First Bike Ride

Only seven months old and already riding a bike! Well, getting a ride on a bike that is. Ryan went on his first bike ride just the other day. He loved looking over the side of his bike seat at the world zooming by. His big sister and brother joined us as we cruised around the neighborhood. They were even more excited than Ryan was!

The Biggest Loser Challenge - Week 3

As I completed my second week of my weight loss challenge, inspired by the show The Biggest Loser, I was not very happy with my progress.

This week's report: 1 lb. lost, only two days of exercise.

My goal is that when I report for the next week of my challenge I will have lost at least 3 pounds. I can do it! I can do it! (That's my new mantra.)

I watched my daughter participate in the jog-a-thon for her school yesterday and she happily and easily ran 6 laps (1.5 miles) in under 20 minutes. She is my inspiration this week. I want to be able to go out and run with ease like she does.

I'm going to finish this post quickly so I can go workout right now since I have a few minutes of free time.

The Biggest Loser Challenge - Week 2

It has been one week since I declared my commitment to my own Biggest Loser Challenge.

Here's my report:
I have lost two pounds and met my goal of exercising every day. Yippee!

I had hoped for more than two pounds lost, but it's better than nothing. My goals for this upcoming week are to continue exercising every day and to be more diligent with eating healthy. I'm going to focus on eating more fruits and vegetables (and therefore less junk). That should be simple, right? Well, we'll see how it goes when those potato chips are calling my name.

My inspiration.

Since this is a B for Biggest Loser post I thought I'd connect up with the always fun Alphabe-Thursday hosted by Jenny Matlock. 

Mailbox Monday

 Happy Monday!

Mailbox Monday is a fun way to find other blogs and to gain more readers.

Check out the blog hop at the Mailbox Monday host's blog: A Little of This A Little of That

The Biggest Loser Challenge

I have been a fan of the Biggest Loser for several years. It is an entertaining show and inspiring for anyone who has ever had weight issues.

During the last season I was pregnant and happily sat on the couch eating my snacks cheering on the contestants. Now, jump ahead several months - watching the new season premier Tuesday night I realized that I can no longer sit on the couch veggin' out watching other people become fit and healthy.

It's my turn to be a Big Loser!

I am going to take my own Biggest Loser challenge during the 11th season of the show. My goal is to lose these last 30 pounds of baby weight that I've been carrying around. I will report back here every Tuesday, just like the Biggest Loser contestants do on the show each week.

I don't have time for hours in the gym every day and I don't have the trainers, Bob and Jillian, yelling at me but I do have my own determination to get healthy and finally get back down to my pre-pregnancy weight. (That is pre-pregnancy from my daughter who is now 6 years old. These pounds have hung on through my other two pregnancies but now it's time to say good bye.)

I'm not as brave as the Biggest Loser contestants: I would never want to be weighed on national television in just spandex and a sports bra, but I will use their bravery as my inspiration.

If anyone else is interested in joining me I would love to have the support and comradery.  It won't be easy but we can do it!

My first steps are:
1. Exercise everyday (as much as I can, even just for a few minutes).
2. Cut out late night snacks.

Next Tuesday I'll report back on my progress. Wish me luck!

How do I get my baby to sleep through the night?

This is a tough question for parents. Here I am on my third child and I still don't really have it figured out. I thought I would, by the way. Ha.

I am at a crossroads. Do I let him "cry it out" or should I bring him to bed with Daddy and I?

I've tried rocking Ryan back to sleep or comforting him while he's in his crib, hoping he would just fall back asleep, as you would expect at 3:00am, but that's not working. In fact, all he wants is to breastfeed when he wakes up.

Here's the advice my pediatrician gave us about getting him to sleep.

1. Put him down to sleep at night still awake. Feed him, change his diaper, rock him briefly, then lay him down while he is sleepy but not asleep yet. (This will teach him to go to sleep on his own.)

2. Do not feed him at night. (Ryan is 6 months old and at a good weight so he doesn't need the extra feedings.)

3. Have Daddy check on him when he wakes up at night. (Removing the option for breastfeeding.)

4. Let the baby cry it out (cry himself to sleep), checking on him every 10 minutes or so.

I know that the doctor's advice will work. The question is whether I want to put myself, my husband, and my baby through the nighttime crying.

I already follow step 1 with no problem. I've tried all the other steps and it has not been going too well. Last night, (technically this morning) Ryan woke up at 1:00am, 3:00am, and 5:00am. Arrghhh!

It sure is a good thing babies are so darn cute and lovable because this not sleeping stuff is the pits.

Mango Peach Salsa

Mango Peach Salsa is a delicious addition to many meals, such as fish tacos, nachos, or quesadillas.

I made a batch without any hot peppers so the kids could enjoy the salsa without the spiciness. They especially loved the sweet mango chunks.

This recipe, with the bright colors and sweet fruit, is a simple, healthy, and inexpensive way to make a common meal extra special.

Mango Peach Salsa

2 large mangos, diced
1 large peach, diced
1/4 c. diced red onion
1/2 c. chopped cilantro
1/4 c. diced red bell pepper
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. tabasco sauce
1 tsp. white vinegar
1/4. c. diced jalapeno peppers (optional, depending on desired level of heat)


Mix together all ingredients. Chill and serve with your favorite Mexican dishes. Any other hot pepper can be substituted for the jalapenos and more or less can be added to your taste.

For more healthy and inexpensive ideas for feeding your family check out Pennywise Platter.

Off to Grandma and Grandpa's House They Go

There was peace and quiet at my house for several days this past week. That is a very rare occurrence around these parts. 

The big kids enjoyed a childhood rite of passage: the summertime visit to their grandparents' house.

I was a little sad when I hugged and kissed them good bye,  left alone in my quiet house with only my 5 month-old, then I had a reality check and jumped for joy! I love my kids to pieces but sometimes mama just needs a break (and most mothers of a four-year-old and six-year-old will agree what a break it is to just have one little baby).

The fond memories of the days when my first child Emily was a baby came flashing back. She and I would spend leisurely days together, following her schedule and caring to her every whim without any disruptions. Ryan got to have a little taste of that undivided attention for a few days and I do believe he loved it.

My dear hubby and I even got to enjoy each others' company in the evening without having to rush to follow the usual hectic dinner/bedtime routine.

Emily and Mason loved their special big kid time away too. They love having the extra attention (aka spoiling) that grandparents lavish on them. It's a win-win situation for all of us. The kids get to be independent and feel special, the mom gets a break, the baby gets undivided attention, the grandparents get to spoil their grandkids. Yippee for everyone!

I was so excited for the big kids to come home, looking like they had grown two inches in five days. Mason told me that he wanted to give me the biggest hug ever and made my heart melt. Ryan was all smiles to hear his big brother and sister's voices and I was one happy (refreshed, relaxed, revitalized) mama to have my family back together again.

I have to give a big thank you shout out to the grandparents for taking great care of my little rug-rats.

Now, I am sad to say that the euphoria of our family reunion did not last forever. That happy, refreshed mama of the first night the kids arrived home vanished in a flash when I was woken up by a demanding four-year-old at 6:30 the next morning, but hey, I did enjoy it while it lasted. Let's just hope it won't be next summer before I feel that way again.

For some tips on helping your kids with overnight visits see: Tips for overnight visits for young kids.

Tortellini Salad

One of my favorite summer dishes is this delicious pasta salad. It is made with tortellini, a small ring shaped pasta stuffed with cheese, which adds a unique twist and makes it a hearty salad. This is a great side dish for a barbecue or a main dish for a light summer dinner.

Tortellini Salad

12 oz. cheese tortellini
6 green onions, chopped
3/4 c. diced red bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. balsamic vinegar
1 c. Italian salad dressing
8 oz. feta cheese
1 tbs. olive oil
3/4 c. sliced kalamata olives

Cook tortellini in boiling water for 4 - 5 minutes, until tortellini floats. Drain and set aside to cool, lightly coating with olive oil. Saute green onions, bell pepper and garlic in olive oil until just tender. Mix sauteed vegetables with tortellini, vinegar, dressing, olives, and cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chill prior to serving.

For more great recipes check out Pennywise Platter.


This post is part of Alphabe-Thursday's Rainbow Summer School.

Eat, Pray, Love the movie

I watched the movie adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love with my best friend last night. We had been looking forward to seeing the movie since we heard about it a few months ago. We were even more excited after seeing Julia Roberts on Oprah, but I had to wonder: would the movie live up to the hype?

We were not disappointed. The movie was wonderful, although as usual not quite as good as the book. But really, has there ever been a movie that meets up to the book it is based on? This one gets close.

After watching Eat, Pray, Love I feel compelled to smile from my liver, as Ketut tells Liz to do, and live a more balanced life.

I can't travel around the world for the next year, like Elizabeth Gilbert, but I can take my own spiritual journey to find myself right here at home. I'm going to start with enjoying the happy moments with my kids more and staying calm during the not-so-happy moments. Living in the present and finding joy in the small, everyday things is my goal.

What a pleasure it was to read an inspiring book and then see it played out so well on the screen. Bravo to Eat, Pray, Love!