Memorial Day Weekend: Golf

At 29 months old Jack has the golf bug bad! He was a doll through almost the entire dinner in anticipation for some time on the putting green. Pretty sure I could leave him out there all day and he would be in Heaven! 

Memorial Day Weekend: BBQ

Memorial Day weekend '12 started off with a family BBQ to celebrate Lala & Bobo's 1st year wedding anniversary! The guys played golf that afternoon while the girls did some shopping with Jack, where he passed out in his stroller. He never does that anymore! It was so stinking precious. I know that my days are numbered only shopping with one and the little sleeping gentleman was just another reminder to cherish these sweet days left with only my one buddy. The nap was only 30 minutes which meant he was ready for lots of cuddling early on in the evening. Lala was the chosen one Saturday night!

Food Fight

In the dictionary, within the description for the word stubborn, should be 2 1/2 year old boy. He knows what he wants, when, and how. Food as you can imagine is a fight. That is I guess I let it become a fight. Here's the story, I have always been super into nutrition when it came it Jack. He was nursed until 11 months, his organic baby food made from scratch, and always given recommend supplements. 

At about 18 months out of convenience because of our on-the-go lifestyle, whether it came to traveling or just at the pool, I gave into snack food. All the prepackaged goodies that a kiddo wants including juices. And even suckers as a bribe to be good at times. Honestly I didn't think it was that bad because Jack was always active and outdoors in the blazing Alabama sun. He has never been overweight so I didn't think twice. Well that relaxed attitude to food turned my little boy into a snacker. Constantly grazing. And that led to a picky eater. 

Yesterday this Mom decided it was time for a change and we were going back to our old ways of healthy eating with close to zero processed foods. No snacks. No juice. Breakfast was a fight but after an hour tantrum he came to the kitchen and ate a well balanced breakfast and milk. Jack has never been good with drinking his milk. Then came lunch. He ate a protein, grain, veggie, fruit, and dairy (that is how I am trying to simplify the meals). And milk. He didn't ask for a snack all afternoon and gladly sat down with Mike and I for dinner, and then finished his meal. 

WHAT?!?!? Now I feel like a really stupid Mom. Could it really be this easy? Why didn't I do this a long time ago. We always have the healthy options in our house, but we also have the pretzels and crackers. Even my homemade trail mix is bad in comparison to just putting in the extra effort and cutting up the fresh fruit and veggies. A little more work for me, but Jack being on a schedule for meals is so much nicer than always having to have (what I thought were) "healthy" snack options when we were out and about.

Day two has been a success again with all 3 meals and only minimal snacking of blueberries and carrot sticks while Daddy was grilling the salmon. You know a kid is hungry, I have decided when they agree to snack on carrots, if it is only crackers then he isn't really hungry and just bored or doing it out of habit. After dinner tonight Jack had a homemade spinach & fruit Greek yogurt Popsicle, his favorite, and then a little snuggle time with Daddy on the new chair.

Thank you Jack for so far making this food transition not a fight. This Mom is still the boss you stubborn little boy:) Funny story, today after we left the grocery store Jack told me in the sweetest tone, "Mama we forgot to buy juice"! I had told him it was all gone from the house on Tuesday. I replied oh no thats okay we have fruit, and he said, "that's okay next time we buy". Opps. The true test will be what happens when we travel. But I think this no processed food in the house is a good thing for all of us. Back to our old ways it is. 

P.S. I also have to say that my Facebook Mom friends were awesome with advice! Nice to know no matter where I live I can reach out to Moms I admire and respect for help! 

Hanging out with Mimi & Papa

The weather this weekend was gorgeous and provided us the perfect opportunity to just hang out and enjoy our backyard. We did some "getting ready for baby #2" projects and added to the deck decor. Jack's new favorite place may be the rug on the deck, nothing really special, but when everyone sits around him and plays cars it becomes special. I also got an antigravity lounge chair, super ugly but feels oh so good when this preggers body lays down in it. However, it was only relaxing for a whole 30 minutes until Jack figured out how to make it an up and down ride for me. Of course. I will have to get on there during nap time. Before baby girl comes! After a relaxing yet productive day we took Mom and Dad to St. Matthews for a Italian bistro delicious dinner. Love eating outdoors! Jack was very good as a train would occasionally pass by and keep his attention. Of course at the end we started to loose him but  once dad created a game of flicking a wine cork out of Jack's ear he was good again. It is so fun to have visitors we absolutely love it!  Thanks for making the trip Mimi & Papa!

Baby Girl: 30 Weeks

Last Thursday I went in at 29 weeks for my glucose test, when they measured my belly I was only measuring at 25 to 26 weeks, so the Doctor suggested that I do an ultrasound. The Doctor assured me that everything was probably fine and it was just the way I am carrying this time (low & wide) but it is better to be safe than sorry. I even gained 3 pounds since my last visit so I know I am getting bigger, not to mention that I just feel big!

Of course I had a moment of panic but I was also so excited for the surprise to see Baby Girl that morning! It was a little sad that Mike, my Mom, or Jack couldn't be there with me, but I wanted to get in as soon as possible so I wouldn't worry. She measured perfect all around and a few days ahead of schedule at 30 weeks, and I am carrying all of the fluids that I should be at this point. With Jack I didn't get an ultrasound so late in the pregnancy, it was amazing to see her so developed! She had one hand on her face at first and another on her ear. That will be the funniest thing if she is an ear rubber just like her big brother and Mom...and already in the womb! Her head is far down which explains why I am just carrying smaller, she is already 3.5 pounds, a good size at this point. Low and all around, just how I have been feeling has been confirmed by the medical community!

Still feeling so tired. I love naps. Feel very unproductive when I nap, but hey growing a healthy baby counts right?!?! Sweet treats are my craving and starting around 27 weeks I got a huge appetite, not hungry come dinner time but all day long. At 28 weeks her kicks starting getting really strong, now she moves my whole belly around! This time around I feel the baby get hiccups as well, Jack never really had those. Wearing almost all maternity clothes, and while I think maternity dresses make me look huge, they are too comfortable to pass up. Dizzy spells, nausea, and the third trimester hormones have all started...isn't my hubby so lucky:) We are still in shock and so excited that we are going to get to bring home a baby girl in just 2 months! Love her so much already!

Happy Anniversary Lala & Bobo

Happy One Year Anniversary Leah and Ben! I can't believe that it has been a year since that fun and oh so beautiful weekend. You are an amazing couple and we look forward to watching you grow together through the years! I just realized I never posted any pictures of Jacky Bear performing his ring bearer duties at 17 months down Dimnent Chapel's aisle, better late than never. That was one of the most fun moments of my life walking my son down the aisle of my college's chapel to be the Matron of Honor in my little brother's wedding (where my college sweetheart stood next to his side as his Best Man) to a girl I couldn't wait to call my sister! We love you both so very much!