I'm recovering!
I've spent the last week being as BUSY as anything! Working way too much, though feeling guilty that even my busy, long workdays actually rejuvenate me a bit. I love my home. I love my boys and my wonderful husband. We are so incredibly blessed, beyond measure. Though a day away (even if it is at work) is sometimes in order.
Today I worked out at the park with my sister-in-law. One of my favorite parts of working out is the stretching afterwards. Sometimes I spend more time doing that than the actual workout. (Ha! "Sometimes." I say that as if I work out often! That should be past tense. Because it's been a long time since I had a good, real workout.) I also love, love, love doing mat work. Pilates, abs, yoga. I love it. It makes me feel like a dancer again. But today was a reality check for my ego. I'm used to being the girl who sits in front during yoga, pilates & dance classes. It's been that long since I took class.
Today, I was the girl who sits in the back. Whose form is bad. Who has to eventually modify towards the end because I just can't do the full extension without my lower back arching. Ugh! I told my sister-in-law that the quitter in me wanted to say I won't come back because I used to be so good, but now I'm not. But that's ridiculous! I want my strong core back! (I was pleasantly surprised with some aspects of my performance, but overall, I get a huge "needs improvement")
All I was trying to say, though, is that the time spent stretching & just breathing and being in-tune with your body is the most wonderful thing ever. Then I got on a tangent. I wonder why I don't do this more. I never thought I would be so 'out-of-tune' with my body. I never thought that there would be a time when I wasn't dancing! It's a little funny that most people want to make extra money so they can be home with their kids, but I want to make extra money so I can hire a babysitter for a few hours a week so I can dance & go to the gym. That is my goal. Just a few hours! Not that I don't want to be here! I'm just feeling the need to take care of myself! And I'm vowing to be better at it!
So in the meantime, (because the extra money thing, well, I'm not quite there yet), I may go back to my old ritual. First thing in the morning, going outside for a quick stretch and some before-bedtime mat work. Will my kids allow this? Will I be disciplined to rise before them & make time for this? Will I continue the workouts? I'll keep you posted. I hope the answer is yes. Though sometimes I'm not a do-er. Yah, bad. Workin' on it.
About dancing... if you watch (my favorite show) So You Think You Can Dance, just tell me one thing. Weren't you shocked that Kherrington & Gev got cut!?!? I love Comfort, but Kherrington is so talented! And Gev, well he's just a cutie and wasn't his solo amazing tonight? (Lastnight for you, Tonight for me, Thankyou TiVo.) Did anybody else cry through the entire Ava Maria performance? I LOVE Mia Michaels' choreography!!! Almost all of her pieces bring me to tears!
So I'm going to narrate the up & coming zillion pictures.
1- Austin is done with his DOC Band! He's also getting on all fours and rocking back and forth a lot (pictured below)- the typical pre-crawl exercise. Jake never did this, and he crawled late (& not for very long.) Austin does scoot everywhere, and I'm SO done with this, because the fronts of his shirts are getting so dirty! (I don't remember this with Jake. Does this mean that I'm slacking off on my cleaning? Or I'm allowing more tummy-floor contact because I'm not as neurotic?)
Austin getting his final measurements at Cranial Tech. The before/after is amazing.
2- Here are a few photos from our recent Sea World trip. This was a little spur-of-the-moment trip, just me & the boys. It was fun, but we did have a few moments that are worthy of an entire post of their own! I think next time I will be sure to have an equal number of adults to children.
As we were walking by the Shamu 'holding tank' behind the stage-- the "Shamu's" suddenly jumped in the air! Jake ran over there and started exclaiming, "DUMP! DUMP!" (AKA: "jump", in jake-speak). His excitement was so cute, and I think I was just as excited- I've never been that close to a jumping Shamu!
3- We spent an afternoon on the boat with my in-laws recently. Kevin and I have usually one day off together per week. It's a treasured day, but is often filled with busy stuff-- errands, taking turns trying to catch up on rest, chores, etc. It was so nice to just relax. I've said this before, but there's no place I'd rather be than on the water. It is so peaceful. That is where I went when I was in labor. haha (In my mind.) Anyways, this was the boys' first time in a boat. They were so sleepy that they just relaxed & didn't get too excited, but we all really enjoyed it.
Jake looking at the seals. He also got to watch Grandma reel in a Barracuda. And he touched the little fishies (Anchovies) in the holding tank. He also loved watching the pelicans rush our boat as Grandpa emptied the holding tank before going in.
How precious is this!?! Austin smiling at Grandma
And (below) Jake just barely waking up from a nap on Momma's lap. Sweet!
4- Austin meets Macchiato at my sister's house.
5- My mom & I (and Jake asleep on her lap) at the beach lastnight. (We barbecued at La Jolla Shores... my old stomping ground!!! I forgot how absolutely stunning it is there.)
And my sis & I
Sorry for the long "me" post! I do think these little kiddies are cuter than buttons (hee!) (Thus the zillion pics) Have a beautiful weekend! Hug those people you love. If my hubby were here, I would be doing just that. We miss him in our home. My heart goes to those with even more separation from their spouses (& families), Those amazing men & women serving in our military & their families holding down the fort at home. From my little life here, I know that it's not easy doing it on your own much of the time and even our (small in comparison) separations are hard. When I complain or start to think it's hard, I think of those who have it even harder than I. You are amazing. You are amazing. ;)
