And The Truth Shall Set Me Free

So I'm going to go ahead and just be honest with myself. I think joining the gym was the wrong move for me. I haven't even been a handful of times and yet I can't make myself want to go. I feel fat and out of place. I feel like I needed to do something before starting the gym. Which sounds silly, right?

I am thankful that the husband hasn't said a word but I'm sure n his mind he is wondering what is going on with me and why did I have him waste money joining the gym if I'm suddenly not going to go. I look in the mirror and see a body I don't recognize and I know I need to do something but I don't want to do it at the gym. Where people can see me and judge. Where I'm trying to hide in a corner. Where I am comparing myself to everyone else. Where I feel old and out of place.

So what do I do? How can I get to a place where I am okay with the gym. Or do I give in to my discomfort and make a plan to work out at home? And then rejoin the gym when I've made progress? So many questions and not many answers...

Potty Time Update

And so after a brief hiatus so that this mommy could wrap her head around the patience required for potty training, we have success! I can say with pride that my son is officially potty trained.

He does wear a diaper at night but hasn't woken up with it wet in over a week...heck, I think now it's been almost 2 weeks. The hardest part was getting him to recognize the sensation of having to go and running to the potty before wetting himself completely.

And yes, we even have #2 in the potty. But for some reason it takes him a while to relax and go with the flow when it comes to #2 but as long as he doesn't do it in his undies I'm okay with the amount of time and coaxing it takes.

But the best part? The best part is that he used the potty AT SCHOOL. He came home with a sticker for using the pot and all I could do was gush. He likes it when we gush and tell him how proud and happy we are...who wouldn't, right?

So now you are wondering how we got him trained, right? What was the secret that gave us success...I'm going to tell you...it was a timer. That's right, a timer. See the first time I started training him it was hard to be consistent. I would forget how much time had passed and then he'd fight me to not go. It was a mess, hence the small hiatus I took. And treats? He didn't care a thing about treats for sitting on the potty. When I was ready to go back to the training, I made sure he understood there were no more diapers, except for night time. And then I set the time for 15 minutes and we began. He caught on very quickly that the bell going off meant it was time to sit. And we did this for several days. Each day I added 5 minutes to the clock. Now we are at the point where he can go an hour or two before I ask him to use the potty. And he recognizes when he needs to go and tells me.

As for how we got #2 in the potty? We told him if he did it in the pot, he would get the one thing he is really into right now...jiggly animals. What are they? Some rubber animals from Wal Mart. He adores them and wants everyone they have at the store. He's a smart one...because anytime he does the dirty deed, he immediately reminds us that he is do a jiggly animal. Not sure what is going to happen when he has all the animals available at the store...

So there you have it, potty training tackled and accomplished!

Before the Digital Age...Down the Aisle

This week Natalie over at Mommy of a Monster is having a great link up. She wants everyone to post their favorite wedding photo(s).

Way back in 2004, digital was just beginning to pop up...so all our pictures were done the old fashion way. Luckily one evening I decided to scan all of the photos so I could look at them via the computer instead of in a hardbound photo album. I remember wanting to book a photographer that would just randomly take photos but they were expensive. So instead I went with the same photographer that takes all the schools pictures. That's right this same studio took my high school senior photos! And we went with a lot of posed photos!

Of all the pictures that were taken that day, I have 3 that are my favorite, and these are them:

The first just epitomizes the love we have for each other and probably is a typical wedding photo but I loved it so much, I enlarged it and it hangs in our house.  The second I stole the idea from a wedding magazine or The Knot but as soon I saw the photo...I fell in love with it. Those are my twin sister's, they were 7 going on 8. And the last photo...something about it is so candid. I can't remember what we were talking about but I just love how unaware we both were when the photo was taken.

How about you? Want to share your favorite wedding photo(s)? Click the button and join the linkup!





(Not sure why the button isn't working! But head over to www.mommyofamonster.com)

Surprise...I'm Still Here!

I'm still here. Hard to believe a week has passed since my last post, but it has. I tried several times to come and post and every time I sat down and looked at the screen, I realized I just did not want to be on the computer. It happens. Thank goodness I'm not trying to make a business of this blogging stuff.

This past week has had me feeling out of sorts. One moment I am happy-go-lucky and then the next I feel sad and/or angry. Even a few trips to the gym didn't help. I hate when I feel this way.

I also have several blog post in my head and just want the time to flesh them out and not feel rushed. What is it about kids that makes you feel like anything you do for yourself has to be done quickly? Or is that just me?

Counting down time until vacation...but will it be a vacation with two little ones? There will be no sleeping in...but their might be beers on the balcony looking out to the ocean. Guess we will take the small moments where and when we can get them.

And as soon as vacation is over, I would love for the Fall weather to come blowing in. I am ready to wear boots and sweaters and jeans. It's my most favorite time of year.

Happy Friday, friends! Make it a great one.

Friday Five: 5 Ways to get a Guy...to Run the Other Way

I'm trying to keep up with my posting but not killing myself to do so. I will take the easy way if it presents itself, so we have another Friday Five list! 

1. After finding out his parents (or families) names, you tell him you have the perfect name for the kids you will have together...after only a month or two of dating.

2. Talking about how big you expect your engagement ring to be and how only a certain size will do.

3. Tell him your best friend is a guy...and that at one time you use to sleep together.

4. Have an issue with every one of his friends and try to get him to not see them any more.

5.Nag. Nag. Nag. Trust me, once there is a ring and a baby...there will be plenty of time to nag.

This list came about because I was thinking about relationships and what makes people act the way they do when they are new. And how sometimes women don't realize it...but they can sabotage themselves.

Bringing Sexy Back

Because this is what I want to look like. And currently when I look in the mirror my ab area looks like a deflated beach ball. Actually a deflated kick ball because of my stretch marks and kick balls are usually that red ball with lines all over it. It's not a pretty sight and definitely not a sexy one.  And so I've joined the gym.

But I'm realistic. After two kids, all the gym time in the world is not going to get my abs looking like that. For all the skin that is stretched out and hanging over places it didn't before, only a miracle or surgery can get me looking like that. Or several pairs of Spanx over one another! But still...I've joined the gym.

There was only one time I truly liked working out. That was as a senior in high school. They had opened up a Gold's Gym next to my job and my mother and I joined. The owner or manager was a good looking guy and I think I may have had a tiny crush on him. I was itty bitty thing, hovering at 100 pounds. He could crush me with his bicep. And yet, I went to the gym and liked it. I went to classes, I lifted weights, I ran on the treadmill. I was a regular Denise Austin. I believe I even had a thong leotard I wore. Because let's face it, at 17, I could get away with it.

Now? Now a thong is the last thing I would be caught dead in. And liking the gym? Oh hell no. I go because I need to not because I truly want to. But I know once I start going and realize that even though I don't like to sweat...I will have at least an hour to myself...I will be just fine. That's right folks, the kids will be in the gym's childcare and I can sweat to the oldies via my ipod without anyone whining or crying.

And hopefully in a few months I will have brought sexy back. Just a little bit.