Life in General

Nothing much new and exciting to write. I have been doing a lot of getting ready to leave for Market in ATL for The Bomb Mom on Wednesday night. I’m praying hard to have lots of needed energy. Also praying people “get it”, what The Bomb Mom is about. I hope we are in the right place, where we need to be at Market. I have never done this before so I’m thankful to be going with someone that seems to know the Market ropes. We need lots of favor to get this thing off the ground.

Rodan+Fields is going good so far. I’m really excited about the brand and LOVING how my face feels. Jeff is starting his regimen today. I also have a neighbor doing an experiment on the Unblemish for me and another friend using the Soothe for her sensitivity. I will have both before and after pictures for those in the next month or so.

The kids… are just so fun. That is when the boys aren’t killing each other. Yesterday Owen was just wailing on Lukas because apparently Lukas pinched him. Owen was on top of him just punching. As a mom I was horrified. I wish I knew how nip that in the bud. I guess we just have to be consistent in disciplining for them. Too bad it doesn’t work overnight.

Jeff is doing great. He has one of his bands, Seabird, in town recording now. As always the guys are sweet house guests.

Update on Aiden- he has his follow up Neurology appointment tomorrow. He looks great! He seems great! But he has had some headaches. Tomorrow they should find out whether or not that is something to be concerned with.

I really have no Avery update except that to me it seems that she is growing. She seems to need a larger diaper too, which I take as proof I’m waiting for a good window of time between her vaccinations and her blood test so that they don’t throw off the results.

That’s it for now!

Excited

Today I woke up with the most BIZARRE feeling.  I was excited.  Not for anything in particular… just EXCITED!  It was like the feeling you have when you are a kid and you wake up on field trip day, or the first day of school.  Today is just a normal day… lots to get done, not enough time (or energy) to do it.  There is nothing special about today.  But for some reason I’m excited.  

More than anything this pointed out to me how NOT excited I usually wake up.  I’m your typical melancholy.  Mornings are hard for me.  I love to sleep and waking up means the end of sleeping- so not fun.  

I like waking up this way.  I wish I woke up this way more often.  I wonder, do normal people that don’t suffer from depression feel this way when they wake up normally?  Does it just seem like excitement to me because it is such a contrast to the depression that normally awaits me when I wake up in the morning.  The depression that usually takes awhile to work out of my system in the morning?  

My new prayer is that I can approach every day like this, it is such a relief.

Biggest Loser Westhaven Style Week 3 (and other randomness)

Well I can’t say I have great weight loss news.  HOWEVER, boot camp is changing my body already.  Clothing is a little looser and people “say” I am looking thinner.  BUT I gained .2 lbs this week.  I’m assuming this is muscle as it weighs more than fat.  Still I’m going to watch my eating even MORE this week.  The problem is boot camp makes me hungry.  I just need to be really conscious that I’m putting the right things in my body.  Gosh this weight loss journey is so weird for me.  I guess I always took for granted that I never really had to lose weight like this.  

In other insignificant random news.  We just put built-ins in our mud room.  Bead board for the walls, a place for hooks/coats at the top.  a bench with cubbies down below, some for shoes and some for baskets.  Also two bins in the bench for winter and summer random things like hats, gloves and swim trunks.

Next week we start work on our bonus room that is unfinished.  I’m pretty excited to have the extra space to work and have the kids play.  I’m also excited because I have found a lot of deals for it!  I bought $1000 dollars worth of brand new in box sink/toilet/plumbing on craigslist for $400 cash.  I found a great mirror at TJ Maxx home goods, and it looks like the carpet I love a friend of mine has excess of and will sell it too me at a cheap price.  Not to mention Home Expo center is going out of business (which makes me sad) but the upside is that they are liquidating and we got our tile pretty cheap.  Next week I’m going there to get our lights and a ceiling fan.  I just love designer at a discount

A lot of random opportunities have been coming up lately.  It is sometimes so hard to know what things to take and what to say no too.  Especially when the all sound good.  It is hard to know whether it is fear or reason holding me back from things I’m afraid I won’t be able to accomplish well.  If it is fear then I know I need to step out in faith, but if it is reason… then I need to say no.  I know this is a random rant, but if you knew all the contexts it would actually make sense.

One thing I said “yes” to I can’t go into fully.  But it’s a work opportunity/ project I’m really excited about.  It has me off to Vegas in a few weeks to find more sourcing and so on… BUT for some reason Jeff was afraid to let me go by myself (which I used to do all the time).  I would be offended if it weren’t for the fact that it made him decide to go with me.  So while I’ll be hitting the pavement during the day… I’ll have my best friend with me to play with at night.  It will be hard to be away from the kids for those few days.  Avery seem so young to do that.  But I know this is a good opportunity and they will be in good hands with my in laws.

Gentry’s Farm- Pumpkin Patch

This last weekend we had my brother’s family in town (minus my brother :()  We had so much fun with them.  The kids were in heaven with their older cousins.  On Saturday we went to the pumpkin farm and that is what the pics below are from.  Oh and we normally don’t give Lukie Diet Coke  We just thought it would be a funny picture.  

Seemingly Wasted Days

Ugh.  I strongly dislike days like this.  I woke up with a splitting headache a few times last night.  When I awoke the final time my head was splitting and my back was weakening with every minute.  Before I knew it my back was out… into a full on spasm which renders me rather useless.  Anyone that has been reading Mommy Zabs or has known me long enough has heard this sob story before.  It’s a re-occurring injury.  

Jeff ended up having to cancel his meetings for the day and I spent most of it flat out on my back atop a bag of ice.  Today feels wasted.  That coupled with a phone call that my stock is doing pretty bad… Didn’t make for a good day.  Still I know God is good and will rely on him.  

Cheers to a better day tomorrow!

By the Weigh Side

Oh high metabolism, where art thou? You stuck with me most of my 30+ years and now you have just disappeared!

Yes, I have been in denial. I thought my new brisk walking regimen would allow me to eat what I wanted. My proportions aren’t out of control… but I love chicken fingers and french fries and the occasional dessert, and apparently that is just not working for me. I’m back up to 152. So this week I’m back to no snacking and eating tiny meals that aren’t bad for me. I’m cooking in most the week as well. There was a time when it didn’t really matter what I ate, I still kept off weight, but this time has obviously come to an end, at least for now.

On the positive side. Walking has me feeling better. It has been great to start my day off with my friend Peggy walking in the brisk fall air. Our talks are quality and we even get to praying sometimes.

I’ll let you know next week how the combo of walking and moderating my diet goes.

Have a great Tuesday!

What a Crazy Nights Sleep

Oh I feel totally miserable after now 2 nights of bad sleep.  I think the political and economical climate is really starting to effect me.  Ultimately this is crazy, because God is in control.  Even if my mutual funds and stocks are dropping.  Those are blessings, but they aren’t my true security.  Even if B.O. appears to be winning and people are believing these last eight years are solely responsible for worldwide markets collapsing.  So how do I get this peace in my head into my heart.  I guess I will just keep reminding myself.

Last night, Lukas had several nightmares, and slept walk.  Avery was in bed with use because for some reason I could not shake the idea that something might go wrong with her over night.  I cried myself practically to sleep about an issue that has been heavy on my heart.  I had nightmares that left me screaming (Jeff said it was opera-like!).  Oh well.

Amanda from The Mom Crowd and Team Espinoza left this in part of her comment yesterday:

“This is sort off subject. I heard today from my old Pastor (and like a Dad to me) that there has been some prophetic words about how God said that the cry for change is louder than the cry for mercy for our nation. So we need to be praying for mercy. I thought it was interesting…”

Whether
1. you believe in prophetic words or not (I do) or
2. you are for B.O. or McCain
Take this word to heart.  Our cry out should be louder for Mercy from God than it is for Change.  God knows what changes we do and don’t need, change is such a general prayer.  Change can be good and can be bad.  MERCY is always good.  God has had so much Mercy and patience with our nation.  Let’s cry out to him for more.

I’m off to have a better day.  I get to see my friends this morning for breakfast and then my in-laws arrive at noon.  Should be a good one!

Life Lately

Okay enough already with the election posts for the moment. I know I’m going to be happy when this whole thing is over. It is so divisive…. but at the same time I’m so passionate about my beliefs that I can not help but shout my opinion from the proverbial roof-top.

Tomorrow I’m starting to walk at 6:30 in the morning. I wish I was one of “those people” that could run. I would love to be like, “yeah, I ran 4 miles this morning,” but I have bad knees and a bad back…. running is tragic for me. So walking fast will be my thing. Soon I’ll add my weight training again, but I want to shed 10 more pounds before I start toning more. How have I been doing on losing the baby weight? Not super. I’m in a holding pattern at 150. Hopefully walking with my dear friend Peggy will drop that.

I went on an awesome Women’s retreat this weekend. It was a bit of a random thing for me to do. My own church had a women’s retreat but I thought of going on it too late and it filled up. At the same time a girlfriend of mine (Brandi) from Florida asked me through my friend (Jen) if I would want to go on hers. Not my church, but hey, why not? So I went.

I about kicked myself the day I was to leave. The weekend in Nashville was set to be beautiful and I LOVE having my weekends with the family. I feared people would think I was strange for coming to their women’s conference when I live so far away and don’t go to their church. I feared bringing Avery, 3 1/2 months, and how draining that might have been. But I trusted that this decision was not as random as I thought, but truly had a purpose.

The theme for the week was “Loving Well”, a study by Beth Moore. During the time away, God confirmed a lot of what I thought he was pulling my heart on. It was good to get away and get some clear answers and just obey. Everyone was so sweet and accepted me with open arms. The people at Westwood Church in Orlando are just a special breed. Ever since I have known any of them they have been some of the most loving, accepting, inclusive people I know. What a great weekend.

Tomorrow, my good friend Maya is in town and I get to hang out with her YAY! Another friend from Orlando. Lots of Florida lovin’ this week.

Friday my in-laws arrive for a few days and that will be wonderful. They are always so nice to be around and the kids just adore them.

NEXT weekend my sister in law and her children are coming. The more family the better

So before I know it October is going to be over! Pretty insane.

Does Mommy Love It? Is growing steadily and I’m so thankful for that. The content keeps pouring in and I pray that continues. It has been so fun to have contests and be able to give away free things that people will love!

Early bedtime for me tonight, Good night!

Theme of the Week

Ha, with all my A.D.D. re-designs of this site you’re probably wondering if I’m going to do a new one every week. Probably not, though this one will have a few tweaks here and there as I customize it more. I didn’t have a whole lot of time tonight. I know this is way different then what I have been doing look-wise for this blog lately… but I’m feeling girlie. I didn’t feel like my last one looked much like a mom blog and for some reason I’m craving looking like a mom blog.

I loved today. We went to church- which was fantastic. You can hear the sermon HERE once they put Sept. 14th sermon up. Then I had a 2 1/2 hour nap with Avery- OH so nice! It finally cooled down here thanks to IKE and we had 75 degrees outside. We ate at one of my favorite Mexican hole in the wall places and hung out with neighbors outside for a bit. Then I did some programming and voila… its bedtime!

Updates and Soccer Pics!

First off, My “blogaversary” came and went in August and I forgot. Luckily I only have myself to be mad at. I have been blogging for 4 years and life has come full circle. I started this blog when I was moving away from Nashville. It began as a way to stay in touch with people and update them on my newborn, Owen’s, life. Here I am, three states later, back in Nashville with three kids. My life is a lot noisier now. I wouldn’t change a thing. If you want to read my first post, find it here.

I have also caved and joined twitter.  Now you CAN REALLY stalk me ;).  Nah- I won’t always be posting about where I’m at, but rather what I’m up to… or If new pics or a post is up.  I’ll also tweet about the great contests when they start at Does Mommy Love It?.  So if you want to follow me say TWEET!

Owen had his very first soccer game today.  It was beautiful out, but I unfortunately dressed for Fall.  It was 90 degrees.  Fall, please come soon, you know how much I love you, and Nashville autumn is the best.

Enjoy some pics.

I have been meaning to put a picture up of our “new” house in Franklin for awhile now.  Here it is  I did not take the picture during the best time of day though!  Sorry about that.

Just some of my flowers.  I love flowers

A couple of Avery Pics.

Owen before the game, he had to go to the bathroom. Nice.

Owen with the ball

Drink break!

Owen and his dad.

Me and Lukas.  And yes, I just posted it because I liked it of me and I do not like too many of me.  Darn, why did Lu have to close his eyes?

Owen and his friend Cade.  Different teams.

Next Page »