Wordless Wednesday - Swim Lessons with Daddy

Thanksgiving 2011

We had an awesome Thanksgiving this year. It was nice and laid back which is always good. About 5 years or so ago Mike and I had decided that we were done with the running around to two different places on the same day and gorging ourselves with food. So we switch off the actual Thanksgiving day with our families. I have to say that when we started doing this it changed everything and we enjoy the holidays a heck of a lot more. I can't imagine running around like this with a 15 month old, it just wouldn't have happened.

Last year we went to Canada to visit some of my MIL's family. I didn't think we could have made it 8 hours in the car with a 3 month old but we did and had a great time. This year was no different.

In the car on the way to Winnipeg, Canada

Wednesday: Mike and I both had to work, but we were lucky to get off early and get home and pack up the car. It was nice because the IL's have the dog (because of our construction), so the packing up was a bit easier. We were able to visit with the framing guys - they were super nice and built us a step for us! We picked up the little miss and headed down to my parents. It was a nice evening visiting with my parents and having dinner. I was a bit worried about Gabby sleeping, but she ended up going down around 7:30 or so and slept until 6am. It was so nice to get so much sleep in a row.

First time playing Playdough

Thursday: We had a lazy day in the morning. My mom wasn't going to cook because we were going to go visit with my grandpa. We all pretty much just chilled out around the house and played with Gabby. We went out and saw the puppies. Gabby absolutely LOVES the puppies. Last weekend when my mom and I took her out to the kennels, she was very upset because the puppies were gone hunting. I have never seen a little one so excited to see dogs of any kind, in magazines, on the TV, in person, she just LOVES them. Around 1:30 we headed up to see my grandpa. We were taking him out to a restaurant that he loves near his nursing home. Gabby was having a bit of a melt down when we got there because she only got about a 30 minute nap on the way to dinner. She also was a little unsure of Grandpa when he first got there, but after awhile she warmed up to him right away and he was sneaking her whipped cream from his pie. Which let me tell you, she wasn't sure what to do with and just spread it around on the table. Gabby is also learning to drink from a cup with a straw, so I got her a kids cup. The straw was so big that she was getting too much water in at once. She started to become a fountain. She would take a big sip of water and then just spit it right out. We tried not to laugh but I have to say it was really hard not to. We ended up having to cut the visit a bit short because I forgot a diaper - how do you forget diapers....so we weren't able to go back to grandpa's place and play cribbage with him but we still all had a great time.

Trying to get a 15 month old to sit for a photo shoot is no easy task...thus by why her hair is all raised up from static.

Coloring - her new favorite activity.

To color or to eat..that is the question

My grandpa - all smiles on Thanksgiving day (He is just excited about the pie)

My mom and Grandpa

My parents

Friday: Mike and my dad took all three dogs hunting at a local management area, while they were gone my mom, Gabby and I had a great time. We made cookies, colored, tried to get the baby down for a nap (epic fail!). I thought I had her down around noon right when the guys got back but after running little Gizmo in the field we came back in and she was up with my mom...so no nap until later in the afternoon. More fun time coloring and some other things, visiting the puppies. We then headed off to Kings bar and grill. For those that haven't had the wonderful opportunity to visit Kings if you are ever in southern MN you NEED to look it up. It's in a town that has 100 or so people and this dive bar and grill makes 50+ burgers. My favorite that I get EVERY time we go is the Fly Ball burger (Swiss Cheese, Canadian Bacon, Pineapple and Marinara sauce + the burger). My dad usually gets the one with the fried egg on top. They even have a burger with peanut butter and Jelly. If you want a hotdog on your burger, this is the place to go, sauerkraut yep you can get that here too :)

Gabby saying hi to Dooley. He doesn't really like little kids, so we are easing him into knowing Gabby.

Grandpa and Gabby walking in from visiting the puppies

Saturday: Gabby slept her best ever Friday night to Saturday. She went down Friday night around 7:30 or so and slept until I woke her up at 7am. I try to keep her on her schedule so I don't let her sleep too much past 7am. We left my parents and headed home. We needed some time to unwind and get a few things done around the house. Gabby had a different idea. She didn't want to nap and only slept about 30 minutes on the ride home from my parents house.


Sunday: We went to the IL's house for dinner with the family. We had a great time as usual. Gabby had so much fun playing with Papa, Nana, her Uncle and her cousin. The girls ran up and down the halls all afternoon and went on the trampoline. Gabby got a little bit cranky towards dinner time, but that's what happens when a little one doesn't take a nap like she is supposed to. She refused the turkey, bun and mashed potatoes, she did try some sweet potatoes. She however LOVED my pumpkin pie and of course had a bite of daddy's french silk.

Gabby and Mac looking outside at a squirrel

Trampoline Fun

15 Months

15 Months

Weight

19lbs 13oz, 31.25 inches long
(I must have weighed her wrong last month)

Clothing Size

12 to 24 Months
12-18 Month Pants - 18 -24 Months Shirts

Diaper Size

Up and Up 3

Feeding

Whole Milk during the day at daycare
Kelly at daycare has been pretty good about getting you to eat what I send. You normally though are still only eating a few favorites: Greek Yogurt, Bananas, Peanut Butter, Bread, Pizza (Without cheese), Peas, Oatmeal, Raisins, Cinnamon Cheerios and most anything in purees.
You nurse from mama about 2 maybe 3 times a day during the week, sometimes more on the weekends.


Bedtime/Wakeup Times

 Bedtime: anywhere from 6:00 - 7:15
Wakeup Time: usually around 6am
Naptimes: You vary from day to day, sometimes only take an hour to two hour nap, otherwise you take 2 naps (one 1 hour nap in the morning and a longer nap in the afternoon).

14 Month Milestones

Oh my goodness, what haven't you done this month!! It's been crazy watching your grow up this month.
* You are starting to use your signs more and more lately. They are: More, Milk, Nursing (you created your own sign for this).
* You are getting a vocabulary of more words: Ma (Mac), Bu (Blue), Mama, Dada, Than You (Thank you), Ba (Ball) and Dog.
* You are climbing the stairs so well now
* You are almost running
* You have almost gotten another tooth in and working on a 7th.
* You started swimming lessons with mama and dada

* You are helping mama and dada take care of the puppy. You like to put the puppy in her kennel, give her a treat and feed her.
* You are starting to transition to the Toddler Room at daycare

Dear Little Peanut Pie -

My little cuddle bug...you are getting to be so big and while Mama is so happy at that she is also sad that you are growing up so fast. I am super excited though and so happy that you are learning so much and exploring your world with such excitement every day!!

You totally amaze me every single day with what you learn, what you do and what you show us. You totally love your puppy, you love chasing her around, you love feeding her, you love playing with her. You have such a great time with her and I know as you grow older you two will be great friends.

We love you pumpkin pie!

Wordless Wednesday

Gabby paiting with watercolors at daycare in the Toddler Room

Weightloss Monday

Well another week down...My weight is up (only 1lb), but I am blaming that on my mom's good cooking and the venison roast and carrot cake Mike and I made last week ;) It's a new week.

Here is how I am doing on my goals:
1. Give up Pop: This one I am still doing great at. I have had a few during the past 5 weeks, but thats it.
2. No snacks before 9:30: Still going strong with this one. In fact It was almost 10 today before I even felt hungry. So I think I am starting to break the habit of this one and actually eating when I am hungry
3. Exercise 2 to 3 times a week: Last week I did really great at this one. I worked out Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. I ran around after a toddler on Saturday and Sunday and today I did a TON of housework, which I am counting. I started my Biggest Loser Bootcamp and will continue to do that a few times a week.

I didn't really add more goals, just improved on the ones that I had - I did however eat a few more fruits during the day this past week and I have been sticking to only a few snacks and my three meals...so we are making progress. I am going to continue with those two goals this next week and make some more progress.

To be honest I feel a little defeated about the weight gain, but I know that it's just a minor setback and I need to get back on the road and back on the band wagon.

Thanks to those that are joining in my journey with me. We can make each other stronger!!!

Car Seat Safety - Friendly Reminder

A fellow blogger showed me a great link about car seat safety, For those that are in winter climates and even those that aren't it's a great reminder. Bulky clothing and winter jackets do not mix with car seats.Watch the video below. I have started putting Gabby's coat on backwards, we get in the car, I put her harness on and then put her jacket on over backwards again and then take it off and put back on her when we get to our destination.

It's a bit of a pain, but like I told Mike I would rather have Gabby safe and sound in her carseat like she is supposed to be than able to fly out of the car seat. I don't know what I would do if I didn't take the extra few minutes to buckle her in right and something happened.

Battle Sleep - Has been WON!!

Well I had to look back, but it's been almost 2 months since I last wrote about our sleep issues. I am proud to say that we have won that battle! What a glorious time these past two months have been.

Mike and I stuck with what we planned on and I have to say it really works. I really don't remember what our lives were like before that. Also you don't really know how sleep deprived you really are until you get better sleep.

those first couple of weeks were tough, but we slowly phased out her feedings and now she goes down between 6 and 7 (sometimes a bit later) every night and sleeps usually until 4:30. If she gets up anytime after putting her down and before 4:30 I just try to change her diaper and put her down. If after the 3rd time of trying doesn't work then I usually feed her.

But this usually doesn't happen and usually she sleeps until 4:30. I feed her and put her back down and she is down until 6 or 6:30 when it's time for breakfast. The past couple of days she is finally sleeping until 6am. While I don't normally get out of bed until 6:30 I can handle 6am if she isn't getting up before that.

The things we learned with her I am sure I will forget when it's time for our next child. It's funny how that happens. I try to think back and remember things and I just can't sometimes. I now know why parents have to retake parenting classes, there is just so much that goes on in the first year it's hard to remember it all :)

Well I hope everyone out there is getting some good sleep. Like I tell Gabby every night before I put her down. Sleep Tight, Don't let the bed bugs bite, and if they do, bite them back!

Sweet Dreams everyone!

Wordless Wednesday

Weightloss Monday

Okay, well it's been over a year since I had my little one and it's definitely time to get back in shape. So today is the day. No more "I will start tomorrow". I want to thank a few of my friends (Erin, Nicole, Shelly, Juli & Melissa) on getting my exercise kick started. They are my weight loss buddies (Plus all you ladies on the Aug SP Weight Loss Board, I will actually be on there this time, really I will!).

So I started tonight by exercising. I broke out the Biggest Loser Boot Camp DVD. Man I didn't realize how out of shape I was. I lost 46lbs soon after I had Gabby. that put me at 30lbs lower than my pre-pregnancy weight. However I have gained about 10 of that back. My goal however is 150lbs. That's right! I am telling you my current weight and what I want to be at. I am saying it out loud so that all you blog readers can help me out and keep me accountable!!! So every Monday I will check in with my progress for the week.

I have really started some of these awhile ago, but here are my goals that I am currently following and things I want to change in the future. I am setting small weekly goals, so that I can one actually achieve them and two feel some accomplishment.

1. Give up Pop. I started this probably in the beginning of October I think it was, so we are on week 5 right now. I have had one pop during that entire time and I have to say it wasn't all that great. I crave it every once in awhile, but I am starting to actually crave water, can you believe it.

2. No snacks before 9:30. I tend to eat a lot of little snacks throughout the day, so the past two weeks after I eat breakfast I do not have a snack until about 10am. This helps spread it out a bit and I don't tend to eat so much. So far so good.

3. Exercise 2 to 3 times a week. I actually had this one last week, but I didn't really do any exercise. Okay who am I kidding I did NO exercise, except run after Gabby. So this week I am starting this one again. So far 1 day down, 2 to go! I am planning on doing a Monday, Wednesday, Friday work out for 2 weeks and then bump it up for weeks 3 and 4. Wish me luck!

Some things I want to change
1. Eat more fruits and veggies during my day
2. Add more protein to my diet
3. Cut out some(not all) of the carbs that I intake during the day
4. Only have 3 meals and 3 snacks a day...this one I am doing pretty well, but sometimes I add a fourth snack or eat a really large lunch


So that's my weightloss plan/strategy. Wish me luck! I am going to need it! If you are doing a weightloss/fitness workout or anything like this let me know by commenting! We can keep each other in check.

Wordless Wednesday

Gabby and I at her Daycare Halloween Party

Gabby and one of her best friends Issac - the golfer

Gabby and her two best friends, Leo the Lion & Issac the Golfer

Posing for the camera