I'm so excited to say that I met ALL of my goals for this month! I am so glad that I made them and that I'm not only sticking to them but keeping track of them as well. It makes me feel really good about myself.
Weight Lost: 13 pounds! I walked/jogged 58 miles!
Books read: (10/10)
Dead Witch Walking
Blood Promise
Grave Secret
Divine Misdemeanors
Her Fearful Symmetry
The Good, the Bad, and The Undead
Every Which Way but Dead
A Fistful of Charms
For a Few Demons More 
Dear John 
Healthy Recipe learned:
Pineapple Honey Teriyaki Pork Chops
House: Rented! We're moving in this weekend!
Goals for next month:
Lose 6 more pounds.
Read 10 more books.
Learn another healthy recipe.
Get all of our stuff unpacked and organized in the new house.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
January Goal Check-in
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tot School: No theme
Jackson is 19 months old.
We didn't really have a theme this week because we were so busy! We had: 4 playdates, 2 speech therapy sessions, and a doctor's appointment. Add to that all of the errands that I have had to do to prepare for our move next weekend, and we just weren't home that much. We did a lot though!
Books: Oops! by David Shannon
In my new playgroup, we have a craft playdate at the park every other week. This week, we made snowmen out of playdough.
I am happy to report that Jackson got through 2 whole playdates without pulling anyone's hair! LOL It was a miracle.
Monday, Jason was off for MLK day, so we went to the Museum of Science and History. I have to say, I was a little disappointed. Between the descriptions on the website and the cost of admission, I expected it to be much bigger and have a lot more to see.
This is what their website describes as "the World of Water." Not really what I was expecting.
We ended up letting Jackson play in the toddler play area for quite a while simply to try to get our money's worth!
We also ended up doing an indoor playdate at McDonald's since it has been so rainy.
Jackson finally learned to drink out of a straw. He cracks me up though. He REALLY likes to flick the milk out of the straw. It goes all over his face and he thinks that is HILARIOUS!
We also went to the circus but I haven't had a chance to get those pictures uploaded yet.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Getting to Know You
To play..Grab the questions..copy them onto your blog..answer them..and click the button above to link up!
1. Waffles, pancakes or french toast?
Pancakes! Preferably with homemade chocolate sauce on top :)
2. Dream home..What would it look like?
Something nice and big with a wraparound porch!
3. Favorite sport to watch during the Winter Olympics?
I don't usually watch, but Jason really likes curling haha.
4. The first word that comes to mind when describing yourself?
determined
5. Dresses, pants (jeans, leggings, etc.) or skirts?
jeans, usually. I like getting all dressed up and putting on a nice dress every once and awhile.
6. What is your favorite time of day?
Jackson's naptime (when he actually naps) so that I can lay around and read & relax.
7. Beach or Mountains..which do you prefer?
The beach. I hate cold weather.
8.Will you watch the Super Bowl?
maybe? I'm not a big football fan, so I guess we'll see.
Friday, January 22, 2010
A note about Tot School
A few people have commented on my Tot School posts recently saying that either they wish they had time to plan things like I do, or they don't think that their child would/could do the same things that Jackson does, so I just wanted to clarify a few things.
"Tot School" is not really school. Obviously. But what I mean is, I don't structure our whole days with activities or try to make him do anything that he doesn't want to do. A lot of times you'll notice that I will make something, like the sensory buckets or sometimes playdough, and either Jackson won't be interested in it or he'll play with it for a few minutes and then he's done. This doesn't bother me...I let him move on to whatever he wants to do.
Many times I'll just put out some new toys that address a skill I want him to learn (like the ring stackers, blocks, or puzzles) and even though he plays with these things, he won't do them the "right" way. I might try to nudge him in the right direction, but mostly, I just want him to play the way that he wants to. When he's ready, he'll get it.
As for the crafts, many things that I do involve his hand or footprints. I do them in a certain color and then decorate them to look like a penguin or snowman or whatever. Then I hang them on the wall and he'll look at them and I'll talk about them with him. But I do these things mostly for myself or for family members as keepsakes.
Other crafts that I do are easy things for him. Letting him paint with water, giving him stickers to put on a page, etc. These things don't take long, they don't require much prep work, and they are fun for him. The harder looking things...like making a snowman face...they require a lot of help from me. I cut everything out, I put the glue on the pieces, and I guide him to put them where they go. I do these crafts to help him recognize eyes, nose, mouth, etc., which he is still having trouble with.
As for the themes, they don't take a lot of planning from me (for the most part). I see a few activities that I like, mostly from other blogs that also do Tot School or from toddler activity websites, then I just get a few books that I think Jackson will like and that's pretty much it. Again, most of the things that I do, don't require much prep work. Honestly, picking a theme makes it easier for me to look up activities for us to do without spending hours on the internet trying to find things to do.
Our days look like this: In the mornings we usually have to leave the house for something: a playdate, going to the park, grocery shopping, running errands, etc. We come home, Jackson naps *usually*. When he wakes up, he eats a snack while I read to him, then we do a special activity (craft, sensory bucket, etc). Then we just play, read, sing songs, etc. until dinner time. So you can see that it's not really a super structured environment or anything like that.
The most important thing for me is for Jackson to have FUN! My ultimate goal with Tot School is just to expose him to as many things as I can. I don't spend hours planning, and I don't get upset if he doesn't like something that I planned.
I post about Tot School because it is part of our lives, just like everything else that I post about. I don't do it so that you'll think I'm perfect or anything like that....because TRUST me...I KNOW that I'm not!
If you stay at home with your toddler for even part of the day, you are probably already doing Tot School. You play with your kid, read to your kid, sing to them, feed them snacks, etc. You're teaching them every moment of the day whether you realize it or not!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
More Awards!
Brandi @ Life of a New Mommy gave me the Best Blog Comments Award!
MoonKidsMom gave me the Honest Scrap award. I've gotten this one before so I'm not going to pass it on this time. K?
The Blue Zoo gave me the Kreativ Blogger award.
2. I am so freaking excited about the new (final) season of LOST that I could just burst. I can't wait to find out what's happening on the island, though I predict that they'll never actually tell us.
3. One of my dreams is to open a bakery. I'd love to decorate cakes (even though, honestly, I'm not very good at it...yet.)
4. I tried this smoothie recipe today. I didn't think a drink with spinach in it could be good, but it was!
5. Filling these things out makes me feel like a very boring person. Especially since I've spent a good part of the last 2 years telling you guys basically everything about myself!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Tot School: Penguin theme
by Patrick Benson and Penguin Pete Ahoy!
by Marcus Pfister Herbert.
Monday, January 18, 2010
It's Winnie the Pooh Day!
Today is Winnie the Pooh day (author A.A. Milne's birthday). We actually have a very busy day planned today, so we celebrated over the weekend.
We read My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Count On Us! and Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin.
We ate Winnie the Pooh sandwiches! (PB & honey made w/a bear cookie cutter)
And Jackson played with his Winnie the Pooh toys.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
10 pounds lighter! & My workout playlist
I never thought that I would actually ENJOY working out, but surprise, surprise I DO! I've been doing pretty simple stuff so far...either 2 mile walks around my neighborhood or 3 miles on the elliptical if I can make it to the gym. Sometimes both! I have so much more energy now than I ever thought was possible!
I've been doing a body test (weight/bmi/balance, etc) on the Wii Fit every couple of days. My first goal was to lose 10 pounds this month. Well, we're only 16 days in and I've lost 10 pounds already! I think I will reward myself with a pedicure :)
**Yes I know I am a HUGE DORK ok? but that is a good mix!
Friday, January 15, 2010
We found a house! and other news
Yesterday was National Delurking Day and I completely forgot. So I'm doing it on my blog today. Whether you're an old or new reader, comment all the time or have never commented, leave me a comment just saying hi! I'll stop by your blog and return the favor!
My #1 major goal for the year was to find a house to rent and get us out of this small, overcrowded apartment. We spent most of last week checking out houses. We finally decided on one, and today we turned in our security deposit! I'm so excited. It is a nice little 3 bedroom/2 bath house with a fenced in backyard.
In other news, my MIL (who is THE sweetest woman in the world) is in the hospital with pneumonia and either ulcers or gall bladder problems (they haven't figured it out yet). We are really worried about her, but at least she is out of the ICU now. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers for the next few days.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
It might just change the way you think about...
These are a few posts that I've read this week that really inspired or moved me. Check them out, they might just change the way you think about...
Nagging your husband Fix That Leaky Faucet I should tell you that my philosophy on nagging is that if Jason doesn't want me to nag, then he should do what I ask him to the first time. But this post really made me think twice about it.
Taking time out for yourself It's All About Me (or You!)
Being a mommyblogger Embracing the Mommyblogger Is "mommyblogger" a term that you embrace or one that makes you cringe?
And this one? This one will make you cry (if you're anything like me). If you have any resources or even ideas of how to help, let them know. It's getting real bad (Haiti)
