Motivation to Keep w/ the Diet

You know it's time to stop showering with you child when he starts asking questions like this...

Jaxon - "Mommy? Why did God blow up your elbows and put dots on them?"
(Mommy had no response at first!)
Mommy - "He gives Mommys those to feed their babies with."
Jaxon - "So why did He blow up your buns?"

Seriously, did we really just have this conversation?! And by the way, if you hadn't figured this out already... Jaxon calls boobies, elbows!!! Can't wait to see what he starts quizzing Kent about?!

Butt Scratching Demo

I just had to share this this morning while it is still fresh in my mind!

Yesterday afternoon, Jaxon and I were busy mopping the floors and washing the bedding. I mentioned earlier in my blog that I was going to try extra hard this year to be more attentive. Housework was sort of taking my focus off Jaxon a little more than I like, but he seemed to be enjoying dumping the laundry detergent in the washing machine and holding the dustpan, so I continued on with my work.

We were just finishing up with putting the bedding back on my bed when Jaxon did something that took me by total surprise!

Jaxon - "Mommy, do you know how dogs scratch their buns?"
Me - "Yes! Do you?!"
Jaxon - "Yeah - I show you!"
Me - "Oh yeah? Let's see!"

At this point, Jaxon gets down on his bare buns (because he had to take his pants off to show me this), and starts pulling his little cheeks across the bedroom floor!!! I was only paying half attention at the begining of this conversation... but FULL attention during the demonstration!

Being attentive really paid off this time! I'm so glad that my housework didn't keep me from witnessing this hillarious act. I needed a good laugh, and I got just that!

"Workdown" Partner

Normally, I never make New Year's Resolutions! I can't ever keep them and if I do make one, I always manage to go way out of my zone of comfort and end up braking it two days into the new year! So, like every other year I didn't make one. However, I did decide that this was going to be the year to make some changes for me and my family. I decided that I would attempt to take a little better care of us!

Being a Mom is the most rewarding job out there but at times my focus was so much on Jaxon that I lost the motivation to care for myself! Before having Jaxon I took much better care of myself. I ate better, was more active, maintained my appearance and pampered myself! Now I am lucky to use the bathroom alone! Don't get me wrong... I'm not complaining, but there are times when I feel as though a little "me time" wouldn't hurt anyone!

About a week and a half ago, I decided that I would take 30 minutes out of my busy morning and workout to a DVD from many moons ago! The workout session is a little risque and I wondered if maybe I should save it for after Jaxon's bedtime but decided to go ahead and give it a try. "After all, he'll probably end up playing with his toys instead!"

The DVD was suggested to me by a coworker a few years ago. I was looking for something fun! Something that I could laugh at myself while doing! She told me about a workout tape that Carmen Electra had out called Aerobic Striptease! At first I thought "no way", but decided to swallow my pride and give it a try. It ended up being really fun and I was able to stick with it for sometime. In fact, a friend and I would get together after work to do Pilate's a couple times a week and would end up doing the striptease routine instead!

I put the DVD in and told Jaxon that Mommy was going to do some dancing for a few minutes and that he could play w/ his toys until I finished. He was of course curious and insisted on "dancing" with me! The first part of the tape focuses on stretching. Jaxon enjoyed trying to do some with me. The next part goes into an easy routine... this part he really liked! And after we finished, he wanted to do it again!

Kent is convinced that Carmen and her "workdown" (as Jaxon calls it), partners are the reason Jaxon wants to keep doing the DVD but I know it's because it's something fun and different that we can do together! Besides, Tony from P90X is nothing to look at and he still enjoys those DVD's too!

We have also started eating better and are enjoying the preparation of some new dishes in the kitchen. Getting Jaxon to try everything is a little different story, but I am not above trying kid-friendly meals as long as they are healthy. And while we are only about two weeks in, I've managed to lose 10 pounds! I have more energy and feel as though I am becoming a little better Mom as a result... that is motivation enough to keep at it!

Sundog

Snow days make me cranky... if you follow my blog you already know that! While I had no intention (upon waking up this morning) of spending anytime outdoors, I couldn't help but to step out and battle the bitter cold for a few pictures of something pretty amazing!

Kent called me over to the window in our master bath this morning to see what he described as "3 suns"! I was busy putting away a load of laundry and wasn't paying much attention. I thought what I had seen was some sort of reflection on the window.

I sat down at the computer to check my daily emails and FaceBook messages and noticed how everyone had pictures of this "window reflection" on their profiles! I have never seen anything like this in my life... I had to get a picture! Of course Jaxon had to see this phenomenon for himself so I quickly bundled him up and took him out on the front porch.

For the first time in his young life, he was ready to come in when it was time!

Jaxon's ArtBoard ~ December

December was a busy month at the Welch house but we managed to squeeze in a few creative moments to fill up the board. I photographed some of our favorites individually so you could get a better look!

Jaxon was instrumental in the decorating of our live tree so I thought it'd be fun for him to decorate a paper tree as well... of course w/ every tree there MUST be presents! The "Santa Hand" was a big hit... he made so many that we ended up using them as thank you notes for his Christmas gifts! And the snowman is my personal fave! He has asked everyday that there has been snow on the ground if we can go out and build lots of snowmen! It has been so cold most days that paper snowmen are a better option!

Childhood is a Journey

For Christmas last year, I received a book from my Mom titled Training Up a Little Guy - Inspiration and Wisdom for Raising Boys. This book is filled w/ great life lessons to pass on to your youngster. With Christmas behind us for another year, this book got me thinking, giving a gift to your child is enjoyable... but the gift of good character lasts a lifetime!

This year I plan to be more Attentive, teach better Obedience, be more Truthful and Thankful. I plan to be more Generous, Orderly, Forgiving and more Responsible. I want to try harder to be more Patient, Self-Controlled and Creative. I'd like to be more Diligent, Loyal and Loving. I will try harder to be more Determined, more Compassionate and to pass Wisdom onto my child while gaining more myself!

Like Motherhood, Childhood is a journey! One filled with learning and love! Follow me on our journey this new year!


Boys are found everywhere - on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or jumping to. Mothers love them, little girls hate them, older brothers and sisters tolerate them, adults ignore them and Heaven protects them. A boy is Truth with dirt on its face, Beauty with a cut on its finger, Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket.

- "What Is A Boy?" PAMPHLET DISTRIBUTED BY THE NEW ENGLAND LIFE INSURANCE CO.