So how do you like being a stay at home mom?

I get asked this question all of the time. 

So, how do you like being a stay at home mom?

How do I answer?  I absolutely love it

Let me explain.....

First flash back to September 2011, 1 year ago.  I was working at an awesome job, that made great money, and I had just got promoted over the summer. I had full intentions of going back to work when I left on maternity leave, after all....I had Max, took my 12 weeks maternity leave, and went back to work, and we all survived - why wouldn't I be able to do it again?

Than came September 3, 2011.  Enter Alexander Gerard Lamb.  Our young family of 3, became an even younger family of 4.  We were reminded quickly what it was like to have a newborn in the house.  We had done this once before, but never with a 2.5 year old in the house, so everything seemed new.  During the first few months, life moved in slow motion, we didn't do a lot, Mike had almost 2 months off/half days/light work load, and we had tons of help - food brought, visitors, help with housework, etc. etc etc. Than comes November....me and Mike were on our way down to Delight for "Open Deer Hunting Season"  as I call it :)  We started talking about me going back to work the week after Thanksgiving and how it was going to happen.  The more we talked about it, the scarier it got. 

We asked ourselves...

Will my mom take care of both kids?  Can my mom take care of both kids?...it's not the easiest task to take care of a newborn and a 2.5 year old boy
Do we put them both in Daycare? Max had never been in anything, Alex was still so tiny.....it would be so expensive, and I would have someone I didn't even know raising my children 50 plus hours a week...and I would be paying for that?
Urg...I would have to pump again - hardest part - do I need to remind everyone of the last job I had pumping in my car in 100 plus degree heat, a snow storm, a rainstorm, and did I mention a tornado watch? Would I be able to hang in there and do it again for a complete year?
Would we spend most of our time in the car? Driving kids to somewhere - driving the 30 minute drive to work - driving back to pick them up - driving home
How would we do dinner every night?  Would we be able to still make dinners?
When would we have time to workout and run together....or even go to the park?
What time would we have to start baths, bedtime routines,etc?
When would we clean the house, do the tons of laundry, or little things like go to Walmart to get food.
We thought it would be even harder to go on dates because that would mean even more time away from the kids. 
And not to mention how would we have any time to do any projects?  on our house especially if we wanted to try and move...
etc etc etc

The more we talked, the more confused and nervous we got....than Mike said it..."What if you just stayed home with the kids?" At first I literally thought it was kidding.We had never really talked about this before.  I mean, I didn't think there was any way we could just go with one income, we didn't think it was an option. and me, not work?  I have been working the past 14 years.

But than - we started to think about it - after all we were in the car still - plenty of time to think about it.....The more we talked about it the more we wanted it to happen. It just seeemed like the right choice to make. We actually started making a budget.  We got rid of things we didn't need or could go without.  We made it work.  We knew it wouldn't be easy, but we knew it was the best thing for our family.

November 14, 2011....I called into work, and told them I was not coming back.  It was so scary.  I was quitting a job I loved and that I worked so hard to get.  I was giving up my weekly paycheck.  I had worked since I was 15, and now all of the sudden, I was about to volunteerly go unemployed.  Was I crazy?  When the words were coming out of my mouth to my employer, it sounded crazy...but I did it, and I never looked back, no regrets. After all, bottom line - this meant more time with my kids, during the years I will never get back.  I knew I could always start back my career, or any career, but I would never again get the chance to stay home with my kids.

2012
The year has been amazing.  I have been able to spend so much time with Max and Alex.  I have been there every step of the way.  I got to nurse Alex, a complete year (minimal pumping).  I got to get Max enrolled in a Mother's Day out program (we call school) where he gets to go play with other kids his age and learn new fun things 2 days a week, 5 hours each day.  I get to drop him off, and bring him surprises and give him big hugs when I pick him up. I got to work with Max on counting, and teach him all new types of things.  I got to see all of Alex's 1sts. I get to take the boys to the park on pretty days, watch a movie and snuggle on rainy days. I get to take them to feed the ducks, to boingo bounce open gym, to chuckee cheese - to Crystal Bridges museum....anything and everything (within my little budget).  I get to plan on our family meals - take the boys to walmart to get the stuff - and have dinners ready for when Mike walks in the door.  I get to clean the house and stay on top of chores so that Mike doesn't have to worry about the little stuff like laundry and dishes or mopping and vacuuming.  I get to take pictures of the boys all day long and videos, and than even send them to Mike, my mom, and Mike's mom (and lots of others) so they can see the boys grow up and stay in touch.  I can do little things like update facebook and blog so that family and friends can stay in touch better.  I get to take my time and plan out fun events and things for us to do like our vacation to Colorado or the boys Birthday's. I get to do fun projects around the house we never would have had time for. I get to help make some money by participating in the local Rhea Lana's sales or having my own garage sale or selling things on ebay :)  I got to research and help put our house on the market. 

This past summer was so much fun.  It just seems like I am able to get a lot done (when the kiddos cooporate that is) so we are able to just stay on top of things more.  I always try to have everything clean and ready so when mike walks in the door (he gets home earlier since he doesn't have to pick a kid up)  that we can just spend time together as a family doing fun or relaxing things.  More time together = priceless. Everyone just seems happier and less stressed. Which is ironic because normally when you take away money it seems people get more stressed. 

I'm so glad Mike and me were able to work everything out so that I can stay home with the kids. Are there bad days? OF COURSE! haha  Don't you have bad days at work every now and than?  My mom helps me out a ton.  She loves spending time with me and the boys.  This lets her spend time with them without babysitting them 10 hours a day 5 days a week. It seems as though for now, what we are doing is working.

When do I plan on going back to work?
Answer:  Not really sure.  As long as we stay in this house, I won't need to work, but hopefully our house sells one day.....than, once that happens, we will have to evaluate what our payment is on the new house and go from there. So for now, I'm a stay at home mom, until further notice.

Since Max turns 4 in February, I would love to start him in a full time preschool in August to get him fully prepared for Kindergarden the next year.  Since we want to live in Bentonville, that's where I'd like him to start preschool at too, so idealy we can sell before next August, fingers crossed :)

What a Difference a YEAR makes

 What a Difference a year makes.

 

This is a blog about my weight loss of 45 pounds! 

 

  Sure, last August 20th, I was pregnant, but still I weighed the most I had ever weighed, ever.  Of course I lost a little weight in the hospital, but I had a lot to lose, so I set goals. Unfortunately, I had to wait almost 3 months before I could work out - combination of that I had a c section, and that I had a hard time getting my blood levels "theraputic" (If they aren't theraputic, they aren't high enough, which means my blood isn't thin enough and makes me prone to clots), and than once I finally got cleared to exercise, I found myself in the middle of winter!  I finally attempted to start watching what I was eating....because we all know you have to wait til January 1st to make that goal so the holidays can be properly enjoyed :)  Me and Mike worked out, some, and watched what we ate, some but mostly just enjoyed being a family of four and all the new adventures it was bringing us.  In April, we got serious, and we both started to tackle our weight gain together, and that made it a bit easier.  We both started to lose some weight.  We would weigh on our scale in the mornings and keep each other updated on our progress.  Yes, I have absolutely no problem with telling Mike exactly how much I weigh.  For one, he's my best friend, two, it makes it easier for me to share my goals, etc with him.

 

Anyways - We took a short break for vacation in July for about 2 weeks because we wanted to enjoy vacation for all it was.  When we got back from vacation, I had about 13.5 pounds to lose to reach my goal.  I came up with my goal because it was what I weighed when I got pregnant with Max.  So if I lost my 45 pounds, than I would be back to my pre "before I ever got pregnant" weight.  My goal deadline was Alex's first birthday.  So I had about 7 weeks to lose 13 pounds.  Me and Mike hit the pavement and started running.  It felt great.  I loved getting back to running.  We came up with all sorts of creative ways for both of us to work out with 2 boys. We also worked hard on making healthier eating choices. 100 calorie packs became my best friend, of course I was nursing Alex til he was a year, so I had to keep up my milk supply with plenty of extra healthy daily calories. Apparently whatever we did worked - because the week before Alex's Birthday...I reached my goal!! I was very excited, and I feel a lot better about myself.  I have some pictures below.

 

JULY 16, 2011

 

AUGUST 20, 2011

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 3,2012 - 45 pounds lighter!!

 

 

Now for my second goal - 15 more pounds.  Once I reach that goal I will be back to my "I think this was the weight I was when I married Mike" weight.  My goal date is my 30th Birthday.  November 17, 2012....coming up quick :)

 

So I have 9.5 weeks to lose 15 pounds.  Actually typing that it seems kind of impossible since I've had a couple setbacks with hurting my leg and attempting to wean Alex. Not to mention once I wean him that will be 500 calories a day I normally burn that I won't be burning anymore.....but 15 pounds is still my goal.....I just might keep working on it and not have a goal end date I guess.

 

oh - and me and Mike joined a gym today WITH childcare - no excuses now!! I am extremely excited.  I am so excited about doing laps in the pool, I went and bought a new swimsuit today!

 

So keep updated - I can't wait to add a picture below my September picture with my new weight someday.

 

So until that blog.....less Sonic trips, less Mc Donalds sweet tea, more running, making healthier choices for a healthier happier life!

"needed" birthday gifts

We got Alex a few gifts for his birthday that we thought he "needed". First was what is currently being used as a popsicle chair. We have a popsicle about every afternoon or every other. Max has a Buzz chair he loves and sits in it outside especially when eating a popsicle. They would always fight over who got the chair and both try and squish into the chair when we were outside, so me and Mike thought we would get Alex his very own outside chair.  Alex was very excited, and sure enough, last night we sat on the driveway and enjoyed some popsicles in the Buzz chair and the car chair.






The next gift we got Alex was a new couch/bed.  We thought it would be fun for the boys to both sit and watch TV in, or either of them take a nap in, or read books together on it.  They both love it.  I think it was a great gift.

Alex's new rides

Alex was a little excited about his new trucks from Grandma and Grandpa.....and so was Max! I had never really seen these around before, and when we first saw them a couple months ago we knew they would make great Birthday gifts for Alex. Alex loves them. He got a big new blue truck that "matches" his big brother's truck AND a new fire truck. Here are some pictures of the gifts. Grandpa put together the blue truck, and Mike and several little elves put together the firetruck.

Thank you Grandpa & Grandma

We love you!!!








































- Ashley

A gift made by MiMi

Mimi made Alex a "quiet book" for his 1st Birthday. Since he's never had a binky, this will hopefully keep the little man quiet and occupied especially during church.

I know it must have taken her a lot of time to make. You can tell there was a lot of thought and work that went into it. It is a very special 1st Birthday gift.

Thank you MiMi. We love you!







































- Ashley

Becoming best buddies

Bath time


Snack time



Nap time



Play time



Popsicle time


Outside time


Checking the weather time


Both want the same chair arguement time


Barnes and Noble


Shopping


Breakfast


More nap time


Driving the truck

Green sand

Did you know they have green sand? We do now! I thought I bought regular sand at Walmart. I drove over to the outside garden center to get it and they were sold out. The lady told me to run in and get my money back because they were out I wouldnt have something to physically return if I came back later. I looked at her and showed her the two boys in the backseat. There was no way I was going to get those tired boys out of their car seats and drag them to customer service. She smiled and said she had something that would work. She had me open my back trunck and she told me she had green sand that would work. Well, we got home and filled up the sandbox and this is what we got! The kids love it. Max said next time he wanted blue. So now we might forever have colored sand on our sandbox.


- Ashley