A day in the life of...

What does a normal day with Sweet Cheeks look like? Well, lots of playing. Lots of kisses. Lots of naps.

**********

5:30 - SC wakes up. Usually wants a bottle. Sometimes oatmeal. Sometimes a jar of Beechnut food.

Then....play. Lick the floor. Pull the dogs' hair. Cry. Sing. Dance. Crawl under the end table. Throw up in daddy's shoe. (I hide mine) Read. Bite toes.

7:30-9:30 - Nap time. & snack.

Go for a walk outside. Poop. Bang spoon on floor. Squeal. Dance. Walk around end tables 98527 times. Pull my hair. Jump. Scream. Lick the floors again. Spit up on floor and roll in it. Chew dog toy. Chase the cat until she hisses. Look outside. Stick random things in mouth. (Like, cat food or cat hair...)

11:00 - Lunch time

11:30 - 1:30 nap & snack

Watch TV. Pull all toys out of toy box and scatter as far as possible. Turn on every noise making toy. Cry. Scream. Kick. Bite. Lick the couch. Lick the dog. Bite the cat. Crawl. Lay flat on back and kick as hard as possible. Eat stuffed horse. Pull out hair. (Mine, his, cats, dogs, or Mr Bs) Knock over trash can. Crawl. Walk around sofa and recliner. Yell. Turn on noisy toys again. Fall over, hit head, cry. Dance. Sing. Read.

4:30-5:30 Get ready for bed - Eat, Bath, Change, Put on night diaper, Bottle...... Sleep.

Dishes. Laundry. Sweep. Mop. Fold clothes. Watch a few mins of TV & Check email. Sleep. 

Repeat.

Sweet cheeks has a playlist.

Sweet cheeks is a groover and a shaker. He loves to listen to songs. He loves to clap and dance. It's a rare occasion that he is not dancing and "singing" along with the radio.

Pat Benatar - Hit me with your best shot
Blackeyed peas - Pump it
Lady Gaga
Ke$ha
Beyonce - Telephone
Will Smith - Miami
Bon Jovi
Elton John (Thanks to Mr B)
Coolio - Gangsta's paradise
Destiny's Child
Fegie - Big girls don't cry
Justin Timberlake - Sexy back
No Doubt
Queen - We are the champions

As you can see, he has terrible taste in music. And, it's all  mostly my fault.

Toesies, Blocks and Books

Wishful weds... youth job.

'I wish' .... I could go back and spend one day working at a job from my youth, and it would be from

Build a Bear!

 

Yes, I worked at Build-a-bear. I was a Party Bear. Which means, basically, that I was the one who worked the Birthday parties for the kids. I entertained them. Let them bite me. Tricked Talked their parents into buying over-priced animal clothing. At the time, I was convinced it was the worst job EVAAARRRRRR. But, now, looking back, it wasn't so bad! I would love to go back and do that job for a day.

 

Join in here.

Ten! Ten! Ten!

"I invite you to attend the party of your own life. Put on your best face. Eat clean until you gleam and shine. Be there! Dance like no one is watching & do it every day."

"Don't let one more day go by burdened by excess weight or poor health. Make this your first day to being the best you ever."

(Quotes from The Eat Clean diet workout)

I've lost TEN LBS in April. In 3 weeks. The success is definately motivating me to work harder.

Mr B has his 10 year High School reunion this August. My goal is to lose 20-30 more lbs before then. I want to be able to wear a pretty dress and feel comfortable in it. I also want to buy a new pair of pretty high heels to wear, but that has less to do with the weight loss and more to do with being a girly girl. :)


What motivates you? A new outfit? Health? Your child(ren)?

The one about that stupid child development doll.

I took a Child Development class 12 years ago (!!!!). I was 14 and a freshman in High School. I was awkward, with frizzy hair that I didn't know how to tame yet, and an addiction to lip gloss. I only took the class because I didn't want to take the other classes, either. I wanted to take this class more than I wanted to take art, which really isn't saying much. I assumed my stick figure drawings with clouds would cause me to fail, so I took Child Development despite a few "This class is so stupid!" &  "I'm never having kids!" comments.

The first day of class I learned that it is required that everyone in the class take home "the doll". Thankfully I had the older model doll which was much easier than the new fancy shmancy dolls. This doll would cry and I would need to stick a key in its back within so many seconds in order to pass. Each time it cried. I didn't have to figure out WHY it was crying, I just had to make it stop.

This doll would cry every 45 mins. For 2 days and 1 night. Cry, Key, Cry, Key, Cry, Key. I was annoyed that it cried all night. I was annoyed that it cried during theatre rehersals. I hated it. I hated taking that doll to the grocery store because people stared at me like I had a real baby. I was convinced that having a real baby would be "You know, so much easier!" because "Real babies don't cry every 45 mins! They sleep at night!".

(Insert wild rolling laughter here.)

I was right, Sweet Cheeks didn't cry every 45 mins. He cried more often. I probably would have traded him for the CD doll in the middle of a 4 day stretch with no sleep. (not really)

Oh, to be young again.

Slow and steady wins the race.

I love stepping on the scale every monday morning. I wake up and practically run to the guest room to step on the scale. I love seeing the numbers going down. I love that my pants are getting looser. AND I don't feel like I am on a diet.

This is a turning point in my life. OUR lives. The B household. I read this week that a good rule of thumb when it comes to food is, If your great-grandmother didn't eat it then you shouldn't either.

My knee is feeling much better! Mr B bought me a knee brace that I have been wearing for exercise, and the occasional painful day at home. This week I am kicking exercise into full gear!

I found a new exercise that I love. Adore. Enjoy. I liked Jillian Michael's 30 day shred, but I liked it because of the results. The actual exercise was not equal to a party on my yoga mat. Want to hear what I have been doing?

Pilates.

I have to admit, I was a huge skeptic of Pilates. I always hear celebrities and fashionistas talking about pilates. My first thought, You are skinny. Of course something like just stretching works for you. I was wrong, y'all! It is an intense workout. But I felt great the entire time. It's low impact while my knee is healing. & I didn't even check the clock to see how long was left. Instead, when it was over I thought, That's it?. The next morning I was sore so I must have done something right. I was able to do pilates twice.

Let's get to it...

The good: I lost 2 lbs! I worked out 2 days, which is all I could do last week. I'm ok with it.

The bad: I had a donut, a handful of sour patch kids, and garlic bread. (Which, really, isn't that bad.)

The goals: Pilates 3 days, Elliptical 1 day, and a long walk outside 1 day.

Baby, I'm amazed by you.

Sweet cheeks has a laugh that is infectious. He wrinkles his nose, tilts his head back, and throws his whole body into this deep belly laugh. He loves to laugh. He laughs when he is supposed to be asleep in his crib, and he's alone. He laughs when he's sitting in the shopping cart. He laughs when he sneaks up on someone and they don't know he's there. It's the kind of laugh that makes his whole body shake. I hope this is something that stays with him, as I know it's something that will always be with me.

Geez, Mom! I'm not going to laugh for the camera, ok?

Just a little kink in my plan.

Do you want the good news or the bad news first?....  Good? ok.

I lost 2 lbs last week!

Now, the bad news.

I pulled a tendon in my knee. It's not a bad injury, it will just take some time to heal. So, no working out for a week. Maybe by Friday or Saturday?

The good: Lost weight. Ate healthy except for 1 meal last week and a piece of chocolate. It's starting to become a routine that I don't really have to think about.

The bad: Injured knee. :(

The goals: Walk at least once this week. Drink more water. Maybe do 30 day shred one day.

To join in, go here.

Sunday - That's my fun day!

Getting to know you Sunday

1. What color do you wear the most? Black. I'm boring. Usually black yoga pants or capris and a colored top. (blue, pink, red or green usually)



2. Would you rather have $10,000 dollars or a dream vacation? I need to know more about the vacation! If the vacation is worth more than 10k, then that would be my pick for sure. If not, I would take the money and spend most on a vacation and the rest on something practical.


3. Do you have a weird, quirky or unusual habit? Hmm. It REALLY bothers me to go to bed at night with a messy house, especially dishes in the sink. I have to clean up before bed so I can wake up to a clean house.


4. I really need to start..........? Saving more money. Oh, & the Couch to 5k training I read about.


5. What was the first blog you ever read? The first one I followed was HeirtoBlair


6. Do you collect anything? You would think I collect baby clothes the way I buy them sometimes :)


7. Do you text/twitter while driving? No! Oprah has put the fear of God in me about this. Never.
 

Have a great Sunday!

Sunday - that's my fun day! My I don't have to run day!!

 
To join in, go here.

Who doesn't LOVE a party?

I found out about the ULTIMATE BLOG PARTY from another blog. I thought, I like blogs... I like parties... I should fit right in. (maybe?) The best part about this party is that I don't even have to get all gussied up to attend. I may or may not be sitting here in workout pants and a tank top (I am. No makeup. Ponytail.) and no one is pointing and laughing at me. Ok, maybe you are and I'm just blissfully unaware!

Welcome to my blog if you are new.

(either from the blog party, or just new.)

I'm Mrs B. Wife to Mr B. Mom to Sweet Cheeks.

We are your average midwestern family trying to make the switch to a cleaner (healthier!) lifestyle.

I'm blessed to be able to stay at home with Sweet Cheeks, so this blog is my outlet... a way to meet other moms.. and a way to claim some "ME TIME" during the hectic days.

Welcome. Enjoy. Sit and stay awhile.

Angels are among us

From City Mom, Country Mom:

My husband and I met in high school. After 7 beautiful years together, and on a warm summer day, we gave birth to a beautiful little boy named Ethan. Words could never express how seeing that little guy for the first time made us feel - instantly our world was a little brighter, our purpose a little clearer, and our hearts...how they began to overflow with such a love that we had never felt before. Although we did not know it at the time, our little Ethan would only be with us for a short while. At exactly 3 months and 15 days old, he passed away in his sleep, suddenly and unexpectedly. To us and his doctors, he was a normal, happy and healthy baby; but in what felt like a mere blink of an eye, he was gone from us. Losing him was beyond devastating and the grief that followed was something that life could have never prepared us for.

This is a blog started by 2 moms who both lost babies due to SIDS. They are on a mission to raise awareness and to share their stories.

SIDS is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history.

Stop by City Mom, Country Mom and visit. Read their stories, share in their memories.

Or, help them raise awareness by voting for them on Top Mommy Blogs.

Wishful Weds... diet!

I wish' .... I had the willpower to stay on one particular diet, and it would be ______!

The eating CLEAN diet!

This is more than a diet, it's really a lifestyle change. It's changing from processed foods and sugars to healthier choices. It's all about choosing fresh whole foods with the nutrients still in tact. I'm moving in this direction slowly.

 I will not switch 100% but my goal is to be around 80-90% clean with our foods.

Join in here.

Z is for Zoo!

4-1-10 Our first trip to the zoo with Sweet Cheeks!

& a new favorite..

It's working! It's working!

It's McFatty Monday again, y'all.

I've lost 4 lbs! No secrets, No magic tricks, Nothing earth-shattering ... just diet and exercise. Lots of exercise! Lots of fruits and veggies... unprocessed natural foods as much as possible. I want Sweet Cheeks to have more of a clean diet than Mr B and I are used to so we are making the switch! It's a process, a little at a time, but we are getting there.

Last week's agenda:

Monday - 30 day shred + 20 mins on elliptical
Tuesday - 30 day shred + 20 mins on elliptical
Weds - 20 mins on elliptical
Thurs - Zoo trip. Walked a lot!
Friday - rest day
Saturday - 25 mins on elliptical + 1 hour walk in the sunshine
Sunday - rest day

The good - It's working! 4 lbs lost!
The bad - I need to find new ways to incorporate exercise so I don't get board. I'm not board yet but I can see it happening.

The goals - Keep it up! & To find new music for my ipod.

What are your favorite workouts? (Short ones. I have a baby!)

What are your "go to" work out songs?

Happy Easter!

From Mr B, Mrs B & Sweet Cheeks

Friday 5's

"5 things that I would get if Money was NO OPTION"

1. 2010 Lexus LX 570

2. A house on the beach

3. Open a HUGE savings account

(For our retirement and Sweet Cheek's college. More than likely this would be several different accounts)

4. Buy a new (every day) house

5. Go on a shopping spree at Louis Vuitton

CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN FRIDAY 5'S!

A few of my favorite things

for my HAIR!! I have curly (more wavy-ish since Sweet Cheeks) frizzy hair. These are my favorite must have hair care products.

Pink Dazzle Chi

Curly sexy hair volumizing & texturizing Styler

Biosilk Silk Therapy leave in treatment

Philosophy amazing grace shampoo 

What are your MUST HAVE hair care products?