Proud Sister...

Today Turner and I are making the trip back home to celebrate and attend my sister's pinning program from nursing school. I am a very proud sister today!!!

Hannah, my sister, has been working so hard during her time in nursing school and has been waiting for this day forever! I am so happy that she has finally reached this day! We've both had countdowns in our phone for this day as I am excited to finally feel like I have my sister back!

My sister has followed in my Mom's footsteps. My mom is currently a Registered Nurse (RN) at Mayo Clinic and that is Hannah's goal. Hannah currently works as a Patient Care Assistant for Mayo Clinic and looks forward to continuing her career at Mayo Clinic as a Registered Nurse.

It's nice having my mom in the medical field to ask many many many questions and I'm glad my sister will be for years to come so I have someone else to turn too also!!!

Hannah....this day is finally here. The day you've been waiting for! I am so very proud of you. I am proud of your dedication to not only your schooling, but to your work and patients. You are going to be an amazing RN. I hope I never have to find out by being a patient just how amazing you really are though ;) Love you very much...let's CELEBRATE!!!

Big Turner kisses for his Auntie!!

First Mother's Day

I love being a Mother and I love that there is a dedicated to honoring this. In prior years, I was a fur-mama, mama hopeful, mama to be and this year, I am a 'mum' (Turner loves loves loves to say Mum)!!

I woke up and did my normal routine since I pump before Turner wakes up...not sleeping in for me yet. Turner has been getting up earlier and earlier it seems because of it being light outside...darker curtains may be needed. I was great with the sweetest card ever...

Tate got up and ran to Kwik Trip to get my favorite cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa (total cheat day for food)!!! We had plans to go shopping for 'big boy' car seats for Turner as we have been putting it off for a very long time and he just seems to be a bit too big for his current car seat (and seems to be hating it also).

Headed over to Buy Buy Baby since it was close to where we would have lunch and Trader Joe's for some grocery shopping.

We had lots of fun shopping for these. I learned many things and it seemed that Turner was more comfortable sitting in these type vs being shoved into his infant one.

After shopping, we went to Chili's for lunch and to discuss car seat options. We had bottomless chips and salsa, fajitas and some good margaritas!!! It was delicious. Turner had fun flirting with the 5 year old girls @ the table next to us (oh gosh...it's started already). 

After lunch, we hit up Trader Joe's to get the rest of our meal planning weekly groceries. Turner and Tate stayed in the car since Turner fell asleep. We got home and T woke up and we decided to go for a family walk since the weather was gorgeous.

We ended the day with Tate making me dinner and Turner gifted me with the Fitbit Flex. I am SO EXCITED to use this!!! Anybody else have it...any tips?!?! Let's be Fitbit friends...at least that's what I hear people are :)

I had a perfect Mother's Day! This boy brings so much joy in my life...I am beyond blessed and lucky to be him Mum!!!

Twins Fan

Even though Turner is a Packer fan (don't even get me started)...he, along with his parents, decided he will be a MN Twins fan!!! :) I love that he will get to experience Target Field and cheer on the Twins...his home state team!!!

We took Turner to his first Twins game this weekend. Tate called me on Friday and asked if we wanted to go to the game for free. One of his clients has season tickets and couldn't make it. Not even knowing where the seats were, we said yes. Tate emailed me later in the day with our section and row...WHOA! We had dugout box seats for the game!!! We have never been that close for a game before. We were beyond excited! After the excitement wore off...I became scared that we would be hit by a line drive since we were so close. I was rest assured by many people that as long as your paying attention, all is good.

Not only did we have amazing seats...the weather was perfect, the Twins won and Turner got a game ball!!!

The couple behind us has a lil' 2 year old boy that just loved baseball. He got a game ball during the 3rd inning. When the 6th inning ended, the ump came over and signaled us down to give Turner a ball.

Turner did great during the game. Whenever he would fuss...we would give him something else to distract him with. All he really wanted to do was crawl all over the place. I did bring him up to get his first game certificate at one point and let him walk along a gate. He loved that.

We are so thankful for this experience with Turner. We can't wait to take him again. 

After the game, we headed home and decided to go for a walk since the weather was gorgeous. Turner loved going to the park again to swing.

Mya also enjoyed being spoiled on her walk. We also made homemade pizza for dinner. I made a whole wheat crust from scratch. We added spinach, zucchini, red peppers and onions. It was delicious.

Love my weekends with my lil family!!!!

May Fitness Challenge

When I saw that Kristin & Erin were going to host a  Fitness Challenge link up for May, I was super excited! I LOVE LOVE LOVE setting goals. Goals motivate me. I'm just finishing up breastfeeding this month so I didn't want to be too extreme with my goals, but I also know that those extra 500 calories I have been burning a day for the last (almost) year will be ending soon...I need to start making changes since I feel like I won't be so restricted on what I can do.

Running has been a challenge as I've never really had boobs before and with these milk jugs...well it's hard. I had to find the perfect sports bra to wear in order to control them. I also haven't done much cardio since losing weight was not on my priority list. I was really into strength training and trying to gain weight. That is still my area of focus but I will start to incorporate cardio more as I love going for runs with the jogging stroller and Mya. I also love to go to a spin class (really helps the booty)!!!

My 4 goals for the month of May...

NO SWEETS/TREATS 

Lately I have been eating them NON STOP @ work. We have a huge bin full of mini candy bars and I am there eating a lil' piece once an hour. WTF!! I'm dropping this cold turkey. No more sweets until Turner's first birthday party on May 31st!!!

12 GYM VISITS
I'm usually pretty good about this one as I love the motivation of getting the $20 from my insurance company (I am soooo frugal) for doing so...but this last month was brutal as I had to go everyday from April 21 to the 30th in order to get it. I did it...but it was hard. I'm setting my goal to get there at least 2-3 times a week so that I am not scrambling at the end of the month.

DO SOMETHING ACTIVE EVERYDAY
Whether it be a walk with my family, @ home HIIT workout or just a few ab and arm sets while playing with Turner, I want to do something active everyday. I usually am good about this, but I think I do miss doing something EVERYDAY...so setting this goal will definitely remind me to get something in!

LEGS 3 DAYS A WEEK
We all have our 'area' that we are unhappy with and would love to focus on. My #1 area is my ASS. I would like a nice, plump booty. Starting this month, 3 days a week will be focus on leg workouts. I'll be focusing on my glutes, hamstrings and quads. I'm excited to hopefully see some improvement in this area during May...a nice booty for the summer is in the works :)

I really encourage everyone to make fitness goals. I think I might do this as a monthly thing. Making goals keeps you motivated and accountable. Linking up with other bloggers this month will also help with the motivation. You need to ALWAYS remember that you will NEVER REGRET going to the gym and getting in that last workout

Pinned on Pinterest

#4WEEKSFIT

Turner - 10 months

April 2, 2014
I know I'm late on posting this...I'm just happy it got it posted in the same month he actually turned 10 months!!!

10 months...double digits!!!

Baby Stats:

Weight

21.8 lbs at doctor visit at 10.5 months

Length
29.6" (92 percentile) from 9 month checkup

Sleep
Turner is a very good sleeper. Goes down between 8-8:30 and gets up anytime after 7 am.

Daily Routine
Nothing really has changed here. Tate leaves everyday with Turner around 8 and drops him off @ daycare or brings him to work with him since Tate trains our daycare lady. Days he bring him to work he will go to the gym daycare for an hour. Tate picks him up everyday except Wed. Wed is my evening with him and I love it!!! Number of naps everyday varies. He usually takes cat naps to and from daycare and then sometimes he takes 1 really long nap (3 hours) @ daycare, sometimes 2 - 1-1.5 hour naps. On the weekends at home with us, he takes 2 naps.

Feeding
Still gets 6 bottles/feedings a day for a total of 30-35 ounces. I still am breastfeeding/nursing. He gets nursed for sure 2 times a day during the week, would be 3 if I didn't have tax season. I never expected to go this long but as long as I'm producing, I can't imagine just stopping. I never had a goal before but now hope to make it to the one year mark.

He also gets 3 solid meals a day. Breakfast after 9 am bottle, lunch at noon and dinner at 6.

Diaper Size
Cloth diapers!!! Still going good and have had no problems with leaks lately.

Clothes Size
Really out growing everything we own for 9 months and under. Mainly wearing 12 month PJ's and clothes are 9-12 months and 12 month sizes.

Hair Color
Blonde with hints of brown. I feel like it's getting darker as he gets older.

Eye Color
Blue eyes with long lashes just like his daddy!!!

Milestones
-Finally go his first tooth on March 14, 2014
-Standing for longer periods of time on his own
-Has taken a few steps...but I still don't think he will walk anytime soon...
possibly before first birthday, we will see
-Understands that things go in things...makes baskets all the time with his lil' sports toy,
tries to stack blocks, etc.
-He is all about sharing...gives you a toy or item...then holds out hand to ask for it back, keeps doing this for a solid 5 minutes....it's simply adorable!
-first time in a grocery cart happened this month...and I of course wiped it clean before placing him in it. Being a 'germ-a-phob' is going to suck as he grows older!!!
-first haircut...well actually a trim! His front hair was growing down into his face so we did a lil' trim.

Likes
-green beans...I swear he could just eat green beans and be satisfied.
-still a bath lover!!!!
-cabinets. Loves to open and shut them...hearing them slam shut brings a big smile to his face. He must love loud noises...great!
-to walk...he smiles from ear to ear.
-books books books...he loves his books!!! He loves to turn the pages on his own too!
-Loves to say 'mum'...constantly! We tell him to say 'da da da'...and he proceeds to say 'mum mum mum' :)

Dislikes
-hates when you take something from him or don't let him do something he is not supposed to be doing.
-getting better at diaper changes if we give him something to play with while we change it.
-getting his ears checked at the doctor...it's torture to him.

his first tooth @ 9.5 months!

He fell asleep @ daycare like this for his nap...hilarious!

So cute for his first haircut (trim)

Mr. Independent when it come to eating solids...no help needed!

Loved his first grocery cart experience!!!

Has a serious obsession with books!!!

Play dates are always so fun!!!

Turner,

Your smile, your laugh...everything about you brightens my world. I can't believe you are so close to already being a year old. When they say the time does go fast, they were not lying. Your dad and I feel like that life is so much better because you are here. I often think about what you will be like when you are older, but I stop myself because I really just don't want you to grow up. I want you to be lil' baby forever. I love you to the moon and back...again and again. Never forget that!!!

xoxo...mum

  

National Infertility Awareness Week

Did you know that 1 in 8 couples are dealing with infertility? I personally know a handful that did or are. This was and is one of my biggest fears. I can't imagine going through what these couples do. The struggle, the heartache, the tears...I really don't know how I would handle it. My good friend Lo...she handles it with grace, a sense of humor and with a voice. She's making the best out of a crappy situation. She's trying to make a negative situation into a positive...which is awesome. Go check out her blog, Our Crazy Ever After, to read other stories about infertility. You should also subscribe to her blog...because she pretty much will make you laugh with her posts!!!

I am honored to have Tia today tell her infertility story. Every since Lo paired me up with Tia, I've gotten to know her through her blog posts and instantly knew we would get along in real life. Thank you Tia for sharing your story!!!

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Hi! I'm Tia from Hands On. Pants off. 

2014 has become the year I have embraced the idea that maybe what we are going through is considered the dreaded INFERTILITY.
To what extent, I am not sure just yet. We are smack dab in the middle of testing.
But here's the back story.

I have written a decent amount about the ups and downs about trying to get pregnant on the blog.
Like THIS ONE, THIS ONE, and THIS ONE.
Sometimes I get REALLY EMOTIONAL.
And then most recently, I have started included science to FIND ANSWERS.

My most beloved grandfather passed away in June of 2012.
And it triggered this intense desire to have children.
I figured I would be like my mom...never really wanting them.
And then, like her, it just hit me.
From 2012 through today we started doing the whole "not trying, not preventing" thing and "being casual," but the reality was I was tracking my cycles and peeing on all the sticks and all the tests and month after month staring at negative preg tests. I kept thinking that the timing was off, or there was a bigger plan (like we had to move) or anything that would give me a glimmer of hope.
Finally, I decided to make an appointment with my gyno and start testing.
The INFERTILITY label had commenced.
I was heart-broken but knew it was the only way to find any answers.
So, I went in for blood-work this February and it came back normal except for low progesterone.
They wanted me to do the dye test and have my husband give a sample for analysis.
He was less than thrilled.
So we waited a month and had him tested.  Doctors are funny sometimes. And by funny, I mean annoying incompetent. I get a call from them saying that his forms were abnormal and to start antioxidant therapy.
Um...what exactly does that mean? I need to feed him pomegranates?
So I start asking for all the numbers. I need hard evidence people.
I am Queen Googles and want to verify my findings and do my own research.
Turns out....his "abnormal" shaped sperm are borderline, much less of a worry than originally anticipated.
Of the strict criteria, he is 13% of the normal 14%. No big deal.
But then I start reading into the other numbers. Why is his Ph so high? Why is his white blood cell count higher than normal...what does this mean?
What they didn't tell me (and the Googles did) was that he is "fighting" a silent prostate infection.
One that doesn't necessarily need antibiotics, or cause pain, or any other symptoms.
So, he new regime is a slew of vitamins and supplements and we are conscientiously trying to eat incredibly healthy until we start back with testing and TTC.
Oh, I should also mention that I have delayed the dye test.
Why? Because our goal is a spring or summer baby. We needed a break anyways. Two years of hope and hopeless, and my mental state is shot.
Plus, I heard that, fingers crossed and nothing is blocked...the dye test can actually help "clear the tubes."
I have been approved to start Clomid once I'm ready as well.
For now, we wait. I am just about 8 weeks out from gearing up again and just trying to soak it all in.
It is kind of nice not to think about what day of my cycle I'm at.
But it will also be nice to see those two pink lines.
We are hopeful.

You can follow my story with GFC, Bloglovin', Facebook, and Pinterest.

Make sure to stop by my website and enter the BLOGGER DESIGN GIVEAWAY!

PS- Thank you Lauren for setting this up to share our stories, and a BIG THANK YOU to Bridget for letting me spill my guts on her page today!! You gals are the best!

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Thank you again Tia for sharing your story and thank you Lo for initiating all of this!!! Lo, because of you...so many voices have been heard and so many eyes have been opened. I continue to pray for you both (along with all that deal with infertility)!!!

Now go check out Lo's blog to read other stories about infertility.

 

Easter 2014

Another first holiday for T has come and gone...he's almost a year which means that every holiday going forward (besides Memorial Day) will no longer be his first. It's exciting and sad at the same time. He's growing so fast...when can time just stand still for a lil' bit?!?!

We had a wonderful Easter celebration with my family. We had originally planned to celebrate the weekend before but Turner was sick and we weren't about to take him to a family gathering where he would have been passed around like a hot potato. He is finally on the up and up...but still fighting a bit of a cold. 

We woke up early and I was so excited for Turner to check out his Easter basket from the bunny. 

Turner's first Easter Basket.

I went the unconventional route for the basket...I wanted to get him the pail for this summer at the beach. Worked great as his basket. He also received a pair of Nike Sandals, Moccasins, foam bath letters and his first toothbrush. It's actually just a rubber teething toy...but he also helps with cleaning up his gums/teeth while he chews on it. He loves it!!!

Well...he had no interest in his basket...he checked it out for a split second...then was more interested in Mya and the baby gate that he tries so hard to get open.

He crawled out the room all excited...knocked it over and went on his marry way to Mya. Then returned eventually to check it out :)

We went to early service on Easter morning so that we could hit the road and get to my parents by 11. 

We enjoyed some yummy turkey, beans and potatoes. Turner enjoyed the plastic eggs and Easter basket grass.

Turner giving Auntie kisses - Easter photo with my lil' man (forgot to take family picture...oops) - It was also my Dad's birthday so we celebrated that in addition to Easter!

After hanging out at my parents, we went over to my brother's house as he is just finishing building it. 

We headed back home after that. We got home around 4:30 and decided we need to go for a family walk since it was so gorgeous outside. We grabbed Mya and the stroller and got on our way.

We stopped @ the park that's very close to our house and Turner enjoyed his first swing ride. He seriously loved it. So giddy with excitement. Seeing so much joy on your child's face is one of the best things ever.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter also!!!!