11 Months

Chloe, it's April 28, 2011 and you are eleven months old today!

*this post is a day late because we were so busy yesterday.

You're still taking two naps a day. You sleep about 12 hours at night from 8pm to 8am.

You are still eating whatever we eat. You have a 4 oz. sippy cup of formula at breakfast and dinner with your meal. You have a little formula for morning (2oz.) and afternoon (4oz) snack (just before nap time). You are not using a bottle anymore and you no longer get formula at bedtime. You're growing up so fast. It makes me sad that I don't have to get a bottle ready for you anymore.

You have 12 teeth! Since last month you have gained 4 molars. It's insane. We brush them every night. I don't want them to rot out of your head. That's another reason we don't do the bedtime formula anymore. I do not want you going to sleep without brushing your teeth. You seem to enjoy getting your teeth brushed. I imagine that it feels good on your sore gums.

Twice in the last week, we've had people ask us if you're 15 months old. I keep wondering why on earth they would think that. Then I realize you have a mouth full of teeth so when you smile, you do look like a toddler.

You've stood a few times now without holding on to anything. But as soon as you discover that you have no support, you sit down. You like to push things around the house. You push the dining room chairs, the laundry basket and you try to push the nightstands. You have a month to learn to walk before you're one. Will you do it? I don't know.

You still love to point at things and have us name them. In the morning when you wake up, it's like you've never seen your room before. You get so excited and point at everything while you say 'oooohhhh!!'

Your latest 'word' is 'oohta.' After listening to you say it for a few days, I wonder if it's your version of 'What's that?' Your dad and I say 'What's that' everytime you point to something and then we answer. You seem to say 'oohta' when you point to things. Or, maybe it's just baby babble. Either way, it's soooo stinkin' cute.

We are planning your first birthday. I'm really excited and nervous. I don't want to go overboard but I want to do something special. You won't remember it but I will and last year we were cooped up in a hospital on your birthday. I have to make up for it. haha.

You fascinate us, Miss Chloe. We love you.

Showing your dad all the fun stuff at Google.

Dangerous

Chloe is 11 months old today. I will put her 11 month post up tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy this video. I bought her a push walker because she's been pushing my chairs all over the house. She wasn't sure how to use the thing at first and it almost got away from her a few times. But, we managed to end the day without any injuries!

Ignore the fact that my child is so whiney. She went to 'take your child to work day' and missed her morning nap.

Bug's First Easter

It's Bug's first Easter. We got up early this morning to get everyone ready for church. I think we all looked pretty sharp. I did not purposely match my daughter...I'm not that mom. But, it happened.

Bug is too little to hunt eggs this year. The Easter Bunny must have known because he brought her a basket of goodies instead. She got three new pairs of pajamas, a Bernstein Bears book, a Little Critter book, a stuffed bunny, a blue sun hat and her Easter Basket that will be used for years to come. I think she liked her stuff.

The Easter Bunny was good to Bug. She's been eating her carrots.

After church, we went to Oasis for lunch. We are at home napping right now. When everyone wakes up, we will go see our friends Katie, Chris and Cohen for some fun. We will wrap things up by having dinner with Hubby's parents at Z'Tejas. It's a busy, wonderful Easter for us here at Granthamania.

Miss you Shorty, Pop and Uncle J! Hope we can celebrate with you all next year. Happy Easter! Love you.

Get Fit. Get Healthy. Week 12

Your weight (if you don't feel comfortable sharing this, you don't have to): I've been fluctuating between 138 and 139 all week. I think it's fair to say I'm in the 130s now! I've been waiting for this. I'm soooo close.

Your fitness challenge(s) for the week: Continuing to hit the gym. Weights 3x a week and cardio 5x.

Your food challenge for the week: Keep on trucking with the veggie diet.

How well did it go: This past week went pretty well. Mark was out of town for most of it. I found it difficult to cook with Chloe and no help so I ended up having take-out one night. It was tofu pad thai (my favorite).

Failures and slip-ups: Same as above. I missed the gym on Thursday and Friday. 

Weekly challenge wisdom: Yes you can. 

Advice to fellow GET FIT members: Don't become complacent. This week I've struggled with complacency. It's a dangerous place to be. I'm happy because I feel like I've made a lot of progress, I fit into clothes I haven't been able to wear since college (some are too big) and it's easy to start slacking off. Remember your goals and continue to push toward them. Each week that I slack off is another week added to the length of time it will take me to reach my goal.

Your Magic Selfie (optional but strongly encouraged): No selfie but check out Chloe's Easter pictures on the post below!

Hoppy Easter from Chloe

I know it's a day early but I just can't wait to show off Chloe's Easter pictures. My mom made Chloe's Easter dress and it couldn't have turned out cuter. It's exactly the way I pictured it in my head! Thanks, mom!!

Rejoice!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember hoe he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"

Luke 24:1-7

Playdate with Kennedy

Chloe and I went to visit Kennedy and Ashauntee today. We decided to go to a local park. Once we got there, we realized they didn't have swings which is a problem when you have kiddos that aren't walking yet. But, the girls were pretty content to play in the wood chips. What can I say? At least it wasn't sand. I have major issues with sand...it's a giant litter box for cats, raccoons and rodents. Gross!

We had fun until a giant, and I mean GIANT, spider crawled out of the wood chips. After that, it was time to leave so we went back to Ashuntee's for a bit.

Kennedy has some crazy balance. Look how she's sitting!

Sharing or not?

Showing off their find.

Chloe had the better wood chips. Kennedy needed to check them out.

Working together!

Showing off another find.

I LOVE to watch these girls play together. It is fascinating to watch them develop their social skills.

I was telling Ashauntee today that I think Kennedy helps Chloe learn her new skills. For example, the day Chloe started crawling, we had been to see Kennedy and she was crawling all over the place. It was like Chloe watched her do it and then thought 'Oh, that's what I'm supposed to do!'

Uncle Josh visits Chloe

Uncle Josh came to visit us this past Saturday. He arrived around noon.

After he and Chloe got caught up, we went to Torchy's Tacos. Mmmmm. Then we went to watch Mark's lacrosse game. It was a gorgeous day here and we enjoyed being outside.

Josh left the next day around noon. It was a short trip but I think Chloe thought it was awesome to see her uncle Josh.

Mark's the one looking toward the camera.

It was bright outside.

Chloe loves acorns.
She only tried to eat a few but between me and Josh, we managed to keep them out of her mouth.

She's getting so difficult to photograph.

Playing in the dirt. That's my girl!

Get Fit. Get Healthy. Week 11

Your weight (if you don't feel comfortable sharing this, you don't have to): I'm writing this on Friday. I'm at 141. Looks like Vegas caught up with me.

Your fitness challenge(s) for the week: Continuing to hit the gym. May change up the weight lifting routine. I need some more lower body work outs and also back circuits.

Your food challenge for the week: Going back to the vegetarian thing. I read Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet (Thanks, Julie) and while I'm not ready to make the vegan jump, she convinced me that veggie is the way to go.

How well did it go: I didn't get to the grocery store until Thursday so my diet suffered horribly. I sat down to prioritize my week and it was a mistake to put working out before the grocery store and meal planning. Live and learn.

Failures and slip-ups: Monday through Thursday was a disaster. I'm back on track now and focused.

Weekly challenge wisdom: "He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skill of the physician." -Chinese Proverb found in The Kind Diet

Advice to fellow GET FIT members: I'm not trying to get anyone to go vegetarian, but take a serious look at what you eat. You eat 3 times a day 365 days a year (give or take a missed meal), what you eat is supposed to replenish your body. You are going to get back what you put into your body. If you don't feel good, your tired, sick and just plain unhappy, think about what you're eating. If it's junk. No wonder you feel like junk.

Your Magic Selfie (optional but strongly encouraged):

My life in a nutshell

(Mark panicked when we saw this. Don't freak out...I'm holding her on the railing...I just airbrushed myself out...Geez)

You Throw Like a Girl - That's A Compliment

Chloe has been doing this for a while now. She's getting pretty good.

Better than Vegas Pics

We took 4 pictures in Las Vegas. We were too busy playing roulette, pai gow poker and blackjack to be bothered with our camera. But, I've got something way better! I think it's been a while since I did a Chloe overload post. So here you are:

Daddy hung Chloe's swing for her!

Mark doing his best Chloe impression.

Chloe hinting that she wants to go to Disney World.

Our child is half woodchuck.

Showing the chompers that did the damage.

Trying to figure out the walking thing.

Stuck under the exersaucer. That's a mad Chloe.

Just plain cute.

Mom and Chloe.

Get Fit. Get Healthy. Week 10

1. Height: 5'9'', weight: 140lbs

ok. I'm not upset by the weight. I'll say that nearly two weeks off my strict regiment with no weight gain is a tremendous success. But enough is enough. My goal weight is 135. It's time to hit it!

2. Your fitness challenge(s) for this week: Starting tomorrow...Tuesday...I'm getting back in the gym. I got back from Vegas on Sunday. Today, Monday, was a much needed day of rest.

3. Your health challenge(s) for this week: I have to get to the grocery store for some fresh fruits and veggies. Mark gets back from San Francisco (he had to make a pit stop on the way back from Vegas...I didn't get to go) and he and I will talk about how we want to move forward with our dinner menus. We may be incorporating two days of meat into our diet. Most likely chicken and fish.

4. How well did it go: It went wonderfully awful. I ate and drank to my hearts content in Vegas and it was delicious. But, Mark and I were both bitching about how gross we felt. haha.  I think the only thing that saved me from gaining weight was the amount of walking we did. 

5. Failures and slip-ups: I ate a big, fat, juicy burger with avocado and chipotle sauce two days in a row. I drank Miller Lite AND I had chocolate chip cheesecake (Mark and I split it). We ate pizza (mine was veggie pizza) at New York, New York Casino.

6. Weekly challenge wisdom: Sometimes it's worth it. Sometimes it's not. You have to decide what's important to you and where your priorities lie. You need to think about this in the short term and the long term. 
7. Advice to fellow GET FIT members: You can't wish for weight loss. 

Also, I like Elena's advice this week:

"Motherhood is NOT an excuse for being unfit, out of shape and unhealthy. It’s THE REASON to be better.  Are most of you REALLY ok with looking and feeling the way you do now that you have a baby? It doesn’t take THAT much effort to shed those extra pounds. It’s as simple as a healthy diet ( lifestyle) and just a little bit of exercise."

8. Self Portrait: Coming later

As My Husband Would Say, "That's Weak Sauce"

I got a speeding ticket yesterday. 30 in a 25 thank you very much. Apparently, there is a section of road in my neighborhood between two stop signs that drops from 30 to 25. It then goes right back up to 30. This is more commonly known as a speed trap. How I lived in this neighborhood for over 3 years and didn't know that is beyond me.

Not only did I get a ticket for speeding but I also received one for expired registration. Now, I had every intention of getting that tag. After all, it is SUPER DUPER easy to get online and renew it. However, I lost the paperwork for it. So, I had been casually looking for it around the house thinking I just won't get pulled over. No problem. I'm generally a rule follower anyway. WRONG. I found the paper work on Monday (the day BEFORE I got the ticket). My plan was to do it as soon as I got back from Vegas. ARG!

Well, I went to the JP office and tax annex today to get the new registration ticket, plead guilty (like a criminal) and ask for deferred disposition (where you take Defensive Driving to have the offense removed from your record).  I got the registration sticker but the JP office is CLOSED FOR EMPLOYEE TRAINING.

 It's ok though. Because, they "are sorry for the inconvenience" of me getting myself and a 10 month old ready (which takes close to 2 hours), driving to the annex only to have to turn around and do it all again tomorrow.

That's what I get for speeding! Now I REALLY need this vacation.

Preparation

Sunday kicked off my Las Vegas preparation marathon. I'm probably more excited about this trip than I should be...I know I'm going to miss Chloe. But, I feel like I should be going through some sort of mourning process and I'm not. I mean shouldn't the thought of leaving my daughter behind for the first time EVER make me sad? Maybe it's because I know she'll be in good hands. I hope there's not something wrong with me or I'm a terrible mom for not dreading leaving my daughter for a few days.

I know there are certain people that will think that's terrible. I also know other people will say that it's normal and healthy to enjoy time away from your children. Either way, I'm sure a few tears will be shed when I actually get to the airport.

One thing that has me worked up is this Southwest Airlines thing. It makes me want to put together a will (just in case). I know it's irresponsible that we haven't yet. I like to think that our families know our wishes. Either way, I should probably get on that. Maybe I'll do it today. After I pay the bills, do the laundry, clean the bathroom and the bedroom, organize Chloe's room, shop for some supplies for my parents stay at our house, and rework my wardrobe plans for the trip (it's supposed to be in the 50s and raining while we are in Vegas...seriously? It's the DESERT).

Doesn't it seem like I have an undoable list of things to accomplish for this trip? What exactly have I done you ask? I called the pediatrician to make sure Chloe's nagging cough didn't warrant a trip to see them. I also found out what documentation I needed to leave so that my parents could make medical decisions. I've done a bit of laundry and I bought a dress for our Vegas date night (when we go see Crazy Horse).

I better hop to it.

Get Fit. Get Healthy. Week 9

Height: 5’9′, weight:  140 (no gain; no loss)

2. Your fitness challenge(s) for this week: Get back in the gym. This past week was rough. I was out of town until Tuesday and had appointments that kept me from the gym every day but Thursday.

3. Your health challenge(s) for this week: Get back on my 'diet.' Keeping with mostly vegetarian meals. I think the husband is getting tired of eating only vegetarian foods so I may sneak some fish or chicken into the mix during the next few weeks. 

4. How well did it go: This past week went as I expected. It wasn't pretty but I'm not disappointed because I prepared myself mentally. I'm not beating myself up over it. Although, I DO notice some bad effects from my laziness. I visited my hometown with my mom. I hadn't been there since May of 2009. There were a few favorite meals that I wanted to eat that didn't fit into my diet plan. I decided before we left that I was going to enjoy myself...I have no idea when I'll be back to have my childhood favorites again. That being said, I did try to have a tofu pad thai at one of my local favorites (the tofu was TERRIBLE). Let's just say that Amarillo, TX doesn't do vegetarian. Not that I expect them to. In Amarillo, the eleventh commandment is "Thou shalt eat meat, particularly beef, at every meal." 

5. Failures and slip-ups: The only workout I got was on Thursday. I ate mexican food, a hamburger and fries, ice cream and thai food while in Amarillo. I enjoyed it but let me tell you I noticed a HUGE difference. It's something that I wouldn't have notice a month ago. This last week (I'll argue as a result of my poor diet) I was tired, cranky and achy. The tiredness could be a result of the travel and some of it probably was. BUT, when I'm eating well I don't feel run down at 2pm. This past week was the first time in a while that I felt like I needed to take naps in the afternoon. Also, I have noticed that when I eat junk I get achy. Particularly my angles, knees and wrists. It almost feels like flu symptoms. But, when I eat good it goes away. Like I said, I would have never noticed this stuff if I hadn't started 'cleaning' up my diet.

6. Weekly challenge wisdom: Enjoy yourself. But, understand that there is a tradeoff for EVERYTHING you do. This week I chose eat like crap and feel good in the moment that I was eating the food, the tradeoff was that I felt like crap the rest of the week. Was it worth it? Yes. But not in the long term. It was a short term tradeoff I was willing to make. That being said, sometimes these things can be a slippery slope. Be careful. 
7. Advice to fellow GET FIT members: Enjoy Yourself. Be Careful

8. Self Portrait: Bokeh 

I'll have to do the portrait later. We are busy, busy, busy getting ready for our VEGAS trip this week!

Ok. So it's a bit off. I had the shutter speed set too slow so I got washed out, too. It's the best I could do it the 15 minutes I had to do this project.