It's in the picture......

If you are a reader of my blog then you will understand this picture....if not oh well. Read on and you'll figure it out. Soon I'll just be posting a picture without any description and you'll just have to go off of that....ha!

Baby Boot Camp, Sleeping 101...an update

Most know that our house has been in Baby Boot Camp for sometime....well, since Paulie decided that sleeping was not a priority....crying/screaming at night was (since we moved). Over Kevin's leave we decided to enroll Paulie in Baby Boot Camp, the sleeping sessions. The entire family was starting to show signs of deterioration from his nightly rebellion. I have been debating on whether or not I should post an update because...well, we all know what could happen....I jinx myself and then I am back to completely enrolling Paulie into the next session. But the need to post the results have gotten the better of me and here I am posting. So onto the results......

I am so proud of Paulie! He has graduated from BBC and has returned to his normal sleeping patterns. We have been on a really good streak for about 3 weeks. Life has returned to normal in our household. We did have a set back about 2 nights ago....we had to let some crying occur but that only lasted 10 minutes. Sleep is so wonderful!

We have a lurker....please identify yourself....or go away

I have noticed that we have a lurker hanging out and watching the blog. Actually, there are two lurkers. One is in Victoria, TX the other is in Dallas. Now whoever you are in Victoria, TX you popped up watching our blog in June 2008 and have remained a very consistent visitor. Dallas, well, you seem to come and go. Your viewing is not as consistent as Victoria's. Now mind you, I do have some friends in Texas, but not near you two. So, please do us a favor and leave us a comment as to your identities. We would like to know who you are. Thanks so much.

Week's catch up/review and some pretty photos

We had a lazy weekend. I had a migraine Saturday morning that was very intense with nausea. I spent most of the morning in the bed while the boys ransacked the house and Kevin went to work to practice shooting. But, by the late afternoon the migraine had passed and we all enjoyed the night together. Today we cleaned up the house, ran errands, and enjoyed spending time together.

William's half-day camp ended on Friday and it was a very successful experience for him. He was tired and would often fall asleep at an earlier hour than normal for him. He has this week off and then begins Pirate Camp next week. I am hopeful that these experiences will make for an easier transition into Kindergarten. He is also continuing with his weekly swimming lessons at the health club and LOVES it. Friday was the first time that he swam the pool by himself. It was a great moment....and I have to say I got teary-eyed. He is getting to be so big....going to camp, Kindergarten and swimming. All boy and lovin' every minute of it. He was so proud of himself after Friday's lesson. We have a few more weeks and then level 2 begins.

During hand to hand combatives this week, Kevin had his templar membrane in his left ear ruptured and got a black eye. The unit doctor says it should heal, but due to the large size of the rupture, he will probably need surgery to completely repair the membrane once the training course is over. He is on antibiotics, Tylenol and has a bit of a head cold from the rupture. The eye is not so bad....just the outer corner part of the eyelid. He needs plenty of sleep to feel better and was successful in achieving that over the weekend.

I have been going to the gym alot....and anyone that really knows me knows I am not an exercise bunny. This past week I was there twice a day, everyday working out and watching William with his swimming lessons. One good thing is that I have met with the Exercise Physiologist and created a strengthening workout routine for me. I had my one-month review and learned that I did not loose ANY weight.....I weight exactly the same....but I lost 4% of my body fat. That is good...I guess. So I go back in another month and we will see if I have lost inches.

Now I will end this random post about the week's catch up with some beautiful flowers from Adrienne. These are the replacements that were sent for the original ones that started drooping immediately. This picture makes me feel like my house was a florist's shop....these roses were so beautiful.



And Paulie....what can I say....I just love to watch him curl up, snuggle up and enjoy his day whether watching his favorite show (right now it is a toss up between Blue's Clues.....you never can escape Blue and her crew..... or The Backyardigans) or reading his favorite ladybugs book.

Ratings

Have you ever noticed that certain things only get done on good days or bad days. I recently realized that when it is a good day, I make the bed - completely make the bed. On a good day, my bed is made with the duvet pulled up, pillows fluffed and placed neatly on the bed for decoration. When it is a crummy day, well let's just say the bed never makes it past that crumpled sheet look. On an in-between day, I pull the sheets up, maybe the duvet, but definitely leave the pillows on the floor. From my picture, can you tell what kind of day I am having....what about you?

Better or worse.....you tell me.

As you know, William is in camp this week from 7:30 to 12:30 everyday. This means that we are having VERY early mornings in our household.....and as many of you know, our household is not an early morning household. I tend to arise out of bed around 8AM, Paulie shortly follows at 8:30, and William....well, William will arise somewhere between 9-10AM. He is just not a morning baby....and never has been. So getting him up early is a chore. In fact, getting him plain up is a chore. I have to wake him early, let him sit for about 30 minutes and then offer food. At that time he might eat or might not. Getting ready for preschool when we lived in Florida was a process and so will be getting ready for Kindergarten. This is how William is and this is how it goes. So knowing that, it is better to get up early or return to our normal schedule after this week?

If we return to our normal schedule, the kids will be going to sleep around 8-8:30PM. Sometimes William makes it to 9:00PM. If we continue with the early trend, they will hit the beds around 7:30PM. I have not quite decided which is better. I personally like sleeping later....but have not really minded getting up earlier. I am hitting the gym more with the earlier rises, but that is because William's camp is at the Mommy gym (so if I am there to drop him off might as well stay and work out, right?). I think working out everyday is making me a bit more tired too. So what do you think...should we stay early or move back to a bit later? Let me know your thoughts.

Strange.....

I feel really strange today...... and so does my house. Why, you ask? I am home with only one child....the young one, too! William is at camp from 7:30 to 12:30 this week. How strange to be with just one baby. I forgot how it is with just one child in the house. Paulie and I can play and laugh and not worry about big brother charging in or I don't have to worry about big brother and little brother fighting, hurting each other, or running a muck in the house. Nope, this week it is a bit more quiet here. Paulie just doesn't know what to do with all the space....he just runs from room to room. Strange isn't it....this quietness.....soon enough it will be back to normal. What will I ever do with myself and just Paulie when school starts?!?!?!?!?