Archives for posts with tag: heat

The joy of fireworks

July 5, 2012 //
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Yesterday we spent the day celebrating the 4th of July. As did most of America. I couldn’t help but think back to where we were a year before. Jack was just 5 months old. He was starting to get fun. I am pretty honest about the fact that I didn’t LOVE the newborn phase. I found it really exhausting and I just didn’t love it. I won’t lie. It is a big reason why I don’t want to have another baby. He wasn’t quite out of that phase a year ago but he was getting there. I thought last year’s 4th was pretty fun. Sort of. I was tired from being up all night with my boy though.

When I think about yesterday it blows and I mean BLOWS the previous year out of the water. As a matter of fact it blows every single 4th of July of my entire 27 years out of the water. I had the best time. Jack was filled with such joy. Especially watching the fireworks. He had never really seen them before.

cooling off the American way!!! mmmm

Momma and ice cream, two of my favorite things

We started out the day heading down the street to our big park that was having a little festival. We played some games and Jack and Jason ate some food. It was a little too hot though. There were duck games in baby pools and my son kept wanting to crawl into the baby pool. So we headed home to our little water park set up in the back yard.

get dada!!!!

He LOVED playing with the hose

He loved loved loved playing in our yard. It made his day. He had such a blast. It was so hot out though. 100 degrees felt like 105! The ice cold water from the hose actually felt good, that is how hot it was!

He took a nice long nap once we were done outside. My family came over. My parents, one of my brothers and my sister in law. The 4 youngens went on our boat while my mom and dad hung out inside in the cool air conditioning. We did a lot of wakeboarding and swimming in the lake. My brother and I were even working on some tricks on the wakeboard. Trying some jumps! My goal by the end of summer is to be able to get some decent air and land without a wipe out. I have been able to do smaller jumps/hops without falling but bigger air is great until I hit the water again! HA!

After we were wiped out and exhausted from all our activity we headed back to land to eat. Then we were all so tired we lounged around for a while. We were able to catch the fireworks. From our boat! We casually meandered out onto the lake, with Jack. It was dark so we drove nice and slow. Most of the boats on our lake were out there to watch the show. We weren’t going to do this at first. We thought Jack might be too tired etc. But last minute we decided to just give it a shot. I am so thankful we did! Thank goodness for spontaneity! HE LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT!!!!!!!! He loved the fireworks. He was cheering, ooooing, ahhhhing, and making this happy growl sound that only he can make. We got it on “video.” I write it that way because it was too dark to see us but you could hear all of his reactions.  The joy he had for the fireworks was so wonderful. It made my heart swell with joy. THIS is why it was the best 4th ever. I just couldn’t get over how much he loved it. He sat so well on my lap on the boat. In his life jacket. Even with the heat. He was just so taken by the boat, the water, and the fireworks. We even had to sit there for a while before the show began. He was an angel.

enjoying the show

It is incredible to see things through your child’s eyes. I never thought experiencing something through someone’s perspective could make YOU so happy. But it is possible with your child. I have been learning that since he turned 1. He grows daily in so many ways. The way he looks at the world and the things that bring him joy are just so innocent and pure. I love being able to see all of that. Sure his tantrums grow weekly. He had a few mini meltdowns throughout the day. The heat is hard on everyone. But that was all erased by the moment above. All I will remember about this 4th of July, 2012, is this night on the boat. The happiness at each exploding firework. His reactions and cheering and laughter. The way he would grab on to my hand or leg and squeeze very hard each time he got excited. I didn’t get to see his face much but I got to feel that. The way he went rigid with excitement and then would squeal so loud! It made my heart so happy. I look forward to what joy we can find in today when he wakes up!

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Categories family, Jack, love, Momommahood, motherhood, parenthood, parenting, playtime, preschool activities, toddler, Toddler activities, toddlerhood, weather

You have abs!!!!

June 12, 2012 //
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Sunday we had a little shindig at our home. It was hot hot hot, in the 90s. We went tubing, wakeboarding, grilled out, swam in the lake. It was a fantastic day with my family! There was no reason to get together other than the wonderful summer weather!

My grandma even made it over. She really cracked me up yesterday. I was running around in my bikini. At one point when I walked into my living room she stopped me and told me the following:

“You don’t even look like you had a baby! Not at all. You have abs!!!!” She then turned to my hubby and said “you are one lucky man!”

On Saturday we were at another family party. She told me I was too skinny and that she liked me with a little meat on my bones. Then smacked my butt!

HAAAAA

It really made me smile.  The abs comment especially. I mean I know it was my grandma saying these things. When it comes to grandchildren grandmas can be biased. But knowing that my abs are visible to other people made me feel like my hard work has been worth it.

I wasn’t fishing for a compliment. I was simply running around being a momma and trying to get Jack ready for his nap before we headed back on the boat. (don’t worry my grandma, mom, dad, etc stayed behind. There were land babysitters around! We had a lot of people over.)

Then yesterday I came across this little gem of a meme! It really made me giggle because it is so true. In my life at least.

It is how I felt yesterday. I am a little crispy from all the sun. A little sore from being thrown from the tube and I had at least one kinda rough wipeout on the wake board. Jack’s sleep patterns have been rocky at best the past few days. So I am just tired in general. I took it easy today but I did workout.

It isn’t easy. I do not sit around eating boxes of cookies doing nothing. I workout, I eat pretty healthy and clean, and I am active in general. It is not something that just happens. I had to lose about 35lbs of baby weight to get back to what I was. A good 15 of it came off right after having Jack but the rest of it took a while.

I now weigh between 118-120lbs depending on the day. I have had to eliminate dairy as much as possible. It has made a world of difference in my life. It is sad and amazing at the same time. I wish I could tolerate cheese! MMMM

I have even been finding alternatives to decadent desserts (a weakness of mine) I recently made a frozen black grape dessert. I came across it last week and I whipped it up. I am sorry but when I saw how easy it was to make I couldn’t pass it up. It probably took me less time to make than it takes someone to make a lovely ice cream sundae with all the fixings. It is fantastic! I still have some frozen. I did not use walnuts. I also added some water to get it smoother. My food processor wasn’t making it as smooth as I wanted without a little liquid. And a little extra water never hurt anyone. Hydration hydration hydration!

I highly recommend this. You can really do it with any grape. I have been freezing grapes and eating them for about 8 or 9 years. I never thought to puree them though, how silly of me! I actually introduced my hubby to frozen grapes. Initially he thought me bananas until he tried them! Then he was hooked.

So like I said, it isn’t something that just falls on my stomach, these abs. They didn’t just appear one morning. I looked down and was like oooo hey there hot stuff, where did you come from? You’re welcome to stay. No, I bust my ass daily in my workout room, at the barre, and in the kitchen.

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Categories Baby Weight, Exercise, fitness, Healthy Living, Momommahood, motherhood, parenthood, parenting, pilates, Recipes, Running, weather, weight loss, working out

6 months of motherhood

August 5, 2011 //
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Today my baby is OVER six months old. Yesterday he turned 6 months. On Wednesday night I was clinging to the fact that it was his last night being 5 months old. I truly feel as if time is just slipping through my fingers like sand. I love him so much it is ridiculous. I am in wonder of him. He is just an amazing person. I find it fascinating how quickly their personalities shine through. I wrote a bit about this on facebook yesterday but I will mention it again. He is so very brave and courageous. I see it in him every day. If he wants something he goes for it. He thinks about the consequences later, like falling over while sitting up. He normally sits supported by his own hands, yet he always wants to play with something while sitting. He just goes for it. Lets go with one or both hands to grab for his toy. I am always there to catch him right now, but he just goes for it and will take the tumble, as long as he gets his toy. I know that I am in trouble very soon as he starts moving. He is going to be in everything. And honestly, that is ok. I want him to explore and develop his curiosity.

Speaking of that, yesterday was his last time at Level 1 Gymboree class. Next Thursday he begins Level 2! Yikes! I think it will be fun though, even during his adjustment period. I think we will learn a lot of fun things to try out at home.

Being a mom is hard and tiring work. No doubt about that. I feel more exhausted now than I did in the beginning. He has been sleeping through the night lately but yet I am always utterly exhausted at the end of the day. Because we do so much more now.

I am pretty sure he has started posing for photos with me. He does this move in a few lately lol

Our days are filled with adventure. I love it. I feel so accomplished at the end of the day. I spent the day helping my little man grow, explore, develop, and learn. I have always wanted to be a mom. Playing house was my most favorite game as a little girl. I would dream of how great it was. But I never imagined it would be this amazing. Hard, tiring, amazing, wonderful, lovely, messy, worrisome, all of those in one huge bundle of awesome. I wouldn’t change a thing. Like I mentioned in my last post, I am totally satisfied with our life right now. It has been crossing my mind a lot lately, how blessed I am to honestly feel satisfied and content with life!

On a totally different note. Mosquitoes have been cramping my style lately. I am itching, pun intended, to go for a run.  However, where we live, in Lake County, the mosquitoes have been ridiculous. I was outside for about 3 minutes the other day at 2pm. I tried to take Jack swimming in his splash pool. I was swarmed! I counted at least ten brand spanking new bites! I rushed him back inside. I want to go running but the area where I run is very woodsy and there are several yards along the way I know are prone to flooding AND I run around the lake. All a perfect storm for the little bloodsuckers. So I haven’t been getting out there. I have been doing my SHAPE dvd. It is what it is. I miss the runs but I cannot put him at risk with the bites or myself really since I nurse him. It is going to be time very soon for me to look into getting a membership somewhere. First it was the out of control heat and now it is these bugs. Fall will be here soon enough and that should be nice. There are a couple 5ks I plan to do with Jason and Jack. How fun, family runs!

So here is to the next 6 months, which I am sure will fly by even quicker than the first. Sometimes I cannot believe how quick one single day flies by! We are movin and shakin towards his 1st birthday!

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Categories Articles, Exercise, Healthy Living, Jack, Momommahood, Running, weather

Hot dog! It’s hot!

July 19, 2011 //
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There has been an excessive heatwave going on. Living in Chicago (or well the Chicagoland area these days) I really try to not complain about weather. Chicago is not exactly known for being cooperative when it comes to its weather. We are normally all over the place, and often unseasonal weather occurs.

However, I just got this shiny new toy. My jogger. I want to go running with the baby! I have used it twice. That’s it! Not fair! It’s not just that I shouldn’t be running in this ridiculous heat, but really, I shouldn’t have Jackson outside in it either. So I have to be a good unselfish momma and hang out inside with him. I am itching to get outside though. I want to go for runs and feel great. I am starting to feel lazy. I have been trying to do some pilates inside. I have thought about getting a membership somewhere so on bad weather days I can go run inside. I am just having a hard time thinking about spending that monthly fee when really I plan to be using my jogger most days. I don’t know what to do.

I do know it is much more difficult to run over 3 miles on a treadmill. Not physically, just mentally. I can easily run 3 miles without realizing it outside. But on the machine, all you do is watch the screen in front of you, going nowhere. Every inch seems like a football field! So I don’t want to go back to doing that until it is dreadful winter time. I wanted to put that off as long as possible…

Dear Mother Nature,

Please chill out, literally. Summer is great. But summer this hot is just downright unhealthy. Not just for currently home bound runners looking out their windows, itching to get out there, but for the young, old, and sick. I did not complain to you when you went from frigid weather to hot weather. I just went with the flow. It is what it is, who needs spring anyway, right? But you are really trying my patience at this point. I can only be understanding for so long. I have a feeling I am not alone.

Love,

Me, the lady who had a baby 5 1/2 months ago and wants to go running. I have 4 pounds to lose and you’re really not helping. You already destroyed my body because that is what you do to us women for creating life. When are you going to throw me a bone???

Ha! Well, on a more serious note. Please check on those people in your life who live alone and could be at high risk in this heat. I called my grandpa yesterday. He lives alone and is very ill with emphysema. Just give them a call and see how things are going. A phone call doesn’t take that much time out of your day. It may make all the difference.

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Categories Exercise, Healthy Living, Jack, Momommahood, Running, weather

Muggy

June 18, 2011 //
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I skipped running yesterday. I was just so exhausted. I think Jackson is going through that 4 month wakefulness that can occur. Where babies who previously slept through the night begin to wake again. Except, Jackson has never consistently slept through the night. So this means he is up nearly ALL night again! UGH So I gave myself a cardio break yesterday. I did some ab work and glute work though.

I went for a run this morning. I have concluded that I have to go for runs at night from now on. It is too muggy in the mornings right now. Last weekend the same thing happened. I couldnt breathe then or today! I even took an allergy med this morning before I went but it was no match for my asthma and them mugginess. So my 5k run on the 4th should be interesting. I no longer expect myself to do my best time, if it is this muggy out then. Maybe we will have a dry heat….haha! I am so drenched. Yeah, I am blogging before a shower. I wanted to catch my breath a bit before standing for too long. I dont have an inhaler anymore. I need to go see a dr and get a new prescription. My old allergist is downtown, and we are 30 plus miles away!

 

It is father’s day weekend! YAY! We gave Jason his gifts early today. Tomorrow we are having my dad and brothers over and Jason’s parents over. So I thought we would just have a little family time today and Jas agreed. At 3 we have a Father’s Day party at Gymboree. We do a photo session at Sears and then head over to Gymboree for an art project. Jason gets to see Jack’s school and meet his teachers! I am very excited about this. He has never seen where we go every Thursday. So it will be nice for Daddy to be involved with this too.

I just wanted to do a quick post. Have a great weekend!

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Categories Baby Weight, Exercise, Healthy Living, Jack, Momommahood, Running