How DO you rotate pictures here anyway?

 Miss Claire enjoying some dinner.  ALMOST 8 months old here.



 With her almost 8 month old Mohawk Courtesy of Auntie Sarah.

Such a Happy Girl.  With such a BIG smile!

Miss Lily could be a model.  Ok, So I might be a little biased on this one but seriously, isn't she gorgeous?

Darn you Blogger and my lack of technical skills.  You'll just have to imagine this one flipped around.

She's giving attitude in this one...with her hand on her hip.

Admiring the water in the pool.

Happy 7 Months Claire Bear....

Wow 7 months already! 

At 7 months old Miss Claire....

....rolls around like a mad baby.

....is only wearing her helmet part time.

....does most of her talking when big sister isn't around, but can be quite the chatter box.

....loves to jump jump jump JUMP.

...loves to laugh.

....is pretty much ALWAYS sleeping through the night now. (knock on wood)  Meaning Down at 8:30pm and up around 5-5:30 or so. 

...Still thinks big sister is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

...is trying desperately to crawl...pulling her back legs up...it won't be long now.

....can stand on her own holding onto something.

....thinks daddy is pretty neat.  And funny.  As with Lily, Daddy is one of her favorite play time toys. As she loves to be tossed in the air and dropped on the couch.

...has TWO teeth.  On the bottom and they came in about halfway through her 6th month.  She has been very agreeable since they broke the surface.

....Usually takes a couple of catnaps during the day with one longer one right in the middle.

Last night I was holding her and she was laughing and giggling and would NOT fall asleep.  I even thought to myself how I missed holding her and cuddling her while she sleeps.  I really really thought it would be a LONG time before that day came. But there I was, last night missing cuddling her.  Not that I never get to anymore but she surely falls asleep better if you just lay her down in her crib.

My baby is over a half a year old.  I just don't know how that has happened. 

10 things I hate about being the F word....

Also my 10 reasons for needing a change:

1. I hate the way I feel when I look down at my tummy or look in the mirror.

2. I hate the way my thighs rub together when I wear a skirt or shorts.

3. I hate the negative thoughts that run through my head because I can't get my eating under control.

4. I hate being tired all the time.

5. I hate how easily I get winded.

6. I hate how unsexy I feel

7. I hate that the majority of the time I STILL wear maternity pants...HELLO my baby is 7 MONTHS old.

8. I hate that I whine about how fat I feel/am all the time, I'm sure people get sick of it.

9. I hate this love/hate relationship I have with food.

10. I hate the unhealthy example I'm setting for my girls.

I need more...JOIN me!

So I've been thinking to myself.  Self...what can I do that would help me to lose weight and stick to a plan?  The idea I had.  Join a weight loss group.  A group of like minded people who are practically trying to lose weight in their every day busy life.  No matter if you have kids or not, no matter if you have 100 pounds to lose or 5.  A place where people won't judge you...and won't cost you an arm and a leg.  THAT is what I need.  A group that meets weekly, close to my home (or in my home) where we can talk about our weeks, our struggles and maybe talk about some new ideas and things we can do to help each other.  Talk about some new foods we've tried and like.

So now I have the idea.  Now I just need the people.  So who's with me?  I'll "Lead" the group!  We can meet where ever but my house will always be open (provided you don't judge me by the fact that it looks like a bomb has gone off  in there 3 minutes before you arrive)  We can find a time that works for most people and we can have healthy snacks, hang out and talk about our struggles, our accomplishments and just in general have a safe place that we don't have to feel judged for our choices.  (anyone who knows me I've been on and off the wagon 9 trillion times)

So WHO'S with me?!  I don't care how many people. 1,2 or 20.

Either comment here, On Facebook or you can email me and we'll start getting things set up!  I sure hope you join me.  Lord knows I could use the help and I think that this could be just what I need!

You can EMAIL ME here by the way.

Weekly Wrap Up. An No I'm Not Talking About Lunch.

So I've been super busy at work lately.  It's kinda nice.  I mean it feels good to truly be needed here and know they they would struggle without me.  I like feeling needed and like it matters if I am here or not.  On the downside though, my COUPON book looks like someone attached it with a scissors and not in a good way.  I also don't have much time for emails or keeping up with my blog. Though these days I don't feel like I have a whole lot to say anyway.

On the coupon front, I'm still managing to chug along.  Last week I actually saved 47% of my bill using coupons!  I got some great stuff including $.63 Hamburger Helper, a few deodorants and body washes and stuff that were on sale AND a buy one get one free coupon with them.  So I stocked up on those.  Let's just say Adam won't have any excuse to be smelly for a while as he now has SIX deodorants waiting for him in the cupboard.  And No I don't think I'm turning into one of those people.  I don't really buy much in qty's like that actually.  Only stuff I know won't expire, soaps, diapers etc.  Yes, I'm totally justifying it.  It does make me sad though that I won't need to buy some stuff for a while  but it's also a good thing, I can start moving into the "actually spending less money cause we are stocked up on stuff already" phase.  Which is nice and will certainly make Adam happy.  But it works out great that I can kinda pick and choose and my nerdy self started a spreadsheet for prices so that I know if I'm really getting a good deal or not, as I've been burned a few times on stuff and I want to avoid that if I can.  Cause really, Just cause you HAVE a coupon for it doesn't make it a good deal.  Do your research.  Someday I hope to post some good deals on here when I can find the energy to get around to it.  There are a few good deals this week at Coborns for General Mills cereals, Pillsbury croissants, and go-gurt and stuff.

Anyway.  The girls are good.  We took a few nights to really be strict with the Baby's sleeping schedule and that seems to be working so far, she has been sleeping a little better.  Getting up earlier but at least she is sleeping all night so it's nice to get a few more hours in a row of sleep.  But man we had a few rough nights in there.  I can't believe how much she's changing every day.  Adam and I have been taking videos of her like crazy lately but they are stuck on our phones.  So one of these days I'll have to get those off and post them.  That baby has an amazing laugh.  Lily is still VERY much into the princesses.  "*poof* I change you into a beautiful princess".  Honestly I don't think I can count how many times I hear that in a day.  I'm ok with this, I get to bat my eyelashes and be beautiful for a few minutes a day anyway.

We took Lily fishing a few weekends ago, of course we didn't catch any fish but she had fun trying I think.

Adams workplace just got sold to another large bank.  So we aren't sure what that is going to mean for us...as of right now nothing I suppose.  But gradually things will probably change. I just hope that our benefits stay awesome, but I guess we just won't know until the takeover is complete and all that. 

Hmmm What else?  We had a couple of really hot days but other than that it's been so nice.  Lower 70's  I'd be totally fine with that all summer.  But eventually it's going to hit us hard I imagine.  Hoping to get to the beach and go swimming with the girls this summer too but we'll see what it brings I guess.

My take on Marriage

So take this with a grain of salt as I have only been married for 4 years, which isn't super long but it's pretty good so far.

Marriage is hard.  People tell you that but sometimes you don't really realize just how hard it is until 3:00 in the morning when your second baby is screaming for the second time that night and you are both sleep deprived and want nothing more than to just run off to Mexico....wait....I digress.  Couples fight, people fight.  When you spend as much time with the same person as you do with a husband or a wife there are bound to be some times of tension.  Times when maybe you could really just use a little vacation apart.  There are times when you both take each other for granted and times when you both need to communicate a little better.  No matter how much time passes sometimes things you say while arguing still sting and will remain a touchy subject forever.

Whoever thinks kids will fix problems in a marriage obviously don't have kids.  While I would never trade my girls and my husband for anything.  It is trying sometimes.  It's hard to remain unselfish and to think of others more than you think of yourself. (for me anyway, if you're a saint this blog ain't for you)  It's hard to remember to think positively and be kind.  It's hard to tell someone how much you appreciate them. 

But then again, nothing worth having comes easy.  And marriage can be wonderful and fun.  It's nice to have someone to complain to and to laugh with and cry with (ok so Adam isn't a cryer and he seems rather irritated when I do cry.  but the point remains)

At the end of the day I need to learn to be more kind and patient and learn to communicate my feelings with everyone a little better and that will make for a happier me, and a happier marriage.  Cause damn, I sure do love that man.

Happy Half Birthday!

I can not believe how fast time is going these days.  I can't believe that my baby is 6 months old.  Honestly I knew it was going to go fast and yet it felt like this day would never get here.  It's been a little bumpy at times but I think over all it's been worth it.

I don't have weight and length stats as her 6th month appointment is scheduled for next month.  Blech.

At 6 months old Claire can...

...roll over both ways (a task that lily couldn't accomplish until she was 7 months old)

...is thisclose to sitting up by herself. (Lily sat up on her own on her 6 month date exactly)

...loves to eat.  she'll eat anything you give her as well.  (((My good eaters)))

...is so easy to get her to laugh.

...is incredibly ticklish.

...prefers mommy over anyone else.

...most of the time only wakes up once a night...but will sleep through the night occasionally.

...is a great sleeper but not so great of a napper (for me anyway)  usually putting herself to sleep at night.  (Something Lily really struggled with, she had to be OUT before you could put her in the crib)

...still thinks her big sister is the coolest little girl around.

...will hopefully not have to wear her helmet for much longer as she made a VAST improvement in the first month, going from 16mm to 8mm (anything under 6mm is normal)  So she will hopefully go to part time wear sooner rather than later.

....thinks stuff feels weird without her helmet and rubs her head on the floor or you or whatever when she has it off. (I am hoping she'll adjust ok to not wearing it)

...is getting into a pretty good daily routine with her napping and eating which I think is helping a lot with her sleep at night as well.

...always wants to be a part of the action.

...puts everything in her mouth and is a faucet of drool

...isn't a big fan of "strangers"

...is a great baby that we are blessed to have in our lives!

Pictures to come.