6 Words a Parent Never Wants to Hear from Their Child

"Mom, I tinkled in your bed!" Yes, you read correctly, my dear little Natalie peed in my bed yesterday! I would say if I had to give her a percentage she is 90% potty trained, but that 10% which she isn't can be a little of an inconvience, such as in my bed, or when we are out in public, like at my cousin's tennis match a few weeks ago, but for the most part she is doing a great job. It is taking a while because I am just not pushing the issue. If they want to wear big girl pants they do, if they don't okay then, fine with me. I know most parents would say when you are ready just do it, but I don't see the rush and when they are ready it will happen.
In other news their imaginations are taking off as well. Most mornings I am greeted by little oinks or puppy dog barks and I have to call them puppy Nat or little piggie Maddie. But this week they have been Cinderella and Dora. My mom got them so new nighties while she was here last weekend, Cinderella and Dora and they have been wearing them constantly. They minute we get home they have to put them on, Maddie especially and the other night she even sat on the floor of the laundry room crying while her nightie was in the dryer because I had forgotten to wash it before bathtime. You would have thought that it was the end of the world.
All in all Cinderella, aka Maddie and Dora, aka Natalie are doing extremely well and they are getting way to big!
All I ask is that you take with you the notion that when you are potty training keep a VERY close eye on your child when she is in your bed, or you too will hear, "Mom, I tinkled in your bed!"

30 by 30

In January I will turn 30 years old. I cannot believe I will be that old and that the girls will be 3 in October, but what can you do?! Anyway, in order to prepare for this blessed event I have decided that I am going to lose 30 pounds by the time I turn 30. Surly this should be possible, it is roughly 4-5 pounds a month, which is 1+ pounds a week...easy enough. Well, it will be easy enough after I get off my no high impact exercising orders! See I have a stress reaction, almost stress fracture from training for my half marathon yesterday. Which I ran, against Doctors orders, he said I could walk, but I just couldn't not run. Finishing time was 2:37, only 9 minutes worse than last year, but I am paying for it today and crossing my fingers that I will not end up in a boot later this week. If your doctor tells you NOT to do something, then don't do it. But I digress back to my 30 by 30. I have several reasons for wanting to lose weight, but really I just need to control my appetite and what I eat, but not just to lose weight. I soon will be going on Accutane to control my wonder cystic acne. Now this drug is a very powerful drug that can mess with your cholestrol and triclicerides, which I found out this week, mine are somewhat elevated already. So I have to eat low choloestrol, low fat now so that I can continue the acne treatment and basically just to be healthier. So I am going back to my semi-veggie ways, cutting out the red meat and going more organic, less processed and cutting out the fast food. I am not sure who this is going to be more of a struggle for, me or my family. Both Tom and the girls love them some good snacks, chips and cookies, but in reality none of us need it, so we will be cutting that out. The hardest part will be giving up my beloved daily Starbucks. I don't think that I can count the times I have tried to give up the Starbuck, but here I go again. So here is to eating healthier, lowering my cholestrol and losing weight!

Can I get out now?

A common phrase in our house lately has been "can I get out now." Usually this phrase is said by Maddie, or better yet yelled by Maddie when she has been put in time out. Usually it goes " Moooooom I'm done, can I get out now?" Over and over and over again until her time out is up. Today, however, after 30 minutes of laying in bed for her nap I heard, "I'm done, I want out now" over and over again until I went up to check on them. She just looked at me and smiled and then told me she had lost her paci under Natalie's bed.
The things these kids say anymore crack me up and I find it comical yet disturbing when I hear them repeat something that I have said and not even realized it. For instance, the other day I asked Maddie to do something and she said, "no, no, I don't want to, go away, leave me alone." WHAT! That is right, go away, leave me alone. Yup, this is what I have said to them when I am trying to do the dishes and need them to go in the other room. Please leave me alone girls. Well, that one came back to bit me. Then last week, Natalie had a fever and I said, dang it Nat you have a frickin fever and what comes back, "dang mom I have a frickin fever."
I tell you they are little parrots and they hear and repeat EVERYTHING. Tom and I are truly trying to be more diligent in our language and I just hope nothing else comes out that would be embarrassing, I mean isn't it bad enough that Natalie stands in the carts yelling, "I'm crazy" as loud as she can, while Maddie yells "hey mom, I tooted, I tooted mom." Yes, these are my lovely daughters, who I try to keep in check, yet allow them to have fun at the same time. Good times are ahead I am sure!

Reality Check

This weekend I truly had a reality check. I have never really enjoyed clothes shopping and it is especially bad when I am overweight or obese as my Wii keeps telling me. So this weekend when my sister, cousin and I went shopping I was pretty excited until I started trying things on and nothing was fitting right and everything was to small and ugh I looked awful. I know that I have really been in denial about how big I have truly gotten over the last year, but this weekend I had to face it, there can be no more hiding. No more living in sweatpants or wearing baggy sweatshirts. I can exercise until I am blue in the face but if I don't cut out the calories and crack down the bad things I eat then what good is it all and why bother?! So today I had my last junk food for awhile. I know moderation will be key and I am not going to cut everything out, but I am going to cleanse for a little while and try to get into the habit of eating healthy. then I will gradually add in little treats, but in small quantities. I also purchased a new bathroom scale as well as a food scale. I hate when I read something and it says 4 ounces of meat or veggies, what the heck you have to have a scale in order to know for sure, so there you go. I won't be dieting, just changing my eating habits and of course until the Mini is over in a few weeks I will still be having pasta and carbs, but just enough to keep me motoring and going. No crashing, but no over indulging. So with all of you as my witnesses, here goes another journey, but hopefully this time it won't just be ANOTHER diet, but instead will be a life change that allows me to lose the weight and learn how to eat healthy so I can be happier and healthier.

Conclusion

I have come to the conclusion that my scale is broken. I am not losing my mind and I am really losing weight. I relief I must say. How do I know the scale is not working correctly? Well, I am at my parents house this week with the girls and I weighed myself this morning and I was 5.5 pounds less than I was on Tuesday at home. I am pretty sure that I haven't lost 5.5 pounds in 2 days and that I conclude we need a new scale. I was please to see a lower number and even more pleased to know that I am doing somethings right and that the number will continue to go down if I stick with. So when I get home it will be out with the old scale and in with the new...let the weight loss continue!

Is the scale broken?

As you know I have been actively working out, training for the Indy Half Marathon and trying to eat healthy. One would think that the reward would be a svelte body and weight loss. WRONG! For some reason the scale has not budged. It has been months of this and I have lost maybe 5 pounds total. A very distressing thing to see the scale go down a few then back up. I don't know if I should throw it out and get a new one, stop weighing myself or re-evaluate what I am doing...maybe all three options are in order. I do know it is a frustrating process and a depressing one at that. I am still hovering at my heaviest weight ever, not including being pregnant, but the number I see scares me and makes me sad. I am also sick of looking in my closet and having nothing to wear because I am "to fat" to fit into anything nice. My wardrobe these days consists mostly of sweats and sweatshirts, not very attractive I admit, but comfortable and not depressing since I know the waist band on my sweats will never be tight!
Alas, what to do, I am not sure, but deep down inside I sure hope that scale is broken, the battery is dying or it needs some recalibration because I don't know how one can work so hard and have zero results!

30 Day, Half Way Point

Well, it is official, I LOVE Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. It is painful, but it works! Stats for 2 weeks down are:
Pounds: 4 lost
Waist: 1.5 inches lost
Hip: 1 inch lost
Calves: +.5 gain
Thighs: 1.5 inches lost
Belly: 1 inch lost
Chest: 2 inches Lost
Arms: +1 Inch gained

That is an overall total body inch loss of 5.5 inches lost in two weeks, with a few gains in the places you hope for!
I am so excited by this workout and can't wait to finish the next two weeks. I have also ordered the Biggest Loser Bootcamp Dvd to add to my routine and of course I still have my mini training!

30 Day Ouch!

Today, was my second day of Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred. At first I thought this workout would be another sissy dvd, that guarantees x,y and z. However, this is a WORKOUT! 20 minutes, just 20 minutes and I am in PAIN and dripping with sweat. Yesterday I ran 3 miles and then did the workout and I was soaked. I thought most the sweat was from my run, but today I did the workout before anything else...still dripping. Who knows how much I will lose, if anything, but I will give you inches and pounds lost if there are in at the end of 30 days! So if you are looking for a quick workout that will leave you in pain, this would be the workout for you...give it a try and let me know what you think. Also, if you have any other workout ideas of good workouts let me know that as well. It truly is no wonder those people on the Biggest loser lose so much weight, if I am dripping and in pain after twenty minutes, after 6-8 hours I would hope some weight would come off. Ah, another workout program, here we go again!

It's Official...

It's official, I am truly 100% allergic to my wedding band. How might that be you ask, well at first I didn't know either, how after 3 years I could all of a sudden become allergic, but I am. It appears that some white gold jewelry is made with palladium and some is made with nickel. My Engagement ring was made, it appears, with palladium and my wedding band, purchased from another location, with nickel. So, I have a nickel allergy, which causes me to get red, itchy, open wounds whenever I put on my wedding band. At first I thought maybe I had somehow gotten into poison ivy or something else that could have caused the rash, but after waiting a few weeks and letting it dry up and heal, I put the ring back on and tried again. Once again, rash, horrible, horrible rash. I have tried several more times, but to no avail. It is very disheartening to not be able to wear my wedding band, it makes me feel like I am still engaged or something and sometimes I wonder what people thing when they see I have two kids and only an engagement ring or no ring on at all?! It now appears like we are going to have to get a new wedding band, some day in the future...really it is sad, this ring has been nothing but problems since the day we got it. The first day after we were married a stone fell out of it and we had to send it back, while we were on our honeymoon, to have it fixed. At that time we got a little silver ring, that was probably $10.00, because Tom said it was like we weren't even married and we were on our Honeymoon so I should have some sort of ring. I have been wearing this ring on and off throughout this whole allergy thing, but it has started to give me rashes as well. So I am hoping that we will be able to replace the original wedding band, and that I won't be allergic to it. Luckily, I am only allergic to the ring and nickel and not my loving husband!

Baby Mania

I feel like lately everyone around me is pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant. I have at least 4 friends who are already currently pregnant, and a few others who are thinking or getting ready to try. It is crazy....I know we are in that time of our lives for sure, but it makes me jealous a little. I am still not sure if we will ever have any more kids and if we don't it will be the best decision for our family and especially our little lovely girls. However, part of me finds myself living vicariously through my friends who are pregnant now and will get to hold their little joys in the near future. I am, however, VERY lucky that both my girls are still snuggle bugs and they love hugging me and telling me they love me and I can honestly say that, it is the highlight of my day and life, when one of those little voices says, "I love you mommmy." It is way to cute and makes me melt. So, to all of my lovely friends with little buns in the oven CONGRATULATIONS and I look forward to meeting all of your little bundles in the near future.

For Fun or Competition

This year I am registered for my 5th Indianapolis 500 Mini Marathon, even though each year after I complete it, I say I will never do another one again. But, here I am, a little over 3 months away, and I find myself debating whether I want to run this year, or run/walk. I get very competitive, mostly with myself and I find it difficult to allow myself to walk, even though just finishing is an accomplishment and I have already run it, 4 times previously. Last year I had the time of 2:15 in mind that I wanted to accomplish, but I finished in 2:28, after discovering I had eaten and not even noticed I was eating about half a package of reduced fat Oreos. Needless to say, I was not in top form race day and did not complete my goal time. This year I signed up with my good running friend Sheri and my movie and book club friend Lindsay. I now find myself debating whether I want to run or walk. I think I would have more fun if I walked, but I don't want to regret not running and beating my time from last year. I go back and forth each day and have talked to both Lindsay and Sheri about what they want to do and Sheri wants to run and Lindsay is fine with walking. Of course this doesn't make my decision any easier. I know most of you are probably thinking this is a petty thing to be hung up on, but to me it is a big deal and one I think of often. I currently am leaning toward running about 3 miles, walking 1 mile and repeating. I think if I break it into smaller pieces it won't seem as daunting and I won't poop out, or hurt myself like I normally do. Did I mention that I usually take a 3-5 month exercise hiatas after the mini as well because I bang myself up so badly...another reason to walk right! :-)

Updated

Well, it has been over a month since I have last posted. I seem to be enjoying facebook to much to write here. I am much better at the one line status updates than I am at keeping up with a daily blog! Not much is shaking here really. Natalie is basically potty trained, Maddie could care less. Both girls are in their big girl beds and life is good. They have discovered a new love for swimming and ask daily to go, as soon as they wake up. Luckily we have a membership to the rec center so I can take them whenever we have time. So, that is really all that is going on here. As you can tell I have a new look here at Shades of Green. It doesn't really go with the title, but I thought it was time for a change! New Year, New Blog...same ole, same ole!

Potty Training

Well, Yesterday we started potty training. To be blunt, it is A LOT of work and is not very fun. Much to my surprise Natalie has totally taken to it and has only had 1 accident. I am very surprised at this because Maddie is the one that tells me when she is wet or has gone number 2. Natalie never talks about it, but she has done great. Each time she goes in the potty we praise her and she gets up and cheers and claps and does a little dance. It is pretty darn cute. Right now our reward system is: one chocolate chip for sitting on the potty, two for actually going and three if a poo is made. We haven't had that accomplishment yet, but hey you gotta start somewhere. I am hoping Maddie will catch the excitement and she will start to follow Natalie. I have no advice or wisdom to offer as we are only in day two and we are just doing what seems to work for our family. So, here's to hoping that this process doesn't drag out and both girls catch on and we are diaper free soon!

VomitLand

Today I was faced with possibly the grossest event of parenthood I have experienced to date. Little Natalie got sick. Now this was not a little puke, it was full blown vomit, all over herself in her carseat, all over both of us in ballet and again all over both of us after I had just cleaned us up at ballet. The smell was horrific and I can usually tolerate such things, but this was almost to gross. So now the girls are safely home and they have had toast for lunch, a nice warm bath and I am in the process of cleaning the clothes and carseats that were victims of the morning's events...ahhh well. I am hoping she is better tomorrow for Thanksgiving, but what can you do? Just love your children really! So Happy Thanksgiving to all and sorry to be so gross :-)

We're Still Here

Yes, we are still here, just way to busy. The girls have been sick for what seems like forever, I think in reality it has been two weeks. Maddie has another ear infection, we will probably be headed to see an ENT at some point this winter. She also has bronchitis, which has been making it a little difficult for her to breath at night, so the sleeping has been touch and go. Natalie has what appears to be a general col, at least that is what the doctor said, but she has also had it for two weeks.
Other than that we have taken a week off from all of our activities in order to keep the germ exposure to a minimum which has also lead to a little cabin fever on the girl's part, but we are surviving as usual...I mean we know what it is like to be on "house" arrest medically speaking, so we will be doing lots of coloring and other crafts...at least the girls love doing that.
I have been busy trying to get back into shape, no easy task and the holidays are not helping and getting things ready for the upcoming holiday season.
Tomorrow Tom turns 29, not sure how he feels about that :-) But he can take comfort in the fact that I am only a few months behind.
So that is what is going on here, nothing really new to report or exciting, but yes we are still here.

Happy Birthday Babies

To my little angels,
Today you turned two and I cannot believe how fast the last two years have gone by. It seems like yesterday you were born and oh how tiny you were and so sweet and innocent and unknowing. Now you can talk and boy do you ever. There seems to be a constant conversation or song going on in our house now and it is the cutest thing in the world. You can say each other's names and you are almost always loving and polite with each other. Natalie you call Maddie by her name and Maddie calls you Nat. A lot of us do, but it is the cutest Nat ever. You already love to help mommy cook and you like being my little helper, getting your shoes or your jacket and helping each other out. Natalie, you always like to wear your jacket. It is the first thing you ask for when you wake up and you never want to take it off, even for your naps. Luckily for your birthday you got a lot of new sweatshirts that we can let you wear as jackets! Maddie, your one true love is still your blue monkey. He does everything with us, including ballet. Today we got Monkey a shirt and you were so proud of that shirt, you couldn't wait to get home and show Daddy. You kissed him and hugged that little monkey and it is too sweet. I never would have imagined all of the fun you would be at this age or your capabilities. You two are so amazing and you bring so much joy to our lives. I cannot imagine life without you and I am so glad we have you to hug and kiss us. You are the sweetest little girls ever. Happy Birthday Babies, I Love You, Mama

Still Here

So I realize it has been like a month since I last posted. I'm still here, crazy busy, but here none the less. A few weeks ago, I had a migraine for about three days, then Maddie got sick and of course had an ear infection. We then headed to Wisconsin for my grandma's 80th Birthday. Where of course Natalie got an ear infection...yes minute clinic time it was! Then back here and a week of trying to get the girls back on schedule, when my mom and grandparents came to visit, then the girl's second birthday party...can you believe they will be two on Thursday? Then this week we have been trying to get back into the saddle and back into our routine. I have also realized that I blog a lot more during the winter when the weather is not good and I am looking for more ways of entertainment. So maybe the blogging will increase, who knows though. Those little girls of mine are keeping me VERY busy and it is more fun that I ever could have imagined. They are talking up a storm, I never could have imagined they would be talking as much as they are, but they mimic everything and are putting together sentences and all sorts of crazy things. So that is what is going on here, busy, busy, busy. More later gators.

Same day and everything?

Over the last two years we have gotten a lot of, "Are they twins?" Which at times we answer calmly, "yes." Well, we always answer calmly, but then we go off into little tiraids when we are alone. I mean seriously, how many children look exactly alike, are the same height and weight, etc? Well, this week and last week have been no exception, only Wednesday was a cake topper. The girls and I are taking a "mommy and me" ballet class in Southport. It is really cute and Maddie at least loves it. Well, last week the teacher asked if they were sisters. I answered yes. Then this week when she came in, she checked us off and said, "they are sister's right?" Yes, I answered. Then she asked, "are they twins?" Once again I respond yes. She then looks at them and was like, "oh yeah I guess if I had looked hard enough I would have noticed they are the same size." Yup, I wanted to say, but I just smiled. Later we were at Kohls and this guy walked by and says, "are they twins?" Yes, I answer. He then, get ready for this one...asks, "Same day and everything?" Seriously? I just said yup and kept walking. I mean, yes I realize that they could have been born on different days, but seriously, the odds of that happening are extremely slim and I just could not believe that...Same day and everything? Come on, what is this world coming to? I hope to instill in my children some common sense and the ability to mind their own business when they grow up and first and foremost, to think before they ask questions!

Ignorance Is Not Bliss

Today I found out that for about a year we have been using our car seats incorrectly. How can that be one might say? Well, who would have thought that two college educated individuals would not fully read they manual and realize that if you use your LATCH system you have to use all THREE tethers and latches. I had always known there was another tether on the back of the car seat, but I did not realize that the LATCH is supposed to form a triangle and that the three are actually supposed to be used together. Yes, that elusive third tether is supposed to be latched to a third latch that can either be located on the ceiling, floor, or in my case the back of the seat that the girl's car seat is on. Soooo, if you are a parent and your child's seat uses the LATCH system, make sure you are using all three tethers!

I CAN'T Wait

Okay, seriously, I cannot wait until real tv comes back. I just saw a promo for "Grey's Anatomy" and I am soooo excited. I am hoping that this season will be better than last season, but the promos sure made it look exciting. I am also eager for Private Practice, Eli Stone, Desperate Housewives...not sure really about this one anymore. The Big Bang Theory and I hate to admit it, but so far I have enjoyed the new 90210. Oh, and I must not forget Ellen!
Just a few more weeks, I CANNOT Wait!