Trying To Do Everything

Isn't that the case with  most moms? Sounds like it's the story of my life these days. I just want to do so many things and it feels like I'm being spread so thin. I know the answer would probably be to give up some of my sleep time if I want to be able to do more in a day...but I really like my sleep and don't really want to give any of it up!

Activities. Hunter has started t-ball this year. Yup, we have hit the age of having to run him around for activities. It's crazy already, so I guess I get to look forward to having to double that when Hudson starts in a few years. Hunter has games two nights during the week and then on Saturday morning or early afternoon. Add that on top of AWANA during the school year on Wednesday nights and we've got a full schedule. How do moms find the balance of wanting their kid to do all the fun activities they can while still balancing time for sit-down dinners every night?! I haven't found it yet.

Church. When we are home, going to church on Sunday mornings is just routine, we always go. But...man I would love to get back into going on Wednesday nights or Sunday nights, or both. It just seems like there is always chaos or Hudson will be in bed already. Probably just one of those things where it is what is, for this season in our lives. Thank goodness for Tuesday night bible study with some of my favorite women!

Quilting. I started playing around with quilting last Fall and quickly fell in love with it. I watched YouTube videos and just kind of figured it out. I've made a couple baby sized, a lap sized, and two full sized quilts. Hudson does not allow me to work on anything like this while he is awake ;) So that leaves nap time and late nights. Ugh. Once again, I don't like to give up my sleep time. Just worked on this for a friend's new baby girl at nap time today, now to find time to finish it!

All other things. I love to do things for others. Whether it be making baby's quilts, taking people meals, or watching someone else's kids for a few hours.... it just blesses me to do those things for others. But man, I wish I just had more time to do those things!

Oh well, once again, just a season in our lives with having young children. I can still dream of having twice as many hours in the day...or two of me. :) In the meantime, just trying to enjoy what is in front of me instead of just thinking of all the things that aren't getting done.

Coming Back

So that was officially my longest break from this blog... over 9 months. Wowza. Pretty sure that was right around the time that Hudson started walking and I got busy with AdvoCare.

So yeah... that makes sense...busy, busy, busy. Hudson has not stopped moving for more than about thirty seconds since then, I've been busy feeding myself and my family clean meals, even volunteered for a couple positions within the Altus Air Force base and Jesse's squadron, and taught myself some beginning quilting. So, bottom line is, if I hear another person say there is nothing to do in Altus, Oklahoma...I might scream. Probably never been so busy in my life.

So how do I come back to this blog? What do I write about? This blog has always just kinda grown along with me. Whether it's been updates on our kid's milestones, what we've been up to, fitness, cooking/baking, or reflections on my faith. So I think that's what I'll keep to- where is Stephanie right now, just makes sense because this is my little space on the internet.

So I'll warn ya, this here blog will probably be a mix of: family updates, fitness (mix of AdvoCare, workout routines, eating clean), maybe some quilting if I can find some time to get back into it, and some devotional type posts. What do yo think? What would you like to read about?

In the meantime, here are some pictures of life lately.

Family road trip to Minnesota to visit Jesse's family and go to a friend's wedding. We spent 3 days in Minneapolis by ourselves and had a blast. It included the Mall of America with the Lego store and rides, Water Park of America, the zoo, and a Twins game at Target field. Oh yeah, and lots and lots of yummy food. 

So lots of good food, left me feeling yucky. So this is what my days have been looking like since we've been home. AdvoCare products, lots of nutritious food, and even more time in the gym. It's summertime in Oklahoma, gotta be prepared for the pool! 

Hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow! 

JamBerry Nails

Hey guys, just wanted to fill you all in on a product that I just tried this last week and am loving. My sweet friend, Andrea, sent me a set of nails to try last week. I was a little skeptical because I'm not a perfectionist when it comes to doing things like this, so I didn't know how well they'd work for me.

But low and behold, they worked and I love them. It took me about 20 minutes to apply them. I put them on Tuesday and they still look the same 5 days later. Andrea said they usually last about 10 days. Each strip is good for 2-4 mani/pedis, depending on your nail lengths.

Here is a YouTube video on how to apply them.




They have hundreds of super cute patterns and colors. Andrea sent me the pink ombre and they are perfect. Planning on using what I have left to use them on my toes when Hudson takes his afternoon nap today.

Pretty sure I will be ordering some of these awesome patterns this week, too. Thinking I'm into the greens right now!

 

Andrea is hosting a JamBerry online party. If you buy 3 sheets, you get a 4th for free! Anyone who buys 4 sheets will get entered into a drawing for another free sheet. Go check it out! :) And tell me which are your favorite.

JamBerry Nails

Advocare 24 Day Challenge

I've been meaning to write about the struggles I have had losing the baby weight after Hudson. But...I think it was just too frustrating for me. I have been doing all the things I did after I had Hunter and dropped a ton a weight...but with no change to the scale. I was eating Paleo and working out. But, nope. As of the day we got back from Dallas, I was still hanging onto almost 16 pounds.

Granted, I did start the pregnancy at a fairly low weight and I'm not saying that I was at an "unhealthy" weight. But, I just haven't felt confident. My clothes don't fit and I'm just unhappy when I look in the mirror, like I don't recognize myself.

I'd seen people get amazing results doing the 24 Day Challenge. Jesse and I got hooked on Advocare's energy drink, Spark, about 3 months ago. I think seeing how great I felt with drinking Spark made me believe in their products a little bit more and I was ready to commit to 24 days.

The first 10 days are a cleanse period. Eating "clean" and taking some herbal cleanse pills, probiotics, fiber drink, and a OmegaPlex capsule. I lost 6lbs during those 10 days and felt awesome.

I am now on day 5 of the max phase. I feel good, lots of energy, and just overall more healthy. The scale is down a couple more pounds, bringing me to 8lbs lost...in two weeks. This is weight that would not budge. I'm also down an entire pant size.

AdvoCare products work. I am convinced and Jesse is, too. He's going to be taking the challenge soon. We are both using Spark and Catalyst (ah-mazing!!) and I'm taking a series of vitamins and supplements along with it. It's my plan to continue on this routine until I get these last 8lbs off my body.

Here are my 12 day progress pics:

 

 I love this stuff so much that I signed up to sell it. I'd love to help other people reach their goals. On average, people who do the challenge lose between 10 and 20lbs and 10 inches off their body! If you are interested in these products, whether you want to tone up or lose weight, let me know. I also have a plan for pregnant or nursing moms. If you sign up for the challenge with me, I will be right there encouraging you and supporting you along the way. I will make a meal/snack plan specifically adapted to your goals and your food preferences. You also get access to my amazing and very knowledgeable team. 

E-mail me at turnersa@gmail.com and go check out my AdvoCare site

 

Order by October 3rd, in time to drop a "pumpkin" off your body by Halloween, and I'll send ya an extra box of Spark for FREE!

Don't want to do the challenge? There are a lot of great other products. Like I said, Spark is awesome!! It's a sugar-free energy drink full of vitamins. Catalyst is a miracle supplement, especially if you are working out, it protects your muscles and helps get the toned look your are trying for!

Family Pictures

I know I shared the photos of Hudson yesterday, but here are the rest of the pictures from a couple weeks ago. Thanks again to Whitney Broussard who did a great job capturing these!

One Year Photos of Hudson

We had some family photos and Hudson's 1 year photos taken a couple weeks ago and I was so happy with how they turned out and had to share them with the world! :)

Big thanks to Whitney Broussard for taking these great pictures!

Hudson is One!!

Stats:

Height: 31.5" (93%)

Weight: 21lbs 15oz (36%)

Check out Hunter's 1st Birthday

Hunter was 25lbs and 32 inches at 1 year. 

I can't believe my baby is no longer a baby, but I'm also so excited to see him grow up! He's just so sweet and I've noticed that I really do baby him more than I did with Hunter. Hudson still loves his pacifier (which I'm trying to break besides sleeping this week) and uses a bottle. I was not having any of that with Hunter by this age, but things change. Plus...he really isn't showing any interest in learning how to use a straw or a sippy cup. It will come. 

He's gone up the weight curve a bit from his last appointment, which made me happy. Since birth, except at his 9 month appointment, he's steadily been in the 30-40 percentile range, glad to see him back on that. He's a chow hound still! This last weekend he refused to eat raw mushrooms, which was the first food we've seen him show any dislike for. He's strictly eating table food now, no baby food for this big guy. He usually eats whatever we are eating, just cut up in bite sized pieces. And in the last couple weeks we have transitioned him to whole milk.

He's still in size 3 diapers and 6-12 months clothes. I think he'll have to wear 12-18 month pants for length once it's not 100 degrees here everyday. He's still sleeping like a pro. He goes down around 7pm and wakes up between 7-8am each morning. Still liking his two, two hour naps each day. Today he actually took a four hour nap because we were late getting him down due to the doctor appointment. 

He got all four first year molars in the last month... yes, 4 molars during his 11th month. So, he's got 12 teeth by his birthday. He's still not walking yet, just keeping a hand on the wall or furniture and cruising around. He's stood for a couple seconds on his own, but that's it. No rush for me!!! 

He's said "mum" a few times, but no words or "ma-ma" or "da-da" yet. To be expected, I suppose. BUT.... he's consistently used FOUR signs this much and I couldn't be more proud. He does "eat", "more", "duck", and "milk" and uses them often.

We had a little birthday party for him at our house last week. It was so much fun to have a couple close friends over to celebrate his big day. A friend from church made his birthday cake, which I loved!!