. I know it's only been three weeks sinc giving birth, but I really shouldn't have gained so much in the first place. Now it's going to be ridiculously hard to work it off. At least I'll have time to go to the gym when I go back to work.

Deagan and I went for a walk around the neighborhood Saturday. There's a street down from us that has a large hill at the end. It was burning my thighs and calves pushing a stroller up it. I was like... Oooh, that hurts good! So I'll be going that route from now on.

Here's wha's new on the baby front: Deagan is eating so much. I've pretty much gone to all formula, I'm not getting to pump very often so when I do I only get enough for one feeding a day. I was pretty upset at first, but I've come to terms with it. Maybe it'll work out better with the next baby. We just upped his intake to 4 and 1/2 ounces yesterday. At night he's starting to make it to 4 hours before waking up hungry. So I'm enjoying the extra sleep, lol. Oh, and he's sleeping in his own room. I keep the monitor on the night stand next to my head. Bobby likes the TV on in the room while he sleeps and that was keeping Deagan up at night. So we decided to go ahead and let him get used to being in his own room. He seems to love his crib and sleeps like a log!

Gotta have it...

I went to Cafepress.com and did a search for 'professor' and I found the PERFECT onsie for Deagan! As soon as I go back to work and get a real paycheck I'm SO getting this! I LOVE it!

Rough Day

Today didn't start out too bad. Bobby had to close so we got to sleep in a little bit. Deagan and I laid in bed til about 9:30am when it was time to feed him again. This is when his feeding schedule got messed up. He didn't want to take the full 4 ounces, he only took 2 ounces. Well, he kept spitting up when I tried to keep him awake to eat more, so I figured he was full. He went to sleep for about 30 minutes and then woke up sucking on his hands, so I gave him the last 2 ounces. He fell asleep again, and so started a vicious cycle of 30 minute naps followed by eating 2 ounces at a time. Finally by 2:30pm I was on the phone with mom bawling because I couldn't even eat or pee because he wouldn't stop fussing and wouldn't fall asleep long enough for me to do anything. She left work an hour early to come home to rescue me. I was a mess... red eyed and snotty nose I told her I was a bad mom because I couldn't figure out how to keep him satisfied. She laughed at me. Laughed! Then she asked when the last time I ate was. I told her about 10:30am. She said, "Ok, first - go make you something to eat. Then when you're done with that, go take a shower. It'll make you feel human again."

We decided to switch from the Parent's Choice formula to the Similac to see if that would help with the spitting up. And she told me to not give him another bottle until 5pm, even if he fusses. We needed to get him back on a normal schedule. He ate from 5 to 5:30pm, then conked out for three hours. Three blissfully quiet hours... Anyway, mom assured me that he wasn't going to starve, so I shouldn't put a bottle in his mouth just because he's making hungry gestures. Keep him on the schedule and stick to it. So, needless to say it was a rough day, but in the end it worked out. I fed him from 8:30 to 9pm and he's been drifting in and out of sleep since. 12am is rounding the corner soon, so I'm going to try to get a nap in before that feeding.

Shh... The professor is sleeping!

He's always got his hands folded, lol... that's why we call him the professor.

Picture time!

Because I can't get enough of this cute little face...

My Own "Biggest Loser" Strategy via Blogspot

I feel determined to take care of myself. I don't wanna be one of those women that let themselves go just because they had a kid. In a couple of months I can't blame my expanded waistline on the "I just had a baby" excuse. When I go back to work, I'm also going to get back in the gym. We'll be sending Deagan to daycare 3 days a week. I usually get off work around 4pm, and I don't have to pick him up until 7pm. My plan is to go to the gym immediately after work, work out for about and hour and a half, and then pick up my little prince from daycare. I'm tired of not being able to wear shorts because I'm embarrassed of the amount of weight I've put on. Besides, that would require me to go out and BUY shorts. I'd rather just lose the weight and have a whole new wardrobe with my old clothes. I have tons of clothes that don't fit from before I was pregnant with Brent, almost 2 years ago.

I feel the urge to do this not just for my benefit, but for my son too. I remember when I was working out all the time I had more energy, a better attitude and I think with having a stressful job, working out after will alleviate some negativity I hold on to through out the day. I'd like to walk out of the gym refreshed and to come home and play with my baby boy! We plan to involve Deagan in sports as soon as possible. Not only for the physical benefits, but for social benefits as well. Bobby and I were both in team sports in high school. I was a cheerleader and swimmer, Bobby played baseball, basketball and tennis. I hope Deagan is as interested in sports as much as we were. I'm pretty sure his half of his clothing is either football or baseball related, lol.

So here's my goal... I want to be the size I was when I got married. That was 130lb. Before I gt pregnant with Deagan I was 146lb. The day I gave birth I was 185lb. I jumped on mom's scale a couple days after coming home from the hospital I was 168lb. So, I have 38lb. to lose as of right now. My other goal is to tone my legs. This used to be one of my best features. My legs have never been skinny, they've alway been athletic and fit. And they always looked great in shorts. I want that back... So here's my new journey. It won't be easy, but it is do-able. Every Friday I'll d a "weigh-in" and post my weight on here. I know Briana will keep me in the right frame of mind because she is a heath conscience gym-goer. So I'll be expecting some tips Bri! I figure by posting my weight it will keep me accountable and more inclined to stick with it.

Wish me luck!!

For Briana -

He looks like a little angel...

Gettin sleepy.

At the pediatrician for his weight check.

All wrapped up in his RockStar blanket.

Weighing in...

I took Deagan to the pediatrician today for his weight check. He was 5lb. 15oz. at birth, 5lb. 8oz. at his first pediatric visit, and now he's 6lb. 5oz! So he gained almost a pound in one week. The nurse said that that was wonderful and he must be getting enough to eat, which was something I was concerned about. I wasn't sure if I was making enough milk to satisfy him. But apparently I'm doing pretty good.

Being a mom is so different than I thought it would be... I didn't realize that I would spend half of my day kissing my son and just looking at him. Memorizing all of his faces and what they mean. Everything I do, I do with him in mind. I can't even imagine life without him anymore. Time flies by SOOO fast with a newborn! I don't want these next 4 weeks to fly by that fast, I can't imagine waking up and taking him to daycare. I know that's what I'll have to do soon, but I don't wanna!! Lol.

It was Bobby's first day back at work since April 2nd, when I went to the hospital. I know leaving this morning was hard. He kissed us goodbye but I know he wanted to crawl back in bed with us. His employees surprised him with decorating the breakroom and store with balloons and baby decor. They had a sign coming in the doors with Bobby and Deagan's picture with Deagan's name, weight and birthday. It was really sweet of them. Oh and Bobby got me a little refrigerator so I don't have to keep going downstairs to get/store milk. Yay!

Professor Milkface

Mastitis on Easter Sunday

Yep, that's right. I ended up with mastitis in my left breast. I tried to clear it up on my own with hot showers, hot baths, heating pads, hand expressing, pumping, regular breastfeeding. Nothing was working. Sunday it got worse, I felt like my boob was the size of a beach ball and growing by the minute. I couldn't for the life of me get the milk to release. It got so bad that walking hurt and I was shaking from the intense pain, so we headed to the ER. I couldn't take it anymore. It wasn't too bad of a wait I'm sure, but when your breast is throbbing it feels like hours. Anyway, we left with some antibiotics and pain meds. When I got home I took both, waited for the pain meds to kick in and got in the bath to hand express. I had my pump with me so that helped out too. Since then it feels better, but it's really sore from where I had to hand express and massage the milk out. When I was talking to the doc she said the only way to get rid of mastitis was to empty the breast, I told her I tried everything. Her response? Try harder. She told me she had it too with her son and it was also on a holiday, Christmas. How horrible... I'm pretty sure I had the coolest RN ever. He was a character, to say the least... Told me to take my hydrcodone with a case of beer and I'd be "feeling about right". Lol. At least Bobby got me some ice cream out of the whole ordeal... :o)

Easter Picture

So Adorable!

My beautiful sleepy boys...

Chifferobe Project

This has actually been done for a few weeks, but given all the excitement around here I didn't get to post a blog about it until now. Deagster is down sleeping in his Uncle Ronnie's arms so I got a little break, lol. Here's some before and afters of the chifferobe.

Before: We had to sand it because it had a cheap vinyl "wood" laminate finish.

Before: Doors - took off the old hardware and going to put knobs on to match the changing table.

Before: FYI, sanding by hand hurts your back after about 10 minutes. (Ask my dad.)

In Progress: Starting to come together.

In Progress: It's amazing what a little black paint can do...

In Progress: Doors.

After: It looks brand new! Not bad for $5 at a yard sale huh?

After: Dad did such a good job!!