Happy 8 Months, Ethan

My baby boy is 8 months old today!  I can't believe it!  Time really goes by so quickly! 

I am really trying hard not to compare my boys but it's hard being that they are so close in age.  My mom keeps reminding me that I hate it when people compare me and Tia (we are also 16 months apart in age).  But it is so hard.  So instead of comparing I will just tell what Ethan is currently doing and try to leave Brayden's name out of it!!

At 8 months, Ethan is rolling, sitting and standing while holding on to something.  He is talking and laughing and he just started clapping and waving bye-bye.  He feeds himself finger foods and is practicing drinking from a cup (when I remember to give it to him-Bad Mom!).  Ethan is currently cutting his first little tooth! 

He's still not crawling (which is so odd to me) but I think that this is going to be a big month for him!  I'm sure that he will soon be moving all over and I will wish that I never wished that he would learn to crawl!

So that's my boy!  He is such a good baby and I love him soooo much!! 

Happy 8 Months, Ethan David!

Ethan ready for his first swim lesson

Weight Loss Update

It has been 5 months (19 weeks) since I've started my weight loss journey.  I have been training with Heather at the gym for a 1/2 hour twice a week.  In addition to that I have been burning at least 400 calories with cardio 5 times a week and doing some additional weight training on my own.  I have been working hard and it is paying off!

I have lost a total of 26.5 pounds (the .5 is very important!).

It's such a great feeling to be successful!  I am the lightest I have been since June 2008!  I am down to my pre-Brayden weight (I was probably about 5lbs lighter before my 8 week pre-natal appointment-but that's the only number I have....so I'm going with it!). 

People have been noticing my weight loss which has been nice.  It's such a good feeling when some tells you that you look good.  But the down side to that....I am beginning to slack a little. 

February was a pretty difficult month.  I've only lost about 4lbs in the past 5 weeks.  Not good!  Not bad either...but I'm used to losing 2-4lbs a week and that hasn't happened in so long.  I realize that my weight loss will slow down but I really need to recommit to eating right.  I am pretty faithful to the gym and my new found hobby of running.  I know that if I  make the right food choices and continue to exercise then I will continue to lose the weight. 

I hope to lose another 15lbs by the time school is out in June.  I'm hoping that running will help me do that.  My first race is this Saturday.  The big 4 Miler!  I am excited and nervous....but pretty confident that I will be able to run the whole thing.  I just hope not to come in last place!

Anyway, that's where I am with my weight loss.  Hopefully in the next couple months I can say I am at my goal weight!!

Party Time

Today we celebrated Brayden's 2nd birthday with friends and family.  Everything was wonderful and B had a great time, but boy am I tired!  It was so much planning and then it went by in a flash!  I was so busy hosting I wasn't able to take many pictures, but this is what I have from the day.  The party was Elmo themed with bright colored balloons, Sesame Street goodie cups and my favorite part, an Elmo cupcake cake.  It was great!

The Elmo cupcake cake!  I was so excited!

Brayden seeing his cake for the first time.

B with his auntie "Gin".

Blowing out the candles

Opening presents with Jaelynn & Audrey.

Hanging with Zachary & Gracie

Happy Birthday!

Nice Visit with an Old Friend

Today I was lucky enough to get a visit from my long, lost friend, Christina (or Senator Donato as we lovingly referred to her in college). 

I met Christina during my sophomore year at Oneonta.  She was the little, energetic, friendly girl that lived across the hall from me in Sherman Hall.  Christina could talk a mile a minute about anything-to anyone and she always seemed to be happy and bouncing off the walls!  We were complete opposites and seemed an unlikely pair.  But, as I got to know Christina I found that she was kind and generous and sincere.  She would do anything for her friends.  I remember a time during practicum when I missed my 7am ride to Delhi.  I was late and frantic and I called Christina.  She, without hesitation, lent me her car so that I could get to school.  Christina was also nice enough to drive me to see a boy....far away....more than once.  She was that good of a friend!

(insert picture from college here-once I can scan it)

It's been over 10 years since Christina and I have spoken to or seen each other.  I don't know why we didn't keep in touch...but we didn't and time passed.  We can thank facebook for our little reunion today! 

Christina drove from New Paltz with her baby girl, Ellie (her birthday happens to be 7 days before Ethan's).  While our babies played together, Christina and I tried to fit 10 years of life into 6 hours of visiting.  It was easy talking to her and never felt uncomfortable.  We caught up as much as we could in between taking care of the babies and the hours seemed to pass too quickly.


Ethan & Ellie "playing".



Uh....Mom is she going to grab my ear again?

Brayden, Ellie &Ethan

It's just a cute picture!

Old and New Friends

When she packed up to leave I was sad.  Since Christina lives in Tennessee it is unlikely that we will see each other again anytime soon.  But I definitely plan to stay in touch with her.  I won't let my spunky, little friend disappear from my life again! 

A lot of time has passed since college but today was like no time had passed at all.  It was wonderful seeing, talking and laughing with my old friend. 

My Baby is TWO!

My baby boy is 2 years old!  Time has certainly flown!  Brayden is growing into such a smart, funny, handsome little boy!  He has beautiful eyes, a great smile and his laugh is infectious!

Brayden is learning so much every day, surprising us with all he knows!  He talks up a storm!  He has so many words, phrases and sentences that I can't keep up.  He is also very polite.  He makes sure to say "thank you" and "bless you" (even if you've only coughed)!  His favorite responses to any questions are "of course" and "no way"!  He can count to 12 (most of the time) and a recognizes lots of numbers and letters!  Brayden also knows lots of signs.  His favorite are "more", "daddy" and "please" which he signs no matter what.  Others we have to ask him to sign and he will. We are, of course, so very proud of him!  But no pressure though...not from his teacher parents! ;) 

He is such a kind, loving big brother.  He always gives Ethan kisses night-night and is sure to yell "wake up!" when he thinks E needs to be awake! 

Brayden loves to draw and jump and dance and go for walks.  He would rather be outside than anywhere else.  Elmo is his favorite show but he also like Dora & Diego and the Wiggles.  He is beginning to enjoy Thomas and trains.  He knows the NY Giants logo and will emphatically say "Go Giants!" even though Daddy is a Cowboys fan! 

Brayden has changed so much over the past 2 years.  I have enjoyed watching him grow and learn.  Though time passes way too quickly, I am excited to see how B changes over the next year.  I know that he is only going to shine more than he already does!  Brayden is my love and my joy and I can't imagine my life without him!

Here is a look back at Brayden's first 2 years....

Brayden Matthew, born March 1, 2009

B's hospital picture



At 5 months, B could put himself into a sitting position.

 

At 6 months B could stand



He was also crawling at 6 months

Walking with help at 8 months

Walking without help at 10 months.

Always a daredevil!



B's photo shoot at the Story Garden.



Last day as an only child-16 months old.

Big Brother Brayden won't go near his baby brother!

B finally decides it's ok to meet his brother.



B's first haircut!  Such a bog boy!

So silly!

What a sweet big brother!

His new thing...he wants to drive-all the time!

He will jump off anything!

So beautiful!

How old will you be?  TWO!!!! (he's still not sure how to make 2 with his fingers)!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Brayden!



Maybe a Runner...

Did I mention that I have run 4 miles more than once??  Well...I have!  I ran 4 miles on the treadmill last Friday and then again on Sunday at Otsiningo Park.  Dare I say it's getting easier?  I even think I am getting a little faster.  I feel pretty confident that I will be able to run the St. Pat's 4 Miler next Saturday!  That is, if my hip holds up.  I went to the chiropractor today and apparently my hips are uneven and out of alignment.  I think that I have several chiropractic visits in my future.  Super. 

But no matter what I'm still going to be a runner.........maybe.

My First Run

The weather in Binghamton has been unseasonably warm for the past 2 days so I decided that it would be a perfect time to go for my first outdoor run.  Nana came watch the boys and Dave and I headed to the Rail Trail for this momentous occasion. 

The Rail Trail is 4 miles up and back.  It was my goal to be able to run the full 4 miles.  I could do it!  Once up, once back.  No big deal.  That's what I was hoping anyway. 

As I started running I was pretty nervous.  What if I couldn't do it?  What if I looked stupid?  But I ran...and I kept running.  I ran through the nervousness and the pain (my left hip has been hurting for 2 weeks-I actually haven't even been running on the treadmill because of the pain).  I continued to run even though my pants were falling down and the wind was pulling me backwards.  Dave was great.  He ran as slow as me the whole time and never made me feel badly about it

One mile....two miles.  We got to the end.

Then we made our turn and headed back.  I just kept telling myself that I had to do it...

Three miles....four miles!  Yay!  I was done!  I finished 4 miles of running and I didn't die! 

We didn't officially time our run, but I know that we got there at 4:00 and were back in the car at 4:46.  So I ran my first 4 miles ever in under 50 minutes!  It wasn't fun and I fear doing it again.  But I know that I can do it and that is a huge accomplishment.  I also know that I will be able to run the St. Patrick's 4 Miler in a couple weeks. 

My hip is hurting a lot now so I'm going to take the day off from running and do the Arc or Elliptical at the gym.  Hopefully Dave and I will be able to get out and run again this weekend.