Random Day

Justin slept in his crib all night for the first time. OK, of course he woke up repeatedly, but I stayed strong & didn't bring him into bed at all. I'm really proud of how well we're all doing with sleep training, especially Justin. He's been going to bed at 8:30, and he does wake several times, but it really is progress for him to stay in his crib for the entire night. I am hopeful that within a few more days (3-5) he'll be sleeping longer & more deeply. I think I've found the trick to naps, too. He does the same thing he does at night - sleeps for 30 minutes, then wakes up. If I pop the paci back in & soothe him for a few minutes, he drifts back to sleep. Ah, the life of a baby.

I bought an Exersaucer off craigslist today. I've been looking for one, but think they are outrageously expensive. I found it this morning, checked the price & features on Amazon, emailed, and BAM, 9 hours later it was mine. I wanted one that had more than 3 things to do, but didn't want to pay $80+ dollars. It is currently outside, airing out after being scrubbed with Clorox wipes & doused with Lysol. All I have to do is wash the seat & we're good to go. He loves the Jumper so I hope he'll love this too. I heart craigslist.

I had to go over to the South-east side of town to pick up the Exersaucer, and passed by the Southridge mall. Since I was in the area, I decided to check it out. I wish I could say it was Fabulous. Or even Ghetto Fabulous. But it was just Ghetto. I always feel a little sad when I see a dying mall, as it just means bad news all around. At least half the spaces were vacant, and the other half were mostly sister shops, jewelry stores and athletic footwear. The one bright spot was Steve & Barry's. We don't have this particular store where I'm from, but it's been on my radar since I found out Sarah Jessica Parker designs a line of clothing for them called Bitten. WITH NOTHING OVER $10. Srsly. I'm not really at a point where I'm doing a lot of clothes shopping for myself (I get sad over the number on the size tag) but I had to check it out. I actually ended up buying a pair of jeans & a t-shirt. I tried them on when I got home, and they are c-u-t-e. The jeans are a teensy bit snug in the thighs, but I don't think that will be an issue in another few weeks. Jeans are both my favorite thing to wear and my bete noir. To think that I may have found a pair that not only fits well but is super cheap makes me want to buy 5 more pairs. I know you ladies can relate. (they also come in short and long lengths). Raise the roof for a $20 outfit! Note: The rest of the store is a little pop-tarty. They do carry clothes for all ages in the family (including baby & kid), but I'd be wary of the quality. Lots of snarky, pseudo-clever t's, too.

I think we've decided NOT to get a minivan. With gas prices what they are, and my job a big question mark (still have not talked to the boss, despite him being back from vacation for 3 days), it just doesn't feel right. Instead, we're going to invest in a new windshield, new tires, and a deep cleaning. As much as I'd love to have more room, I can't argue with 30mpg in town.

I am hungry. I'm still mostly sticking to healthy eating, but last night I had sweets on the brain. I ended up whipping up this easy brownie recipe (made with hot cocoa mix and chocolate chips). It actually made very yummy brownies. Dangerously yummy. In my mind I'm hoping things balance out. I'm doing really well with no bread and no pasta (I have had flour tortillas 3 times), but living on eggs, salad, chicken and peanut butter makes me want sweets even more. If I stay strong and power through the cravings, will they go away? Or does it really equal out when I eat tuna steak, corn, and watermelon for dinner then spoil it with a brownie? Baby Bootcamp is going really well, and I don't want to spoil my progress (no more soreness, and feel like I am already seeing results in my calves and biceps). We all need a little sweet treat once in a while, don't we?