Friday, January 23, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
A little bit of catch up
I have really been slacking off as a blogger lately, what does that make me, a slogger? I guess it is that I have been busy without really doing anything. Having a 1.5 year old with boundless energy and endless needs keeps me on my toes.
One thing that I have committed to lately is exercising. I learned that I have to make it a priority--the first thing on my to do list, rather than the thing that I get to if and when everything else gets done. So now I run/walk 3-4 miles outside with Aubrey in the stroller or do 1/2 hour on the elliptical machine 6 days a week and workout with my exercise ball and resistance band 3 times a week. No excuses. The problem that I always run into is that I really hate working out. It makes me miserable, so I am pretty good at finding ways to get out of it. But now I am being very good about it and make it a habit so that it feels wrong when I don't do it every day. I do wish I had someone I could do it with that could make it a sort of competition--that would help with the motivation. For now I just have to compete with my laziness and the scale.
Around this time of year I always get the itch for vacation. I don't know if it is just that it has been a long time since we have had one, or winter drives us inside and there isn't all the fun picnics, hikes, swimming, and other various free outdoor activities to do, but I REALLY want to get away. I daydream and "shop" online for vacations until it becomes a reality that with a kid and dog we can't really afford to fly anywhere, so we will end up waiting until it is spring or summer and just drive to the beach. Honestly though, I don't want to be a family that does the same vacation every single year. I would rather have adventures. Bill and I have semi-seriously been talking about taking a trip out west this spring, maybe to Arizona or Colorado. Have any of you had a good trip out west? Anywhere you suggest as a fun place to visit, that isn't too hard to bring along a toddler? We do have a backpack that we put her in, and definitely plan to do some hiking, but obviously with 30 pounds on Bill's back we can't do a whole mountain.
Speaking of toddlers, Aubrey gets more like a kid and less like a baby every day. It is a little sad, but fun at the same time. She asks to do her favorite things all the time now--Walk? Outside? or Playdoh? Downstairs? I also constantly hear "help please" because she gets herself halfway under or over something and then gets stuck. If she even so slightly bumps something she runs over to me and holds it out while making kissing noises so I will kiss it and make it better for her. I think she probably learns a new word every day now, and says "welcome" when she hands you something and "okay" when you tell her something. Aubrey's latest challenge is learning colors. She knows all the words, red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, pink, but she gets them right only about 50% of the time. Often she just says a color regardless of what the color actually is. Also, we have casually started potty training. I think it will be easier to do in the summer when we don't have to take off three layers to sit on the potty. We got her a green baby bjorn brand potty that she gets excited when she sees it and says, "potty! potty!" She knows how to sit on it and say what you are supposed to do on it though, it is cute. Mostly we are just talking about it so she gets used to the idea at this point. Along with all the fun parts of having a toddler we are "enjoying" the temper tantrums now, fun times.
Well, she is handing me books and saying, please! so that is all for now.
One thing that I have committed to lately is exercising. I learned that I have to make it a priority--the first thing on my to do list, rather than the thing that I get to if and when everything else gets done. So now I run/walk 3-4 miles outside with Aubrey in the stroller or do 1/2 hour on the elliptical machine 6 days a week and workout with my exercise ball and resistance band 3 times a week. No excuses. The problem that I always run into is that I really hate working out. It makes me miserable, so I am pretty good at finding ways to get out of it. But now I am being very good about it and make it a habit so that it feels wrong when I don't do it every day. I do wish I had someone I could do it with that could make it a sort of competition--that would help with the motivation. For now I just have to compete with my laziness and the scale.
Around this time of year I always get the itch for vacation. I don't know if it is just that it has been a long time since we have had one, or winter drives us inside and there isn't all the fun picnics, hikes, swimming, and other various free outdoor activities to do, but I REALLY want to get away. I daydream and "shop" online for vacations until it becomes a reality that with a kid and dog we can't really afford to fly anywhere, so we will end up waiting until it is spring or summer and just drive to the beach. Honestly though, I don't want to be a family that does the same vacation every single year. I would rather have adventures. Bill and I have semi-seriously been talking about taking a trip out west this spring, maybe to Arizona or Colorado. Have any of you had a good trip out west? Anywhere you suggest as a fun place to visit, that isn't too hard to bring along a toddler? We do have a backpack that we put her in, and definitely plan to do some hiking, but obviously with 30 pounds on Bill's back we can't do a whole mountain.
Speaking of toddlers, Aubrey gets more like a kid and less like a baby every day. It is a little sad, but fun at the same time. She asks to do her favorite things all the time now--Walk? Outside? or Playdoh? Downstairs? I also constantly hear "help please" because she gets herself halfway under or over something and then gets stuck. If she even so slightly bumps something she runs over to me and holds it out while making kissing noises so I will kiss it and make it better for her. I think she probably learns a new word every day now, and says "welcome" when she hands you something and "okay" when you tell her something. Aubrey's latest challenge is learning colors. She knows all the words, red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, pink, but she gets them right only about 50% of the time. Often she just says a color regardless of what the color actually is. Also, we have casually started potty training. I think it will be easier to do in the summer when we don't have to take off three layers to sit on the potty. We got her a green baby bjorn brand potty that she gets excited when she sees it and says, "potty! potty!" She knows how to sit on it and say what you are supposed to do on it though, it is cute. Mostly we are just talking about it so she gets used to the idea at this point. Along with all the fun parts of having a toddler we are "enjoying" the temper tantrums now, fun times.
Well, she is handing me books and saying, please! so that is all for now.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
'Tis the season
I don't know about you, but I just love Christmas. Every year I am so excited to get out the decorations, put up the tree, listen to the Christmas music constantly on the radio, and I even love the hustle and bustle of shopping. Bill thinks it is crazy how energized and excited I get by shopping for presents. :) Wrapping them is just as fun. I love to think about each person and what wrapping paper "fits" them the very best. I think my favorite tradition is making and decorating all of the yummy Christmas cookies.
Anyway, here is a little tour of our decorations this year. A friend of mine is doing a Christmas decorations tour on her blog. Be sure to check it out. My decorations certainly aren't as grand as they have been in the past because of a certain very active toddler who loves to grab and throw!
We start with the tree of course. All silver and gold ornaments, except for two or three special keepsake ones.
This tree skirt is new this year. I love the combination of silk, velvet, and stylized reindeer. We won't put out the presents till Christmas eve.
Our stockings. My Mom makes everyone in the family one--including the dog. :)
Note how the TOP of the desk is decorated--way out of grabbing range.
I love snowmen.
decorating cookies
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The ten second rest
Aubrey and Charlotte played so hard that they had to lay down for a quick rest before resuming play.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Thanksgiving Photo Recap
I never take as many pictures as I want to. Usually the camera comes out as an afterthought at family gatherings. For example there are no actual pictures of Thanksgiving dinner! In a way I suppose that is a good thing because it means I am enjoying myself so much I don't have time to take pictures. Still, I need to get better with that!
Dressed up cutie for Thanksgiving. 
Hiking down the driveway with Daddy. Time to burn off all that turkey!
Putting up Christmas lights on the outside trees with Gramma and Grampa.
"Helping" with more outdoor Christmas decorations.
Feeding the ducks in Essex, Connecticut. A good way to celebrate Aubrey's sixteen month birthday!
Dressed up cutie for Thanksgiving. 
Hiking down the driveway with Daddy. Time to burn off all that turkey!Putting up Christmas lights on the outside trees with Gramma and Grampa.
"Helping" with more outdoor Christmas decorations.Feeding the ducks in Essex, Connecticut. A good way to celebrate Aubrey's sixteen month birthday!Wednesday, December 03, 2008
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