Weighty Wednesday: Conflicting Numbers

I think I've mentioned before how our scale fluctuates a lot. For example, when I hopped on this morning it said I had lost 1/2 a pound this week. I was discouraged, so I stepped on again. Same result. On my third try, it jumped to a 2.5 lb weight loss! I weighed myself two more times just for fun and it stayed at a 2.5 lb loss. Sooo I'm going to go with an even 2 pounds lost this week. If at first you don't lose, try try again?

My week of eating was filled with a lot of unnecessary sugar, and coincidentally I got a lot of headaches this week. I also did really bad with my water consumption, so that may have contributed to my aching head. I did really well on my veggie intake, but not as well with fruits. I am sick of apples and pears. What other fruits do you eat this time of year?

Week 18
Lbs Lost So Far: 18
Lbs Left to Lose:  7

Goals: I have been telling Adam lately that I'd like to go out one day and try to run again. A good friend of mine just ran a half marathon. It brings back memories of when I was training for one right before getting pregnant with Ryan. Now I'm not saying I'm going to do that again, but I do miss the sense of accomplishment I felt after running. One of these days I'm going to leave the boys with Adam and go find a track to run around, just to see how far I can go. I'm 30 pounds lighter now than I was while training for the half marathon, so running is bound to be a little easier now, right? Okay, I've talked myself into it. My goal for this week is to get out one day and run!

Buddies

They spend so much time together on Daddy's days off that they are even beginning to coordinate their outfits!

A Good Read

Weighty Wednesday: Single Digits

One more pound gone this week! I now have single digits left to lose!

I took a few really great walks this week, including one at the local Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge with a few Mommy friends. Nothing like strapping your 15 lb baby to your chest and pushing your 27 lb toddler up a hill in a double stroller to make you break a sweat!

Week 17
Lbs Lost So Far: 16
Lbs Left to Lose: 9 

Goals: My goal now is to not give up. My goal weight is so close! I'd like to get it all off by the end of the year, which means I need to continue losing about 1 lb per week.

Adorable Insomniacs

Remember those praises I wrote about yesterday? They were all true. Good things have been happening with my two boys. A great nap here and there. Cute interactions between them. Cuteness just in general. New things being learned every day. New words spoken by the toddler. Giggles and belly laughs from the baby. Ahhhh parenting is such a joy.

But then there's this little charade that happens almost every night.

8:00pm: Both boys are asleep.
8:20: Lucas is awake.
8:32: Lucas is awake again.
8:57: Lucas is awake again.
9:09: Ryan is awake.
9:42: Lucas is awake.
10:00: Adam and I go to bed.
10:11: Lucas wakes up again, comes into bed with us.
10:55: Ryan is awake, comes into our bed.
12:02: Lucas is awake.
1:06: Ryan rolls over and kicks me in the head.
2:21: Lucas is awake.
3:17: Ryan starts talking to us.
4:38: Lucas is awake.
5:15: Adam gets up for work.
5:19: Lucas is awake.
6:25: Ryan is awake, and wakes up Lucas.

 Thank you God for my two healthy adorable insomniacs.

Praise Report

~Ryan took a 2.5 hour nap yesterday!

~Ryan has been enthusiastically sharing his toys with Lucas.

~Lucas has been enjoying solids so much that I let him suck on my apple today. He absolutely loved it.

~Ryan's speech was reevaluated and he is right on track for his age!

~Lucas is sleeping in his swing as I type this.

Silent But Loud

Lots of crying going on here lately. Lots. Enough to cause me to desperately e-mail Lucas' pediatrician this week, asking if there was such a thing as an "excessive crying gene". And could my babies have possibly inherited this gene? He informed me that no, colic isn't usually hereditary.

He suggested that Lucas may be suffering from something called Silent Reflux, where a baby feels the pain of reflux but doesn't actually spit up. He prescribed him Zantac and I started giving Lucas the medicine yesterday. It may be too soon to tell, but so far he does seem a little more content.

I just want a happy baby!

Weighty Wednesday: Baby Step

One baby step in the right direction! One more pound gone, which means only 10 more to go. Speaking of baby, Lucas definitely has a big impact on the way I eat throughout the day. His behavior and my stress level go hand in hand with the amount of sugar I consume and my ability to cook healthy meals.

Week 16
Lbs Lost So Far: 15
Lbs Left to Lose: 10

Goals: I seriously need some new ideas for dinner. I have really been struggling lately to get dinner on the table. I plan out my menu for the week, go grocery shopping, and really look forward to cooking dinner each night. The problem arises when it comes time to actually cook. Ryan is tired and cranky so I usually turn on cartoons for him. Lucas is screaming. And whatever I have planned to make suddenly seems overly-ambitious. Pretty much any meal that requires two hands to make is too much for me these days. I don't want to resort to easy frozen meals that aren't nutritious. So I need to find a happy medium.

Anyone have EASY and healthy dinner recipes that require minimal hands-on cooking time? I literally make dinner these days while holding Lucas in one arm, or wearing him in the Moby Wrap while he cries. Please share your ideas with me!

Crazy for the Food

We gave Lucas his first taste of rice cereal this past weekend. We took the video below, which I realize isn't the most thrilling video content. But hey, it's my baby's first taste of real food! Exciting stuff.

You can't tell by this video, but Lucas is quite the eager eater. Whenever I give him a spoonful of food and then pause for a moment, he starts howling. Insert spoon, and he's happy. Take it out to scoop up more food? He's wailing for more. I can't tell if he's just anxious to chew on the spoon or if my baby is actually starving.

I remember being so excited for this stage with Ryan, and I feel the same way now with Lucas. Feeding them real food is a fun adventure. I was a bit neurotic with Ryan and recorded every new food he tried for an entire year.

Further proof of my craziness. (You know I'll be doing this again for Lucas)

Dennis (Ryan) the Menace

We sometimes refer to Ryan as Dennis the Menace because he is always getting into something, breaking something, or just making a mess. Here is further proof of what happens if I leave him alone for two minutes.

Contemplating his next move through the screen that minutes ago he had gleefully ripped apart.

Pumpkin Patch 2012

And I can't resist sharing one from last year:

Weighty Wednesday: ZERO

Good grief, my body has decided it doesn't like losing weight anymore. I'm actually really relieved that I didn't gain weight, because when I weighed myself a couple days ago I was up two pounds. I've gotten a bit off track but I have renewed motivation this week. I'm tired of seeing that same old "11" each week on here.

Week 15
Lbs Lost So Far: 14
Lbs Left To Lose: 11

Goals: I will eat better foods this week. I will eat less sugar. I will eat more fruits and vegetables. I will walk more. I will eat smaller portions. I will only eat when hungry. Must repeat these things to myself over and over!

Here is a breakfast recipe that I was making a lot last month, but recently have forgotten about. Maybe I should start eating it again! (It's only 2 ingredients so you can't really mess it up)

Protein Pancake
1 Banana
1 Egg

Mash up banana and combine with beaten egg. Optional additions are cinnamon and a sprinkle of raw oats. Pour into a small nonstick pan over medium heat. Cook for a few minutes on each side until golden and firm. I like to top mine with a little peanut butter and sometimes extra fruit or homemade granola.

Teething Tooth Monster

Dear Tooth Monster (Tooth Fairy's evil cousin),

We do not like you. You have kidnapped my sweet son Lucas and in his place given me a crying, suffering baby with swollen gums. You are keeping us up at night. You are robbing us of daytime naps. You are the reason for multiple drool-drenched onesies. Oh yes, and that drool that landed square in my mouth the other day.

We may be smiling happily for the camera but we are really quite tired. And frustrated. And ready for this darn tooth to just cut through already. And we are hoping that the other 20-some-odd teeth do not cause this much disruption when they make their appearance.

Oh and this son of mine?

Never made a peep about his teeth.

Please bring us relief soon.

Regretfully Yours,
One Tired Mommy

The Book

Lately I have been feeling convicted about how much TV we watch. I definitely don't sit around watching it all day. But I do turn it on during most meals because I tend to nurse the baby while I eat, and sitting on the couch is the best place to nurse. I let Ryan watch cartoons while I put Lucas down for his first morning nap. And again while I cook dinner. It definitely adds up throughout the day.

I know people who don't have cable or don't let their kids watch any TV. I even know people who don't own a TV, and I really admire them. I don't know if we could ever completely give it up. But I would like to reduce the amount of time we all spend watching it.

Another goal of mine is to spend more time in God's word. And I can't exactly read the Bible if the TV is always on. "But I don't have time" I find myself thinking. But really, I do. I realized that I don't have to nurse Lucas while I eat. I can do it before or after, and just hold him or keep him nearby while we sit at the table. And we can read the Bible while we sit at the table eating.

So here's what I've been doing the past couple weeks. We're not perfect by any means, but this is one tiny step in the right direction. I want my children to grow up reading the Bible, and seeing me read it as well. So I've been reading this to Ryan and Lucas during breakfast each morning.

It's a childhood book of mine that contains stories from the Bible that are simplified for children to understand. There is a picture for each story, which Ryan appreciates.

I didn't have high hopes for Ryan's attention span, but so far he has actually been listening! (Again, the pictures help). Lucas sits nearby or in my arms when he gets fussy.

It really starts out day out right. My hope is that as they get older, we can talk about how the stories apply to our daily lives. For example, this morning we read about Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac to God. I told Ryan that we should always trust and obey in God, even when what He asks of us is uncomfortable or requires sacrifices. In the same way, Ryan should listen to his Mommy and obey her. Even when he doesn't want to pick up his toys.

Small steps in the right direction.

Lucas: 4 Months

My big 4-month old, you are getting cuter each day!

One of the cute things you started doing this month was laugh. I love hearing you laugh, especially when you put your whole body into it and laugh really loudly. So far Daddy is best at making you squeal and giggle.

Your hair doesn't seem to be falling out anymore. You still have a bald spot in the back, but the rest is evening out. The color has definitely lightened since you were born with that dark dark hair. And oh boy are you getting chubby! (14 lbs, 13 oz)

Your Daddy teases you, saying you have your Mommy's ears that stick out. But I obviously think they are adorable!

You are still averaging 4 30-40 minute naps per day, with the occasional 2-hour nap in your swing. (That usually happens once a week or so). I still swaddle you at night but I think that may need to end soon. I'm just afraid that you will sleep even more restlessly if not swaddled!

You easily roll over from tummy to back. You are getting close to doing back to tummy, but you seem to get frustrated and then give up. Yesterday Ryan tried cheering you on by shouting "Woll Baby Woll!".

You still drool like crazy. Your hands are constantly in your mouth and you seem to be in pain, especially later in the day. Adam and I thought we saw a tooth trying to poke through your gums, but now we can't see it. I know one is coming soon!

If I had to guess about your personality right now, I would say you will be less serious than your brother, but more sensitive. You smile and laugh easily in response to other people. But you startle and get scared easily, and seem more sensitive to pain than your brother ever was.

I love you sweet Lucas!!


Outtakes:

Weighty Wednesday: No Change

I shouldn't be surprised that no weight was lost this week. I slacked off a lot and ate a lot of not so healthy foods. The thing is, I know exactly what I need to do in order to lose weight. I'm just losing motivation.

Week 14
Lbs Lost So Far: 14
Lbs Left To Lose: 11

Goals: Motivation! Know where I can find any?
 

4 Month Checkup - Lucas

Lucas had his 4-month visit at the Doctor's office today. It went well, and Lucas spent most of the appointment smiling and laughing at the Doctor.

 Here are his growth stats:

Weight: 14 lbs, 13 oz (51%)
Height: 25 inches (57%)
Head: 16.25 inches (27%)

Interesting to note that his head and height are exactly the same as Ryan's at 4 months, however Lucas weighs a little over 1 pound more than Ryan did.

The doctor said that everything seems right on track with Lucas. He commented on his leg strength, which I also remember him doing with Ryan.

We can start Lucas on solids any time now between 4 and 6 months. I will probably try him on rice cereal this week and just see how he does. If it helps him to be more content or to sleep better, then I'm all for starting it now!

Lucas had shots today so I need to go take care of my sleepy, cranky baby. Be back tomorrow with his official 4 month post!