Audubon Zoo

Hayden had his first zoo experience yesterday. We had a late breakfast, then he slept on the drive to New Orleans, which made the day very pleasant. It was quite warm but not unbearably hot like it will be this summer. He definitely let us know when it was time to stop for lunch/break and then we quickly finished the animal viewing so Hayden could play while our friends took their time. Thank goodness for playgrounds! It refreshed Hayden and tired him out---wonderful!

He was able to touch a guinea pig and a turtle, but if I remember correctly, he refrained from experiencing the goat, sheep, and donkey. Maybe he did touch the goat. We did so much! He loved seeing the animals up close. We especially laughed when we saw the tigers because Hayden immediately said, "Boo!" with a thumbs down. David's been teaching him that so come football season he came boo LSU, Auburn, and Clemson, specifically. I'm sure we'll have all new words and signs for Florida, TN, and every other school Alabama plays! Anyway, here are some photos.

Oh, and we met a family that is interviewing to be on "Swamp People." If you saw my Facebook pics, I said that they definitely fit the stereotype. Interesting!

Airplanes, Pacifiers, Diapers & Animals, Too!

I journal to Hayden---here's an excerpt from my most recent ramblings:
_____________________________________
Hayden,

On Saturday we went up to Nana and Papa’s. While we were there, the air show at Keesler Air Force Base (with special guests, the Blue Angels) began. Unfortunately, you have your momma’s ears, so at the loudness you came running, screaming, hands over the ears! Oh, it was awful. We immediately headed indoors since you couldn’t be convinced you were fine. Thus started two days of afternoons with you in Mommy’s lap, crying and screaming. Sunday night you fought going to bed like crazy. We thought you were getting sick, but no. We thought you were just fighting it, but no again. The best we can surmise is that you figured the airplanes were coming for you. Monday night went well. Tuesday is a different story, however. I had to lie on your floor until you fell asleep. I snuck out, but an hour and a half you were up and thus proceeded to stay up until 1, when Daddy went to the couch and you stayed in bed with Mommy. Then you began tossing and turning, sitting up, talking, etc. for another 45 minutes until I threatened to put you back in your bed. So then it was after 2 AM, and we all got approximately 3 hours of sleep. Last night, Daddy was at church because it was his week to lead Bible study. I started the bed process early because I expected a fight. Oh, and I forgot to mention what happened at supper! While strapped in your chair, the AC kicked on and you nearly tipped the chair trying to get out because you thought it was a plane! And the only way you’ll be outside at school is to be strapped into the high chair. It’s since gotten better, but my goodness.

So back to Wednesday night. You started screaming and running in the opposite direction at the mention of bed. So eventually I had to put the baby gate back on your door (which I hated because I felt like I was caging you in). Daddy had to do this Sunday night as well (when you screamed for over an hour). After 25 minutes, you crawled on your bed and gave in. Tonight went much better, but I’ll talk about that in a moment.

You’re still afraid to play outside, but at least we’re progressing. And now, to tonight.
Again, the mention of bed sent you running. And after asking at school if you were still using your pacifier at naptime and them informing me that you hadn’t used it in months, Mommy made a decision. So I cut the tip. Only I cut too much! But it worked! You put it in, pulled it out, looked at it, put it in, cried over it, and then I asked you, “Do you want to be a big boy and throw it in the trash can?” You looked at it, then at me, nodded, we said “bye-bye, paci,” and dropped it in. Then we went crazy celebrating. So we are now pacifier free! And in order to get you to go to bed, you currently have a puppy, 2 monkeys, and 2 elephants in your bed (you’re sleeping on top of the monkeys). You went right to sleep—no pacifier! And hopefully, while Mommy’s on Spring Break next week we’ll become diaper-free! YES!!!! Saturday we are going to the NOLA zoo. It’ll be your first chance to see the animals you love so much up close! We can’t wait to see your reaction and take pictures! Yea!!

____________________________________

It's been an interesting 2 weeks with mister. I can't believe he'll be 2 Easter Sunday. We know ridding ourselves of the pacifier was long overdue, but with the way life has been, I figured it was one less fight. If I had known it would be this easy, I would have done it months ago when I thought about it but didn't follow through! Now, just to get over this fear of airplanes and to survive potty training, and we're good to go!

500 or less

I need help. The hubs has agreed to eat better with me if I can find meals to fix us both. I've been eating 500 calories or less at dinner, so I want to keep our only meal of the day together in that range. If you know my husband, this is a big deal for him to agree to do this with me.

David has a very particular taste: he's a big meat and potatoes man. So how do I cook for us so that he's full (I've gotten much better at feeling satisfied with smaller meals) and so that he enjoys what I've made? I Googled sites for inspiration but most led me to books or magazine sites that I have to navigate through page after page each time. I need something easier to scour. If you cook "healthy," can you recommend a site or a book that I could invest in?

Again, I want to be that hot mom whose arms don't jiggle when she waves!

You Know You're a Mom When...

You know you're a mom when...

-you begin recognizing where children's clothes featured in movie previews and commercials are from (ie., The Children's Place)

-you receive weeds as "flowers" and make your child feel as if he's given you the world (which he really has!)

-you spend your wedding anniversary curled up on the couch with the cutest toddler in the world, diapering a severely diaper-rashed booty

-you entertain yourself by pointing out body parts and laughing as you "play"

-you'd rather buy stuff for your child than yourself

-you can't remember what it's like to sleep through the night

-you can't go anywhere with one bag anymore

-you do more laundry in a week (or sometimes days) than you once did in a month

-you can decipher a.n.y.t.h.i.n.g your child says!

Destin

We are home! David and I had a fabulous time in Destin celebrating our 4 year anniversary. We did more in about 2 days than we would do in a month at home. But, of course, we were toddler-less, which definitely made things easier. It was so enjoyable coming and going when we pleased for just a little while: no schedules, no routines, no where we had to be. Here are a few pics from the weekend. Enjoy!

Gettin' the Heck Outta Dodge

Next week, St. Patrick's Day, is our 4 year anniversary. David has planned a weekend away for us this very weekend. He took care of Hayden's arrangements and everything. I'm so excited! Even though we were out of school Monday and Tuesday for Mardi Gras, the latter part of yesterday and today completely have me ready for a break! I've never dealt with such ugly people in my life until this year, and we desperately need a night of uninterrupted sleep without an almost 2 YO poking us in the face at all hours of the night saying, "Ah-hi!" as happily as you please.

So I'll check back in with you next week after what I hope is a fantastic weekend in Destin! While I could definitely use a longer break, I wouldn't want to leave Hayden behind for much longer. Oh, all the people that pull on your heartstrings as a mommy!

A Bat

As David and I were wrapping up dinner tonight (yes, we ate in front of the tv tonight; it had been one of those days), a creature miraculously appeared in our living room: a bat. Yep, a bat. It flew around the perimeter of the room repeatedly and even ran into the fans. David and I hightailed it out of the room. I would have made a third door had my husband moved any slower.

While the bat was very little, it was still a bat. One good whack into the fan blade and it hit the floor. I had to go up to my mom's and get the hand-held "picker-upper" she used when she had back surgery and couldn't bend. David, my heroic husband, removed the stunned, but still alive, bat from our living room floor and shoved it threw a window I opened. We can only guess that it entered via the AC closet.

So we have now had 2 creatures in our home I never hope to see again: a bat and a snake. While both were small, they were still animals not meant to be in our home! And thankfully, Hayden was already in bed tonight. I would have taken pictures, but I was just so ready to get the blasted thing out, I vetoed that idea.

THE Fat Girl

That's me. I'm sick and tired of being the FAT friend. With my height, I carry more weight than people realize. And I didn't want to tell anyone I was trying to get back down because that always seems to be a jinx. I don't necessarily want to be as skinny as I was in college, but I do want to be a h.o.t mom! And when David and I get interviewed on ESPN in about 16 years because our son is just a.w.e.s.o.m.e at running people over on the football field, hitting homers on the baseball field, and boxing other guys out on the basketball court for the rebound, I don't want to be screaming, "That's MY baby!" while my arms flap to and fro.

All I really wanted to say before all of that came out is...counting calories is of the devil. But I'm very proud of myself and I'm already down a pound and a half. David is amazingly supportive, and this is something I desperately want to do for me. Adding exercise back in has given me more energy--which I knew it would. I just used the "tired" excuse for so long. NO MORE! And maybe one day I'll reveal where I started when I'm happy with where I've finished. Here's to staying the course!