A Day in the Life of Mardi....

I guess I write one post per year.

2011-09-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

I am the world's worst blogger. I almost forget I even have one.

The update:

Brock is now 5! He's in Kindergarten at Duffield Primary School and loving it so far. He has come a long way already - just today I got to DROP HIM OFF instead of walking him in. He's a little timid at times. Hard to believe, and it usually lasts about 2 minutes.

What else is he into? Well, not much really. I was going to sign him up for soccer but of course I missed the deadline. I have no clue how to find out about such things in advance. Oh well. He's a great big brother to Eli...making him laugh at the most random things.

He's also into Selena Gomez at the present time. He sees her on Disney and gets all embarrassed. He made the mistake of saying she was pretty so I really ride him about being sweet on her:)

Eli is now 17 months old (15 months adjusted). He's still doing well, hardly ever sick. He's progressing slowly with PT/OT. He army crawls and can sit up with a little help (he can SIT, but can't sit up). We went to a physiatrist a couple of weeks ago and she was seriously amazed at how well he is doing considering his diagnosis in the NICU (Level 2/3 (possibly mild 4) brain bleeds with resulting PVL). She recommended ankle orthotics and said he'd be walking sometime soon (HOPING, PRAYING!)

He says so many words I can't even count. He'll repeat anything. He points at his ears and says "EYE" and points at his ears when you ask "where's your ears, eyes, nose". He says "HO?!" whenever a phone rings - at home, in a restaurant, on tv. Hilarious!

He's a total daddy's boy, and answers any question you ask with a "Yeah!"

Ok, that's your yearly update. Maybe I'll try harder.

I was just thinking it had been a while...

2010-08-03T12:51:00.000-07:00

But a year?? Brock was 3 in that last post.

He turns 4 on Thursday! FOUR!

Let's see..this year has been full of ups and downs. I think I should start blogging again.

What have we been up to?

Well, Brock is an almost 4 year old. He's full of creativity, drama, and he is hilarious. He makes me laugh every day with his little "Brock-isms". He can be a little stubborn at times, but that's just who he is.

For instance:

- "Come inside my party machine" - the purple blanket/tent

- the whole difference between girl parts and boy parts. We won't go into details but it was hysterical...I was crying!

- "Mama, you're ruining my sleep life" - when I woke him up too early one morning.

He has changed daycares to First Broad Street Methodist and he LOVES it. He stayed home with me while I was on maternity leave, but he missed it the whole time. I'm boring, I guess.

He loves swimming, playing outsideside (we're working on it, now that he's four he needs to learn to say outside), trains, trains, trains. And more trains. It is an obsession really.

My biggest change this year was a complicated pregnancy, preterm labor, a NICU stay of 54 days, resulting in the sweetest baby on earth. Mr. Eli is thriving right now, and we're so happy he's home and doing well.

Then (3 lbs, 3.4 oz!)

Now (12 lbs 12 oz!):

He hates tummy time, in fact I have him on his tummy right now. He decided to sleep instead of practicing holding his head up. He was almost 11 weeks early, so he's just now 2 months adjusted. He will soon have an Early Intervention evaluation to see what therapy he will need as a result of his brain bleeds and PVL. What a rough start to life.

Luckily he rolls with the punches. He is so happy, smiling and cooing all the time. He never even cries when he wakes up in the morning, just lays there looking around :) He sleeps ALL NIGHT. Such a difference from Brock. He started sleeping thru the night while I was on bedrest in the hospital!

I'm on a weight loss/get in shape mission. I've started doing P90X with Morgan - on day 54 now. I haven't lost much weight, but I have definitely toned up. I have about 20 lbs to lose, so Weight Watchers/exercise is the key. Having a NICU baby should have meant I would lose the baby weight quicker, but we ate out wayyyy too much during that time. And naptime = go get donuts time for me and Morgan. I guess we stress-eat.

I'll try to keep this up to date now. I start back to work August 16 so we'll see how that works out.

This is what I call "PURE JOY"

2009-08-22T11:12:00.001-07:00

Brock got a new four wheeler for his birthday. I have to say, it rocks. It goes up and down hills in the grass, even when it has just rained. I think it is safe to see he could catch flies that day!

Howdy Strangers.

2009-06-08T15:39:00.000-07:00

Well, let's see. It is June. Time flies when you are working, let me tell you. The days used to drag by, not that I didn't like staying home...but now months have gone by in what seems like weeks.

Brock is still loving SKEWL (as he calls it). Apparently he is an angel there and saves up all his temper tantrums for home. YAY! Remember when I used to worry about him not talking? Yeah, those were the days. He'll talk your ear off now!

Brock's favorite things these days:

1. His TRICLE BICLE. That's a tricycle his Nana and Poppa bought him for his 2nd birthday. He rides around the kitchen table, over and over and over. The walls are taking a beating, but what am I going to do? We have a gravel driveway:)

2. Thomas and his friends. ALL OF THEM. We went to see Thomas Live in B'ham with Gran Gran and Grand Dad. It was cute.

3. Cars. Lightnin Queen. LOL! He has two little cars from the movie and the other day I caught him putting Lightning McQueen in timeout because he crashed into Ramone.

4. Throwing temper tantrums.

5. McDonald's chicken nuggets. He's about to turn into one!

6. Chick Fil A milkshakes:)

What Brock is up to These Days.

2009-04-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

So, in January I made the leap and decided to go back to work. I was a little worried about Brock going to daycare. My mother-in-law was going to watch him on Monday and Tuesday and he would go to daycare the rest of the week.

He went exactly ONE week to daycare before getting sick. We took him to the doctor and he had walking pneumonia and RSV. The doctor said no school for 2 weeks. I called the school to tell them and they said "did you know we are shutting down on Feb 27th?" No, I didn't, thanks for letting me pay a registration fee and sign up though. Well, I didn't send him back there since they were shutting down. My mother-in-law kept him the rest of the month and he started at Victory Baptist on March 1.

He is really getting used to it. At first it was hard, listening to him say sleepily "I wanna go see Nana!" and telling him, sorry buddy, you are going to school today. But now he loves it. He talks about his teachers all the time (Mrs. Shanna, Mrs. Trina, Mrs. Jessie, Mrs. Tabby, Mrs. Lock (Morelock, the director)). He names them over and over. Don't get me wrong, he still prefers nana's house, but I'm happy that he likes it there. He talks about "the kids" too. LOL! Like he's the only grown-up one or something.

We just got back from Alabama for Easter. Brock can't or won't say "Grand Dad" so he was calling him "Wudder" (Fuller). At Easter we got him to say "GrandWudder" LOL!! So cute! He got up the next Monday to tell me "I wanna go see Wudder!!" - usually he says Nana or Gran Gran. He had so much fun playing with the girls. We went to my parents' new house and they ran around testing out the echo quality of the concrete floors.

Let's see...what all is Brock doing lately.

He can count to 12!
He can recognize a lot of letters and sings the ABC song (with some artistic liberties)
He can name every Thomas train ever invented by sight.
He can hit the ball off the tee.
He is eating more lately. He'll say "I'm hungy mama, I need...uh....somepin!"
His favorite foods are ham sandwiches, baloney, chips, and cookies. Oh, and NUMINUMS (m&m's). I have a health food nut on my hands.
He loves his DB Payer (portable dvd player) and watches Thomas movies, ice age, and COO COOs (Blues Clues) over and over and over and over.
He loves lining things up. His cars, his magnets (AB's - he calls them), his blocks, whatever he is playing with.
He is totally potty trained except for night time. He's getting there though. He's been PT for a while:) ROCKSTAR!
He loves moving the couch pillows. He gets all of them and makes a huge pile to jump on.
He hates taking a bass (bath) until he is actually in it. Then he doesn't want to get out.
He loves hiding in the tent and scary daddy.
He is getting very bossy.
He weighs 30 lbs!
He loves pinking. This means painting. I don't know why he calls it that!
He talks on the phone to Cole alot. By this, I mean he pretends and has a big long conversation. Too cute!
He loves Max, Buddy, and Mogs! He is a dog-lover!
He says "I love me Mommy!" - that means I love you. In the mornings when I drop him at Nana's house he will yell "I love me too!" when I tell him I love him.
He gives the best hugs and kisses:)
He still cries at night. AND he always wants me to rub his back. THANKS, Gran Gran for starting this habit.

I guess this is all for now. I'll try to post more often.

She likes me, she REALLY likes me!!!

2009-01-13T07:08:00.000-08:00

My cousin Danni obviously felt sorry for my poor pitiful blog and gave me an award.

So here I am, graciously accepting this award on behalf of the little people.

The rules are: name 5 addictions and then award this to 5 other blogs.

My addictions:

1) DIET PEPSI - ahhh, the bubbles, the carbonation, the lovely caffeine...the first sip in the morning that makes your eyes water and your heart fill up with love.
2) CAM - who knew that trying to lose weight would make me an internet addict. I found a message board that I love and now have several very close friends that reside in my computer. Hopefully we are all going to meet up this year. They all have kiddos Brock's age (+/- a month)
3) SWEETS - hence the need to go to a weight loss website. In particular, Brach's double dipped peanut clusters. YUM.
4) FACEBOOK - myspace, you suck. Facebook RULES! I have gotten back in contact with a zillion old friends on here. I love it.
5) OLD FASHIONED OATMEAL - sounds weird huh? I feel out of sorts now if I don't have this for breakfast. Now if I can get the other two meals figured out I will be able to get off the weight loss website.

My 5 Blog Awards go to:
1) Scary Mommy (http://www.scarymommy.com/)- hilarious, great pictures, always entertaining.
2) 50 Fingers & 50 Toes (http://watleymomoffive.blogspot.com/) - my cousin's new blog - it has really cute stories and pictures of my sweet cousins (er...nieces and nephews?? LOL)
3) Three Times the Giggles (http://threetimesthegiggles.blogspot.com/) - a fellow Cammer's blog about her identical triplets. They are SOOOO freaking cute you have to check it out.
4) Bring the Rain (http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/) - the most precious story of a baby girl named Audrey Caroline. Bring a tissue and a heart ready to hear about God and his miracles. Great Christian music too.
5) Cakewrecks (http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/) - when you need a good laugh. I never thought a cake could be so funny:)

Alrightly, off to get Brock "MOH MOHK" - (translation - More Milk). Learn to speak Brockanese, people.
2)

Christmas Recap

2008-12-31T06:56:00.000-08:00

We had a nice Christmas this year. Brock got lots of toys so he was THRILLED. We had "Fake Christmas" here and real Christmas in AL this year.

Here he is at Mamaw Berry's house playing with Emily's "Hannah Montana" headset. I think he might get one next year if he is a good girl.

It's been a while...

2008-12-11T09:05:00.000-08:00

What's new...let's see. Not much.

Brock is now what I consider 99% potty trained. Now if ONLY he could go all night we'd be golden. The bad part is now that he is used to going potty, he pulls his pants and undies off all the time.

I turn around and there he is, naked from the waist down. I'd post a true shot but that might be inappropriate for the internet;)

Brock's obsessed with trains. THOMA CHOO CHOO as he calls it. Thomas the Tank Engine is great and all, but comes on for a grand total of 15 minutes a day. So, we have it in our Netflix queue and on our list to get him for Christmas.

So all day, we sit and turn the remote to see if THOMA CHOO CHOO is on. It is not. 6:46 is the greatest time of day. 10 minutes of silence.

We've been cutting back on naps too. Brock was waiting til 3 pm to go to sleep and getting up at 5 pm. Then he wasn't tired til 10 pm. Guess how much time that leaves me to wind down. NONE! So now he stays up til 8:30 -9 and then passes out. He's been sleeping an hour or two later too. HEAVEN!!!

Ok, that's about it. Nothing too exciting in our world, just waiting for Santa!

Some updates.

2008-11-12T10:46:00.000-08:00

So, we had our trip to Pigeon Forge. Brock was a total mama's boy all weekend. Mike kept calling him a spider monkey since he was draped/clinging to me the entire time. This made the trip less enjoyable than it should have been. Oh well, I was glad to get home, and I did have an ok time. I just wish he had been a LITTLE less clingy. Oh yeah, and I had laryngitis too.

Potty training-wise, he did great! I was so proud of him. We even put diapers on him while we were out and he held it til he was around a potty. GO BROCK!

Now the time has come to get ME out of HIS bed. He wakes up in the night crying and now I've developed the awful habit of just hopping in bed w/him. I could easily pat his back, etc and go back to bed, but NO! I'm so out of it half the time I wake up and think "Where AM I?" I haven't had quality sleep since....maybe June 2006. UGH.

I'm back doing WW too. My family is doing it too (mom, brother, SIL) so it is easier to think I'm not alone. If I can only make it ONE stinking week I think I'll be good. I just have to lose about 7 lbs to get to my ultimate goal. My main goal is to be below 150 all the time, though. I crept back up this past couple of weeks but I'm below it again, JUST BARELY. It is easy to go right back into your bad eating habits.

I want to see if I can go thru the holidays WITHOUT gaining. Wish me luck!

My little monkey

2008-11-04T13:14:00.000-08:00

Nothing much has been going on, therefore, no posts.

We're still potty training. Brock is now wearing pants instead of just undies and is going in the big potty instead of his little training potty. He's doing great. Just don't ask him if he has to go in Target.

(Brock fidgets in the shopping cart seat)

Me: "Brock, do you need to potty?"

Brock: "oh, okay"

(Brock proceeds to pee all over himself, as if I gave him permission.)

This weekend we have a couple's retreat (or whatever you want to call it) in Pigeon Forge. There will be another little boy around Brock's age there, so it should be INTERESTING. Hopefully lots of fun.

Here's a Halloween shot or two. Brock was a monkey, and his cousin Cole was a puppy dog. SO CUTE!

Weekend with Gran Gran and Granddad (aka Gran Gran)

2008-10-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

Things I learned at Dollywood:

1) Brock is scared of every ride except the cars.

2) If you feel bad about your appearance, weight, hygiene, just go to Dollywood and you'll feel better.

3) Dolly really knows how to decorate for Autumn.

4) A day in diapers after PT for weeks = the following day full of puddles to clean up.

5) They empty the ferris wheel to balance it out. So don't freak out when you circle around twice after they start unloading and the cars start teetering back and forth.

6) Don't attempt to go out to dinner after you've been at Dollywood all day with a 2 year old who hasn't napped. "Let's go home." - his first real sentence.

7) Teenagers are stupid. "Awww, he's so cute. Did you see his ears?" GRRRRR.

8) You should never swear at your children in the bathroom stall when people are outside waiting. Even if they drop your cell phone in the toilet (NO, this was not me, I was listening and holding "ear muffs" over Brock's ears. - ok, not really, but I was shocked at the tirade)

We had a really nice weekend with Gran Gran and Grand Dad - Brock has decided that calling them two different names is just too hard, so they are both "Gan Gan". He kicked me out of his room more times than I could count so he could play with Gan Gan alone. "NO MOMMY...CLOSE DOOR!"

Now I know he will have a blast when I leave him in a week to go to Miss. State for the homecoming game:)

The Trifecta!

2008-10-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

I posted about 2% milk vs whole on my message board. The results were to try 2% since he doesn't eat and drinks a lot. Plus JULIE said she waters down Haley's milk and she doesn't notice. So I tried it. The result....Brock drank it fine, and ate AT LEAST a few bites of all three meals. He even ate a big snack of grapes right before bed. - oh, and he pooped in the potty all by himself again yesterday. Only one accident all day.

Then, he slept all night. First time in weeks.

THEN, he woke up at 6:45, came in my room and said "Mama, Pah-ey". So we went to the potty and he peed. He had a 99% dry diaper.

So far today he's had about 7-8 nilla wafers, a sausage patty, and 1/2 a banana. Please pray that this works and he eats better. It will be a load off my mind.

He looks so cute and little but big in his underwear. He's growing up. :( Sniff, sniff.

Sick again.

2008-09-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

Brock has his monthly fever. I swear it is like his version of a period. I found a link and diagnosed him with PFAPA. I think he also needs a tonsillectomy. Unfortunately the nurse/dr don't agree. In fact, they say not to even bring him in .

BUT

if he has a fever on Nov 1, I am taking him to the doctor come hell or high water.

This is also putting a kink in the potty training efforts. BOO:(

Potty Training

2008-09-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

We've been potty training Brock for 4 days now. The first three days we basically had Brock naked from the waist down. He really caught on quick. By Wednesday he was just walking over and sitting down when he needed to go.

I went to Walmart and bought him a bunch of new fun undies. His Thomas undies fit the best. Most of the smallest ones I could find are too big for his tiny hiney! Today has been an adventure. He had two accidents right away, and demanded a bath after the 2nd one. I think he's got it now, that his undies make him yucky if they get wet. So he's been twice more since then, in the potty.

I hope he keeps this up. I think he's doing great! Nighttime - heck, he'll be 4 before he's dry at night.

We did some arts and crafts today. He doesn't really color so much as he lines up his crayons or markers. I think he might be slightly OCD! LOL!

Is that my hair in the top corner?

Little Camo Pants

2008-09-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

Brock looks so cute today. I finally got all the tags cut out of his Thomas shirt, and he's got on little camo pants I got at the consignment sale last spring. (THANKS, JULIE!)

He just looks adorable! I need to adjust my settings on the webcam. Too bright, I think!

So far I've made it 3 whole days on WW. Now, the first day I ate McDonald's so I blew thru my flex points. But I am determined to be good til Tuesday and hopefully see a small result on the scale. We'll see! Wish me luck.

This webcam rules!

2008-09-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

So Lalee wanted to see my new haircut and I discovered my webcam is AWESOME for taking pictures. This will be nice when I want to send GRAN GRAN a new pic of Brock:)

Here's one for now. He's kinda ticked I tore him away from his HOTWHEELS:)

Here's a video! First ever! Hope it works!

Ok, that was freaky and obviously did not work right. Anyone care to comment on how to get it to work??!?

Day 1. Again. For the Zillionth Time.

2008-09-16T08:07:00.001-07:00

I just want to hit my WW goal. I can't seem to go an entire week being good. I will make it to Wed/Thurs and then eat everything not nailed down. Luckily I haven't gained MUCH. Maybe a lb or two.

So today I am recommiting again. I have 6 lbs to lose to meet my goal I set for myself. I CAN DO IT!!!

Not much news...

2008-09-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

Brock is feeling bad today. Running a fever and hanging on me like a monkey. I *THINK* he might be getting a molar. He practically screams when you try to check though.

He's really starting to jabber away now. Yesterday he was laying in bed with me watching cartoons and "JoJo's Circus" was on. He said "that's DoDo". :) Too cute!!! So what if it isn't 100% right.

Potty Training and other stuff...

2008-08-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

So, we've officially started Potty Training. Brock is doing pretty good but it is a slow start. At least now he has finally gotten the point of the potty and is going in it (#1 anyways). He gets really excited when he goes and me and Morgan go crazy and give him chocolate.

On another note, we decided that we haven't spent enough $ in August, and had to buy a new computer yesterday. The old one just died. Went to a blue screen and stayed there, no matter how many times we rebooted in safe mode. THANK GOD FOR SHUTTERFLY. I didn't lose very many pictures, plus the ones I haven't uploaded were still on the camera.

Here's a picture of Brock and his cousin Cole. So cute!!!

Look how big he looks! I asked Brock at lunch "Do you want a baby brother or sister?" and he said "NO". I wonder if he knows what I asked him. LOL!!!! (and no, I'm not pregnant).

Whassat? Whassat? WHASSAATTTTT???

2008-08-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

So, as many of you know, Brock has been kinda slow on the whole talking thing. He's finally starting to repeat us, though. I guess it is time to watch your language around our kid (like I can talk).

I wanted to blog about this so I don't forget. I NEED to get it on video. He gets a book and points at EVERY picture and says "whassat, whassat, whassat?" If you don't answer immediately, he yells it. You have to tell him what it is, even if he knows (like a cow).

I bet he asks "whassat?" 400-500 times a day. It is worst on the road when a big truck passes. He asks "whassat, whassat, whassat?" then yells "NUN NUN" - the car noise kinda his version of "vroom, vroom". If it is a schoolbus it gets a "BEEP BEEP". I didn't realize why he differentiated until Arvella said he has a book that makes noises at her house. The schoolbus says "beep beep". He's smart, I tell ya!!

I love how he presses the pictures on the books like they are supposed to make noise. His little arm will shake he presses so hard. It is really too cute, and he's starting to talk more and more, so this will soon be over :(

MIA

2008-08-18T10:12:00.000-07:00

I've been to Alabama for a week and couldn't post anything. I know you were all on the edge of your seats with anticipation.

I've discovered several things in the past few weeks.

1) Target diapers are cheaper for a reason.
2) Brock's love can be bought (TARA).
3) Brock CAN act reasonably sane in a restaurant. Two nights in a row, even!
4) Brock can destroy a larger house in 2.2 seconds. I guess having a small house is good.
5) Brock will calm down after time out.
6) Driving 6 hours without a dvd player that is functioning SUCKS.
7) Toddlers should not run towards moving swings.
8) Decatur is not flat, and thus running is not easier.
9) Decatur is full of mosquitos.
10) I miss my parents. (oh wait, I already knew this!)

My BABY is a Preschooler.

2008-08-07T12:56:00.001-07:00

According to babycenter.com anyways. I get these weekly reports on how he should be progressing (since I got pregnant) and it said

"your baby" then when he was one

"your toddler" and now

"your preschooler". Sniff, sniff. I told Morgan and he said "Next thing you know he'll be graduating high school then college."

"I guess it is time for #2 then." I told him...

We'll see!!! I need to work on tantrums, potty training, and did I mention tantrums before I go having another baby.

My Baby is TWO and other random thoughts.

2008-08-06T19:24:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow Brock goes for his 2 year pediatrician visit. Or as I joke, feeding tube installation time. The kid never eats.

This week has been rough. Two lightning strikes. Lots of $$ spent on repairs/new stuff. Sick Brock due to the hot house and open windows. Lots of puke. Birthday party. More puke.

It wasn't very fun, but thankfully we didn't have too much damage and Brock is feeling much better. I think all the laundry is clean now, too.

I posted a big long vent about the lightning but it poofed into space again. So sad.

My mom has foot surgery tomorrow too, so hopefully that will go well. Brock and I are heading to AL to hang out with her on Sunday.

Here is a picture from Brock's party. He didn't feel great, which I'm hoping is the reason he went CRAZY over the candle on his cake. He did NOT like it.

Well, anyways, my baby is two now. I had to order "Toddler Love and Logic" today, if that tells you how it is going. I think the terrible two's are definitely here.

New Sleeping Routine - It Rules!

2008-07-30T12:29:00.000-07:00

Brock has been in his big boy bed a week now, and he is finally sleeping through the night! YAY!

I put him to bed after reading "The Going to Bed Book" and we point at and name all the animals. Then he falls asleep while me and Morgan watch a few more minutes of tv.

He has been napping on the couch - it is crazy! He'll just lay down and go to sleep and sleep for hours. I love it. I can be really noisy too and it doesn't wake him up.

Uh-oh, I hear thunder. Time to go unplug the house.

Lightning crashes....

2008-07-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

I'm reading the internet, hanging out yesterday and hear some thunder rumbling off in the distance. No biggy, right, I hear that a lot in the summer.

Suddenly, KABOOM, the loudest thunder and biggest streak of lightning I have EVER seen. I threw the computer across the room (onto the ottoman), look over at Brock peacefully sleeping on the couch, then run around unplugging stuff praying for it not to happen again.

It got an outlet, 2 garage door openers ($100 each to repair), our wireless router ($60), and our cordless phone ($150?). BOO:(

Too little to claim on insurance but enough to sting.

Diapers, Diapers Everywhere

2008-07-25T07:36:00.000-07:00

So the big boy bed has inspired Brock to spend lots of time in his room, playing.

Is cleaning up the mess worth 10 minutes of peace and quiet?! ABSOLUTELY.

This is yet another reason why I should be hard-core potty training, instead of being lazy and changing diapers.

Orange Pop Ice

2008-07-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

Brock always wakes up ill. Especially when he hasn't slept enough (like today). The big boy bed is an adjustment and it took a while to get him down for his nap.

Well, he got up begging for a pop-ice. I got him one. Let me explain. He likes purple, blue, red, pink, green, orange (in that order). So if you give him a sheet to pick from, he always picks purple (MY FAVORITE - but being a good mom I give them to him).

When we are down to green/orange he throws a hissy when you give it to him. Goes to the door to downstairs and bangs on it like I'm going to drop everything to go to the deep freeze and get him more choices.

UGH. SO SPOILED (who did that?)

So today after nap I give him orange. He is crying and drama-kinging all over the place, and then he throws it down on the ground. Uh. NO MORE POPSICLES FOR YOU MISTER.

Yeah, right, he's eating the orange one right now.

My blog RULES now.

2008-07-24T05:37:00.001-07:00

Not really, but I love that picture of Brock. I mean, you can actually SEE his tonsils. Plus he's wearing his "My Dad is the Man" t-shirt.

I am finally learning how to make it cute.

Big Boy Bed - Night 2. Well, I watched the last dance or two of SYTYCD in the doorway of his room while he fell asleep. Then, around 5:30 he woke up crying. Morgan had dressed him in the hottest pjs ever. I figure that is why he woke up. I changed him to a t-shirt and we went to my bed to spread out til GLORIOUS 8 AM!

My Son, the Genius.

2008-07-23T11:37:00.001-07:00

Brock has just been exploding lately with his words! I'm so thrilled.

He said "Bee" while pointing at a dead bee in the playhouse.
"Hat"
"I sat down"
"Baby"
"Bubbles"
"Coke" - not thrilled w/this one.
"Nana" - pointing at a banana.
"Nannan and Nannad" - Gran Gran and Granddad
"Nana and Poppa"
"Meow"
"Good night" instead of night night.
"Goat" - this one is the word today:)

He's so smart. Just like his mommy.

SUCCESS!

2008-07-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

Here's how it went down:

9:15-9:30 read book, took pictures.
9;30 left him to sleep
9:31 patpatpat into the living room
9:40 laid down with him
9:45 I got up to pee
9:45:20 patpatpat into the bathroom
9:50 I sat in rocker, him in bed
10 him asleep, I snuck out
ME - up all night worrying.

6:45 -7 - he woke up.

:)

BIG BOY BED DAY!!!!

2008-07-22T07:02:00.000-07:00

I'm nervous. We *JUST* got Brock to sleep well and now we're throwing a kink into the mix. It's time. He bangs into the crib at night and well, he's almost 2! So, tonight is the big night. When Morgan gets home, we're taking his crib apart and making it into the bed. Bye-bye changing table. I bet Brock uses it as a huge trampoline.

I bought him a cool navy/maroon plaid comforter set at Target. A waterproof mattress cover - desparately needed, and a new memory foam pad for the mattress. Got the mattress out of storage. Put the highchair and spinning zebra in. He's ALMOST a big boy now.

I'll try to take a picture tonight when he gets in bed. Sniff, sniff.

Why do I feel so sad?

Why no one wants to work at Mtn Region Speech and Hearing...

2008-07-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

For some reason, we have been to speech therapy 4 times and had two different therapists tell us it was her last day.

Is Brock driving them to quit? LOL!!!

That's fine with me, the last chick had the personality of a bucket. Brock was finally warming up to her though. Today he jabbered on and on. He's doing better. Is it speech therapy (aka playing for 30 mins with a dollhouse), the fact that he's a month older, or the fact that I'm working with him at home?

He's "on hold" now until they hire someone new.

Tonight is the big FunFest Rodney Atkins concert. Me and my mother-in-law are going. We do a lot of stuff like this together since our husbands are homebodies. It blows our minds to see other couples at concerts, the mall, etc.

I'm going to post an old random picture of Brock. Just cause I feel like it.

Oh, gosh, he was like 8 months old here. No teeth but he had just learned to "cheese". It was hysterical how he would do for pictures:)

Day 3 and point-poor.

2008-07-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

Dangit. I had a LONG post typed out. and then POOF, it was gone.

I'm not writing it again. "READ MY MIND"

DAY 1 AGAIN

2008-07-14T12:52:00.000-07:00

Big SIGH.

Someday, like back in the olden days (March)...I will be able to make it an entire week counting points. And not just counting, staying WITHIN the allotted points.

I have 5 lbs to lose to get to goal.

Hopefully by Brock's birthday (August 5th). My new reward for hitting goal is a pair of rayban sunglasses. (these, aren't they cool - polarized too)

On a more positive note, last night I completed WEEK 5 of Couch to 5K.
When I finish it, and run a 5k....I am getting a new mp3 player (Creative Zen Vplus - I'm too poor for an Ipod plus I don't need video but I don't want a shuffle).

A new way to use Mega Blocks...

2008-07-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

Yep, toe shields? Brock was oh-so-proud of himself. (And no, that is not MY hairy foot).

My parents are gone:( Boo...

2008-07-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

I just had the nicest weekend. Brock was sick, but when he felt good we went to the park (instead of Dollywood) and had a McDonald's picnic.

They brought his new playset that Jay and Angel handed down from the girls, too. He had a ball playing on it. And will for months to come, years maybe. It is so nice to have generous family members. I will have to be generous too. I am a stingy person at heart, so I am always amazed when people give you stuff. LOL, I'm pathetic.

I asked Brock today (as he was peeking around at us grinning from his highchair) "Could you BE any cuter?" and his answer.... "No". LMAO!!

Here are some pics from the weekend.

My poor little baby...

2008-07-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

Brock is sick. 103.8 to be exact. He's laying around, not being himself. I called the pediatrician. Why do I always feel like I'm being "That Mom" that calls for every little thing? Especially when everytime I've actually taken him in he either had tonsillitis or walking pneumonia?

I've given up all rules today. He can nap on the couch (which he's doing now), he can eat unlimited amts of popsicles since he isn't eating food and he needs to stay hydrated, he can sleep with me. When he's sick I'm pushover mommy.

Anyways, if he is still sick Monday I'm supposed to take him in. He begged for a bath so I ran it and let him play with his bathtub crayons. He doesn't "get it" yet. He just holds them up to me and says "What's that?" and I tell him what color it is. He has yet to make a mark with them, even after I showed him how.

Guess he's saving it for the real walls and real crayons.

DAMN CRICKET(S)

2008-07-10T19:08:00.001-07:00

There is a herd of crickets outside my window. GRRRR

I suck.

2008-07-10T18:42:00.001-07:00

Well, I made it about a day.

Then ice cream.

Then cookies

I can't stop myself:(

Me and another Cammer were talking today about how gross we felt after eating crap. LIKE CRAP, that's how you feel.

So, tomorrow is a new day, and I am going to think "what will I feel like 15 minutes after I eat this?!"

Hope that helps me stay on track.

On a brighter note, my mom and dad are coming tomorrow. I miss them SO MUCH. We're going to Hickville USA (Dollywood - I have season tickets;) ) on Saturday. I hope Brock can make it a whole day without a meltdown like LAST TIME we went.

Tantrums in public are totally embarrassing, but what can you do?!?

I love So You Think You Can Dance. And on that note, I'm out.

WOOHOO - 2 days OP

2008-07-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

So yesterday began my "Goal by Brock's Birthday" challenge to myself.

I did good yesterday. I am a "eat all AP, FP" kind of gal. So, here was my yesterday tracker:

Breakfast:
Grape nuts w/skim milk (3.5 points)

Lunch:
watermelon (1 point)
whole wheat pasta w/marinara + 1 tbsp parmesan (4 points)
a tiny bit of grilled chicken (0.5 point)

Snack:
Fruit smoothie (2 points)

D (BR) inner:
2 biscuits (8.5 points)
simply fruit (1 point)
scrambled egg (2 points)

I think I'll have some more watermelon tonight.
I did Week 4 of C25k - 3 AP
Walked an hour - 3 AP

I think it works out - at least my tracker said it did:)

OMG, I think Brock just french kissed me. GROSS. LOL

Tomorrow is a new day....

2008-07-06T08:07:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I have eaten so much over the past few days.

But, good grief, it was GOOD. We had steak and potatoes and desserts galore, and then my Mother in law made the "BEST DINNER EVER" the other night.

Pork tenderloin, slaw, fried potatoes, corn on the cob, cooked apples, and some kind of blueberry cheesecake. YUM.

I can't quit eating choc chip cookie dough and the pea pickin cake I made for our company, either.

SO....tomorrow is the beginning of my "Goal by Brock's Birthday" challenge. LOL...maybe 5-7 lbs by August 5. I CAN DO THIS.

Paranoid, much?

2008-07-02T04:07:00.000-07:00

So last night I started week 4 on Couch to 5k. OMG - it was HARD.

It had 3-4 different long runs. On the last 5 min run, this truck with 2 guys in it drove by and then I didn't hear them turn the curve. I heard something on gravel (like they were turning around - ya know, to come murder or kidnap me) and so I freaked out, turned around and ran as fast as possible considering I was heaving a lung.

When I made it back to the "safe zone" (i.e., between my house and my brother-in-law's house), I slowed down and a car passed. So I was being paranoid, but tonight at walmart I'm getting some pepper spray.

For the record, why do people kidnap runners anyway. If it is to rape them, they are gross and sweaty. I guess rapists don't care about hygiene.

Anyways, I pigged out last night. I was trying to get B-ro to eat, so I made him some instant oats (which I ate) and a cereal bar (which I ate) and then I ate ANOTHER piece of cake. Oh, and a BLT and some baked cheetos for dinner.

Oink, oink. I'll do better today. (typed as I eat grapenuts and drink diet pepsi straight out of a 2L - mama would be so proud).

One more random thought

2008-07-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

I took my measurements at the end of Week 2 of Couch to 5k.

I have a really thick waist...my waist to hip ratio is .86 which is above the .80 recommendation. So, even though I'm well within my weight range recommendation, I am shaped like an apple and am risk for heart disease.

I hope this helps! All the WW chicks say that C25K has really transformed their bodies. We'll see. I'm posting them because....well, I'm afraid I'll lose the old envelope I wrote them on.

Waist: 32.5" (hello, dude waist)
Bust: 32" (that is under - where my bra band hits. Not sure if this is where I was supposed to measure or not)
Arm: 11.5"
Thigh: 21"
Hips: 37"
Calf: 13.5"
Neck: 12"

My waist BETTER be 29" by week 9. Yeah, keep dreaming, right?

MY CUTIE PATOOTY

2008-07-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, I had to post this.

I took pictures of Brock for his 2 year birthday invitations. Which I have STILL yet to order from snapfish.

He's so cute, looks just like his daddy.

Diet Coke Cake is GOOD

2008-07-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I should say Diet Pepsi Cake. It's the WW recipe you hear about all the time. Diet Pepsi (Can), egg whites (2), cake mix. Bake. OMG, so YUMMY.

Too bad it is still 4 points per serving, and I want to eat the whole thing.

I should NOT make sweets, WW or full fat. They are definitely my trigger foods.

I am going berserk with the blueberries too. Can't.STOP.EATING.THEM.

Other than that, I've been a relatively good girl today.

Honey Bunches of Oats w/Skim milk (3.5 points)
2 slices cinnamon toast w/splenda and spray butter (Not great, but I was STARVING...damn tapeworm) (1.5 points)

Subway Roast Beef w/light mayo and pepperjack cheese and sunchips (I could eat my body weight in sunchips) (7 + 3)

Piece of cake (4 points)
5 wheat thins (red fat - 1 point)

Quart of blueberries. Ok, maybe a cup. ( 1 point)

I only have 1 point for dinner. Plus 3 AP. I guess I'm eating cereal (grapenuts). Or I could have pb and banana and dip into my FP a little.

I am already deep in my flex points. WTH is wrong with me. I usually save them for the weekend. Maybe that is a bad plan though, because by WI day I am bloated and full of salt and FP calories and fat. I have no self-control!!!

I am going running, OH YEAH. That is 2 more AP for C25K week 4 day 1.

Enough w/the rambling. Brock just woke up.

2008-06-29T04:56:00.000-07:00

So I guess I don't post when I totally blow it.

I ate WAAAAAAYYYYY too much yesterday.

It all started with a lovely bowl of grapenuts (totally OP).

then lunch was a roll w/ham and regular lays. Then Brock wouldn't eat his roll so I *HAD* to eat 1/2 of it. And more chips.

THEN I CAME HOME. The ice cream was calling me. The candy bars (little ones) were calling me.

Then M&S called and asked us to dinner at Applebee's. Fried shrimp and a blondie later, I felt sick.

Eating badly makes me feel like crap now, which is good I guess. I laid around all night with a stomach/headache.

Today I will do better. I'm going to eat my mininum points and pray for the best tomorrow when I weigh in.

Long day.

2008-06-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

Speech therapy so far is exactly the opposite of what I hoped. The therapist had the personality of a rock. I won't go into details but that sums it up.

So I bought some groceries and a 5 dollar footlong roastbeef w/pepperjack and mayo. YUM. I ate half and a bunch of baked ruffles.

Then I seriously considered eating the other half and didn't.

Instead I had a ww lemon cake (1 pt), ww ice cream bar (2 points), and a red fat pop tart (4 points). So 0.5 more than the dang sandwich would have been.

I have learned my lesson. At least the sandwich had protein and dairy instead of processed crap.

Brock has been cute today (except in speech therapy where he was denied a toy....OH NO SHE DIDN'T).

He grabbed my face a few times and gave me a big kiss. Can't beat it. He's STILL nappin gat 4:17. I'm loving late naps and late bedtimes. It means 7:15 wake ups! YAY!

I'm debating dinner now. I have stuff to make enchiladas, but I've blown it today so I might do "fend for yourself" night. I made mashed potatoes for Brock last night so he can eat that and something with it. I'll have cereal and do my C25K W3 Day 2.

3 of us are doing it on my WW thread. NO, wait, 4 of us. Maybe next year we'll run a race together if we have a momvention.

Ok, I've bored everyone enough. All one of you.

Day 1. Don't make fun of my blog.

2008-06-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have been reading all these blogs from the WW girls, and felt left out. This one girl had a great blog about her weight loss journey. It seemed like it held her accountable for what she ate, how she exercised, etc. Now she's pregnant and looks terrific.

I might throw in some pictures and stories if anything interesting happens.

Today we're just hanging out around the house. It's a big stock market day (Fed Meeting) so I can't be gone!

Brock is sitting on my arm watching Dora the Explorer. He loves this show. I will have to get out my video camera and catch him doing the "Swiper no swiping!" arm movements. He goes apeshit when Swiper shows up. SO CUTE!

There's a helicopter going over the house and Brock hears it. He keeps saying "UH-OH". His little voice is so cute. I just wish he would use it more.

Ok, so here's what I've eaten so far today.

Breakfast :
1.5 Pillsbury Grand Flaky Biscuits (one was mine, 1/2 was Brock's) (6 points)
1 tsp Strawberry jam (0.5 points)

Lunch:
Brown minute rice w/mushrooms & onions (3/4 cup) (4 points)
Steamed Broccoli (0 points)
2 cups watermelon (2 points)
ww ice cream sundae cone (2 points)

IF I could keep my hands off Brock's food, I would be golden.

I am going to do the elliptical tonight for 40 minutes since my MIL and I didn't walk today. She had to sell berries at the farmer's market.