Little Mermaid

I have to admit. I was worried, scared actually that my daughter would not like the water. I was petrified that she wouldn't want anything to do with it. I mean she loves to take a bath, but let's be real here. The bathtub is nothing like a swimming pool. We started off slow. On Saturday, we only dipped her toes in...

Then on Sunday, we put her in her own little "pool" to see how she would like it.




As you can see, she loved it. So, the next step was taking the boat into the pool.


Then, she was brave, and although she clung to me, I think she enjoyed getting her toes wet.
Stayed tuned to see how our Memorial Day swimming adventures went.

It's Friday!

The weather lately has been beautiful! Absolutely beautiful! I love the summer. It means Makayla and I get out more, which, is good for my sanity. She loves being outside. Today, I took advantage of her being tired and walked for almost 2 hours. Micki and Archie walked with us, and it was nice. It kept me moving!
And while it may look like she is disinterested, she is sleeping. She fell asleep 10 minutes into the walk and lasted almost the entire walk. When she woke up she was happy!
It is not surprising that she woke up happy, she generally is, she just woke up and started chatting and I couldn't help but laugh.
Happy Friday...enjoy your holiday weekend! Stay tuned, this weekend will be Makayla's first time in a pool!

Makayla and the swing

We took a break from our walk today, and stopped by the playground by our house. Here is Makayla's experience withe the swing!

Untitled from Michele H on Vimeo.

Wordless Wednesday: Friends

It's what's for lunch

So, Yesterday I started the program called Loseit. My sister R has had great success with it, and I found out that my sister J is also using it. So, I thought why not. Unfortunately, my android phone does not have an app for it, so I have to do it online. I have however emailed the company to see if I can test out an android app. Anyway, I realize that I don't eat unhealthy on work days, it is when I get home from work that I eat poorly, and weekends. Both of which I am trying to improve. As a family we are going on vacation in 15 weeks, and I hope to be 30 pounds lighter by then. If I can do that, then I know I am on the right path to healthy. Anyway, today I made my own version of McDonald's Fruit and Yogurt Parfait, and thought I would share it with you. Here is what the finished product looks like...

Here is the recipe, I used what I had at home, but I am sure you can adjust it to make it friendly to your palate.

1 -serving of Special K Chocolatey Delight cereal (3/4 cup divided into 3 1/4 servings)

1- cup strawberries divided into 1/2 cup portions

1/2 cup raspberries divided into 1/4 cup portions

1/2 cup blueberries divided into 1/4 cup portions

1 serving if Yoplait Light Key Lime Pie yogurt

I took one 1/4 portion of the cereal and put it on the bottom of the glass

then 1 1/2 cup serving of the strawberries sliced thinly, with 1/4 cup raspberries and 1/4 cup blueberries, then topped it with some of the yogurt.

I repeated these steps and made sure that the cereal and the yogurt were the last 2 toppings.

Surprising, I loved it more than with granola, and it was really filling.

What did you have for lunch?

Quote unquote New Toy

Tina had gotten us this Ikea toy for Makayla. She didn't really pay much attention to it, so yesterday I thought I would give it a try. If you read the information on it, it says it is for hand eye coordination. At first she was going to use it like it was supposed to.

However, Makayla had other plans.




I am trying to post a video from yesterday, but of course I can't. I guess I will have to wait until tomorrow.

Wordless Wednesday

It's a new day!

I always talk about joining the gym, I pay up front and then after 8 times, work reimburses me, but, that is not practical for me right now. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands. While Makayla slept I took my workout inside. We get VOD with our cable company so I shopped to see what they had for free. Well, I have a love/hate relationship with Jillian Michaels, so when I stumbled upon one of her exercise programs I thought sure, why not. Well hells bells, I NEVER thought I could sweat like this before. I did the 6 weeks 6 pack abs and let me just tell you, it is no joke! The beginner skills are good, although some of the exercises I couldn't do, not because I didn't want too, but because well I tried to do the workout without shoes on. Tomorrow I will put shoes on to do the workout and hopefully there will be different results. While I didn't get to do the whole workout without stopping (Makayla didn't sleep long AT ALL, and like I said I couldn't do some of the skills) I feel like I ran 5 miles but really it was only 38 minutes. I have decided that I make time for everyone and everything else in my life, it is time I make time for myself. I am also hoping to start walking with some friends/family on Sat afternoons to spice up my life a little bit. I figure I will do the free stuff while I can, and then in the winter, join the gym so that I can work out and so Makayla and I can continue swimming. I might not do the abs EVERYDAY maybe every other day. There are A LOT of free exercise programs, so I know that I can find something that I enjoy. Maybe tomorrow cardio kick boxing? Or 20 min Cardio Yoga, groove nBurn Disco, Less is More Cardio Workout? The possibilities are endless, but I know I really do need to make time for myself. I missed the deadline this time around, but in July I am going to do WW at Work. I pay up front, as long as I don't miss more than 2 meetings in 8 weeks, my job reimburses me. I did WW before and it worked, so I am DEFINITELY going to do it again. I am not happy with how I look, or how I feel about the way I look so it is time I did something. What I am doing is not working, so something has to change.

5 months and 2 days

This post was supposed to be done on Saturday, when she was actually 5 months old, but, with only 1 working laptop, I try not to abuse the privilege. Anyway, here are some pictures from Sat.


Makayla,
You are now 5 months old! I have no idea where time has gone, or who hit the fast forward button, but I wish they would stop hitting it. Just slow down for one second please. This past month, we started you on rice cereal for breakfast, and since it seems that you love it, we have also introduced it as part of lunch as well. Sometimes you nap, and sometimes you don't, but even when you are tired, you don't fuss. Not.at.all. You love your exersauser, and you hate laying down. You want to be sitting up or standing all the time. You love to "walk" by holding on to some one's fingers and taking a couple steps, and you try to roll over, but your bottom arm keeps slowing you down. I say bottom arm because when you roll from back to belly it depends on which way you are rolling as to which arm you get stuck on. But keep it up and you will get it! You are also trying to crawl, and yes, backwards is a direction. You seem to love Little Einsteins and The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. This past month you have celebrated your first Easter, and your my first Mother's Day. Everyday is Mother's day because you make me feel so lucky to be your mom. You still love bath time, and you are starting to snuggle with me more on your own. I don't know how much you weigh, we don't go back to the doctor's until next month, but you seem happy and healthy and that is what matters to me. We have an exciting first coming up this month, your first time in a pool, and I can't wait to document every single moment. We also have Pop-Pop's birthday. Next month you have Father's Day and your baptism, mixed in there is a doctor's appointment and Grandpa Hoole's birthday. I can't wait to continue watching you grow. And while everyone wants to pinch your cheeks, please don't mind while I sit here and just want to love on you. You have given me a new reason to live, and I can't imagine loving someone the way I love you. I love you Pumpkin!

Love,
Mommy

Happy Birthday!!!

Today is my eldest sister's birthday. And while growing up we didn't always get along, things have changed. It may have taken several years and many tears, but finally, we are getting along. No, this isn't a dig at her, this is supposed to be about her in honor of her. So...

Rachel,

Happy Birthday! May your day be filled with laughter and more love than you could ever imagine. May your head be filled with the most ridiculous songs ever that you can't seem to get out of it;) May you hear Joey and Shae sing Happy Birthday to you, and know that Makayla is singing to you too in her own way. May your heart beat with happiness and excitement. May this year be better than last and my you feel my love completely.

R-rowdy

A-awesome

C-cool

H-heartfelt

E-eager

L-loving

Have a great day! I love you!

And not to take anything away from her, I wanted to share a picture of my friend Micki's baby. Archer James was born on May day at 0451. Just a little something to make you smile.

Applesauce Face...

Actually, no, not applesauce, but my sweet babes loves her some Rice Cereal. Apparently she doesn't like it when it is too thin, so I thickened it up and she then cried when her bowl was empty. I then gave her another bowl (1 tablespoon of cereal to 2 tablespoons of Formula).

She even tries to feed herself!


Here she is on one of her favorite things...the exersauser!


Hopefully this weekend I can look into getting her a swing for the back patio. And I CANNOT wait to see her in the pool. I might even look into getting this pool for where we live.