Goal!

So, I've got this little secret.  Well, it's not actually a secret, I just didn't broadcast the information.  I'm not typically one of those people that shares all of my new plans on Facebook or the blog just in case I fail or quit.  I don't want to look like a flake!  A couple months ago, I joined Weight Watchers (for the 3rd time).  I was ready to lose some weight and not just my baby weight.  I originally did weight watchers many years ago and lost about 30 pounds.  I found it to be a really realistic diet lifestyle for me.  On Weight Watchers you can eat anything you want you just have to hold yourself accountable to your daily and weekly Points Plus allotment. Each food has a Points Plus value and you have a certain number of Points Plus that you are allowed based on your weight.  Everyone knows how much I love food and I never really felt like I was depriving myself.  It also seems like a better fit for me that those diets where you buy pre-made food and only eat that food.  I certainly don't want to eat that food for the rest of my life.  More than anything, Weight Watchers taught me portion control.  Back when I lost 30 pounds, I quit going to Weight Watchers because I figured I could do it on my own and slowly, over a few years, the weight came back.  Then I joined Weight Watchers again in 2009.  Not long after I started, I got pregnant and you can't try to lose weight when you are pregnant.  Fast forward to this past June: I was ready to get healthy-not just for myself but for Jack and Dave.  I have so much more to live for nowadays.

Today, I reached my goal weight with Weight Watchers.  I am in the healthy range for me and I am so proud of myself.  With Weight Watchers, once you hit your goal weight and maintain it for six weeks, you become a "Lifetime" member and don't have to pay anymore.  You know how much I love a good deal!  I can't remember exactly how much I weighed before Jack, but I think that I've lost about 30 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight.  Which means I've lost about 60-65 pounds since I had Jack. 

I don't have any good before and after pictures, but I used to look like this (the one on the left):

And now, I look more like this (minus the tiny boobs, superb tan and British accent):

New Tricks

Jack has been showing off a lot of his new tricks lately.  We have a strong feeling that he may actually start crawling soon.  Which is a good thing because studies show that most convicts never crawled.  I'm looking for more research regarding this statistic-mostly what crimes were committed by these non-crawlers.  If they were smart crimes, like embezzlement, I might not be as concerned as if they were scary crimes, like murder.

Anyway, besides crawling, Jack is also starting to pull up on things and he can get from the lying down position to the sitting position all by himself.  Look who's a big boy!

I got a little video footage of Jack's new tricks. Don't mind the background music...I put it there to block out the sound from the television.  It was a lot of Gordon Ramsey yelling at people and that's not very soothing.




Here is another video of Jack sitting up:

Road Trip

Dave was out of town for work so Jack and I decided to take a little road trip.  Wednesday, we loaded up and headed to Virginia to see Granny Roady.  It was quite the task to the get the car packed and then get Scout, Molly and Jack in the car so we could hit the road.  Jack was a rockstar and slept for 3 hours of the 3.5 hour trip and Scout and Molly tolerated being trapped in the "back back".  Molly laid back and relaxed for most of the trip, whereas Scout longed to be in the backseat with her brother.

Dog is my co-pilot

Once we got to Newport News, Jack got some snuggles from Granny and then we headed out to lunch with Uncle Chip.  After leaving Uncle Chip, we stopped by Rooms, Blooms & More to see Miss Karan and Miss Allison and Lucy the dog.  He squealed with delight as he loved on Lucy.  Jack is always so excited to see dogs, it's like he forgets that he has two dogs that live with him.


That evening, Granny Roady came along with Jack and I on our evening walk.  We passed my dad's house while we were walking (he lives 4 doors down the street from my mom) so we decided to stop by and say hi so he could meet Jack.

Bill Grandady and Jack

The next day, we met up with Miss Mary (my friend, Marisa's mom) for lunch.  It had been years since she and my mom had seen each other, so we brought Granny Roady with us.  It was good to catch up with Miss Mary and now Jack and I are even more excited to go to LA and see Marisa, Miles and Mark.

Miss Mary, Jack and Mom

Miss Mary about to sneeze, Jack and Granny Roady

Finally, on Friday, Jack, Scout, Molly and I loaded back up in the car and headed back home to Raleigh.  We wanted to get home before Hurricane Irene hit and we made it with plenty of time.  Jack didn't sleep quite as well as he did on the way to Virginia but he was still a pretty good traveler.  He slept for about an hour and then we stopped in Emporia for a potty/diaper changing break and then I let Jack stretch his legs some before getting back out on the road.  Jack slept for another hour on the second half of the trip and was super excited to see his Daddy when he got home.

Jack decided he would drive the second half of the trip

Dave has a few more weeks of travel coming up, so we might just make another trip to Virginia again soon.

All I Want for Labor Day is...

my two front teeth, my two front teeth.  Jack's two top front teeth cut through!  The didn't seem to be bothering him anymore so I just figured he would never have teeth up there.  The I happened to look in his mouth this morning and BAM! there were his teeth.  It's hard to get a good picture of the new teeth without it looking like I'm man-handling my baby...so I have chosen to not include a picture yet.  I would have for Child Protective Services to take me away!

New Shoes

Granny Roady bought Jack some new back to school shoes.  Yes, I know that Jack isn't going "back to school", but Granny Roady insists on buying all of her grandkids back to school clothes (and we really appreciate it).

The angle of this shot makes it seem like Jack took the picture

Now that Jack has new shoes, he can really get some traction when using his walker.  He has no problem taking on the carpeted area of the downstairs and we even let him play outside while Daddy was grilling.

So excited for freedom outdoors

Here's a little video of Jack running around on the back patio.  Don't mind the obnoxious dogs barking in the background (our neighbor's) but focus on the giggles coming from Jack.

New Baby

There is a new member to the Mulley family.  She's not a cute cuddly snuggly baby, but I love her anyway.

After much thought and deliberation and even a few tears, I picked out and purchased a new embroidery machine.  I got a Bernina -which was highly recommended by everyone I asked.  I was torn between a Brother and the Bernina.  Both machines were nearly identical in functions, options and power but what really sold me on the Bernina was the customer service that I received at the store.  I went several times and asked many questions and they were always more than happy to help.  They are going to sit down with me and my machine to teach me how to use it and get the most out of it.  If I ever have a question, they will help me out.  They offer classes and clubs throughout the year that I can join to learn new techniques and meet new people.

In addition to the embroidery machine, I also purchased some software for my computer so that I can design monograms, other texts as well as some other designs.

I go next Saturday for my lesson on how to use Bernie.  After that, I will be happy to take orders :)

Take a Hike

For the past several weeks, the Mulleys have gone out for a walk after dinner each night.  We throw place Jack in his stroller and hook the dogs up to their leashes and off we go on a 3 mile walk along the greenway.  We often see other people taking evening walks, and lately we've seen some deer out enjoying the cooler weather (which is still not that cool).  We've mostly seen a few doe and a couple fawns.

Play time

Jack's friend, Eva, came over this week while her mom worked.  This was the first time that I saw Jack jealous of someone else.  When Eva came over, Jack was in his walker so I held her while her mom gave me a rundown of her schedule.  Jack saw that I was holding Eva and he got so upset.  Crying and screaming.  It wasn't very becoming at all...but at least I know how much he loves me.

A little activity time

They noticed the paparazzi

admiring the pooches

Jack showing Eva how to jump

Bath time

My how bath time has changed!

First bath

Chillin' in the sling

Sitting up in the baby tub

Loving the big tub!

This Is Jeopardy!

I bet you would never guess that Jeopardy is Jack's favorite show.  He absolutely loves it!  If he isn't in front of the television when he hears the theme song, he will practically jump out of your arms to see what's going on.  If he is in his walker, he places himself prominently in front of the television.  We aren't sure where this love of Jeopardy comes from, but now that he goes to bed before the show airs we make sure to record it for him.

hmm, what's that? 

Jeopardy is on!

Oh hey, Alex!

So happy to be watching Jeopardy.

8 Months

Holy fast forward, Batman!

Jack went to the doctor last week for a nasty eye infection and got weighed while he was there.  Here are his stats as of late:

weight: 19 pounds, 6 ounces (50th percentile)
lenght:  26.75 inches (25th percentile)

It looks like Jack's height and weight are becoming more balanced.

This month, Jack:

• wears size 3 diapers
• wears mostly 6-9 month or 9 month clothes
• walks with assistance (holding fingers, using his walker)
• eats solids 3 times a day and nurses 5-6 times a day
• says "mama" a lot, but not necessarily about me
• is ticklish and giggles a lot
• has 2 teeth and 2 more on the way (any minute now)
• points to objects, but not consistently
• searches for hidden objects (has grasped object permanence)
• uses his pincer grasp to pick up objects
• can pull himself to standing when holding our fingers
• can stand while holding onto something, but often becomes distracted and falls
• LOVES to watch Jeopardy (but doesn't answer many questions correctly)
• likes to hide under blankets
• is opening cabinets in the kitchen (time to child-proof)
• still not crawling-we think he may go straight to walking
• enjoys chasing the dogs when in his walker

Jack is certainly a fun kid and we are enjoying all the facets of his personality that are continuing to develop! We have no doubt that he will keep us on our toes!!!

Jack Would Walk 500 Miles

Oh yeah, that's right, I got that song stuck in your heads now!   

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.  Jack has really gotten a hang of walking in his walker.  He now chases the dogs, runs over our feet, crashes into everything and pulls on my curtains.  I had to use the bathroom the other day and as soon as I got in there and shut the door, Jack was crashing into the door repeatedly.  This is just a taste of what's to come.

So happy to have his hands on the curtains

I got some more video of Jack walking.  I know not everyone wants to see videos of Jack that last forever, so I sped this one up about halfway through.  If nothing else, it's hilarious to see Jack in fast forward!



This morning, I had him in his walker while I was doing some chores.  When I went to find him, he was in the kitchen and had moved the dogs food and water dish clear across the room.  Later today, he decided that he wanted the kitchen towels, so he removed them from their usual home on the oven handle.  I better start child-proofing this house...NOW!

Jack after moving the dog dish across the kitchen.  He looks really sorry, doesn't he?

Jack Takes a Walk

This morning, we decided to try Jack out in his walker....again.  You see, our boy Jack wasn't blessed with a super models legs (or appetite or ability to throw up on command actually) so his little feet didn't touch the floor when he was put in his walker.  When your feet don't hit the floor, it's often difficult to walk.

Here is the video we made this morning: