Moving on up...

    Life is somewhat on hold at the moment.  We listed our place about two weeks ago and are anxiously awaiting a call from our realtor telling us someone wants to make an offer.  It is a very exciting time!  We have an offer in on a place we would LOVE to live subject to the sale of our townhouse.  Keeping hope alive that it all works out!  Having two wee babes in a two bedroom townhouse isn't all that bad ~ but sometimes it can be a real bummer ~ like when you just get one to sleep and the other one wakes him/her up:( Boo!  We really want to have a home where we can spend years and years ~ really make it a place where our kids love to play.  One of the homes that one looks back on and says "I grew up there".  Marley also needs more space to run and play ~ she literally runs back and forth from front door to back door trying to get all her energy out.  Other than figuring out the next big housing chapter of our lives, my brain is slowly weeding out what my career will look like in the upcoming year.  I would love to be a stay at home mom and if money allows I hope to be.  If we need the money then I will teach part time ~ not too sure what that looks like and what grade level but know 100% I will not go back to full time.  My children are my priority at this point of my life and I am not interested in a career right now.  So housing and jobs ~ FUN! :)
    Now to the kiddies<3  Marley is still super into music, dance and playing.  Her big thing right now is asking to watch Gangnam Style on my iPad ~ she says "whoop whoop style?" with the little horse dance move arms crossed in front ~ so cute!  She also really loves to watch Walk Off the Earth music videos on youtube.  She was mouthing some words to their cover of "Trouble" today ~ again super cute:)  Can't wait to get her into some dance classes!!
    Jonah is the big 6 months old!  And huge!  He is such a sweet little man ~ lots of smiles and loves to watch Marley entertain.  For the last two weeks I have been trying to convince him to try solids (puree) but it is a GIANT NO GO:(  He purses his lips together, cries, turns his head, shows no interest in eating what so ever.  He likes to play with the spoon and that's about it.  He is a boob man 100% and that's where he wants to be!  He is getting good at holding items given to him and is big on reaching out to touch whatever sparks his interest.  I love holding onto him ~ he is one cute chubby guy:)
    I am really proud of myself as I have been working on a fitness challenge thru my gym and have made great progress.  I also was diagnosed with "pubic symphosis instability" which means the joint holding my two large pelvis bones together in the front is super loose.  It's a real bummer and can be super painful.  Have been working with physio and massage trying to get it back to better.  Sucks a lot right now because I can not run, do lunges, or any one legged thing.  I have to modify almost everything at the gym.  I have never had any major pain issues, illnesses, etc. except for this for the last two years and I am so ready to get it handled and move on.  It will most likely return if we decided to have more babies but at least I will know how to handle it.  It was disguised as a pulled groin up until about a month and a half ago.  Any day I am not in pain is a good day ~ I catch myself walking around, cleaning, playing and am like "whoa not hurting right now" because I have been so used to being in a lot of pain everyday.  Any progress is good progress and I am just going to work on getting stronger.  
 
    I am looking forward to spring and can not wait to get outside and play with the kids on GRASS!:)  So let's sum it up:
1.  Pray we sell our townhouse NOW so we can start the next great chapter in a house with space, a yard, more than 2 bedrooms:)  SEND POSITIVE THOUGHTS OF SELLING OUR WAY NOW THANKS:D
2.  Figure out the job situation for next year~ maintain balance with family and work if I have to return part time.  Not even balance really more like family is most important ~ supplement it with a little cash from work.
3.  Marley and Jonah are probably the most amazing little human beings in the whole wide world and I love them to bits!
4.  Fitness Challenge is going well and looking forward to seeing what I accomplish in March.  Will share all the details once challenge is complete (maybe even some pics we'll see how brave I am:)
5.  Diagnosed with PSI ~ dealing with it and trying to heal.  No more pain I eventually I hope:)  Well not until next baby (hehe c'mon Paul I know you want too;) :)
6.  SO READY FOR SPRING AND SUMMER!  Not a winter, cold weather person ~ probably should move to somewhere like southern California when I retire:)

Next time I post it will be about how we sold our house, I figured out the job situation, how much weight I loss, and how well my PSI is doing:) And it will be Spring because it's almost March! Yaya!

Let's pray for all the good things to come our way!

Mommy's Little Dancer

My girl has a gift...

Show was just starting! Go DoodleBops! 

I am positive Marley is meant to dance, sing, entertain, create.  She danced before she could walk.  As soon as she could sit up on her own she started grooving.  I really think that we are born with a little purpose, a natural passion.  Marley's is to dance.  Tonight we went to our first musical production ~ Strawberry Shortcake and the Doodlebops.  Just watching the look on her face made the hour long drive well worth it.  She moves so naturally to the music.  She attempts to sing the songs they sing.  She claps, smiles, wiggles ~ and looks so unbelievably happy.  So satisfied.  So fulfilled.  When we wake in the morning she asks for "muqik"~ music to dance, spin, hop.  She says "mommy try" after every cool little move.  It is so adorable and makes me smile.  She likes all kinds of music and she loves watching dancing on the computer/tv/etc.  It's almost like she was a dancer or performer of some sort in a past life ~ she is an old soul, not yet two but seems to be so sure above her dance.  You can tell she is so amazed when she tries something new ~ so impressed with her ability.  I will encourage her ~ if dance/performance makes her happy I will make sure I support her in that.  I think too many kids get "cut off" or directed away from something like the arts.  I will make sure she can experience what she feels so happy doing.  I love this girl so much.  She is a toddler with such confidence, enthusiasm, love, curiosity, sweetness and intuition.  She's my little dancer<3

Strawberry Shortcake happens to be a old highschool friend of mine ~ we used to do theatre together!

I can't wait to do it again!  We are so hitting up Broadway in NYC when she gets a little older!  She would love it!

Gitter done!

I am not one of those "special" cases ~ you know those ladies that have a second baby and a couple months later look as fit and lean as they did before they were even pregnant.  I was probably in the best shape of my life (and happiest with my body) right before I was pregnant with my daughter Marley.  I had just completed a life-changing 12 weeks doing bootcamp at a local gym and was so excited with the very fit and healthy me.  My very last week is when I took a pregnancy test due to some common prego things and voola I was pregnant!  That was a wonderful moment!  I have always been an active girl ~ my weight has gone up and down slightly from about mid-teens til now.  I really enjoyed pregnancy because I didn't feel self conscious like I once did ~ who cares if my tummy sticks out now!:)  It was a freedom I have never experienced since hitting puberty even when I was in great shape.  I gained about 35 or so pounds with that first pregnancy and the weight came off fairly easily ~ I started back at my gym (Excel Fitness Vernon BC ~ http://excelfit.ca ~fitness class based sort of like bootcamp) at about 6 months post partum and became pregnant again 9 months post partum.  I was about 8 pounds shy of my ideal weight at that time but still happy with the progress I had made.  So here I am now 5 months post partum, round 2 and the weight is coming off slow as a turtle.  I started back at my gym at 5 weeks post partum but didn't really focus on food/nutrition until about 3 weeks ago.  Having two babies is no excuse but the fact of the matter is that I am tired and busy busy busy.  At the start when I was getting into the groove I would look at the clock and it would be two in the afternoon and I had not had a bite to eat yet!  Of course my kiddos were fed and happy as clams.  I am making a conscious effort to take the time to eat, drink and be merry even if one of them is crying.  So a few weeks ago I signed up for a 60 day fitness challenge ~ pledged to take minimum 4 classes a week, eat super healthy, no coffee, no alcohol, etc.  I am sticking to it ~ eating great, drinking a ton of water, exercising and I am feeling great.  I am down 5 pounds already and am very satisfied with that.  I gained about 30 pounds with this last pregnancy and it seems like it is just lingering so I am glad to have an action plan set in motion.  Of course sleep aids in weight loss but I can not change that:)  At least there are a couple things I can control like what goes into my mouth, exercise, etc. and that will get me closer to my goal.  Other than being a healthier me, my main reason for wanting to drop pounds is to fit into my damn clothes! :)  Nothing worse than having a bunch of nice pre-baby clothes sitting in your closet just starring at you!  Can't wait to pull on that one pair of nice jeans and zip them up without sucking it in:)  Here's to success and health!

Ground Turkey Quinoa salad with homemade hummus guacamole

Oh and a small organic whole chicken in the slow cooker with veggies is a to-die-for yummy recipe ~ just pinterest it!

Jonah ~ 5 Month Update :)

My little man is so sweet!  Jonah has such an easy going personality.  I love how much he loves me ~ he is getting so expressive now ~ when he sees me he waves his arms and gives a squeal.  He has starting rolling over from back to tummy but gets stuck.  Poor little guy!

He laughs so hard at Marley and is constantly watching her every move in complete astonishment.  She is so good with him and always asks to "hob him" ~ she is gently and loving.  Jonah is sleeping thru the night and naps around three to four times a day.  He nurses often throughout the day ~ probably every couple of hours.  He loves tickles and raspberries on his belly.  He is a giant of a baby and is off the charts in height and weight.  I love this stage he is coming into ~ cute, chubby baby body, learning to sit up, trying out solid foods, playing with toys.

Baby Joe's eyes are staying blue and his hair is looking lighter and lighter.  He is currently in swimming lessons as a Starfish (and Marley is a Duck).  He falls asleep pretty easy in the car and is not a big fan of his carseat just yet.  It will be nice when spring rolls around and we can do way more things outside.  He has grown out of so many pieces of clothing (he is wearing 9-12 month stuff)!  Jonah is not a soother baby or a thumb sucker yet ~ I don't know if that will become a thing like it was and is for Marley.  He is my angel baby and I love my big "baby man":)