Dreams do come true

I have waited a long time for this. I have endured endless amounts of dirt in the house, all over my white carpet. Yes, it's been a nightmare from day one. Days filled with getting down on my hands and knees and scrubbing our dog each and every time she went outside and wanted back in covered in dirt. I can't say I am going to miss it, in fact I almost did a happy dance when we laid our sod last night.
As each roll was laid, and the dirt slowly started disappearing I started to get a bit giddy with relief. My darling husband broke his back last night trying to get it completed before our weekend started and he succeeded. Have I mentioned there is nothing more sexy then a man laying sod??
This morning, once hubby crawls outta bed, I plan to sit with him on our new deck, enjoying some weak coffee, and looking out on our new green playing field. Life is good today!

One deflated tire

I'm just keeping it real people, my husband comments that I am way to personal on my blog but I respond with the fact that I am just being honest with the good sense not to give out too many details.
So, one deflated tire is what I am using to describe my post pregnancy stomach. I don't remember it hanging around this long after giving birth the other times, but maybe it's because it's my third and all bets are off after two kids? I'm not sure, all I know is I am tired of my husband kneading it likes it's bread dough and commenting on how hilarious it is. WHATEVER!
So as of know I am in the midst of deciding whether to buy ANOTHER gym pass or purchase a treadmill for at home use. I like the gym for all the options you have there, but the one thing my gym won't offer is babysitting for a baby under 6 months of age. To be honest I wouldn't want to leave her with teenagers anyway so that being said I would really have to co-ordinate with my husband's schedule. Likely I would have to go after he's home from work and by that time I am usually DONE for the day.
Having a treadmill at home appeals in that I can work out when baby is asleep, but I worry I will be constantly interrupted by household stuff or kids. What to do?
What do you guys think??? I want my deflated tire gone, and soon!!

Here Comes the Sun

That time of year is upon us, or I hope it is soon, where we will feel the warmth of the sun upon our deprived skin. I love waking up in the morning, getting my morning coffee in hand and heading out on the deck to absorb some rays and relax.
Back in my foolish youth I would sit outside all day, lathered in baby oil, and would bake..literally! Of course that was after I had spent a month or so tanning in a tanning bed, just so I would have a base tan and wouldn't burn outside :O) Oh, those were the good ole days of "ignorance is bliss", and it was.
Today I am trying to be responsible with the sun and how much exposure I get, along with my family. I buy my kids UV protective clothing, lather on the sunscreen, make them wear sunglasses and hats, etc. This year in my quest to be more 'green' about what we use I began researching sunscreens, remember when I said ignorance is bliss, well this is one of those situations.
I have come across countless studies that are now saying sunscreen may not protect you from harmful rays, but it may actually lead up to an increase in skin cancer! Sunscreens contain chemicals that once heated by the sun change into cancer causing free radicals! Yes, this upsets me! Where are the regulations, where is the integrity of the companies promoting these sunscreens?
We lather our kids up, we lather ourselves up and we think we are being responsible with the sun in doing so. The fact is that since we have started adding sunscreen to our skin they have noticed an INCREASE in melanoma, especially in places like Australia where sunscreen has been heavily promoted.
So what is the alternative? I have come across some companies that are chemical free, they use zinc and minerals to shield us from the harmful rays. These minerals reflect the UV rays rather then absorbing them.
Here are a few that are chemical free:
California Baby
Burt's Bees
Alba
There are many more available online. Bottom line, we can't blindly trust these cosmetic companies. The research is out there and it's scary. Thankfully there are alternatives for us.

Someone's Growing Up!

I can honestly say I have had this same fight for the past 4 years. It's the odd morning when my 7 year old son will get out of bed, on time, put a smile on his face and get ready with no trouble.
We have had all out yelling wars in the morning trying to get this boy from his warm bed to school on time. I have gone in with the best of intentions, put a sing-songy voice on, gave him multiple reminders that it's time to arise and start the day. It's not long, say after 10 reminders, that my patience is at a low as I see the clock continuing to move ahead and my lazy son is still trying to get out of bed.
I have grounded him, taken away favorite toys, nothing really seems to work, or work for long anyway until we are back to square one.
Since our daughter has been born my husband has taken on the glorious role of getting our son out of bed in the morning. For a while, due to the novelty, he would get out of bed no problem making me think he reserves his truly wonderful behavior for yours truly. I would be drowsy in bed, from an eventful night of breastfeeding, listening to the happy voices of my kids and husband getting the day started. Well, at least I am getting a sleep in, I think to myself.
One morning I am awakened to the impatient voice of my husband once again telling our son to get a move on. This morning the voices aren't too happy, a little smile comes across my face thinking to myself now he knows what my mornings have been like for too many years.
Later that day when my son returns from school my husband informs him there are going to be some changes around here. He then informs him, and me for that matter, that an alarm is going to be set in the boys room. It is going to be our sons responsibility to get up, dress himself, brush his teeth all before 7:45am. If this isn't done on time he will be grounded after school from playtime with his pals. After his teeth are brushed he is to get his dad up to make him breakfast.
Well, let's just say I had my doubts.
Our boy has been doing this for about a week now and he is doing great. I heard him this morning, as the whole house was asleep, he turned off the alarm, got himself dressed, teeth brushed and went and woke daddy up to make him breakfast.
I'm proud of the boy and grateful to my husband for pushing him to grow up a bit and get some things done himself.

8 Things

Again I have borrowed the idea from Cocotte... thanks girl!

8 things I am looking forward to?
- My daughter sleeping through the night
- SUMMER!!!
- Time spent at the cabin
- Losing this baby weight
- Grass being laid in my backyard
- a swimming pool
- planting flowers and growing veggies
- getting back to the gym

8 things I did yesterday?
- nursed my baby
- complained about the wind in our city
- played badminton in the backyard with my husband
- ate fish for dinner
- baked banana muffins and cookies
- talked to a girlfriend I haven't talked to in a long time
- cleaned the living room
- played catch with my sons

8 TV shows I watch
- Grey's Anatomy
- The Doctors
- Biggest Loser
- Friday Night Lights
- Oprah
- Ellen
- Housewives of Orange County
- Who's the Boss