I feel like I've been neglecting ye olde blog. I Twitter back and forth with some of you during the day, email others, even talk to some, and always read your blogs, so I don't necessarily feel out of the loop, but I do feel like there are a lot of things going on that keep me from writing on here as much as I'd like to. The good news? I'm enjoying indulging in some great stuff! (This is where I'd post pictures of said stuff, were I not so lazy, but you know how it is...)
The Sookie Stackhouse Books Oh, y'all. I am LOVING these books! I was very resistant at first, not really interested in reading them. I usually really enjoy books that are really smart, full of twists and turns and kind of complex. I'm a big Harlan Coben fan and love thrillers in general. These books have made me change my tune at bit. Yes, they are vampire books. Yes, they are kind of like soft-core romance novels sometimes. But they are so funny and clever! And they're set in North Louisiana, where I went to college, so I know all the places they talk about well. I'm tearing through them at lightning speed. I'm about 1/3 of the way into book 3 right now. My friend Amy Louise, who is from California and considers me the epitome of southern women (ha ha) sent them to me. My cousin Heather gets them next. If anyone is interested in reading them, let me know and we'll keep them going and send them your way!
Foodie Mama You guys HAVE been reading Foodie Mama, right? There are some fantastic articles and recipes on there. My section, Feeding Toddlers, takes up a lot of my thinking time. I don't want to write the same things we've heard over and over about feeding our little ones, so I read a ton of blogs, articles and the like before doing my feature each week. If anyone has ideas or suggestions of something you'd like me to write about, please email me!
Cleaning my house. I kind of skipped spring cleaning, since we got so busy at the end of the semester, so I'm making up for lost time. It helps that Marcus is home to help me or watch Dean so I can clean at times other than when Dean is asleep.
Napping. I've heard the "always sleep when baby sleeps" thing before, but I was guilty of doing everything BUT sleeping when Dean napped as a tiny infant. Now that we seem to be starting the 18 month sleep regression (help me, God), Dean's getting up super-early and staying up a bit later. The up-side is that his naps are pretty predictably clocking in at over 2 1/2 hours. That gives me time to eat lunch, if I haven't already, and lie down for a while if I want or need to while he naps. This has been good this week while I have recovered from a funky ear infection. I do hate antibiotics...
Shredding. Once Dean's down for the night, I put on my yoga pants keep on the yoga pants I've been wearing for most of the day, throw on my new cross-trainers, move the coffee table out of the way in our "formal" living room and get to Shredding. I can already tell a huge difference in my endurance and I've lost 3 pounds. I got into a pair of capri pants today that I haven't worn since last summer. Someone asked me how I focus and get through the exercises. The good thing about the Shred is that the exercises are short and you can yell and curse loudly at Jillian in the privacy of your own home. Worst case scenario, you'll only be doing a move for a minute. When it starts to hurt, I remember labor. I remind myself that I went through 32 hours of pain to deliver the bambino (totally worth it, but OW!), including having a giant epidural needle inserted into my spine, having feet swollen like Fred Flinstone's and being cut open. If I can live through that, I can handle 30 seconds of jumping jacks. (Over-dramatic? Perhaps. But it works!)
Self-pampering. After Shredding, I smell bad. It just does that to you. (Back me up here, Shredheads!) I recently got super-lucky and won a giveaway hosted by Elisa at Diary of an Unlikely Housewife. My gift? A whole box of Yes To Carrots products!!! I had sampled their products before and even given some as gifts, but I'd never had any of my very own. Now I can't wait to hop into the shower to use my Moisturizing Body Scrub, then get out and drench myself in the luxurious body lotion, smear on some lip butter and finish with my Yes To Tomatoes hand cream. The verdict? Mama like!
Dean. He's just the greatest thing ever. I think he has finally figured out that something's different and Mommy and Daddy are both going to be home with him each day. We play all the time. He's learning new things every minute, it seems. The inner-monologues Marcus and I used to provide for him are now being replaced by his growing vocabulary. He's a total Mama's boy and wants me with him as much as possible. And who could resist this face?
Not me!
Harlan Coben is one of my faves as well! and you are correct, that baby face is a keeper.
Posted by: The HotchPotchery | June 02, 2009 at 12:13 AM
Yes, the Shred makes you quite smelly. But I'm up to 4.6 total weight loss so far, so bring on the B.O.!
(Don't worry, I do shower.)
And I couldn't resist that face, either. :)
Posted by: Frema | June 02, 2009 at 07:38 AM
Can't wait to start the books!! And Seriously? You are kicking my butt with this "workout" thing. I got on the treadmill last night, but after 20 mintues I was bored and got off. Nice. Maybe I should go back to my Jillian DVDs.
And, as always - that is a PRECIOUS picture of Dean!
Posted by: Heather | June 02, 2009 at 09:07 AM
I love the idea of a body scrub - will have to get some this summer for sure!
ps - I can blame Megan's crappy sleeping on a "sleep regression"?? Nice!
Posted by: eva | June 02, 2009 at 01:28 PM
No weight loss plan for me right now... although I should cut back on the sweets! Hopefully I won't have gained too much weight in five weeks to get comments from my doctor :)
And I don't know what I love these days. My mood changes as often as my daughters I think!
Posted by: AJU5's Mom | June 02, 2009 at 10:14 PM