Working it out

Since becoming a mom I have not had the time to return to the gym. Between work & Adam there does not seem to be enough time in the day to fit that it. As crazy as it sounds, I miss going to the gym at 5:30 am with my friend Sam. We went for at least a year or more and as much as I hated waking up, I felt like I was accomplishing something. It was also so much easier with a partner and it was great be able to see her often. We were both working at the same goal, we wanted to be healthy moms.
Now it is difficult to find a balance between time for myself and time spent with Adam. It was much easier when I wasn't working because I spent all day with him and I didn't feel so guilty leaving in the evening for an hour. Now I am gone all day & the last thing that I want to do when I get home is leave again.
So I have decided to make working out part of my day in little ways. I am determined to make healthy choices everyday and stick with them. It is not about being skinny anymore, but about being healthy. I have started to walk at work. I slip on my tennis shoes, grab my ipod & go. Chris & I have been walking after work. The funniest thing is I have taken my little dumbells to work and I work on my arms all the while hoping that no one walks in & sees me!
In a perfect world, Sam & I woudn't have to work and we could get our little ones together & stroll around a park everyday. Oh well, instead I need to get creative and figure out ways to fit in working out in my everyday life. This should be interesting!

Picture worthy moments

I finally got around to uploading these pictures. They are of Chris' 1st Father's Day, Adam's first swim (which he was not too keen on)his monthly swing picture & some others.

Things to get excited about

1. healthy baby

2. better jobs (yay Chris!)

3. family

4. great mom in law who comes to my house takes cares of Shorty, cleans, does laundry, makes dinner-makes my life much easier.

5. God's unconditional love & grace even when I don't deserve it.

6. a husband who loves me despite me being neurotic

7. new car

8. Chris (again) great dad

9. a job-even if it is not my dream job, it could be worse.

10. life long friends

11. Lazy afternoons with Chris & Adam

12.Fridays-date nite!

Dame un beso

Adam's new thing is learning how to give kisses. We say,"un beso" and he lunges foward, mouth completely open and plants either me or Chris with a wet slobbery kiss. It is heaven to watch. It is amazing to watch him learn & experience new things. Every week there is something different going on. I always tell new parents that once you get past the "what the heck am I doing" phase parenting becomes much more enjoyable & fun. I mean, we are by no means experts in parenting, I just know that things start out scary & rocky and just get better & better every day.

Dancing the morning away

We have a routine in the Brantley household. Every morning when Adam wakes up (around 6:30) Chris or I will bring him into our room, give him his morning bottle and turn on Jumpstart on VH1(the only time they actually show videos). I know I sound like a bad mommy, but it keeps him occupied while we are getting ready plus it exposes him to a variety of good music-well except when Bret Michaels is on or when people start talking about getting freaky in the club then we change it.

Anyway NKOTB's Summer Time video came on and of course I stopped blow drying my hair to see cutie Joey and then I started dancing around with my blow dryer in my hand totally looking like a crazy lady. The best part was Adam's expression. With his bottle still in his mouth he looked at me like, "Are you serious?". Normally he would find this amusing but he really looked like he wanted to say, "Mom you are really embarrassing me." Wow, I wonder if this is a preview of things to come? Yes Adam I will probably continue to embarrass you the rest of your life, it is one of the things moms do best. ; )

No Shoes, No Service

My baby boy is 8 months today. I can not believe it. It is such a cliche but time goes by so fast. I have to start thinking about his 1st birthday party. It makes me a little sad that he his getting so big. He hates being cradled like a baby and we have already had our first confrontation! Well, not really a confrontation-more like a mini tantrum. Here's the story:
Adam hates hates wearing shoes. The first thing he does is yank them off and chew on them. He has even discovered how to unvelcro stuff. I realize that it is summer and he doesn't always need shoes, but I would like him to wear shoes to church and other important social functions (not that church is a social function-but you get what I mean). I think what made me determined to have him keep his shoes on was when my father-in law said, "Oh it's just the okie in him that wants to go barefoot." To which I responded, "Oh hell no" (well in my head I did). I love my father in law too much to subject him to my snarky comments. I do not want my baby to known as an okie (no offense to okies who may read this-you are lovely & make me laugh). So I decided that he was going to keep his shoes on no matter what! I figured that he is old enough to learn the word no.
Yesterday I put on his little crocs and the first thing he did was grab his shoes to which I responded with a stern no. Of course he thought this was hilarious and obviously I didn't mean it, so there he went again straight for his shoes and again I said no. I picked him up and put him in his car seat. I sat in the back with him and the whole tug of war continued again but this time he started to get mad and have a fit every time I said no. I couldn't believe that my sweet boy was grunting at me and throwing a tantrum! Finally after 10 minutes he left his shoes alone and it was a good thing because he was wearing me down and I was sick of saying no for the umpteenth time. Now I can see why parents finally give into their kid's demands. It is exhausting being a parent!
On another note,we had a really great Father's Day weekend. Adam watched Chris work on the backyard. Shortstuff loves being outside. I will post pics later, we have a different computer now so all the camera stuff needs to be downloaded all over. Stay tuned.

Father's Day

At the hospital in the NICU

Say Cheese!

Happy early Father's Day to the best daddy & husband ever! Both Adam & I love you very much. You make my job as a mommy much easier. Here are some of my favorite pictures of my two favorite guys.

So things are looking up

Not that they were down really, it just seemed like we were in a holding pattern. We have both been waiting to get better jobs. It really looks like Chris is going to get this job as an Investigator for the DA's office. It has finally paid off all those weekends at the Academy for almost a year. Also, I am closer than ever to finally student teaching. Finishing the credential plan is something that I have put on the back burner for a couple of years. Honestly I do not think that I had the confidence to take these stupid tests and that is the only thing that is holding me back. I have already passed one and I am waiting to find out about test #2 and then the last one is in July. So hopefully by January I will finally switch careers and get a "real job".
We just bought a new car and it is a decision that we really feel good about. I mean we would often talk about how we regretted buying a house so soon and life was so much more simple in our little apartment. I finally feel that things are looking up and are only going to get better for us in the coming year!

Rockin out with the Short Stuff & George Michael

On one of our frequent trips to Target this weekend, I made Chris buy us George Michael's latest greatest hits cd (I know dorky) but it had Last Christmas on there and who can resist that song? Anyway, on my way to my mom's I had Freedom blaring (another great catchy song) and I heard a little voice coming from the backseat-Adam was singing along! Granted, it was baby gibberish but he meant it with his whole heart, it was very sweet. The Short one digs George.
On a more meaningful note, Adam has two little teeth! Chris & I spotted them while we were at Target Sunday (we should just camp out there) Geez, trips to Target can be a whole another blog on it's own. : -)

Fiesta Time

These are pictures from my cousin Jared's 2nd birthday party last weekend. It was the party of all parties, with a Taco truck, all you can eat ice cream and of course ponies oh and a clown that tried every trick she knew to make Adam laugh, sadly he was not impressed.

Two Blogs for the Price of One

Aw, apparentley I do have a lot to say! So, I forgot to mention that my youngest sister graduated yesterday from Redwood. I feel really old, when I graduated from high school she was going into kindergarten. So as the story goes with all graduations, it was long, tedious & hot. Chamber singers sang "Stand By Me" and it was really really awful, they also swayed back and forth which made it even more awful. Plus all they played was Boyz II Men "It's so hard to say goodbye" Chris & I were like, " What, are we graduating here? "Anyway congrats Elizabeth! We are all very proud of you! Adam stayed the nite with his grandma & papa because there was no way that he woud have been able to handle the terrible music ; )
Needless to say, I am missing the Short Stuff. I haven't seen him since last nite. I am looking forward to squeezing him & kissing his pink chubby cheeks!
Here is to a nice weekend!

Jumping on the blog bandwagon

So, I too am starting to blog. I think that I a have a lot to say-maybe? I think that it is a great way to chronicle a period of your life and I am experiencing so many new things-motherhood, turning 30, & hopefully changing careers soon. So as soon as I figure out how to tweak my blog (add stuff & such), you will no doubt see many pics of the Shortstuff aka Shorty shortkins, Chubby Cheeks, Adam. : )