Benny turns 19 months!

19 month stats:

Weight: 30 pounds - maybe even 31??

Height: I'd say 35 inches?

Eating: Food is your favorite!

Clothes: 18-24 months & 24 months, 2T and some 3T

Diaper: Size 5

Shoe Size: 6.5 or 7

Benjamin Sawyer: 

I literally did a double take on the calendar yesterday (see, I'm a day late!) --- can you be another month older?! Didn't we just celebrate your 18 month celebration. And just like that, when people ask now I need to say you are 19 months. It doesn't seem (too) insane for me to plan your 2nd birthday. The summer is fast ending -- this morning it was actually COOL outside (felt great!) and I realized fall will be here in the blink of an eye. 

You are loving life lately -- still ALL boy. Your favorite thing to do is basketball. We have a small hoop in the basement that you are always playing with (including right now!) -- we also put up our big basketball hoop outside and you LOVE when Dada lifts you up to make baskets! You hold on to the rim and hang there like a regular Michael Jordon! ;) I can't wait to sign you up for sports. I know you'll love it so so much - Layla starts soccer tonight and I wish you could play right along with her! You love to climb things, jump off anything high, use the steps, and throw yourself on the floor. You love when we yell 1-2-3 GO and run back and forth. But most of all? You love Layla -- you ask for her all day and want to snuggle up to her (or chase her) when she gets home. You also love love love the cats. If you're upset, we can quickly change your mood by putting you with Shluffy & Rigby!

You are getting over a little cold but you NEVER seemed bothered by it!! (PHEW!) I was nervous you'd get an ear infection but it never came (PHEW!) -- but I know with your upcoming school adventures comes many germs which equals lots of yucky sickness. I also know it's good for your immune systems so I'm trying not to get too caught up in the grossness of it all. 

You're doing pretty great with tantrums and slowly learning to listen better. You still don't understand time-out but you're put there quite often ;) You hit more then you should and you steal toys and don't share and all the while look adorable. I know school with be a tough lesson in sharing and learning but it'll be great for you. With your language growing by leaps and bounds, I think it helps with your frustration! 

You love to be outside so much - bubbles, pools, chalk, basketball, cars and more. It's so nice to spend time soaking it all in - you stare at the airplanes, birds and grass. You love to sit in the dirt and throw it. 

Your latest obsession is Planet Earth!!! Last weekend, Mama & Mom-Mom went to see Billy Joel in concert so Dada was in charge of bedtime. Both you & Layla begged for Mama so Dada quickly decided a distraction was needed - and thus Planet Earth entered our world! You love it and shout "EARTH! FISHES! ELEPHANT!" You love the animals and the water and it's a great learning tool. You still (rarely) like Sesame Street & Jack. You'll watch the movies in the car and you'll always be up for listening to music. Your favorite song right now is "Happy" by Pharrell. It's so cute to watch you dance!!

Forever happy to report you're still an excellent sleeper. Bedtime is now 6:30-6:45 and you wake up around 6:30-7:00 AM every morning. You nap in the afternoon for roughly 2 hours and happily love to snuggle in your crib with Teddy & Brian! I'm nervous for your naps at school but hopefully you'll adjust to the change well. 

Still willing to try and eat anything -- you are obsessed with black olives. So random and funny. You love noodles and sauce and meatballs.. and a million other things. The list is never ending and so great. Makes it much easier to feed you!!!

Today is Layla's last day of camp which means she's home with us for the next 3 weeks!! I'm so excited (and slightly nervous) to have you guys play. We have lots planned -- Grandma comes tonight for a week, we will do the zoo, Sesame Place, the beach, aquarium and more. I know you'll love having so much Layla time -- and then, school starts!!! I'm so nervous and excited for you. For the past 19 months, we have been together nearly every second of everyday. And soon you'll be with roughly 8 other kids and two great teachers, 3 days a week. I know you will have the very best time. I know it will be a huge adjustment. But know that I love you and I think this is best for you!!! I will forever cherish these months we spent together. The loud, the quiet, the snuggles, the kisses. It was all so special to me. 

You are my sweet boy. My baby. The little love of my life -- I love watching you learn and grow and can't wait for you to experience everything good in life.

With love and laughter,

Your Mama <3

August Challenge: Part 2.

SO..
First & foremost, thank you all for the love, support and overall kindness towards my last entry. That was far from easy to write (and did I really post bikini pictures of myself?!) but alas I did. I'm not held accountable. And so far, so good!!

The second part of our challenge for August is meal planning.

Josh & I are coming up on 12 years of dating come November. And in that time, I'd venture to say we've gone out to eat approximately 2,190 times. Maybe more. It's our thing - we love new restaurants, we love the same 6 restaurants, we love a quick and easy meal.

When Layla was born, I swore we would cook  more at home. And we did, but we still ordered in and went out way too often because, well, Layla actually love going out to eat. She was the perfect baby in a restaurant!!

Enter Benny into our world and until the age of 10 months? HE SUCKS - unless he was attached to my boob, he cried every time we entered a place for dinner (he was mostly good at breakfast & lunch).

SO back to the cooking board. But now that my baby boy is nearing 19 months and eating everything in sight, a restaurant is our new best friend.

It's enough though. It's enough with the money. The calories. The "what do you want to eat?" "I don't know? What do you want to eat?"  - it's boring and frustrating.

SO.
Enter the meal planning challenge.

I took a simple calendar and plotted out our dinners for the month of August. I included a few meals out and a couple of order in nights. I included my parent's house for dinner every Thursday. But mostly it is all about cooking at home - easy, healthy, yummy dinners. Because Layla is beyond picky we end up making her whatever she'll eat but Benny is always more then willing to try what we cook!

We are on day 3 and I'm happy to report SUCCESS!!!

August 1st was Friday -- and I obviously picked us heading to a restaurant that first night (ha!) - we chose Las Margaritas and had amazing Mexican with family.

August 2nd was last night -- we made TACOS! Using Organic low fat meat, we ate healthy and yummy tacos and it was great.

August 3rd is tonight -- and happy to report Josh is cooking! We did substitute what we were supposed to make with his pastatini (think pasta, chicken, garlic, tomatoes, etc) -- but that's fine! We'll switch and make changes and probably get annoyed but the ultimate goal is NOT to stray from the menu plan.

It feels so good to not repeat the "what's for dinner" question every day.

We're on our way to healthier, happier, skinnier Englands baby!!!!


What are your favorite recipes??? 

August Challenge: Part 1.

When I was in 5th grade, I went to play at a friend's house. We were tackling her extra large black dog when she told me she was going to blindfold me to play a game. I happily obliged and followed her until she took me in the bathroom, took off my blindfold and put me on a scale.

"Weigh yourself! Let's see who's the fattest!"

I think I weighed 85 pounds or so? Whatever it was, it was equal to my 2 friends that were there and thus we were all deemed "skinny" by the host.

This was the first time I realized that there was fat & skinny. I remember going home, sitting on my toilet and drawing a line down the middle of my thigh, wishing it was half the size.

Clearly, this stuck with me.

Years of yo-yo dieting, followed by extreme dieting in college (reaching my lowest weight of 124 pounds - at 5'5 and big boned, this was low). I have a clear memory of my size 4 pants being big. This was so exciting. (Now, I'm a size 8-10.) Post-college, I stayed around 135-140 and was happy there. My body was happy there. Around my wedding, I worked to get back down to 125 but my butt wouldn't budge and thus it seemed 135 was where I would stay.

Fast forward 4 years, two babies 19 months apart, 2 years of breastfeeding and my body is completely different. My whole shape has changed. I'm still adjusting to my new body - I'm learning (accepting?) that my new found wobbly parts are all thanks to carrying a 7.12 baby girl & 10.1 baby boy. I'm in awe that my body created & nourished these two perfect little humans.

But now. I've been working out for a year and noticing my body is not reacting the way I wish it would. My stomach still won't get flat. My thighs still touch. My arms jiggle more then I'm proud to admit. And this summer has been tough - I'm terrified to wear a bathing suit (let alone a bikini) despite our many trips to the beach & pool.

I don't want Layla to ever think that there is anything wrong with her body - I want her to see how proud I am of mine.

SO I'm making peace & giving myself a challenge --  a bikini challenge. On December 28th, Josh & myself along with my siblings & their husband/wives are going to Jamaica. I cannot WAIT - and I WILL wear a bikini.

SO today it begins. We have roughly 5 months and I hope to be comfortable in my own skin.

Below is a picture of myself in a bikini today. It was hard for me to take these but I really wanted to compare. Luckily for me, my amazing husband is also participating and let me take pictures of him in his bathing suit.

We both weighed ourselves and will continue this the first of the month until December (and I vow to NOT weigh myself in between).

I'm going to continue working out every other day (but increasing my work-out and trying new things!!) - I'm going to seriously get back to eating clean & healthy. I'm going to succeed.

Wish us luck as we take on our August challenge. Want to join in?? Take pictures and we'll do it together!!

This is only our first challenge - the next is MEAL PLANNING! I'll write that up tomorrow.

xoxo
Courtney

(I'm not putting our starting weights on here but I am keeping track and will note our weight loss)

Please excuse these pictures -- they are at 7 this morning in our bathroom while trying to keep Layla & Benny entertained ;) 

I'm not giving my cheat day Fridays. I love cheese enchiladas and I'm not afraid to admit it. 

A few things as of late...

HI ya'll.
My grand plans of blogging once a day are surely going to happen one day.
But for now, with warmer temps and summer being HALF-WAY over, I'd gladly be outside over inside on the computer.
So here's a quick little recap of some things going on in our lives.

1. Josh is back at his old job after leaving for a few weeks to try something new. While it didn't pan out, I'm glad he did it. He's rocking it at work and getting back in the groove. I'm so proud of him and he works so hard for the 4 of us. Being a full-time stay-at-home mama may be the toughest job I've ever had, but it also pays NADA. I'm hoping to get back to work this fall. Ideally, I need something part-time that I can work from home. Does that exist? I wish I could plan children's parties full time. Or write a children's book. Or do something I really love -- all the while being home so that I can take care of my babies when school is closed or someone has a fever.

2. Layla is half-way through camp and loving every single second. It's the same as her school but with less structured learning and more FUN! She gets to play outside in various sized pools & go on the "big kid" playground. She goes 4 days a week and is really doing well.  She loves talking about her friends (especially Isabel) -- her teachers (especially Miss Jenn).

3. In other Layla news -- the biggest news of all? She's almost completely POTTY TRAINED!!! After months of peeing on the potty, she finally pooped on the potty for the first time last week. It was so exciting. She did it at my parent's house. So awesome. We gave her the big girl bike I picked up at a thrift store a few weeks back as a gift. She loved it!! I'm really hoping that we can fully give up diapers in the next week (except at naps & bedtime).

4.  In OTHER Layla news, she was selected for an open-casting call with Wilhelmina Modeling. We went to it last weekend - it was a little overwhelming but she rocked it. She had to walk the runway - it was adorable, of course. Prior to her walk, they asked her what her name was in the microphone - she whispered Layla followed by screaming LAYLAAAAAA. They then asked where she was from - her prompt answer was "HOME!" - too cute. The next night, I received the email that she was selected for representation!! This is huge. 5% of the casting was selected. Very awesome. Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to work for us but it was an honor to be selected. Maybe one day her modeling career can officially begin!!!!

5. This week is Josh's 32nd birthday -- very exciting stuff. We had an awesome dinner last weekend at Ocean Prime with my sister & brother in law to celebrate. We are so lucky to call you ours, babe.

6. Today I'm finishing up a project I did - it was called 100 Happy Days. I took a picture for 100 days of the little things in my everyday. I really loved it.

7. My two projects for August -- I planned out our dinners for the entire month. It's an effort to save money & eat healthier. I'm excited to not have the "What do you want for dinner???" convo every single day!! My second project? BIKINI READY! We leave for Jamaica in about 5 months. I want to seriously wear a bikini the whole vacation -- so the best way to achieve that? Obviously taking pictures of myself on the 1st of the month while wearing a bikini. It will be a before & after -- no shame. The best part? Josh is doing it with me!!! I've been going to the gym 3-4 times a week for over a year. I see very little difference. It's time to get crazy and lose this extra baby weight.

8. I started thinking about our 5th anniversary trip. I want to go to Europe. Bad. But I think we'll end up taking a Caribbean cruise. I'll see Europe one day.

9. Benny news?? HE'S THE COOLEST KID EVER! Even though today, he's tantrum city. He's fun and silly and awesome. He's becoming really adventurous and "boy like" - as in climbing, jumping, dare-devil. I love it. He loves sports so much. I introduced him to tee-ball today. He's the next Babe Ruth baby. He's really amazing. I'm dreading him starting school. I'm going to miss him so much.

10. Israel. It's bad. It's really bad. The war between Israel & Gaza - it's bad and getting worse. It's so sad and so hard and so devastating. I am really putting my love and prayers towards Israel.

11. A plane was shot down - Russia & Ukraine and fighting about who did it & why. What is the world coming to?

12. I want a third baby.

13. I want a new house but I want to take all of our neighbors with us. I'm in love with our street.

14. The show "The Leftovers" is SO SO GOOD. Why aren't you watching it??!!?

15. I'm going to the library tomorrow for the first time in YEARS - I need a new book and don't want to spend the money on buying one. Plus I think Benny will get a kick out of it.

16. I want to get a boob job after my 3rd baby. Don't judge me.



.... I could go but I'll stop at 16. Benny's up. woo!

18 months... happy half birthday, buddy!!!

18 month stats:

Weight: Between 29-30 pounds.

Height: I'd say 34 inches?

Eating: Growing boy = eating constantly.

Clothes: 18-24 months & 24 months, 2T and some 3T

Diaper: Size 5

Shoe Size: 6.5 or 7

Benny Boy....

Well, here we are. Your officially 1.5 years old. Half birthday. Another month, a bit skinnier, taller, handsomer -- a regular toddler. I can't believe it. You are the cutest little stinker I ever did see. I find myself literally staring at you because it seems crazy to me that something so beautiful can exist. And best of all, you're mine. 

With the age of 2 fast approaching, I'm astounded at how smart you are becoming. You are discovering your independence and slowly relying less on my presence. This is a good thing, though it makes me slightly sad. You want to walk more then be carried. You want to run more then hold my hand. You want to jump, climb, explore, stomp and wonder while taking in every single thing around you. I'm only beginning to see the true "boy" side to you and it's adorable and a little nerve-racking. You fall constantly but rarely cry. You are tough. You are calm. You will push through. But if you're tired. Needy. Or otherwise in the mood, you're the first to climb into my arms and snuggle like it's your job. And I really, really, really love this about you. 

Now that summer is in full swing (and half way over!?!?) you're feeling good. This may be our longest run as a family without someone being sick. It's amazing what health does -- it allows us to travel, to play, to go long hours in the sun. It's wonderful. You still have tantrums from time to time but with your language exploding, they seem to be getting a little better. 

We have had a lot time this past month outside, especially in the pool. You LOVE the water -- you may be slightly timid in the beginning but you are basically ready to go in the pool from the second you spot it. We've swam in several different pools and it's so much fun -- I know when we move into our next house, we'll get a pool for sure!!! You love to swing, slide, play with bubbles, chalk and balls. 

You can say at least 50 words if I had to guess? And you're getting good with animals and starting to (slightly) recognize colors. You love to read and love to sing. You are a little talking and running machine and it's so much fun to see. 

You love Jack and your love of Sesame Street is beginning to come out -- you really get excited when you see Elmo & Cookie and shout their names LOUD at the TV.. but if you have your choice, you want random music on so you can dance your little bum off!!

You're still in the same sleep schedule. We had a week and a half of early mornings... not so fun for mama but you seemed unfazed ;) You go to sleep between 6:30-7:00 PM and nap in the afternoon for about 2 hours. When you're tired, it's hard to keep you awake so I try to avoid the car when nap time is approaching. On our way home from Florida, you fell asleep in the car, slept in the stroller, slept as I took you out to go through security, slept as we went to our gate and slept for another hour while we waited to board. Pretty amazing!! You flew perfectly this trip which was a huge help -- you were not the biggest fan of flying prior but this time around, you were golden!! If you have Brian with you, you're a happy boy. 

Eating, eating, eating. Your favorite thing to do, by far. You will try anything we are eating and love to snack. If you weren't constantly on the go, I think I'd be a little worried but you seem to be in perfect baby shape :)

With Layla in camp 4 days a week, we have lots of time together - just you & I. I LOVE IT. You are the best little partner in crime. We go to music class, Romp & Roll, errands, lunches, breakfast... we're always busy little bees, even if we are at home just playing. You are obsessed with chasing the cats, feeding the fish and playing with play doh. And of course, you can't get enough time with Layla & Dada!!!

We had so much fun in Florida this month -- you enjoyed all the time with your Florida family, playing outside and more. You're a joy to be around and everyone melts when they hear you're deep giggle. 

Happy half birthday my little man -- love you so very much and can't wait to watch you grow. With 6 months until your next birthday, I think it's time to start planning. I think the theme is going to be... "Have A Ball with Benny" - all things BALL RELATED!! ;) Let the ideas begin!!!

Love you!

Mama