Today marks the 14th week since I started doing a stroller boot camp with a group of my friends. That is by far the longest I've ever stuck to an exercise routine. I'm pretty proud of myself!! We take the kiddos to Mills Park, strap them in the stroller, and away we go. It's a full hour of running along with a few stops to do more toning type of work. We use these nifty bands and end up working out our entire body. I feel really great and energetic after doing it. We started out at two times a week. Last month we stepped it up to three a week and in November we will move up to 4 per week. In addition to the boot camp I'm also taking one ballet class a week plus one rehearsal per week. I used to get really out of breath during rehearsals and after doing boot camp and returning to rehearsal I have definitely noticed a huge difference in my fitness level. I can also notice a change in my body. I haven't lost any weight (really that's about my eating habits, not how hard I've been working out) but I can see how my body is changing for the better. My arm muscles are definitely getting stronger and have more tone, my back is getting firmer and has lost one of it's ungodly rolls (HOORAY!!) my legs are getting a nice tone on and the best of all...I don't get out of breath or tired when I play with the girls. I can run up and down the street with them and dance and sing with them and I hardly even break a sweat. Last year at this time I couldn't say the same thing. It's so much easier to love this bigger body of mine when I'm working out and feeding it the right foods because I know I'm healthy and strong even if my jeans are a size 14 :)

We took the girls to Corley Ranch today. This was more for Lainey than Emilee I think. Em's been a lot of times before and I think she's getting a little old for it. But, this is Lainey's first year that she'll even remember going and boy will she remember it! Today is that day that Lainey rode a real live horse for the very first time. If you know Lainey you know how big of a deal that is! She loved riding the horse and she loved brushing the miniature horse. Loved it so much I'm pretty sure we did just that for over an hour.

I've decided...this is THE cycle for me to get pregnant. I got the first month out of the way and now it's really time to focus on that little bean that will be in my belly very soon! Heidi gave me a fertility rock today. I'm taking that as a good sign and she said she got pregnant with it just a couple days after her brother gave it to her. Now, I know I won't be pregnant in just a couple of days. I still have about 13 until I ovulate:) I can't wait to see those two pink lines in a few weeks!!

That's what we are. Nuts. Nuts in the Nutcracker :) It's a lot different this year and we're enjoying the change! Rehearsals all day for Emilee and I've been enjoying my Thursday night romp with the crew :) This is the 21st Nutcracker Pinkerton Ballet Theatre has put on! I was in the first:)

really. It was. Thought about taking just one more test today (13-14 dpo) and took one look at my nipples and decided I didn't need to. Those big juicy blue veins are all but gone. So after I pee I wipe and what is on the paper??? The bright red witch. It's a little unusual for her to be bright red and for her to start in the morning...but she's here! I know my body isn't playing such a trick on me that I would bleed at my regular period time and still be pregnant. So...I'm looking forward to next cycle. I am glad I kept a record of all the symptoms I was having so I can remember that they are totally normal and do not in any way mean I am pregnant.

Symptoms during my 13 day LP...
tender breasts
vein-y breasts
tingly breasts
cramping
burping
loud farts
heart burn
nausea
constipation
lower back pain
gallbladder attack
hard time urinating

I also want to note some pms symptoms that I have regularly but were noted more this month...
1 day before af
watery cm, wet feeling in panties
cramps
let down type of feeling
bitchy
Day of AF
crampy
moody
bloated



I'll be keeping my eye out for these symptoms during my LP every month now...just to see how I'm really feeling during that time. I must really not have been paying attention to myself during the LP the last couple of years because I do not remember feeling any of that stuff. At all. It's why I was convinced for a while that I was pregnant. I'm glad I have a month of looking at my body's signals to compare to next month!

Two other things I'll do differently this cycle...ovulation predictors and no early pregnancy testing. No hpts early because it's just not worth it wondering if I really WILL get that positive even though I already have the negative. AF showing her ugly head is the best/only indicator of pregnancy so I'm going to stick with that "test" instead. The opks...well, I'm going to use those this month instead of temping. I am just not getting enough sleep in the early morning to take an accurate temp. If I don't get pregnant this cycle I will try to figure out a way to get a good temp so I can chart and see if I'm even really ovulating. Who knows...breastfeeding may be keeping me from the big 'O' anyway.

I'm excited for this next cycle! 'O' should be right around my birthday! I think a positive pregnancy test two weeks later should be the best birthday present I could ask for :)

that's what I've decided to be this two week wait. I can be confident that this will work and optimistic...I know that it's very possible that it won't work this week but I think we have a good chance of it happening. Why wouldn't it? I have a great track record of getting pregnant on the first try. The only time it took months was with Lainey and I think it was because I was 4 months post pardum when we started trying. Of course my body didn't want to get pregnant right away lol. So for today I'm feeling very hopeful that it worked!

I do have to say that having the post an entry page as my home page might just work. I hit that home button at least twice a day and when I see this screen pop up I think oh yeah! I should post. Hopefully this will keep up longer than a week ;)

Scot is going with some friends to cut firewood today. This will be their third day out there (not in a row). He seems to really like it and I have to admit it turns me on a little to have such a manly man around the house now:) When we bought this house a big reason was because it had a wood burning stove. We love it! I love heating our house with wood that my husband worked very hard to bring home to us. He's such an amazing guy. I can't believe he puts up with all my crap and is still the nicest husband I've ever heard of. I am soooo lucky! He's even excited about trying for another baby even though he can see how crazy we all are with only two kids lol! Now, if only I could get myself motivated to get going on the school room! I need to get a project done around here...I just can't seem to motivate myself.

so I'm going to try to trick myself into posting more...I've now set my post an entry page as my home page. So. Every time I click on the home button I will be reminded that I want to blog more. We'll see how it works:)

Outside my Window...the beginnings of a beautiful sunset and the forester pulling up the drive

I am thinking...I'm glad Scot is home with dinner...we had such an exciting day I forgot to eat. We started out with a playdate at Sarah and Jimmy's house. Lainey was super clingy but had a good time. Emilee stayed home with Scot and made a cute mask while Scot worked on Halloween decorations. Then we decided on an impromtu trip to the sprinkler park all the way out in Spanish Springs. A good 45 minute drive away. The girls slept on the way and the trip was worth it. Hopefully we can get something like this park here in Carson...that would be great. On the way home from the sprinklers we stopped at whole foods and picked up a few boxes of 'crazy bugs' mac and cheese for Emilee who loves to make this for herself. Scot took Lainey to pick up pizza for dinner and Emilee has ditched us for her friend and open house at the school down the street...

From the school room... we haven't started official "unofficial" school yet but I have been online gathering ideas. I plan on using a lot of ideas from the waldorf curriculum I purchased last year

I am thankful...for two beautiful girls and the man who made them with me

From the kitchen... boring tonight...papa murphys but I've found some amazing real foodie blogs and I'm going to be stealing their recipes from now on~
Our loose menu plan includes:

* Beef Kabobs with Bell Peppers and Mushrooms with Tzatziki Sauce and a Greek Salad
* Roast Chicken with green beans with balsamic tomatoes, basil and bacon
* Ina's Chopped Liver with Nut Thins


I am creating...canned good for our winter pantry

I am wearing...brown sundress and a booby monkey on my shoulder

I am reading...My Life in France by Julia Child

I am hearing. . . .my husband bitching about something like beer

Around the house... messy today but will be clean tomorrow!
One of my favorite things...chocolate smiles from the booby monkey

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ...baby shower, dinner with amazing women, hair cut, learning some new recipes



A Picture Thought to share

Have a great day!