Leg Day Exercises

Hey, friends! I don't know about you, but I've been slacking this week in my workouts. It's not much of an excuse but I've been so busy and when I've had the opportunity to rest, I've taken it. For the past few days, I felt like my morning sickness was trying to return...

and no. 

I just refuse. 

Anyway, I enjoy coming up with my own exercise routines. It keeps me challenging myself and prevents me from getting comfortable doing the same old thing. Here's one of my recent leg workouts I hope you'll try. I've included some videos below in case you don't know what something is, but if it's not linked just youtube it. 

(Weighted Squats, Mountain Climbers, Hip Bridge + Leg Lift, Donkey Kicks, Squat + Back Kick, Plank, Wall Sit)

Have a great day!

Tuesday Therapy

I'm so close to having several dreams realized. They're right there. I'm working toward them, but I'm also tired. So tired. I don't know if it's this pregnancy, motherhood, or what but I'm just constantly feeling the need to prop my eyelids open with toothpicks. It's bad, y'all.

It's that feeling that there's always one more thing to do. Dishes, homework, meetings, doctor appointments. There's never any break. Not really. The only reason I have time to sit down now is because I'm currently allowing the baby to sleep well into the evening and the toddler is dumping all the dirt from my flower pots out while I watch from the sun room. Choose your battles, right? That's why we're having pizza tonight while Daddy is off at his work meeting and I'm hanging with the kids because I refuse to make another meal that is just going to primarily end up on the floor or in the trash because Cray K is so darn picky. I just can't deal with it today.

This morning I went to an AA meeting to fulfill requirements for one of my classes. I was supposed to be observing and I did, but all I could think about was how these women weren't all that different from me. They mentioned similar struggles I have and I found myself wanting to be a part of their little (big!) community just so I could share, too. They all had support. I found myself wondering if I could just meet up with my close friends every day or every other day for one hour just to talk if that could turn my life around, too. I think I'm on to something here, don't you? ;) Oh, a girl can dream.

These next few months are going to be bananas, I know that. The next few years are, too. It's just this season of life right now that makes me feel on the go. It's part of it. Just yesterday, I heard an old man whisper to someone (talking about me), "She sure has her hands full, doesn't she?" And my kids weren't even screaming. Pregnant belly. Toddler. Baby. Yes, my hands are so full. My heart is, too. But Lord, so is my head. I've been thinking all week about why we ever left the beaches of Florida and I just can't seem to recall it. I could sure use a sunny beach nap sans kids. 

It's not even Wednesday, is it?

Faith & Fellowship Blog Hop

Hi, friends. Mrs. K here. I got the opportunity to cohost a blog hop that I really enjoy stalking each week. It's so refreshing to read and I'm really happy to be a part of it today! I'm going to link up one of my old posts from my other blog so I hope you'll go check that out and browse the other links, too. Have a fantastic weekend, y'all!

It's that time again - time for us to join together as a body of Christ and get to know and encourage our sisters in Christ!  Link up any and all posts you've written in this past week (or dig into your archives!) that are an encouragement for the Christian community!  I can't wait to read your testimonies, find out what God's doing in your life, or learn what you're learning in your quiet time!

Faith and Fellowship Guidelines

1.  Link up a post (not just the link to your blog) from the week that shares what the Lord's been doing in your life or speaking to you.
2.  Put the button on your blog post or blog so that others can hear about this wonderful group of Godly women.
3.  Visit as many blogs as you're able and get to know your sisters in Christ!
4.  Share this blog hop on social media using #faithandfellowship or pin the button on pinterest.

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Your Host:

 

Susannah from Simple Moments Stick

Your Cohosts:

      Mrs K from Mrs. K and Captain J    //    Jonni from My Jolly Little Life

If you'd like to cohost in the future, please email Susannah at susannah.kellogg (at) gmail.com

An InLinkz Link-up

BumpDate: 17 Weeks

How far along? 17 Weeks

Baby is the size of: a turnip

Weight:122 (+4)

Symptoms: Some are too awful to even mention. Ugh. This is not a pretty time for me. Let's talk about how I haven't gained much weight with this baby and I'm not showing nearly as much as I did with the other two and yet somehow THIS is the pregnancy that gives me stretch marks. Noooo. I have one or two beside my belly button and I need help. What do you swear by? I'm currently using cocoa butter and baby oil. Perhaps I should drink more water. Let's see...other unpleasant new symptoms include those crazy pregnancy dreams. My mind went absolutely nuts last night which is probably why I'm up bright and early this morning writing to you fine people.

Cravings: chicken salad, fruit loops, cookies (always)

Boy/Girl? We find out next Friday! woo hoo!

Exercise: I've been doing pretty decent keeping up with exercise. I enjoy creating new routines and while I find it difficult to find time to squeeze it in with my kids hanging on my every move, I'm making it work. I feel pretty good, considering.

New Things: Big brother K now kisses my tummy and points to it and says "baby." He used to say it was a baby sister but he has since dropped that notion so we'll see. Big brother A doesn't notice my ever growing middle at all and scares me half the day when he runs up to tackle me or climb all over. Poor baby probably can't get any rest in there, I'm sure.

Books At A Glance

I read Patterson's Honeymoon years ago and all I could remember about it was that I loved it. I got through the book in a day or so. When I saw Second Honeymoon on the rack at Wal-mart, it was an impulse buy. I haven't read anything from him in a long time. I'm a sucker for psychological thrillers, though and this one didn't disappoint. As Patterson so often does, the plot was thick with characters, murders, and strands of facts that you think might never be tied up. It switches back and forth between different action scenes that there were a few times I was a bit confused. It took awhile to get used to his style of writing after some of the other books I've read lately. I read the book fairly quickly so I must have enjoyed it, but you know sometimes these books are just more of the same, if you know what I mean. Good beach read, though.

Enchanted. That's the word that comes to mind when I think of this story. I really liked it. I picked it up after throwing in the towel because Baby A and book stores don't really mix. I couldn't read the back of the book (or any book) before he was picking up a book and eating it or crawling under tables of books. I probably wouldn't have chosen this under normal circumstances, but I'm glad I did. Perhaps it was fate. This story has magic, romance, and the lure of circus lore set in the late 1800's. It was lovely. There was a lot of switching back and forth between dates (years) and times which I didn't love, but overall I thought this book was great. It was the kind of story that makes me, as a writer, want to be better. The intricate plot line was tied together fairly seamlessly at the end and I was sad to be done with this book on some level.

***

Remember when I reviewed this book for my college pal? Well, the second book is well underway. Kennedy and Gaitan recently released a sneak peak. Their cover reveal and synopsis is live here, but I wanted to show you the cover, too! I'm excited:

Stuff AND Things

Here are some random thoughts and happenings that have been bouncing around my brain lately:

*I really, really think Baby A can hear at least a little. The last audiologist said that to the best of her knowledge using the OEA that she was seeing "moderate hearing loss" but that we would need to do the ABR for more information. I suppose I could be in denial. Perhaps this is just another thing moms hope for when they find out this sort of news, but today I pressed my lips right up to his right ear and talked rather loudly. He stopped, focused, and when I was done he gave me the biggest grin...like hearing my voice isn't something he frequently hears, but he looked happy. I don't know. Maybe I'm nuts.

*My little toddler is speaking in sentences now. He's hilarious. Anytime I'm praying during the day, he whispers, "Money, wake up!" He also will repeat "Money?" over and over, trying to get my attention. If I don't answer, he switches to "Kacy, Kacy, Kacy?". Ha! This kid. I love him.

*I've been meaning to show you the boys' bathroom reveal. You remember that we were re-doing it, right? I'd go take a picture but I wouldn't dare risk waking my sleeping monsters beauties so this photo will have to explain it all:

Yeah, that's right. It's still not done. I tell my husband "I told you so" like every other day. I finally capitulated this week and scrubbed it clean and packed away all the tools in there. I give up. Good thing he can cook.

*I have ten more days of freedom and then my graduate studies resume. Oy vey.

*I decided to add something for Lent this year. Today marked the beginning of my blessings count in my spiritual journal. I plan on being more aware and noticing the little things in my life that make me happy. I'm thankful for a lot more when I write them down and can see all the little ways that God has blessed me.

*With the busyness and stress of Baby A's diagnosis (or lack thereof), I forgot to tell you that J's job is secure. He made it through the massive downsizing and we're pretty pumped to still have a job and steady income. Thank you, Jesus.

Did you have a good week?

Glaringly Obvious

Is corn and tater tots an acceptable meal?

Wait, don't answer that. That's what I just finished shoveling down and that's what I just fed my kids, too. Some days are like these. I rush and rush, going to doctor appointments, calling other doctors, trying to get paperwork for the chance at some answers. It feels like that's all I do now. I've barely left the house unless I'm headed off to an appointment of some sort. 

It's like I've asked and asked God what my purpose is here on this earth and He has answered me. You are this. You are that. Most importantly, you are "Mom".

My boys have been sick off and on for weeks. Just today, we discovered Baby A has an ear infection while he was going in for his routine checkup. I didn't notice. He's a happy kid usually so it just wasn't evident. No fever, nothing. It makes me wonder how many I have missed and if that has been the cause of his hearing loss. I can find guilt in every nook and cranny of my brain, wondering if I had done this or hadn't done that if things would be different.

Amidst the wiping of little noses and the cuddling of fever-ridden littles, I feel my purpose overwhelmingly, glaringly obvious. I make a difference in these lives. My hands are not idle. I'm working. I'm working diligently.

That's more than enough.