Grant is almost 2!

Today we got Grant's 2 year pictures & family pictures done. I totally didn't anticipate how much work it would be to get him to cooperate. It must've slipped my mind that he is almost 2 & getting him dressed & out the door on time has been a battle the last few days! He used to be SO easy going & now everything has to be his idea & he wants to do it by himself. He had a full melt down because I made him change his clothes then another when we had to get in the car instead of ride his trike outside. We got there a little late & I was so worried we'd have to reschedule. Luckily, our photographer is a mom of (almost) 5 & totally understood. :) We met at her house then walked over to a grassy, watefall area near her home to take the pictures. It was quite the workout because getting him to sit still for more than 2 seconds was impossible & the little stinker wouldn't smile for anything! He was being so serious & SO busy! I know she got some really good ones though because she was on top of every little window of oppurtunity that she had. I can't wait to see how they turned out, hopefully in a week or so! I still can't believe my baby will be 2 so soon. :/ Oh & after we left, we went grocery shopping & that little stinker started saying "cheese" & giving his best smile ever!!! He was being a total ham & doing everything I had tried while we were shooting the pictures. Of course!!
ps... I don't post too many pictures on here since all who follow are friends on facebook.

A little scare!

I don't know why I'm even "documenting" this because its not something I want to really remember. I guess it turned out totally fine & is a little funny now. Not really, but just a tad.
Anyway, yesterday I had a really scary mommy moment. My mother-in-law came to my house to watch Grant while I went to class. She laid him down for a nap & left after I got home. (She also put away almost 3 loads of laundry, picked up dog poop, & watered my flowers-while he was napping, but thats beside the point of this post. I already know I have the BEST MIL in the world). When she was leaving, I followed her out front to water my flower pots. She had locked the door behind her (as we always do around here) then  I followed her out, shutting the door behind me. She left & I watered all my pots & when I tried to come back in, I realized I was locked out & MY BABY WAS INSIDE! Everything... I mean EVERYTHING was locked. We don't mess around here... kind of silly sometimes & not good at times like this. I don't even have a hide-a-key outside because my husband is such a freak about everything. Same guy that was kind of mad when my dad bought us a garage door opener because he was just sure somebody would find a way to break in with a universal controller! lol Anway, I was freaking out & trying to just be calm & not panic. Ya right... I was panicking inside BAD! I held back tears & kept telling myself he was totally asleep & fine. I looked around & realized my phone was also inside! Now I'm really freaking out & run to 4 different neighbors houses before I found one that was home. I called Joey & my MIL several times in a row & neither would answer because they didn't recognize the number! I finally decided to leave messages in hopes they would hear it quickly. They both called back & my MIL was closer so she turned around to come save me! I ran in as fast as I could & she had to remind me that was he was probably still asleep. Sure enough, he was sound asleep! Ahhhh, thank God he was. What a day! I think I finally convinced Joey to have a hide-a-key or atleast one over at the neighbors house.

Time for a change...

Last night, we went to my parents for Father's Day dinner. As expected, Joey got his first & luckily only call right before dinner (he was on call all weekend & is again tomorrow.. thats a whole different blog). I made him relax and eat instead of rushing over on Father's Day, especially since it was perfect outside & there was no need for heat or air. He did have to leave right after though so Grant & I decided to stay and watch old family videos (again, a whole new blog post...I've got alot to catch up on I guess.) Afterward, we decided to get in the hot tub & thats where this post begins...
This was the first time I've gotten in a swimsuit this year & first time since my surgery. I was really sad & mad at myself. I guess I just thought getting my boobs fixed & evenly small would make everything better. I was so focused on how bad that was that I just failed to notice that I'm still packing a few extra baby pounds. Can I even call them that anymore? He's going to turn TWO the end of July. This sounds totally dramatic because I really am only 5 pounds heavier then I was when I got pregnant, but I was on the chubby side then so really I'm still 10 pounds from my ideal weight. I'm honestly not so worried about the actual weight part of it because I'm 120 & in average range BMI. I'm more worried about how flabby looking & out of shape I am right now. A few extra pounds on my short body makes a big difference & so does not being in shape or tone. Also being flatter chested, although I LOVE it, makes my tummy & hips stand out more. Oh & my arms shouldn't jiggle when I wave. Enough said.
Now that I've got all that out there, its time to make a change. I know I don't need to do anything drastic & I'm not as worried about the actual weight as much as how I look & feel. My first change is to watch what I eat & not consume more than 1200 calories a day. The second change is to take Grant on a daily walk. Atleast a 20 minute speed walk every evening & 45 minutes to an hour a 2-3 times a week. I'm also going to break out the wii fit & do my Jillian Micheals full body workout 2-3 times a week. I'm making my husband hold me accountable by reminding & asking me about it. I'm also going to reward myself when I've stuck with it for a whole month... He doesn't know about that idea yet though. ;) Maybe a new outfit, better makeup, or a massage. We'll see.
Now I just need to work on time management and the motivation part of it. Its hard to find "me time" when I use my two sitters (Grant's grandmas) 3-4 days a week for atleast a few hours a day just for school time & then manage everything else I have to get done on a daily basis. Nap time is usually homework, laundry, or other housework time & the evenings are busy with dinner, dishes etc. I guess I could get up before Joey leaves, but he leaves at 630 am & if you know me, you KNOW I don't do mornings well at all. I'm a BAD night owl (as I type its after 2 in the morning)! Sounds like a bunch of excuses, but really I've just always had a hard time justifying putting in all the effort for 10 damn pounds when there is so many other things that seem more important. I didn't realize, until last night, how much I did care about those stupid flabby areas, but that's why I'm trying to make it work into my regular day & these are all things I can do with a busy toddler around! Now for the motivation part.. Its hard being motivated when its very possible for me to be pregnant in the next couple months anyway. I just have to remind myself that its better to start without the extra weight & that I want to keep it up through the next pregnancy anyway. I don't know how long its really going to take & its better to be getting in shape in the mean time. :) If nothing else, its a good distraction...

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the best husband in the world... I couldn't have asked for a better daddy for our boy (and future babies). We are very blessed!



The very moment he became a daddy! (Sorry for the graphic picture, but it is my favorite!)

 
                                          The first time he sat down to hold his new baby boy

                                                                         Easter Day

                                                       Ride bikes up and down the street

                                                  & of course, sitting on daddy's motorcycle :)

          Thank you for being the most amazing daddy in the world, babe! We love you so very much!!!

Not so impressed!

Grant's new thing is "go momma go"... It means "get out mom, I'm busy playing with someone else". He started this last week while we had friends over for a bbq. He would individually take someone in to his playroom and if I followed, he'd literally push me out saying "no momma, go momma"! It made me a little sad, but it was really pretty funny because he was SO serious about it. He's now done it several times with different family and friends around. He's even done it to my mom a couple times now too. Last week, my friend came over with her new baby and when my mom showed up to our house he told her the same thing... almost like he didn't want her coming in and loving on that baby! lol Then today, my dad called to ask if he could pick him up and take him to Cabela's with him so I told Grant that Papa was coming to get him. My dad came in and he got all excited saying "bye-bye papa" (I'm going bye-bye w/ papa). Then he realized my mom came too and he was not having that and told her "no mam ma go go"! He got over it real quick though, thankfully!
I know its just a phase of independence and in a way it shows me that he just loves spending time with the other people in his life because he's with me all the time...

Is it normal?

Is it normal to feel so nervous when planning to try for a baby? We haven't officially started "trying" yet, but just the thought of it has me thinking all sorts of crazy ideas & I'm fearing EVERYTHING! I guess this time around will be different since Grant was a complete suprise for us. I worry it will take a really long time, I will miscarry, or something will be wrong with the baby. I have alot of friends and family who have dealt with one or all three of these things and I just feel for them and admire their strength through all of it... I don't know how I would do it, but I guess if thats my future, I will embrace it & do my best. I also have this weird feeling I will be the one with twins. Nobody real close to me, family or friends, has them & I keep thinking maybe I'm the one! I would actually be excited for that, but it would also scare me SO bad too and again, I worry about my strength through the hard times like while they're newborns, busy toddlers, or bratty teenagers! This is a little off subject, but my first day of computer class the professor came around to individually introduced herself & to get to know each of us a little. I've never had a professor take that kind of time! Anyway, I had just picked an open seat and happened to be sitting between two girls who both just had twins! They both had no idea until 20 weeks & both didn't have it in their families and weren't on fertility medication. If you know me, you know I'm a weirdo who thinks it must be a sign that this will happen to me. I mean really how did I pick the seat between these two after already worrying about that myself?! I guess we'll just wait & see & what will be will be! I mostly just wanted to document this for when I am right & something unexpected happens next time!!

Summer School...

I'm now almost two weeks into school and so far its not quite as bad as I thought and I feel like I've been managing it pretty well. It always takes me the first week or two to figure out how much time I will need for each class and what days I will do which. I think I've got that figured out now. I think my computer literacy class will be my "easier" of the two. My teacher is awesome and since class is Mondays & Wednesdays for 2 hrs & 45 mins, I seem to be able to get most of my assignments done during that time or by staying just an hour or so after class. Tuesday's & Thursdays are the days I will do my online Humanities & I'm sure it will sometimes go into Friday's & some weekends. Its alot of info & reading & writing crammed into 8 weeks, but that stuff still seems so much more manageable and less stressful for me than math. (Which painfully reminds me I have pre calculous in the fall... ugh). Lucky for me, I have my mother in law and mom to help since mom is off for the summers from work. That gives them about 4-5 hours twice a week each to get some Grant time in & I hope he doesn't completely wear them out in the next 6 1/2 weeks! The hard part will come when we are trying to go on our two summer vacations (my family cabin/reunion & washougal national)... which conviently fall right before midterms & finals. Yikes! I'm planning to try & keep Fridays open for me and Granty time & Saturday & Sunday for family time, friends, and dates with the hubby!

I'm so bad at keeping up with this!

I am not a good blogger mom at all. I guess I just enjoy reading about everyone elses lives rather than writing about my own. I am still going to try my best!
I had been meaning to keep updated on my recovery from surgery... oops.
I kept getting an infection in the same area of my incision so about a month ago, my surgeon had to reopen the area. As she guess, I had a loose stitch that was wanting to surface. For some reason my body is not wanting to dissolve all the stitches! I had an open hole that took about a week to close up. She wanted it to heal from the inside first so stiching it back up wasn't an option. It healed really quick though & besides a few others that surfaced on there own, I haven't had anymore trouble. She told me that by the looks of my incision (besides the infected area), I am way ahead of schedule in the way they healed. I'm hoping that means the scars won't be visible although I'm just happy to be able to wear a bra or swimsuit without that masectomy insert!
I have had a month off of school & it has be SOOO nice! As I knew it would, it flew by & I start back up on Monday. I have a computer class Mondays & Wednesday then I'm taking Humanities online. Hopefully its not too much for the crashed Summer course.
Grant is doing great! I cannot believe he will be 2 in a little less than two months! He is really starting to show me signs of being 2 with new tempers, fits, & frustrations, but most of the time he really is a good boy & snaps out of it pretty quickly. Consistancy really is key with this kid! He remembers everything so we have to be super careful with what we let him do or not do. He cracks me up because he says no-no while he is about to do something he's not supposed to! He is starting to talk ALOT more & mimicks almost everything although sometimes its not very clear. I usually always know what he is saying though & that always makes me feel special. :) He is most definately a daddy's boy! Everything is daddy, daddy, daddy & I pretty much get the shaft once daddy's home. Oh besides being the one who cooks dinner, cleans up & does his laundry. Typical boy! Totally kidding! We will be getting his two year pictures done soon & I cannot wait! It still seems like we just did one year pictures a few weeks ago. I think this year we will do his birthday much more simple... just ice cream & cake & not a whole meal. I'm pretty sure we will be going to the national in Washougal & will be gone on his actual birthday so we are planning to spend the actual day of at the Portland Zoo. I think Grant will love it almost as much as me. ;) Grant got a new, well hand-me-down bike from his cousin today & he is loving it! Its more like a big boy trike, but also has a handle on the back to push & steer him with. Thanks again Whitney!! We got Grant his first pet fish the other day & he has decided that his name will be "Bandaid". Poor kid has had alot of those lately! I can tell him he will hurt himself & to stop doing something over & over & until he gets hurt, it goes in one ear & out the other. Again, he's ALL BOY!
Joey is keeping really busy at work which really is such a blessing... especially since we are one income family. I am blessed to have such a hard working husband who insists that I stay home with our boy & focus on school. As always, money is tight, but we wouldn't have it any other way & are fortunate that he is able to work as many hours as he does.
We traded in the Highlander on a brand new Hyundai Sonata a few weeks ago & we are in LOVE! We lowered our payment & actually plan to pay this car off & keep it. We are getting about double the gas mileage which helps so much with these crazy gas prices! It is so roomy for car, but also really sporty & I just love the chamillion type color it has.
We have had babies & pregnant friends/family around like crazy lately & it is the best thing ever! My little nephew is due the middle of August & we are so excited for Grant to have his first boy cousin (well, immediate boy cousin) Its so nice that my friends from school are now starting their families because I was kind of a loner or atleast the youngest for awhile there. Its so nice to get my "baby fix" every so often, but it totally doesn't help my baby hunger! We plan to start working on that in the next couple months so I'm praying & hoping things happen quickly & more than anything that I am blessed with another healthy, happy baby.
I'm more than ready for the weather to finally start acting like Summer! GOSH!
We are looking forward to a family reunion trip to the cabin in Island Park (mom's side) & the motocross national in Washougal in the next couple months. Hopefully my classes don't make me too crazy so I can actually enjoy it all.
Until next time...