Easter Weekend Getaway

Bonne matin! (Good morning in French)
I still speak French and I definitely use it with baby Kie.
I realize I live in Texas where the dominate language is Spanish--but, I want Kie to know his heritage--and he's a part French. And half German.  But, I don't know much German....so he's out of luck there.

Anyway, I am currently sitting on our comfy couch a wee bit sweaty and definitely tired.  I've been up since 5 am and been at BOOT CAMP.

This is just the first week.  First day of it, I was dreading every minute and telling myself how this would be the ONLY day I'd go.  I was cramping up from the protein bar I had eaten for breakfast.  I was coming close to last in all the long distance runs and my legs and abs were on fire.

Well, day two was a different story!

I didn't eat breakfast--therefore, I didn't cramp up.  My sore muscles loosened up during our warm up runs.  And today we focused on a lot more weights and relay runs then distance.  In other words, my cup of tea!

Also--Justin took all my measurements before I started on Monday--so we'll see how many inches I've hopefully lost after I'm finished.  Initially I signed up for 4 weeks, but I extended it to 8.  So I'll do a 4 week measure and then an additional one after 8 weeks.

I'm hoping to lose 12 inches total (legs, arms, waist, hips).  Also, today I felt the 'athlete' in me awaken.  If anyone knows me, then they know how extremely competitive I am.  I can't stand to lose.  Luckily growing up, most things I did--I did well at.  Or, if I was on a team sport, I was always on the winning team.

Needless to say, this competitive side comes out during board games, billiard games, Wii games, wrestling, pool, darts, swimming, walking, running, shopping...you name it!

Justin thinks it's hilarious.
So today at boot camp we split up in teams to do relays.  I got a rush from competing against the others.  And my team came in 2nd.  (No not first, but that's because one of the girls was dragging tail.)  But still, it was the rush I've missed.

I hope for more of that!

Now, rewind from the weekend.

Friday-we went to Arlington to watch the Texas Rangers play with my entire family.  It was Justin's and Kie's first Ranger's game.  Justin really liked the Ranger's stadium and not mention how awesome the Rangers are (way better than the Astros).  The game was like a home run derby.

Saturday we had a grill out at my brother's (Clint's) for his big 3-0 birthday.  It was great spending time with him and his wife and his two precious babies.  Not to mention, seeing Kie and Archer (who is a month younger than Kie) together.  The babies had an Easter egg hunt...more so Amelia (2 years old) was doing all the hunting.

That evening we met up with my long time best friend, Caitlin, at the Gaylord for dinner with Justin and Kie.

It was the first time she had met both of them!  It was great seeing her (she's a nurse at Baylor Medical) and so very beautiful.  Kie also loved seeing her and Justin is always happy to meet the people I love the most.

After dinner we planned on helping my parents watch all the grandbabies so Clint and his wife Amanda could go out for a birthday fling.  But, once we returned to their house a massive storm blew in, causing the transformers to go out.  So instead we all lit candles, watching the storm blow in and told ghost stories.  *Probably not appropriate for the night before Easter.

Eventually everyone had to get a hotel room downtown because nights in Texas without A/C are unbearable.  Especially when there are small babies involved!

Sunday we attended my brother's church in Grapevine--and headed back to good old Austin.  **Since we missed our church service, we listened to our favorite preacher, Dr. Bowman, on the radio.  

AND the Easter Bunny was very good to our lil man, regardless if he could hunt for Eggs or not!

Anyway, Kie's first Easter and first MLB game was great.  Spending time with family and being with the people we love most is always a blessing.  Easter, of course is the biggest blessing of them all.  Without Easter, I would not know what love truly is.


NOW for some pictures!  Hope everyone has a great Easter and a blessed week.

My two brothers, Carter & Clint (niece Amelia Jane in middle!)

David Archer, 5 months! Precious nephew

Momma HK & Daddy J (lil man is bundled up! super windy)

my silly lil man

baby meeting

cutest babies ever

Archer man and chunky monkey Kie

holding hands

Big Daddy and all his grandbabies-Kie, Amelia & Archer

Amelia and her Daddy's cake

Clint blowing out ALL his 30 candles

My sweet baby

Uncle Justin and Amelia

my two sweet boys

posing babies

trying to get this Easter picture right

Kie taste testing

picking flowers for his momma

Caitlin & Kie

Kie and his Easter basket

hot moms

sooo maybe it's a new trend or perhaps I'm just late on following the hot moms and chic ladies...but what's up with everyone posting pictures of themselves in cute clothes?!

I'm not against it.  But it seems everyone is a model and everyone is walking around like they just got off a Kohl's shoot.

(Or a hipster one.)

Does everyone seriously walk around with their cute lil belts, headbands, tights and heels on?

Oops! I must be failing at this new mom thing.

I'm usually wearing spandex pants, a comfy t-shirt and flip flops.

Of course, when I'm walking Lil Man I'm wearing my tennis shoes.

I never wear makeup.  And my hair is usually in a pony tail or in a Nike cap.

Ha!

Maybe I need to spruce it up a bit?

I'd show ya picture of me now but I'm in pjs and it's nearly 2:00am and we'll ya don't need to see that.

Alright--I'm going to try posting a picture of me every time I blog NEXT WEEK.
And no, I don't know where everyone is getting their own photog......
I have a husband who works too late and if I started to ask him to photograph me for my blog then he'd die laughing.

Sooooo MY webcam it is!!!


***Disclaimer:
Hot moms & chic ladies out there with the cute clothes and awesome portraits and pictures--I'm not hating, I just am amazed how cute yall look every day!  One of the reasons I love being a SAHM is the ZERO DRESS CODE!

Of course a gal like me loves to play dress up.  But in my realistic world, I barely have time to wash my hair much less apply makeup and squeeze myself into cute jeans and tight tights!  **See, I'm still waiting for my pre-pregnancy body to emerge.

HA!

Anyway, yall keep rocking what yall got! 
And I'll be here representing the yoga pants and the oversized T's!

--Until next time--

A photo-less

-HK-

hair hair everywhere

Probably not an appropriate title.

I was going to write about hair...and I still will. But I have OTHER things to post as well.

Anyway, let my hair rant begin!

(Ok, it's literally going to be cut short--because Lord love him, my husband is sitting next to me waiting to hand off the little man to me.)  It's his bed time and he always needs his MOMMA to put him down. Ya know momma has that special touch, aka--momma has the milk bags.

alright--well lake season is upon us.  And that means, short shorts, tank tops, bathing suits and cute spring dresses!

Of course for us ladies, that means lots of extra time spent on our grooming.  Painted toe nails, toned legs and arms, not to mention a form of tan (spray or natural) and of course smooth, HAIRLESS legs.

Now--prior to being a momma, I'd spend my money on anything and everything to beautify myself.  I always spent it on 'going out' clothes, new makeup, getting my hair done, shoes, purses...you name it!

I also did the laser hair removal.  It seriously cost and arm & a leg.  I got it done on my legs, underarms, and everywhere else imaginable that is covered up by let's say........my pants!

I am not a big fan of hair....

Less hair the better! (In fact, I think this way about men too.) Luckily my husband has no back and minimal chest hair. Not to mention he shaves his head.  The only hair I like on a man is the little bit of scruffy a man gets from missing ONE shave.  Kinda the sexy, disheveled look.  ::This look only applies if you are sexy and can pull it off, like my man or Jason Statham::

Anyway--like I was saying...In the days before baby I had been getting laser hair removal (yes painful & yes expensive) AND electrolysis done.  **The later is done because I'm a natural blonde, so laser only removes DARK hair.  Therefore I had to have electrolysis along with laser.

I had probably about 5-6 electrolysis appointments and 4-5 laser appointments.

I soon found out I was pregnant, and I discontinued my laser appointments and electrolysis.
--though, I do believe electrolysis is still safe during pregnancy I just wanted to make sure and didn't want to regret doing anything while pregnant.

Well everything grew back--and basically all my money went down the drain.

Though, during the time of getting hair removed I did notice it was growing in at a lot SLOWER rate than usual.

BUT, it definitely was not permanent--of course I still had a few more sessions to go to--but still I was well past the half way mark!

So this spring (since I'm not pregnant) I am back to caring about my legs (and now I can see them).  I am wanting to do something about my hair.  No, I am not a hairy person.  In fact, I have mostly blonde hair.  Let's say I HAD to grow out my leg/arm hair....it would be hard to see.  But still, like I said--I don't like hair.

I guess that's my dilemma.

I don't like hair and I don't know what to do.

Waxing isn't for me. Shaving is a daily battle...and I don't have the big bucks (nor would I care to spend it again) for laser or otherwise.

I guess I will just have to battle the hair the old fashion way.



With long pants.

hahaha...no, I'm kidding.

Seriously, if anyone has a great suggestion for dealing with unwanted hair let me know!

ON to other fun topics.

Me and my sweet husband of mine signed up for BOOT CAMP!

BOOYAH!

For three days a week for 4 WEEKS we will be doing a boot camp at 6:30 IN THE MORNING by the lake.

How great is that?! And we also got it discounted! Ever heard of Groupon?  --well we got it through Groupon and got another discount for being SPOUSES!  
So money in our pockets for being MARRIED and also we're on the road to a leaner, toned body and more stamina and endurance!

**Though I may add my husband seems to be melting away.  I feed him all the time. Home cooked meals 5-6 days a week and he still manages to lose weight?  I mean, he's not some young teen or some 20 something year old.  But his metabolism THINKS he is.  Totally not fair.

On the other hand this momma can't wait to lose the inches and get some definition!  I'm actually signed up for 2 boot camps.  One starts this MONDAY.
Then I'm doing one later, closer to our beach vacay!
 It's called Camp Gladiator.  It's actually a Christian base organization.  Justin and I will be going to separate camps and different times.  (Obviously one of us has to be with Lil Man!)

I'm pretty excited and a bit apprehensive about the whole thing.  I have a feeling I'm going to get my tail kicked, it's been awhile since I've had a serious workout.  (Jogging and stroller pushing don't count in my book.)

PS--Did I mention Kie is crawling!? Yes, he's crawling.  And me, being the bad mom that I am...I pick him up and carry him!  I do NOT want him crawling yet!  I want my BABY to stay a baby.
I can't put him on the bed anymore and if lay him on his blanket for two seconds to run to the restroom he is across the floor when I get!  He's not even 6 months yet!  AHHH, time where are you going?!?!

Enough already... I'm off to bed.  Hope everyone has a great weekend and a blessed EASTER!!

What a beautiful season it is.

--HK--

merely momma insomnia

hello blog world.
I should be sleeping.  But I can't.
Story of my life.
Seriously, since -before- Kie was born and when I found out we were expecting...I could never sleep.

Especially those last few weeks when I was super large and uncomfortable. (think I had my own gravitational pull around my belly.) hehehe Yes I just made a Family Guy reference.

Now I can't sleep because my body is use to the non-sleeping it does during the night.  I'm nocturnal now.  Yet I do need and long for my sleep, it just does not come.

I try counting my blessings or talking to God.  But I find myself going off on some crazy tangent in my brain.

Perhaps I need to pray more not when I'm wishing to fall asleep.

I also miss Kie a lot.  I know he's safe and asleep down the hall from me.  But, I just miss those sweet days when we would co-sleep.  Of course, he started kicking me and I was glad to move him to his own bed.  But, it still didn't help me sleep.

Anyway--I guess as a momma, you never sleep and God preps you for that during those 9 months.

Now for quick update on the weekend.
Friday, we had a triple date!  Me and Justin went out with Kie and my friend Mindy and her husband---and their sweet 3 month old princess, Janu.
It was a fun night of good food and great company!  I look forward to spending more time with their family.

Saturday, Justin and I worked hard in the yard.  It looks SO good.  I will be posting pictures on the next blog (camera is in the bedroom with my sleeping husband--and I don't want to fumble around looking for it in the dark.)

I also felt like Handy Mandy (the girl-version I made up of Handy Manny) because I was lugging around fence posts and helping mix and pour concrete.  Of course I was also running back and forth to Lil Man who was safely relaxing in the shade in his pack-n-play.

Sunday--was of course church time.  I cannot tell you how much we both love going to our Sunday school and church.  God has really answered our prayers in helping us get settled in an amazing church with wonderful people.  I also am still working on getting more involved.

We also set a date for Kie to get dedicated.  It will be on Father's Day!  I had the choice of doing it on Mother's Day--but since Justin lost his father at such a young age, and this is his son, his firstborn--I wanted to honor him as well.  (Of course we will both be there and recognized.)  But I wanted this day to be very special for Justin.

Father's Day, prior to Kie, has always been a bit bittersweet to J.  So anyway, we're looking forward to that special Sunday!

As for this week--I have a lot to do--and little time to get it all done.  We are leaving to go to Dallas this weekend for a big family-filled Easter. The grandparents, all my siblings and of course all the sweet baby cousins!   Friday night we are watching the Texas Rangers play! It will be Kie's first professional sporting event to go to.

Then Saturday we will be having an Easter egg hunt with all the grandbabies (Kie-5 1/2 months, Archer 4 1/2 months and Amelia 2 years).   Saturday night I'm meeting up with my best friend from the DFW, Caitlin--so she can finally meet Justin and Kie.  It's been a long time since I've seen her!  But regardless, we're still best friends.

And Sunday of course is Easter.  
By the way, I hope everyone's hearts are getting prepped for this wonderful day!
Our preacher has been doing a mini-series of Jesus' last weeks before the crucification.  And this past sermon was about his slow painful death on the cross.  His description of Christ's last hours on this earth as man was so gut wrenching...
I nearly got sick in the pew.  
He was merely trying to explain the agonizing pain He endured for us.  A blameless, sinless, lamb of God--bounded and nailed to a cryptic cross for my disgusting, sickening sins.  
I put Christ on that cross.  My selfish and sinful self put the Son of God--to death--JUST like he was some criminal.  How horrible is that?  That Christ carried MY CROSS?  I do not understand God's love for us.  But, I do know that HE truly loves us SO, SO very much He was willing to let His only Son die on a cross.  God turned His back on His son, so that WE could have forgiveness!
How crazy yet wonderful is that?  I know I need to be on my knees everyday thanking God for His son and His mercy.   Because there is NOTHING, 
N-O-T-H-I-N-G we can do as humans, to get eternal life in Heaven without Christ's sacrifice.


I just get amazed and dumbfounded by God's mercy.  I really don't understand how wonderful He is.  I'm just in awe of His love.  


So yes, feel free to slap me when I forget that and remind me (and humble me) when I get too full of Halley or this world.  Because goodness knows none of that is fulfilling.

Welp, that's it for now. Me and my tangents.

Next blog, I think I'll be talking about hair.
Yes, hair.

And how I don't like it.
No, not the hair on your head.

But the hair that grows everywhere else (eyelashes excluded!)

Exciting I know.

Alright, here's to wishing you a bonne nuit!

-HK-

stray thoughts thursdays

Have I mentioned that Kie isn't eating solids yet?!

::gasp!!::

"But he's on his way to be six months old! He SHOULD be eating solids!?"

Nope. Kie isn't eating solids.

I have tried...but he's just simply not interested.


First I tried cereal (two times to be exact).  I originally started the cereal because I thought it would help him sleep longer.  Nope, didn't work.  --And how selfish of me! I still feel bad for doing this.  <----Mommy guilt at it's finest!

I waited a few weeks later, tried again.  As Daddy J was starting to feed him, I got sad and pulled the spoon away.  "This isn't what I wanted to do," I thought.

JUST because other moms started their babies on cereal, didn't mean we had to do so.

Then my friend shared this with me Eat a bit better.

I was glad I wasn't feeding Kie the cereal.

So, then I started making my own baby food.

Fresh, delicious, organic baby food.

How about a little avocado?
Kie readily shoved the spoon in his mouth.  (He's a brilliant baby who knew exactly what to do, even after only eating ONCE from a spoon.)
Nope not that interested.  Sure, he ate it but I could tell he wasn't really IN to eating it. I'm his mother, I know these things.

How about a little sweet potato? (Days and days later.)

Once again, he opened wide.  Ate it.  But still, same reaction....not that interested.

Hmmm...

I offer him the boob.

His excitement in his eyes and eagerness to eat his favorite food was written all over his sweet, chunky baby face.

Ahh, this is where WE both feel comfortable.

My lil man is a boob man.

He thrives off his momma's milk.

He's 5 months and 2 weeks......and 19 pounds (by our home scale).  ::He was born 6lbs, 10 oz::

So yes, I (WE) love the breast feeding.  And the bonding.  Because I know these days are short lived.   I feel proud I can fulfill and satisfy Kie's appetite and his taste buds.  (My diet is pretty healthy and varies to give Kie a preview of foods for WHEN he's ready.)

Will I be the mom nursing after he's one years old?

You bet! If he'll have me (and the girls.)

I feel blessed I'm able to nurse. Regardless what it's done to the ladies! lol

And his doctor said he's in no rush for Kie to start weaning.  He said if Kie wasn't growing like he was, then solids may be necessary.  In fact, his words were "to keep doing what we're doing."

I will still introduce him to other solids down the road.  But, as for now.  Kie is strictly breast fed.

And that's the way we both like it!

new neighbors

Sooooo we got some new neighbors that moved in this week (there's a rent house beside us).

I think they are musicians.

Or something.

I've yet to see them move in any furniture but they have two Land Rovers...(so at least we have that in common.)

And they don't work during the day. All they do is sit on the back patio and smoke.

Well the last three nights they seemed to start moving and getting super loud and noisy at 12:30-1:00am-ish.

NOT COOL!

I hope they know they live by a momma who isn't afraid to say something.

SO last night, after Kie woke up and I was climbing back into bed trying to sleep I wasn't able tooo... due to their obnoxiously loud conversations they were having.

I would totally understand if they worked all day and HAD to move in during the late of late hours of the night.  But no, they are home all day!

What do these dudes do?

(there are two of em).

Anyway, I have my Harriet the Spy mode on to get the low down on these fellows.

Hope I won't need to report anything.

Btw, this momma did go workout for an hour today.  Also, doing some Zumba tonight.

I'm BOUND and determined to get some muscle definition again!

Until next time,

-HK-

helping momma cook in the kitchen

whirlwind

Helloooo blog world, my how times FLIES! (seriously, where's the pause button!?)

Last I left off, I was going on a date with my handsome hunk.
My love, my best friend, my husband.

So sexy ;) Love my Californian boy.

I have a million and one reasons why I love this man. Some too explicit for my blog.  --Ha! That'd blog would have to be written under an alias.

Anyway, I digress (I cannot stay on track to save my life!)

Alright--date night went great. We went to Zax and the dinner was so delicious! We had never been there and got the suggestion from one of our couple friends.

Afterwards, we met up with some friends and went to some dive bars.  One on South Congress then we went to west 6th to play some board and billiard games.

Warren, Amanda, Me & Justin--I was laughing/cheesing so big because the man
that took our picture held the camera upside down for the longest time and couldn't figure it out.

riding on the ruckus, me being goofy.  Justin not cooperating!

I mean, the night was great. But I felt like a fish out of water.

We use to be THE couple out on the town. We were always going to the hippest (is that a word that young people still use today?) bars, hitting up all the newest restaurants and we knew everyone!  We always got tickets to the best concerts in town and never had to pay for a drink *mostly* anywhere we went.

Now, I feel totally out of place. 

It's not my scene AT ALL.

Funny thing is, I saw some "bar regulars" we knew from back in the day.

Sad thing is, they've not changed.

Still sitting in the same places, at the same bars, doing the same shots.

Needless to say, I don't miss THAT life.

I prefer the sweats or the yoga pants, the spit up on my shoulder (or in my hair) the diaper bag instead of the clutch (going out purse), the sitting on the sofa cuddled up on a Saturday night and home-made or takeout dinners over the sitting in a bar or spending a few hundred dollars on ONE meal.

I mean, it's a nice splurge when we do out go. 

I feel guilty when we do spend like that.  Justin, however doesn't seem to mind one bit.

  We do think it's very important to reconnect as a couple. And to make time for one another.

---Weekend~wise,We worked on the house. (Lots of future pictures to come).  Justin finished my new storage closet. We also went to church--such a great message (blog to come).

Before--it held the water heater (J working hard on removing pipes and sheet rock)

Now fully loaded with all my extra cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, and cook books (that took space in the kitchen!)

That's about it in a nutshell.

Now for a few pictures.

Kie today went swinging in the park for the first time today!  (With his sweet friend, Mario).

I'm currently forcing myself to go to the gym--tho, I don't want to.

I can't lose this @#$%* baby weight!

Probably because I had McDonald's and ice cream today?!

well next blog will be interesting.

I promise!

I have a lot to say and I need the time to sit down and finish my post.

--Maybe if Kie becomes successful at napping then I'll get to it.

--Until next time--

-HK-

cutie in a swing!

sweet babies

Kie's friend, Mario. So sweet.

boys will be boys