I suffer from mom brain

Wow! I already have my extra-because-of-my-oops on my first list. So now I still need to come up with one more.

I've got it and I know it's not on my list......drum roll please............

Ok, I lied. I don't have it yet, but I will. And soon. Very soon.

Oops

So on my list of 100 things I did one twice- go to another country. I am adding another one

~ Have Zach teach me how to juggle

1. Visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
2. Take the kids to Cave of the Winds
3. Walk the beach at sunset
4. Go hiking in the Rocky Mountains
5. Go whitewater rafting
6. Have a GNO at Canvas and Cocktails
7. Try my hand at fishing
8. Take Briana to check out the Stanley Hotel
9. Tailgate at a Denver Broncos game
10. Go snowboarding
11. Go green at the St. Patrick's Day parade
12. Get zombified at the Zombie Crawl downtown
13. Take my picture next to a palm tree
14. Go camping
15. See the Aspen's changing
16. Watch 4th of July fireworks over Lake Dillon
17. Take a tour of Celestial Seasonings in Boulder
18. Take a dip in the hot springs
19. Try a pole dancing class
20. Try Rocky Mountain oysters
21. Finally go to the Colorado Renaissance Festival
22. Go to the Dragon boat races
23. Jump off a boat into a lake or river
24. Go to the Winter X Games in Aspen
25. Do a zipline
26. Drink a green beer
27. Go to a Solara wine tasting
28. Try a dessert from Bar D Desserts
29. Go water skiing
30. Take a ride on the Rio Grande railroad
31. Eat dippin' dots at the Denver zoo
32. Take a shot of Patron with Zach
33. Join a softball team
34. Go horseback riding
35. Watch a movie at Red Rocks
36. Listen to the bands play down the street
37. Take out a paddle boat
38. Go watch the hot air balloons in Colorado Springs
39. Go to the movies with Zach
40. Try my hand at kayaking
41. Go picnic at 7 Falls
42. Take a photography class
43. Visit another country
44. Visit the museum with the kids
45. Take a pottery class
46. Go to a Mammoth game
47. Take Briana rock climbing
48. Take a tour of Coors field
49. Dress up for Halloween
50. Pay for someone's order behind me in the drive thru
51. Go to the Wild Animal Sanctuary
52. Rent a bike downtown and ride around
53. Take mine and the kids picture with Blue Bear downtown
54. Go visit the Great Sand Dunes National Park
55. Take the train up to Pikes Peak
56. Take the kids to the Dinosaur Resource Center
57. Go to the Ghost Town Museum
58. Go have dinner at the Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama Dinner Theater
59. Finally go see the Royal Gorge Bridge
60. Go eat at White Fence Farms
61. Check out the Manitou Cliff Dwellings
62. Go to a college football game
63. Take the kids to Disney on Ice
64. Find and join a church
65. Make pasta from scratch
66. Check out the Snowmass Mardi Gras Parade
67. Go to the Red Rocks Indian Art Show
68. Go to the Gunnison River Festival
69. Check out the Brighton Parade of Lights
70. Go to the Castle Rock Winefest
71. Go ice skating
72. Check out a car show
73. Learn how to make a chocolate lava cake
74. Have a laugh at Comedy Works
75. Go to a dueling piano bar
76. Visit another country
77. Play volleyball (or some other sport) in the park with friends
78. Sign up to read stories to kids in the hospital
79. Raise money for a good cause
80. Sing karaoke
81. Take a dance class
82. Go on a roadtrip without knowing where I am going in advance
83. Read 5 books
84. Go snorkeling
85. Have Zach teach me how to juggle
86. Organize a park picnic/BBQ with a bunch of friends
87. Take the kids swimming at the Cherry Creek Reservoir
88. Ride a roller coaster
89. Go down a big water slide
90. Plant a tree in memory of everyone I've lost
91. Get a new tattoo with Zach
92. Visit the Mother Cabrini shrine
93. Go see a local artist exhibit
94. Re-stain Briana's dresser
95. Hike to Hanging Lake
96. Go on the Boulder Ice Cream tour
97. Try a new top rated restaurant
98. Have a drink on a roof top bar
99. Go to a Rockies game
100. Donate hair to lock of love

2011-2012 Bucket List

I came across a 2011 Colorado bucket list and it has inspired me to make my own bucket list. I'm going to do a list of 100 things I'd like to do by December 31st, 2012. Having young kids I think I need a bit longer than a year.

I think it should be fun to see all I have done over the year and challenge myself to try some new stuff as well.

I plan on having the list done by Saturday and posted.

An open love letter

Well maybe not totally open.

I got married on July 11th but I would have to say we are not your average newlyweds. We have two kids- one was mine coming into the relationship but we had a son together. And I think as any parent knows, having a child is hard on a relationship. It teaches you so much about the other person.

We also left great jobs we loved and moved across the country to Ohio. When we got there we didn't get the jobs we thought we would, we didn't like it like we thought we would, and then we found out we were having a baby.

But when I stood up on the 11th and promised to Zach that I will fight for this relationship, I meant it.

Started 7/28/200911

I never thought I would be married and I never thought it would be like this. I am happy, extremely happy.....annoying happy I am sure.

So this is my form of an open love letter, something to look on when the road gets tough, when life starts to get to be too much, when kids are screaming and I haven't had time to get in the shower. I am happy. This is worth fighting for. This is worth everything.

**I just found this, and had forgotten about it but am now going to post it. Zach and I have added another baby to our family and I'm still extremely happy. Our life isn't perfect for everyone and the road gets rocky and money is tight but it's perfect for me. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

My wonderful daughter

A lot of people say they have great kids and I shout it from the rooftops. My daughter is amazing. She turned 12 almost a month ago and I'm amazed at how much she's grown and changed. Where did my baby go?

Even as a 2 year old Bri was always laid back, listened so well and shared like a pro. She was truly a blessing, my angel.

She is in 6th grade now and getting straight A's, which makes me so proud. I never got good grades and always struggled in school, Briana is involved and really enjoys getting good grades. I'm more proud than words can express. She's simply amazing.

Bri is in band this year, playing the alto sax. She has her first solo coming up this month, I can't wait to go watch!

She tried out for the school play and wants to try out for more.....so proud!

I see wonderful things in her future because she's well.....simply amazing.

It's 2011

I've been struggling with my weight since I had my son, Jameson and when I got pregnant with Dominic I have 35lbs to lose. As of today I have 15 to go! So as this new year comes in I have new resolutions.

1. Lose this last 15lbs and get back into my size 8 jeans (currently size 10-12 depending on the brand)

2. Be a better housewife. I struggle with this a lot, I enjoy being home with my boys but I don't enjoy cleaning the house or doing laundry. It seems so effortless for some moms but not me, I have to put lots of effort into keeping this place halfway decent.

3. PLAY MORE! I want to laugh more, enjoy life more, just play more. I want to play with my kids outside more, splash in the pool more, blow more bubbles, join a softball team.....just play more.

These are all very important to me and I know they are things I can keep up with. I know this going to be a great year!

Looky looky

It's 2011 and I'm failing at my blog again. New years brings new resolutions and one of mine is to keep up on this more.

Well, today is going to be Dominic's birth story. I finally have space again and it feels oh so good.

On Monday I just felt crappy, nothing I could pin point but just off. I was 37w4d pregnant. We did all our 4th of July stuff but missed fireworks because of rain, luckily we had gone the night before to see some.

I told Mary Lou, my mother in law, I just didn't feel so hot, just kinda off and she guessed I would go into labor soon. I woke up around midnight with cramping, but I had been having that on and off for a while so I brushed it off. But it was strong enough I couldn't get back to sleep so I got up for a bit.

I noticed they were coming every few minutes so we called Mary Lou to come on over. She got here around 2:30 and we were off to the hospital. I asked Zach before we left, "Do you think this is it?"

He simply answered, "No, not yet."

He was wrong.

I was 4cm dilated and contracting every 4 minutes when we got there. By 8am I was 5cm and still contracting every 3-4 minutes. I could feel them but they weren't painful so I just talked to Zach.

Then it hit me.....we are having another baby. Today. I kept hoping that Jameson would be a good big brother and I would fall into being a mom of three with ease. But I was nervous. I was also nervous because I didn't want an epidural.

I didn't have an epidural with Briana and it hurt like hell so I had one with Jameson and I hated the feeling of it.

I couldn't feel or move my legs and just didn't like it. So no epidural it was.

My water broke at 9:25ish and the fun really began. Zach made sure to ask if I wanted epidural at least 3 times. Goof, but he was worried seeing me like that, he'd rather I felt nothing. I like to feel my body change with each contraction, even if it hurt.

At 9:45ish I called in the nurse, the pain was so intense I wanted something to take the edge off in my IV. She checked me and I was 7cm. She went to go ask the doctor about my IV options and at 9:50 I told Zach to get someone in there NOW!

It was time to push.

The nurse rushed in and sure enough I was ready and my body was taking over. There is no "not pushing" when it's time, your body knows what to do and it does it. The doctor rushed in just as Dominic was crowning and my beautiful baby boy was born at 9:58am. He weighed 7lbs 1oz and was 19.5 inches long, perfect. Sheer perfection.

Poor little rushed out of the birth canal so fast his little face was bruised but he was still perfect. And now, almost 6 months later, he's still sheer perfection.

He also has a pretty awesome big brother, but more on that later.

I've run out of space

I am 35 weeks 4 days pregnant at this moment and I've run out of space. Everything in my mid-section feels like there is just no more space left this little guy and as much as I love being pregnant, I hate this feeling.

What is amazing to me is that if this pregnancy was the same as my first pregnancy, my water would break tomorrow morning. And if this pregnancy was the same as my second pregnancy, I would have another 3 weeks 3 days left to go and the baby would end up being almost 9lbs.

I'm hoping this time I find myself somewhere in the middle.

Well I sure kept up

I said I would keep on this, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see I failed. I failed pretty badly.

Now I have something I would like to work towards so it brought me back to my lovely blog. I am pregnant, almost 35 weeks pregnant and I still have a lot of extra weight on from Jameson's pregnancy. Not only is it unhealthy for me to walk around with an extra 40lbs on, I'm just not happy with the way I look or the clothes that I am able to wear.

I even had a man comment to me that I was pregnant.....when I wasn't. Matter of fact Jameson was 6 months old when he made that comment and it made me feel awful. Not awful enough to do something about it, I was under the impression that I would just lose the weight. It would melt off. That didn't happen and now with baby #3 on the way soon I know I need to do something for my own self image.

I have made the decision to train for a 50 mile bike ride. And not just any bike ride but one at 10,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains. It's a personal goal and the more people I tell, the more motivated I will be to get this done and show everyone I am able to.

Having three kids doesn't equal being frumpy and overweight, I can have my babies and my body. This much I know, it just all depends on how much work I am willing to put into this. So this blog may be all over the place with stories about family, stories about life and stories about weight loss but I think that gives everyone a real sense of who I am and what type of life I lead.

I missed Sunday

Jameson started his fever again yesterday so I missed Sunday posting about weigh loss. I have not weighed myself but I did feel I was losing some inches lately........

Until I started trying on work pants for a job interview. None fit well at all. They would button but they didn't look flattering at all. Some of these pants I was able to take off without unbuttoning before I got pregnant.

That was sad, it really bummed me out. But it also motivated me even more. I will keep up with my home work outs and am going to have to add some to it. Not sure what yet but I will know soon.

I also am going big grocery shopping on Thursday and will stock up on easy, low cal, healthy snacks.

Here's to another week!

I'm a great mom

Somedays I have to remind myself that I'm a great mom. This morning is one of those days.

Jameson follows me into the bathroom quite often and this morning was no different. Only today as I was washing my hands I see he has something in his mouth. I put my hand cupped under his mouth and he spits out something small and black.

I took a closer look to see my son was munching on a dead fly he found on the bathroom floor.

At least I make sure he gets his protein.

Wedding Pictures

My wedding pictures were posted today online. I have not been able to stop looking at them for many reasons.

For starters I have not felt overly attractive since gaining weight but I felt like a knock out on our wedding day and looking at the pictures I still think I look like a knock out. And it feels good.

Also, the day was perfect for me. We had a small ceremony and a nice reception at my dad's house. It was laid back and that is who we are- it was just perfect.

I never thought I would get married. I used to get asked often how someone like me wasn't married yet- not sure how you are supposed to take that but regardless I got asked often. I had no desire to wed, I hardly would date. If I got asked out I would rather go out with friends then go on a date.

When I met Zach I was smitten from the beginning- there was just something about him I was drawn to. I enjoyed being around him but we didn't start dating until a little over 2 years after we met.

I can still perfectly remember our first kiss- I remember my stomach being tied in knots and not wanting the kiss to end. I remember the first morning I woke up next to him and how great it felt- how natural it felt.

I remember when he proposed and how I knew he wasn't someone I could just live with, he was someone I just couldn't live without.

I remember his face when I told him I was pregnant, how sweet he was while I was pregnant and how understanding he was when I would cry over nothing.

And I can remember seeing him for the first time down the aisle from me.

He is an amazing man and I am so happy to look back on our wedding day because it was not about the day but about the marriage and our promise to have each others back. To fight for our relationship. To stand up for each other. To raise our children as a united front. To respect each others needs, desires and interests.

It is very easy in a marriage to get a little complacent and forget to say "I love you.' Forget to say thank you and you look nice today....and those are very important words.

I adore Zach and I am blessed he is my husband.

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For one you should check out the contest but also check out this blog. It is one of my personal favorites and let's face it.....you all seriously honor my opinion. Right? lol :0)

But...but, I just had a baby.

Ok I just had a baby 15 months ago- it's time to lose some weight. I gained way too much while pregnant and don't like the way I look right now or how my clothes fit. It's time to make a change.

Some women lost all their pregnancy weight just by breast feeding, well guess what sista?! I breast fed for almost 14 months and I still have 30lbs to lose. So each Sunday is going to be a blog about my changes, my journey, or maybe my disappointments depending on how the week went.

I can tell that since I have stopped nursing I have lost some weight but I would like to get it all off and here soon.

My goal is to be 20lbs lighter by New Years 2009. I don't think that's asking for too much.

Pants on your head

My son is already started working on perfecting his "I am a drunken frat boy walking around with pants on my head." Most of the time, he has pants on his head but none of his bum.

It does provide me lots of entertainment though. He will find a shirt, old sock, or some pants to place on his head and walk around the house saying "ahhhh. ah. ahhhh"

By time he's 21 he's going to be a pro.

Day at the ER

So Jameson seems to like this fever cause it's not going anywhere. Today was day 5 of the dang thing.

I'm not a mom to freak out over a fever, I know they have a job to do. So not a big deal but Jameson was also really cranky with his yesterday.

I had given him Motrin yesterday and 4 hours later he was mad, cranky and had a fever once again of 102.6. I wanted to give him a dose of Tylenol but was a good momma and called his doctor first to see what they thought.

"Take him to Children's ER"

Well ok then, off we go. His doctor said they were concerned since it (yesterday) had been day 4 of this stupid fever. And of course with a child his age they want to make sure he doesn't get dehydrated.

We get to the ER and they check him out and take his temp. The nurse then pulls out some Tylenol and gives it to him. I could have done that at home and not dealt with a very cranky but I am sure they wanted to see how high it was.

We go back into the room and the doctor comes in to check him out.

Ears- look great. Throat- looks fine. Rash- Nope. So a urine sample is ordered. Let me tell you, watching and helping hold down your 15 month old son for a urine sample is not fun. It was extremely sad to me because I am sure he didn't enjoy it one little bit.

Luckily the urine sample came back clean and he was very well hydrated. I gave myself a nice pat on the back for keeping him hydrated through 4 days of cranky feverishness.

End result was that he most likely he has a virus he needs to work through and as long as he's drinking water, he should be fine.

I was also told that if I give him Motrin and then 4 hours later he's upset and his fever is back up to feel free to give Tylenol.

Wow- 4 hours and most likely $500 later, I am so happy my first question was answered.

Freaking illness

Illness has struck the Hendrix household :0( Booooo

Jameson has been a little off the last few days with some not pleasant diapers, I'll spare you details for a little bit. Stopped reading now if poo stories gross you out.

Anyways, a couple days ago I was getting breakfast ready for Briana, Jameson, Alyssa (sassy niece on my side), and Elijah (cute nephew from my side). For starters Alyssa got upset that Briana had more eggs on her plate than she did.

So I explained that a 4 year olds belly can't hold as much as a 10 year old.

Damn- still upset.

So, I ever so nicely told her (read:sternly), "Two choices kid, either eat what you have and get more if you finish or go hungry."

She ate.

I got Jameson set up with his breakfast and went to get my own. As I'm eating I notice Jameson is making the poop face. All moms know the poop face.

For Jameson this was really strange because he has never poo'd while eating. Then it happened. I heard a grunt and a loud explosion come from my little man so I grabbed him up to change him and saw that he exploded right outta his pants.

Oh freaking gross.

It was everywhere. I took him into the kitchen to rinse him in the sink and his sister brought me a towel and a new diaper.

That was the start to this illness.

Yesterday Jameson once again had a much more mild albeit just as smelly explosion. Only now he felt warm and just seemed off.

I will be the first to admit we are very lucky because this is the first time he's been sick. I felt awful for him yesterday because he seemed so uncomfortable.

He ended up with a fever of 100.4 and slept a lot yesterday. But on the plus side he did drink water yesterday and some milk and ate pretty well. Just trying to make sure he keeps hydrated.

He's also playing just fine when not sleepy although he's very whiney. Very whiney.

He's passed out on my lap as I type this now so I hope he's sleeping it off so he can get better. Although my belly isn't so hot this morning.

Grrrreeeeaaat.

My memories

I was looking this morning at Jameson sleeping in my arms and it made me think of when Briana used to sleep in my arms. I have pictures of her sleeping in my arms too, but not on the computer.

You see, when I had Briana forever ago I only had those little disposable cameras that took 27 pictures or something like that. Now I have 650 on my camera and right now I have 708 in my iPhone. I've come a long way from 27 freaking pictures.

Here's the thing though, I wasn't able to even get those cameras all that often. When Briana was a baby, I was broke. And I don't mean crap, I can't go out and buy new clothes this week broke; I mean crap, are we going to be able to buy food this week broke.

I bought cameras as often as I could and often took Briana to Wal-Mart to get pictures since they did $5.95 specials.

**Oh and a tidbit about me, I remember prices to a lot of things. Down to the penny. Zach laughs at me for it, but it helps knowing if I am getting a good deal or not. **

I think Briana had a great childhood. We lived with my mom in a big farm house (that was haunted, I kid you not) and I did the most free things I could find.

I can still picture Briana sitting by the TV pulling down all VHS tapes and it makes me laugh now when I watch Jameson pull down all the DVD's. Life was good, life is good.

We weren't able to go on a lot of trips, but she was able to see the ocean and spend time sledding in the mountains.

Now we have more money but not a ton of extra spending money so I remind myself that free stuff makes just as great of memories as stuff that costs a lot to kids.

I think I am gonna put together a list of cheap/free things to do with the kids and of course, blog about it.

Also, expect pictures- I take a lot now a days.

Starting Out

I am promising this time to really update this thing. I normally love to blog and write everything out that's going on in my life, so it shouldn't be too hard.

I started this morning reading a friends blog and seeing all her old posts made me want to blog myself to not lose these great memories. We will see how it goes.

A little about us.....

Me (Cecilia): Mother to two. One amazing 10 year old daughter who thinks she is going onto 25. Also a one year old son who is too cute for words.

Wife to one. We tied the knot on July 11, 2009 and then spent a week in Aruba- sans kids. Can I get a woot woot!

Right now I am a stay at home mom, and a piss poor one at that. Well, I'm a great mommy just not such a great housewife. I plan to work on that.....and blog about it.

Husband (Zach): Father to one year son and great step-father to my daughter. Works now as a graphic designer and does a great job if I do say so myself.

Quite the joker and likes to make fun of wife listed above. Also enjoys a good day of BBQ'ing, snowboarding, poker and Star Wars.

Daughter (Briana): Starts the 5th grade in August- holy freaking crap! Gets really great grades, loves being a big sister, could spend all day in the pool, and got her first job this summer as a dog walker.

Son (Jameson): Is quite the little ham. Enjoys to pull hair, walk around, laugh, play peek-a-boo, and play in the toilet and trash can.

So those are the main folks you will hear about in this blog. Family is a big deal to me so you will hear a lot about other members of our family. I'll post more about them later.

I really decided to do this because watching Jameson sometimes makes me tear up thinking about how fast Briana has grown and how those little memories I thought would remain fresh forever start to fade.

And as my title say I am far from a typical wife and mother- this should be quite the ride. :0) Enjoy!