Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my handsome husband!

I truly take Matthew for granted every day and it's days like today that make me stop and realize how blessed the boys and I are to have him.

Matthew is a wonderful dad.  The boys love their mom for sure but adore their dad too.  Outside is their thing and fixing things is theirs.  They always love being a part of what he is working on.  The other day Carson just watched him mow through the window.  They love to wave goodbye to him every morning from the garage door.  Matthew is great at trying to invest in them.  He not only just plays with them but works with them and tries to teach them all the things they should be learning at their ages.  He is always working on instilling discipline.  ( much better at it than me, I'm much quicker to loose my cool)

He is the spiritual leader of this house, he is always there for me.  Prays for me and the boys, and prays with our boys.

He is smart, hard working and provides for us, which allows me to stay at home most days.
His patients love him.  He really gives them his focus, time and knowledge and is great at what he does.
We are so proud of him for that!

He isn't selfish and is always giving of his time to someone or something!
He's quick to help when I ask.

He can work me up like nobody else in the world, but he can also calm me down like nobody else can!

We are extra thankful for him today on his special day!


Happy 30th Birthday!

It's Friday and this is Random

This week has been a weird one.
 I have slacked off from the blog big time.    Usually every night after boys go to bed, I work online but this week just pretty much went straight to bed each night.  Monday I had a great day with my boys and decided  I should probably quit blogging ( I have a lot of random thoughts each day)  but then by Wednesday I circled back to realizing how much I really do enjoy it and I shouldn't quit.  However, I still went to bed the last few nights and neglected writing.

Do you ladies ever get in a blogging funk?  One where you feel it's pointless, you are wasting time?  Then you quit writing and reading for a few days and feel like a lost puppy and miss your blog world?
Yeah, that's me, this week!

Anyways onto some randomness about my week!

Here is a picture from my awesome Monday with my boys.  We just had a great day, I love when that happens!  Little screaming, fighting, and lots of smiles, laughter and sweet moments!

Tuesday I planted the first flowers of the year, may be the last who knows.  Noah helped me pick them out. He wanted yellow, I didn't.  I wanted pink, he didn't,  so we got white instead.  Once I planted them he let me know "mom the flowers are beautiful!"

If you aren't friends with me on facebook, then you didn't see that I ran this on Wednesday.
I met my mom at 5:45.  I got plenty of sleep the night before.  Weather was great!  I had my Genesis Pure Energy.  The week before our 9 miler went really well.  I was ready.  Until we were a few miles in and I was already tired ( did I mention my mom took me on a new route for me and it was HILLY, yeah on my longest run to date, not a good idea! )  I remember hearing her phone tell us we hit 5 miles.  I was like that has to be wrong, I'm already done.  If I would of been alone I probably would have given up around 8 but I ran through it and finished and in good time too!  It was just one of those off running days, where it was HARD! Adding 3 more seemed impossible so hoping my 11 miler this next Wednesday goes better!  It will be my last long one before race day.  Did I mention that, this run also caused me to loose 3 pounds?  Yeah it was awesome until the next day when it had come back, haha!

Yesterday I was still thinking about my junky run and finally remembered to stop by our bike store that sell the sports fuel goodies and bought me some stuff for next weeks run, and Marathon Day.

I bought Gu Gel and some Shot blocks.  I have been using my moms the last two runs so I owe her some.  

I haven't tried the Gu yet but will try it next week so that way race day isn't my first try.  

I felt like buying this stuff made me a "real " runner.  It was weird, because I have always wanted to be one and I feel like I actually am now.  

I feel like I should start this paragraph...

You know you are a complete dork when??

You don't have music on your iphone, ( I actually still use my mp3 player)

You still buy CD's

Better yet, you buy a NOW CD

When I first started running I bought Now 44 to have some new music to run too because the music I had on there was all from like 2006-2007 it was sad.  

It also made me feel old because the last Now CD I bought I had on my mp3 player and it was Now 19. 

Today on my 5 miler, I jammed out to this baby, it was fun! 

My new Honest products finally arrived!  I had thought I ordered them weeks ago, went to check and realized I forgot to checkout my cart, whoops minor detail.  Anyways got them really ordered.  They arrived today and I can't wait to use them.  You bet I will have a review on them up once I do.  This cleaning freak gets excited about weird things like this!

I made these delicious cookies today!  Saw them on Pinterest and have been wanting to try them.  I got them a little more on the done side than I normally do but they are still good.  I will be making these again for sure and baking them for a little less time.  You can find the recipe here.

Will be busy tonight and tomorrow getting ready for my hubby and his twin brother's 30th birthday party cookout at our casa  on Saturday night!  We really are getting old! Then Sunday onto Mother's Day festivities!  It will be a busy but fun weekend!  

Have a good one! 

Preparing for a Little One

My friend Kaitlyn and I came up with a great idea that I absolutely love.

As you know, Kaitlyn is expecting her first child. This can be so overwhelming and I know that other first time moms probably feel the same. She has so many questions and would love to hear the opinions of moms who have already been through this a time or two before.

Because of this, we are hosting a weekly series for a few weeks to try and get some answers to some of the most common questions.

We have finished the second series, but if you have missed them here are the topics below that you can go back and check out.

Friday, April 5: Registering (Everything you need to know, Must Haves, Don't Bothers, etc...)

Friday, April 12: Nursery Organization & Ideas

Friday, April 19: Packing For The Hospital: For you & the baby

Friday, April 26: Birth Stories (The good, bad, and ugly) / Birth Plans (yes? no?)

This week starts our second mini-series.

Friday, May 3: Bringing Baby Home / Surviving The First Few Weeks

Friday, May 10: Breast Feeding vs. Formula

Friday, May 17: Calming Your Baby & Sleep Methods

Friday, May 24: Losing The Baby Weight

The second series will focus on bringing the baby home, new mom obstacles and losing the dreaded baby weight.  Even if you are a first time mom, you may have posts or input on this first series especially!! I know some of you are due any day now, so I'd love to get your input as well.

If you decide to participate on any of the weeks, all you have to do is write a post answering and discussing the topic/question that week and link up to the main post on my blog. I think it will be a great resource for tons of moms to be!

Below you can grab a button to use on your posts and it will be helpful if you link back to Wifessionals or Five 27 Jones so that others can get the details to link up as well. I really hope some of you will share your secrets with us!!!

<br><div class="Wifessionals-button" style="width: 300px; margin: 0 auto;"> <br><a href="http://www.wifessionals.com"><br><img src="http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q501/Wifessionals/PFALO_Button_zps5e621c81.png" alt="Preparing For A Little One" height="300" /><br></a><br></div> <!--end button code box--><br>

This week's Topic Breastfeeding vs Formula

This topic has been a hugely debated issue, and I hate that's it's turned into that!  Here is my two cents on the  deal!

I did breastfeed with each of our boys.  However, not for long.  With Noah he got in almost 2 months of nursing and formula, then switched solely to formula.  Carson had about 6 weeks.  Noah was a super fussy baby, I was always worked up, he always seemed hungry and in pain.  We tried lots of different things and combinations pumping and letting him take bottles instead, gas drops, supplementing and nothing seemed to appease him.  It was just too much and I let it go.

With Carson, I had some postpartum depression and started  resenting that time I spent nursing with him.  I didn't handle that adjustment well, I always felt like I was missing out with good Noah time and I felt like it was just better for both of us, if we switched him so we did switch with him a little earlier.  I do have to say that  I regretted quitting so early with him and later wished I would of kept it up but obviously it was too late once all those post baby hormones were gone.

Another issue I dealt with is that I never seemed to produce enough,  when I pumped I would hardly ever get over 2 ounces total.  I couldn't even pump enough for a feeding.

With Noah I really wanted to do and really felt the pressure to be successful with it.  Then  I will never forget what my aunt told me when I extra upset and stressed one day.  She said I needed to take care of myself too.  If mommy isn't happy, baby isn't happy and I needed to do what was best for us.  For each person the experience is different.  I could of tried harder, I know there is medicine you can take to help with your supply, I have since heard of lots of natural methods to increase it and sometimes I wish I would of tried harder.  But then at the same time I have 2 wonderful little boys who did have formula most of their first year and they are perfectly fine, healthy boys!

Now if YOU want to breastfeed by all means, go for it.  It's less expensive, it is awesome for your babies health and immune system.  It also helps with bonding with your baby in the beginning. I took a breastfeeding class by a lactation consultant and I highly recommend taking a class, or reading a book about it to prepare you for help with latch, and general knowledge about breastfeeding, feeding, and how to pump.

But on the other hand, if YOU don't want to, don't give in to the pressure to do it.  You are not a bad mom for choosing to use formula.  Each mom has to decide what is best for their family, their lifestyle and in general what works "best" for them and whatever that is, that is what is RIGHT for YOU!   Formula has come along way in the last 20 years and does give your baby what he/she needs as well, don't feel like your baby won't be "healthy" if you decide to go that route.

If you are unsure if you want to,  I would tell you to try it!  Some people it really grosses them out to think about it but then what that little baby is in their arms they completely change their mind.  If you go back and forth about it toward the end of your pregnancy, then wait and in that moment you can decide and it doesn't hurt to try.  The hospital will have formula there for you, so if you decide to go that route after trying you won't have to worry about a thing.



Good luck future mommas!

Finish the Sentence

Unlike my sibling(s) (that I love very much)....I didn't get to go to Hawaii... I have been giving my parents a hard time ever since. 

My best friend says...I'm bipolar and a mess or at least she has a few times lately and  I completely agree.  Not anyone could say this to me but we're pretty darn honest with each other.   ( She says a lot, haha but this was the first thing to come to mind) 

People call me...hardly ever.  I talk to my Bff, Matthew here and there and my family.  That's pretty much it.

I most often dream...of having a successful clothing store or online business

The best part of my day...cuddles and kisses with my boys

I really don't understand...

I get really annoyed...when people aren't like me

There's nothing like ... my bed, feels so darn good to lay down at night

Lately, I can't get enough...fruit, this house goes through it like nobody's business.  My boys are fruit lovers. 

One thing I am NOT is...funny

I spent too much money on...everything

I want to learn....to do my hair, be better at applying makeup, and make lots of money

If I ever met Eve , I would...ask her why she really had to eat that darn apple!

I can't stop... eating and working out!   Good thing I actually really like working out so it helps with my other issue

Never have I ever...got a tattoo, and don't plan to, it's just not for me

Reese Witherspoon...is always so darn cute.  I love her style

Head on over and link up your Finish the Sentence Questions!

4 Years Ago

Four years ago Mother's Day was hard.

Every year now around Mother's Day I think back to that year and I'm even more thankful for the two little blessings I have been given.

Let's go back to that year for a moment.  Matthew and I had been trying for about a year and a half to get pregnant.  I was trying a little harder than him, he was okay with waiting a little while and had faith in God's timing while me not so much I wanted a baby now.  I was to the point where every pregnancy announcement by a friend or aquaintence was enough to send me to tears.  I wanted to be pregnant so bad.  I wanted a baby, and I was starting to worry it wasn't going to happen for me.  That year we had a big get together for Mother's Day with one of the sides of my family and when it was time to eat, my dad said "okay all the mommies get to go first"  I lost it!  I broke down in tears.  I wanted to be a "mommy".  Little did I know I would find out in the 2 weeks I was expecting ( so for those of you who haven't figured it out, I already was pregnant on Mother's Day just didn't know it, haha which may explain some of the extreme emotions I had, had in the weeks leading up to that day)

Now looking back I can also tell you, it was God's plan all along.  I think about the extra time alone Matthew and I accomplished and the things we did.  We were remodeling a house like major remodeling and I can't imagine having a baby during that time.  Then the October before I had Noah my parents announced to us they were getting a divorce.  It was totally unexpected and something that has forever changed a lot of aspects of my life and who I am.  It was a  few really tough years following that.  But that news was in October and in January Noah, our first was born.  It was perfect timing.  His name means peacemaker, and he truly was.  He brought a broken family together.  He helped turn all of my daily tears to joy.  He gave me something else to think about and focus on.  He lived up to his name and helped give us a new joy!

For those of you that have been trying and I'm sure some of you have been waiting longer, and it hasn't happened yet, I'm  so sorry.  I have friends who want to be mom's and have waited longer than I did.  I pray for them a lot, because I know the feeling and can't imagine waiting longer than I did. I understand that desire and the pain in "waiting".  If that's you, let me know I would love to add you onto my momma in waiting prayer list!  I also want to encourage also to enjoy the time you have now, time to do what you want.  Time to do things with your husband and hobbies you enjoy .  I know you probably hear that a lot and some days it may make you mad, but you never realize how awesome being alone and having no one to care for sometimes is until you don't have that option anymore.  I wish I would have just relaxed more and had more faith that it was going to happen when it was time.  Someday when you become a mom, I'm sure you will look back and be thankful for some of the extra moments you had and see how well the timing of your little was actually was!

If you are waiting I would love to know and will honestly pray for you!

To all you current mom's Happy Mother's Day, we truly have the best ( but sometimes incredibly hard) job on the planet!

Tuesday Topics

This week We are on Two.

Here are my must do bucket list items

My Life Bucket Items

1)  More Traveling- I have always wanted to go to Europe and see Paris and Rome.  We also would love to go back to Grand Cayman because we went on a cruise that went there for a day and loved it.  Another cruise would be great too!  

2)  Start/ Own my own business.  I have always had the desire to have a business of my own but over the years the type of business I want has changed a few times.  Right now it's not a good financial or good time with our kids ages.   I'm hoping maybe after the boys are in school it will be something we can do! 

Summer Bucket Items

1)  Take boys to the zoo

2)  Get the house in order-  Includes:  Spring Cleaning items inside/ outside, purged and organized/ Landscape ( Having a garage sale in two weeks so at least one items should be well on it's way by then!)  

What's on your bucket list?

Menu Plan Monday

I'm back with Menu Plan Monday.  We finally have a normal week of eating at home!

Monday-  Rainbow Chicken

Tuesday- Chicken Stir Fry over rice
I just cook chicken in a skillet with some Teriyaki sauce, add a frozen bag of stir fry veggies, add more  teriyaki  and soy sauce.  Super easy dinner!

Wednesday-  Pork chops on the grill, grilled potatoes, corn

Thursday-  Leftovers

Friday-  Chipotle Chicken Freezer Meal (was supposed to make it a few weeks ago and forgot to take out of the freezer)

Saturday-  Matthew's 30th Birthday!  Party with friends
Burgers and Apple pie were requests from the Birthday boy! We will add some more goodies to the mix too!


Linking up with Org Junkie for Menu Plan Monday

Weekend Shenanigans

Weekends always go by so fast!  Maybe that is because ours is never a normal weekend.  Matthew works half a day on Saturdays so it's  never 2 whole days together but none the less we still had a great weekend!

Friday night we had my cute nephew Elijah's birthday party!  Can't believe how big he is!
The boys had a blast playing with cousins and as always loved their ice cream!
Then they also had a pinata so Noah got to take a stab at that as well.

Then Saturday morning I got to hang out with my boys, spent naptime working on Garage sale pricing for a massive sale we are having in two weeks!
Saturday night we had family date night, which consisted of dinner at our favorite mexican restaurant, followed by a visit to a local Tow- Mater look alike.   Of course that was a hit!  Then we ended the night with ice cream and a trip to Matthew's grandparents to visit some family!  Love date nights with my boys.  They were so good at dinner and funny boys in the car.  One of those nights you just couldn't stop smiling!

Sunday I toughed it out and went for a run.  Friday I was supposed to but woke up not feeling well so skipped.  Saturday it was really raining so did the elliptical instead, so this morning I  looked outside saw it was stilll raining (surprise, surprise) and decided I needed to just get out  there and run, plus I really wanted to anyway been craving a good one.   I told myself since it was raining to at least do 3, run started out rough and not so fun, but after awhile it was actually kind of nice running in the rain (until the water started dripping down my face from my hair) .  And got in more than 3

Then it was church, an awesome nap and dinner with my mom, sister and our boys!

Another great weekend!

Linking up with Sami for