My Change...

Change...what a scary word.  BUT it's life. We are constantly changing and either you jump on that train or you let it pass you by.  My world this year has had many changes but I would say one of the biggest and most important to me is that I have put myself first.  Now I'm not saying I don't put 110% of my energy towards my kids and my hubby but I do that keeping in mind that I need to take care of myself in the process.  

Us moms have it tough.

We are responsible for molding tiny humans. And it's the best job in the world. 

But it's also very tough. 

And it's also not your ONLY job.

And it's also not your ONLY title.

Just because we are moms now doesn't mean that we have to live and breathe our kids 24/7.

Now don't freak out on me here....

Some moms are all about their kids ALL THE TIME.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

Me, personally, I need that "me time."

I need to be away from my kids sometimes.

GASP! I said it!

I need to go out with my girlfriends every once in awhile.

Does it mean I love them or my husband any less??

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

It means I need time to talk to my girlfriends without being interrupted to play cars or to get someone an apple juice, or to turn on "mimmmmmy" (Mickey)

AND THAT'S OKAY.

I enjoy that little bit of time away from my kids.

I love them with every inch of my being, but it is not a crime, NOR A BAD THING, to want time to yourself.

It's not being selfish. 

You're still a woman. Even if you are a mom. 

That will never change.

And some of you may not agree with "me time"... 

Some of you may not even need it.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

I do.

It makes me a better mom.

A better wife.

And a better friend.

I try to get some kind of work out in everyday.  I run, I go to Hot Yoga, I take a walk.  Something for me.  Something that makes me feel good about Jenn.

I get my hair done once every 6 weeks. For 2-3 hours.

I have girls night out occasionally

I have an annual Chama weekend trip that is FABULOUS!

I am begining to run in 5K  races on the weekends and love it.
I'm able to do this because I have the love and support of my husband, who knows I need it.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

None of this makes me love my family any less because I choose to make myself a priority.

It doesn't make me a "bad mom".

It makes me someone who cares about how I feel and how I look. 

AND THAT'S OKAY.

You can sit and argue until you're blue in the face about "how much time with your kids is best", but the thing is, everyone does what works FOR THEM. FOR THEIR FAMILY.

And what works for yours, may not work for others.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

I found that the key word in all of this is balance.  I balance my family and myself.  If I'm going on a walk I let Noah ride his bike that way we are both out doing something phyical.  We went to the trampoline park...I got my workout in and Noah got to have a fun time with his mommy and cousin.  

It doesn't make you ANY LESS of an amazing mother to WANT to do these things.

You still love your kids.

You still love your husband.

But sometimes we just need time FOR US.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

Do what makes you happy. 

Truly happy.

And don't apologize for it. 

Sometimes a step back is good for the soul.

And guess what....

THAT'S OKAY!

Before/After Picture...MY Change :)

A day in the life of mommy Jenn

You know how you read blogs, see pictures on Instagram or an update on Facebook and wonder what a day in the life of that person is like?  What kind of mom they are?  What things they let their kids get away with?  What kind of limits they have, if any?  Do they ever lose their cool?  I do this all the time and I'm here today to tell you the type of mom I am, and the type of mom I'm not.

I am the mom that doesn't over-think things.  The kids dont want to eat lunch today? Fine, they won't let themselves starve.  Noah wants to go to bed with a cape and sunglasses on?  Sounds super uncomfortable to me but, hey, whatever floats your boat kid.  Even when the kids were infants (even Noah being our first)  Daniel and I were pretty relaxed when it came to most things.  We don't freak out at the first sign of a runny nose.  If they acted hungry we fed them.  If they fell asleep but it wasn't quite nap time, we let them sleep.  I think babies and kids know what they need, so to speak,  so we let them sort of pave the way.  We found the more uptight we were about things the more fussy and irritable the kids would be.

I am not the mom that has patience.  This is something I pray for on a daily basis and struggle with more than anything else in this parenting game.  I have a short fuse, especially when it comes to unnecessary tantrums and just plain ole bad behavior.  I have slammed doors, I have thrown toys, I have yelled to the point that my child is scared of me.  I hate that about myself and it's definitely one of my biggest flaws.  Thankfully it doesn't happen very often and normally it's very short-lived but damn, I hate it. Thankfully Daniel and I are a great tag team and he can swoop  in when I have had enough and vice versa.

I am the mom who will let my kid make a huge mess if it'll buy me 5 minutes of peace so I can go to the bathroom alone.  Sometimes it's worth it, other times I think it would have just been easier to let them come in the bathroom and ask 5 million questions about what, exactly, I'm doing.  Again, I struggle here because I like to keep a tidy house and the thought of yet another mess to clean up breaks me out in hives but if it allows me to do something that needs to be done, a mess will be made.

I am not the mom who is a germ freak.  We don't always wash our hands after we go to the bathroom and we certainly don't wipe down the grocery cart with Clorox wipes when we go to the supermarket.  I'm a firm believer that kids need to be exposed to some germs in their lives or they will never build up any immunity therefore making them more susceptible to getting sick in the future.  We really have never really dealt with any sicknesses beyond the common cold and or flu and I like to think that's because we don't over-sterilize Noah and Grace and everything that they touch.   Now, will I let them pick up a cookie off the floor of a bathroom and eat it?  HELL no.  But if we drop something at home we definitely follow the 5 second rule.

I am the of mom who is fun and creative.  I wish I could make  half of the crafts that I have pinned on Pinterest. I have good intentions but when it actually comes down to executing these ideas, I fail, miserably.  Sure we've tried a few things here and there but definitely not as many as I'd like.  When we do sit down and attempt something it's usually fun and the kids love it but I do admit mini panic attacks occur when sand, paper, glue and glitter are used EEEK!

I am not the mom who doesn't allow my kids to sit in front of a TV to get some things done around the house.  As a matter of fact some days the kids and I stay in our PJ's and watch TV and play all day! SUE ME!  And yes I do bring an IPAD to dinner so my kid will stay calm and quiet and Daniel and I can actually have an adult conversation.  Word to the wise...BUY AN IPAD.  Its worth the investement and your sanity! Just sayin!

So, yeah, that's me, in a nutshell.  I'm not perfect and I certainly hope it doesn't come off that way when you read this blog or see my pictures on Instagram.  I do the best that I can and hope that in the end my family always knows I love them and is happy.  I'm not perfect but I am a work in progress.

Finish this sentence...

My best friend says... hell's bells and it makes me giggle every time!

People call me... Everything under the sun. 49% of it is true :)

I most often dream... about things that have happened or I have thought about the previous day.  And I almost always remember them when I wake!

The best part of my day... is when I get home and see the smiling faces of these two! 

I really don't understand... how to follow directions when it comes to putting something together. It totally overwhelms me.  Those pages and pages of instructions and parts..I curl up in a little ball!  If I didn't have Daniel Lego's would be all over the place, the swing set would still be in the box and our outdoor furniture...I'm getting a knot in my stomach just thinking about it!

I get really annoyed...  with the constant girl drama at work.  I'm defiantly ready for summer.

There's nothing like a... perfect swimsuit...I'm pretty sure that doesn't exist!

Lately, I can't get enough... graham crackers...I know not clean eating but its my ONE vise

One thing I am NOT is... a size 2.

I spent too much money on... clothes! I love clothes and new styles! Shopping is my therapy

I want to learn.... how to not let people influence my mood....and to be nicer to my hubby...he deserves it.

I can't stop... running! WTF!

Never have I ever... walked away from a piece of key lime pie :P

Reese Witherspoon... rocks! I loved her!

Here's to you former chubby girl!

I know its been awhile since I have written.  I always try to start a blog on my Friday's off but some how this little girl named Grace seems to want all my attention EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY!

So here I am...her attached to my leg... crying to get on my lap... and trying to type to you all.  Wish me luck in getting this one finished :)
So as many of you know I have been having major stomach problems.  I'm not able to eat much...and defiantly not all the yummy stuff that I LOVE.  But this has given me the motivation to really change my eating habits.  I have been wanting to start eating "clean" and really watch what I put in my body.  I feel so much better on fruits and veggies it's a wonder I ever go back to that crap that I have always stuff in my mouth.  I am going on two weeks of clean eating.  I have lost a total of five pounds.  I have also started training with Kimmy, Ang and Jackie for our first 5k in July.  I am super stoked to start taking care of my body...goodbye chubby girl...hello healthy girl

Here's to you Healthy Girl: (Inspired by my favorite blog Mamalaughlin)

Here's to working out in between the cries and the hugs

To lacing up when you would rather sit on the couch

To shopping sprees on workout gear instead of cute clothes for work

To blisters and calluses from weight lifting

To coming home from work and changing into workout clothes instead of Pj's :)

To ordering that salad instead of a large juicy burger

To sacrificing "down time" for workouts

For taking the time out of my day to food prep for the week

To chasing my kids around the park instead of sitting there watching

To slipping on a pair of pants that are too big

To buying a smaller size

To embracing your flaws

To running in 100 degree weather

To running when its freezing

To running at all

To eating big ass salads

To skipping that piece of key lime pie

To clothes drenched in sweat

To not hating dressing rooms

To craving fruits and veggies

To being faster, stronger and better then I was yesterday!

P.S.  This only took me an hour and a half to write OYE!!!!

x

My Year in Pictures

A year in pictures. One of my favorite end of year blog posts that I have found. This is my first year doing it but I look forward to doing for many years to come. I love sorting through past photos and thinking about all the good times of the past year.

1. Me! – What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2012?  I think what I am most proud of (besides just keeping my kids alive ha) is starting to advocate for my profession.  I have put my heart and soul into having our voice be heard not only in our distirct but throughout New Mexico.  I would say this is probably the most rewarding yet most scary thing I have EVER done.

2. I Love You – picture of your "loves".  This was by far my favorite picture of us this year.  Our trip to Dallas for the Rangers game that never was :(

3. Still Laughing… Pop trying to use an exploding egg on Noah and smaking him right in the face without it breaking! Hysterical!!!!

4. Winter Wonderland –Our last snow of 2012 and it was al melted by noon :(

5. Birthday-The first of many joint boy and girl birthdays!  Maybe we should have planned our pregnancies better :) 

6. Friends: Our annual Chama trip which I hope we do FOREVER! And my trip to visit my girl in her new hood.  I am so blessed by the women I have in my life.  Always and forever I will be thankful for you girls!

7. I Was Inspired…  by this man who after two kids and five years of hard work graduated with a double masters!  I could not be a prouder wife!

8. Spring Fever: Cousins in the park enjoying a beautiful spring day

9. Travel or Vacation: You know how much our family travels so here is one picture from each of my favorites..

Phoenix Trip

Chicago Trip

Denver Trip

10. Summer Days: Always swimming with Grammy! 

11. A Day In My Life....Hanging with these two...there's nothing better :)

12. All Smiles: Her smile makes me smile EVERY TIME!

13. Autumn Harvest: It is a family tradition to go to the Pumpkin Patch.  This year Gracie actually got to enjoy it!

14. Home...These people are all "home" to me

15. Let’s Do It Again… Fun times with my girls in Cruces!!!

16. I Miss You: Everyday!

17. Dress Up: Halloween fun!

18. Beautiful 

19. Holidays: Best picture EVER!

20. My Favorite: This picture is by far my favorite of the year!  Thanks Chels :)

Hopes and Dreams for 2013 – I hope for the most beautiful year, with more happiness than sadness. Lots of growing and journeys with friends. AND, an exciting year for my little loves! 

Currently

Obsessing over: Losing these last ten pounds!!!! UGH it's so hard

Working on: Studying for my LISW exam and writing my paper to increase my pay by 10,000 buckaroos!  

Thinking about: What to do about my sweet boy who now hates school and cries every time we drop him off :(

Anticipating: Halloween!  Noah will have so much fun trick or treating and the girls are going to be ADORBS in their outfits!

Listening to:  Ron Pope...this guys voice is AMAZING!  I love him!

Drinking:  My protein shake

Wishing:  I could take away whatever is scaring Noah...bring back my sweet boy!

Happy Tuesday my friends!  Make it a good one...

Jenn

I believe...

I believe.......

I believe in Karma...what you give is what you get in return.

I believe that my parents did the best job they knew how to do

and I believe that my children will think this of us when they get to be adults.

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument....

I believe that alot of us place our happiness in other people's hands...

I believe my friends can get me through anything..

I believe you have to get burned to appreciate true love

I believe that you don't know how deep your love can be until you have had a child....

I believe hard times make you a stronger more confident person...

I believe my family is worth more then all the money in the world....

I believe this is the happiest I have ever been...

I believe forgiveness is the key to unhappiness...let the anger go

I believe hot yoga had helped me realize how much anger I still hold on to...

I believe God will provide for us at our hardest times...if you only ask!

I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner!

I believe if you do what you love everything else will just fall into place...

I believe people are actually good at heart...

I believe I still hold on to that mommy guilt...sad but true!

I believe that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest of distances...

I believe its taken me a long time to get to the person I want to be....

I believe you should always leave loved ones with three words "I love you"...you never know if you will see them again...

I believe my best friend and I can do anything or nothing at all and still have a fabulous time...

I believe that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being...

I believe to count your blessings not your troubles...

What do you believe????

I

"Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15" 
Ronald Reagan