Getting that booty back, also known as "time to workout"

This post will be categorized under "random musings". If you're looking for pictures of my cute kids, keep scrolling on.

After I had Cole, I never really worked too hard at losing the baby weight. Sure, it took some time, but it just consistently melted away. With Hudson, I don't think this will be the case. I've hit a plateau and the number on the scale (and jean size) is not okay. And with lots of fun events on the horizon, it's time to start kicking my ass at the gym. It also doesn't help/hurt (???) that Jason has been running everyday and is currently buying new belts since his old ones are too big. A-Hole!

Soooo I've decided to start talking about this on the blog in hopes that it holds me more accountable. If you, the readers of this glorious digital diary, know that I'm trying to get back in shape (a lean shape... like a vertical standing rectangle vs. the current circle shape I'm in) then I'll likely want to make sure I'm sticking with it knowing I may see you soon.

What's my plan?
Good question.
I have no idea!

Small steps I guess. This week, it's working out (and apparently my week starts on Thursday for some reason). Next week, it's switching to salads for lunch everyday. The following week, giving up the sauce on work nights (well, maybe with the exception of Thursday...). The next... hell, if I make it that far I'll be thrilled and will just reevaluate then.

In summary: sorry if I post random stories of hating running, the weird ladies that strip down in the gym locker room over lunch, or how I can no longer stand the site of lettuce.... You don't have to read it, but I'm going to post it in hopes it will motivate me to keep pushing forward.

The end.

Raising a Boy

Saw this article and wanted to post it. I pretty much agree with every one of them, no matter how much you push it or not!

Ones the resonate the most:

Roughhousing Is Innate

Boys are physical. There's the jumping off furniture, the rolling on each other, the "hug" that turns into a full-body running tackle. Play fighting and roughhousing is surprisingly hard-wired into many boys. It's often how they connect and express affection. Don't worry – it's normal and experts say it's healthy. This kind of physical interaction can foster positive relationships, boost the body's feel-good chemicals and promote intelligence -- even if means stuff around the house is going to get broken

Even Sweet-As-Pie Boys Love Guns

No toy guns in your house? No bad-guy shows? No cowboy dress-up gear? It doesn't matter. Somehow, boys know what a gun is, and will turn anything from an empty toilet paper roll to a finger into a weapon. It's disconcerting, for sure, but it's not something to worry about. And if you try to ban gun play, you run the risk of making it that much more exciting. Think of it this way: Maybe he's a good guy looking to save the world from bad guys and hot lava

Pee Will Be Everywhere. Everywhere.

On the floor. Behind the toilet. On the wall. All over the seat that they neglected to lift up. Apparently, it takes time and an attention span not to spray the entire bathroom while urinating. And perhaps less surprising: No one notices or cares but you. Keep some Clorox wipes at the ready and remind yourself of this upside: Unless there's poop involved, your child won't ever need to sit on a dirty public toilet seat and it's incredibly easy for them to pee behind a tree in the park.

Post Baby - Funny Article

For all the moms (or soon to be moms reading this) out there... this one is for you!

A co-worker sent it to me and I peed my pants, literally - because I do that now - as I was reading it.

My favorite: #5 Worst Massage Ever... 

For you men out there... take a read. You'll have even more sympathy for those lovely ladies in your lives and perhaps increase the value of that push present! :)

Taking Bets

So as I mentioned, the doc thinks Baby Boy Rogo will be coming sooner than my original due date. Since I love to watch pots boil and it's betting season (March Madness), I thought I'd make a calendar of some of the guesses thus far.

So place your own bets on when this kiddo will be making his debut.

{note: this I'm doing this, I've just increased my chances of going past my due date. Lovely}

Great Article

I haven't had time to talk about this article with J yet... I just read it... but I think I might have to. It's funny and I would love to hear if he had the same thoughts... I had some, so I would assume so...

Read it. Laugh. Enjoy. Commiserate.

Venting

I’m mad at my friends who have two kids. Why you ask? Because they never gave me any insight into how much harder/suckier the second pregnancy is than the first. I refuse to think it’s just me who have noticed these glaring differences.

So for all you ladies who are thinking about having another, here are some hard truths (because I’m a good friend and will tell you):

1. Weight Gain. Like instant weight gain. There’ no delay like the first. Your body has already made the epic shifts, so it’s old hat to have that belly pop. And thighs. And ass. Not to mention you don’t have the luxury to go to the gym every night since you have baby numero uno at home.
2. Veins. I had NO issues with weird vein things my first time around, but this one! I’ve got fun little splotches making themselves known on my feet and ankles. Not cool body-circulation-system. Not cool. 
3. Bowel Movements. I’m not going into any detail here except to say “stool softner”
4. B.I.T.C.H. Yep. I wrote it. I wrote it because hormones make you a raging one. Again, since none of my so-called-friends told me any of this, I don’t know if these mood swings are due to it being my second, or if I just skipped this part with the first. In any case, I’m sorry Jason.
5. Tiredness. This was way worse for the first five months (yep, not just the first three like with your first). And it’s the this total body, wrap me in a blanket, put a fork in me because I’m done, type of tired.
6. Swelling. Again, something I didn’t have with Cole, but most mornings I wake-up with fingers that would make Oscar Meyer proud.
7. Non-nesting. I looked back at where I was in the whole nesting thing with Cole at this point in my pregnancy. I had the nursery painted. Clothes washed in Dreft and hung neatly in the closet. Baby book started. Infant diapers purchased. Books read. Named picked out. Hell, I was even talking to my stomach. This go ‘round. We still have an air mattress in the nursery, old books, a space heater, some random purses, about 5,001 wire hangers from the dry cleaners and unknown stains on the carpet. This poor kid is already getting the shaft and he’s not even born yet!

Wow. That was cathartic.

As much as I complain, there are some things that are better the second go around.

1. Clothes. You already have prego clothes from your first 9-months of chunkiness so you don’t need to buy too much.
2. Time flies. I’m already in my third trimester but it feels like I just peed on a stick yesterday!
3. Peace of mind. You have more of it since this ain’t your first rodeo. You take things more in stride and you’re not calling your doctor with every little nuance.
4. Understanding. This is mainly from your significant other. I feel like they understand what you’re going through, and what a horrific-event you have to look forward to (labor for those who didn’t catch that. New baby/birth is amazing. The act of getting that pumpkin out… not so much), so there’s a deeper level of “looking the other way/biting ones tongue”. For that, I’m grateful.

I’m sure there are more things that are lovelier this go around… but probably not. I’ll just count my blessings that through all of this, I’ve had a strong stomach, a high pain tolerance, low glucose levels, perfect blood pressure, a kick-ass kid who understands that he can’t form-tackle mama, and a healthy munchkin in my stomach that likes to do the polka during client meetings. 

Random Photos

Here are some photos that I forgot to post...

 Pizza making with Nora and Leighton

 The boys

Before our first swim lesson

This face is priceless

Decorating the tree

Reasons My Son is Crying

I love to follow Reasons My Son is Crying on twitter and online (click here). Not sure why, but it makes Cole seem all the more "normal" when he has melt downs for NO APPARENT REASON!

So with that said, I had to share the pic / story below:



Reason Cole is crying: He was hitting me with a shoe when I told him he couldn't have candy. I told him only nice boys can have candy. This is him crying as he swears he's a good boy... while continuing to hit me with his shoe. 

Instagram Videos

I've gotten a few very sweet videos on Cole recently - hopefully these links work to view them!







if this doesn't work - you can view all of them here: http://instagram.com/brityr

Slow Down....

So - this post is pretty heavy. Ok, not heavy but more serious than normal.

I found this article and I had to share it out. To be honest, I pretty much started crying reading it"

The overall theme - slow down and enjoy your kids.

After reading it I sat there thinking about all the times I've thrown on the TV or giving Cole my iPad so I can do 5 minutes of work... why? I'm not curing cancer or saving cute, small animals from a certain death... and I'm pretty sure Taylor Swift won't pull her album from Target if I don't forward the revised details of our social plan within the hour...

Take-away: It can wait. Go play with Cole.

Or after dinner last night... Cole wanted to sit in the parking lot and watch the ants. Sure, parking lots aren't the coolest places to hangout, but so what. Did we need to get home within the next 20 minutes or face a horrible fate!? Nope! But I didn't slow down my day enough to realize it... so I got a unhappy camper in the backseat all the way home... We had fun the rest of the night, but maybe those ants would have been the highlight of his night. Maybe he'd had gone to school the next day and told all his pals about watching the ants outside of Noodles & Co. MAYBE he would have someday cured cancer based on the migration patterns of ants that he learned that day...

Take-away: Sit your ass on the sidewalk and watch the ants.

Anyways - I guess I wanted to share the article and personal story in hope that whoever is reading this will stop... and slow down.

Brit

Playlist

Going off topic here… In other words, this post is not about Cole. Well, not totally.

Since most people will be stuck in a car this weekend – driving to exotic destinations – I thought I’d post my new mixtape playlist. We only have about an hour and a half drive, but I was a girl scout – always be prepared - so this one covers a little more than that. 

Oh - and this has nothing to do with the ACTUAL 4th. Nothing patriotic on this it... that one's in the works still! 

Hope you all have an awesome 4^th!

In the Car with a 2 ½ year-old Playlist (aka – watch the swear words)

Jack & Diane                                       //                            John Cougar (yep) Mellencamp

Could you be Loved                            //                            Bob Marley

Island Song                                          //                            Zac Brown Band

Cups                                                    //                            Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect soundtrack)

A little Party Never Killed Nobody       //                            Fergie & Q Tip (Great Gatsby Soundtrack)

Springsteen                                          //                            Eric Church  

We Can’t Stop                                    //                            Miley Cyrus

Show Me                                            //                            Bruno Mars

Step Off                                              //                            Kasey Mustgraves

Snow                                                  //                            Red Hot Chili Peppers

Notion                                                //                            Kings of Leon

Follow Your Arrow                            //                            Kasey Mustgraves

You Can Call Me Al                           //                            Paul Simon 

And in case you're wondering about the weird mix... J will also be in the car. He can only handle so much pop/stuff you hear on the Current... the man likes his country. :) 

Fitting Better

This past weekend, Cole got to try on Brian's new pair of ski goggles. Looks like a better fit then the last time he tried them on.

December, 2010 vs. June, 2013

Cole, why are you so mad?!?!

Cole is back to throwing tantrums... it's lovely. Really.

To help me deal with living with a walking time-bomb, I've turned to humor.

Below is a post from Jason Good - It's so spot on that I couldn't help but share.

46 Reasons My Three Year Old Might be Freaking Out

• His sock is on wrong.
• His lip tastes salty.
• His shirt has a tag on it.
• The car seat is weird.
• He’s hungry, but can’t remember the word “hungry.”
• Someone touched his knee.
• He’s not allowed in the oven.
• I picked out the wrong pants.
• His brother looked at him.
• His brother didn’t look at him.
• His hair is heavy.
• We don’t understand what he said.
• He doesn’t want to get out of the car.
• He wants to get out of the car by himself.
• The iPad has a password.
• His sleeve is touching his thumb.
• He doesn’t understand how popsicles are made.
• The inside of his nose stinks.
• Chicken is gross.
• A balloon he got six months ago is missing.
• A puzzle piece won’t fit in upside down.
• I gave him the wrong blue crayon.
• The gummi vitamin is too firm.
• Netflix is slow.
• He jumped off the sofa and we weren’t watching.
• He’s not allowed to touch fire.
• Everything is wrong with his coat.
• There’s a dog within a 70 mile radius.
• A shoe should fit either foot.
• I asked him a question.
• His brother is talking.
• He can’t lift a pumpkin.
• He can’t have my keys.
• The cat is in his way.
• The cat won’t let him touch its eyeball.
• The inside of his cheek feels rough.
• Things take too long to cook.
• He has too much food in his mouth.
• He sneezed.
• He doesn’t know how to type.
• The DustBuster is going to eat him.
• His mom is taking a shower.
• Someone knocked over his tower.
• He got powdered sugar on his pants.
• The yogurt won’t stay on his spoon.
• EVERYTHING IS TOO HOT.

Superman Sunday

This kid is so much fun!

"I'm superman. I'm flying! Watch me fly mama, watch me!"

Things I MUST Remember

I hope I remember all of these as Cole gets older... especially the WiFi password for doing your chores!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/people-who-are-really-nailing-this-parenting-thing

Random Pictures

Well Spring has finally decided to come! I couldn't be happier... and going on how much Cole's been outside since the weather has turned, he couldn't be either!

Here's a random smathering of pictures from the last few weeks...

WARNING: He looks like a 7 year old in most of them

Tapping

Yesterday Cole got to hangout with G'Ma and G'Pa Rogowski (pink eye and all). Looks like they put him to work tapping the maple trees... but then made a snowman. I will not comment on how depressing that is (building a snowman) in the middle of April.

Haters Gonna Hate

Had to do it once I saw this picture!

We're back!

After 5 glorious days in Turks & Caicos, we're back in MN... and back to the snow apparently. Yuck!

Here are a few pictures from our trip. Seriously - one of my new favorite vacation spots - it was such an amazing time!

Oh - and if you're wondering how Cole reacted to us being gone. Well, I'm getting the brunt of any hostility. Last night I was going to put Cole to bed and he wouldn't let me... "I want Daddy" over and over again. I finally convinced him to let me just tuck him in and that Daddy would be right up.

Well, this is what I got: "No Mama. You go downstairs. Right now! I want Daddy"

Welcome home.

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