Awkward

Always with the food on his face

My 3rd (out of 4) child, Jonas, can be a trouble maker.  He is also a comedian and pretty good at diffusing a tense situation. 
The other day I let him play on his big brother's desktop Minecraft account.  He apparently went to town, deleting or altering everything in every single world that Zach had created.  When Zachary got home he lost it.  He went completely berserk and all I could think was Geez, it's a flipping video game.  A hurricane didn't wipe out your REAL house and half of your family; a burglar didn't break into your REAL house and steal all of your REAL crap.  Just be grateful you have a stupid game to destroy your brain cells.  And you get to start from scratch!  What I said was, "Chill, dude."  
But even better than my relaxed response was Jonas walking out from behind my chair and saying, "Woah...things just got awkward in here."  Zachary didn't think it was funny when I laughed.  I thought it was hilarious.  I love hearing little kids saying big words.  
I guess he isn't so little anymore.  On December 9, Jonas became a humongous 6 year old.  He's grown like 4 inches in the last year.  Do boys always grow so fast?  I don't remember Zach hitting a major growth spurt until this year (at least 6 inches since Sept. 2012).  My daughter has only grown about 2 inches in the last 2 years.  Anyway, I already miss my little Jonas but I'm enjoying how well the new and improved Jonas is doing at school and how hard he works to be better every day.  He no longer wants to be a tree when he grows up, but he still wants to be able to make fire with his hands.  I'll enjoy his adorable young mind for as long as possible.                    

Happy Birthday to Me

Happy birthday to me...happy birthday dear Alex...happy birthday to meeeee!  Okay, got that out of my system, for now.  My day was pretty borning but this evening my family took me out to one of my favorite restaurants, Fujihana, for dinner.  I love watching them cook and the food is fabulous.  I was super excited tonight because we got one of the guys that is entertaining as well.  I never get to go there because Jason doesn't like spending money on so little food.  Which is totally crazy because this has always been one of the places that I could take food home because I was too full to eat it all and I used to be able to eat a LOT.  
On the topic of eating a lot, I gained a lot of weight (about 15-20lbs) between July and November of 2012 and really wanted to lose it.  So I've been on an exercise/weight loss program since November 21, 2012.  That's almost 3 months...possibly the longest I've ever stuck with something that I had a choice in deciding whether to keep going on end it.  The good: I've worked out for 20-60 minutes 4-7 days/week since 11/21.  Usually 6 days and usually longer than 30 minutes.  My workouts vary- Hip Hop Abs, the elliptical machine, swimming, running the treadmill, walking, some Pinterest finds.  When the intensity is low I will do more than one activity, making sure to do something hard that day too.  
When I first started I quickly learned that I wouldn't lose any weight if I didn't start fixing my eating habits too.  So I stopped eating seconds and thirds at every meal, stopped eating crackers and soda and did some small alterations as well like only snacking on chips or cookies at parties.  I've significantly decreased my intake of pasta.  My meals are minimally processed.  I won't do low-fat foods or artifical sweeteners- bad stuff right there.  I'm eating well, working out...so I should be losing weight, right? 
I have been taking weekly pictures, weighing and measuring myself almost daily.  Without a doubt I'm gaining muscle.  But I'm still the same weight, haven't lost many inches and the worst part...I'm still in the exact same size clothing!  Ugh. 

The rest of my birthday celebration will be simlarly laid back and I plan (hope) to get my way for the rest of the weekend.
So today, to say, "screw you" to my sucky progress I skipped the workout AND had dessert.  And I can't win, because now I'd really like to exercise.  But I really want to go to bed also. 

Almost Time

For this boy 

to celebrate 2 years of life.  

It seems like yesterday he was this tiny little thing:

 I just can't believe it's almost been 2 years!  On Friday, March 30, 2012 we will be putting two candles on his cake.  He will sing along with us instead of being a tiny, confused bystander.  He will blow out his own candles and clap along with us when they're out.  He asked for Lego Batman this year, and a basketball, football, helmet, hockey stick and puck...he really likes sports.  Of course I and eager family members are happy to oblige this simple wish list.  I even got him a sister to his "baby ittle broder". 

He still cries for me when I leave, usually needs my help to climb into his seat at the table and needs a stool to wash his hands.  But he's growing up so fast and is hardly my baby anymore.  Last year I could look back and see him grow month by month.  Now it's measured more in 3-6 month increments and soon it will be yearly progress.  Henry has come such a long way from his wobbly, mumbling 1 year old self.  Now he says, "please" and "thank you", speaks in complete sentences and loves to sing songs to and with us (he even makes up his own songs).  When I tell him I love him he usually says, "I wuv you too, Mama".  He reads books and tries to tell me the color of his toys (he's usually wrong).  This little boy who still needs at least 1 nap per day and can't pour his own drink (well...he can but it usually ends up on the floor) can shoots basketballs with amazing accuracy, climbs rocks like a pro and has an uncanny ability to remember names.

Friday will be bittersweet and the cake will be chocolatey.     

Henry's First Birthday Bash

I've been browsing the web drooling over amazingly adorable baby boy clothing that I want Henry to wear on his first birthday.  I've pictured him in dozens of awesome (and expensive) outfits that he would wear as he smashes his first cake and enjoys opening 1st birthday presents.  And of course we'd get a few oh-so adorable and eco-friendly diapers from gDiaper, Kushies or the likes for his chubby baby belly and legs shots.  (He outgrew his old CDs, which we used part-time and I miss using them!)


gDiapers





gDiapers and oh-so chubby legs!




Not-so-little Guy in Kushies



Alas, I'm broke and hoping the thrift store has something great that shows off those gorgeous dark blue eyes.  The diapers are a must- I need to start shopping around asap!   



    

I've heard that some stores offer a FREE baby's 1st cake (but I don't like the cake and the icing- yuck).  Again, I've dreamed of a gorgeous, custom-made fondant-covered blue, green (the colors in his outfit) and white cake but I can settle, right? 

Lastly, I wish I could do all of this under the supervision of an amazing photographer (like my mom!) in a gorgeous location.  But again that money thing.  And mom's flash is broken.  Boo!

This is my LAST baby.  My last First Birthday.  My last chance.  And I want to make it special.  Now...how to do that on a budget of...well, let's just say that free cake is looking better every minute. 

Suggestions on how to make this extra special without selling my soul?!