Things I want to say

MOM ROCK: Have you ever noticed a bunch of moms (especially new moms) standing around together and realized that they are probably all doing the "mom rock"? You know, swaying back and forth like they're rocking their baby to sleep or just trying to keep them happy. The funniest is when moms are doing it without a baby in their arms! Problem is, I catch myself doing it all the time! That's when you know you've got a newborn.

3rd WARDROBE: You all know what I'm talking about. You've got your normal clothes, your maternity clothes, and then the "in-between" clothes! I am really struggling with this right now. I can only wear a handful of shirts that don't look absolutely fatty and gross on me right now. But I'm too stubborn to go buy more "large" shirts to fill my 3rd wardrobe because I keep telling myself I'm going to be normal again soon. But here I am, wearing the same shirt I wore yesterday. (Shh... don't tell anyone) My pants fit, but I don't have any jeans because the last pair I had I wore big holes in both of the knees. So I'm still wearing maternity jeans, and can I just say how much I hate that. I am going to go buy myself a new pair of jeans as soon as I get a chance to go to the store. I am not brave enough to take two children to the mall when I want to try on multiple items of clothing.



INTENTIONAL PARENTING: this is a concept that was talked about often by one of my awesome professors at BYU-Idaho. Basically that we want to parent on purpose, not accidentally. I've been thinking about that lately how I want to continue to remind myself to do that. Children don't just become smart, well-adjusted, talented, and contributing members of society without some intentional instruction and example. Sometimes I get caught up on my "to-do" lists for the day and don't do a whole lot of intentional things with my kids. It just ends up being "go do this or that while I take care of what I need to do". So I'm going to be better about that.


DOCTOR VISIT: This morning we went to the doctor at 9:35 and didn't walk out of there until 11:00!! The waiting room was still jam packed when we left. I just can't believe they make us sit there for hours, stab my precious little girl in the leg and make her scream, and then I pay them for it! Something's not right. However, Brynlee is weighing in at 9 pounds, 2 ounces (50%) is 22 inches long (75-90%) and has a 14 inch head (10%). She's looking great.

BIGGEST LOSER: Last week Kenny and I started a biggest loser competition because we both need to make some changes and get back in shape. We don't eat after 7 or 7:30 at night, we have seriously cut back on sweets/junk food, we work out every day (except Sundays of course) and weigh-ins are on Saturday. Kenny is cutting back on his calories, but I'm not because I'm still nursing obviously, so I am just making better choices about my food. Also, I'm not hardcore working out either. I'm still only 4 wks. post partum so I just walk and I do a Yoga/Pilates workout movie at home when the kids are sleeping. It's awesome. After I had Tyler it took me forever to lose the weight (not to mention I had a drop-foot...won't even go there) so this time I'm feeling much better about myself and everything. I am still 9 pounds away from where I was when I got pregnant, but that's ok. It just feels good to be active and doing something.

God's gift to women...and men

I dreaded the hour between 4 and 5 every day because it stressed me out so much! I was trying to get dinner going and clean up the house a bit before Kenny got home, and it seemed like Brynlee always needed to eat during that time, or was just really fussy and wouldn't let me put her down. Here's the answer my friends:
CROCK POTS! (my picture won't load so you just get to read it in big letters)

I have been using it a lot lately and it helps out so much! I have this awesome crock pot cook book, "Fix It and Forget It" and it's made our days and evenings go so much smoother. Not to mention the dishes load is minimal! I love these things and I think every mom should have one. That's all.

4 weeks old!

Getting a little personal

Sometimes I feel like because I got married young and had (well, have) kids young too, that I'm behind or that my kids are at a disadvantage or something. I know that's not good to think that. And it's not that I have any regrets or anything, I'm so happy with where I am and what I'm doing. I guess it's just because I look around at people that are older and feel like they know more, and can do more, and have become so much more, or just are more. It's like their kids are so much better off because of what they as parents, mainly mothers, have to offer.

I must have had this idea of what a mother is supposed to be like, and I kept waiting for someone to push that button, in a sense, and make me that idea I've always had in my mind. Like I would all of the sudden be just so patient and full of love and strength, and that I could do all that was asked of me and more, and always with a smile on my face. Well here I am with two kids and it's still the same ol', plain ol', me. I might have been trying to ignore all my weaknesses and immaturities all these years, but I am now rudely aware of them. It's discouraging, to say the least.

Today Tyler really put me in check. I was mad, and I was "raising my voice" (to put it nicely). He shook his finger at me and said, "Mom, no yelling!" Are you kidding me? What kind of a lousy mom has to have their barely 2 year old son tell them not to yell?! Me. I hate when moms yell at their kids, and I'm one of them. There is absolutely no reason for it. That has got to stop.

No more waiting or wishing. I'm making a change for the better, no, the best version of me.

Big Brother

this kid is seriously the best.

Love is in the air!

Within the last week and a half, 2 of my sisters and 1 sister-in-law have gotten engaged! I am so happy for all 3 of them! Kim is marrying Caleb on May 2nd, Camille is marrying Tyler on August 8th (I think) and Jeni is marrying Eric on May 15th. Holy weddings! I'm so excited!!

Fact:

I did not know the real words to the song "I love the mountains, I love the rolling hills..." (you know which song I'm talking about?) until I was probably in high school. Here is the version we were taught when I was a wee little girl. All you Andersen cousins know this one, sing with me now!

I love the dishes
I love the pots and pans
I love the silverware
I love dish-water hands
I love to do them all after every meal

Kitchen duty, kitchen duty
Kitchen duty, kitchen duty...

Can we say BRAINWASHING?!! And at such a young and tender age, too. I still have more than humiliating memories of my 5th grade year at Horne Elementary school talent show, here in Houston. My mom made us all wear our matching dresses (which was totally not cool anymore, come on I was in 5th grade!) and we got on the stage and sang that blasted song in a round holding pots/pans/kitchen towels/wearing rubber gloves, etc. It was even more awful than it sounds. What a horrible thing to do to a child. :)