Its Friday! July 29th

Well, I am exhausted and sore...maybe hitting the gym everyday for 1.5 hrs and training for a tri in 23 days was a bit much...yeah, my triceps are sore...similar to post delivery...don't ask me to lift anything or carry anything up the 3 flight of stairs. To top it off, Matthew is taking 20-30 minute naps so by the time I try to lay down and catch a few winks myself he is awake, hungry and ready for attention...630/7pm cannot get here soon enough so I can hand him off to Jay for the evening and attempt to get some sleep. Tomorrow I am joining a ride that will ride the race course for the upcoming women's only Tri. I hope to meet some potential new riding friends...met one really nice lady at the pool yesterday who is doing the race and going to be there tomorrow but she mentioned some friends doing this tri as a first timer so I expect that tomorrow she will be hanging back with them as they ride their hybrid/Walmart Special bikes...yep not true tri-folks...but at least I met someone who told me to do the Wednesday 945am spin class with Wendy and the Thursday 1015 Fitness swim with Mike at the gym...she said those are the best workouts and will help me get ready for the tri. So hopefully next week I can get Matthew a spot for that Wednesday spin class

So what has Matthew started doing lately? Well today he has started to laugh/scream in his exersaucer...yep, big smile, spitting, and raspberries then screaming...he seems happy but it does probably annoy the neighbors...oh well...he seems happy so not going to mess with him. He does love bouncing and jumping...guess I better get video soon before he doesn't like these toys anymore.

So until the weekend and hopefully some much needed sleep for mom (Me).

July 27

Well, not much to really report, we are settling into the apartment and I am trying to get into a routine of Gym in the morning, chores/computer-work during Matthew's mid-day nap and then play, read, and sing to Matt in the afternoon. Usually by 5-6pm I am pooped...Jay can't usually get here soon enough.

Sleeping is still an issue...but we have basically accepted that it will be until we work to get Matthew to cry-it-out and are less quick to pick him up...but until Jay takes those darn board exams we are just basically going to suffer/push through things right now. It really isn't that bad except that I basically have to let Matt sleep with me in the bed to get him to settle back down after he wakes up around the 11 pm to 1 am feeding...and the feeding is another issue...so Jay has been giving Matt I learned a bottle basically each night while I am sleeping around 1030-1130...so Matt is getting 2-3 ounces there and then waking up again with me around 230-4am which then usually leads me to give him another 2-3 ounces. I was doing this b/c I didn't realize Jay was also feeding Matt...so my solution is for Jay to give him a big bottle 3-4 oz or as much as he will take...and when he wakes for me, I am going to try and not feed him and if he does want (as mentioned by the internet) to only offer 1-2 oz...so slowly this will help wean him off this feeding thing...of course if anyone else has any other ideas, I would love to hear it...and how do I get him out of the habit of wanting to sleep with me?? It is tough b/c he is so nice to feel him reach for me and totall calm down and settle next to me...but OMG when he is starting to wake-up he starts to kick me and that is not fun...

It is so crazy...ugh...you would think with parents that are huge sleepers that our child would take after us...Just have to get through August...After August, Matthew will be 6 months and he will have parents ready to really work on this sleeping issue...until then...and it really isn't that bad...by now it is our normal routine so really I am use to it.

Ok, gotta run, gotta make a bottle, clean the other stuff, take care of the lunch dishes and try to do some more cleaning...did get the bathroom vanities cleaned today but would like to dust and maybe get to the bathtubs...it seems like my chores are never done.

Wonderful Weekend in Greenville NC

Matt and I were off on Friday to visit friends and check on the duplex in Greenville. The duplex looks good, just need someone to buy it! We visited lots of folks and had a great time at Aunt Lara's house and the housewarming party that Rachel and Brian threw. Matthew did really well at the part, he was up and happy through 830pm and crashed really hard that night...

This morning (Sunday) we got to catch up with Angela and Lane over breakfast. It was really great to catch up. The drive back was uneventful, Matthew basically slept the whole way home, I guess still exhausted from the party at Rachels...

So back to the gym tomorrow morning...have to make up for the 2 large helpings of Banana pudding...which was awesome and I have to get Laurie  to teach me how to make it...really best banana pudding ever!

Should be boring for a few weeks as Matt and I need to stay home for a little while...need to really get my on-line class together as I start teaching soon and I need to be ready to go...ugh...

Missing my G-vegas family and can't wait to come down again, hopefully soon...

We Joined a Gym!

Well, last night we found and joined a gym. Ended up at the American Family Fitness instead of the YMCA mainly b/c the child care available was 2hr instead of 1 hr. So this morning I got to the gym, walked on the treadmill while I wait for a yoga class. The yoga class was great, I needed that...my right foot is feeling good

I signed up for a tri which will be down the road on August 21st. So I guess today I started my training. Time to get back in shape.

Matt did well at the day-care but did poop twice and went through his outfits so I had to take home a dirty outfit on my little one...He must have had a good time b/c he took a long nap this afternoon.

So this afternoon, the goal is to mop the kitchen floors and dust...although Matt may not cooperate as he is fussing right now post nap...

Thanks Erica for your comment, I never owned winter clothes really but the few sweaters and long sleeve tops finally had to come out of their packing to air out and make more room for Matt's clothes as I start to sift through his 3 month old stuff that is getting too small. Amazing that he is almost ready for 6-9month clothes already.

July 20th...trying to be productive today

So Matt is mostly sleeping through the night...9pm to about 4 am...not bad until I try to get him to go back to sleep on his own in the crib and we get 20 minutes of crying and fussing...I gave up last night at 430 and just put him in bed with me...then we slept basically to 7ish when Queenie was walked by Jay and then back to sleep to 9am...so not bad...

So the stomach bug that has attached Jamee, Cade, Evan, Leone and Jay yesterday appears to be causing some bowels movements in Matt...very lose movements so I am trying to keep him hydrated and constantly shoving the bottle in his face to get him to eat...but other than somewhat fussing here and there he is doing ok...

Well, today I really miss the gym...and Jay just called and his boss has a meeting to 5pm and then wants Jay to wait for him so they can talk...ugh...I was hoping to get Jay to go to the YMCA and the American Family Fitness Gyms to check them out and drop off my resume for teaching aerobics...but now that doesn't look like that is going to happen..oh well, maybe tomorrow

In the mean-time...I got quite a bit done today. I unpacked some of my winter sweaters and long-sleeve shirts, vacuumed the house, cleaned bathrooms and did some laundry. Could not quite get to the dusting as Matthew demanded some attention. We did buy the exersaucer thing, thanks to those that offered me theirs, but he loved it so much at my brothers that I just couldn't wait. In fact as I sit and type this he is entertaining himself with this thing and making the sounds and songs go. It is quite cute and amazing to me to watch him get so focused on the sound-making toys. I will have to take pictures.

The next project I have is to start shifting through the 3-6 month clothes that are getting too tight and start bringing out the 6-9month clothes. I also need to send out address change stuff. I am going to use one of the pictures of Matt and I taken in Vegas. I am thinking of this on:

As for updates on me, my foot is better so the week off helped and I did get a workout on Monday on the treadmill, I am so out of shape and it is somewhat depressing. I want a gym membership to do spinning and swimming and lifting...our little workout room here is ok, it has 2 treadmills and these 2 crappy elliptical but not much for lifting and biking.

so that is what is up with us...hopefully tomorrow I get to the dusting and the shifting of clothes...but of course if I don't I am sure Matthew will take my attention.

Back In VA

Well, we survived the plane ride home...We were in bed around 10pm...with of course some fussiness from Matt but he did finally go to sleep...He made it basically through the night...5 am was when he wanted his bottle and then back to sleep...then lovely little Queenie woke us up around 730 to go outside...so not a bad night...

Today has been a lazy day...we have napped, ate, and unpacked...all seems well...Miss the Exersaucer thingy terribly and the little seat thingy that was available at my brother's house...a trip to Baby's R Us might be due today to get something to help entertain Matt during the day...b/c Mommy's arms and other body parts are just not able to keep with the bouncing and thrashing of holding a baby non-stop all day.

Well, gotta go attend to a dirty diaper. hopefully more to report later this week.
Still not working out...yep foot is still bothering me, but did apply for a wellness position at the YMCA which is part-time so shall see if they look at my info and realize I really am an aerobics instructor and call me...keep the fingers crossed...I need a gym membership soon...despite my painful foot.

July 15th update #2 from Vegas

I could not sleep last night...every little noise had me awake and well I am now exhausted...oh well, I guess I am just going to get caffeine and suffer through the day. Matt slept ok but was up at 5am so of course now it is 745am and he is out like a light...

So what is the plan for our last few days in vegas?? Today we are going to spend time with my Sister and her kids at the time-share since they are suppose to leave us maybe tonight or tomorrow...I also plan to go see an old friend at Red Rocks to play Bingo...then maybe tomorrow Harry Potter movie since I have a babysitter in my mom...Fly out Sunday morning....

Then it is try to re-adjust Matt to the east coast time, which will probably be few painful nights...then off to Greenville to check on the house...also got to get back into shape...yep, no workouts so far this week unless you count carrying my little one around and watching the Tour De France here and there...which by the way, I am so pulling for Frank and Andy...glad to see that Contador is not up in the leader position and got 13 seconds lost yesterday...

ok, gotta go catch the end of the stage today and maybe check on the big-brother headlines...
oh and parents are here...
Have a great day and HAPPY FRIDAY 

July 13th Updates from Vegas

Well, it has been a busy few days. Matthew did great on the flights and thanks to this great couple from Ohio I was able to use the bathroom and eat b/c they helped hold and entertain him on the flight...then my brother and sister arrived to drive us home and Matt exploded...the whole 30 minute drive and about 30-45 minutes at the house he was in a fit...think it was combination of ears, over tiredness, and stimulation...gave him meds to help if pain was involved and to help him sleep...he ended up asleep and actually slept well...then 440am local time, so 740 East coast time he was up and so was Mommy...that happened the first 2 days...then yesterday morning we slept in to 6ish...which was awesome b/c I got some sleep...this morning we were up at 5 so somewhat a compromise...I got Mom up to help keep me company this morning...figured 530ish was really 730ish her time so it shouldn't have been a big issue...luckily she was glad to get up and spend time with Matthew...

So far the trip is great, I have seen an old Okinawa friend Kelly down at the Hard Rock Casino and had dinner last night with an old AF Physiology friend Wes...It was so great to see and catch up with them...Today the plan is kid pictures at 10am with a photographer....I would like to have some Matthew shots alone since it is 5 months tomorrow for him and I have not gotten professional photos taken since the day 1 ones from the hospital...I also hope if there is time to take a few of me with Matt but not sure if that will work since the appointment is really just for the kids...so may have to do the mommy and me photos back in Richmond in a few months, which might be a good thing since I can maybe get them around the 7 or 8 month mark and get some progression on pics...

Tonight is suppose to be adult night...since I didn't sleep well, if Adult night means we hit he casino around 6 and get home by 9 I am so in...but if it is too late I think I am going to have to pass b/c I am exhausted...plus would hate to leave my nieces with 2 babies all alone plus the energetic 4yr old and brother...its crazy, I have not worked out once due to the crazy schedule...I am up at 5 when it would be a great time to run but no one is up to watch Matt so by the time everyone is up it is hot and I am too tired to do anything...plus my foot is bothering me again so I have chalked this week up as my rest and recovery week..hopefully the foot will get better...
ok, baby is fussing and Brother Johnny worked to 1am so gotta run and take care of him so he doesn't wake up the entire house.

5 Month Photos...just a few days early

I went ahead and took Matthew's 5 Month pictures a few days early as we are leaving this evening for Vegas and I didn't want to try and take them in Vegas...b/c then the Monthly Picture with Queenie and his blue elephant would not be included...so forgive me for doing it a few days early...a few of them are in the flicker site so should be displayed in the photo list above. I uploaded a bunch to my facebook page as well. Here is one of Matthew trying to eat his foot

Well we are mostly packed and excited for our trip...I may only get to post once or twice will in Vegas but I plan to take lots of pictures so look for lots of uploads on facebook in a few days!

Packing for Vegas

Matthew and I have a big adventure tomorrow...flying to Vegas to visit the Fontenot Family...so tonight I need to do some massive laundry b/c despite losing most of my pregnancy weight, I am still 10lbs over my goal and thus not quite fitting into most of my pre-pregnancy clothes so I only have a few summer things that actually fit and with Matthew constantly spitting up on me I find I am wearing 2-3 things a day and thus by Friday I have not clothes left to wear...so laundry and packing tonight.

Luckily I can pack lightly b/c we can do Laundry at my Brother's house so goal is to take the necessities and if necessary buy stuff in Vegas. Poor Queenie, She is already having adjustment issues and now I am leaving her for 8 days with Hubby...she is back to barking at sounds...she barked at Jay this morning when she heard him moving around at 615am and she barks every time we hear the neighbors open and close their door...so I fear she is going to be whimpering (which is something new that she does when I am not around) and in a constant state of anxiety and fear...I just hope this will help her again warm up to Jay.

As for Matthew, he was up last night at 11ish and just would not go back to sleep...which bugged Jay but really in Vegas isn't going to be a huge deal b/c if he is up here at 11-1230 that is still a normal time on the West Coast...he also cried around 3am but settled down after a bit and slept through Queenie's barking at 615 all the way to 8am this morning...so even though we are not completely through the night, it really won't bet hat bad once we get to Vegas and near aunts and grandparents to help comfort him.

Spit-up...not sure if it is b/c we switched to the new nipples that are allowing faster flow, if it is due to the little bit of rice cereal we are adding to his formula here and there or just the stress of the move and everything...but Matthew has been more of a spitter up lately....hopefully this is not acid reflux.

We are going to check out some ped's offices today. Going to see how far the offices are from our apartment...got a few suggestions from folks here at the apartment complex...so hopefully we can settle on that since we need to get Matthew's 6 month appointment set-up.

Well, I think we are going to get going on our errands. Matthew should be up from his morning nap here soon and the fun begins...

On a side note...today was the 3rd day in a row I got up and worked out...granted I didn't get out there to run until 830am but at least I did go...2.3 miles 23:30...the hills are a challenge...my body is not quite use to the hills and I am so out of shape but oh well, just getting out there as much as possible will I am sure help me get back...I look forward to my return from Vegas so I can find a gym and get into my tri- training...got to get in the pool and on the spin bike....found a local bike shop that I need to check out for the info on group rides...and saw that the YMCA has a Pink Tri Training team starting up July 7th so need to go see if there is some group that meets there...just a few more weeks then back to serious training...and hopefully by then I will be 5 lbs away from my goal weight and not 10...

July 6th, back in Richmond

Well we are back in Richmond and the duplex back in Greenville looks clean and great. Now if only someone would please buy it...We had a great time in Greenville, I got to see some running buddies and enjoy Lara's hospitality Matthew has started some new habits/issues...so he rode down with me and slept the 2-2.5 hrs but when left with Lara so I could go vacuum and clean the duplex,  he decided to throw a huge temper-tantrum. Poor Lara tried all the tricks and could not comfort Matt so she called me and I arrived...sure enough he calms down almost immediately in my arms...so then Lara agrees to come with me to help clean so we can between the 2 of us keep an eye on Matt. The 2nd issue is at night. Matt was super fussy again and around 7pm just doesn't want to sleep, eat or be comforted...b/c of this we had to miss some July 4th fun as the group wanted to meet around 630pm and well with Matt's behavior it just wasn't possible. Oh well, maybe next year. I am just hoping that Matthew will do better with the family next week when we are in Vegas...b/c this is not going to be much of a vacation or relaxing week if I am tied down to Matthew...I also hope that the flights go well...4hrs with a screaming child is not going to be fun.

So I was waiting to join and check out the gyms here as I want to try to teach spinning and/or yoga so was waiting to check things out after I get back from Vegas...so this morning I ran around our apartment and the park that is right near us...it was 2.5 miles. It was not my finest run as I averaged around the 10 min/mile mark but I did make it despite the heat, humidity and hills...yes I said hills...the terrain is definitely not eastern North Carolina so I am going to have to adjust to the hills.

Well, gotta go get groceries and feed the little one.

Oh Blog, how I have missed you! Finally moved in, well almost :)

Well, it has been a few days and I guess I have alot to update...We moved, the boxes are here and most are opened and some are unpacked but some are going to probably stay in boxes and stay in the back room...really do I need to unpack the decorative stuff for just a year only to put it back into the box in a few months...well 11 or so???

So this is the part I hate and wish firends were closer to help me...how do I set up the rooms to maximize space yet maintain child friendly and child safety??? So I have re-arranged and moved things over and over...so no gym membership yet b/c who needs it when you are constantly hauling stuff up 3 flights of stairs (yeah, silently hating my Hubby as I bring car seat, kid, and dog constantly up and down those stairs) hauling boxes around the apartment (so thats my weight-lifting workout) and rearranging furniture (more weight-work)...and when you want to do trash you have to hike it to the dumpster which is down then up a hill...so really, who needs a gym right? Anyway, I did work on my Aerobic resume so I can hopefully find a group exercise teaching position at one of the gyms nearby to get back into the swing of working out and get some excuse to get out of the house and meet people.

Got the car registered and all that stuff. Spent a while at the DMV waiting, of course Matthew slept the whole 40-50 minutes in the waiting room to wake up as I am trying to do the paperwork with the DMV lady...she is pretty nice considering I did most of the forms wrong and having to correct things and holding a screaming hungry baby. Luckily I got her at 915am, would hate to have put her through it that afternoon after a day of dealing with people all day.

The other big story is we got the high chair, we got it at Target b/c there is really no close Baby's R Us. I put it together and put Matthew in it and it seems to be ok. We also bought the first box of Rice Cereal today and put just a tad into his night feeding to see how he tolerates it. Hopefully this will help us with the sleeping through the night thing as it might help us get him to sleep longer than the 4-5 hrs we currently are going. One can only hope. I switched to the 3+ nipples to help with the feeding as well b/c lately he seems to want his milk faster than the nipple allows out and now with cereal it thickens the liquid up just a tad...it seems to work for our first try so I am hopeful this is the beginning of great things to come.

We are back to G-vegas Sunday to clean the duplex and get it Show-ready, now if someone would just come by and give us an offer...I say that (well type it actually) yet it is our storage site for some of our stuff so I guess I don't want it to sell in the next 2 weeks b/c I am out of town and would like some time to gradually move up the rest of our stuff over the course of a few more weeks as we will most likely make a few more trips there to visit folks and take care of other business.

Well, my goal on this blog was to update things, report on my running, yoga and other adventures...I hope so far I have stayed true to that...and in and effort to keep these like e-mails, Short and to the point, I am going to stop here.
I'll try to get pictures of our new place soon and post to FB.