Not to re-hash this, but today was a long day in Church again. Caleb was working, and Adi was working me. The Talk that was given was on reverence, and wouldn't ya know Adi was having one of her days. The speaker says that if children are not reverent, than the problem falls on the parents, not the child. Just what I needed to hear! :) When Adi got taken out the 3rd (and final) time today, someone had offered to hold Emi, so I had a better opportunity to address her. At the end of our discussion on not screaming in church, she had to put her nose in the corner. After doing this for 2 minutes she said "it hurts mommy. I'll be nice in church now." Because apparently that 'burlap-ish' wall wasn't fun to put her nose on. hehehe...i'm mean, I know. Suggestions for what you do with your kids on Sunday's like this would be great!
Adi has been having some rough nights sleeping still. I wonder why she keeps waking up crying. Last night she did it twice, but one time she went back to sleep on her own. The second time she screamed out loud "NO!" like she was mad at someone. I went in to see what was wrong, and she said "she took a bite of my apple!" HAHA. I told her it was OK, that we needed to share, and she went back to sleep. Maybe it can all be attributed to dreams?
Also, my stomach has been driving me crazy. This may be superficial, but everyone wants to feel good about themselves right? So for all of you skinny-make-me-sick-mothers out there, how do you do it? I am just going to go ahead and subject myself to some embarassment here and be honest with ya. It's bad. I've really been wanting to work on this, but it seems that no matter what I do, I can't lose the little poochy part.(big poochy part in my instance.) I am down 7lbs from what I was BEFORE I got pregnant with Emi, but my body is NOTHING like that. Any advice or tips would be great. I've heard that not eating carbs after 3:00 in the afternoon can help. Also heard that no matter how many crunches I do, that won't solve the problem because it only builds muscle, it doesn't slim the pooch. Cardio on the treadmill is great, but that is only trimming more weight which is not my main concern. Anyway, help me out here. Share the big secret out there that everyone--but me--seems to know OK?! :)
On a brighter note, I got to go on a date last night, and it was great. We had a good time. We went and saw bedtime stories, and really enjoyed it. I love dating my best friend! I don't know why I was in such a silly mood, but I LAUGHED MY HEAD OFF! He was such a gentleman too, always opening my doors etc. It was great. After the movie we got to go get me a new vacuum. WOOHOO! My old one broke forever ago, and we've been using this little dinky thing.
It looks like a toy huh? I am so glad for a new one. Yesterday I was doing some cleaning, and I just hit my limit. It was definitely time for a new one. It even has some pretty sweet attachments that I can't wait to try out. Also, while I was cleaning I was getting pretty anxious for spring cleaning and organizing. I have some great ideas for what I want to do with all of our stuff in this cute little house. Any great ideas for organizing you have, I would also love to hear! What are your tips? OK...done with my rambling, and off for napping. Seriously though, if ever I wanted someone to comment, now would be it. I'd really LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear your thoughts on these things. Thanks everyone!!! Happy Weekend to you all!
17 comments:
Wow- so much to think about. I'll have to give some thought & then come back & comment again. About church...it sounds like you're doing a good job. It's a hard age, but I'm sure if you stay consistant she'll come around. You're doing what I would do.
And the pooch...hmmm. When I excercise my stomach goes away first, but my butt & thighs are always THERE. So maybe if you can give me tips on how to have your tiny backside, I might dig up some tummy advice. :)
I'm also searching for organizing ideas. I'm totally itching for a deep spring clean. (I've actually started it already- Yay!)
First off congrats on being 7 pounds under what you were before Emi. I never even got down to my usual weight after Lily. My favorite exercise is called Calanetics.(don't know if I spelled it right). It does a lot of toning and fat burning in the stomach, hips/butt and legs. It usually works pretty fast for me when I am consistent with it but I get lazy. There is only one specific video that I like so if you are interested let me know and I'll find out exactly what it is. It's hard enough so you feel like you got a good workout but it also has a lot of relaxing stretches so I feel really good and relaxed when i'm finished. I've been using it since high school. I love it.
I wish I had some wonderful advice on the Church thing! Ha! I'm still trying to figure it out. I will say, I think the BEST thing is to not give up and still be THERE every week, which it sounds like that is what you are doing! I think the worst thing parents can do when their child is hard in church is to quit going, or to hit and miss. Then it's harder than ever when they come back. The kids need that consistency. I always tell myself, when I end up in the hall yet again, that I will be blessed for trying my best and being there! As for the tummy, I do believe you're the one that needs to give me the advice! :) The fourth and fifth child really has affected my body, but when I look at my sweet children, I figure it's all worth it!
Hey Ashley. the thing that WORKS SO GOOD is Pilates. I specifically do winsor pilates. I had a miscarriage before I had Quinn and I did this to get back in shape, it worked like a dream. I have never been soo skinny in my life. and I'm doing it now after I've had Quinn, (and I've got a nice pooch myself) but it really works to slim and tighten your abs. anyway, thats my big secret. I love love it!
I am definitely not qualified to give you any kind of advice for handling kids in church--you do such a good job! The only thing I can think of is to just be consistent, as others have said. But, really, you do a wonderful job and are an amazing mother! As for the stomach, I love running, but it sounds like you've already tried that--so, I don't know! You look awesome though, so whatever you are doing is working! Love ya!
I have no advice for anything, since I don't have kids, and you're skinnier than I am! But I do have to say that I think you are a great mom. You're kids are so beautiful and I think Adi is very well behaved considering she turned 2! And I don't know about the stomach thing, I envy you everytime I see you wishing I could drop some pounds, so I think you look great! But I can understand wanting to feel that way about yourself. So this is not very helpful since I don't have advice, but maybe it will make you feel a little better :)
Well, being the expert that I am in all these departments...ha! Actually, I had to take Quincy out of the meeting yesterday because he was LAUGHING too hard! The stinker had the giggles for no reason at all and was just laughing his head off! How do ya handle that?! ANyway, I think as long as you make it an unpleasant experience out in the hall or foyer, and a short one, then they won't want to be taken out. I think standing in the corner sounds pretty unpleasant!
The only time since I was 12 that I've been satisfied with my tummy was this last summer. I was so proud of myself because I only had a layer of skin over my ab muscles. It was awesome, but didn't last very long since I got pregnant! My secret is not easy. I went of meat and dairy all summer long. Actually, it wasn't hard during the summer since I had a garden to eat out of. I don't think I could do it during the winter. Anyway, that took it off and kept it off. There are replacements for butter and milk and such that are healthy and good, so if you decide to give it a go, call me!
Good luck, and no more blogging during nap times! When two kids are asleep at once, you better be sleeping, too. Those are rare and precious moments!!
I really don't have a lot of advice-especially on the tummy thing. I actually came to the comments to see what the great advice was!:) The nightmares and waking up in the night though-that is happening in our house-BIG TIME! A lady that I visit with about the girls said that it is part of this stage and normal development for a two year old. Just address their fears and make them feel they are safe-just like you did. We also make sure to address it in our prayers. She said they get over it-keeping my fingers crossed.
yeah, you wouldn't want to do that diet while you're nursing. And as far as the science of it all, I really don't understand it! I was basically eating plant based foods only (probably more like 90%) and I didn't eat any refined sugars either. So I was probably cutting out a lot of the carbs, too. I was eating a lot of rice, beans, fruits, and veggies! It's really hard to get into, in fact I will probably have a hard time doing it again. But it felt so good while I was doing it, and really wasn't that hard at the moment. Right now, all I can think of doing is eating junk food. So, you don't even want to know about my flabby tummy right now! It's gross....Blah!
Hey! You need to give me your email address Becasue I have a few questions for you about the digital scrapbooking! I saw you header and LOVE it!!! I finally made onr for our blog. Anyway, email me PLEASE so I have your address mine is just (my first and last name)@gmail.com
Anyway, about advice...in church I haven't gotten that one down 100% but my aunt once told me that if you keep them entertained in sacrament then they keep quieter and enjoy it, and when they act up, and you have to take them out, then you don't let them play or anything out in the hall. make them sit on your lap until they are ready to get down and go back into sacrament meeting and enjoy the quiet activities again like books or treats or you know the usaual little activities. Is that miking sense? I know that I haven't done this with my youngest and lately he has been acting out because his dad will take him out in the hall and let him walk the halls. Of course that's more fun than sitting there. So that's the key: don't make it fun out in the halls. :) TTYL
I'm certainly no expert on these areas, either, but I'll put in my two cents, anyway. :-) My girls haven't hit two, so I hope things don't get worse with church because it's already hard enough. Things I do that seem to work, at least some of the time: I have some quiet toys that are only church toys, I keep them out of sight during the week so the girls are more excited to play with them during church. As others have mentioned, if I do take the girls out I try to make it much less fun in the hall, they have to sit on my lap and can scream all they want, but I won't let them play. When they are in the chapel I let them play quietly but I really try to avoid snacks during Sacrament Meeting (that's just a personal preference since they always seem to make a mess with snacks). And I probably shouldn't add this one, but I will: I've found it's good to sit right in front of the missionaries because they will make faces and play games with the girls. It really keeps the girls entertained (and the missionaries distracted, oh, well).
As for the tummy part, I really can't help you there. Mine doesn't look so good, either. I think the most helpful thing is to find a workout that works for you and stick with it. I've just recently taken up working out on my exercise ball every day (Core Secrets). It's been too recent to see any effects, other than sore muscles, but I think it will help if I stick with it.
Good luck with all of it.
Um....I wish I could give you advice but I am working on all of the same things myself. You seem to be doing really well though so keep doing what you are doing. Ty was the same way not too long ago with the church issues and the nightmare issues, but he hasn't had a nightmare in a long time and he does really well at church now so I really do think it is a stage and if you just hang in there she will improve. Your girls are so beautiful and so cute I can't imagine them being little stinkers.
As for the tummy, whatever. You are SKINNY!! 7 lbs less than what you were before you got pregnant. I would be so excited! I think you look great! I can't get rid of the little pooch either, I know it must be possible but I haven't figured it out. So if you figure it out, let me know!
The only thing we really try to do when our girls have to be taken out of Sacrament is not let them play. We make them stay in our arms, which they usually don't like, and until they tell us they'll be good in sacrament again and sit like big girls, they can't get down. It works pretty well, most of the time, but not all the time. As far as the tummy thing is concerned, I'm afraid I'm in no way qualified to give you any advice in that area! Sorry! I WISH I was!
Ashley, I think you look amazingly beautiful, so don't beat yourself up. And you are truly a wonderful mother. The girls are blessed in that area. You will learn more parenting tools as you go along, and none of us every get it all figured out.
Congratulations on the new vaccum, and I am so glad Caleb treats you as a gentleman should.
First off, aren't you glad every other parent is going through the same thing every Sunday? No one is perfect, although it's hard to realize when you're the parent in the hall with the kids. Next, I'm truly sorry about Adi's sleep. I know how you feel and it's painful, literally! Forrest is on again, off again now, Nadia fights me like crazy for naps and bed (which she seldom naps anymore), and Marek, well, let's just say sleepless nights are no fun for parents or kids. I do really wonder if it's night terrors, and I'll send you a great article on that.
As far as organizing, I LOVE totes and baskets of all shapes and sizes. They come in handy for so many things. The problem is, I like to be organized and I have a husband and two kids that think otherwise, so I'm usually doing and re-doing several things over.
About the tummy thing, I also know how you feel on that one. My pants are loose, but I feel fat. I hate looking at myself naked (although, that's nothing knew!) and wish every day I could do something about it. I did Winsor Pilates for a while, felt nice, didn't make the tummy go away. Then I moved to Dancing with the Stars workout, which I LOVE, and I know I'm building muscle, but still, the tummy stays. I've done the Biggest Loser workout and I'm pretty sure if I could make myself stick with it I would see more results because Heaven knows you feel it, but basically, I've concluded that in order to get my tummy back to what I want it to be, it would involve an knife, anesthesia, and more money than I have. As Stacey and Clinton would say on What Not to Wear, as long as you are buying clothes to fit the biggest part of you, you'll actually look skinnier. So considering that you're stomach really isn't noticable to the rest of us, I think you're doing great! You always look stylish and cute and petite and luckily, you're taller, so it's better for you than my poor squishiness. It's hard, feeling pretty and good about yourself when you see it, hanging here, I know. But honest and truly, you look great.
K. I'm not even gonna get into the "poochy" part with you! WHATEVER! You look great! Calm down & cut yourself some slack. I wish I looked as good as you!
Anyway, I wish we lived close. I would love to get our girls together & us! I think we would have a blast.
Oh & thanks for Tori. I love her & everytime I open your page she's on. It is a "pretty good year".. So far!
Aw, church is hard. Jackson has sooooo much energy I don't know what to do with him. Is it possible for a nearly-two-year-old to be stronger than his mom? I think it is. My "advice" is pretty much the same... hall time is no fun. I need something else though, because that just aint cuttin' it.
The stomach thing... ugh. I'm just glad I'm not a bikini wearing woman. If I'm wearing a clingy dress or something like that I wear a shaper. It may make me feel like an old lady, but hey it's GREAT and makes me look a heck of a lot skinnier than I am! Because nothing is as important as what everybody else thinks, right? :)
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