#purebarrechallenge update

I am now kicking off week #3 of the #purebarrechallenge – taking 20 classes in 31 days. And if I have not said this before: I was so happy this challenge happened because it has kicked my butt in gear for my last full month of baby bounce back.

I started off week #1 strong. And took 5 classes in 7 days. Super grateful my work schedule allowed me to escape for a little lift tone burn at lunch.  And I was able to sneak out of the house for a 9:00 AM Saturday session before life just got crazy.  My body was hurting by the end of that first week.

Week 2 was just as good to me, but even better because though my body hurt – it didn’t hurt as much.  but … I took another 5 classes this past week.  Again, my work schedule was fairly kind to me and allowed me to escape at lunch again.  Although, I did have to cancel Friday’s class last minute due to a last minute conference call. So, I should have had 6 classes in 7 days, but only got in my 5. Oh well.

So, I am 50% done. 10 classes down, 10 to go. And it is going to get difficult to sneak away at lunch to hit the studio. Which honestly, sucks. I have been finding that those middle of the day classes have been keeping me sane and tend to knock me out of a funk if I am in one. But… work is about to get crazy busy.  I am pretty confident that I will be able to get 5 classes in this week, 6 if I am lucky.  I think I can do it if I stick to the schedule I have set & there are no more last minute work things. Le Sigh. Wish me luck.

Are you doing the challenge?! If so, how are you feeling?! How many classes in are you?!

McKenna is 8 Months

Well. It happened. McKenna got another month older this week. Yesterday, she turned 8 months old {I was calling it 8 month years old}.  I have no idea how tall she is or how much she weighs, but she gets heavy and kind of reminds me of a sack of potatoes.  she still only has 2 teeth, but I know a 3rd is making its debut and a 4th may be coming along quickly. But she is still as adorable as ever.

Her new accomplishment is clapping. She used to clap with her feet and she still does, but now she knows she can clap her hands too and she loves to do it. She still is not crawling, but she has perfected her ability to roll around.  At some point this month she has started saying “da da da da da” over and over and over again and that pains me. So now I pretty much stare at her and say “ma ma ma ma ma”.  She also has decided that she is a pacifier kid… …now when she sees one she must have it.

Other fun things that happened to her this past month include: she met The Cat and the Hat at daycare.  She went to a restaurant for the first time.

We are loving that the weather is getting warmer {sometimes} and have started pushing her in the stroller at night and on the weekends we take her down to the park to swing. I cannot wait to take her to the pool. Time is seriously flying by – it just needs to slow down.

Welcome to 30, Kyle J!

 

Happy Birthday to my Kyle J and welcome to the big year of turning 30 (or 100 as his sister so kindly calls it). This is the 8th year of celebrating birthdays together and I wish I could say this would be the first lame birthday celebration of the bunch, but it isn’t.  However, I am grateful that my parents are able to watch little M while I take Kyle to dinner tonight! And I hope he doesn’t mind that I bought him a beachbody workout {that I just may borrow from him}.

I couldn’t have asked for a better best friend and husband and life coach and supporter and McKenna could not have a better Dad.  We are two lucky ladies if I have to admit.

Here’s to 8 more years of birthday celebrations and then 8 more years after that. And then 8 more … and well, we will take it from there! =D

Pure Barre Challenge. Weekend Update. Life.

Today started the March Pure Barre Challenge – 20 classes, in 31 days – or something like that. Since this is my last full month of my baby bounce back challenge package I through this would be an excellent way to push me harder, make sure I am in the studio as much as possible, and maximize my use of the package.  Plus, lately I have been feeling a bit hard on myself and my weight loss since McKenna was born.  And with having to order a bridesmaid dress lately and knowing that I am going to be in a wedding with like 8 beautiful and skinny girls, it has been a struggle to be happy with the progress I have made since getting back on the work out wagon. So, I took my 1st class today – 1 down, 19 to go and I am REALLY going to try to accomplish this.  Work is about to get crazy, but I think I can do this. fingers crossed.

So this weekend. We had big plans. Like spoil McKenna by going toy shopping since she seems really bored by what she has / what she has is too advanced right now.  However, those plans were halted and postposed to next weekend…. ….Kyle either got food poisoning on Friday or had a stomach bug so I was a single mom yesterday and seriously, it was exhausting.  But it is really cute because she is chattering a bunch. No clue what she is trying to communicate, after all I don’t speak baby, but it is really cute. I do not know what I am going to do once she is crawling and walking and creating scene and active. I am too old for this. However, I am thinking mommy and me Saturday morning gymnastics classes are in her future. Wear out some energy early in the AM. That may help, right?!

McKenna did get to experience her first snow this past week. Needless to say, she was not amused and had zero interest in the falling snow or even touching what had fallen. Tough crowd little tyke. Tough crowd. And you people can say what you want, but that little baby North Face jacket may have been expensive but we have paid for that bad boy a million times over. But really, how cute is she?!

…Even with snow falling, I cannot help think about summer and this 6” melanoma scar on my back.  I know I shouldn’t be embarrassed by it, after all that one mole could have legit killed me but it didn’t.  I don’t want people to look at it and wonder what happened or for people to stare at it.  I bought workout tops that showed it off and I went and returned then.  And the diagnosis has me a little nervous about the summer and the sun in general.  I know overtime it will fade and that it is a battle wound and it shows that I am stronger and it shows that I beat something bad, but I cannot help but think how ugly it is and how large it is.

On a happier and lighter note, I am excited for this week. I have no real plans, but Kyle has a birthday and I have a busy work week which will make it fly by and I have 4 pure barre classes scheduled and 1 flywheel class and mckenna gets to go toy shopping this weekend and I may see my bestie and her husband to be this upcoming weekend and most importantly, the weather is supposed to maybe warm up a bit.

That is all my friends. I don’t have much more to say and we need to go grocery shopping + I have laundry to do and fold. Weekends.

5 Things Friday

I have been meaning to REALLY do a post for awhile now. I know I did a half effort “catch up” post a week or so ago, but that was lame and totally not worth the reading.  And in all honesty, we really don’t have any earth shattering news to share. We are just working and hanging out in absolutely freezing cold weather.

1. I HAVE PAID OFF MY CAR!! This is huge. And I mean huge. That is $300 extra income per month which is {again} huge.  After McKenna was born Kyle & I updated how we filed our taxes and something went a little wrong so we ended up getting a pretty large refund from both the state and federal government. With that money {and some money from previous bonuses and some money from my mom and dad} we paid my car off. Now, don’t get me wrong – we were never in a true financial bind – but to have an extra $300 per month is going to help a lot since random expenses seem to just you know, pop up. :: cough, I had to buy 4 new tires last week which means Kyle probably needs 4 new tires too, cough ::

2. I am a Pure Barre addict again… I bought the baby bounce back package last year and finally got to start up in January once I got the all clear from my dermatologist and I have been going 3 – 4 days a week.  I am seeing major changes in my body and feel better and since I go at lunch most days it gets me out of a funk when I am in one.  Then Saturday mornings are just a nice way to start my day with “me time” before I dive into all day family, baby, and errands time.  I did just sign up for the March Challenge – 20 classes in 31 days – and if I complete it I could win some free classes. So, if you’re seeing this Deb, pick me, I think you’re wonderful and great and pretty and I will butter you up to rig the results and pick me.  :: sadly, once my baby bounce back is up, I do not know if I can afford it and may need to cheat on them with pink barre and their new member special ::

3. I am also tossing around the idea of a half marathon this year …  every time I talk about running or tell someone that I used to run half marathons and full marathons I get a little bit sentimental. But then I wonder if I want to commit to the training. But then I remember I am notorious for not really training for them and just running and finishing.  Keep you posted.

4. McKenna is in a big kid car seat. That is all. I just can’t deal with her growing up so far on me.

5. Kyle & I had the most low key Valentine’s Day … and it was great.  We didn’t have to fight the crowds and fight for a reservation somewhere.  We just split a bottle {or 2} of wine. Grilled shrimp and filets and made orzo and a veggie and had an easy night it. Of course, we couldn’t ditch the 3rd wheel and McKenna was sitting at the table with us. Just shaking her blocks and throwing Sophie around the kitchen.  BUT! I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

7 months + 4 days

Sassy is officially 7 months old. Well, this happened last Friday, but she is 7 months old and seriously fabulous.  She has yet to say “no” to any of my homemade baby food {spinach + apples was touch and go there for a moment} and she is just a chatty cathy.  She rolls everywhere and is officially a stomach sleeper. Which freaked us out at first and now we are just used to it. We sometimes also find her sleeping in positions that we did not put her, but whatever. As long as she is sleeping through the night and not suffocating herself we are okay.  She moved to a big kid car seat this past weekend – still rear facing, but no more carrier; therefore, she is our big hip baby.  She  still only has 2 teeth and isn’t crawling yet; however, Kyle is in full baby proofing mode in preparation for that day {which means I will not be able to function in my house soon}.

I feel like there should be more milestones and exciting things to report on, but truthfully the transition from 6 months to 7 months was pretty uneventful. …I guess I need to start planning a 1st birthday party soon since she is growing up a little too fast.

I know, I disappear.

Hi. Long time no chat. In all seriousness, I am never on this laptop {obviously since I am never updating this blog} that every time I try to make an update I have to restart my computer.  You would think after not posting pretty much anything for a month I would have A LOT to say; however, life this year has been boring and not too much has happened.

Monday – Friday is the normal working.  Kyle takes M to daycare, we go to work, Kyle picks M up from day care, we feed M, feed ourselves, bathe M, feed her again, put her to bed and then we crash. Rinse and Repeat. I did just get back from my first overnight away from home work trip and it was so insanely sad leaving the little princess. I may have been teary dropping her off at daycare before I left, but let me tell you I have never ever ever been so excited to pick that munchkin up from daycare before. Sadly, she stared at me with this “who are you” look on her face. #tragic

Oh and shout out to my husband who rocked it as a single dad for those 2 days. Despite almost serving McKenna peas that were way too hot and waking up one morning at 6:20 AM when he had to feed the baby, get her ready, and get himself ready … they survived which is all that matters.

The weekends seem to be a total whirlwind in all honesty. I have started going to 9:00 AM Pure Barre on Saturdays to just jump start the weekend and to have a little me time before the chaos starts. Between all the errands and nap times and feeding and house chores, I feel like Monday morning just comes way too soon.

I have started making all of M’s baby food which is time consuming, but it is actually very easy and theoretically should save us a lot of money over time.  And I am having a fun time making her different combinations {that I stole from packaged food in the baby aisle}. So far the only combo she has tried has been carrot, apple, mango mash {and it actually is really good} … she still has peas and pears to try along with spinach & apple and then apple & sweet potato. We are giving banacado {banana and avocado} a try tomorrow morning so fingers are crossed.  Kyle hates how I destroy the kitchen and go through about 48105 dishes. And every time I am done I think to myself, “I really need granite countertops” since I have to scrub out the black lines that the baby bullet leaves on the countertops.

M turns 7 months on Friday so you should expect to see the monthly update on her and next weekend and I think I may have a lot of fun things to say in that post. That. Girl. Is. So. Fun.

BUT. Now it is bathtime. So I have to run. Hopefully I will have some fun post in the future about something fun we do as a family or a couple. Until then….