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