Good Morning,

How's everyone doing? You'll are being too quiet lately so I thought I'd stir the pot a little . Have you went to see any movies recently? Do you have vacation plans coming up? Any new pics to share? Updates on health, dogs/cats, or kiddos?

Come on speak up ! Oh and could someone please help motivate me to :exercise . How do you do it with a child when you're so tired already and feel guilty not spending that 20/30 min time with them? I so need to get this stomach in shape. I'm below my pre pregnancy weight but now it's the flab I need to work off .

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Misty - Thanks so much for starting this thread. Sorry, I haven't been to the movies recently, although DH saw Click last Friday. Said it was really good but then again, he likes Adam Sandler movies in general. BTW, Carson just keeps getting cuter and cuter! What a little sweetie you have on your hands!!

As usual, I've been MIA but lurking as much as I can. What amazing happenings on the board lately! Love reading everyone's updates. I am so exicted for all the ladies we get to follow on their exciting new adventure! I can't believe how many of our babies are celebrating their first birthdays! And thanks to all the mommys for doing a great job sharing the pics! Looking forward to many more s in the near future!!

Things are great over here but busy, busy, busy, busy! Sammy is crawling everywhere! He is also pulling himself up and creeping along the coffee table or anything else he can pull himself up to. His balance is great and I think he might try a step or two before his first birthday NEXT MONTH! (Where does the time go?)

Ben is in underwear!!!! Mind, we still have to keep a close eye on him to avoid accidents and he is wearing Pull Ups for his naps and at night but he went all day yesterday without an accident. Yeah, Ben!!!! The breakthrough came when we let him pick out his underwear at the store and put him in them.

I'm doing great. Typical of this time of year, we've been busy either going somewhere or having people coming over to stay with us every weekend now for the past month. The great part is that it finally got me to do a thorough cleaning of everyroom in the house. It was loooooong overdue but now everything is clean...er, except for all the toys!

Anyways, before I run, here are a few recent pics of the boys!

Here is Ben at the Day out with Thomas event. He LOVED it!


And here is our adorable Smilin' Sammy! Just look at all those teeth!

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VICKI (34),DH - Chris (33)
Ben 09/24/02 Sam 08/24/05 Tim 04/05/08

Vickie,

Well it sounds like our two little men are right on target with each other . Carson is crawling everywhere as well but he'd rather walk. He is also holding on to everything possible to walk. I think it's only a matter of another month or so before he has the hang of it. I'm finally able to get him to eat more. As long as I cut it up for him and let him feed himself then he's fine. He just don't want me to feed him. Hmmm! Can we say independent . Well not too much though because he still wakes me twice a night to BF. Does Sammy do this? I'm finding it very common among women who BF to still get up through the night.

Of course I can't see the pics at work but I'll check back later . I can't wait to see them . We're off in a couple of weeks to see my SIL in TX. This will be Carson's first plane trip so this should be interesting . Deidra if you're listening I have a lay over in Houston .

Congrats on Ben wearing BIG BOY pants! I know that must be a huge milestone to have one finally out of diapers. Give him a BIG BOY for me. I'm sure letting him be a big boy and pick out his own pants was good motivation. I'll have to remember that in the next 1yr or 2 for myself. So any plans for #3?

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I am lurking mainly b/c I am checking on someone who is overdue and should be in labor!!! It is slow around here though...guess everyone is busy with summer plans. Its just too darn hot around here to do anything.

Work is fine, just found out I still have a job so that is good. Layoffs are done in our dept so I can go back to being online more and slacking off again!!!

Evan is great. I think I posted before he is 20lbs 4ozs and 31 inches of perfect. He is amazing and I thank God everyday for him!!!

Ready for TTC #2 I think. I know I am so back and forth on that but I do want another one and I want to be prego in the same season (reuse maternity clothes) and don't want them 3 years apart so this fall seems to be the right time. So I think I will have the IUD taken out in Aug.

We have our big surprise trip for Mike to Cayman in Aug. He has no clue. Taking him for our anniversary. That is where we were married 3 years ago. My mom is coming to help with E and I am not telling Mike until the day before we go. Wrapping up Evan's passport (which Mike doesn't know I got) and giving it to Mike for an early present. He will flip!!!

As far as anything else, we did have a date night last weekend. Saw Pirates. Pretty good but I still like the 1st movies in a series.

Next...

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I'm waiting for the egg to pop out this month. I was so sure it was going to be another short cycle that I started the whole OPK testing and early and now I'm almost out of OPK sticks.

I'm going to be MIA this weekend. Tomorrow I go to Portland and I won't get back until Monday. Sunday is DH's and I big night to go out to a hotel and be on our own while my Mom gets to watch Aileen. I'm kind of nervous about leaving Aileen alone, but I've got to get used to this someday.

OK Misty I'll try to motivate you to exercise if you motivate me to not eat so much. (I have no problem with the exercise part if I can find time.) I think the hard part about exercise is making it a habit and working it into your day. My suggestion is to start really small like taking a 10 minute walk even if it just every other day. Once you get used to that and have figured out how to work that in, gradually increase the time and frequency.

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Oh that's wonderful Lindsey! He's going to be over the moon excited. Now don't you wished they'd do something like that for us once in awhile ?

You guys are going to have so much fun!

Jilda,

That's a deal . I tend to be an all or nothing type of person. So I think that's my problem when it comes to exercise. Instead of just doing a little here or there I set myself up for an automatic 30 minutes or when I really only want to do 20 I'll push myself to go 30. Then I'll get burned out, dread it, and do nothing at all. I love your suggestion of just doing what you want or a little here and there. It's definitely better than nothing.

Ok, I'm not the best with food choices but I'm pretty good at moderation. I don't believe in depriving yourself but to just eat what you want in smaller portions.

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on the Cayman trip, Lindsey! Please tell us all about his reaction when you get back! The way you are telling him is so sweet, too!

Jilda - You're probably off on your trip but I am sending some special all the way to Portland for ya!!

Misty - Can't wait until Carson takes his first step! Isn't it crazy that our babies are already on the verge of walking? Yesterday I was looking back at pics we took shortly after Sammy was born and it just blows my mind how quickly he has grown!

I love how independent Carson is! I am still trying to introduce greens to Sammy's diet but I think we are at attempt #10 of the 15+ it will probably take him to accept it. He is stubborn like his dad. Sammy also wakes up to BF a couple times a night, too. Ben did it for quite a while, too.

Have a great time in Texas! As the veteran of many plane rides with babies, remember to either nurse or use a paci (if he takes one) on lift off and landing. Prevents pressure from buidling up in their little ears.

DH and I are going to talk about TTC#3 at about this time next year. We thought we would want to try again at that point but we would really like to travel with the boys overseas at some point in the next few years and so that might put a hold on it for a little while. But we'll see because I have a feeling, as soon as Sammy reaches toddlerhood, we may want another baby sooner.

How about you? What are your plans?!?!

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VICKI (34),DH - Chris (33)
Ben 09/24/02 Sam 08/24/05 Tim 04/05/08

Good Point about BF in the air. You know it's so funny because DH has always been pro BF but he's so antsy about me doing it in public. I swear the next baby I'm just not going to care and the older Carson is the less I worry about it. I told him that I'll probably BF Carson on the plane and he's already telling me we could just take a bottle . The only time I've ever used a bottle is when Carson's at daycare (BM of course). I kind of hope the plane isn't full just for that reason and I'm probably going to purchase some nursing clothes so it'll be easier. I'm still a little un sure about weaning . I just haven't rushed it. I figure when he starts showing less interest, I'll think about it then. BTW, Carson won't have anything to do with a paci. He never took to it at all.

You're better than me with the food introduction. That's probably what I should do with Carson but at this point I've been feeding him whatever he'll eat. Although he did love Creamed Spinach .

I'm so happy to hear about #3 in the future . Maybe a girl this time ! DH and I haven't done anything to prevent but BF has been a great form of BC so far. I haven't seen AF since before I got PG with Carson . Ok, sorry I'm talking your head off .

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Oh Misty, you NEVER talk my ear off! It feels just like talking to one of my sisters!

I am not that great about the food introduction. It's taken me a few weeks to get to the tenth attempt because I like my happy baby at mealtime and he get's really MAD when he sees the peas headed towards his mouth. He even pushes my hand away!

DH was raised by a midwife so he's pretty good about me BFing in public but I use either a nursing cape or one of Sammy's light blankets to cover myself. It's more for me because, I am so embarassed to admit this, but I'm so shy.

Good for you with not rushing weaning! Honestly, it makes the whole process a lot easier! Sammy never took a paci, too. I tried but he adamantly refused since day one. Told ya, he's a stubborn one!

Oops, gotta run. Both boys want their lunches NOW!

Take care and keep those updates (and adorable pics) coming!!

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VICKI (34),DH - Chris (33)
Ben 09/24/02 Sam 08/24/05 Tim 04/05/08