Chronicles of a Selfish Mommy

The wonderful Naomi at Pitter Patter Photos took some photos of our family a couple days ago.  She did a pretty good job and we are quite happy!  Just a couple shots, look for the rest on Facebook or our personal website!

6. Work out 3x per week:  I was doing this till I stubbed my toe.  Hit is smack on the pantry door frame.  It’s still swollen, thank goodness it is no longer bruised.  I even bought new running shoes!

10. Volunteer once every 3 months: well, I have not been good about this one at all.  However, I am scheduled to give blood, am growing out my hair for locks of love, have donated plenty to goodwill, and recently gave to the lots of food to The Storehouse.  Yea, I know.  Not the same as volunteering….

11. New Recipe once a month:hum, made 2 different chicken dishes: cranberry chicken, peach mango ginger chicken, Italian sausage, peppers and onions on sub, fresh homemade guacamole

19. Date Night:went to Z’Tejas with a group of friends.  All of us sans kiddos!  This was my first foray w/a HS sitter.

37. Blood Donation: Scheduled for Tuesday, Sept 1st

44. Book Reading: Finished New Moon, now onto Eclipse

51/52. Clean out Fridge and Pantry: Went thru both and tossed anything outdated.  I then proceeded to organize and clean things up a bit

62. Update MP3 Player Songs:  many thanks to Jeff.  I got a handful more alternative songs added.  I just love to run to that type of music….

102. Netflix: watched Adventureland (blah) & some of Speed Racer (Connor and Jeff liked).  We also saw GI Joe at the theater!

Shocker, I am blogging again so soon.  I figured that I had a few things to blog about, so might as well.

Let’s start with Brooke.  The lil bugger got her first cold.  Bummer, but oddly enough I found that if I rub her down w/baby vapor rub…..she sleeps thru the night!  The last couple of nights, she has gone the entire night with not a peep until 5:30ish.  Then she’ll have a bottle and go BACK to sleep until 6:30ish.  I prolly spoke too soon and jinxed the whole thing now.  She is eating puffs very well, so I plan on adding new finger foods in the coming weeks.  Think cheerios, soft carrots, avocado, tiny bits of meat.  We’re still working on the sippy cup, she can drink from it with help.  She still doesn’t quite get the hold and lift it yourself part just yet.  Same goes for the bottle.  Brooke has advanced to sitting by herself for short periods of time, woo-hoo!

Connor is gearing up for the fall sports season.  As we mentioned in earlier posts, he’ll be taking gymnastic classes on Wednesday mornings, Karate classes on Thursday mornings, and playing on a 3-4 yr old soccer team.  Our soccer team is all set.  It’s a 3 on 3 league w/no goalie.  Connor is the tallest kid on the team by close to a foot!  We have games on Saturday mornings and practices on Thursday evenings.  Our colors are maroon and yellow.  We purchased our soccer ball, shin guards, and shoes & are very excited to play!  We’re currently deciding on a team name.  For Karate, we still need to purchase a black uniform.  Once we get more involved, he’ll begin going to competitions to obtain his belts!

The kids went to Arrowhead Ranch.  It was perftoect for Connor!  We got to feed goats & chicken, pet a donkey & rabbits, and ride a horse!  He was such a big boy and did all of these things by himself!  I am so proud of him!  We had individual & family pictures taken by Naomi of Pitter Patter Photos, so stay tuned for those!  In Oct, we’ll have a family photo session w/Randy Tinney and I cannot wait.  Also coming up are the Day Out With Thomas Train Ride (Oct) and the North Pole Flyer Train Ride (Dec).

I am finally enjoying my time as stay at home mommy.  How things change!  I never knew I would want to be the person I am right now.  I am in the BEST place in life!  Thank you, Jeff!  Your support has been instrumental in me finding my place and happiness!  Now, I do have a part time gig working as a Project Manager for RDI.  I also took on another job as a sales rep for Xanboo.  The guy that owns RDI also owns this company and asked me to use my resources internally to try to get Dell to pick up the Xanboo service product.  Funny how things work out.  On a personal note, I totally bruised my pinky toe and had to take some time off running.  I am really looking forward to getting back in the groove, I even bought new shoes!  I had my first judicial experience as I was called as a jury.  The whole thing was a huge ordeal. I got lost, no parking, running late, get there, tons of people waiting around, lots of commotion…who do I talk to?  Finally find out that my case was DISMISSED!  Pfft!  I played Keno with my Mom’s group, what a BLAST!  I even won a round & came home with a really comfy fleece blanket.  I had some high school friends come in for a visit with their families.  Man, was that fun!  I saw Wicked with the girls.  Excellent play!  I totally want to read the book now!  I’ve gotten rather good at winging things to eat.  I’ve made a couple new meals that I was pretty proud of.  I am just starting to like cooking and baking.  Now if only I could enjoy cleaning as well….

Jeff is riding most days and really loving it.  He’s riding some Big Enchilada Road Bike Race on Nov 14th.  He’s still contemplating the Tour de Tucson the following weekend.  The boat is awesome and we’re looking forward to take it out as many times as we can before it gets cooler.

Jeff and I are really looking forward to our cruise in a couple weeks.  We’re all also really excited to meet our new nephew & cousin, Colt.  Mommy’s already planning Halloween costumes and Connor’s 4th birthday!

We look forward to having Nainie come out for a visit & heading out to Tucson for Thanksgiving.  Head over to our personal home page and check out the newest pics that Jeff uploaded!

Just gonna talk about the things I’ve accomplished bc I am feeling positive today. 

11. New Recipe per month - totally just winged it this month and came out with a great chicken and craisin sauce! Yummy!

17. Update Driver’s License Restrictions – this is now a gimme since I have to renew my license this year.  So sad, I LOVED, LOVED my photo on this last one.

18. Professional Family Photo – Randy Tinney will again be taking our photos this year.  I think it will be sometime in October since we like outdoor pics and it’s WAY too hot for that right now.  Plus, we got a bonus!  Since joining a mother’s group, an event was a FREE kids’ portrait with Pitter Patter Photos at the end of August!

19. Date Night – hum, anniversary dinner in June.  We went out to dinner in Tucson in July sans kiddos.  This Friday, we’re headed to Houston to pick up our boat!  Whole day to ourselves! Update: nothing planned for August as our babysitters fell thru for both things we had scheduled.  BOO! 

20. Register Connor for a sport - Karate, Soccer, Gymnastics!

34. Mani/Pedi - checks for June, July and am planning on hitting up the salon next week for August!

37. Blood Donation - scheduled for 9/01 at the RR Blood Donor Center for 1:30pm.  I have been slacking on donation.  Need to start doing it every couple of months.

43. Cloth Bags - rocking it!

44. Read – there are WAY too many that I’ve read.  I cannot even remember.  Now reading New Moon as I just finished Twilight.  I think before Twilight was Angels and Demons.

56. Update Resume - per Lee Hecht Harrison recommendations, added a couple things

60. Ride a train - Oct we will ride Thomas the Train and in Dec riding North Pole Flyer

61. Travel Outside the US – going on Caribbean Cruise, although I don’t really want to include this as I meant something more “Dramatic”

63. New MP3 Headphones – purchased!

79. Go on Cruise - already bought and paid for, scheduled for 9/14 thru 9/19!

92. Kisses to Everyone – man, this is my fave one! 

102. Netflix Movies - Bedtime Stories, Flushed Away, Bolt, Coraline….I think there are more, but I just cannot recall.  We’ve also seen Transformers 2 and GI Joe at the theaters!

103. Canopy Tour – planning one for Mill’s B-Day in November!

114. Office Furniture – we each have new desks (matching, how cute), and we both have nice chairs…

119. Photo Books – currently working on them

Well, there has been allot going on in the Cox household.

As most of you know, I was let go from my place of employment back in May.  It took me about 9 weeks to get a job.  I am currently employed for a company who supplies products to Dell, RDI Technology.  I work remotely as they are located in New York w/manufacturing facilities in China.  I am self employed and work as a Program Manager Consultant to them.  The job has been AWESOME!  It’s a part time gig w/excellent compensation.  I am so fortunate to be getting the best of both worlds, Mommy and employee!  This is the happiest I’ve been in at least 4 years!  Funny thing is since becoming employed, I have had 2 more interviews!  However, thus far nothing has come from them and honestly, I am not sure I can give up the sweet deal I have now.  I never knew this would be something I wanted, how funny that such a horrible thing like getting laid off can just open you up to a whole new world! 

I have really gotten back into running.  I even joined a group, Pfun Runners.  I do my best to run 2x per week with intentions to move to 3x.  I am currently running at a pretty decent pace, clocking in about 9:40ish minute miles.  I run one race a month and already have them all scheduled thru the end of the year.  I am currently a team captain for Renee’s Rack Pack and we are running Race for the Cure – JOIN or DONATE to our team!  I’d also like to start road biking bc Jeff is totally loving it.  We shall see….. I’ve lost about 8lbs, but still have 10lbs to go.  Sigh…..  Another thing I have gotten back into, reading!  OMG!  I read SO MUCH!  Fortunately, I only do it at night when everyone is asleep.  I mostly read chick lit, but am now reading the Twilight Series (on the 2nd book).  I am also gonna expand my horizons and pick up some stuff like The Kite Runner, The Lovely Bones, and The Time Traveler’s Wife.

The last couple of months have been planning things to do with the kids.  If you know me, I am a totally crazy planner!  CRAZY!  I joined 2 Mother’s Group and made one really nice friend.  I have started planning for one group as an asst organizer and have been giving ideas left and right to the other one.  They also have some wonderful things scheduled to do, including things for Mommy!  I am going to my first Mommy only playdate next week, Keno! Being a mommy has been more fulfilling than I originally gave it credit for.  I agree with Renee (Team S), the stress of ensuring they are learning is tremendous!  Because of my planning, networking, & research skills, I am thinking about starting a kids’ blog with things to do around town.  I am kinda lazy, though….. I also have some good ideas for Renee.  Team S, we need to sit down and chat without the kids.  Seriously, I have a plan I want to lay out with you. 

We visited Tucson in July as I helped host a baby shower for my sister-in-law, Megan.  The shower turned out great & we had a wonderful relaxing time visiting the family and introducing Brooke to everyone.  We look forward to going back over during Thanksgiving and hoping the entire family will be there!  We haven’t seen Katie in years!

I am working on a couple parties & events to round out the year, Amanda’s 30th B-Day Event, Loo’s Baby Shower, Race for the Cure, Connor’s 4th B-Day, and our Annual White Elephant Party.  I also plan Girls Night Out once a month.

I am looking forward to seeing Wicked w/the ladies in a couple weeks and going on our (no kids) Caribbean Cruise in Sept!  We also have a family photo session coming up with the wonderful awesomeness that is Randy Tinney& kids’ portrait with Pitter Patter!

Oh!  We sold our boat and got ourselves a new bigger, better one!  We went from a 2005 blue & white Supra Launch to a black & red 2008 MasterCraft X Star.  Jeff is addicted to riding and has now gotten into road biking w/his new baby – a road bike.

Now, if only I can get more motivated and get on fixing up the home a bit more, getting stuff to good will, selling some maternity and baby stuff , and doing some volunteering (well, I am growing out my hair for locks of love & I need to schedule a time to donate some blood).

Seriously, I am deliriously happy!  My cheeks hurt from smiling!  After years of not feeling like this, WHOA!

Our big boy is going to be 4 in 3 months!  He’s come a long way and we are so proud of him!

We’ve done our own measurements and from what we can tell, Connor weighs about 40lbs and is 40.5 in (3 ft 4.5 in).  Based on this, we’re estimating him to be 75% for height and 90% for weight.  The kid is dense!  He speaks very clearly in complete sentences, although we’re working on manners.  He can recite and name the entire alphabet.  He knows most sounds and can spell his first name.  He knows his numbers up to 20.  We like to play games and he has gotten very good at Candyland, Old Maid, Go Fish, and Crazy Eights.

Connor will be taking gymnastics, karate, and soccer this fall.  We will also be taking a ride on Thomas the Train (Oct) & the North Pole Flyer (Dec) where Santa Claus will visit!  We will also be visiting Arrowhead Ranch and Crowe’s Nest Farms in the coming weeks.  We are all very excited!  He is very interested in receiving mail, so I got him his own magazine.  It’s from Highlights and is targetted for 3-6 yr olds, called HI-FIVE.

Connor eats most anything, but his favorites are gold fish, sandwiches, little weenies, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and freebirds burritos.  He has an obsession with drinking: flavored water, milk, chocolate milk, sprite, juice…..the list would go on and on.

Nap times are non existent, but he does sleep about 11 hours each night.  Typically, he’s out for the count about 8ish & wakes about 7:30ish. 

To everyone’s detriment, he loves to help.  He enjoys baking with me, sweeping, & sorting laundry, and helping dad with the lawn and things in the garage.  He tries very hard to be sweet and gentle with Brooke, girl will learn to be tough. He still loves big trucks: fire trucks, loaders, haulers, garbage trucks, 18 wheelers, dump trucks.  If it rolls, he likes it! 

With my recent time off, we’ve gotten the chance to do allot of fun things.  We’ve been to the fountain water parks at Brushy Creek, hung out at indoor playscapes Jungle Java & Hoppin Hippo, storytimes, Dinosaur Park, see Dora the Explorer Live, Boggy Creek Farm, and to Terra Toys where we got to hand paint a cargo train!  He has special time with Daddy about twice a month where he and the boys hang out on the lake in our boat.  He is an excellent swimmer (with vest).  Next summer, swim w/no vest!

I cannot believe Brooke is already 6 months old!

We had our 6 month appt and let’s start with measurements, shall we?  Brooke weighs 17lbs 13 oz which put her firmly in the 80% bracket.  She is a mere 25 inches, which places her in the 27% bracket.  As most of you have seen, she is currently a bit of a roly poly.  I feel pretty confident that she will outgrow this stage.  Connor was exactly the same.  He was short and fat most of infancy as well.  Looking at him now, one would not have guessed it.  Hence, I am not very worried (well, I am gonna tell myself that anyway).

Brooke has 2 bottom teeth.  They came in side by side.  I believe there is currently one more trying to pop thru.  She loves to chew on anything she can get her hands on, heck she even chews on her fingers!  The lil one loves to eat.  Currently, she has Stage  2 solids at breakfast & dinner.  We will soon be starting solids at lunch, too.  We’re currently taking 4 – 7oz bottles and working on using a sippy cup w/water.  Dr suggested we start placing puffs on her bumbo or high chair try to promote pincer grasp & self feeding.  We tried that out today & yea, she has some work to do.

Physically, we’ve got one strong girl.  She prefers standing or sitting more than being on her back or tummy.  She actually HATES lying on her tummy, but can sit by herself for short periods of time.  Her favorite things to play with are the excersuacers & the gymini.  She enjoys sitting in her bumbo and her bouncer watching and interacting with everyone.  Some favorite things to do are:  play patty cake, listen to nursery rhymes, chew on everything, drool, blow raspberries, play girls gone wild the infant edition when wearing dresses, and touch faces.

Brooke is a big talker (no shocker there, just like her Mom).  She practices her “talking” by screaming in different pitches & laughing.  She does not like to be left out and  loves being part of the family.  She immediately recognizes when she’s left out and voices her displeasure over this loudly & frequently until you place her where the action is.

Those that play hard, apparently sleep hard as well.  Brooke takes 2 naps.   One morning nap for about an hour and one afternoon nap for about 2 hours.  She typically goes down for the night about 7ish and awakes about 6ish with one (ok maybe 2) trips for pacifier replacements.  If she wakes earlier than 6, we can typically give her a bottle and then she will go right back to sleep until then.  I think getting her to her own crib has been key. We (ok, I) did not get Connor to his own room until 6 months or so.  Brooke has been sleeping in her own crib since about 4 months.

We are one lucky, blessed, and happy family!

That’s how long Jeff and I have been married today.  8 years together, 6 years married.  In the grand scheme of things, that’s nada.  Yet we’ve covered so much ground in this time.  We’ve had 3 homes, 3 job changes for Jeff and 2 for me, 2 kids, a giant salt water fish tank, a fiery kitty, a brief stint w/a puppy, 2 boats, and several trips. 

Where has the time gone?  It seems to have completely slipped by us.  I was 25 when I got married!  Honestly?  I wouldn’t change a damn thing.  I love this man and the wonderful life he has given me!  I am looking forward to spending my life sentence and journey with him!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to US! 

PS – Year 10 will be vow renewal!  Boy is he gonna HATE that!

Brooke has been in our lives for 4 months!  The chunky monkey is already 20 weeks old, although if you are going by months she doesn’t turn 5 months until July 9th.

We had our 4 month check this past Friday, June 19th.  And no shocker here, the chunkster is weighing in at a whopping 15 lbs 12 oz putting her in the 90th percentile!  Geez!  She also stretched out quite a bit making it to a full 24 1/2 inches.  She is ever so slightly above average, coming in at 53rd percentile.  The Doc gave us the OK and practically made us start Brooke on solids.  She is now eating some rice cereal with her dinner.  Luckily, she is not having any problems eating it other than we cannot shovel it in fast enough.

Brooke has a pretty good schedule.  She wakes btw 5:30 & 6am all bright-eyed and bushy tailed.  Promptly at 9:30am she becomes a crying mess and falls asleep for about an hour sometimes an hour and a half.  Her next nap usually begins about 2:30ish and she typically is down for about 2 hours.  Both her naps are taken in her crib.   By 7pm (normally earlier) she has had her dinner and is out for the count (placed in her crib) until about 2am when she screams (not cries) to be fed.  Fortunately, she falls right back to sleep (cuddled btw Mommy & Daddy) until actual morning.  We are desperately awaiting the “sleeping thru the night” phase.

Brooke is a totally cool, funny little thing.  She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to laugh – L O U D L Y.  It’s so infectious.  She loves standing up and sitting upright.  She has rolled a handful of times from tummy to back, although I don’t think she is doing it exactly on purpose.  She recognizes her name and immediately turns when called.  But then again, anytime she hears my voice she looks for me and stares at me all sad faced just kinda giving me the look, “Why are YOU not holding me?”  I secretly like that she is such a Mommy’s girl!

ah, this 101 list.  Some might think, what have you been doing?  Seriously, you are a domestic engineer – you’d think you can get some of this stuff done.  Pfft, is what I have to say to those that think that.  I used to be that person…..no longer. 

I am getting into a better groove and, dare say, am starting to enjoy this new ride.  I have traded in my stress for frustration, but I (kinda) plan my day and am (kinda) my own boss.  OK, ok – who am I kidding?!  I am a total slave to 2 people shorter and less verbal than I!  However, not having to get dressed and not having demanding deadlines is A W E S O M E!  Plus, these 2 cannot lay me off…. well, they could mutiny and make me quit & in this short period of time they’ve come close…..

This Selfish Mommy is slowly trying NOT to go insane playing the same games over and over and over again, is learning to tune out the whining and crying (when you know it’s not serious), and almost has several Dr Seuss Books memorized.  Let’s not even get to Bob the Builder, that’s a story for another time…..

So, I digress – see?!  I already feel less selfish bc I ranted on about my kids.  I can feel the changes beginning….

Ok, the list – hit it!

#3 Laser Hair Removal – it hurts like nothing else.  Seriously, it hurts!  B A D!  I am no wimpy chick either.  I have done 3 sessions under my arms and nether regions and 2 on my legs.  YOWZA!  I repeat these mantras as the wonderful aesthetician lasers my hairs away – “sometimes beauty requires pain” and “if I can have 2 kids, I can take this”.  Yes, it really is that painful.  BUT!  I will be (hopefully) hair free by the end of the year!

#6 Workout 3x per week – this one comes and goes like the tides.  One week I am rocking it, the next week I am in a rocker.  I just cannot for the life of me get consistent.  I think I am gonna borrow my parents treadmill again and hit it up during Brooke’s nap and Connor’s rest time.  I realized that w/2 crappy feeding times for Brooke and just being done in the evenings, that I am just not motivated.  Maybe an afternoon pinch in the inside cool will help?

#7 Keep weight below 130lbs – we are now at 19 weeks post partum &  I STILL have 10 lbs to go!  STILL!  OMG, this weight just doesn’t come off like it did for Connor.  As a dear friend pointed out, it could be my age.  She’s prolly right.  Or it could be that I prefer to eat Chips Ahoy Reduced Fat Cookies and sit on my @ss at this computer.  Either way – weight is still there.  Please read above for my plan of attack.

#10 Volunteering – you know, I really miss doing this.  I need to figure out a way to get more involved again.  My first attempt is growing out my hair for Locks of Love.  Next?  IDK – ideas?

#11 Prepare 1 New Recipe a Month – GAH!  Um, I think I was OK with this one until very recently.  I know I didn’t do anything for May and thus far same is true for June….but I still have time!

#19 Date Night! – Jeff and I hit up  friend’s 40th B-Day.  We went to dinner, ok ok, it was more a sports bar and it was me with 6 guys – beggars cannot be choosers….  I also think we went to a movie.  What did we see?  Hum, Star Trek, that’s right.  Don’t ask me for dates, I just don’t remember.  I SWEAR they happened though!

#20 Register Kiddos for Sports – Connor’s in gymnastics for his 3rd go round.  I am thinking about karate or maybe soccer or T-Ball….

#21 Promotion Job Change – will hopefully bring about a “promotion” or rather just more moola!  See, I AM actively working on something…. ok, so I was forced – does it really matter the motivation?

#24 Potty & Bed Train Connor – can we just call this complete?  The boy does all his business in a potty, ok sometimes he misses (on purpose), but still.  He sleeps in his own room and now without the gate!  I am gonna call this done!

#34 Monthly Mani/Pedi – yup, I just cannot survive without someone scrubbing away what have now become gross mommy feet.  You Mommies out there know what I mean….the paints chipped to only flecks & heels so worn & rough due to all the running after little ones…. now that we’re talking about this, Selfish Mommy SO needs a mani/pedi!

#35 Adventure Race – I found one that sounds fun.  I have sent out a request for a partner, now if someone would just return the call….

#37 Donate Blood – I need to just get myself over there already!  Then I could also hit up #39

#38/39 Spring Cleaning & Goodwill – I have a bag of stuff that needs to be dropped off.  I also have a bag of Connor stuff for Renee and maternity stuff for Loo – ladies, I have some goodies for you….

#40 Giftcard Usage - well, I still have a couple left.  I used my Ulta one yesterday.  Only took like over a yr, but hey

#44 Reading – I have been really good at this.  I ain’t no book snob – sometimes we just need to be taken away…It’s all chick lit & Dan Brown.  Once done w/Dan, heading over to this whole Twilight thing…..I was addicted to LJ Smith’s Vampire Diaries when I was a wee lass, so hoping this lives up!  BTW, SO WATCHING the TV Series based on LJ Smith’s series coming in the fall!

#60 Ride Train – thinking of doing this whole Day w/Thomas thing for Connor.  My only concern is that it’s in Burnet, but it would definitely knock it off my list!

#79 Cruise – scheduled for 9/13!  One whole week w/out kiddos & loving, sunning, and drinking it up w/Selfish Daddy. 

#83 Spending time on boat – ain’t gonna happen this summer.  Brooke is banned; hence, I am too.  Next year it is so on!  We may just have a new and improved model (boat not person nor kid) by then….stay tuned!

#94 Anti-Aging Regime – I am not aging gracefully, I am so taking that mo-fo out!  Apparently, the weapon to do this is called retinol.  I shall purchase some, let the battle begin!

OK, so the rest of the stuff I didn’t mention bc I haven’t bothered with it or I just have miserably failed and it wasn’t that interesting to blog about.

I am adding Strawberry Farm to the list, though!