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Whew! It's been a long time! Have you missed me??

In all honesty, I am not sure if and or when I will ever seem to get back to blogging. I am in a very unique situation right now where Steve is working from home today and I have a break to blog.

Brett and Kaia keep me super busy these days...with Kaia crawling, I have to watch her like a hawk....and my internet access is pretty limited to my Blackberry...I'll check my Facebook on the BB, but really that's about it. No way am I going to try and type an email, let alone a blog, on that thing!

So in a few ways I've fallen off the face of the earth...

I have so much to post, so many pictures....Brett turned 3, we have professional pictures taken, Easter happened, Kaia started crawling, cut a tooth, had her 9 month appointment....and that's all that's just off the top of my head...

Unfortunately, those pictures are on the desktop computer and as Steve is working on it, I am on our laptop.

So, to the number at the top of my post...well, that ladies and gentlemen is a happy number that greeted me on the scale today. I did it, I broke back into the 120's...granted I'm not quite where I want to be...my comfortable weight is between 120 - 125, but lots of hard work is paying off. I'm into a bunch of my old clothes...and after I shed about 5 more pounds I should be able to see the rest come out of storage.

That number also signifies why I haven't been blogging. I've been working out like a madwoman during naptime, and usually if I'd blog, it would be during naps. So something had to give.

I've publicly discussed my weight struggle before on here. I gained over 60 pounds when I was pregnant with Brett, didn't take it all off, put some of it back on before I got pregnant with Kaia and had a pregnancy wrought with gestational diabetes. I also felt like a whale the second time around.

So, as soon as I was able to, I started on the treadmill...and now I'm up to working out 6-7 days a week at home, 30-90 minutes a day either on the treadmill or doing workout DVD's....my budget and schedule doesn't allow for the gym, but I really prefer the convenience of this anyway. I'm also counting calories and still breastfeeding...which is the tricky part...but I think I've found the correct balance of working out and calories to still lose weight while supplying enough for my baby. It can be tricky! And, it's not been easy...baby weight really WANTS to stick to your bones and holds on for dear life. But I am feeling better, and am able to keep up with my crazy kiddos better that I ever have before.

Anyway, just a quick synopsis of what's been going on in my life. This is the biggest break I've ever taken from blogging, and this blog is primarily dedicated to my kiddos, so I really need to get back and post about them. Hopefully soon :).

Wordless Wednesday

I know, I am like 2 months behind on blogging...but I'll start by taking baby steps..

Here's a Wordless Wednesday for ya :).

Thanks to Amy P. and Bryn for the sticker...we obtained it while helping them move last week.

6 Months Old!

Wow, time really flies with the second one! Can she really big 6 months old ALREADY?

Kaia had her 6 month appointment yesterday and here are the stats:

Weight: 16 lbs 4 oz. - 60% percentile

Length: 26 1/2 inches - 77% percentile

Head: 42.5 cm - 52% percentile.

Following are pics of my silly kids. Notice that Kaia still likes to "mug" for the camera, even in the middle of a tackle for big brother. Maybe she'll be a model if she likes the camera so much! :) And, of course, Brett has to get in on the action when I'm taking pictures :).

Blackmail Pics

Not that I would ever blackmail Brett, but these photos sure would be fun to show a future girlfriend! (taken with my cell phone, so pardon the low resolution)

Wearing mommy's shoes...

Beautiful pink fairy wings (and note, he likes to "fly" while wearing them...hilarious!)


How I love my little man! :)

Kaia Lou Who

I couldn't resist snapping these pics the other day. She woke up with a perfect "Who" coif!

Wordless Wednesday

She's Growing Up SO Fast!

Today was a(n) historic day in the life of Kaia.

She had her first solid food...that's right....we gave her rice cereal this morning :).

It makes me a little teary...I have nourished every ounce of her little being all by myself...from the food I ate that helped her grow in utero, to the milk I've provided her ever since she's been in the world. I have helped her grow to her (approximate) 16 pounds ALL BY MYSELF!

So, it was a BIG DEAL for me to give her her first rice cereal. We waited until 5 1/2 months....research until recently said that Breastfeeding solely for 6 months was optimal, but within the last month, I've heard other research that says if you wait TOO LONG babies can develop other problems. So, I kinda compromised and decided to go with 5 1/2 months.

She was definitely ready!

Here are the pictures of her first feeding, as well as a video of her first spoonful.

Brett was so cute...he kept patting her head, saying "Good job, Kaia!", like he was giving her moral support.

My Kids are THE Cutest Kiddos Ever

And you know the title of my post is completely unbiased and fair, right?

Well, I needed to take more pics of my munchkins together...and you can just see how much they love each other. Brett loves making Kaia laugh and he always wants to hold her. I can just imagine that they will grow up to be great friends :).

Snow Day!

This winter has been almost as horribly snowy as this past summer was horribly hot! Anyway, we've had quite a few nasty days, but only in the last 2, has Steve's work been canceled. The amount of freezing rain that has fallen has caused a sheet of ice outside, so we have stayed hunkered down in our little igloo passing the time. It's actually been REALLY nice to have both of us here with both kids. I've gotten so much done around the house, and we even had time to make cookies! Here are a few shots of the kiddos...Brett did very well in assisting without eating too much dough. I must say, I was impressed!

Trip to the Eiteljorg

Back in the day when Steve and I were first married, we took a trip to the Eiteljorg for a masters class that he was taking. I remember it being interesting...but not really a place I'd take small kiddos. Basically, it is a museum of Native American art and culture.

But recently I'd seen some of my friends posting about taking their kiddos and Steve recently had a meeting there that was in the "family area" (a place we hadn't previously checked out), so when we heard that they were having "Kaya day" we had to go check it out. (Kaya is, from what I have learned since having a little girl, an "American Girl"...specifically a Native American, American Girl). So they had Kaya themed activities for little kids and a chance to win a Kaya doll (that's what really drew me...alas, we did not win...I'll just have to save my pennies to get this $100.00 doll one day for my daughter, since I doubt I'll be able to get her anything else that bears her name (I doubt I'll be able to buy her a "Kaia" keychain for example).

So we went..both kids got in free and since Steve worked at IUPUI he got in free, and I found a coupon that got me in for $6..and we got free parking, so I'd say it was worth the trip :). The family area was cute...I was under the impression that it was a little bigger than it actually was, so it didn't take us too long to get through it all, but I got some cute pictures of the kids nonetheless, and Brett had a great time!















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