Life in Bullets---November 4th

Maybe I should re-name my blog" the life in bullets" blog!! Since thats all that I seem to have time to conjure up now -a days...and honestly I dont see that changing before the end of the year!

Boo at the Zoo!

The 2 Spradlin girls...

Mama and her Blue-eyed Lady Bug

• In the past 8 days, we have had an array of a family come visit! And I realized--I do much better when a family visit is sprung on me versus planned for months in advance! I didn't over stress about the house being clean-I winged it with meals the best I could  and I allowed myself to just serve them the best I could and enjoy that they were here!
• Shea's Nana on his dads side passed away last week--hence the amount of family in town! It was very sad to see her go--but it was incredible to be reminded that when someone passes away--we do them a much better service by spending time focusing on their legacy than their loss. 
• Austin got to spend a lot of time with his cousins and I was once again saddened by how far away we live from them...or most of our family for that matter. Lets just say that it has Shea and I really thinking through our future and whats really important in the long fun.
• My mom also visited last week (a trip already planned before Nana passed away.) We had so much fun hanging with the kids, doing Boo at the Zoo, shopping and just getting to enjoy our time together. Austin said when we  left the airport " I am sad that memaw had to go back to her home." Poor kid...I think he really loved all the attention and focus she was able to give him!
• Lexi turns 6 months today...and it feels SURREAL!!! I cant believe how much she is growing up..I mean I know everyone says that but seriously its going sooo fast this time around!
• Its only November 4th and I am already exhausted... this cant be!! I have an insane month ahead of me and I need me some energy and stamina...what happened to all that?? 
• I realized that with all the last minute changes of plans due to the funeral last week--I never got a picture of Lexi at the pumpkin patch or even with a pumpkin...some will think this is no big deal...others will hold judgment since their kids have pictures with every change of temperature, season and clothes! Oh well...
• I have become somewhat addicted to the Salty Carmel Hot Chocolate at Starbucks. No really...I sit there and dream about when I can have my next one. Now in all honesty--I have only had two ( so no one thinks I am spending my grocery budget on treats at Starbucks!) BUT I wish I could have one every  morning!! You must try one...to.die. for!!
• I had a really awful "ah-ha" moment this weekend when I saw a picture of myself and thought "who is that fat girl?" Yep...it was me. Now I know I am not morbidly obese or anything...but I have yet to loose all my pregnancy weight and am bigger than i have ever been in my life.  This is very depressing for me..I keep thinking its gonna come off...and its not. I am struggling so much to find a way to eat well, eat more whole foods and loose weight without making my life so complicated that I just fail. Lexi is now officially allowed to go into the child care at the gym so my goal is that tomorrow morning we hitting the gym--me and the two kids!! Wish us luck!!
• Oh--and on that note--I have decided to train for a 5k in January called the Jiggle Butt Run in Arlington..it sounds perfect for me!! Now I am not a runner...AT. ALL. Actually I despise running...but I feel that this is a great way to motivate me and get me started on this journey I am on to getting back to "myself." ( you know the self I lost after 9 months of horrible pregnancy sickness, giving birth and then the past 6 months with a new baby who has medical issues and who I have to pump for at least 3 times a day!!) Oh ya...that self!! I figured training during the holidays was a great way to keep me distracted from all the holiday hoopla and food! I will let you know if it works-HA! 
• Tonight is our first night to try one of our new babysitters. ( remember a few weeks ago when my bullet list included how exhausted I was from all the interviewing!) Yes-- we are trying one tonight before I get called to a birth and they are with my kids last minute! Its so funny how we are always dying to do a date night and then when we HAVE to have one, its hard to plan one!!Praying that things go well, the kids like her, she likes the kids...and that I dont stress out the entire time! 
• I want to cut my hair off...like go really short and trendy. I think its my way of just wanting to feel cute after feeling so frumpy for so many months...but I know me...and I will likely regret it the day its done. (As will my husband who definitely prefers me with long hair!)
• So Christmas is only a few weeks away...and I have no clue about gifts, cards, pictures, anything. That is kinda weighing on my shoulders....
• 5 years ago last month was when I went on my mission trip to the Philippines...cant believe its been that long. A little piece of my heart will always be with those families and kids! 
• My sweet baby has been sleeping for over 2 hrs now and I must go wake her up...if I had known she was gonna sleep this long I would have taken a nap and made different plans. I really wish that sometimes sleeping patterns came with a handbook!!