Go Cleveland!

Well...it sure is hard to stick to a diet when you have amazing places in Cleveland to dine. Joel and I tried out http://www.bspotburgers.com/ and it was amazing! Ridiculous toppings...Lola Fries...High quality beef....and just what you expect from Michael Symon: A fantastic dining experience.

I honestly am kind of digging how Cleveland is getting such a 'name' in the food world. After years of poking fun at the city whose river caught on fire...we're definitely becoming a place to be proud of!

a night with my little man....

You know having a 2nd child means alot.

A division of labor unlike Joel and I have ever known.

A ton of time spent with one while you are guilt-ridden about cartoons on for the other.

Energy-lacking at every part of the day - yet you are still expected to build lego towers...make 3 meals + snacks every day....snuggle and read books...all while nursing new baby for 45 minutes at a time and in 1 hour intervals.

It's been quite the transition.

So....looking back at the last 11wks, I noticed how selfless Jude had been. Instead of throwing fits or whining for attention, he politely waited or eagerly helped with this new creature we call Leland. It was a beautiful transition....everyone kept telling me, 'Just wait...he's going to be throwing toys at baby's head out of jealousy!' I am still waiting....

So, last night we started the tradition of Mom/Jude date nights. He gets to pick where we go, what we do, and HE gets to pay for me. (care of Daddy's wallet, of course) Here are the pics of our movie night out to see "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs"

the competition!

Joel and I are on a mission...somehow 20-30lbs creeped up on us...and we're done with it. We are ready to pull out the 'skinny' clothes and wear them loud and proud. Funny because Joel, being a very healthy and slender individual, is really dieting for the first time. It's interesting as I've dieted a bajillion times that it's SO much easier when you have a partner at it....

We got a new piece of workout equiptment....it's in the basement....and a friend gave it to us. I am sad to say I have yet to try it but boy oh boy, my hubby is kickin' it hard! He even did sit-ups this morning at 6am!

I look ahead at the warmer months coming (even though it doesn't seem like it) and I refuse to allow them to come without me giving the effort to feel good about myself again. Fertility drugs, pregnancy....does a number on your body. It's time to be ME again...

I'm down 5lbs so far....Joel has yet to weigh himself so we'll be posting the results asap!

Wish us luck!

I might be psycho...but I'm not getting sick

So I feel bad. I've been sort of treating Jude like a leper. He's had this nasty cough/cold/snotty/fever/icky thing....stayed home from school all week...he was sick enough to miss "Hat Day" at school. What is hat day you ask? It's one of the coolest days ever in which you can pick the craziest hat and wear it all day. Yeah...and he willingly told me he was too sick for hat day. I knew he was not faking it.

So...here we are at home: Jude - sick as can be. Leland - cute and cuddly. Me - psychotic mother who is disinfecting everything including the keys I'm typing this on. I even kept Jude to one part of the living room all week while Leland was on the other. I have been downing Vitamin C like it's my breakfast/lunch/dinner and drinking more water than I can contain. I.CANNOT.GET.SICK!

I hardly sleep...how will I get better if I hardly ever sleep? The worst part is I think Joel is getting it. It really makes me want to start early next fall with immunity building supplements. Not sure if we're just getting older or what (Joel will be 30 in June) but we just cannot fight off cold/flu one episode after the other.

So...anyway off lysol the counter tops...phone...keys...door knobs...keyboard again....etc etc.

could they be more different?

The first thing people tell me when they meet Leland is "Oh my goodness, he looks JUST LIKE JUDE!" They are very right about that. These boys have such similar facial characteristics, it's unreal. The way their lips purse, the unique chins they both have, and even how their cheeks are shaped...not to mention their coloring.

It's fun for me, however, in the day-to-day to notice the differences in them:

Jude was the fussiest baby on the block
Leland is the happiest baby on the block

Jude refused to breastfeed
Leland is ALL about it

Jude wanted to be held, bounced, rocked, walked
Leland appreciates alone time

Jude slept through the night at 9wks
Leland....hmm...any day now???

Jude smiled here and there at this age (10wks)
Leland smiles at a pair of socks being folded

Jude was frustrated by crazy sounds, normal sounds, any sounds
Leland LOVES stimuli by sight and sound (He will swing while his dad plays piano for 30 minutes)

I love their differences...I am learning to expect the unexpected. What an adventure this is!

Jude @ 12wks, Leland @ 8wks

a moment

Yesterday we were at church...doing our thing. I was waiting for the clock to say 10:50am so I could check Jude into his class....get someone to hold Leland...and go sing with Joel for worship. All of a sudden...when I handed the baby off, his warm little body leaving such a warming sensation on my neck. I took Jude's hand....he smiled and said, "Is it time for my class?" I nodded and then realized how big his hand felt in mine. I noticed how we walked in a similar pace...and he spoke to me so clearly and eloquently. I began to realize that these last 2 months in newborn-land, Jude really grew up.

He took on a new role that I hadn't prepared myself for. He was turning into a little boy...not a toddler and just barely a preschooler...he was growing and maturing.

I enjoy that nestle of Leland's head in my neck, his goofy toothless grin, and the piggy sound he makes when he is hungry....but I am trying to take those moments and also look over to the young man who is growing faster than ever. Perhaps it's the mystery of having more than one child...how do I capture both the moments as they come...how do I write it all down and take photos of it all? What if I forget...I guess that is why we write, we re-tell the stories that make us...and we strive to live a life of gratitude for things in life that are priceless.

brothers....

So...not sure if you have noticed this but I am kind of into these 2 boys: Jude and Leland. They seriously make life a little more interesting...and keep me on my toes.

As an only child myself, one of the things I looked forward to was the budding relationship between these guys. I've watched Joel and his older bro, Ryan, through the years and have yearned for my boys to have 'that' kind of friendship.

Here's a little piece of our day today....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0XdsfKP2Lo

Weight Loss Baby!

So....its that time of year....every other commercial is one about losing weight and I am SO motivated to get rid of this weight so when summer time arrives, I'm not hanging out in stretchy pants anymore.

My Dad, Joel and I have a competition:

First one to knock off 20Lbs wins $100! I am on day 4 of the diet and am down 4lbs! yay! My Dad probably is down 5-6 at this point...so I have to kick it into high gear.

My plan is this:

30 minutes of cardio daily (whatever it can be!)
High Fiber Breakfast
120oz of water daily
NO: Meat, White Flour or Sweets
Dinner is mainly veggies with a snack of fruit before bed

It's intense....but the other GREAT benefit is I am breastfeeding my now 2 month old....which they say burns 300-500 calories per day. As long as I can keep my protein up via eggs, peanut butter, almonds, I should not have to worry about my supply. Although, I am keeping close watch....

So....here we go!

Pajama Day 2010

What a great way to end our vacation - a foot of snow and a total reason to stay in and snuggle!

That's right, Jude, Leland and I are pumped for PJ DAY 2010....we started the morning off with waffles, coffee (for me) and the Aristocats! :)



An hour with play-doh, 4 or 5 books during story time, and a spontaneous dance party....the afternoon warmed up with hot cocoa and a fuzzy blanket over Jude, Leland and I...hope to keep on doing these 'theme days' as Jude has absolutely loved it. I must admit...it's a wonderful bonding time - from what I keep hearing..."They grow up too fast..."

THE RESOLUTIONS!

Ok....so not to be cliche....but its time to really get serious about a few things:

1-Exercise that is C O N S I S T E N T!!!!

2-Devotional life that is C O N S I S T E N T and shared with my hubby more often!

3-Become more creative in my mother, teaching, and nurturing

I am interested, if anyone even reads this blog, what your resolutions are....share!!!