Rawlins Family

Rawlins Family

Sunday, June 22, 2008












It's time to come clean. I'm a blog-stalker. Not a serious one, but I do it. Personally, I love to blog-stalk. I know everyone else does, too. It's fun to watch the lives of people you don't really know, or are only slightly acquainted with. I have a few people that I blog-stalk religiously. But every now and then when I find myself bored I'll just start clicking on people's links and see where it takes me. RECENTLY I clicked on a link from my SIL's blog to find that HER sister has cut her hair off and is now sporting a sassy new do. CRAP! Why did she have to go and do that?
Here's the deal. It's been a long time since I've kept my hair long. After high school graduation I took a trip to New York to see my sis, Chrysta. At that point I was listening to a lot of Sarah McLaughlin as well as punk music (blame it on my boyfriend), so getting a short haircut was going to be edgy and cool. Guess what? I fell in love with short hair and had a seriously short pixie-cut for most of college. After getting married I let it grow for a long time before axing it again when Cam was about 9 months-old. Since then it's been a roller-coaster of short, long, short, long! I just can't decide what I like the best. Not that I want to find a style and wear it for the next 20 years. No thanks. But I would like to stop feeling like I'm ALWAYS growing it out! I want to stick with something for at least a little while! So before Sophie was born I started growing out my hair and told my hair dresser that under NO circumstances was she allowed to give in to my new mom urges to cut my hair. And it's been working! My hair has gotten quite long. But I REAALLLLLYYY hate it at the moment.
So, this is where you come in. I think I'm possibly going to cut off my hair on Tuesday. Chase is all about me having short hair, so he's a vote for the yes column. But I want to see what everyone else thinks. Check out the pictures listed and tell me your thoughts!

Sunday, June 08, 2008



Sorry, Michelle. I had to steal this from your blog so my viewing audience could Be Stilled by this performance. At first I thought this might be in sacrament meeting, (because of the obvious pulpit) but I'm thinking maybe it was in the institute or seminary building? He's not wearing a tie and I've never seen that particular picture on display in a chapel. Anyway, who the heck cares! David Archuletta is singing Be Still My Soul and I love him.

Saturday, June 07, 2008



I love this. It always makes me laugh. I have no idea how Dana Carvey and Steve Carrell keep their composure...

Anyway, so far it's been a good weekend. We had a rough day on Friday because Miles has an ear infection. I've been a mom since September 2003 and this is the first time one of our kids has had an ear infection! New territory for me...and it sucks. Kind of. It sucks that Miles is sick but I have to confess I like it a little. Not the sick part, but the part where Miles lays around watching movies, sleeping and cuddling. He had a fever of 103 yesterday so that's what he did the entire day. But everytime he would look at me with his sad eyes and say, "ear hurt" or "I'm okay" it would make me want to cry. The doc got him on some antibiotics and he's already feeling better today and back to his normal noisy self...just a bit more whiny.
Speaking of those antibiotics, opening that bottle of amoxicillan brought back memories! I totally remember having to take that crap when I was a kid. YUCK! It's the kind where they try to make it taste good but it just ends up tasting strange. And the SMELL! Ick. Usually I would trade places with my kids anytime they're sick. I'd much rather it be me. But not so much this time. That stuff makes me gag. Glad it's him and not me.
Today is Sophia's HALF birthday. She's six months old! I can't believe it!! Time goes SO quickly these days. It makes me realize that I need to S-L-O-W down and enjoy the little moments more. I love that quote from Anna Quindlen, "The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.” Yeah. What she said.
Anyway, to celebrate Sophie's six months I took a cue from Kelly and decided to run 6 miles today! Kelly adds miles for each WEEK after her kids are born, but I think 6 miles for 6 months is more my speed. It was a HARD run. I mapped it out on mapmyrun.com instead of driving it. DUMB, DUMB, DUMB. It wasn't until I was in the middle of mile three that I realized I had a bunch of big hills right at the end of my run. Cool, Anna. But you know what? I showed up today and ran every step of the way. I thought I would have to walk at some point but I ran right to my mailbox! My knees were screaming at me for the last 1/2 mile but I've been through 2 unmedicated labors so I think my tolerance is pretty high at this point. Anyway, I did treat myself to a nap and a new pair of running shoes to reward myself. It was nice:)
Tomorrow is church. Not sure if I have anything to say about that yet. Could be good...could be...well, we'll see.
After church we're having dinner at Brian and Jeni's house before Garrett's graduation! Little Garebear is graduating!!! He was still a baby when I joined the family and now he's getting ready to leave for a mission. It will be fun to watch him get his diploma. He's such a stud.
Pictures are forthcoming.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Check out Sophie's new skillz. (Okay, if you're not seeing the movie yet just hang in there...it's got to load on youtube first. Try back later!)

Saturday, May 31, 2008

So I just have to share my pride with everyone. Last week my friend issued a challenge to all of her blog readers (she's a personal trainer and keeps a health and fitness blog). She challenged us to run either a full or half marathon distance during this week. At 2 months post-partum she chose to run the full marathon distance. Did I mention she's a personal trainer? I, on the other hand, chose to run the half marathon distance. It wasn't a HUGE stretch since I've been running about 9 miles a week for the past month or so, but it was a good challenge. I started out Monday morning by whipping out a 2.5 mile run before hitting the Memorial Day breakfast at my in-laws ward. Wednesday I put in a solid 3 mile run (incorporating speedwork to boot). Friday was 3.77 miles and this morning at 6 AM I hit the ground running for a 4 mile run. I loved every minute of it, and I'm super proud of myself! It has been HARD trying to fit in exercise with three very young children, one of whom still doesn't think sleeping is cool. But I've been trying really hard over the last month to make it a priority and it's fun to see the pay-off. I never would have been able to run 13 miles in one week if Kelly challenged me 6 weeks ago! So yeah, I'm being bold and patting myself on the back and sharing it with the world wide web. I rock!

Friday, May 30, 2008












Just want to put up some pictures. Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

HE DID IT! HE DID IT! CHASE HAS PASSED THE FINAL SECTION OF THE CPA!!!!!!!! HOORAY AND CONGRATULATIONS TO CHASE!! THIS IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF HIM! YAY!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

So, to explain the previous post...
On Sunday we were all sitting around and Cam decided he wanted a banana. I'm cool with that, give the kid a banana and he starts eating it. Suddenly, he decides he doesn't want the banana. In fact, he HATES the banana. What?! So I was confused but told him to just put it down and not throw it away. At which point he starts screaming. Again, I'm confused. But now I'm also a little frustrated and I tell him to calm down, which of course he can't/won't. So I tell him he needs to head to his room for a little alone time until he can act nicely. That's when he errupts and loses it completely. Screaming his head off, hitting the walls. And that's fine because he was doing it on his way to time out. Until he spit the banana on the floor. NOT COOL. I tell Chase, in so many words, that the kid needs some serious punishment and Chase volunteered to take care of it (I was feeling a little too irrational to deal with him - not really a Love and Logic moment for me, Michelle). So Chase goes in and I start to clean up the spitty banana mess. As I approach Cam's doorway I expect to hear Chase laying down the law in a nice, stern manner. Instead, I hear Chase ask, in a loving tone, "Cameron, do you know what insubordination is?" After which Cameron received a lovely lecture on what insubordination is. Looks like Chase has officially become MY father!

p.s. Pictures and updates later today.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Question of the day:

Cameron do you know what insubordination means?

Friday, May 16, 2008

Here are a few numbers for you.

3: number of children I have
75: Diapers I change every week.
$.21: The price of a diaper.
21: Meals prepared per week.
14: Snacks per week.
168: Hours in a week
42: Number of hours of sleep I get each week (this is being generous).
2: bathrooms I have to clean
3: bedrooms I have to clean
1,789: number of times I clean the same thing each week (ie. the same kitchen, the same dishes, the same clothes)
60: number of tiny fingernails and toes that need to be cut, cleaned or filed each week
65: number of months I've been a mother (since finding out I was pregnant with Cameron)
56: number of times I nurse every week
35: number of consecutive months I have been either pregnant or nursing since June 2005
5: number of times I vaccuum each week
1: number of times I am permitted to shower WITHOUT an audience each week
4,650: number of things I forget to do in any given week
3: bare minimum number of times I work out each week - wish it were more
132: number of times I eat something naughty each week (you see the imbalance)
10: number of loads of laundry to wash, dry, fold, put away each week
30: number of minutes of Sophie's morning nap
390: number of minutes from the time the kids wake up in the morning until afternoon nap
4000: number of times my kids smile at me each week
6500: number of times my kids kiss me each week
8,000,000: number of times my kids melt my heart each week
67: number of new things I learn each day (taught my the best teachers around - my kids)
0: number of regrets I have about having my kids how I did, when I did
1: number of loving, devoted husbands I have

Monday, May 12, 2008

This is my first blog, so be gentle.

I just had to contribute after our visit to the Oklahoma (aka jet-setting) Kilgores this past weekend. It was great. Very relaxing. One of those vacations that feels like a vacation.

The item I wanted to mention has to do with our infamous middle child: Miles. In case you have not been able to gather...he is a twerp. Not only a twerp, but also an ingrate. (Actually, all children are ingrates, but I digress.)

Milo's twerpiness was especially apparent upon our visit to the Oklahoma City Zoo.

The zoo was doing a fun Ostrich Egg Breakfast thing, and we signed up and stood in line (for an hour) for delicious, flightless-bird omlets. Miles accompanied me in the line the whole time but was completely unappreciative during the entire hour. Of course, he wouldn't even try the omlet, but the best part came later.
The event was attended by some pretty colorful folk, including the following: sweet old-person band, authentic clowns, and Elsie the Borden cow.




It is on this last character that my story focuses. Miles acknowledged his desire to meet the quadraped (on two hooves), by the cute utterance, "Cawoo", and an assertive point.

Miles' initial encounter with the milk mascot was typical: aprehension and distrust, mingled with mild curiosity.

Once again, the firm request came, "Cawoo." The proceedings of this meeting were also anticipated: excitement with a handshake. The fun did not stop there.

Again, this time more politely, "Cawoo, pease", with a multi-nod of the head. This time, Elsie got a kiss. I thanked the costume wearer for his (or her) willingness to play along.

You guessed it, Miles insisted on one more furtive rendez vous with the lactose-laden lover. This last meeting was awkward and ostensibly left Miles wanting more. And that - I thought - would be that. All done. Breakfast was over, and it was time to see the REAL animals. You know, REAL lions; ACTUAL giraffes; and living, breathing geese. As mentioned before, with simple reality, Miles was not pleased. I know he was unsatisfied because as we were leaving to see the animate objects of our arrival, all Miles could think about, mention, and want in the whole world was that "Cawoo."

I assured him that s/he was sleeping, and needed the nap. No. "Cawoo, pease." What about the animals, Miles? No. "Cawoo." We had come to see the animals. No. "Cawoo."

...ingrate.

~Chase

Before I forget I have share these funny Cameron moments.

I was getting breakfast on the table the other day when he said, "Mommy, I'm dreaming of the Spider-man song. Can you hear it? It's coming out of my head."

The entire way to Oklahoma City Cameron sat in the back of the van singing Black Sabbath's "Iron Man." Hmmm...another example of my stellar parenting.

Today Cameron, in full Spider-man garb, walked up to me, ripped off his mask and said, "Look at my hair. It's so Goblin-ey" And it was.
So after a long and arduous busy season we needed some family time! Cousin Zach was having a birthday party before daddy heads over to "the desert" so we packed up the car and headed out! The pictures are in reverse order because my IQ is dropping by the day. Sorry about that. Just read the captions and you'll figure it out...


Sunday morning we went to church with Scott and Christy and the boys. Here are the kiddos in their finery. Quite the cuties, if I do say so myself. We Kilgore's really are doing good things for the gene pool in North America.

Last Wednesday was our 6th anniversary, but we were busy packing for the trip so we celebrated on the fly.
My big bro and his cute wife, Christy. She kept complaining that she looked "awful." Obviously, she doesn't.

Saturday morning we hit the zoo for a fundraiser pancake breakfast. The day started out COLD and windy. I didn't anticipate the temperature drop and failed to bring jackets for the kids. Cam figured out that he could get his arms inside his t-shirt while leaving his hands free to gorge. Nice.
During the breakfast there was a family band playing my old roller-rink favorites, like YMCA, the Hokey Pokey, and the Chicken Dance. Christy and Zach couldn't keep themselves away from the dance floor.

Friday was party day. It was a super hero theme and the kids wore super hero t-shirts. Here they are getting their powers ready.
Awesome cake.
We were very proud of Cameron for not bursting into tears when they sang, "Happy Birthday dear ZACH." For those who've been around Cam during this particular song, you know he really prefers to have it sung to himself (you can imagine the trauma that happens every month in primary when we sing the birthday song).
No one could bring themselves to eat Zach's head. Saturday night Scott finally made the cut and Scott, Chase and me ate dear Z's head. Christy couldn't partake.
Sophie was such a doll for the whole trip. Everyone loves a cute baby.


Speaking of Sophie, this picture is out of order...see below.
Thursday is the day we arrived. We drove straight to Scott's base for a little tour. I took this picture of his plane as we drove up because I was informed, in no uncertain terms, that pulling out a camera on the tarmac would result in me being thrown to the ground and guns being drawn.
Once we got INSIDE the plane we were allowed to take some selected shots of the cockpit. The boys were in their glory.
The boys were taking turns sitting in the pilot seats when Christy said, "Ty, why don't you let Cameron have a turn in that seat." Ty obliged and went to the back of the plane and before Cameron could take a breath Chase was sitting in the empty seat. He's such a great dad.
Scott in his flight suit. I wasn't allowed to take a picture of him even in the parking lot! This is the best I got. I meant to take a pic of him once he got home, but kept forgetting.




Okay, these are just some random shots. Here's Sophie getting out of the tubbie. So cute.

The rest of the shots are ones we found on the camera. Can you guess who found the camera and was having a little fun?
What do you think? Is Cam the next Ansel Adams?

Monday, April 28, 2008

Where, oh where has my husband gone?! It's 11:14 pm on April 28, and I'm sitting here alone waiting for Chase to come home. Busy season is still going strong for us. Last week was the worst. I came down with a nasty, nasty bug on Monday night that I'm still getting over. Of course it happened at the same time that Chase had three different audits to wrap up. He went in early and came home late every night last week (including SATURDAY!), he ran home during the second hour of church on Sunday to check in with his staff people, when he is home he has to continue working late into the night, and he's working this week even though he had originally scheduled to take Monday-Thursday off! Sigh. I feel badly for the poor guy. He feels so awful having to work these hours. I know it's good for his career and he's learning a lot. But wow, I can't wait for busy season to REALLY be over. Sara, don't you just miss PWC?
As long as I'm posting movie clips, I should probably post this one for TWILIGHT. I'm so ready to vampire it up on December 12!!!!!!!!! Save the date!
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1585900&vid=226476

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

COOL! I read in the Church News that there is a new movie about Emma Smith out. It's already playing in Utah but it will be playing in select theaters around the U.S. this summer.
Anyway, check it out and watch the trailer here
http://www.emmasmithmovie.com/ it looks really good!
To try and bring the show to YOUR AREA, email your name, city, state and zip code to movies@candlelightmedia.com (check under SHOWTIMES for more info).
Let's try to get this movie to Dallas!!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Deep thoughts for the day:
I need to stop comparing. All too often I get focused on what other people are doing, what they have and what they look like. I get a little down and think that the grass must truly be greener in someone else's yard (okay, that part is real, though, because I don't have a whole lot of grass in my yard, mostly weeds that we mow...but I digress). I see people and think my life might just be better/easier if I could be as skinny as them, or as fashionable, or as creative, or as good at baking/canning/gardening. Wouldn't it be great if I knew how to decorate a house like that, or if my house were newer and fancier, not to mention cleaner? Wouldn't it be great if I could take lots of trips and see more of the world. Maybe I should read more. Maybe I should read less. Maybe I should try pilates. Maybe I should only eat bacon and eggs. Maybe what's working for them would be the magic cure for my life!!!!
Or maybe I need to just stop looking at others and look around me right now! The adorable little girl cooing at me right now; the sweet, sensitive Spider-dude watching 101 Dalmatians; the crazy, but oh-so-lovable 2 year who is passed out in his bed; the hard-working, generous and kind husband who makes every day better than the last. I have a roof over my head, good health and enough money that we can take care of ourselves and try to help others. I have a body that is strong enough to create, carry and deliver three little miracles (and hopefully, someday in the DISTANT future, more miracle(s)). I have a knowledge of the gospel that gives me hope, direction and complete joy. Really, when it comes to the important stuff, the things that matter most, my cup is so full and I'm so thankful for that.
I know that the Jones' are hard to keep up with. I know that I will always have to battle that urge to compare myself with everyone else. But for today I'm glad to feel like I'm winning.

Friday, April 18, 2008

My life lately:
Well, I'm walking more. That's good. I'm also going to buy a jumprope - Thanks, Personal Trainer Kelly. Now I've got to work on cutting out the three dessert/night thing...
Anyway, it's been a busy week! I probably say that a lot, but it's actually true. I'm just crazy these days.

Over the weekend we got a lot of work done in the yard. We have a 30 year-old house. This means our lawn and landscaping (if you could call it that) is also 30 years-old. We're pretty sure none of it has been tended at all in the last 30 years, either. When the seller listed the house she planted winter rye grass (which works great when you first plant it but dies quickly) to make the lawn look nice and then dumped approximately 400 tons of red-wood mulch on top of the shrubs that she razed. So this spring we've been discovering a lot of stumps and a very patchy, weedy lawn. And removing the mulch has proved to be quite a task as well. So far I've personally filled 4 lawn bags with it and there's a lot to go. Oh well. Baby steps, right? One day we'll have our landscaping looking good again.

Saturday was also the day that we finally hung the blinds and curtains in Sophie's room! Yay! My friend Stephanie is going to come help me shorten the blinds and then I'll take a picture. It looks REALLY good, though!

And to top it off we got a visit from my SIL Christy on Saturday. She was having a weekend to herself and attending her MOMS Club conference, and all of that brought her to Dallas. We had fun chilling out, eating and remembering funny Scott stories. She got to meet Sophie for the first time, too, and that was a blast! When we were sitting down to eat dinner Cameron said the prayer and he included Christy by saying, "And we're thankful for Zach's Sara." I guess if Gaby has a Sara, then Zach must have one, too. Awesome insight, Cam.


Sunday was your usual day (see the Easter post) and that evening my brother, Jerry, called to say that he would be in town for a few days for business. Cameron was thrilled to have a real, live Gaby connection in the house and I started dreaming of projects I could ask him to do. In the end we spent our time eating, watching Napoleon Dynamite, watching various clips of the Flight of the Conchords (thanks Jen and Bri - we're all hooked now), Jerry changed the lightbulbs in my kitchen (we spent a full month or more in darkness because I was convinced the wiring was bad...I should have just changed the lightbulbs. Cool, Anna), and the guys played basketball. After a few days of witnessing the sheer insanity that is the Rawlins House, Jerry said, "Well, Anna, I have real respect for what you're doing here." In other words, "you people are nuts, I'm ready to go home."


Today we got to babysit Ashley and Kailey while the international movers pack up their belongings in preparation for their move to China. It was a lot of fun to have them play one last time. We are going to MISS the Breinholts. I know China is pretty excited that they get to keep them for awhile, but the rest of us are pretty bummed. C3 ward just won't be the same...Can you tell that Cameron is a fan? Anyway, we played, we ate, we played some more, we ate some more. A good day overall.
Speaking of eating, let me just tell you that my daughter LOVES to eat. She's one of those kids who starts to get fidgety about 90 minutes after her last meal. By 1 hour and 47 minutes she has reached epic levels of starvation and lets you know. She starts with the fidgeting which quickly becomes grunting and back-arching. Then she starts to gnaw on her fist. Next thing you know she is attempting to devour entire stuffed animals or burp cloths. If you happen to be holding her this is the time she starts diving for flesh - any flesh will do. If her lips make contact with it she goes into suction cup action which results in a very high-school-looking hickey. Finally, when she can stand the pain of deprivation no longer she gives in to a full-body scream that would cause the neighbors to assume I'm abusing her. The whole thing is rather dramatic, really. But what I just can't get a handle on is WHY she thinks she's so hungry. Has she SEEN herself lately? The girl is in the 95th percentile for weight! What? That's not good enough?! Is she really such an over-achiever that she has to beat the other 5% of kids who are fatter than her? Is this what people call "eating to win?"
ANYWAY, at least she's cute (which is really the only reason I give in to the theatrics at all).

In Cameron and Miles news, I have to share: I bought them play swords. Yes, I know. I've given many lengthy speeches on how I would never let my kids play with guns, etc. But under the tutelage of Deb I've come to accept the fact that, with boys, it's "all about the weapons." HOW MANY TIMES have I seen them make weapons out of sticks and lego's? And they are at least 10 times more dangerous than the ones you can purchase at your local Walmart. So on my last trip to the Dollar Tree the boys spotted some foam swords that make clanging metal sounds and I hesitated for about 2 seconds before saying, "Sure, why not." They've never been happier.

Friday, April 11, 2008

UPDATE:
So there was even more rain and hail on Wednesday night AND an enormous storm system that was dropping tornadoes all over the place. We woke up at 4 AM to roaring winds and hail beating on our windows. I was convinced it was a "rain-wrapped" tornado and we ran to turn on the TV. The weather man confirmed that a tornado warning was in place and advised taking shelter in an interior closet or bathroom. So we quickly cleaned out our coat closet, grabbed cell phones and put on clothes. We were just about to grab the kids and head for cover when the storm passed. It was such an eerie feeling that it calmed down as quickly as it did. Anyway, the kids slept through it but we couldn't get back to sleep until 5. And, as usual, Sophie woke up approximately 35 seconds after I drifted off...So there was no way I was heading out for an early morning run on Thursday.
So this morning I couldn't get myself out of bed after Sophie's 5:30 feeding. I just wanted nothing more than to crawl back under the covers and die. So I did for another hour until the kids got up and I had no choice.
So the point of this blog is to inform you all that, for the mean-time anyway, I give up. Running is going to have to wait until Sophie gets on some kind of regular schedule that allows me more than two three-hour stretches of sleep per night.
But I've buckled down and decided that walking will just have to do. This morning I put the boys in the stroller and strapped Sophie into the Beco carrier (easily the greatest invention known to man - it kicks the Bjorn's trash!) and headed out for a walk. It was great! The boys ate some Cheerios and only whined sporadically. Sophie slept in the sauna-like atmosphere under the fleece jacket I was wearing. I even threw in a couple sets of walking lunges at the end to help tone my two rear-ends. Three miles later I felt pretty dang good!
So, while I look forward to running in the semi-near future, I'm happier doing something than doing nothing. Walk on!

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Well, it figures. I guess I am officially a busy mom of three...sigh.
For the last 4 months I've been trying to pray my body back into shape. I didn't gain an unreasonable amount of weight - just the same 30 pounds I gain each time. And I breastfeed so that's supposed to just burn the fat right off, or so I'm told. But alas, here I sit 4 months post-partum with about 10 pounds to get to my pre-pregnancy weight and another 10 pounds after that to get to my dream weight. You know, the weight I haven't been since I was a junior in college. Actually, scratch that, I've been my dream weight twice in the last 8 years - once when I was running my butt off to get ready for Brian and Jeni's wedding (I looked awesome, I'll say that much), and again when I was about 3 months preggo with Miles. I had the worst morning sickness and dropped 12 pounds (but again, I looked awesome).
ANYWAY, I'm not much of a dieter. I really do best when I just eat normally. What really works for me is running. It is hands-down the only exercise that i really love enough to get up and do! And as a bonus, it takes off the pounds quickly and shapes up all of my post-baby parts.
The kicker? I have only done 2 or 3 post-baby runs. All of which took place at night because that was the only real time I could go. (2 seats in the double jogger + 3 children = Anna has to run without the kids until Cameron goes to school full time.) Unfortunately I'm not a night exerciser. By the time the kids are in bed and I've got the house somewhat recovered I barely have enough energy to get through flossing and brushing. So night running is out.
Of course this has left me trying to fit in aerobics videos or using my exercise ball and free weights...This lasts for about ten minutes because I have to go put Miles' diaper back on, or break up fights, or take the toothpaste away from Miles, or provide drinks and snacks to children who are suddenly famished and thirsty. The list goes on.
So yesterday I decided I've had enough! I decided that I was getting up early to go running today. Sophie has been sleeping much better - usually just waking once or twice a night. So while I can't survive on 5 or 6 hours of sleep EVERY night, I can do it three times a week and sneak in a few runs.
Things started well enough. I got the kids to bed on time, got the house cleaned up and spent a little time with Chase (watching the Biggest Loser which I accidentally recorded instead of AMERICAN IDOL!!!!! Not cool...I hope someone Tivo'd it!) and headed to bed around 10:15. Of course Sophie woke up at 10:30 and absolutely had to be fed so she would calm back down. No big deal, I'm still on schedule. Right. At 11 PM the hail and lightening started. I still wasn't worried. I just put on my jammies and got under the covers. Until 2 AM when the storm outside got violent. 2:15 Cameron arrived in our room screaming. He crawled in with us and we tried to get back to sleep. A few minutes later I figured I'd better check on Miles. He was fine so I got back in bed and pushed Cameron out of my spot. The next hour was spent sleeping about as well as I could with Cameron's knees and elbows in my back. I had to keep pushing him out o f my way. Then at 4 AM Sophie was awake so I had to get up and feed her. I was back in bed 15 minutes later only to be awakened at 5 AM by Sophie again! She just couldn't go back to sleep. I let her cry for awhile but it was clear she wanted my attention. After another feeding she went calmly back in her bed but quickly developed the LOUDEST hiccups I've ever heard! I turned off the monitor in our room and I could STILL hear them! Finally around 6 I was able to get back to sleep. There was no way I was getting up to run on only 3 solid hours of sleep!
So there it is. It figures, right? I guess tomorrow I'll follow Cameron's advice and "try, try again!"