3 Weeks, 21 Days, 504 Hours

I read this post over at Janna's blog and got a little convicted last week.   

My weight has started sneaking back up on me.  My pop consumption is on overload.  I haven't exercised in weeks.  I need a jump-start and this is it I hope!

I needed to get through the end of the year stress and celebration.  I also needed to start on a easy day to remember, so today was it.  The first day of summer break and June 1st. 

I can do 21 days; I may have to redo a day or two, but I can do it!   Last night was our end of the year party and I felt it this morning, so I didn't do the best, but I wanted to keep the plan going.  It can only get better, not worse.

THE STATS!

Weight:   0 Lbs

Water:  I drank a big pop from McD's, but did have two bottles of water and a large glass.  My goal for tomorrow is 64 ounces.

Exercise:  I took Kinzie to the zoo this morning and we walked the zoo.  We also went on a family walk tonight.  My goal for tomorrow is to do go back to the gym and see how I do on treadmill or elliptical.

Food:  BAD-enough said

My goal is 10 lbs in 21 days.  That's a 3 1/2 pounds a week.  If I complete my 21 days, not if I lose my 10 lbs,  my reward is going to be a facial!  I've always wanted one and never done it, so I'm going to bite the bullet and do it!

By The Numbers

It's the 1st day of May. 

The last day of May is the last day.

There are 20 student days left.

Next Saturday I get to scrapbook for 9 hours.

I have 1 wedding, 1 graduation, 1 overnight, 1 Mother's Day, 1 birthday in May

I have 80 boxes to pack at school, 21 kids to assess, 21 report cards to complete.

Better Get Crackin'.....

Friday Confessional

Mamarazzi loves us!   

She loves us so much that she tells us to confess on Friday so we can enjoy our weekend guilt free! 

I CONFESS

That I cried this morning.  My baby is not a baby anymore!  She turned 18 months today!  

I CONFESS

That I am being really lazy at home lately.  

Laundry, dishes, cleaning-and I don't really care

I CONFESS

That I have fallen in love with teacher blogs!

I can't wait to use all these great ideas next year!

I CONFESS

That I've been really bad with my eating habits...

I had Ice Cream as a meal this week.

  I also ate straight out of the carton, why get a spoon dirty.

I CONFESS

That I harassed Hubby in the middle of the night this week...

Not once,

Not twice,

BUT THREE TIMES!

He's a lucky man!

(I've also got Baby Fever)

Whew!   Feel so much better :)  What do you need to CONFESS?

Happy List

We've been doing a lot of FUN Easter Activities!   The joy on her face as she experiences this new fun holiday has been priceless!    Truly has made me HAPPY!  Even though the weather is not.    Maybe by May we will enjoy a little spring weather!

Head on over to Mamarazzi's and join in sharing some Happiness this Easter Weekend!

Swap Time

I participated in Mamarazzi's  favorite things swap!   This is my third swap and I think I might have officially become an addict!   Mamarazzi did great once again and partnered me up with Sara from Outta this World!    I loved getting to know Sara and her whole family!   I can't wait til Dexter joins them and they become a family of 6!

These are a few of Sara Jo's favorite things:

Sugar cookies, cookie cutters and sprinkles galore!   I can't wait to make cookies with Kinzie!

An adorable picture frame, some cool mint candles-they smell great!   Paul Frank socks that are super fun!  I'm anxious to wear these!   And some fun flip-flops for the pool this summer!

Some awesome smelling bodywash, that Sara says feels great!  A new loofah-gotta love those!  Some new hand lotion!  I'm having some dry hands this week, so it has already came in handy!   Cadbury eggs and chocolate peeps!  Yummy!   Some cinammon gum and Burt's Bee's Chapstick.  I haven't ever actually bought this chapstick, so I tried it out already and loved it!  Kinzie likes it too-since she saw me use it! 

Thanks so much Sara for your Favorite things!

Friday Confessional

They say Confession is good for the soul, so head on over to Mamarazzi and join in with the juicy details!

I gotta confess that the week after Spring Break has got to be the most exhausting week ever.  I'm so drained mentally, physically and emotionally. 

I gotta confess that because of all that I haven't done a bit of work at home.  I am pulling clean dishes to use out of the dishwasher.  Or using paper.  

I gotta confess that the laundry is overflowing.  I'm pretty sure I'm running low on undies...may be breaking out the emergency pairs for tomorrow.

I gotta confess that I ate like crap on Spring Break and now I am paying for it miserably.  But I don't care...I'm still eating like crap due to the stress of everything.

I gotta confess I'm super excited that today is Friday and it's Juice Stop day! 

I gotta confess that I'm feeling like a huge weight is lifted off after all this confessing!  

If you need to vent, head onver and join up!

It's Monday

It's Monday....
I've been off for 9 days.
I got 6 hours of sleep last night.
I'm on my second pop at 9:20.
I've been at school since 7:00.
I didn't see Kinzie this morning.
It's supposed to snow here today/tonight.
It's definitely Monday.

ABC's of Me

Age:28
Bed Size: King (I don't have to touch him if I don't want to....and if I do, we can move all over the place without the fear of falling off ;)

Chore you hate: Folding and putting away laundry, scrubbing floors
Dogs: Sadie, should've named her Marley
Essential Start Your Day Item: Hugs and kisses from Kinzie
Favorite Color: PINK...all shades!
Gold or Silver: Silver...only silver,
Height: 5' 3"
Instruments You Play(ed): Piano and flute
Job Title:  COO of the Dittmer House and 1st Grade Teacher
Kids: Kinzie (16 months going on 16 some days)
Live: Nebraska
Mom's Name: Barb
Nicknames: Beckers, Beck,

Overnight Hospital Stays: a few...when I was 6 or 7 (I don't remember) I had a high fever and no explained reason...lots of tests and needles, and there was never an official diagnosis, surgery in 9th and 10th grade to remove lead from when my brother stabbed me with a pencil, and when Kinzie was born

Pet Peeve: not using the correct form of word:there, too, your are the 3 major culprits,

Quote from a Movie: "Wuv, tuwh wuv, is what bwings us togever today" ~ The Princess Bride
Right or Left Handed: Right on everything
Siblings: David and Paul (and their wife and gf) and my b-in-l's Cole and Jared
Time You Wake Up: 5:45 to 6
Underwear:  Love it! 
Vegetable you dislike: almost all of them...it's a texture thing,  I do like corn, green beans and peas...that's it.
X-rays You've Had: mouth, ankle, hand, wrist
Yummy Food You Make: I think everything I make is yummy!  I wish I baked more.
Zoo, Favorite Animal: love the zoo, the polar bears are pretty darn cool

Wordless Wednesday

Oh yes, she's naked and trying to steal my camera and saying,  "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"

Waiting on Baby

I've thought about whether or not to share some stuff, but its my life and its my blog and it needs to get outta my head a bit.

If you've been reading my blog at all, you know that Nick and I didn't get pregnant easily the first time.  We can't just touch our toothbrushes like some people.   It took about a year and a half, many dr. appointments and meds for 6 months.    In a month that I wasn't even expecting we got pregnant.   We found out a couple days before Valentine's Days of 2009.

Fast forward to last summer.   We decided that we thought we were getting close to want to start trying to have kids again.  I went back to the doctor.   My ovulation was very off.   My dr. put me back on my meds.   I've been on the meds since July.   The side affects are really bad.   Last time I was on them, I managed, but this time I had to quit them.   I've been off them for 3 months.   It's been an emotional three months.  

Infertility is hard.    I've got friends that are struggling through it.    I should be grateful that I have one beautiful daughter, and I am.    Kinzie is perfect and I am so happy that we have been blessed with her.

But....
I don't want her to be an only child....
I want another baby to rock, to feed, to cuddle....
I want to share my love with another child....
I want to watch Nick become a daddy again....
I want to be pregnant again....

I want to do all of those things and more....Woman have waited for 90 years (hello, Sarah....what patience to wait and trust in God's timing)  I wish I had her patience and trust.   I know that God knows how many children I'll have, but I can only pray that he'll allow me to be a mother to more children than Kinzie.

Happy List

 It truly does make me happy to think of things throughout the week to put on my list!

On the top of my list this week is that I have Spring Break this week!   I have 8 more glorious days off!   Here is to making the most of it!  I have grand plans, most won't happen, but I am fully planning on enjoying it as much as possible!

I didn't take pictures yet at my house but here's one I found online...Tulips that I planted last fall are starting to come up!   I'm so excited to see what colors they are!

Since its spring that means Easter...Easter means Jelly Beans, specifically Starburst Jelly Beans. 

I'm may or may not have already purchased my 3rd bag.  Meaning that 2 have been eaten already.  My goal is not to eat more than 5 bags....I've still got a month to go before Easter.  Might not make that goal.  It's only once a year....right.

The following pics make me the most happy!   Kinzie and her dad have a special bond!  They play rough.   But she screams with laughter.

In the first pic they were playing peek-a-boo.   WHen she is ready for him to say peek-a-boo, she pulls on his hair to  get him to left his head up.  It's stinking hilarious!

She loves to tackle him! It's like a free-fall and you never know what part she is going to land on!

Ten On Tuesday

I've got some things that I want to blog about and some more things that I need to blog about.   I've been a little overwhelmed with the rest of life.  I've been reading blogs and trying to comment.   I've also added a few new blogs that I've met.   

I'm also super excited for the new followers I have!   I'm over 10!  Super cool!  

I'm doing a meme today.   A little easier to think about!   This meme is hosted by Roots and Wings!

Feel free to join in!

 1. What is your cleaning style like?

You need a style....?

I'd like it to be that I'm sitting with my feet up sipping a Diet Coke with Ice Balls while someone else is doing.   It's not though.     Usually its on the weekend power cleaning while Kinzie naps.
2. What is your favorite thing to add to an outfit to take it from casual to classy? Jewelry...always jewelry!   Shoes, scarves, hair pretties.  Basically any accesory that I have.
3. Do you like stormy weather?

I do, if it's not dangerously close and Nick is home.   Severe weather tends to happen when I'm home by myself.   I've had to get Kinzie and Sadie into our closet more than once by myself.   
4. What is your favorite cold treat on a hot day?

Ice cream; in a dish, in a cone, in a blizzard, as a sandwich, as a shake, any way you can get it!
5. What is your favorite warm treat on a cold day?

I'm a big fan of Hot Apple Cider
6. Who is your favorite animated character?

I collected Mickey Mouse when I was younger, then went through a Spongebob phase in college....yes, college...don't judge.  I still really like Mickey Mouse!   Love me some mouse ears!
7. What do you keep your jewelry in?

Nick got me a beautiful jewelry armoire the first Christmas we were married.  I try and keep it in that, but I get lazy and a lot of the time, it ends up in a giant pile on top of the armoire.  Then I go through it and put it all away.
8. Do any of the rooms in your house have a theme?

A couple of them have a bit of a theme....but not over done.   Nick's office is hunting/farming.  The kitchen has a slight wine theme to it.  Kinzie's room is pink, green and brown.   Her bathroom is a garden.   I should do a post on the before/after of that!   It's great!  Her bathroom/main guest bathroom is probably the favoirite in my house!
9. Do you watch any interior design TV shows – if so, what is your favorite?

Not regliously or on DVR, but I used to watch Trading Spaces.   I also really like Design Star and Design on a Dime.   I love how that Candice can do all that cool stuff so affordably. 
10. When was the last time you did something risk-taking?

I've never been a big risktaker. I'm kinda what you would refer to as a chicken$%(!.   Always have been, always will be.   But now, I've got an excuse and I use it.   I've got a daughter....don't need to take unnecessary risks!    I suppose the last big risk that I've taken would be snorkeling in the ocean when we were in Costa Rica.    Doesn't take a lot to scare me...it did, so to me that's a risk!

Simply Send My Favorite Things

to another blogging buddy!

She's already at it again!  Mamarazzi is hosting yet another swap!   This time it's 



I already started my list of what to buy!   When I do these swaps, I try to look for sales/clearance items too, because who doesn't want to buy the most stuff possible! 


The last swap gained me some new readers, bloggy friends and tons of ideas to blog about!


If you've never done a swap and are interested, I encourage you to go check out Mamarazzi.   She has a few spots for some newbies! 

Miss Independent

Someone lied to me!   I've been around young kids for more than half my life.   I've seen all the stages from newborn to snarly preteen.  (Personally, I'm not looking forward to that age!)

Somewhere along the lines I must have been programmed to forget.  Like we moms are programmed to forget the awful parts of pregnancy, labor, delivery, post-baby body, nasty side effects that last years.  Programmed to forget that Terrible Twos should really be called Terrible Toddler. 
HOLY BUCKETS!!!! 

My baby has turned into a diva!

There are moments when its hilarious, adorable and melts my heart.  Those moments aren't very often though!   Most of them are hair-pulling, frustrating and maddening!   I don't take pictures of the maddening moments.   But here are a few of the adorable moments lately!

 This is the best Valentine's Day shot that I got!   Refused to look at the camera b/c the tv was on and then....when I went to turn it off...DIVA FIT.   So I left it!

                           Her new obsession is shoes and trying to put them on!  

And this is our favorite position!   She loves it when you go flip her over!   Pretty sure this fall she will be in a tumbling class of some sort!

A Spring Tease

About two weeks ago, we had 3 days of beautiful unexpected weather.    We went to the park two days in a row!   Kinzie didn't remember it, the last time she had been, she wasn't 1 yet.   So it was like a new experience for her!   So fun to live through her eyes and joy!
 
This was a face of I like it, but I'm not quite sure
still and Daddy likes to push fast and I'm holding on for dear life!

 

 We spent the majority of the time climbing the giant structure to get to the slides!  She loved the tunnel one and also a shorter open one!









     

I love the static in her hair!  I also love that she got completely turned around and could care less!

Then she figured out it was quicker to just try and climb up the slide than use the silly steps, bridge and walkways to get to the slides!  I didn't realize that started so young!

But honestly as much as she loved the slides....those shiny things on the ground were a lot more fun!  To pick up and even try and eat!  (You know they look like puffs and fruit snacks!)

We can't wait to go back to the park and play!   Hurry up Spring!  We miss you!

Friday Confessionals

I confess

that I lost 

my blogging mojo

my cleaning mojo

my working  mojo

my wifely mojo

and all the other mojos that I have this week.

I confess that I really want all those mojo's back...

except maybe the clenaing one, 

but no fairy is coming around here.....

so I've got to rely on my mojo.

I confess that I've got like half a dozen

blog posts needed to finish and publish.  

That's a goal for this weekend...

along with some other goals....

which all happen to be related to their mojo's....

I'm sure there is more to confess....but the little mojo I had is gone...

If you need to confess, head on over to Mamarazzi and join in!    Confessing is good for the soul!

My Happy List

I'm not so happy right now.  It's 4:51 AM and I've been wide awake for over 2 hours!  Woke up and could not get back to sleep!  But I do have a few things making me Happy!

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I joined the Bloggy Revolution so I could respond to blogger comments via email!

This has made it alot easier to comment and reply to comments on my blog!     It's made bloggy a lot of fun lately!  Which makes me Happy!

 Fruit is back in season!   Yay for berries!   Seriously, love them!   So excited to be eating fresh berries!  Went to Sam's and got 2 pounds of strawberries and 1 pound of blueberries!   Super excited to eat fresh fruit this next week!  Which makes me Happy!

On somewhat of a whim, cuz that's how my hubby rolls, we bought a Tahoe 3 weeks ago.   It's got great mileage and its in great condition!  It's been making me Happy!  When it was uber cold, I was warming my tush up and then this week when it was so nice, I had the moon roof open!  Super excited for the Happy adventures we're going to be go on in this thing!

Those are a few of the things making me Happy this week!   Head on over to Mamarazzi's 

and share what's on your Happy List!

(Disclaimer: I finally fell asleep at 5:30 and finished when I woke back up!)

My Fashion Queen

 

Look at my little fashion queen!    She has found a love for hats and putting on any clothes she can get her hands on.  Here she is in her winter hat, half dressed with 4 of her 8 pretty necklaces on!

It's Like Red But Not Quite

I've always loved that Aerosmith song!   The Pinktastic Swaptastic was such a fun sway!   Pink is definitely my favorite color so that made this swap even more fun!



Tuesday night after I got home from a 14 hour day.  (I hate Parent-Teacher Conferences, but thats another post.)  This sweet little box from Amy was on my banister! 

 

It was so cute with the stickers all over it!     I was so exhausted and didn't have the energy for pictures, so I waited until Wednesday to open it.    When I cracked open the box I found this box.

HOLY PINKNESS!!!!   I immeadiately took all that out, dumped one of Kinzie's toy tubs and put it in there for her.   She had a grand time playing with it.   It's currently all over our living room, hall and kitchen.   Oh, well.   She's loving it! (Thanks for the free entertainement Amy!)

Amy had a cute card for me with such nic things to say on it!  It's been so fun getting to know her and am glad that I've found a new bloggy friend and started reading some new blogs through her too!  

 Look at all the pinkness that is in there!   I was so excited!   She was even thoughtful enough to include Kinzie and Sadie! 
 

Kinzie knew exactly what to do with her present!  She had it open in no time flat and was giving it Kinzie squeezes and kisses!  

Pink bear has joined in the ranks in the crib along with frog, Wilbur, and another bear.  Pretty soon, we're going to have to move her to a bed b/c the crib has too many stuffed animals!  

Look at the loot that I got:  

I kept laughing b/c evidently great minds think alike!   Amy and I had given each other the same thing or similar things with more than one gift! 

1:  Comy slippers, that I put on right away!   I love those type of slipper socks!

2.  A new day planner that will fit perfect in my purse.   I hadn't gotten one yet and I kept forgetting appointments.  I've already got 3 things written down!

3.  Pink pens-so fun!

4. A strawberry shortcake candle-smells delicious!

5. A sleep mask-It's on my nightstand waiting for my first nap. (hopefully this weekend!)

6. Pink starburst-They're gone already!  YUMMY!

7. Lip Gloss- From Sephora-LOVE!

8. Cute purse with Lotion/bath Wash.  It's perfect travel size and smells good too!

9.  Loofah- Can never have enoguh of these!  In fact  one should probably be replaced, perfect timing!

10.  Candy Dish- A cute candy dish-It's already got Kinzie's candy from daycare in it.

11-Cute stuffed animal w/ a squeaker in it for Sadie

12. Strawberry bath wash for Kinzie

13.  Pink Bear for Kinzie-She LOVES her!

Thanks so much Amy for a great SWAP package and thanks so much Mamarazzi for hosting another great swap!  Can't wait for the next one!

Sesame Street Live

Last Saturday, Nick and I took Kinzie to an institution, known as Sesame Street Live.
  I went when I was a child and I was so excited to take Kinzie as well! 
I was unsure how she would do, but she loves watching SS on
TV and can sit through her 30 min. DVD's.  
She did pretty good, overall.  
She only had to go for a little walk at the end of both acts.  

  She lighted up when she saw ELMO, Big Bird, Bert and Ernie.   It was pretty neat that hse recognized all of them.   I was a little suprised, but the smiles on her face was priceless!

 I tried to get daddy to take a picture of the two of us, but it just didn't happen. Not a good one anyway    He needs a little bit more practice with the camera!

Can't wait until next year, when I know she will really do better and truly get into the singing and dancing!  Daddy doing what she loves-hangin her upside down!

Toddlerville

In the past month Kinzie has blossomed from a baby to a full-fledged toddler!  Part of me is sad, there were some moments that I just relished her being a baby, like when I could sit her on the floor with her toys and 30 minutes later she would still be in the exact same spot.   There were other moments too...like the last bottle of the day, the curling up in my arms and not fighting to get down, just to name a few. 

But now that she is walking and occasionally saying words/phrases that are understandable, it's an entirely new world.  We've had to clean up our language, A TON!   Her new favorite phrase is: Oh Shit...not my proudest mommy moment, but I admit she heard that from me.   She's walking everywhere.  She'll be running before summer!  

The other day in the bathroom as I was getting ready to shower, I had an early morning thought: 

I have a toddler, because 

Exhibit A:

My toilet paper looks like this more often than not, because its been unwound and wound back up over and over again.

And Exhibit B:

 A toy in the shower, not her tub, not a bath toy, but a if you step on it, its gonna hurt kinda toy!

So now that our house has moved on from babyhood to toddlerville, it truly has become a different kind of adventure!    I'll admit I'm a bit nervous.  I had babyhood down pretty good,  We had a good routine, I knew her favorite things, food and could tell in a second almost what it is she wanted.  

Toddlerville is a bit different one thing may be eaten on Tuesday, refused on Wednesday.   May scream at me in frustration one second and then give a giant kiss the next.   So yeah I'm nervous

Yet when you look at this, you can't help but be excited about toddlerville!

Kinzie fell asleep watching TV.

Pura Vida

In Costa Rica when they ask you : "Como Estas?"  Your answer should be Pura Vida, or Life is good.   In fact life was good down there. 

We got down there so smooth-minus the mad rush the Houston Airport.   We had 25 minutes to get across 3 terminals.   The plane was boarding before we landed, but thank God we had 30 people and 1 that needed a wheelchair.  We boarded the plane at 8:42 am and it was supposed to take off at 8:47.  (It took off about 10 min. late.)    We got through customs.  The airport was pretty neat-open air.

 We rode a bus to the hotel-about a 45 min. drive.   We saw some neat stuff, including an old-school combine harvesting sugar cane.  Nick and all the other farmers loved this!

 We also saw a cemetery with the caskets above ground-weird, but neat.

 At the hotel, we saw a lot of these guys.  On the  ground, hiding in giant planters, in the trees and on the roofs of the villas we stayed in.  There were some big ones-I'm talking 4-6 feet. 

 Most of the time, we sat and laid in a chair and looked at this.   The beach looks nice and white from a distance, but the sand was really crushed shells and rocks.   It was a bit hard to walk on.

 One day we rode on a Catamarran, but we had to get there all scrunched up....It was a little tight... 6 big guys, 6 gals, 3 to a seat, where there should have only been 2....I was in the way back...there were 3 rows of people in front of me then also the driver....

 Nick and I on the last night in front of a cool fire fountain.  (All the other pictures of us are on other peoples cameras)

All in all a fabulous trip!   Can't wait for summer, tans, flip-flops and non layers of clothing! 

PURA VIDA!