Life Lately...

Life lately hasn't been particularly blog-worthy.  I find myself having a bit of "bloggers-block"... but here is my attempt at telling you what we've been up to around here.

Resident hubs has been working four 12 hour night-shifts in a row this month.  So, I've been in what I like to call "survival mode" getting through those.  "Survival mode" is ultra-dramatic... but I do count the nights down and cannot wait until he is off again!  I hate night-shift because it leaves him out of commission all night...and all day (sleep).  It has also been very hot and humid here... which makes for days of staying inside as much as possible... which gives me cabin fever.  My go-to activity is shopping... a.k.a. Target...but I'm trying to break out of that (expensive) habit a little.

This was my Saturday night date. ;)

Speaking of... we recently sat down and made a budget.  We have always "kind of had one" but I needed something that I could really see and understand.  What I understand now, after having made the budget, is that we are poor.  HA!  ;)  But seriously, I am glad we have it in place and it is good for us.  I will do a more detailed post on how we did it soon.  In the meantime, I'm accepting couponing advice.  And suggestions for what to do with an 8 month old when it is 90+ degrees outside and so humid that breathing is a luxury.

In keeping with the "doing things that are good for us" theme.... I have been running.  I haven't talked a lot (at all?) about it here on the blog... but I've been doing the C25K program for a while now.  It's an 8 week program but I wasn't very consistent for the first few weeks so it has taken me longer.  I am now on week 6 and my last run was 20 minutes.  20 minutes of running without stopping!  I don't think I have ever run that long in my life.  I have always been a PASSIONATE running HATER.  But... I'm actually liking the challenge and I'm quite proud of myself.  I'm hoping to do a 5K sometime this summer.  That would be accomplishing something I definitely never thought I would accomplish!  I know three miles is beans to some people.... but for a non-runner/running-hater.... it's big stuff!  It's also helping with this stubborn baby weight.  I have lost about five pounds recently, putting me at roughly 4-5 pounds to go to (finally) reach pre-pregnancy weight.  Hopefully, this running habbit will stick and I will be able to lose beyond my pre-pregnancy weight!  Two things I need to help me stick with this running are A.) a jogging stroller and B.) cooler, breathable weather.....

I've also been doing a fun little bible study via my iphone on the Bible app (YouVersion).  It is the soul detox plan and there are quite a few lovely ladies taking part.  You can join in at any time and can tweet or instagram about it each day by tagging #shereadstruth.  I really like the study and enjoy looking at others' instagram photos about it.  (I don't have twitter.  If you have instagram, look me up!  I am bethann1124.)

NEW LIFE in Christ.

Otherwise, we have been doing  alot of playing on the floor, in the baby pool inside(still haven't actually used it for swimming yet!), and in the "johnny-jump-up."  We hadn't used it for a while but recently tried it out again and Holden LOVES it.  He is a jumping fool and will jump away for a long time!  We also go for walks or just sit on the porch in the late evening when it isn't so hot because my boy LOVES to be outside.

Hubs is finally off for a bit after tonight and his schedule for June will be a little better.  We are looking forward to more daddy time. :)

Holden {8 months}

Holden turned 8 months old on May 27th!

Holden, at 8 months...

• I am guessing that you weigh around 19 lbs.
• You wear a size 3 shoe, size 6-9 month clothes and can fit some 12 month shirts/shorts (especially with a cloth diaper), and wear a size 3 disposable diaper.
• You usually take four 7 oz. bottles of formula a day and eat oatmeal/fruit for breakfast and some kind of combo of veggie/meat/fruit in the evening.  You can eat two jars of stage 2 baby food at a time.  You love to eat!!!  You open your mouth WIDE open for the next bite.  It cracks us up.
• You have tried puffs and baby mum mums.  You have a bit of a hard time grasping the puffs and getting them to your mouth.  You like the mum mums a lot.
• We have given you a sippy cup with water but you aren't very interested.
• You are no longer swaddled at night!  This was a smooth transition thankfully- guess you were just ready!  You move around a lot in your sleep now and I think it is helping you sleep better.  You now sleep in a sleeper and a halo sleep sack.
• We put you to bed for the night around 8:30 and you sleep until 7:30-8:00 in the morning.  You have been sleeping pretty soundly, knock on wood.
• You have been taking 2 naps... one in the morning from around 10:00-12:00+ and one around 4:00 - ?  Your last nap varies in length.
• You are a professional sitter now!  You like to sit and play with toys.
• You also (finally?!) rolled from your back to belly!  Now you roll both ways but you haven't quite figured out that you could roll to get from place to place.
• You are very close to pulling up.  You pulled up from sitting to standing by holding onto the kitchen sink faucet once during a bath!  You have also pulled up onto your knees in your crib.  However, you have no concept of "holding on."  You just let go and fall!
• You say "mamamama" when you are sad and "dadadada" pretty much all of the rest of the time. You make lots of other random noises as well.
• You have started shaking your head.  It looks like you are shaking your head "no" and it is SO funny! You just figured out you could do it one day so now you do it every once in a while.  Sometimes you will do it in response to us doing it but other times you won't.  
• You have a touch of stranger anxiety if people you don't know very well try to hold you.  It also kind of just depends on your mood.  You seem to know both sets of grandparents and your Aunt Sophia because you don't fuss with them!
• No teeth yet but I really think you are starting to work on them.
• You were sick for the first time this month.  You had a "stomach bug" for 8 days.  It was awful!!!
• You went on your first camping trip.
• Your favorite thing in the world is to be outside.  You LOVE being outside and have been known to cry when we go inside!

We can't believe how much you have learned this month.  You are learning and growing so fast now.  We love all of your smiles and giggles.  You are so funny and fill our lives with smiles and laughter. Your daddy and I still can't get over how cute you are.  You're amazing, that's all there is to it. ;)

See previous monthly posts here.

currently...

Linking up with Jenn today!

current book:

i'm a horrible reader these days.  i basically only read blogs. ;)

current playlist:

carrie underwood's "blown away" album.

current color: 

i picked this up recently and love it.  sally hansen - sorbet.

current food:

i've been making a lot of stir-fry lately.  i buy frozen, diced chicken breasts and throw them in a skillet with some peppers and mushrooms or use frozen veggies, etc.  then i make some brown minute rice to go with it.  so easy and healthy.

current favorite shows:

everything is ending for the season or for good! ;(  i was a desperate housewives lover and am so sad that it is over forever!  my other favorites are grey's, private practice, and modern family.

current needs:

to get myself ready for the day.  going to visit our families for the day and to see some friends we haven't seen in a long time!

current banes of my existence:

washing bottles and belly flab. ;)

current celebrity crush:

honestly don't have one at the moment.

current #1 blessing:

duh.

current indulgence:

i had a piece of this yesterday and it was definitely an indulgence at over 1200 calories.  

FAIL. ;)

current outfit:

pajama pants and husband's t-shirt.  this is why i am not a fashion blogger.

current excitement:

i am pretty proud of myself for running the past three days and for being on week 5 of the c25k program.  i'm excited about the fact that i am in better shape than i have been for a long time.  am i in good shape?  no. not compared to many others.  but for me, it's good and headed in the right direction.

current mood:

lazy.

current favorite quote or verse:

no favorite at the moment.

current wishlist item:

a jogging stroller!

current favorite products:

target brand face moisturizer with SPF 15

these handy-dandy lip gloss holders from bath & bodyworks.  

hangs on my diaper bag and makes my lip gloss easily accessible!

baby friends!

Behold the cuteness of three little baby friends. Every time I see Holden with my friends' babies my heart nearly explodes. Sometimes it is all I can do to not tear up at just the sight of them. It seems like just yesterday we were living in our college apartment, shopping or "working out" or doing anything else we could possibly do to procrastinate studying. Just yesterday we were staying up late talking and being silly and laughing hysterically. Now we sit around and talk silly to our babies and gush about every little thing they do.

I am so thankful to not be going through this season of "new mommy-hood" alone. So thankful for these adorable, precious babies. So thankful for, and in awe of, God's perfect timing. Any time I need a reminder that He is in control- I can just look at these adorable faces and know that His plans are better than mine.

stripes + swing

My handsome little mister in stripes....

First time swinging in a swing outside.  He loved it.  His facial expressions and long legs crack.me.up....

Stripes and swings... it's the little things in life.

These little things are what make me smile so many times throughout the day.

When you think about it.. the little things really are the big things.

And the "big" things aren't so big afterall.

The random post about a pool, a phone, a hat, and baby weight...

Sure wish he'd smile a little bigger...

- We got a pool!  Okay, it's just a kiddie pool and it is currently waterless and taking up residence in our living room.  I throw some toys in it and Holden sits and plays!  If he falls backward (which he doesn't do much anymore- good little sitter!) he is cushioned so I don't have to worry about it.  The plan is for it to eventually make its way outside and get filled up with water... but I like it so much inside that I may just have to get another one for outside!  $8 at Wal-Mart... can't beat that.

It made it outside once... to the porch!

- In other exciting news, I finally got a new iphone!  I had an iphone 3GS...with a cracked screen.  Now I have a pretty,white iphone 4S!  I'm super excited about the front facing camera, the awesomeness of the camera itself, and Siri.  Shon and I have had some fun asking Siri silly questions.  Technology is crazy.  Oh- and instagram (find me! bethann1124) is even better on my new phone!  I also ordered a pretty otterbox case from Three Hip Chicks.  That was my Mother's Day gift.  I normally would not have splurged on such a thing.  I can't wait until it comes in!

- I've been having fun dressing my boy lately.  Proof:

Hat!  Too bad you can't see the rest... long sleeve shirt, brown cargo shorts, sneakers! ;)

- Now I'm going to get negative and vulnerable with you guys because this is constantly weighing (no pun intended) on my mind.  I have about 10 pounds to lose to be back at my pre-baby weight.  I gained 50 pounds while pregnant.  I've mentioned this before... and the fact that I wasn't happy with my weight before I got pregnant either.  Ideally, I would like to lose about 25 more pounds.  I am horribly stuck.  It is like these last 10 pounds are NEVER.GOING.TO.GO.AWAY.  I hate exercise and I love eating... but I am trying to do better at both.  I am more active now and eat healthier than I used to...and yet, the scale doesn't budge.  It is really dragging me down.  I never like myself in pictures.  I see so many of you beautiful mommas with babies Holden's age or younger and I can't believe how great you look.  Summer clothing is horribly depressing for me.  I don't even know what I'm going to wear.  None of my old summer clothes (from two years ago!) fit.  I love so many of the summer clothes out now but I don't want to buy bigger clothing because I don't want to stay this size.  Ughhh.  I need help.  Advice?  Tips?

So true:

Source: repinly.com via Beth Ann on Pinterest

Mother's Day...

I've been a bad blogger lately.  Pretty much everything got neglected while Holden was sick all week last week.  (So thankful to have my baby back!)  This week, my hubby has been working on a research project so he has been hogging the computer.  I'm not big on blogging from my phone or netbook, thus the lack of posts.  Oh well, life happens and it's a good thing it does or I wouldn't have anything to blog about! ;)

I had a nice Mother's Day.  We spent the day with my family.  Church, out to eat, a NAP (!!!), and just hanging out.  Naps are something that I miss from my pre-motherhood days.  I remember a time when I would feel tired and say, "I think I'm going to go take a nap."  And I would!  For hours!  Seems crazy to me now!  On Mother's Day while Holden napped in the next room, Shon and I both passed out on my parents' couch.  It was delicious!  Anyway... on to some pictures from Mother's Day!

Grandma Gifts

My heart was very full on Mother's Day. 

I'm tellin' you all... 

GOD IS FAITHFUL!