Birthdays!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MOMMY AND DADDY!!!

And Happy 8 Months to Carmine!
More updates later, I am tired!

The Limo Ride

My mom drove our car over to the reception with the kids so that we could ride over in the limo. I would have been ok driving over, but I know Hope wanted the whole wedding party to ride. We got some cute pictures.
me and Anupa

The Limo Ride

My mom drove our car over to the reception with the kids so that we could ride over in the limo. I would have been ok driving over, but I know Hope wanted the whole wedding party to ride. We got some cute pictures.

Bachelorette Party!

Part 1 in a series from my brother's wedding! The bachelorette party was actually last weekend, but it has obviously been a busy week.
We had a lot of fun. We started out at the bride's parents house for a passion party and drank and played "Never have I ever..." then we went out to a couple of bars and then we went to Steak-N-Shake. I didn't get home until 4:45 am!! YIKES! I was exhausted the next day. Actually I am not sure if I have recovered still. But we had a lot of fun. I drank a little bit before we went out (there were two DDs) but I only had 2 shots while we were out. Actually no one really got drunk. Well except for one girl, but it was a friend of a friend. The bride had fun and she had a little spinner button that we had guys spinning. Nothing too crazy, just "dance with me", "flirt with me", "give me a buck", "tell me a secret", etc. My legs were actually sore the next day because of the dancing. It has been a long time since I have gone to a bar like that, actually about a year.
Hope and her mom playing with one of the "toys"

a group picture minus me at the bar.

me and Anupa dancing

taking a shot with the bride and my sister.

6 months/2.5 years

We had pictures taken yesterday. I think they turned out pretty good considering we had 2 tired boys on our hands.

Carmine at 6 monthsRece at 6 months
Rece at 2 1/2 years
Our Family

Carmine is sitting up on his own now. It isn't 100% but he does pretty good. He occassionally propels himself backwards when he gets excited. He is also newly really playing with his feet.

SWIMMING!!

This is a little late, as it happened last week, but oh well.

First we blew up the baby pool and Rece loved it! Carmine did not have the same love for the pool. We also had the elmo sprinkler on which Rece also liked. This is Rece the first swim.

But then we also went to a local pool to take them swimming. Rece did great! It was shallow enough that he could walk around a little. He didn't really like letting us go but did a couple of times. He even let daddy float him a couple times. He never really relaxed, but we are working on that, and there may be an underlying reason that I will go into later.

Carmine liked the big pool much better, it wasn't quite as cold. He actually kind of enjoyed floating. I didn't dunk anyone today, cause it was way to cold and I didn't even want to go under! I am not that mean!!

And lets not forget about yummy pool pizza!

Oh I am so missing my moms pool this year! I can't possibly go to a public pool by myself so we are stuck waiting until a free day on the weekend which very rarely happens.

And lets not forget the swinging! This was Carmine's first time in a swing and he loved it. Much more than Rece did at that age.

On a totally different note, my little boy is 2 1/2 today! I can't believe how big he is getting. Everyday he makes me laugh and everyday he surprises me. He is a lot of fun right now and he thinks he is the funniest person on the planet. He has got the biggest personality and I can't even convey it to the people who read this blog that don't actually know him. Even the people that don't get to see him often have only seen the surface of that personality. Those of you that will be at Uncle Keith's wedding will get to see it in full bloom. He absolutely LOVES dancing and being the center of attention. So between walking down the aisle as the ring bearer and dancing the night away at the reception he is going to be the life of the party. Aunt Hope already knows this and is ok with it ;) I doubt that he will ever know or understand how much I love him and what it means to me that I get to spend every single day with him. And I get to be the one who shows him all the new adventures and amusements of every day life.

And Then....

On Friday we had a relaxed day and didn't do much of anything...which I think everyone needed. Then on Saturday was Tony's brother, Jeffrey's graduation party. Nothing too exciting but Rece enjoyed the cake and Carmine enjoyed a snooze in the sun!

And on Saturday we had a double date night! Doesn't happen too often anymore! We went to a comedy club where we had dinner first. The comedian was really funny. I think everyone needed a good laugh and had a really good time. But I know the morning came way too soon!!

Stay tuned for all the details about the surprise party...as soon as I get the pictures from my brother!

Recap

Well our phone line has been down since Friday, so no computer until now!
Carmine had his 4 month check up today. He is tiny still!! He is 12 lbs. 9.5 oz. and 24 in. Which means he didn't grow at all in length and only gained 6.5 oz! But the pediatrician isn't worried so neither am I. He is still thriving and happy.
Does he laugh? check
Does he reach to grab things? Check
Does he put things in his mouth? check
And the doctor is still fine, even encouraging, about me waiting until at least 6 months to start solids. He did get 4 shots today an of course cried but he seems to be ok.

WEEKLY WEIGH IN:
Weight-138 (-1/-17)
Thigh-20.5 (-.25/-2)
Hips-38 (-.5/-4)
Waist-33.25 (-.25/-5.75)
Chest-36 (-.5/-3.25)
Upper arm-10.5 (-.25/-.75)
Not bad. I am having a little trouble keeping my motivation up. I ended the LifePoints challenge that I was doing with my mom. We won!!! And overall I was the biggest loser. So that was great and that was by no means the reason I started working out. But I have a competitive streak and that was helping it along. I try to get up at 5:30 to work out. It is the only consistent time I have to do and the only garunteed time. And the thing is is that I feel so much better through the day when that happens. But, that 5:30 comes pretty quickly especially if you have a child waking in the middle of the night (or two). They generally both sleep through the night but occasionally Carmine wakes to eat. And lately Rece has been having issues with pee and poo so he occasionally wakes at night! But I really want to get back on track. Hopefully tomorrow, but right now I have a cold and slightly sore throat. So we will see.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

We had a great mothers day. First time as a mother of 2!! I had a nice relaxing morning and we went to lunch with my family. Then we went to visit with Tony's mom for a little bit. Rece learned how to say Happy Mothers Day and it is so cute! And he helped daddy bring me my cards and breakfast in bed.



Me and my boys.



These are the 4 generations of moms we have. My grandma, me, my great-grandma, my aunt and my mom.

Weekly Weigh In

A little late.
Weight-139 (0/-16)
Thigh-20.75 (-.25/-1.75)
Hips-38.5 (-.5/-3.5)
Waist-33.5 (0/-5.5)
Chest-didn't even measure because of how engorged I was!
Upper Arm-10.75 (0/-.5)

Not any great progress, but I was really ok with this this week because overall it was a rough week. Carmine I believe is going through a growth spurt so he was up almost every night this week, which is not normal for him. And to make it worse he was getting up at like 4:30ish. Which if you get up at 5:30 to workout, that is tough. So half of the time I didn't make it up at 5:30, so my workouts got cut short or didn't make it at all. Oh well, life happens. This week will be better although I didn't get off to a great start. Rece was up at 4:30 and 5:15. Then I Gunner out of the bathroom (where he is sleeping) and saw that he had pooped and had stepped all over it! Then Carmine started crying so I fed him and then I had to go and clean up the bathroom. So the first 45 min of my day was taken up by taking care of children and animals! So, I only got half of my workout in, the rest will come during naptime! Overall Gunner is a really good puppy, but he is just that, a puppy! He pees a little when he gets excited or when I raise my voice at him. And he does like to go for stuffed animal. Elmo almost got it this morning :)

Weekly Weigh In

Weight-139(-1/-16)
Thigh-21(-.25/-1.5)
Hips-39(-.25/-3)
Waist-33.5(-1.25/5.5)
Chest-36.5(-1.5/-2.75)
Upper Arm-10.75(0/-.5)

WOW! When I first weighed myself I wasn't that impressed although excited about seeing the 130s! I haven't seen those for about 3.5 years and by then I was on my up. But then I weighed myself and that was pretty exciting!!!! That was a lot of inches. I have definitely hit my limit for my arms I think but that is ok, toning them is good. Total I have lost 15.25 inches!!!! I have been really good about working out and working hard. And overall my eating has been sooo much better. Although yesterday I had an awful day eating, but I guess one won't kill all my efforts! Oh, and I am fitting into my size 8s. My 12s now just fall off of my. My 10s are pretty comfy but getting a little saggy in the butt area!!!

Weekly Weigh In

Weight-140! (-2/-15 total)
Thigh-21.25 (0/-1.25)
Hips-39.25 (-.25/-2.75)
Waist-34.75 (+.25/-4.25)
Chest-38 (+1/-1.25)
Upper Arm-10.75 (+.5/-.5)

Ok, so I was super excited about my weight!!! But then I gained in 3 places. The chest I don't really care about because of breastfeeding, and the arm I could chalk up to muscle toning but my waist is no good! My goal this week is to workout extra hard, just give it an extra 15 min. or use a little more weight and to eat virtually no junk this week since last week was so awful with the easter candy.

Wordless Wednesday

Weekly Weigh In

Weight-142 (-1.5/-13 total)
Thigh-21.25 (0/-1.25 total)
Hips-39.5 (0/-2.5 total)
Waist-34.5 (0/-4.5 total)
Chest-37 (-.5/-2.25 total)
Upper Arm-10.5 (0/-.75 total)

So a little bummed, I was hoping to be to my halfway goal this week. But my workouts this week were really low intensity just going through the motions. So, I can't say that I am surprised. But I just got a Jillian Michaels workout DVD that might help my motivation because OUCH!!! It really was hard! Lower numbers next week. This seems to be another plateau. I WILL get past it.

March of Dimes

My family is walking in Walk America for the March of Dimes. Anyone that would like to sponser me to help save premature babies can go to this website www.walkamerica.org/awntkmess This is for a great cause!! I will put the website over in the sidebar until April 29.

Weekly Weigh In

YUCK!!!
Well the only change is that I GAINED 2 lbs. What is up with that??? I work out 6 days this week and increased my workouts. I did better with eating! Why did I gain? I know female hormones play a part in pretty nomal fluctuations but still I hate seeing that. My short term goal is to be half way by easter, but now that means I need to lose 3.5 lbs. in one week. Don't know if that will happen.

Weekly Weigh In

Weight-141.5 (-2/-13.5 total)
Thigh-21.25 (-.25/-1.25 total)
Hips-39.5 (-.5/-2.5 total)
Waist-34.5 (-1/-4.5 total)
Chest-38 (+.5/-1.25 total)
Upper Arm-10.5 (-..25/-.75 total)

What a great week! I was not expecting this. I have had strep throat so I haven't worked out the last 2 days, but back on track today. I was really excited about the weight and the hips. Losing in the waist is always exciting but I have been doing that pretty consistently. I still have some pregnancy weight there.

Weekly Weigh In

Weight-143.5 (-1.5/-11.5 total)
Thigh-21.5 (0/-1 total)
Hips-40 (0/-2 total)
Waist-35.5 (-.75/-3.5 total)
Chest-37.5 (-.5/-1.75 total)
Upper Arm-10.75 (0/-.5 total)

I was pretty happy today. I don't really think my legs are going to change all that much but I am ok with that. Everything else I would still like to see change a little at least. And I am so sore!! I think my chest is also where it is going to stay for a while because of breastfeeding. But I know that will go down again later on. No hurry for that though.

Trace Adkins

Tony and I had a date last night, we went to the Trace Adkins concert. It was a pretty good concert. Craig Morgan was really good. We had a lot of fun but I was exhausted this morning! These are the only pictures I took. I don't generally go for long hair, but I think his voice and body are what make him so SEXY! Craig Morgan is ok too but he was a really good dancer.

Weekly Weigh In

Weight-145 (0/-10 total)
Thigh-21.5 in. (0/-1 total)
Hips-40 in. (-.5/-2 total)
Waist-36.25 (0/-2.75 total)
Chest-37.5 (0/-1.75 total)
Upper arm-10.75 (-.25/-.5 total)

So, not much progress this week, but I am ok with that because I felt like I had a horrible week with exercising and eating so I was just happy not to gain! I am trying to do better with my eating but it is still not as important to me as working out. I don't want to worry too much about it because the extra calories I need for Carmine, but the few things I have implemented for myself is no pop-that has been since Carmine has been born, I don't eat past 8:30 pm-that has just been the last week or so, I eat on a salad plate at home-that has been since before Carmine was born, and when we eat out I eat only about half of my dinner and bring the rest home-that has also only been in the last week. However, I do eat when I am hungry, I don't limit myself just because I may think I have eaten too much. Breastfeeding is more important than weight loss right now. Once Carmine is on solids also then I will be able to do a LITTLE more, but that won't be for a while.