The Beat Goes On

Busy, busy, busy! That's what we've been lately. I know it's that time of the year, the end of another school year. This year we are busy preparing for SAT's and investigating college and careers.

The girls are on track to finish by June, but the boys are looking at July. I don't mind tha they work during the summer, it keeps them up to date and saves me money. I don't have to worry about how to entertain them and keep them off the t.v and video games. My oldest is heading into his senior year and will have a very heavy workload with school, work and extra curricula activities. He's got his eye on the police academy. He had thought about serving in the military but has opted for service closer to home. I am happy about that. So we have begun the discovery process. Good thing, he can get a scholarship to cover the cost of the Academy! He will also earn 45 credits toward and associates in Criminal Justice.

The others are working hard and looking forward to next year. My youngest, El Bambino, is growing fast and finally falling in to a schedule of some sort. He's still waking up at night, I will be happy when he sleeps through. He's started taking naps during the day which means I can get some things done around the house.

I took the girls to a homesteading class on how to make Jam and butter. We made jars of strawberry jam and yesterday I made my own peach jam. Its much cheaper and much much quicker to purchase butter in the store. I think I enjoyed the class far more than the girls did. Next month we will learn about canning vegetables. I've always wanted to know how to do this!

I've started a very serious workout regimen. I walk 1.5 hill filled miles every day, add an extra 1.75 miles on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. My neighbor and I do Power 90 DVD on Mon, Wed and Fri and I do Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (holy cow that's a killer one!) on Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun. I also joined Weight Watchers. I enjoy knowing that I can eat what I want. Just not always as much as I want. I'm learning, very quickly, how big portion sizes really are. No wonder I got so dern fat. That bucket of a bowl I had was definitely NOT a portion size on this planet :)

Since I had El Bambino I've lost 43 lbs. Granted, he was 10 of that. But my excuses were the other 33. I would like to lose 75 more. That would put me at 160 and quite content. I haven't weighed 160 lbs since High school. *sigh* I'm not a fan of mentioning my weight, but accountability helps. So...don't let me quit!!!

So no more nappy for El Bambino, he needs to be fed so I can hit the store before the day is done. I've got some pics to frame. I can't wait to share one in particular with you. Hopefully this week.

Have a blessed Memorial Day! Thank you to all who serve in our nations military. Thank you to those who support them.

The First Day of the Rest of My Life

This was March 18th, 2011.

Life, as I had been experiencing it, changed completely. Instead of being a mom to 4 older children, I am now mom to 4 older children and one newborn. This doesn't sound like much until you begin to add up all that it means.

Older children make breakfast for themselves, newborns wake mom up for breakfast. :)
Older children wash and fold their own laundry, newborns wear diapers that sometimes leak because a sleepy mom put it on all wonky at 2 am and need to have their onesie changed and washed by sleepy mom.
Older children clean up their own rooms, newborns make no messes, but sleepy mom just tosses those cleaned onesies on the chair instead of putting them in the drawer and has to clean up babies room now.
Older children can ride their bikes and walk next to mom, newborns are pushed in a stroller or carried by mom who now realizes how out of shape she really was!
Older children say "Let's go on a field trip" and we do. A newborn says "Let's go on a fieldtrip after you feed me, put on a clean diaper, get the baby bag together, put the stroller in the car, oh yeah and feed me again please..Now I need a new diaper..don't worry we'll get there..next week"

I am not complaining, I love my lil' bambino more than I can even express and my older children love him too.

I have been a mom to older children for a while and now must relearn how to be a mom to a lil' one. It's a much different world.

My 16 yo stares at me like I'm crazy when he catches me baby talking to El Bambino. They have each taken to him in their own ways. I can see in my girls the beauty of nurturing and in my boys,the fathers they may one day be.

El Bambino has brought much to our family. Because of the gift of his life, our lives have been renewed. Thanks be to God.