/> SLO in Arkansas: November 2013

Friday, November 22, 2013

Happy Halloween

 Halloween came and went so fast this year, but I guess that's what happens  when you have a baby 5 weeks prior to the holiday.  Halloween has been the first holiday for all of our boys, so it's been fun to see them all wear the little Halloween onesie:)  Jace wanted to be a pirate, and he was so pleased with his costume:)
 Knox is 5 weeks old here.  He continues to have those blue eyes, which I am thinking are here to stay!!  He was very laid back about the whole thing and just enjoyed the activity going on around him:)
 Tyson was Wolverine this year.  He had so much fun striking these ferocious poses!!  Love that kid!!
 Jace had fun with his sword and managed to keep up with it:)  I got a hilarious video on my phone of the big boys fighting but I'm not sure how to get it on here.  They were so funny hopping around and taunting each other:) 
 We have been trick-or-treating with the same family for the past 3 years, and each year it is so much fun.   We get together and eat at their neighbor's house with a bunch of people and all the kids run around like crazy until it gets dark.  Then we get everyone dressed and head out to the neighborhood to get some candy.  There are tons of houses and the kids have a ball.  I stayed in the house this year with Knox, and spent the evening nursing him and visiting with my friend.  It was a good choice because it ended up storming like crazy and everyone got soaked.  Glad the baby and I were nice and dry inside:)  The kids ate candy and rough housed for a while until the storm blew over (it was really bad...a tornado touched down in one of the small towns not far from Jonesboro), and then we packed up the crew and headed home.  We love having this tradition with friends and look forward to next year when Knox can participate a little more!
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Friday, November 15, 2013

Confession

I am fully aware up front that this post is ridiculous, but it is an honest look at where I am right now.  While this 3rd labor and delivery was my easiest, the recovery period has felt the hardest to me.  I had worked for 3 and a half years very hard to get into shape and finally feel "good," and I am really having a hard time accepting my post partum body and its physical limitations.  My post 3rd baby body at age 34 is NOT the same as my post half ironman body was at this time last year.  I guess I had delusions that I would just pop this baby out and be right back where I was in no time, but my body seems to have other plans for me.  I KNOW it all seems very selfish and silly, but my exercise is my happy place and my coping with the struggles of life, and it has been a loooong year without being able to do what I love and need.  I know it will take time and a lot of work, but I will get back to that place again.  So here is where I am right now, at almost 8 weeks post partum.  I am carrying an extra 28 pounds of lovely baby weight around, which makes any form of my previous exercise much more difficult so say the least.  I am breastfeeding/pumping exclusively, and my body seems to think it needs to hang on to every calorie I eat to be a milk factory apparently!  I started off walking 30 minutes or so almost daily and have tried to ease back in to running.  It is a sloooow process for me so far, and very frustrating at times.  I have been running about 2 to 2.5 miles several times per week since about week 6 post partum.  I am slow and it feels so hard to move my body.  10:30 -11:00 minute miles are my new "normal" and I did manage to squeak out a 10:10 minute mile the other day.  The farthest I have run is 3 miles and it felt like a half marathon!!!  I have days where I am so proud of myself and my efforts and my body, and days where I just want to give up because I feel like I am starting all over and it's mentally and physically exhausting.  BUT, I know this is a journey, no matter how much I want it to happen overnight:)  My new life mantra is now "Do the small things."  As in, just do the next small thing like one workout video, take a walk, do some crunches, drink more water, etc.  Because all those daily small things will eventually add up to success down the road.  I know this.  Silas is of course, so loving and encouraging and supportive of me and I am so thankful for a husband who loves me no matter what I look like.  I am excited to get back into things, and am looking forward to the day when my body feels a little bit more "normal" to me.  For now, I am enjoying the blessing of my precious little son (who will be 8 weeks tomorrow!!) and the miracle of my body to create this little life and nourish him so he can grow.  It is all a balancing act and some days I do better than others with it!  For now I will keep on keeping on with all the small things, and feel good when I start to see the results down the road.  I am loving this time I have with sweet little Knox at home and so thankful to be the mom of 3 healthy and energetic boys.  My heart is so full with the important things, and I know all this other stuff is just silly.  Look for more pictures of the baby soon!!!  I can't believe he is almost 2 months old!!

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Thursday, November 14, 2013

Pre-School Graduation

 I am totally months behind but here is a quick attempt to catch up on a few major events that have happened during this past year.  In May the boys graduated from their Pre-K classes.  Tyson was in the 4 year old room and Jace was in the 3 year old room.  They had a super cute program where the kids sang songs for the parents and then the teachers gave out awards.  Jace got the Pinwheel Award, for his "colorful and fun personality."  He was so proud of that pinwheel and it lived in our yard all summer long!!
 Tyson and his teacher, Mrs. Blake.  She was super sweet and Tyson had a great year in her class.  It was her first year teaching and we loved her enthusiasm and excitement:)  Tyson got the Presidential Award, for his leadership qualities in class throughout the year.  I am so proud of both the boys and how well they have done in school:)
Jace's class picture. 
Tyson's class picture. 
The boys singing during the program. 
 After the program we were invited to a swimming party at the house of two of the boys in Tyson's class.  They are actually twins;)  Anyway, they live on an amazing "estate" and this is their indoor pool which is a perfect temperature all the time!  It was amazing!  They had lunch and cake and all kinds of snacks and fun for the boys, and it was a great way to end the school year and kick off the summer:)
 Tyson and his friend from school loved the snorkels:)
Jace hanging out in the hot tub:) 
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