So What! Wednesday

This week I am saying SO WHAT if...

• I can't get into planning Griffin's 1st birthday party? Maybe it's because he is still so "baby" to me...I can't believe in 3 months he'll be 1!
• I let my toddler "mow" in the rain yesterday while I watched from inside? 
• I still search eBay for smocked clothes for Griffin when he clearly needs none?
• I have Dr. Phil on my DVR?
• I wear my yoga pants so much that the seam completely ripped this week? 
• I vacuumed the house this week just because people from CRAIGSLIST were coming to look at our couch? I'm nuts. I know. 
• my toddler now requests to listen to "1994" and "Wagon Wheel" on a regular basis? Good ol' Tennessee boy..
• my laundry sits folded in a basket for a few days after it's clean? I loathe putting clothes away. LOATHE.
• I tore the house up on Saturday night looking for Griffin's knee sock for church? A knee sock. Of course I found it last night. 
• we try to bribe G every single day to use the potty? 
• I had to re-publish this because I forgot to schedule it & posted it on Tuesday night? Whoops. So What! Tuesday. Whatever. 

Operation Skinny Mama: Setting Goals

One thing that bothers me about myself is that I can get off track SO EASILY. I am probably the most unmotivated person you will ever meet that wants to lose weight & get in shape. I'm being serious. You won't ever see me out running unless an armed gunman is chasing me...and even that is iffy. ha! Just being honest!

One thing I have learned about myself is that I have to set goals. I'm not talking about huge goals, just simple goals that are attainable. I fell off the wagon when I went to Georgia and it has taken me a week to get back in the groove. BUT, Bob Harper kicked me in the rear this morning & I'm ready to get back it. After all, pool season begins in about 3 weeks (!!!!!) and I can assure you that Grayson will be first in line at our neighborhood pool.

Here are my newest goals:

• stop obsessing over the scale. In the famous words of Shakira, my hips don't lie. But that stupid scale just might. I can see a difference in my body & the way my clothes fit but whenever I get on that little square I get so mad at the number. SO MAD. It's silly, really. Maybe I just throw it out...or have Ben hide it. 
• Drink 100 ounces of water daily. I was so good at this while I was nursing because it helped keep my supply up.  I have been feeling yucky lately and I can assure you that it's because I'm drinking too much Diet Coke & not enough water. My Tervis needs to be attacked to my hip!
• Do some sort of work out at least 5 days a week. I am not the type of person who can do the same exact work out routine every day. I get bored easily. My plan is to switch it up between Total Body Transformation, the elliptical at my neighborhood gym, & power walking with that beast of a double stroller. Pushing 45lbs of kids PLUS a gigantic stroller is no joke, y'all.  
• Start doing the P90X Ab Ripper workout a few times a week. We have it somewhere, so I'll start with simply finding the DVD. These abs need some serious help after having 2 c-sections less than 2 years apart. I say the word "abs" pretty loosely considering there is seriously no muscle on my stomach anymore. 
• Eat clean. This is something I have felt kind of convicted about lately. I put a whole lot of junk in my body. Not only into my body, but into my family's as well. I love cooking for all my boys & I feel like it's my job to provide them with good food. Food that tastes good & food that is good for them. I've been doing research about clean eating & going organic--there is a lot to learn!

Let's see if I can stay on track! 

Menu Plan Monday

I'm linking up with Rachel today to share our menu!

 

 First off, I have to say that I have found my new favorite meal. Burrito Bowls. I made them twice last week & they are so easy and good!

Here is how I made mine...I used:

1 chicken breast

taco seasoning (you can use store bought or make your own)

Boil in a bag brown rice

1 can black beans

1 single serving of steam fresh corn

1 avocado

salsa

I marinated my chicken in a little olive oil & taco seasoning and then grilled it. I combined the cooked rice, rinsed black beans, and cooked corn. After it was combined I squeezed some fresh lime juice on it. Top that mixture with the cut up grilled chicken, sliced avocado, a little shredded cheese, salsa, & fresh cilantro. This is so good -- leftovers are good, too!

Okay, on to our menu for this week!

Monday: leftovers from our Oven Baked Fajitas

Tuesday: Pepperoncini Beef sandwiches with roasted sweet potato wedges

Wednesday: chicken cutlets & brown gravy, roasted broccoli, & mashed potatoes

Thursday: Cilantro Lime chicken (adapted from this recipe) w/ brown rice & black beans

Friday: Chicken burrito bowl using leftover rice & beans

Saturday: Quinoa with spinach and parmesan cheese

Sunday: leftovers

Griffin is 9 months old!

Griffin, you are now NINE months old!! 

The Stats:

Weight: 17lbs 12oz(5th percentile)

Height: 27 3/4 inches (25th percentile)

Clothes: 9 month & some 12 month clothes -- you finally had a little growth spurt! You are wearing mostly 12 month pajamas for the length.

Diaper: graduating to size 4 this week! 

Eating: You are still LOVING meal times! You are still drinking four 7-8 ounce bottles a day.  You could probably go longer because you never seem hungry for a bottle. You are eating only table food now & I love it! Watching you try new foods is so fun. You get so excited about eating & shovel food in your mouth so fast. It's hilarious! Your absolute favorite food is blueberries. I'm pretty you could eat a whole Publix container of them in one day. You are eating meats now on a regular basis & love chicken! I've been documenting your eating adventures (mostly because I want to remember!) on Instagram under #griffsgrub. You make some funny faces while chowing down! You are eating 3 meals a day and usually 2 snacks. You are also learning how to drink water from a sippy cup & have already mastered the straw. Smart boy!

Sleeping: YOU ARE FINALLY SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT CONSISTENTLY. (knock on wood.) Phew. It only took about 8 1/2 months! ha! You are taking 2 naps a day & sometimes you try to fight them like crazy! I spend a lot of time rocking you before naps. You go to sleep around 7:30 & typically wake up around 6:30. We surround you with pacis & you can now find them when you need them. That was life changing. Not even kidding! You recently started standing in your crib...so, that's interesting! 

Firsts this month:

• first boo boo. You were crawling outside and slipped on the sidewalk. Your little face hit the pavement and it was the first time I saw blood on you. It was pitiful! 
• Pulling up on things (music table, train table, activity cube)
• CRAWLING! You are a full time speed crawler now & probably crawl about 2 miles total daily. You are busy.
• we took our first solo road trip to Georgia! Let it be known that you despise the car.
• Sadly, you got into your first car accident on your actual 9 month birthday. Thank the Lord that it wasn't serious & we were both fine! It did scare you though! 
• You are really starting to talk more. You are saying "Da da da" & "Ba ba ba" a lot. I have no idea what you're saying, but you talk a lot more now! 
• Clapping! You don't do it on command yet, but you will randomly clap your hands and it's the cutest  mathing I've ever seen!

Right now you are loving:

• eating anything and everything.
• crawling like a mad man all over the house & yard.
• walking while holding on to someone's hands.
• Dogs! You spot them a mile away and just light up! 
• "talking" to us.
• holding hands while you fall asleep. 
• being outside - just like your big brother!

Right now you are NOT loving:

• long car rides.
• when Mama leaves the room.
• being contained -- we packed up all the toys that held you in!

Griffin, I give you a hard time a lot about how high maintenance you can be, but you really do have the best disposition. People tell me that all the time & they always ask if you're always this happy. You smile & giggle all day long. The only time you get cranky is when you're sleepy. We came back from Georgia and you had an ear infection. Even when you were sick & feeling bad, you were still acting happy! This month has been so much fun watching you learn so many new things. You watch everything your big brother does & want to chase after him already! I don't blame you; he's pretty fun. You are such an explorer already & I really have to watch you. You tried crawling up the stairs this morning! You are a busy, busy boy who is always on the move.  Maybe that is why you are sleeping so well now! 

It's hard for me to believe that 9 months have already passed & that we are already starting to plan your 1st birthday. I want to bottle up this age because I just love it so much. Griffin, we can't imagine our lives without you. That sweet gummy smile (still only 2 teeth!) makes every day brighter. I love how you love Grayson & seeing you 2 interact makes my heart feel like it may explode. It is so sweet! 

Happy 9 months, Griffin! We love you!

So What! Wednesday

This week I am saying SO WHAT if...

• I am behind on taking Griffin's 9 month pictures & blog post? This would have stressed me out way more the first time around.
• I want to throw a brick through our TV when Jenelle & Kiefer are talking? THEY ARE SO DUMB. So dumb. Gimme Jace. He needs a less trash-tastic family. 
• I fell off the My Fitness Pal bandwagon while I was in Georgia?
• my big dogs haven't had a bath in months? 
• the only Jack got a bath this week was because Griffin threw up all over him? Oops. 
• all the summer clothes that are out are making me feel old? I just think so many things are ugly. 
• our leftovers sit in our fridge for WAY too long?
• I bite off Griffin's fingernails instead of using clippers? HE IS SO WIGGLY.

Menu Plan Monday...on Tuesday!

The boys and I spent the last 5 days in Georgia visiting my family. We just got back yesterday--with a sick Griffin--so I am a day late with meal planning! 

Tuesday: Burrito Bowls (Chicken, brown rice, tomato, avocado, black beans, corn, & cilantro)

Wednesday: leftovers

Thursday: Taco Cups

Image via Plain Chicken

 

Friday: Grilled chicken, roasted broccoli, & baked sweet potato

Saturday: homemade pizza (I'm using the Publix whole wheat crust)

Sunday: Oven-Baked Fajitas

image via Real Mom Kitchen

Reasons I Love My Kids #3

• I love that Grayson is such a helper & actually thinks it is fun to help throw away diapers, retrieve wipes, & feed the dogs. 
• I love how Griffin is totally content just to hang out with us. He needs no real entertainment; he just wants to be near. 

 

• I love that when Griffin starts crying, Grayson notices and immediately tells us. He loves going in after nap time to check Griffin's crib & say, "hey baby Griffin!" So sweet.
• I love that Grayson only needs a yard full of grass, leaves, & mulch to be entertained.
• I love that Griffin is a mama's boy. 
• I love how Grayson talks SO MUCH right now but has some language confusion. It cracks me. "Me did it!" "Me do it!" 
• I love G's sweet & kind heart. He's not an aggressive boy and always gets concerned for his friends when they are crying.

 

• I love how Griffin stops eating once in a while just to smile at me. 
• I love how Grayson can just about always make Griffin laugh in the bath tub by tickling his feet.
• I love how Grayson loves to jump & always lands on both feet. 
• I love how G randomly approaches Griffin & gives him hugs and kisses. Makes me so happy.  
• I love how Griffin adores his big brother. adores. He gets so excited when we go in Grayson's room every morning. He giggles & squeals and it's awesome. 
• I love how Grayson is such an observer. He tells me every detail of his day after school & that child notices everything.