Lightweight

So my weight loss journey steadily continues. I am actually wondering will it ever be over?? I have made so many changes to my everday life and although they are small when you put them all together you find great results! Here are a few things I have been trying my absolute best at...

*Not eating out! I honestly thought I would NEVER conquer this but I am so proud to say I am slowly but surely doing awesome at this. We eat out on Sundays and for the last couple weeks its pretty much been the ONLY time I have eaten out.

*Go to the grocery store daily or every other day. I know, I know this has to be the biggest waste of time and gas but honestly if I do tons of shopping at once that means so much food in the house at once and if it's there I am going to eat it. So pretty much every day or every other day I go to the grocery store, pick out our dinner and limit the pantry to only a few snack choices that are on hand for Dalen. I also, keep a few cans of soup on hand for lunch in case I can't make it to the store.

*Eliminate snacks. I don't care what weight loss program you have listened to snacking is not good for me. Everyone is different but I have never been a snacker if I get hungry between meals I end up eating an entire meal not a snack so I rarely ever eat between meals.

I still haven't added exercise to my day but I need to so badly! I do swim a lot with Dalen. I have a bridesmaid dress to fit in by the 17th and it's been weeks since I tried it on. The last time I put it on I couldn't even zip it! YIKES! I will hopefully try it on soon...when I am brave enough! I don't own a scale and I refuse to because I will obssess but pretty soon I am going to have to step on one and see where I am. It's been years since I was in the 150s and that is my ultimate goal. I am well on my way!

Hiding Place

Today I found myself asking these questions...

Will I ever leave the mall playground without my two year old having a meltdown?
Will my hands ever be empty?
Will both kids nap at the same time in THEIR own bed or crib?
Will I ever get to sleep in again?
Is it totally overboard to ask for a 14 day vacation on a cruise ship for my birthday?
On days where I do absolutely everything I can, will it EVER be enough?

It's one of those days where you are just mentally exhausted from "doing". Doing laundry, rocking babies, changing diapers, bathing kids...all those things that just catch up with you at the end of the day and then to top it off you realize that smell you have been smelling isn't a dirty diaper its YOU because you haven't even had time to shower! And let me just clarify I NEVER go without a shower but I was honestly so busy today I didn't even remember.

You are going to think I am kidding but I have been taking a pillow into my walk in closet and laying in the floor just to have quiet. I never tell ANYone where I am going I only spell it in fear that Dalen will figure out where "somewhere" is. I have done this about 5 times and its great. I make phone calls, sit, pray, cry and I came to factual realization that my husband wears a whole lot of brown and my side of the closet is in much need of some new additions.

I try to be as selfless as possible but honestly do you really lose your right to peeing in peace or a decent conversation with a friend when you have kids? I think I have. Thank God for my new found Hiding Place.

Early Morning

It's 7:19 a.m. and I have been up for nearly two hours. Because our newest edition is such a good sleeper and Dalen is finally sleeping through the night again (expect to wonder in our room in the middle of the night to sleep near someone) I tend to have a super hard time being woken up. For some reason every morning this week the baby has woken at 5 something am. Today I am trying to have a super good attitude about my lack of sleep but honestly I am tired and that's that. I try to tell myself enjoy some quiet which is impossible over the baby and her newfound voice that has to be at the highest volume a baby can produce, blog, upload pics but until I get a nap Crabby Me it is.

I am partly so grumpy because I stayed out and up too late last night. Which for most of you 11 pm isn't too late but for me it's practically the middle of the night. We went to a worship encounter to hear our music pastorlast night. It was so awesome and Dalen literally experienced a peice of Heaven. Cola forced herself to stay awake the entire time and this tells me she is going to have a love of music just like her brother. When she wants to stay awake she gags herself. Yes, I know it sounds very strange but she does and everytime those blue eyes would get super heavy she would shove her entire hand in the back of her throat jarring herself awake from gagging.

Dalen jumped himself thirsty, attempted to run the aisle (Mario caught him) and laid prostrate on the floor until Mario noticed. I personally don't have a problem with it but I guess you pick and choose your battles. After Mario told Dalen to stand up Dalen came over to us and said, "DAD! I was praying to God!" Too bad God didn't deal with his attitude while he was praying haha! Dalen had two pencils he found which he used as drumsticks and thank God I brought him some Gatorade because the kid was sweating bullets after drumming so long!

I took Dalen to the bathroom during the middle of service and he told me he felt God. I asked him what that felt like and he said warm choo choo trains. My heart melted :)

Its been 2 long!

Father's Day

The day Mario came home from out of town.

Sea world. Don't you just love how Dalen would NOT take his eyes off the water?! He was waiting and waiting to catch the 1st glimpse of the whales.

Toy Story 3

I have no idea why I have experienced a lack of desire to blog. It's definitley not because there is nothing to blog about! I have to admit I spend the majority of my days feeling bored but I have learned bored does not mean you aren't busy. Most days consist of me taking the kids to the mall where Dalen plays on the playground, fixing lunch, naps then swimming when Mario is home and can watch the baby.

The month of July is SUPER busy for us. The 1st week my parents will be in FL at their house here. The day after they leave one of my friends is coming to visit! WAHOO! I miss my friends! Then I am off to TN for my one of my best friends wedding. We may possibly have one of my husbands friends staying with us the next few days and then the month ends in tons of family and friends in Orlando for the General Assembly! YAY!

Mario has been to New Jersey, stopped in New York and then to Texas. I was so incredibly determined to not be hopelesly bored that I took the kids to Sea World by myself. It was so hellish hot there were a few times I felt as if I were going to collapse. You must remember you can't take strollers into the shows so I would not only have my body heat but the heat of Dalen wrapped around my legs, C on one hip and our 50 pound diaper bag on my other shoulder. YIKES! It was a great day though. We also saw Toy Story 3 and Marmaduke while he was gone. Isn't it amazing that you can be occupied all day everyday and still be bored?

Father's Day was nice but nothing special. Dalen seemed to have one meltdown after another that prevented us from going to eat at Cheesecake Factory. Oh well, I guess Father's Day is all about fatherhood and that comes with the good, bad and ugly.

Dalen is my entertainment but also my trying patience. Here is a little scenario yesterday while we were at the pool. A young BEAUTIFUL girl caught my eye. She was blond, thin and had on a cute little tuquoise two peice. As she came up from the water and used the steps to get out I realize she had on a thong. I immediately began to pray because Dalen doesn't miss ANYTHING! I saw him watch her a lot and I knew that he definitely had seen her butt. Finally he said quietly (THANK GOD), "Mom, her butt fell out of her pull up!" I responded, "No, that's how her bathing suit fits. It's supposed to look like that but we aren't going to say anything or look anymore, ok?" He takes one last long glance at the girls butt and says, "That's disgusting!" I hope he still says that at 16 and until he gets married.

I can not believe I have gone so long without blogging! In a nutshell here is what has been going on in the lives of the Hoods:

*6 day visit to TN (Mario and Dalen were in a wedding)
*Came back, left two days later to visit my grandparents an hour from here
*Came back just in time to see my parents for a few minutes as they passed through

I know that doesn't sound like a lot but I promise you it was! The kids and I are exhausted! Any of you fellow mamas know just how tough it is to travel with little ones. This blog would be waaaay too long if I wrote it like I normally do so I will just do the highlights.

*Dalen was a ring bearer in my husband's best friend's wedding. He did AMAZING! He used his pillow as an actually pillow and we all thought he was asleep for a moment.

*I got to do lunch and dinner with my great girlfriends and go swimming with them. Dalen nearly drowned but thank God for one of my close friends who jumped in and rescued him because my hands were full with the baby.

*We went to 3 doctor appointments while we were there. Both kids are happy, healthy and GROWING! Dalen's tubes are finally out and C's four month shots didn't seem to bother her too bad.

*My parent's house is officially for sale and in boxes. Their new one is beautiful and I can't wait to stay there in July when I return home for another wedding.

*Speaking of weddings...I finally got to congratulate another best friend on her engagement!

Everything is great on our end. I can't believe we have been in O-town for over a month and haven't gone to one park yet! Soon enough though! because I took the kiddos to visit my grandparents and Mario stayed home we missed celebrating Loving Day so we are celebrating today. I will blog about that soon enough!