Feeding Sprout

(Kate checks herself out in the mirror at her 7 month check up. A 7 month check up happens when you are late for your 6 month check up. She weighed in at a healthy 19 pounds. )

I am trying to nurse Kate for an entire year. This is a feat for me. Here is a brief (and non-graphic) history of my nursing experience:

Jillian did not nurse well in the beginning. I was clueless, she was clueless and hungry. She weaned herself at 7 months. Done deal.

I wanted to do a better job with Hayden, and I did. For a while. Then I started gaining back weight I lost and gave up nursing at 6 months so I could lose the extra weight I gained. It took me a long time to lose those 17 pounds, but I did. This experience really started my regular exercise habit, one I've kept up for 8 years now.

I wanted to do a better job with Kara. She was great at nursing and it was easy. But then I started training for a marathon and pretty much had to stop nursing at 8 months. Turns out I couldn't keep up with her 20 plus pounds of hungry baby weight and run 40 miles a week.

So here I am with Kate. She is a stellar baby. She eats well (and quickly!), and is starting to sleep through the night. Kate is loving baby food and finger food and especially loves water. Watching her gobble water is so entertaining. Now she is almost 8 months old and I haven't even started weaning her. She has a bottle of formula about twice a week just so I have the option and can leave her with a babysitter, but I've been very diligent about not starting her on too many bottles, because then it's just too easy to wean them off nursing entirely. But now I'm getting antsy. I'm kind of tired of the extra 7-8 pounds my body can't let go of while I'm nursing. And summer's coming. A few of my clothes are not going to fit at this weight, and I'm tired of buying a size up. And I'm tired of the extra large nursing chest. Today while I was nursing Kate, it went like this:

Nurse. Stop. Bounce legs against chair arm. Nurse. Stop. Blow raspberry. Nurse. Stop. Look around the room. Nurse. Stop. Bounce legs. Nurse. Stop. Grab for hair, button, or anything else in reach. Repeat for 5 more minutes.

I am at an impasse. I can't lose much more weight while nursing (apparently, since I haven't lost any in about a month), but I really, really want to. And I'd like to keep nursing, but I think Kate might be losing interest. Any words of wisdom? Kate is most likely my last baby, so I don't want to give up this bonding experience too soon. Do I just have to choose one or the other? Anyone have success in losing all their baby weight while nursing? I know some people get skinnier, but I am not one of those. For the record, I am eating pretty healthy and I am exercising a minimum of 4 days a week. I don't feel like I can really eat less because I am hungry from exercise and nursing. I am trying to eat less at night and cut back on sweets. I know I can lose the weight after I stop nursing, but I'd love to do it while nursing.

I do feel like I can keep nursing and be okay with the weight thing. I am trying my hardest. It's just that I feel so much happier when I look my best. I keep thinking about how my clothes fit when I'm at my ideal weight. I am just so much more comfortable. Here are my favorite jeans:

They still don't quite fit. At least not comfortably.

And it's almost time for swimsuit season, which strikes fear in most women who have reached a certain age or had children. I'd like to feel a bit of confidence.

I know this may be a bit of a shallow topic, but it is something that's on my mind. I've received lots of compliments from people, so I know I am making progress. I'm just wondering about others' experiences. Have you weaned too early and regretted it? Have you been able to get off all your baby weight every time? Is Kate not the cutest baby you've seen? Okay, maybe not the cutest, but right up there!

Let me know what you think! Until then, I'm off to nurse.

8 is great!

Our little Pea, H-Dawg Hayden, turned 8 last week. He had a pretty good birthday (Chuck E. Cheese's, out to dinner at Dickie Jo's, and then to the movies to see Tron:Legacy in 3D). Then he was baptized last weekend. I'm glad he made the decision to be baptized. I hope his church membership is a blessing to him throughout his life. He is perhaps the most spirited of our children, but he may also be the most spiritual. Some other things about Hayden:

Hayden is great at Legos and K'nex, loves to play soccer and basketball, still takes hip hop lessons, is learning to beat box (much to Jillian's dismay), is super skinny like his Dad, gobbles up books -- especially fantasy, won't go to bed at night without giving his Mom a hug, loves to eat spicy and interesting foods, burns more calories playing Wii that anyone I know because he constantly bounces, just started piano lessons, and is an all-around great kid. We love him!

I am excited that he is 8, but I am not excited about starting cub scouts. Can I admit that? The whole scouting thing kind of seems like a lot of work for parents (meaning Mom). I didn't grow up with brothers in scouting (my only brother did most of his scouting when I was already out of the house), so I don't really have anything to base my opinion on. I'm kind of glad we only have one son because that means only one scout! (Feel free to correct me if I'm way off base about scouting. I'd be happy to hear anyone's opinion.)

Photos of Hayden's fun are below. Enjoy! Comment! Follow! Or not.

So excited to open presents. I think he got everything he wanted.

Thinking he's a little too old to be getting his picture with Chuck E. He may be right.

Hayden Kyle and Kyle. Will he be as tall as his Dad? We'll see!

So handsome in his new blazer. He said he was going to wear it to church every week.

The whole family. Jillian gave a great talk at the baptism. I'm thankful for her for doing it!

My Dad came over for the baptism. My Mom was sick, so she couldn't make it. I always love to have my Dad visit. He's a lot of fun. He made some special time for Hayden.

Me and my son. I'm so happy to have him in our family and in my life. He actually looks the most like me, although his coloring throws everyone off. He is a good example to me, and I hope I am to him too. Happy Birthday, Hayden!

Visitors

Have I ever mentioned that we love visitors? The P family recently relocated from St. Louis to Washington, so now they are in driving distance of our casa, and vice versa. We met them in Michigan, although Jan and I had a class together at Ricks College way back when (it was the '90s). Our children line up pretty well in age and gender, and we had a great time reconnecting. We've each had one more baby since the Michigan days, and all 12 of us fit just fine in our house. Here are some photos from our weekend together:

Here's the newest little member of the P family. He is such a cutie. I love his reddish hair.

Hayden and A share a birthday weekend, and a really big cake. They each got their own set of candles. They were both really good about sharing. H turned 8 and A turned 10.

H and D. Still buddies. They played really well together. D was nice not to get mad when Hayden went through some, ahem, difficult moments.

S is 4 and a half now. She was not quite 2 last time I saw her. She is VERY tall and has lots of personality. She kept wanting me to take her picture, but would only give me this face. So funny. I liked getting to know her better.

Jillian and A were up to all kinds of shenanigans all weekend. It was fun to see them back together. And oh my! A is so pretty.

S and Kara play dress up. They played dress up and Polly Pockets for hours. Happily.

We explored campus a bit on a sunny morning. The kids did not want their picture taken in the sun, but we had to get them all together. This is as successful as it got.

Dr. J. (the orthodontist) and little J at Chuck E. Cheese's. The only pic I have of Joe, so I had to post it.

Me and Jan! She's my BFF (That's a joke because Jan is so not about BFF's). Anyway, I love her to pieces. She kept cleaning things up and being so helpful it made me feel bad. And we enjoyed 2 runs together just like old times. And she totally beat me on the 50 yard dash. Twice. And she has the most beautiful hair. I'm glad we're still friends. If only there was a Potbelly Sandwich shop here. We could have gone and ordered The Wreck sandwich just like we did once a month when we lived in Ann Arbor. How I miss Potbelly's! Even though I don't really eat lunch meat anymore, I would eat The Wreck with Jan. Am I rambling? I feel like I'm rambling. I'm going for LONGEST PHOTO CAPTION EVER (on this blog).

Next time maybe we'll visit them in their new town. From what I hear, it's really hopping! We can't wait for our next set of visitors. Let me know if you want to join the list! (It's very short right now. As in no one until July.)

The Jimmer Show

So we went to Las Vegas, Kate, Kyle and I. It was a great time. I was very wishy-washy up until the very end, wondering if we should really go, wondering if we'd have a good time, wondering if my sweet friend who was watching our kids would have her baby while we were gone (she didn't). I am so glad we went! Although it wasn't a super relaxing vacation, I loved, loved, loved:

a. The sunshine (80 and sunny the three days we were there).
b. Catching up with old friends (one saw us on the jumbotron then we met up after a game).
c. Watching basketball! I love college basketball almost as much as I love college football -- which is to say A LOT.

The BYU vs. New Mexico game on Friday was the single best sports watching experience I've ever had. It was amazing and so much fun. We got our tickets through the University of New Mexico, so I was a little worried about being right in the middle of their fans, but we ended up with a lot of other BYU fans and the New Mexico fans were really fun to be with.

We went to Las Vegas with some friends from here, Susan and Harold. It was so fun to hang out with them. We rented a house in Henderson and that worked out great. Between eating out, getting Kate some sleep, and going to basketball games and seeing old friends, we really didn't have time for much else (like shopping gambling, or going to any shows). It was a quick weekend, but a fun one. And -- bonus -- all the kids were really good at home. Now we're enjoying March Madness and getting ready for spring break. Some of our very best friends from Michigan are coming to visit and Hayden is getting baptized. Did I mention we're really busy lately?

Anyway, here are some photos. Go Cougars!

Outside the Thomas and Mack Center. Ready for some basketball!

We sat on the 3rd row for the first game. Here's Jimmer warming up.

The three of us -- all superfans. Kate especially.

The back of the onesie I made her. The front is the Y logo. I ordered her hairbow from a shop on Etsy. It was soooo cute! And got her on TV, which was my goal. I am a secret backstage mother. You'll see me next on Toddler and Tiaras.

Us with the Jimmer sign. We couldn't figure out how to meet him in person.

Me and Susan. She's a great friend and I love hanging out with her. We had lots of laughs. Her sister and fam came too, and it was fun to meet them as well.

Kate fell asleep during the last few minutes of the New Mexico game. Everyone was screaming like crazy and she just fell asleep. Have I mentioned what a good baby I have?

The first day we were there this guy was handing out all of these signs. We had lamest one, Logan Magnusson. But it made a good souvenir for Hayden.

We met up with my old roommate Megann for some burgers (and great sweet potato fries) at a little place called Bachi Burger. It was fun to catch up for a bit. I'm glad Megs made time in her schedule to meet us. She's an amazing world traveler and such a positive person. She was a fun roommate too.

I don't have a picture (why didn't we take one??), but we met up with Steph and Ryan too. They were our friends at BYU before we had kids. And then we both moved back East and got to see each other there too. I was with Steph on 9/11 at her house in upstate New York. Anyway, we haven't seen them in about 8 years, so it was fun to reconnect. I love having friends who stay friends no matter how much time has passed. Awesome.

Note(s) to Self

Dear Self,

If you've trained your baby to go to sleep without being rocked or nursed, don't be surprised if she refuses to go to sleep on an airplane, even if it is 1am.

Dear Self,

It's only 8 pounds. And she'll only be a baby for a few more months. Hang in there and keep nursing! You'll lose it soon enough.

Dear Self,

No, you can not have any more dark chocolate today.

Dear Self,

It is time to mop the wood floor. NO MORE EXCUSES. Just do it. You have company coming, for goodness sake.

Dear Self,

When you write things down on the calendar, you remember to do them. And you don't double-book yourself. And life just runs more smoothly. So write things down. Your memory isn't what it used to be.

Dear Self,

Why do you keep forgetting to throw a couple of handfuls of spinach into your smoothies? Is it because you secretly think they will taste bad?

Dear Self,

Yes, you should get your hair highlighted. You cut everyone else's hair in the family (Kate's looks especially cute!) so you deserve a bonus.

Dear Self,

Please, please, please make an appointment to get the van's automatic door fixed. It's been almost three months and it's getting ridiculous. Not to mention harder and harder to open.

Dear Self,

Maybe just a tiny bit more dark chocolate. Because you did the ironing today and you were nice to the kids.

Dear Self,

You should blog more. Especially about your Vegas trip. And maybe something thoughtful about womanhood. Nah, maybe not that last one.

Dear Self,

Go to bed. Now. Well, right after you make lunches, feed the baby, and have a bit of chocolate.

Souped Up

I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off today, trying to get ready for our trip. Kyle, Kate and I are going to Las Vegas to watch BYU and The Jimmer Show. If you haven't heard about Jimmer, you must be living under a rock. Anyway, we hope the team does well and that we have lots of fun. I need a vacation badly, so I am very excited. However, it is very tiring getting ready for a vacation, especially when leaving 3 kids at home. We are so lucky to have good friends to watch the kids. Thanks, Rex and Brit!

We have to leave right after dinner, and I know things will be rushed, so we're having an easy meal -- grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. I'm going to spice up the tomato soup, though, with an easy add-in that Kyle discovered. I don't think I'll ever do just plain tomato soup again. Here's how you do it:

Souped Up Tomato Soup

Take one 14 ounce can of diced tomatoes (no spices) and drain off a bit of the water. Pour the rest into an 8x8 baking dish.

Drizzle 1 T olive oil over the tomatoes in the dish. Then sprinkle the tomatoes with 2 t Italian seasoning.

Now roast the tomatoes for about 30 minutes in a 375 - 400 degree oven.

When you make your canned tomato soup, use milk. Then add in your roasted tomato mixture and heat the soup as you would normally. Then you can choose to blend or puree the soup for a smoother texture, or leave it chunky for a more rustic version. Depending on your preferences, you can also add 2 T cream for a richer version.

So delicious! The tomatoes add a lot of depth and flavor. I hope you try it and enjoy!

Off to Vegas, where I will attempt to stay on my healthy eating diet and exercise. Or eat myself into a stupor at a buffet.

Closer to the Middle

Every birthday brings me closer to middle-age. I still feel young, but my body is starting to show signs of age -- a stray gray hair, a few more wrinkles, my ever-worsening eyesight. I am experiencing that weird phenomenon of not feeling older as I watch my kids grow up. How can I have a child who's 10? I'm not old enough for that! How can I own a house? Who trusts me with this baby? Who trusts me with 4 kids? I'm sure many of you know the feeling!

So, yes, I did have a birthday. Quietly this year. I haven't even claimed my birthday burger at Red Robin yet. Probably because I haven't eaten a hamburger in about 7 months. I'm still hoping to cash in at Coldstone and Qdoba. Next birthday I am halfway through my 30's. Gulp.

Here are a few snaps from the day. Thanks to those who remembered and sent well wishes! Kyle, Kate and I spent Saturday shopping in Portland, then we had a few friends over for ice cream sundaes (w/ homemade hot fudge and berry sauce) on Sunday. I can't believe how embarrassed I was to have people sing to me when I blew out my candle (Kyle said it was symbolic of 34). I am very silly.

Kate and I enjoy lunch/dinner/appetizers/tapas? at the Cheesecake Factory. It was about 3:00 in the afternoon. Kyle and I ordered 5 small things and shared them all. Delicious! Dessert was to go because we were stuffed.

Kara helps me model our family's new birthday crown. You know you wish you had this to wear on your birthday. Dollar store!

I asked for a medicine ball and kettlebells for my birthday. I am determined to be in the best shape of my life. Determined, I tell ya. Even if I still have 7 pounds of baby weight to lose.

Jillian artfully arranged my presents and cards and then wanted to take a picture.

Fitting into pants again calls for a Fashion Friday snap. Ta da! This was actually taken on a Thursday, and posted on a Saturday. If you average those two together, you get Friday. My sister sent me this cute polka dot scarf for my birthday. This outfit isn't thrilling, but it is cute and comfy and I liked it.

March means Hayden's birthday (he's 8 this year!) and spring! I can't believe winter is almost over. That wasn't so bad.