Times I went to Stroller Strides: FIVE.
Times I chased 2 toddlers around the Aquarium: THREE.
Number of cupcakes I ate: ZERO
Number of pounds lost: ALSO ZERO. In fact, I was up .8 pounds.

I’m only a little depressed now but on Thursday night I was REALLY depressed. I’m pretty sure it was due to the gourmet grilled chicken, sauteed apple and sharp cheddar grilled cheese sandwich I had for lunch (worth it) and next week I’ll see a loss. If I can make it through tonight’s playoff game without stress eating my weight in ice cream. Go Pats!

Sunday:

We found Nemo!

Find a happy place find a happy place FIND A HAPPY PLACE

SNL and blogging during nap time

Someone is a little TOO interested in Daddy's beer.

Monday:

Teddy bear picnic after Stroller Strides

Despite how this looks, it was in fact happy playing

I remember this stage. Dislike.

Tuesday:

One day they will drive REAL CARS and I will die dead of anxiety

I stole this quesadilla maker from a charity yard sale. (It's not really as bad as that makes it sound.)

New favorite: How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

Wednesday:

4:30 am toddler wake-up (WHY?????) means more Finding Nemo

This one is titled "Self Portrait - OH LOOK A FRONT FACING CAMERA!!!!!"

There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Christ? (No, but apparently there was a walrus)

The amount of resentment I feel towards my cat for her easy life is kind of ridiculous

At least I know she won't starve to death while I'm gone

Thursday:

I put a dollar in the mall carousel and blew Caroline's MIND

We feel the same way about cheese

OH HAI THERE BELUGA

Friday:

Evan woke up at 4:30 am AGAIN. Aparently he had urgent car-organizing to do.

They have a serious love-hate relationship. It's driving me and B's mom NUTS.

I also remember this stage. At least it's funny.

New toddler app called "Word Wagon" is fun, not at all obnoxious AND educational.

Saturday:

More aquarium, Jelly Man.

Evan has been looking at this toy at Target for MONTHS - today he bought it with his Christmas money, because it was on clearance, down to $18 from $60.

Caroline in a nutshell: sob sob sob sob OH LOOK A CAMERA SMILEEEEE sob sob sob

Right now the kitchen is clean, the laundry is going and I get to stay up as late as I want knowing tomorrow is my day to sleep in. It’s shaping up to be a pretty good weekend – after a REALLY long week – and I’m enjoying the crap out of it. I hope you’re having a good one too!

Did you take any camera phone photos this week? Link up with one or lots using the linky below and grab the code (so it shows on your blog too!) over at Amy’s . It’s really fun!

I had too much on my plate this week to do a good job with my photos. This is why I don’t ever join those 365 projects – if the best I can do some days is a blurry photo of what I had for breakfast there is no way I can handle much more. We spent 2 days stuck at home with a broken car and one day stuck at home because of naps – I swear at least one person in the house was sleeping all day on Saturday – but hopefully next week we’ll do more fun things. Evan has been totally obsessed with The Fishy Movie, so maybe we’ll go to the aquarium and find some Nemos.

Sunday:

She rips off the bib so she just eats naked now.

I'm kissing her, she's kissing the baby in the phone

Lego basketball

Monday:

Laying on the floor at Stroller Strides, avoiding doing more plank

Sriracha makes even organic vegan miso ramen delicious

She's reading that book by osmosis

Tuesday:

Goal setting at Stroller Strides - now I have real life friends to hold me accountable!

She's a social media expert already

Someone got out of bed and into trouble

Wednesday:

Send help

Grocery shopping. I bought way too much healthy stuff.

Cowls are so hot right now. Check out my new toddler neck warmer.

Thursday:

You would think a blind person picked out her clothes, but no, I did.

What, you think the angel gets to just sit on her ass all year after Christmas?

She's extremely fast when she's half naked.

Friday:

Diet yet delicious - egg beaters, carn balance tortilla, sriracha, blueberries, coffee with skim milk and sugar free vanilla syrup

Nap time project

Evan asked please so nicely - and it was on clearance

Saturday:

Donut shaped donut machine. Delicious.

Whatcha doin' Mama?

Geeze, does that kid EVER wear normal clothes?!

Air-poppeded popcorn sprinkled with parmesan. Perfect.

 The rest of the weekend will be spent doing dishes and laundry, since somehow I didn’t manage to do enough of those things during the week and I’m practically buried in them. HOW do two small people get so many things so dirty? Hopefully next week all the people and all the cars will be healthy and we take our mess somewhere I don’t have to clean it all up.

I LOATH turning January 1st into some sort of magical diet-starting day, as if the flipping of a calendar page can somehow change all of my poor eating habits, rip out my crazy sweet tooth and give me the motivation to work out during every nap time instead of sitting on the couch watching Judge Judy. And with so many people kicking off their diets or fitness plans it feels like I can’t escape the constant deluge of advice and tips and tweeted pictures of sad little yogurt cups. Your yogurt makes me SAD, friends. Please throw some granola and a few berries on top. Personally, I think January is the WORST time to start a diet plan. Do you have seasonal amnesia? Do you REMEMBER what January is like in 75% of the country? Cold. Dark. Dreary. Miserable. Mind-numbingly boring. An endless stretch of nothingness punctuated by housebound snow days and pajama pants. If you love the symbolism of a brand new year as a fresh start towards your goals then go ahead, fight the crowds and sign up for that gym membership – but don’t be surprised when the siren song of pizza delivery and unplowed roads drives you totally insane. I vote we all start making Memorial Day Resolutions or Arbor Day Resolutions or National Day After National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day Resolutions instead.

That being said, as of Monday I’m back to strict point tracking with Weight Watchers and recommitted to attending Stroller Strides at least 4 days a week. Pot, kettle, etc etc. But the truth is with Caroline’s first birthday in my rear-view mirror, I have passed the “just had a baby” excuse for anything and I’m really sick of feeling like such a MOM in my body. I’m not even talking just about my weight. I actually don’t feel so bad about that. The 20-something pounds slash jean size I’ve already lost have done WONDERS for how I feel, especially when it comes to photos of myself. Go ahead! Snap a candid shot! From a low angle! I fully accept that those arms are attached to my torso!

What I really mean is I wear far too many stretchy pants and sweatshirts. I own jeans my own mother is too cool to be seen wearing in public. I haven’t had my hair cut and colored professionally since before I was pregnant. The first time. I am a grown-up with a mortgage and two kids and yet I still don’t wash my face before I go to bed. I cannot stop myself from eating an entire bag of candy if it’s anywhere in my house.  I haven’t gotten more than 4 hours of sleep in more than a year.

Whoa, that turned really whiny really fast. This is the least original post ever in the history of mom blogging – committing to taking better care of myself so I can feel better is like the super graphic but somehow still boring birth story of 2011.  Sorry for the self-pity parade, but it has been a Tough Week with a non-sleeping baby and no pints of ice cream to self-medicate and we did a goal setting exercise at Stroller Strides that made me thinking writing this stuff down somewhere where I could be held accountable might not be a bad idea.

So, here’s the facts:
I would like to lose 15 pounds before we take our super special bathing-suit based vacation in March
I would like to lose 30 more pounds total
When I get to 150 pounds, I get a new tattoo as a reward
When I get to my goal weight I get to buy a pair of REALLY EXPENSIVE jeans that REALLY FIT as a reward
I will get my hair cut/colored at a real salon where I have to make an appointment
I will get at least one pedicure this year (yikes)
I will wash my face at night – or at least MOST nights, or at least wipe it off with those cloth things

I’m not going to make some sort of promise to record my journey and document all my triumphs and set backs (pause for the collective sigh of relief) but I might mention it. And if you happen to see me hanging around Twitter making EAT ALL THE CANDY comments, maybe remind me I really really want that new tattoo.

tl;dr version – I’m turning 30 in April, so it’s time to stop feeling like shit about myself.

Busy week! Five days of baking, four days of Stroller Strides, three days of shopping, two days of parties, one exhausted mama… and a partridge in a pear tree! No, not really.

Sunday:

I take at least 2 of these pictures almost every day

Oh yeah, maybe THAT'S why I didn't lose weight this week

We missed Santa at the Seaport (apparently I can't read a calendar) but still had fun playing

Monday:

If you want to lie under your blankets drinking milk, why not SLEEP IN once in a while kid?

As soon as she sees my phone she runs towards it as fast as possible

Late-night grocery shopping for the party

Tuesday:

Angry troll baby is angry

Making meringue cookies colored with sparkle dust

Ahhhh bubbles in my eye ahhhhhh!

Wednesday:

Why yes that IS my coffee mug

You know I'm planning something when my purse is full of tiny Christmas trees

I threw ALL the books on the floor Mom! Aren't you proud of me?

Santa called. He said he knew I was really busy and frustrated with my attempts to make a play kitchen, so he'd bring one this year instead (also, it was only $48 - down from $99 - after a sale & a coupon)

Thursday:

Shoe in one hand, gun in the other. She refuses to be put in a box!

Bath & Body Works for some scented candles to make my house smell festive.

Non-Weight Watchers Approved Answer: Cookies and Egg Nog.

Friday:

Dinos AND a fairy wand. More box refusal! I love my kids.

Three shadesof pink for the cake

Running like a crazy person at the Nautilus Submarine Museum (for E's work party)

Saturday:

I swear sometimes he wears clothes! It was just a busy week!

One hour til the guests showed up and I was already dressed! It's a miracle!

I think she had a pretty good time

Rub a dub dub two gingers in a tub

Today I have no voice, sore feet, and no energy to put anything away. Although thanks to E and my mother-in-law all the dishes are already done and the kitchen is clean, so at least I can find the coffee maker. And the peppermint schnapps.

Did you take any camera phone photos this week? Link up with one or lots using the linky below and grab the code (so it shows on your blog too!) over at Amy’s . It’s really fun!

Busy, crafty, bakey, sleepy, crazy week. I cannot BELIEVE it’s December.

Sunday:

Saw cute toddler hat online. Thought "Dude, I can do that". DID IT.

Lights on our bannister

Spray paint for an overly ambitious project. Per ushe.

Monday:

Double swinging

Future basketball scholarship?

I made this. WITH MY HANDS.

Tuesday:

My floors are disgusting. Were disgusting. Obviously I cleaned them, but they're probably this dirty again by now.

The Monster at the End of This Book READS ITSELF. Brilliant.

Bath time is the happiest time of the day

Wednesday:

Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne are Evan's new favorite

Target soda fountain, where Coke and Pepsi live together in harmony. AS IT SHOULD BE.

Invite for Caroline's first birthday. I'm insanely proud I made it from scratch.

I asked him to smile nice for the camera. Toddlers are so helpful.

Thursday:

Babies are also helpful.

Lap nap

Tiny Christmas tree to plant in the yard. It makes up for the one we chopped down, right?

Friday:

Caroline gets so much love from the big girls at Stroller Strides

Prepping for some SERIOUS holiday baking

I wish I got as much sleep as this kid.

Saturday:

Twinke lights photo shoot set up #2. It went MUCH better.

Christmas cards DONE.

My kid tried to blow out the birthday boy's candles. He thinks all parties are for him.

Demanding baby demands your french fries.

I’ve been so busy doing stuff I haven’t had time to BLOG the stuff I’ve done (even though a lot of it is stuff I WANT to blog) and I’m going kind of crazy. I feel like I haven’t sat down for a whole week – and that might actually be true, because somehow I’m managing to lose weight even with Thanksgiving and road trip food and sugar cookie dough for lunch. I actually fell asleep sitting up on the couch Friday night. But I’ve only got 2 weeks until Caroline’s first birthday (and the party I SWORE I wasn’t going to throw) and 3 weeks until Christmas, so I figure I can sleep after New Years. I’m looking forward to it.

Did you take any camera phone photos this week? Link up with one or lots using the linky below and grab the code (so it shows on your blog too!) over at Amy’s . It’s really fun!