Quick Takes

-1-

I am the smartest woman alive. My extreme love of sleep has led me to discover a method of nighttime diapering that doesn't cost a fortune and lasts for 13 hours. I nurse Paul when I put him to bed, then again when I go to bed, then (usually) once during the middle of the night. And the kid is a peer. As in, one who pees. Not a person who is the same age. He soaks through the cloth in just a few minutes sometimes. And the disposables weren't making the cut either. I don't mind semi-waking up to nurse but I really mind completely waking up to change a diaper of a screaming baby.

That's where my smarts come in. One regular and one hemp diaper insert.....inside Hannah's size 4 diapers. He soaks through the first insert, then the second, then saturates the disposable. The whole thing weighs several pounds in the morning but I don't have to change a diaper in the middle of the night! He doesn't mind. The sheets stay dry. It's just the best.

-2-

Thanks to this new diaper invention, both kiddos now sleep in size 4 diapers. Hannah's only in them for naps and nighttime and it's usually dry after naps. If it is, I just leave it on the floor and put it back on for bedtime. The other day one of her used but dry diapers made its way into Paul's room. So I used it for his nighttime diaper. When I was putting it on I thought, "How cute, they're already sharing....."

If you think that's gross, you probably don't want to be my friend. That's not even the half of the level of gross I'm perfectly comfortable with.

-3-

I mentioned last week that I was sore head to toe after just two workouts with Jillian . I've managed to keep it up about every other day and, to my incredibly great surprise, am no longer sore. Or even very winded from it. I've only done the workout a total of 5 or 6 times and I can already tell that I'm in better shape. I had no idea my body (or any human body really) was capable of improvement that quickly. I might actually move to Level 2 at some point in this exercise experience.

-4-

I'm cheating and writing these Thursday night. Ted is watching the last game of the NBA Finals. I think San Antonio is going to win but I'm rooting for the heat. But really, I don't care at all.

-5-

My current mission in life is to make all of our dinners without turing on the oven. It is so, so, so hot. Even if I crank the air down, the stove and oven heat the kitchen up so badly that I'm getting light headed and weak (partly the fault of the giant nursing baby). So far this week we've used the grill or crockpot every single day. And the crockpot must be in the garage. Inside is not an option. Pulled pork, grilled meatballs, hamburgers, barbecued chicken, and kabobs. All without making me sweat :)

-6-

I think we're close to making a decision on a new laptop. We are taking (likely) advantage of my sister's generous offer to give us her 2006 MacBook and paying to get it up to shape. It needs a new battery and power cord and the software needs to be updated. But other than that it runs great. I'm hoping it's a good choice, because it'll be way cheaper than getting a new laptop that has everything we want (namely, a built in webcam that Hannah can't yank off when we Skype with family). When we get it I'll finally be able to upload all my photos and videos. These crappy cellphone pics are getting old.

I only have two pictures from the cellphone this week. One of them is Hannah sitting on her little potty typing on her leaptop. Adorable. But only aunts and grandparents got the privilege of seeing that one.

This one was taken at 10:00 in the morning when I was sitting in the shade and sweating like LeBron James at the end of this basketball game. Several friends had us over for pool play dates this week and Hannah was loving it. I might even get to sign her up for swimming lessons with a friend and I can't wait.

-7-

In bloggy news, my favorite blogger just moved to Patheos. She's still writing for the National Catholic Register too. So much goodness, I don't even know if I'll be able to keep up!

Have a great weekend everyone! Join Jen for more quick takers.

Quick Takes

-1-

After two days of Jillian I could hardly move. I was so sore that I seriously doubted my ability to care for my children. Squatting down to help Hannah on the potty was agonizing and I felt like I was going to drop Paul all day. A wise and trusted friend suggested I scale back to every other day until I can handle it. And you know what is super weird? I was kinda bummed when that meant I couldn't work out yesterday. Who am I??? Will this last?? Will I ever make it Level 2?? Stay tuned.

-2-

This is the only quick take about sleep this week. I promise. But what good is a blog if you can't ask the advice of hundreds of strangers on the internet? I usually get better advice than when I ask individual friends (even though I have awesome friends) because it's more likely that someone reading this will have gone through a similar situation.  All that to say.....help.

Hannah is miserable when we put her to bed. For months and months she laid down peacefully in her crib, talked and played for a while, then fell asleep (don't hate us. we endured torture from months 3-13). Now she yells and cries for up to two hours. I'm pretty sure that she just cannot figure out how to calm herself and relax. She's so much like her mama that she gets bored if she lays awake for more than 30 seconds. She climbs all over her crib and swings her legs off the sides because she can't sit still. We've tried music in her room. No good. The light-up sleeping bunny that reminds her it's time to sleep. It helps with middle of the night wakeups, but not at bedtime. We give her books to read and baby dolls to change and she throws them out because "boots no bed" and that's not where books belong in her organized little mind. Earlier bedtime? Even worse. Later bedtime? Nada. What do we do oh vast internet readers?

Is it time to move to the dreaded big girl bed? Will that magically help somehow? We're leaving for a way-too-long trip to Missouri pretty soon and I am dreading every second of trying to put her to bed. Should we try to get into the big bed before we go? Or banish her to the pack-n-play that she's all but outgrown?

If you made it through that entire quick take, I really hope you have the answer I'm looking for.

-3-

Isn't the library amazing? Every time I go I feel like I hit the jackpot. All these books get to come home with me? For months? For free??? I've been using our library website to reserve all the books I want and then all I have to do is pick them up at the desk. But I still love browsing the shelves and finding hidden treasures. These are our favorites right now:

Grumpy Goat

Or "Dumpy Doat". Which is way cuter.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

So cute to hear Hannah tell the pigeon "no no no". I just noticed on Amazon that there several other books that forbid the pigeon from doing things. We'll have to check those out next time. For free.

-4-

Still haven't decided on a computer. Because it's a big decision and I'm overwhelmed so I just do nothing. That means no pictures still. And man we got some cute ones of Paul in the tub last night. This is the only cellphone pic from this past week.

Despite the fact that he's the happiest baby ever, he's not a smiler. In fact, he's pretty much scowling for about 95% of the day. It's his game face. He's practicing early.

-5-

I haven't been on Pinterest much since Paul was born. And my life is the better for it! I need to venture back on to look for some good car activities for Hannah. Our Missouri trip will be two days of driving and even she doesn't love Barney that much. Anyone have any great idea for keeping a two year old happy in the car for an eternity? My only idea so far is lots and lots of food handed to her in tiny, tiny increments so it's takes her over an hour to eat a muffin. 

We're fully expecting Paul to scream for most of the trip. He doesn't sleep well in the car. We're bringing ear plugs.

We've only driven home once since we moved to Florida a year and a half ago. We're taking a different route this time that will take us through Atlanta and Nashville and along the base of the Smokey Mountains. I'm so excited (except for the fact that I'm dreading it with every fiber of my being) because I've never seen mountains. Ever. They better be worth the hype.

-6-

Apparently the readers of this blog are much deeper than the writer of it. So many commenters managed to turn my dumb thought into a beautiful reflection about Mary praying for Jesus. They're so right, I bet Mary repeated the words of the angel Gabriel over and over in her head for her entire life. If God sent an angel to tell me something that profound, I would certainly replay the scene a time or two to relive it.

-7-

In addition to my parents' 30th anniversary this past week, it was also my sister's and Ted's birthdays! Jackie turned 25 and Ted turned 27 (yes, I married a younger man. 10 months younger to be exact.) Is it just our family or are most people born in early June? It's not like nine months before June is anything special. A quick Google search was inconclusive as to whether August or September are the most popular birth month (I didn't technically click on any of the articles...) but I say it's June.

Happy Father's Day Weekend! I linked up with Jen for my quick takes, as usual. And this post has affiliate links because, hello!, I've made $2.94 so far and can almost buy something. Thanks so much!

Sucking It Up Instead of In

I realize I'm not an overweight person. Not even close. I'm scrawny and teeny and weigh much less than the average adult. Even pregnant. But. This doesn't mean I'm in shape. Or healthy. Or happy with the way I look.

And that's what really matters right? That I'm actually healthy and able to do some basic physical activities without getting winded? And that I feel comfortable in my clothes without having to wear control top underwear and sucking in for pictures? That kind of thing is fine for a while postpartum, but I'm over it. I'm tired of not having energy for my kids in the morning or my husband in the evenings. And I'm coming to the sad, sad, sad revelation that I'm actually going to have to work for it.

I have always eaten whatever I wanted and been very, very small. In high school I worked in an ice cream shop and ate my weight in ice cream. I also drank at least 50oz of Pepsi each shift. (Felt really great about that decision later in life when I found out excessive dairy and caffeine contribute to endometriosis and all my cramps.) I never had to give a second thought to what I put into my body. I was a size 0 and had a beautifully flat tummy with defined abs from cheerleading. (No, it is not a sport. But it did give me a six pack.)

And I know that a postpartum mother of two isn't supposed to have that body anymore. I don't even want that body. I don't want to look like my 16 year old self, but I do want to look better than I do right now. And, more importantly, feel better than I do right now. But I really hate working out. And sweating. And doing anything that requires self discipline, of which I have very little. But reading blogs  about other women actually working out every day will make you feel pretty dang lazy for sitting on your butt and complaining about your pouchy tummy. I've read numerous accounts of Grace and Ana and Hannah sweating their butts off to Jillian Michaels and living to tell the tail. But it wasn't until I read Jen's account that I decided I need to suck it up and start working out. I mean, if a work-at-home, homeschooling, mother of six can do this, surely surely I can find the time.

I went with Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred. Mostly because it was only $1.99 on Amazon Instant Video. And because Jen made a playlist for it that I might utilize in the future and I liked her choice of Eminem paired with the Litany of the Saints. I remember some friends of mine in grad school used to get together and watch The Biggest Loser every week and work out together. I also remember thinking they were nuts and that I had no desire to join them. But here I am. Paying money for the Biggest Loser coach to yell at me and tell me to keep going. And although I have no desire to "lose 20 pounds in 30 days" I do want to tone up, shape up, feel better about myself, and avoid having to buy new clothes.

So while the kids were both napping today (woot!) I turned it on and sweated my butt off. I did Level 1 and forced myself to do all of it when I really really wanted to quit halfway through. In complete honesty, I was sweaty and out of breath during the warm up before she even said "Let's get started". I made it through though. It was hard. And my legs still feel like jello eight hours later. I was honestly worried about picking Paul up out of his crib because my arms were so wiggly when I finished. And I didn't even use weights! (any idea what I can use in my house for weights so I can avoid buying some? Don't say cans. There is no way in heck.) Thankfully, he slept long enough for most of it to wear off. When Hannah woke up we made a smoothie. That just seemed like the type of thing someone who works out would do. And I'm doing to do it again tomorrow. Dangit. I really hope I can stick to this.

And while we're on the subject of working out: I can't do a sit-up. At all. Ever. I physically cannot make my body do it and can't make my brain tell the muscles to move. I've never been able to do them. In a physical education class in college we had to pair up and count how many sit-ups we could in one minute. I did zero. I spent the entire minute trying to figure it out. And this was when I was in shape! I bring this up to ask anyone reading this blog, Can you do a sit-up?? If the answer is "heck no!" and it's not because you're pregnant, please comment and tell me that I'm not alone! Thanks in advance for helping me settle a long term argument with Ted about being the only person in the world that can't do a sit-up. I think it has something to do with my long torso and weird back curve, but he says I'm full of crap.

And please know that I am NOT seeking affirmation to make myself feel better or wanting anyone to say that I don't need to work out because I already look fine. I really do suck it in for every picture and am too vain to post anything that's remotely true to life. Embarrassing, but true. I also want to note that I'm not obsessive about this nor do I lack perspective about what a healthy body should look like. I'm fine, really. I'm just sick of not being in shape.

And (#3) this post contains an affiliate link. Because I decided to stop caring if anyone thinks I sold out and just take whatever free pennies come my way. Go buy the DVD through my link and help me get rich beyond my wildest imagination.