Some of you may not know this about me, but I am a recovering shop-o-holic. I actually really don't enjoy shopping for clothes for myself at the current moment so I guess I just had to have a couple kids to solve my problem. =) It's not nearly as much fun when there are extra "wrinkles" to try to cover up. I find myself grabbing too small of sizes because I still think of my body as the old skinny version of me 20 or 30 pounds lighter.
In the fall of 2006 I lost close to 30 pounds, then unfortunately over the course of the next two years gained it all back. AND then I got pregnant with Levi, AND then I got pregnant with Wyatt three months later. So here I am. Almost 30 years old, not going to say how much I weigh, but let's just say I really don't want to stay here! And my feet have grown a half to full size - and they were big to begin with! Wish you could lose weight on your feet but unfortunately I don't think these poor footsies of mine are going to cooperate.
But you know, I have come to the place where I am ok with how I look. I would love to shed these extra pounds overnight and fit back into my adorable skinny jeans that made my husband drool, but my comfy jeans and sneakers are fine by me now. My two kids are worth it. If the flip side to having two adorable sons is having a new outward version of me, I think I can handle it. I've been trying to lose weight and was on a great excercise routine for a while until it got too hot to take the boys for walks every day and then it just kinda spiralled downward until now, it's been close to a month since I've had a good workout. I got so frustrated that even after working my tale off on the eliptical for 45 minutes every day I wasn't more than 1/2 a pound to a pound lighter by the end of the week. I did shed a few inches though. I try to eat healthy. But I also try to cook, inexpensive sensible meals and the two don't always go hand in hand with losing weight.
So today I brought in SIX 18-gallon totes, one box, and one basket full of clothes and shoes to a local consignment shop that has misses clothes & shoes and children's clothes and gear. It was so cleansing!!!! As I stated earlier, I used to be a shop-o-holic. Back before I was mature (inside LOL!), Isaac had to work weekends when he was going to college, so that left me to my own devises which pretty much meant shopping at the mall and a few other various stores I went to frequently. I had an office job so I felt justified by buying "work" clothes. Literally the clerks pretty much knew me by name. I guess I could have said I was visiting friends if Isaac had asked but he didn't. So, no kids yet at that time, living in a one bedroom apartment so no mortgage, no savings, and too many credit cards equaled stashes of clothes which a huge majority of them never left the hangers or bags stuffed under the bed or in the closet. Yes, I was one of "those" women. But I am happy to say, not any more! I rarely get to even go clothes shopping now. And I really don't even enjoy it that much. I didn't get rid of everything in those smaller sizes today. I have my favorites all stowed away and labeled in totes in our furnace room in the basement.
Today was a good day. Clearing out clothes that I can't wear and hopefully turning them into cash & credit to buy my boys clothes & toys. I had a very nice lunch with my dear friend Mandy and her Grandma Tweedy. And I had a play date and lovely salmon dinner at my new friend Becky's house tonight.
I even squeezed in a couple yard sales this morning before my sister Mindy got here to watch my boys while I was out on my ventures. I had scoped out this yard sale last night because I wasn't quite sure where it was. I did a quick drive by so I knew exactly where I was going. I was also checking to see if they had any outdoor play gyms - been on the lookout for one of those for a couple months now!!
Anyways, the yard sale started at 8:30 this morning so I pull up at 8:22. I load the boys in their double stroller. I walk up and there before me were a few sets of Fisher Price Little People including the carnival and a ferris wheel, school house and a couple other related items. Now, you must understand, my husband would say that I have an "obsession" with these Little People. I guess I might just have traded one obsession for another...But Levi and I have so much fun with them! And if my husband was at home all day, every day with the boys, he would want something to play with that he actually "enjoyed" too!! I loved dolls and barbies when I was a girl and I can't very well let Levi play with those. So Fisher Price Little People are kinda like the acceptable boy-doll/toy, right?! Anyways, back to my story - I quickly ask the lady "How much?" And to my delight she answers "Eight dollars for all of it." Oh, Happy Day!! I take a deep breath so as not to squeal with delight and calmly reply, "Ok, I'll take it." I scooped everything up and loaded it into the tote she had sitting there for whoever bought them. I literally caught myself do a little skip as I walked after purchasing my new treasures. I wanted to skip all the way back to my mini-van but left it at just one skip and skipped the rest of the way in my head.
So that about sums up my day. Ramblings from a mini van mom....Good night.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
My First of Many
Hi, My name is Megan. I own a mini van.
Never in my life would I have thought "I" would own a mini van. But it is true. Now a mother of two sons under the age of two, my identity has transitioned from sports car, to mom car, and now the notorious "mini van!" The funny thing is I'm really excited about it. For a girl who once wore shoes that wore blisters and sores by the end of the day, all in the name of fashion, I think I've come a long way. It's all about comfort and convenience now. I don't have time to worry about being "fashionable." I barely have time to use the bathroom by myself!
So a little background. The sweet and condensed version-ish. I met and married the love of my life, Isaac, after we dated for just under a year after meeting at Ecola Bible School in Cannon Beach, OR. They call it Ecola "Bridal" School. Which is really quite funny because A LOT of our classmates did meet and marry their spouses from there. I am originally from Idaho and I bet my husband would say I sweet talked him into moving to Idaho and used my negotiating skills by saying if we were married, he would automatically become an in-state resident and cut the cost of college tuition at Lewis Clark State College significantly. =)
Fast forward a few years as I worked various office jobs and finally ended up with a real estate office (that I still work for from home doing advertising part time) while Isaac worked on getting his bachelors degree. We lived comfy cozy in our one bedroom apartment for 5 1/2 years when we decided it was time to buy a house.
Then after being a house, what comes next, baby carriage, or at least baby talk. I'd been ready, or at least thought I was ready, for a baby from the time we got married. It has been my dream ever since I was a little girl. I would say I wanted to be a house wife and mom like my mom was. My little friend in grade school even drew a picture of me and said something about "Megan, future mom." As sentimental as I am, that artwork is probably stowed away in some box buried in dust at my parents house.
So back to my story, we decide it's time to have a baby, get pregnant in just a few months, nine months (or 40 weeks which to me seemed like 2 years) Levi Owen is born. After 26 long, grueling hours of labor I might add. I even told my husband right after he was born something about being ok with just one child! Then three months later we found out we were expecting AGAIN! What?!! Yep, one year and one day later Wyatt Oliver was born.
And I will probably shock some of you that don't know Wyatt's story (visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ourlittlewyatt and go back to the beginning of my journal) by saying that that was the worst day of my life, but I will save that story for another day. I'll just say quickly: not breathing when born, recestated, seizures, lifeflighted to Spokane, didn't get to hold him or touch him, NICU for 3 1/2 weeks, finally home for a week, got sick with RSV, life-flighted again to Spokane, in quarantine, can't touch or hold, have to wear mask and suit up, there for 1 1/2 weeks - Levi in ER at same time, then finally back home, get flu, lock everyone up for the next month or so.
So now half a year later, Levi is almost 18 months and Wyatt is almost 6 months old. Having two boys under two is a challenge. One friend gave me good advice and said to raise them (in a lot of ways) as if they are twins. I try to keep them on a similar feeding, napping, diapering, bathtime and bedtime routine. Makes my life a little less chaotic! I LOVE MY BOYS!!! They are AMAZING!!! They make me laugh and smile every day (and scream and want to pull my hair out). I am so thankful God entrusted me these two precious little angels to love and care for. They mean the world to me.
I will wrap this first initial post up with my funny story for today. I took the boys on their first trip together to Walmart (I've taken them each separately). First time out w/ my new wheels too. =) Long story short, I load up the boys in the cart and forget to shut one of the van doors. The manager happened to see me and tried to be a good Samaritan by shutting my door which caused the panic to go off. By this time I am inside happily on my merry way. He chased in after me and told me what happened. I run outside, streaking down the lot, hitting the panic button over and over, turning it on and off... What a sight I must have been...LOL! Got it turned off finally. I thanked the guy and told him about how my family calls those "Megan Moments" and I said I think it's a combination of lack of sleep and "Mom Brain."
Wyatt fussed, Levi made new friends in the checkout line, and I had to have two carts and help out because I bought some totes to get organized, because heaven help me I need that, cuz I didn't have enough room with two kids in one cart and everything else I bought. But we survived and the mini van was amazing. Have the back seat folded down and fit a little tikes slide I bought off of craigslist, plus all my totes, and kids with a little bit of room to spare. But I don't think I will be visiting Walmart again for a while. Bonus, on the way out, I saw a guy wearing a blue mesh shirt. It was sweat streaked and you could see right through to his very furry-ness. Pretty sure he was wearing cut off shorts too. LOL! I wish I'd had a camera because he would have been perfect on that site dedicated to Walmart's customer's attire. =) Goodnight.
Never in my life would I have thought "I" would own a mini van. But it is true. Now a mother of two sons under the age of two, my identity has transitioned from sports car, to mom car, and now the notorious "mini van!" The funny thing is I'm really excited about it. For a girl who once wore shoes that wore blisters and sores by the end of the day, all in the name of fashion, I think I've come a long way. It's all about comfort and convenience now. I don't have time to worry about being "fashionable." I barely have time to use the bathroom by myself!
So a little background. The sweet and condensed version-ish. I met and married the love of my life, Isaac, after we dated for just under a year after meeting at Ecola Bible School in Cannon Beach, OR. They call it Ecola "Bridal" School. Which is really quite funny because A LOT of our classmates did meet and marry their spouses from there. I am originally from Idaho and I bet my husband would say I sweet talked him into moving to Idaho and used my negotiating skills by saying if we were married, he would automatically become an in-state resident and cut the cost of college tuition at Lewis Clark State College significantly. =)
Fast forward a few years as I worked various office jobs and finally ended up with a real estate office (that I still work for from home doing advertising part time) while Isaac worked on getting his bachelors degree. We lived comfy cozy in our one bedroom apartment for 5 1/2 years when we decided it was time to buy a house.
Then after being a house, what comes next, baby carriage, or at least baby talk. I'd been ready, or at least thought I was ready, for a baby from the time we got married. It has been my dream ever since I was a little girl. I would say I wanted to be a house wife and mom like my mom was. My little friend in grade school even drew a picture of me and said something about "Megan, future mom." As sentimental as I am, that artwork is probably stowed away in some box buried in dust at my parents house.
So back to my story, we decide it's time to have a baby, get pregnant in just a few months, nine months (or 40 weeks which to me seemed like 2 years) Levi Owen is born. After 26 long, grueling hours of labor I might add. I even told my husband right after he was born something about being ok with just one child! Then three months later we found out we were expecting AGAIN! What?!! Yep, one year and one day later Wyatt Oliver was born.
And I will probably shock some of you that don't know Wyatt's story (visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ourlittlewyatt and go back to the beginning of my journal) by saying that that was the worst day of my life, but I will save that story for another day. I'll just say quickly: not breathing when born, recestated, seizures, lifeflighted to Spokane, didn't get to hold him or touch him, NICU for 3 1/2 weeks, finally home for a week, got sick with RSV, life-flighted again to Spokane, in quarantine, can't touch or hold, have to wear mask and suit up, there for 1 1/2 weeks - Levi in ER at same time, then finally back home, get flu, lock everyone up for the next month or so.
So now half a year later, Levi is almost 18 months and Wyatt is almost 6 months old. Having two boys under two is a challenge. One friend gave me good advice and said to raise them (in a lot of ways) as if they are twins. I try to keep them on a similar feeding, napping, diapering, bathtime and bedtime routine. Makes my life a little less chaotic! I LOVE MY BOYS!!! They are AMAZING!!! They make me laugh and smile every day (and scream and want to pull my hair out). I am so thankful God entrusted me these two precious little angels to love and care for. They mean the world to me.
I will wrap this first initial post up with my funny story for today. I took the boys on their first trip together to Walmart (I've taken them each separately). First time out w/ my new wheels too. =) Long story short, I load up the boys in the cart and forget to shut one of the van doors. The manager happened to see me and tried to be a good Samaritan by shutting my door which caused the panic to go off. By this time I am inside happily on my merry way. He chased in after me and told me what happened. I run outside, streaking down the lot, hitting the panic button over and over, turning it on and off... What a sight I must have been...LOL! Got it turned off finally. I thanked the guy and told him about how my family calls those "Megan Moments" and I said I think it's a combination of lack of sleep and "Mom Brain."
Wyatt fussed, Levi made new friends in the checkout line, and I had to have two carts and help out because I bought some totes to get organized, because heaven help me I need that, cuz I didn't have enough room with two kids in one cart and everything else I bought. But we survived and the mini van was amazing. Have the back seat folded down and fit a little tikes slide I bought off of craigslist, plus all my totes, and kids with a little bit of room to spare. But I don't think I will be visiting Walmart again for a while. Bonus, on the way out, I saw a guy wearing a blue mesh shirt. It was sweat streaked and you could see right through to his very furry-ness. Pretty sure he was wearing cut off shorts too. LOL! I wish I'd had a camera because he would have been perfect on that site dedicated to Walmart's customer's attire. =) Goodnight.
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