Birthdays, Baptisms, and Body Sculpting

Well, my family just finished what we like to call "Birthday Season." It starts with my husband and ends with me...4 birthdays in a little less than two months. I just celebrated my 23rd. I don't "feel" 23 but I accomplished a lot in a year...got pregnant and had a baby, celebrated my 2 year anniversary with an amazing man, graduated from college, and *got* a job. So, I guess you could say I feel closer to 40?? Hehe just kidding. What did we do for the big 2-3 you might ask? Well, on my actually birthday (which was on a Wednesday...how lame). James took me to Taco Mac and we celebrated in style.

On to more exciting things. Paul seems to be growing like a weed! He hates to be cradled like a baby unless he's nursing (obviously). He loves to look at the action. Here, he was intent on watching me wash dishes. P.S. if any of you out there don't have a Moby, I highly recommend it! I will say though, I did feel pregnant wearing him like this.

Our favorite (I say 'our' when I really mean Paul) place to play these days is on our gym. He's getting really funny and "talkative." The little jungle creatures on there spark his interest and he really has a lot to say when he sees them. (Please disregard the poopy diaper).

James works from sun up to sun down so his time with Paul is precious. Needless to say, I love capturing it. He's still the only one who can really make him laugh. What's up with that?! I'm with the kid all day! He does love his Daddy.

For all of the Georgians out there, we've been getting some pretty nice days. It's been REALLY nice for moms of infants. Less clothes to wash!

Like I said, James is probably the favorite. He likes having a little partner buddy when he works.


Little chunker head!

Palm Sunday was our baby's baptism. It was a special day for James and me as we presented our covenant child. We were so blessed to have not only both my parents and James' parents present but both sets of my grandparents as well as my brother, Matthew and James' brother, David and his wife, Elizabeth and their child, Calvin. We truly have been blessed.

Well, those're the major highlights. This past week I've really been working on working out. I mean, ever since he was born I've been watching what I've been eating but on Sunday I was really pushed to get in gear. So, everyday I've been working out: walking and lifting weights and of dieting. I've already lost some weight! I think the first two weeks are going to be the hardest.

Okay, I hope I don't go another month without letting you all know what's going on in our lives!

Needing a Change...ALREADY?!

Sorry, I forgot to post yesterday. Hey, I'm trying to get in the swing of things.

It's nap time here at the DeMar house. I know my little bud needs naps but I get so bored when he sleeps. I get a lot done though because he usually takes one or two good naps in during the day and that's when I get the bulk of my daily doings done (nice alliteration, huh?)

I need to keep my camera attached to me. Yesterday, I missed some great photo ops. For those of you who don't know, Paul is a pretty slow gainer. I've accepted it. He's gaining weight like an average infant now but for the first month or so, he was only gaining maybe 4 oz. a week. Anyway, he's always been a pretty good sleeper but about a month-and-a-half ago, I was getting up at 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. and basically force feeding him. Since then, he's been gaining really well. Anyway, I dropped the 2 o'clock feeding and just let him sleep until he woke up. Anyway, anyway, anyway. Yesterday, he woke up at around 5:30 and I fed him and then put him back down. He then woke up again at 6:30 or so (that's when James' alarm goes off for work so that's when I get up and nurse him...however, James didn't go into work yesterday) so I got up and nursed him and then put him back down. He usually doesn't go back to sleep, but I do. When I went back in to get him, he had moved! He was perpendicular to how I had laid him. He had did that another time before but his feet ended up where his head was! So, I wish I could have anticipated him doing that and took a before and after picture.

So, I do need a change. My birthday is this month. I'll be 23. I don't think I'm old or anything but I'm going to ask my parents for a bike. Is that dorky or what?! My workout routine is boring and not very motivating. I gained 60 pounds during my pregnancy and it's not easy to lose and with as many children we want to have, I got to lose it before I gain it again. The first 30 were easy to lose because it was mainly fluid. Now, I just need to lose the fat! Breastfeeding is great but you can't rely on it (at least I can't). It helps that James is working out too. He's naturally quite trim so he has to work to keep the weight ON (I know, he has it rough).

We're both eating a lot better as well. It's really nice cooking with fresh produce and not so much refined products. The meals we've been eating have been really fresh. It makes such a difference with your appetite. I've noticed that since I've been making things from scratch, my appetite has been curbed and I don't crave junk food. Now, I need to pay attention to the meals I do make. It makes a difference if I make breaded and fried foods or a meal loaded with carbs as opposed to a meal loaded with veggies. I'm really trying to do menu planning. I can't express to everyone how I hate to hear, "What do you want to do for dinner?" I HATE IT! Plus, since I'm home, it gives me something to look forward to other than James coming home.

Another thing I need to change is my daily routine. We live it a modestly sized townhouse. You would think it would be easy to keep up with especially since I'm home all day. I need to get up and moving...especially since this baby is asleep!!! Share with me your routines. What do you do day-to-day? Also, what is your exercise regiment?

More tomorrow. Pictures too (I promise!!!)

There's a First for Everything!

Okay, okay, okay. My mantra..."I WILL update this blog regularly...I MUST update this blog regularly!!!"
I've always been slightly envious of people who blogged and did it well. I always thought, "What did they blog about and how do they have so much to say?" Well, I guess I'll just blog about the daily/weekly happenings around the DeMar household.

Let's start from the beginning:

My husband James and I were married on November 24, 2007.

We've always had a lot of fun together.

We decided to add on to our family...Xena. Yikes. She was more than a handful.

So...we decided to get rid of her since we would be expecting someone new in our lives.

Here we are on Thanksgiving Day about 5 days before I gave birth. I was due on the 28th of Nov. and I gave birth on the 1st of Dec. at home (yes, on purpose) to our son, Paul William.

Here's our first born, sweet baby. 7 lbs. 5 oz. 20 1/4. inches. I think he's a few days old here.

As all new parents know, sleep deprivation is something that is all too common. James preferred to catch up on his sleep with Paul.

This baby doesn't want to miss out on anything! He's always looking around for us and making sure we're within his sight. He doesn't miss a beat!

His silly faces are becoming much more regular and are very entertaining.

Finally got one of his first smiles on camera!!!

About a month later, I got a REAL smile!

He's starting to look like a little boy...

He loves his Mama but he really loves Daddy.

Tiny but tough! Getting stronger.

It's snowing today. It's the 3rd time it's snowed since his birth. I think he's tired of the cold.

Well, I think those're pretty much all of the Paul highlights. Birth to 3 months. I can't believe it! Well, I'll be back tomorrow...