My Little Secrets

- I make my bed (nearly) every day.

- I plan my workouts around when I am going to wash and fix my hair.

- I love spending an extra 10 minutes snuggling in bed with my boys before getting up.

- I have one younger sister, and I am always surprised when people ask which one of us is older.

- I have a love-hate relationship with exercise. I have discovered that what helps keep me on track - consistency, exercise partner(s), accountability partner(s), finding something fun, changing my mind set that I am going to do it (not have to do it), and sometimes an inspiration story or idea.

- I am very interested in natural and homeopathic remedies. The chiropracter always makes me feel better. I have had a colonic, an ionic foot bath, taken natural supplements, gotten regular massages. It has been awhile on all those things, but I am going to schedule some appointments soon.

- I also take Larsson to the chiropractor. I try to feed him a very healthy diet. Fortunately, he loves vegetables and fish. I don't like to give him juice. I think there is too much sugar in most juices and that it is not really healthy. Unless I juice it in my juicer.

- I don't like to lie. It's makes me feel bad to be untruthful. Even small white lies. I avoid the subject in order to avoid telling a fib or say something outrageous to divert the conversation.

- I really don't like to be lied to.

- I love spring and fall weather. Still warm but nice breezes. Can venture to the pool for part of the season, not to mention shorts and flip flops. At least in the South.

- I love clothes and shoes. Shoes!!!! omg, shoes!!!

- The most I have ever spent on one single article of clothing is $325. But that is not typical for me because I like to bargain shop.

- I used to walk through the grocery store and look for the grossest things. Like tripe... When I craved calorific meals and it wasn't a cheat day, I would think about gross stuff to keep me from splurging. That was back when I was thin. That was probably slightly unhealthy behavior, huh?

- I put one thing on my plate to the side to save for my last bite. It is usually the thing I like the most. Justin once scooped my last bite off my plate. There were words. He now knows.

- I do funny dances when walking between rooms to entertain Justin. He always laughs, and says, "Baby Doll, one day I am going to film this." I like to make him laugh.

- I love Jeff on Flipping Out. He is hilarious! And Dr. Oz is awesome. I am addicted to Project Runway. I LOVE our DVR, why would you live without one?

- I work from home and am proud to say that I do not turn on the TV during the day.

These are my confessions for today. So pretty normal, right?? I am saving my biggest quirks and outrageous stories for the book.... :)

We all scream for ice cream!

Every Boy Needs a Man Cave, Right?

So we have done some child-proofing over the past year. Electrical outlets covered - check. Cabinet locks - umm, not so much. I have moved things around like removing any chemicals and cleaning products from under the kitchen sink.

But Larsson, like most kids, loves to get into the cabinets, play with dishes, pots and pans....

This weekend, when he got tired of "play" cooking, he decided to retreat.

To his man cave. Under the kitchen sink. Which was actually pretty vacant.

He moved in a step stool, said "Bye," and closed the doors.

Labor Day Weekend 2010

First and foremost, did NOT include a trip to the ER this year. Yay!

What did it involve?

- Football with Friends

Larsson held onto the remote to ensure we kept the TV tuned to the Bulldogs.


Austin rooted for the Dawgs!

- Larsson visited both sets of grandparents. He spent the night with Mormor and Morfar on Saturday and MawMaw and PawPaw on Sunday. Mommy and Daddy slept in, exercised, shopped and enjoyed a couple dates before eagerly picking up our little man on Monday.

- Outdoor fun with neighbors... dodgeball and running free

Justin, Rachel, Larsson lined up for dodgeball.


Larsson's fast for little guy.

More Hippo Hoppin'

18 months... 1.5 years...

Larsson's shoe collection from the past year


Larsson,

I know this is about a week late, but I was trying to find the words (and the matches to your old shoes) to wish you a happy 18 month birthday.

I have loved watching you grow and blossom. From infant to baby to toddler. Each day you amaze me with your smile or some new feat. You have a personality all your own - individualistic and curious. Intensely smart and charming. On your own adventure.

Each step of the way, you leave a bigger and bigger imprint on my heart. And who I am as a person. And a mom. Your mom.

I love you, Larsson.

The Quicker Picker Upper

Seriously, this kid amazes me...

This morning, while I was putting together Larsson's lunch, Deddy gave Larsson a Vruit (veggie-fruit) juice box. So Larsson was milling around drinking Vruit and munching on a waffle. I looked down and saw a little juice on the floor and said "oops". Larsson then looked at the spilled juice and said "uh oh."

Then he disappeared for a moment. I figured he went to see Da-Da. But he quickly returned with his bean bag in tow and set it at the base of a counter. I knew he was planning to use the bean bag as a stepping stool to something on the counter, so I firmly said "no." Not to be deterred, he pointed and whined for what he wanted.

I tried the pacifier. Not what he wanted. I tried the cup with a straw. Not what he wanted. So I handed him the roll of paper towels. Bingo.

There he stood. Holding the paper towels and trying to rip off a sheet. In the process, he dropped the roll and it unwrapped. He scored his sheet and then began to wipe the floor.

Of course, he had inadvertently wiped the juice up with the bean bag. But the paper towel was a good try.

And I have to say, Wow, that is a whole lotta problem solving for an 18 month old. Isn't it?

Oh and note to Larsson, you must always clean up after yourself. That is good practice and will make Mommy very happy in the years to come.