Catchin' up on crafts

One of my goals lately is to finish all of the craft projects that have built up over the last couple of years. I'm trying to get to the point where I do a project soon after I buy the stuff for it, not years later. One of the things I've been working on is Emily's bedroom. Until the last couple of weeks it still had a few things of Max's in there so I wanted to make it feel like her room. I mod podged some cute paper on some craft letters from Roberts and had so much fun I decided to use the leftover paper to make her some picture frames. I also did a couple of little projects to fill up the shelves in the nursery finally. (I've been meaning to do that since Max was born. I guess better late than never!) I'm not really thrilled with how the star pillow turned out, so it might be a do-over, we'll see.

I've also recently finished the pillows for the window seat in our living room. I finished the seat cushion about six months ago. (This project has also been in the works for a couple of years.) I figured it was time to get all of those pillows sewn and out of my storage room. Now we just need to paint the family room so that there isn't a couch sitting in front of all of that hard work! :)

I also made Max a clock to go with his new bedroom. My next projects are to finally do the touch up painting and finishing work on Max's room, paint the upstairs hall and the family room, paint the baseboards and wainscot in the entry way and kitchen that are finally installed (yeah!), and make the quilt for our bed. Piece of cake!!

Memory Lane...

1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember. If we're only blogging friends write about a post that is most memorable.
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll be sure to write one about you....either on your blog, in my comment box, or I will email you one back.
3. If the memory happens to involve my husband, please include him.
4. If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all.

My friend did this on her blog and it was fun to think back to fun times we have had together.

Halfway There

Well, yesturday Jeff and I passed the halfway mark on our sugar detox. (We decided a few days in to go for four weeks instead of three.) I have done this a few times before with Jeff, but for only two weeks at a time. This time it is actually going easier than before for several reasons. It has been a big help to me to have a support group to go through this with me. It never seems like it's hard for Jeff to go without sugar like it is for me, so he just makes me annoyed when I vent about wanting a treat and he says, "Oh, I haven't really been craving sugar." It's nice to have other women to talk to who are also trying to make it through a long day without any sugar while battling young kids and an often monotonous routine. It also is helping to know that so many people know that I have this goal and will want to know how I did. I love proving that I can do something difficult, so that keeps me going when I lose all other motivation. I've also lost some weight the last couple of months, mostly due to not eating sugar and even had to buy a new pair of shorts this week. This is the first time I've ever gone that direction on the scale unless it involved morning sickness or having a baby. It can be pretty motivating when you are seeing results!

The one thing that I think is the biggest help to me getting through this is my finally coming to grips with my eating habits and the fact that I really needed to do something about it. I have been lying to myself for years saying that I just needed to start exercising and then I could eat however I wanted, or that it didn't matter if I was a little overweight, I just needed to learn to love myself for who I was. I'm not saying that I don't need to love myself for who I am, but I am saying that I was using these as an excuse so that I wouldn't have to face the reality of what I was putting in my body and how it has been affecting me. It has felt very empowering to take control over what I am eating.

The first week was still pretty rough. I was grumpy and had a constant headache for several days but I was determined to meet my goal. The second week I felt like I was more patient with Max, had more energy and wasn't craving the sugar nearly as bad. I have also been enjoying trying out some new recipes. I don't really enjoy cooking dinner, but I love to bake treats, so I've been trying to find some more healthy options for baking and some new snack options for when I really want something to munch on.

I am both anticipating and dreading the end of our sugar detox because I believe the really hard part for me will come when I have to practice moderation with how much sugar I eat. Jeff and I are setting some goals about our sugar intake for after we are done and I am hopeful that this is going to be a lifestyle change for us, not just a few rough weeks of sugar abstinence.

Well, on to the second half of our 28 day sugar detox!


Here's me with my progress chart. I get to stamp a butterfly for every day that I go sugar free. (Jeff has one as well, but he stamps a race car in his.) Kind of silly, but it's nice to have a visual of how far we have come.

Sometimes I wish that I had a camera in my kid's rooms so that I could see how they manage to do some of the things that they do!

[After I pulled her chubby legs out of the bars (how she was able to squeeze them through that far I'll never know!) she gave me the cutest, biggest, sleepiest smile. It made my heart melt, it was so precious!!]

Can Emmy play?

Recently Max has been wanting Emily to play with him. He wants her to ride his tricycle while he rides his car, or he wants her to play with him in his play tunnels and tents. Emily is not to thrilled about that last one, so I have to explain to Max over and over that she doesn't like being in the tunnels so she doesn't have to play in there with him. I don't think he can wrap his little two year old, egocentric mind around that concept. :) I have to keep an eye on him because he thinks that it is great fun to play the game "lay on top of Emily". I have to admit that I think it's pretty cute when he says, "Emmy Boo ride the tricycle!" I'm excited for her to get a little older so that I don't have to prop her up on the tricycle and push her around after Max. (Although this is a good exercise for the backs of my legs!) It will be fun when they can actually play together!

Help!!!!!

What do you do with a toddler who takes off his diaper and shoves it under the door after you put him to bed? (Jeff had even duck taped it on tonight and I don't think it even slowed down the diaper removing process one bit!) For about a week now Max has been routinely taking off his diaper, usually when he gets up in the morning or after nap time, and I am about ready to pull my hair out with frustration. I put him in underwear today after he stripped from the waist down during nap time and peed on one of his play tents in his room and he ended up peeing all over my couch, which is my big fear because I love my couches! (There one of the few nice pieces of furniture we have.) He won't pee on the toilet but has apparently decided that he wants to wear big boy underwear. I just needed to vent a little because with the diaper removing and all of the hitting, slapping, kicking, and hair pulling that he does I feel like I am going to explode. I'm not sure how effective time-outs are being (with the hitting), since he usually runs around laughing when I put him in one. Apparently he thinks time-outs are a pretty fun game. I know that we're going to get past this stage one day, still, I would appreciate any words of wisdom that will hurry that process along.

How does she do it?

Now that Emily is rolling over she usually has an arm and/or leg sticking out of her crib by morning. This is the first time she managed to get both of her legs out at the same time, though!