Family visits and trying to get into a yoga groove

Munchkin's 2nd birthday was lots of fun...she was after her cake like mad when she saw me come through the door with it! I shot this video when I could step away and get the camera...but she had been slowly dragging the chair around the room to try to get to the cake. It was entertaining!

Michele and Dave arrived Thursday and I'm so happy to have them here, each visit really is too short no matter how long it is. Truly blessed to have them in my life. We are just now waiting for the Munchkin to finish her nap so we can head over to Nana's house for the big family dinner.

Jason is off this week as well, and it's great he's getting some time off to just relax cause Lord knows he needs it. And Munchkin is loving having her Daddy home to play with.

I'm in my first weekend of YTT and it's definitely interesting. 3 hours of yoga this morning (optional 4th hour but I'm not ready yet) and then again tomorrow morning. I think I've just accepted that I'm going to be sore pretty much constantly for the next few weeks. That's what happens when you never cultivate upper body strength and then ignore your core after having a baby. All that flab gets in the way and I just can't hold it up. I have already made progress on one pose though, I can hold it for 3 whole seconds. If that doesn't impress you...this was the pose http://yoga.about.com/od/yogaposes/a/crow.htm. Impressed now?

Stacey gave me my mat and I do love it. It has an orchid pattern running all over it. Which is good...orchids remind me not to love things into strangulation. It's a lesson I don't always remember too well, and really should. My little "ignorchid" I had in Rhode Island that I couldn't get to thrive until I gave it up for dead and left it alone. Then it bloomed 3 times more than it ever had. Growth needs space.

This is also why I wish Munchkin's doctor would leave her alone. Her weight is unchanged in the last month, her growth hormone is low (though I learned, the low end of normal...so leave it be!), we have been referred to nutrition again, to pediatric endocrinology, and to have her tested for Cystic Fibrosis (which she has no familial history of and NO symptoms of ever). One more check in the box. I think she's fine.

She stole her Yiayiah's shoes yesterday and was clopping happily around on them. Get the girl on a little heel and she goes nuts.

Munchkin ran a half mile today

And that's not joking or metaphorical. We took the beautiful day and went to walk the Dismal Swamp Canal trail (really a paved road that isn't used anymore). She wanted to get down and there were few people on bikes (and the ones that were were VERY road-mannered). So we let her run. And watched the distance markers add up. She was singing to herself the whole way...that is her Daddy's girl. Mommy is NOT a runner.

Here is a short (SHORT) video of her pacing for that half mile!


So the water damage estimate guy came out again yesterday and the kitchen claim will be on the same claim (so no additonal deductible!). Then I went and had my butt kicked by the Zumba instructor I love, took Munchkin to get her bloodwork for her next appointment, and headed home. Jas was home early, shock, and said upon my entering the house..."she's napping and I've got her. Why don't you go get a massage?" Well, HELLO you bet your butt I will! NO one has availability. I am seriously calling everywhere and then get a small hit on Google somehow that I hadn't gotten before and THEY had an opening. It was serendipity...they are a newer spa and the general manager is an MT and did my massage. It actually turned into a kick ass massage and semi-interview. I have no doubt if she gets rid of a few people soon (she mentioned her irritation with some of them) that she will give me a call!

Last night was an amazing date night (I think we've had like 4 since Munchkin was born). The YMCA had a Parents' Night out so we took advantage and went to McCormick and Schmick's restaurant and had great food and a relatively quiet dinner without having to have the conversation peppered with "No, honey, don't bang that spoon on the table....Munckin, we don't eat crayons...No, you may not have my water you have your own cup..." and so on. It was fabulous. And the Y people said she was the only one that didn't cry the whole night. When we arrived to pick her up her face was like "oh, y'all left? I hadn't noticed." Such a cutie...so yesterday was an awesome day all around!

Headed of to bed. I've got a lot to do tomorrow...and the Bottle Fairy comes tonight and Tinkerbell's decorator will be transforming our kitchen (well, a little, I didn't want it to look like Tink threw up in there). I can't believe my little one is 2 years old tomorrow. What a ride.

Blueberry pancakes to start the day

Mmmmmmm. At Cracker Barrel. Is there much more that needs to be added?

Happy Valentine's Day all

I am intrigued to find out how my bestest's night went...she had some big plans. Just a relaxing day around here, texts back and forth, a nice fire, Jason let me sleep in which was the BEST gift ever, ever ever. Well, a week at a spa wouldn't hurt, but you work with what you've got.

Is it spring yet? I'm so tired of the cold. I don't mind snow, but I would just rather be able to be outside more. I'm really looking forward to warmer weather. Munchkin enjoyed her trip to the mall playground, and helping me choose some chocolates for Daddy from Godiva. She especially liked testing out the dark chocolate, she is a huge fan.

We're picking colors for the dining room and the hallway, the insurance adjustor should be getting back to us this week. Now I just have to figure out what that other crack in my ceiling is!

Zumba and yoga kicked my butt today!

Wowza, am I tired. I'm glad Munchkin decided to nap earlier than her usual because I NEEDED a hot soak bath!

Cutting the shade for our bathroom window today. I am armed with a hacksaw, garden shears, and a white Crayola crayon. The garden shears were actually a REALLY good call. I hope to get this shade up and take down the uber-ghetto sheet I've had covering the window for a year and a half!

Supposed to get more snow tonight.

More snow, then none

So it was snowing fit to kill this morning. I ran out before it got bad to get a few more firelogs just in case and some milk for Munchkin. Got home, got a fire going, and WHAM...snow stops, temperature goes up, and it starts melting. Good I guess 'cause I'm tired of snow a bit. I like it either snowed in or none at all, thank you.

I did get my financial aid set for my yoga program so I start in TWO WEEKS. I can't believe after all of the time passed since it was approved. But now that I've also started spinning classes and Zumba classes, I feel like I'll be in a bit better shape to handle it.

But I'm going to have to break out as many mostly veggie soup recipes as I can. I'll have to eat late on Wed nights, and soup is easier to digest. I have a great mushroom soup and also a good corn and potato chowder but I'm open to suggestion!

The portable worked GREAT!

Wonderful invention, that portable DVD. We set Munchkin up with it in a little fort chair in the corner so we could watch the game. I wasn't really invested in the game because I don't love NFL, but I am glad the Saints won.

Munchkin seems to be in withdrawl this morning, she keeps crying "Watch fooball, watch fooball with Daddy". She is too funny.

Apparently playing Air Guitar has gotten so popular that it is now even acceptable at the SuperBowl Halftime show.

Oh, goodness! I can take Tinkerbell and Nemo ANYWHERE around the house with me. Oh this is fine!

Lazy day Sunday

Just a lazy kind of day today. Little internet, little hot tea, little candy TV marathon. I'm good. Munchkin is asleep and Dad is reading his hiking books and watching his favorite Suvirorman episodes on TV. Nice and relaxing today.

Wow, the CoastGuard exchange is really nice inside. Score!

Mmmmmm, blueberry pancakes at Cracker Barrel are AWESOME. And they even matched my outfit!!! Good thing, I left wearing some.

Snowing AGAIN

Totally didn't think it would stick today, but it definitely is. At least not to the roads just yet though. I hit Lowe's for some firelogs and started the renovation process...well getting estimates...for the kitchen. I would love to find out that it will be less expensive than I think. How often does that truly happen, though? Well, Lowe's does offer military discounts so that will be a factor. I just don't want to keep waiting, I know IF we have to sell this house in the next few years that we will have to upgrade the kitchen. I'd rather do it now and get MY enjoyment out of it!

The yoga stuff is a go, I just have to turn in my tuition paperwork to the school. They have gotten the approval to have the childcare open for Saturday and Sunday classes so that is AWESOME. I am so excited to begin this journey. AND I took my first Spinning class in 8 years today. Jokingly, I call it bull riding class because this class will make you sore as all hell if you aren't careful. I was glad they had some extra gel seats for the class and I loved the instructor. Hopefully this will help drop the weight faster since running hurts my knees (until I drop some weight).

Munchkin is not thrilled with the snow. She likes being held with it swirling around. But she doesn't really want to play in it. Which is funny because she really wants to play and make a snowman. Maybe I'll collect some and let her build one in the kitchen. We'll see.

Ok, apparently snow can stick to soaked warm ground in 35 degree weather. VERY QUICKLY.

Mom said it wasn't going to snow today. Liar.

Sarcasm = bad language tool for 2 yr old

Again, as a parent, it's really hard to censor yourself. I'd imagine you get better at it if you have more than one kid, but as a first timer you just lack the awareness for censoring yourself. I don't think I will shock anyone by admitting that I am HIGHLY sarcastic. Uh-oh.

Whenever Munchkin's crying for some non-important reason (like I won't let her play inside the cabinets at Lowe's for example) I always shoosh her and say "Oh, I know honey. Mommy's the meanest". Well, that bit me in the butt today. I was hoping while running errands I could let her blow off some steam at Lowe's. Which she did, running happily down all the aisles giggling like nobody's business. (what does that mean anyway?). We get to the design center and she's quick as a wink inside the cabinet display. She loves cabinets, I should have seen this coming. What I did NOT forsee was the extra 5 pounds she was going to gain in sheer dust volume. Ugh. Too much dust to even form bunnies...now that is bad.

So I dust her off, and pick her up to take her away and she's crying. So I said what I normally say, and she in her BEST almost-2-year-old sob begins repeating "Mommy's the meanest, Mommy's the meanest".

Great. Like we don't torture ourselves enough as new parents, they can twist that knife without even knowing how.

LARGE quantities of dust inside all displays at Lowe's. Be especially careful when looking around them...guard the eye Mom!!

Home improvement stores CAN be fun for me!!! Who knew? I got to run and play, and mom stopped me right when I realized I could get inside things. Mommy's the meanest.