Months of contemplation....

Have you ever been addicted to something that you don't like? Have you tried quitting numerous times but have just failed miserably? I have...

It's called Facebook... Dooce... Twitter... TMZ... CNN...

All of these sites are nothing but something to waste time on. And the thing is, I really don't have time to waste... I have a daughter who is growing up quickly and needs my attention. I have a house that I'm trying to keep up with, which includes remodeling projects and landscaping - most of which has been ignored. I have a husband who needs more of my attention. I have exercise classes so I can continue to improve my self image and health. I have friends I have neglected. I have friends I lost but have regained that I'm trying to do better with.

But, day after day, I spend hours mindlessly staring at the computer. Reading and reading. Typing and typing. I will admit, there are some pretty awesome people I have met online and IRL. I intend to keep up with those people. Just not where I met them. There's still email and texting... well, that's assuming I don't cancel my cell phone, which has crossed my mind a time or 10...

In fact, all I'm really hoping to do is manage my time better. I want to setup a schedule of the day that I can go by. We'll see how this works out... quitting all of those sites cold turkey is going to be difficult. But, I know I just need to keep my mind focused.

Zumba

I think I might be obsessed. I'm sitting here staring at the clock hoping that it will magically become 4:45 so I can take Kaylee to my grandmother's house. Class is at 5:30 and it's with a rather intense instructor. I couldn't be more excited.

While I haven't lost any weight (STILL!) I have toned up quite a bit. I can tell that my body overall has changed. There's less jiggly goin' on. Less indentions (gross, right??).. and less curves (curves that would eventually become rolls... do not like). Going up and down the stairs all day with Kaylee doesn't exhaust me either. Plus, my back feels better. That all makes me happy. :) My MIL is convinced that if I keep at it, I'll lose weight, but I'm starting to wonder if this is my new "normal" weight. It would make me a little sad, but I think I'd come to terms with it.

Today, I did something big - well, big for me. I bought the Zumba DVDs, which basically means I can do it every day at home if I want. I still want to go to class because I need out of the house... but I think it'll be a good supplement.

My schedule is getting beefed up as well. The sessions I'm in right now will end in a few weeks.

Monday - which will be a tough one for me to commit to will be at 8pm. It uses weights and is with the same instructor I'm going to tonight. I imagine this class will kick my ass more than I ever realized dancing could.

Tuesday - this class will get pushed up to 6:15pm (from 6:30) and will change locations. Boo. I dislike the location, but I like the instructor.

Wednesday - this class is at 5:30... my MIL will watch Kaylee so I can go.

Thursday - this one is up in the air. I need to see if my grandmother is busy... if not, this one will be at 10am with a new instructor.

Bye Bye Baby...

I started transitioning Kaylee from a bottle to a sippy cup... as well as from purees to finger foods. She's taken to it so well that I guess it's time to put the bottles and blender away. She's been doing both for months now, but *I* always went back to the other things... so I guess technically, she could have been done with all of this about 2 months ago. Next stop.... walking. And it's going to come before I know it... she's standing pretty well by barely holding on to me - it's just a matter of her letting go.

It's a sad realization that I just had...

10 months....

Kaylee is a complete joy. Really. I have never seen another baby this good. I asked my SIL a few weeks ago "When is my karma going to run out?" Because there's no way I deserve this kid.

She's happy. She's developing on track. She's funny. And most importantly, she's the sweetest thing ever.

Kaylee is cruising all over the place. She's definitely a climber. Her favorite game is to crawl from one side of the sofa to the other and over to the recliner... then back. With two people, this is fun. Without, it makes me dizzy going back and forth.. On Easter, she stood by herself without assistance. She hasn't done it since, but I know it's comin'...

Kaylee sleeps like me... all over the place, which cracks me up.


I'm hoping she has a similar relationship with my Meme as I do... so far, so good.


If she could stay outside all day, she would...



Too bad her sunscreen was MIA for a week, so we didn't get to do much outside. I'm not buying $9 sunscreen when I know where it's at... it was just a matter of getting it back. Currently, we have a hummingbird and lots of ferel cats that visit this window, plus the wind in the trees to keep her occupied for hours - literally.. I have to pull her away to feed her at times.


I finally figured out what to do for her birthday next month. We're going to a park. Simple. Cost effective. But it'll be hot. I'm making the little girls these:


The theme is rainbows. And I'm excited. Rainbow cupcakes... rainbow tutus... a mishmash of colors on the tables. Easy peasy. And, I can shop for the majority of what I need now - with coupons and sales... score! Hoping to pull this off for under $50.

Bluebonnets! A Texas Tradition

Bluebonnets are Texas' state flower. For some reason, most Texans are obsessed with their Springtime bloom. And I'm no exception. Every year, I look for them and every year I'm a little depressed at how few I see. It's been dry in Texas over the last decade, minus a few years here and there. This year, I really thought I wouldn't get any pictures of Kaylee in them. I was almost panicked. Until a friend of mine posted some pictures of her son in a field of them. WHEW! She gave me the location, which wasn't far from my house.

I didn't sleep that night (no surprise there... I just don't sleep anymore), so I decided to make a list in my head of all the things I would need. My tripod... the remote for my camera that I've yet to use... her little rocking chair... a blanket... her little watering can... her squeaky bunny (to try and entice a smile).. I loaded up the truck the next morning and off we went.

It was cloudy, hot and humid. If it weren't for the hot and humid part of things, I would say it looked like Old Man Winter outside. But, I didn't want anyone to mow them before I could get there. I had already had one field of wildflowers mowed the day before I found out about this field.


"Mom, what is going on??"


"I'm DONE! Get me out of here, woman!"


"Halp! Halp! I'm drowning!" :)


"Ohhh! Ma bunneh!"

I see a difference!

Ok... so the food thing totally sucked for me the last 2 weeks. I haven't had the truck much and we stayed so busy in the evenings that I didn't have the time (or courage) to battle the grocery store. So, in the end, I haven't lost any weight. Boo.

But... it might not all be because of the food. I see a difference. And it's crazy. I'm currently looking for a Zumba DVD that I can do at home when Kaylee naps (assuming she does... otherwise, I can probably just hold her or put her in her jumperoo). So far, no luck.. it's either a $90 package or a console game, which you have to have the extra stuff on.

Here's the same outfit I wore 4 weeks ago...




I'm hoping at some point I'll be able to see a difference in my butt... ha! But.. I'll take the difference I see in my legs and stomach for now.

Still rockin' it... Week 3

I'm down to 141.2! This is after a somewhat stressful week. I didn't eat as well as I should. This week isn't starting out any better as I bought a box of Chips Ahoy and 3 giant chocolate muffins the other day. I'm still doing Zumba twice a week (paid in full until the 2nd week in June, so I'm a fool to not go for the money alone). I have not started boot camp yet. I intended to, but realized I would not be doing myself any good by trying to kill myself before I walked around in 90 degree heat for 6+ hours for Round Top Days. I hope to go this Saturday though. I also hope to get back to better eating and stop stress eating altogether.