Ups & Downs of a Two-Year-Old

Having a two-year-old is tons of fun! 

(Besides all the hitting and pushing that he's been doing lately. We've had to begin timeouts for the first time. He has to sit on the stairs for about a minute and if he's really naughty it might be two or three minutes. But what's funny is that he'll sit and sadly look at us through the bar railings on the stairs like he's a prisoner. And Brian and I have hard time not laughing, which isn't good for a suffering boy in timeout.)

He tries to dress himself. He hasn't been too successful yet, but he's getting the idea! He does know how to put his crocks on which is quite helpful when we need to get out the door. 

He is pretty good at feeding himself with not too much mess - also very helpful.

He is talking a lot more and he knows most of what we say. (But this comes with more accountability on James' part because I know that he knows what I'm saying and he sometimes deliberately disobeys.) It's fun to hear his thoughts and ideas. He also has been calling me daddy lately, I'm not sure if I should look into that too much. Other new things is that he will yell out "kiss" and he wants me to come over to him and give him a kiss or he will  yell "kiss" and come over to me. But these are romantic, on the lips kisses. Again I'm not sure if I should be worried or if he just loves his mommy! 

We really are best friends - I am so happy to be James' mom! But if anyone has any tips on how to unteach hitting and pushing, I would much appreciate some suggestions! 

Fun in the Mountains

This weekend we headed out to the mountains for a fun outing. It was so nice to escape the scorching heat and feel the breeze and cool air. It's amazing to me how just a few minutes outside of Vegas there is wildlife and trees.

We didn't quite make it to the summit because James was getting fussy, but it was fun to get out and do something different. I'm not a huge hiker or outdoors kind of girl, but I could see us doing it again if for nothing else but to escape the heat again!

The Birthday Boy

It's the birthday boy! I cannot believe it has already been two years since my baby James was born! Time has flown by. We gave James the option of going to McDonald's or In-n-Out (his two favorite places to eat out) by opening up a picture of each on the computer screen. Without hesitation he chose In-n-Out. I guess he's a Cali boy like his dad. 

He also got a shopping cart from is grandma Peggy and tons and tons of books from his grandma Tina. 

Here he is charging at me with the cart! My shins have gotten bruised as well as some dents in the furniture and walls. At least we haven't painted yet... But I love that he puts his new books in the back of the cart! Happy birthday James!

Things lately

Over the past month James and I have been travelling. We spent three weeks in New York to visit my family and then another week in California with Brian's family. It was good to visit all our family on both coasts, but it's always good to get home and back in the swing of things. (Plus I think my Bishop (area Mormon church leader) thought I went inactive...)

James loves his Auntie Jenny! We miss her!

I also was able to spend time with my dearest friend Erica and her baby girl Fae! James and Fae play very well together and Fae doesn't let James mess with her! She can hold her own. They were pretty tired after playing---that explains their blank stares!

Here she is trying to kiss James and James rejecting! I hope he is still as strong to resist a lady's wiles in 14 or so years! 

James and I probably watching Fox and the Hound. Which, by the way, is a super depressing movie. Why do kids like that movie? And it's scary!

Since we got back home to Vegas we have been in Spring Cleaning mode, which by the way is my favorite time of year! I am always in the mood to go through things, throw away/donate things, but this is the only time when Brian is too and we can just plow through the house getting stuff cleaned out and put away. We've gotten so much done, but there are still projects to be done (cough, painting, cough. If you see/talk to Brian, please remind him of this for me.)

Some other changes with the Nelsons are mostly with James. Brian and I are mostly boring and have exciting things change on about a yearly to even two year basis. But James is always changing and doing and saying funny things. Recently, everything and I mean EVERYTHING is either a gun or a sword. I don't mind this generally, because I think it's very boyish and manly, but it has became a wee bit of a problem because now he swings at and hits unarmed people. We even made a rule with him that he is allowed to sword fight, but he must always bring his opponent a "sword" (which is usually the hose attachments to the vacuum) so they can defend themselves! Another new thing with James is that he loves baby dolls. (He is a very dynamic boy!) When we were in California he spent a large amount of time just carrying around an old Cabbage Patch doll and if he wasn't carrying her he would either bring her to me to hold (very responsible) or he would push her around in a little stroller.

Sorry this one is blurry---it must have been an action shot! He was a little wild with the babies, but it's a start!

James loved having grandma and grandpa's big yard and all the toys to play with. I might be too protective, but I hate trampolines and I said I would never let my kids play on them, but I buckled! James spent hours on the trampoline with all the cousins and had a blast. He even learned how to jump and now he jumps not only a trampoline. (I don't know when kids usually learn how to jump (maybe he's behind) but James could never figure it before!)

We also enjoyed the Cali beach and hanging out by the pool. I grow up in a non-beach family, but I really like it now!

James has also recently started singing. He has started to sing when the congregation sings in church and just today he was singing along with the Law & Order theme music---we are so proud!

Speaking of law, Brian recently started a new job working as a law clerk for a law firm here in Vegas. The firm practice is mainly in the areas of estate planning, guardianship, and probate. Brian enjoys this type of law and could see himself practicing this type of law. Only one more year of law school and then some big decisions will be headed our way!

Weight Loss Follow-up

Back in January I posted about the weight loss challenge that I, my husband, and my dad all did. The challenge was to lose 10 percent of our body weights as of Christmastime. And congratulations go out to all of us because we all are very competitive and we all reached our goals! Brian even lost ten pounds more than his goal weight! (He looks awesome by the way and now he needs a new suit because the one he has actually falls off of him even with a belt!)

Total Weight Loss from July 2011- Current

Christina: 175 to 130; Size 14 to 4 

Brian: 260 to 200

So since Christmas, I went from a size 10 to now a size 4 which ended up being 20 pounds that I lost since the challenge. Brian lost 40 pounds since our challenge began in December. He went from 260 to 200 pounds!   

So here are the before and after pictures:

Christina

These pictures are just over a year apart to show my total weight loss of 45 pounds (not just since Christmas because there isn't that much of a difference in pictures of the last 20 lbs) since I stopped breastfeeding. 

Brian

This is Brian about a year ago at about 260. And now he is smokin' at 200 lbs. I tried to convince him put on a nicer outfit for the picture but he insisted that he doesn't wear "outfits", so this is all I got. 

So in order to maintain our weights we are doing subsequent follow-up weigh-ins for six months from now and a year from now to make sure we stay on track. We are still working out the details of prizes to win or punishments for failing. 

I am also deciding to not eat any desserts, treats, or candy for an entire year with no exceptions (until June 1st, 2013). I started it the beginning of this week and have been good so far! I will continue to eat how I otherwise eat, so meals won't significantly change and I will continue my normal exercise routine. I'm doing it partly for health reasons, partly to see if I CAN do it, and lastly as a social experiment. I want to see how often I am offered desserts and have to then deny them. I want to keep track of how pushy people are about me trying desserts. I want to see if it gets easier or harder, do my preferences change, do I lose any weight, etc. So wish me luck and anyone is welcome to join me! 

My Monkey

So the reason I didn't get upset with James when I came into the room and found him doing this was because I mean how could I be mad!? He was so cute! I purposely leave a bowl of fruit out that is in James' reach so he can help himself to a healthy snack if he is hungry. He usually just takes ONE banana, orange or whatever it may be and brings it to me to peel it. But on this day he thought he was clever because he had figured out how to peel the bananas and had a fun time doing so, only taking one or two bites from each. I ended up making green smoothies with all the leftover bananas. 

And though it is sad to admit, I too was a messy child! Like seriously, what was I eating? Jam!?

Backyard Part 2

We finished the backyard. And by "we" I mean that Brian finished the backyard with my moral support. My husband is so cute--he would be outside working and he would frequently poke his head inside and beg me to come outside and hang out and talk with him. Sometimes I would go out, especially if the sun was out and I could tan for a few minutes. I guess my hubby just likes me a lot! I am a lot of fun ;)

Here is the Part 1 for those interested. And here is a picture of the finished backyard. And if you want to read more about the process or see more pictures, check out my husband's blog.

Our current project is the garage. Brian painted the walls since it was ugly, dirty and had incorrect mathematical  equations graffiti on the walls. (Strange.) And the next step is to epoxy seal the floor. Then we will move on to the things that I really want to fix! Which is painting inside the house and fixing the bathrooms. Seriously, who steals bathroom cabinet doors?

Our house was previously foreclosed on so there were some major things missing like an AC, oven, stove, dishwasher, lights, windows, and the list goes on. And some other minor things like bathroom cabinet doors, for instance. The major things we fixed or replaced immediately after buying the house, but the minor things have been more of an inconvenience and we are just starting to get to those!

But we have loved our home and we are loving making it our own! It has been fun for me to learn a lot of new things about home improvement and I'm lucky to have such a handyman husband!