A.M. Workout

Here I am. 530 in the A. M. waiting for for my coffee to finish percolating so that I can have some energy to work out.  Ya'll, I am going to do be completely honest with you.  I have not done my workout in like 4 days.  This is pretty much horrible since your only suppose to have one day off a week.  We have 2 weeks left in the "program" and I don't know what happened to my body but it crashed on me.  I mean, just gave up!!!   My mom was here the entire last week (long story, don't ask) and I did so good getting the workouts in.  If I didn't get them done in the morning like normal, I did them at like 10:00 at night with Jarrod which was a pain, but I did it.  And then this past weekend it was like my bones, muscles, and head formed a union and went on strike.  I just could not get my butt up in the mornings and at night I fell asleep rocking Jesalyn.  My knees felt someone was taking a jackhammer to them everyday. I looked like a 90 year old woman with arthritis walking up my sisters stairs.  I told myself that while the cardio was good, my body needed a rest, with or without Shaun T's approval.  Jarrod, crazy as he is, has stayed right on track
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So, as am sipping on this coffee that just got done, I'm gonna try to work up some energy to have my rear handed to me long before the sun even rises.  Go easy on me Shaun, it's been a few days!!

Two Thousand and Eleven

The past couple of days I have been sitting back (mentally, because I sure don’t have time to sit down physically) and thinking about the last year.  2010 was probably one of the most difficult years for us as a family.  January 2010, Jarrod called and quit his job to stay home with Jesalyn. What a rough morning it was making that decision.  I’m sure a lot of people thought we were crazy downsizing to one income in the economy that we are in.  We even had a couple of people tell us this directly.  But, I just couldn’t bring myself to send her to daycare.  Something inside me kept telling me not too.  It was more than just the first time jitters moms getting on the first day of “giving up” her child to someone else for a day.  I fought it.  My head kept telling me that it was the logical thing to do.  Jarrod had a good job and there was just no way we could survive on my income alone.  The logical side of me had her going to daycare all the way up to the first day and then my “gut” kicked in, also known as my God Voice.”  Something just didn’t feel right.  I knew that we needed to put on our big girl/boy pants and have some faith that the Lord would provide for us, just like He always has.  I can honestly say that while I had my moments of “oh my goodness, are we going to make it another month??!” for the most part I did my best not to worry.  And you know what, we made it.  Here we are in 2011, Jarrod has a part time job and Jesalyn is in day care and loving it!  This time around, I was sad about sending her to daycare but I knew that she was ready. Not only that she was ready, but it would be good for her.  She would grow from it.   

To add to all the goodness that’s happening, we refinanced our auto loan and it cut our car payment in half and I had an interview today for a promotion.  I have totally given this possible job opportunity up to whatever might happen.  Since becoming a mom, I have slowly learned that this is the only way to be.  I use to stress and worry and you know where that got me?  Nowhere.  What is going to happen will happen regardless of whether or not I lose sleep.  When I stopped worrying, life went on and things always seemed to work out, and probably for the better.   When I worried, I became proactive trying to force things to happen.  Forcing things always seem to mess them up.  It’s not until you let go does everything fall into place.  I read a quote the other day that said it perfect:

“Only when you stop struggling, do you begin to float.” 

Teachers Report

Well, I knew the day would come.  The day one of Jesalyn's teachers would have to tell me what she did that day.  If you remember, I said once that I just knew I would get a note telling me that Jesalyn was disturbing the class by putting erasers up her nose.

Today I was picking her up from day care and the teacher says to me "oh my gosh, Jesalyn was cracking us up today!!"  Apparently, they sing a song about a baby bird that goes to sleep and gets really quite, and then the song goes on to sing how it wakes up and gets really really loud.  She said that when they got to the part about the bird waking up, Jesalyn would jump up, squish her face up into a tiny ball and clap her hands. She said the two teachers were laughing so hard at one point they had to stop the song to catch their breath.

 I just don't know where they would get that my daughter is funny.  I mean, it's so not like her  *wink wink*

Day Two

She must have been too excited to stand still because I couldn't get one good picture that wasn't all blurry.   She loves loves loves her backpack for daycare!

Mommy who??

So, we did it! All three of us.  We got through day one of daycare.  It was such a tough morning getting her ready.  I was holding back tears the entire time, but I had that smile plastered to my face so she would be excited about going.  The time came for us to leave the house, so we kissed daddy bye and took off.  I turned on some music (Adele 21 to be exact) so that she could get a quick jam session in as we drove to "school."  That girl loves her some music!  We pulled into the parking lot and I went around the car, got her out, got out her backpack and walked in determined not to cry not matter what happened in there. If mommy was okay, then Jesalyn would be okay.  I took her into her room and sat her on the ground so that she could look around and ya'll, she took off running.  She immediately found a baby and brought it over to show me. She looked around at all the toys and I could see the excited building up on her face.  "You mean, I can play with anything in the whole entire room?  You're not going to tell me not to pull on this, or get out of that?" I didn't want to drag the thing out (mostly for me,) so I told the teacher I would go ahead and sneak out.  I told Jesalyn to give me a hug.  She ran up to me and hugged me and when I sat her back down she ran and found some blocks to play with. I left the room, but peaked back through the window of the door (you can see in, but they can't see out) thinking that she would be looking up wondering where "mommom went."    She didn't even know I was gone!  I walked out to the car with a smile on my face and as soon as I turned the ignition I just sobbed.  I cried all the way to work. 

I knew she was fine and having fun, but I was so worried that at some point she would look around and realize that we weren't there and start crying.  It was probably one of my least productive days at work.   I tried not worry but that is so much easier said than done.   At about 12:00 I got an email at work. The subject line said "Greetings from Jesalyn!" I opened it up and I see this picture:

In the email it basically read.  Hi mom and dad! I'm having such a fun first day at daycare.  Love Jesalyn.

This immediately made me feel better. At least I knew at that point, she wasn't crying because I could actually see she was having fun.
Jarrod picked her up around two and the teacher said she hadn't cried all day long.  She was sweet and energetic and even took her nap on the cot with all the other kids. 
So, day one was a success.  Praying day 2 is as smooth!

Dada and Jesalyn getting ready for their big day!

Dada going to work, Jesalyn going to "school"

Vision of the future

I have come to realize that my little girl might just becoming a "girly" girl =)   The past few times we have been out looking for clothes for her (and my new little niece that will be here in almost a month,) I have put her down and she goes and looks at all the racks and "ooh's" and "ahhh's."  She has really taken a liking to clothes shopping.

So, today we were out and about enjoying the almost 80 degree weather (go ahead and be jealous, and then come on down to Tennessee) and she found a shirt she liked.  She walked over to it, took it off the shelf, and screamed in delight.  Then she ran to a mirror and looked into it with the shirt up against her and smiled really big.   The shirt was way too big for her and cost too much to buy "just because."  I let her carry it around while I continued to look.  As we were leaving, I told her we had to leave the shirt at the store because we were going bye bye now.  She screamed and threw the biggest tantrum to date.  I walked her out to the car while she was crying and screaming. At that moment, I became That mother.   I immediately envisioned the same fight happening 16 years from now when I have to tell her that she can't buy that Gucci bag until she has a job of her own.  "Buttttt mommmmm!  I'll be the only at school with out one!!!"  
Fun times ahead!!

Knock on wood

But guess who slept in her OWN bed all night and didn't wake up once?!

While she slept sound all night and didn't make one peep, I was up every three hours checking on her.  Almost as if she was newborn again =)

Bad habits break hard...

...and new ones are even harder!!!

So Monday Jesalyn officially becomes a "big girl."  She will be getting up with mommy and daddy, eating breakfast, putting on clothes other than her pj's and...GOING TO DAYCARE.   Jarrod starts his job on Monday so that means Jesalyn gets to go and "play with kids her own age and have lots and lots of fun" which is what we've been telling her to get her pumped about going.  We have visited there several times so that she will get use to being there.  She seems to like the adults (the kids were all sleeping every time we went,) so I'm hoping she'll do okay, but I'll tell y'all I'm most worried about me and Jarrod.  I'm already about in tears just thinking about it and Jarrod told me the other day "I just don't know if I'm going to be able to give her up 3 days a week."  I know, so sweet right? The logic side of me knows this will be good for her. I know she's ready. She needs to learn to play with other kids and if I can be honest, I think she gets bored here at the house.  Once she gets use to it, she'll have so much fun.  But, fun or no fun, doesn't mean this momma ain't gonna shed a bucket few tears.

Also, while I have y'all here.  For any of you that have kids and also gave in to the bad habit of letting your child sleep in the same bed as you, what or how did you break it??  Jesalyn has been sleeping with Jarrod and I for oh about.....*cough cough*....four ....*cough* months *cough cough*  We tried putting her in her own bed last night and she woke up every time we laid her down.  I always said I would never form that habit with my child, but again she has made me go against everything I ever said I "would do when I have a child."  
So, for Jesalyn, and for this momma help us out with some your stories.

He works hard for the money

So, the good news is that Jarrod got a job.  Yep, it's true and I have to say I have very mixed feelings about it. On the one hand I'm super pumped because we've been waiting for this for almost a year now. On the other hand, it's only a 20 hr part time position and after we pay for daycare, the net increase is a small amount.  But, it puts him back in the workforce and if a full time position opens up he would be one of the first in line to move up. Speaking of daycare, even if it's only 3 days a week I'm almost in tears already thinking about dropping her off that first day. And she is not even close to caught up on her vaccines, because well, we aren't sure about them.  So, now we have to revisit that whole topic again.  To be quite honest, it all makes me want to throw up thinking about it.  Advice? Words of wisdom?  Anyone????

As promised

Here are the photos of the wall calendar that comes with the Insanity video.  You better believe that it is hanging up front and stage in my living room to keep me motivated.

If you look very closely at month one, you will see all the days are checked off, proof that I ain't lying about getting my rear kicked.

And what I've been waiting for for 4 weeks now:

Ah yes, "recovery week" which is Shaun T's way of saying "you better rest up because if you thought last month was hard, just you wait...*crazy, insane, laugh*

On another note, Jesalyn has starting "working out" with us. It's so stinkin' adorable.  She does the stretches with us, taking her deep breath in and out and then puts one leg up to balance on the other. I've been trying to get a picture but haven't gotten a good one yet.  I'll keep trying.

Also, stay tuned. I might have some good news to share with y'all tomorrow...and before you get carried away, no, I'm not pregnant =)

Insanity-Week 4

Yep, almost half way done.  It's insane (haha) to think that I have been doing this craziness for a month.   Let me give a quick update.  I now wear a knee brace and after tonights workout my ankle is throbbing. So I figure I can take this one of two ways. One, I'm getting old and my joints just aren't holding up anymore. Two, I'm really getting in shape because those are the two things that hurt me back in college when I was at my super fitest (yes, I just made that word up.)  I choose the latter.  What keeps me going?  This picture of me in 2004(ish) on Spring Break.

Oh, the college days. Eyebrow ring and everything =)

So anyway.  Today was the last day of the first part of the program.  You do the same 5 workouts for the first month and then you get a recovery week. That will start on Monday. Praise the Lord for a recovery week. And then, there is a month of even harder circuits to kick your butt.  This past week has been by far the hardest mentally.  There were days where I just didn't want to do it. My muscles hurt, my body was tired and I was worn out,  but by golly I pushed through it. 
How am I feeling?  Honestly?  Well, I can see the definition in my arms coming back and my legs are starting to feel toned but I'm pretty frustrated.  I know it takes time to burn fat and have a total body transformation but I'm tired of doing these exercises and (we're all friends here right?) seeing belly rolls when I bend over to stretch.  I mean come on!  I've been getting my rear kicked every stinkin' night, lets see this stomach flat already!!! 
As for the eating and calories, I have never been able to "count calories."  Anytime I've tried, I've driven myself bonkers.  Plus, the whole equation for knowing how many your allowed is pretty in depth and it apparently changes as you work out and I don't quite understand how to adjust it. So, I've been watching more closely what I eat.  I have pretty much cut out sweets from my diet, which if you know me, is a pretty big deal.  I do have a "cheat day" every so often but it's more like a cheat meal than a whole day.   I've added tons more protein to my diet..at least one protein shake a day.  Also, I don't know that this has made a difference or not, but I've started buying coconut milk.  I didn't even know this existed, but I've always heard how good coconut was for you so when I saw the milk, you know I had to try it.  I'm not crazy about the taste, but I make my shakes out of it and, score, it only has 80 calories a serving which is much less than cows milk.
I was going to put up a couple of pictures of the wall calendar that comes with the video to show you all what it looks like, but it appears that Jesalyn has ran of with the cord that connects my camera to the computer. As soon as  I find it, I promise I will get them up for you.

LaLa's Baby Shower

My baby sister Laura (her nickname is Lala if you were wondering) had her baby shower last weekend.  Okay, so she's not a baby anymore. She's actually 22....wow, that makes me feel really old.  Anyway! She is due in April and I'm so excited to meet her little girl, who I so lovingly have nicknamed Baby Beyonce since they haven't picked the "official" one yet.   The following are pictures from the shower we threw her.   I am forewarning you, my hair must have went super flat that day so just ignore that part of the pictures mmmkay??

My very 1st diaper cake.  Soo cute!

Balloon fun with Pa Pa

Three sisters

Sisters with momma (and Jesalyn of course)

Sisters with Dad

Jesalyn being silly with Grandma Julie

Sleeping Beauty's

This is what I see every morning while I'm getting ready for work  =)