Mommy Math

3 Outfit Changes + 2 Baths + 1 Meltdown at Gymboree + 0 Nap + Tons of Laundry = A Tired Mommy

Tootsie Pop

I'd like to give a shout-out to the makers of Tootsie Pops. Thanks to them, I got to enjoy brunch on Sunday with a happy, adorable boy!

Monkey Man

Look who loves to climb! Good thing I don't let him out of my sight, this could get dangerous!

A Different Me--Modern Parent

My article, A Different Me is up! Please read and comment on the site if you have a minute. Would love to hear from you how you've changed since becoming an parent or how you think parenthood will change you in the future!

Preschool Prep

Well, it's almost here... September is right around the corner and with it comes Branner's first day of preschool! I am organizing and preparing everything for his first full day, which is not actually until September 12th. Although his technical first day is next Tuesday, it is really just a drop-in for us to meet his teachers. Next Thursday, he goes in from 9-11. His first full four hour day is still two weeks off, and I have a few tasks to accomplish before then! Here's what I've got to do:

• Bookbag and lunchbox to be monogrammed; already at shop and will be ready in a couple of days.
• Take B for a haircut at Doolittle's.
• Fax medical form to doctor to be filled out.
• Attend Parent Orientation--Wednesday night! Eeeek, I'm kind of nervous to meet the other parents. What if they aren't friendly? What if they think I'm not friendly?
• Write and deliver tuition, insurance, activity fee and Parent Association checks.
• Gather items for school's consignment sale. Price and enter them into online program. 
• Make a trip to Kixx for a pair or two (Come on, who is his mommy? More like three.) of school shoes.
• Figure out some lunch options to pack that B will actually eat. We all know lunch isn't his thing. This may be the most daunting task of all.
• Mentally/emotionally prepare myself for his first full day. Who am I kidding? We all know I'm going to cry.

My baby is really growing up, y'all! I can't believe it!

Roll With the Punches

Branner's latest and greatest trick; self-taught. Ignore my voice and the fact he isn't wearing a shirt. He had just come in from the pool and we were in the process of changing clothes.

Mommy's Little Helper

Branner has become such a good helper in the past few months. His favorite things to help with? Cleaning, vacuuming, unloading the dishwasher, putting groceries up and throwing trash away. What a lucky mommy I am to have a little boy who likes to clean! He definitely gets it from his daddy and not from me.

C25k Week 7

This week is the week that starts ONLY long runs. I did Day 1 in the mountains, and I made it--even at a higher elevation! I ran for 28 minutes straight, averaging a little over 8 minute miles. I want to kick a 5k's butt. Seriously. I was on the oldest treadmill known to man at the rec center, so I'll have to note my stats tomorrow. I'll post them then. Happy Weekend!

Beech Mountain Cousin Camp

Branner and I are just in from a fabulous extended trip to Beech Mountain. And, guess what? Our nieces came with us to join in on the fun! Barry and B picked them up in Cary and we all met up on Sunday at my parent's house on Beech.

We had a wonderful (almost) week. The weather was fabulous. We went to the lake, the park, played at the rec center, ate lunch out at Mellow Mushroom and Dunn's Deli (one of our FAVES), Barry took the girls ziplining, we made a trip to the pool, went on walks, watched movies and enjoyed each other's company. So, when Kendra came up to spend a night on Wednesday and suggested she and I stay with the kids until Friday, I was all for it!

Cousin Camp was a success, can't wait to do it again in the future. We love you, Devyn and Courtney!

Mompetition

My Modern Parent article, Mompetition, is up! As always, would love for y'all to read and commet/post feedback on the site! Thanks a million!

18-19 Months

In all of the excitement over Branner's half birthday, I never did an official 18 month post. So, here I am a month later combining it with month 19...

Likes: Building things and knocking them down, climbing on anything and everything, blocks, tractors, cars, trucks, dancing, "singing", coloring, weekly family breakfasts at Phil's Deli, his new truck/tractor book, Elmo ("EL-do" in Branner-speak), Yo Gabba Gabba, baths, bedtime stories--especially Goodnight, Moon and Jamberry, trips to the pool, riding on his Scoot-n-Zoom, "driving" his Cozy Coupe in the neighborhood, playing with Uncle Joe, bike rides, walks, trains, giving hugs and kisses, loving on Bailey and Chloe.

Dislikes: Not getting his way, waiting his turn and being told "no." Both of these things happening tend to lead to meltdowns.

New Foods: Trader Joe's mini-pizzas, eggplant casserole (?!), apple slices, smoothies, homemade sweet potato fries, whole wheat bagels and cream cheese, strawberry pops, Earth Fare chocolate chip cookies, cherry tomatoes.

Discovery Kids

We are just in from a morning spent with our wonderful friends, Stacey, Nicole and James, at Discovery Kids in Huntersville and lunch at their Showmar's in Mooresville. Yes, their Showmar's. They recently opened it, and it is delicious! If you live in the area, go eat there :)

I cannot say enough about how great and fun Discovery Kids is if you have young children. Branner had an absolute blast. There are so many neat things to see and play with! They also have a storytime every hour. Not that I would know what it's like, because B can't sit still for two seconds, but Stacey mentioned that they have one. Branner's favorite things there were the firetruck, tractor (OF COURSE), train table and water table. He lasted about an hour before a meltdown occurred at the train table. So, we were off to lunch, and everything was fine the rest of our outing. Thanks for a fun time, Stacey, Nicole and James! Can't wait to hang again soon!

**I'll post pics when I'm back from my mountain vacay, y'all!

C25k Week 6

I started Week 6 today. It was another run/walk workout. Here's how it went:

Week 6, Day 1 Stats:
Distance...2.9 miles
Time...29 minutes
Calories...315

Breakdown:
Warmup, 5 mins...4.0 mph
Running, 5 mins...7.4 mph
Walking, 3 mins...4.0 mph
Running, 8 mins...7.4-7.6 mph
Walking, 3 mins...4.0 mph
Running, 5 mins...7.4 mph

The Help

Branner "helped" me get ready this morning. "Helping" means that while I got dressed and ready to go to the Y, he entertained himself by destroying a roll of toilet paper!

Tantrums via Rants From Mommyland

Moms of toddlers, read this. I thought Branner's tantrums were already bad enough, and we've only made it to Stage 2 so far...

 Looks like we haven't even made it past the tip of the iceberg! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

One and a Half Years: A Pictorial Review

Top to bottom: Newborn, Nine Weeks, Six Months, Nine Months, One Year, Fifteen Months, Eighteen Months. From Baby to Big Boy. Love.

C25k Week 5, Day 3

I did it. I DID IT! I didn't think I could, but I did! I ran for 20 minutes straight for my Week 5, Day 3 Couch to 5k workout. And, you know what? It really wasn't that hard. I think it may have actually been easier than all the start/stop of the walk/run combination workouts. I'll get back to you on that come Week 7, though. Of course I forgot my phone, so I couldn't snap a pic of the breakdown, but I think it was as follows:

Week 5, Day 3 Stats:

Distance...2.89 miles

Time...30 minutes

Calories...323

Breakdown:

Warmup, 5 mins...4.0 mph

Running, 20 mins...6.6-7.5 mph

Cool Down, 5 mins...3.5-4.0 mph

What I Learned Today

{source}

You CAN get completely, all-out soaked and have to wring water out of your clothes even when you are parked close to the YMCA entrance/exit and you are carrying an umbrella. 

ImaginOn

We're just in from a morning spent at ImaginOn with Beth and her boys, and wow! What a cool place! If you live in the Charlotte area and have kids, you have to check it out! There are so many fun things to see and play with and it's free (parking, too, for 1 1/2 hours)! Branner's favorite things were the real SmartCar/gas station, the wooden truck to drive, climbing on the computer desks and the water fountains. He ran around and played, played, played. I chased, chased, chased. Thanks again, Beth, for another fun playdate! 

A Few of My Favorites...

18 Month Pictures

In case you're interested, Branner's 18 month pics can be viewed here. Considering the mud incident and tantrum throwing involved, I think they turned out nice!

I have professional pictures documenting a public outburst. How real can you get?!

Also, after using about half of a bottle of Shout, a Clorox pen and almost 2 hours of my day, the outfit was salvaged. Now, I just need the mud to come out of my maxidress/peasant skirt...

C25k Week 5

Week 5, Day 1 Stats:
Distance...2.8 miles
Time...30 minutes
Calories...297.5

Breakdown:
Warmup, 5 mins...4.0 mph
Running, 5 mins...7.1 mph
Walking, 3 mins...4.0 mph
Running, 5 mins...7.2 mph
Walking, 3 mins...4.0 mph
Running, 5 mins...7.2 mph
Cool Down, 4 mins...4.0 mph

You guys. Day 3 this week requires me to run for 20 minutes straight. I'm kind of freaking out! OK, I'm really freaking out! Week 5 is going to require more than one post, because Day 1 and Day 3 are so different! Seriously, please say a little prayer for my third run.

Hmmmm, Remember When I Said I Wanted to Lose Weight?

We don't have a scale at home because, well, I think they're the devil. I'm starting to think I need to get one, though, to stay on track. I had a doctor's appointment today. Per the doctor's scale, I still need to lose 7.5-8 lbs to get to my goal weight. UGH. That means I haven't made any progress. Doesn't look like I'll be able to mark losing weight off my summer to-do list. SO ANNOYING.

Looks like it's time to diet! NOOOOOOOOO!


{For the record, I should state that I don't think I'm obese. I'm not. It's just that as hard as I workout (5ish days a week...weights/cardio/yoga mixed in), I want to be at my goal weight. I'm not sure how realistic this goal weight is, but it's a number I like :)}

In Pursuit of Perfection

My latest Modern Parent article, In Pursuit of Perfection, is up. I would love it if you read and commented on the site :)