Today.

Today could be another six sentence story if only I would allow myself time to process. 

Hit the reset button.

It's Monday after spring break. Before spring break, it was a Vegas trip and before Vegas, a bachelorette weekend. It has been an amazing two and a half weeks.

But, it's real life again. It's mopping the bathrooms and the kitchen. It's working out in the gym until child watch texts that your kid has a dirty diaper. It's scavenging the pantry to save on the grocery bills. It's folding up heavy sweaters and fleece tights and long socks and putting them away until fall. It's correcting Bradley when he yanks on the blinds for the hundredth time.

Literally, everything is being reset: our diets, our fitness, our budget, our schedule, and even the season.

I love finding chapters in my life. This is the start of a new chapter, definitely. The last one ended with a bang.

This last few months, we visited friends and performed at a comedy festival, saw Bryan's parents. I flew to Florida to celebrate one of my best friends' future marriage in one of the best bachelorette parties.

Days later, I flew to meet Bryan in Vegas (sans baby) to drink, gamble, see shows, love and enjoy the city with Bryan.

Then, Bryan had a week off work and we spent most days sleeping in (thank goodness for the growth spurt, Bradley slept in to 8:30!!!). We got takeout and watched movies and took naps and played games and drank some more.

It was fabulous!

But our pants are tighter, our bank accounts smaller, our house messier, our energy recuperated. We are ready to reset. 

Today, I handled Operation Clean House. Tomorrow will be Taxes. Wednesday will be meal planning. We had a big budget discussion, and we are cutting back all spending. 

We have literally nothing but gymnastics on the calendar. No trips, no birthdays, nothing right now. It's the time for us to save money, eat better, be more active and be more at home, enjoying time where we are. 

Peace.

My day has been ordinary but wonderful. I'm sitting, relaxed, freshly showered while my dishwasher runs, the reds are in the washer, my king cake is rising, my husband and baby are both asleep (2.5 hr and counting), my floors are freshly swept and mopped, and then it started snowing tiny little flakes outside.

I am happy. Things aren't perfect or extraordinary, but I am at peace. This is the good life, a calm chapter in my life right now.

Putting down roots. And eating root vegetables.

I probably sound like I am repeating myself, but we love it here. And it's the dead of winter and we haven't met many people or gone to Chicago.

We are laying down roots, setting our family rhythm and finding our normal in this new place.

This weekend, I instituted a family Sunday where we dress up, hit Target (returning a bento box lunchbox that I brought for Bryan but he said it was lame) when target was so quiet! Then we went downtown champaign for brunch (my favorite meal!). We even parked on the street and walked to the place. It was so city. Let me just say, that was cool.

Brunch was amazing, and we need to go back for lunch or dinner sometime to see if those are also amazing. Then we came home for naps (all of us slept!), Bryan went to the office while Bradley and I played until dinner. Bradley picked 101 Dalmatians (my childhood favorite) and I got started chopping veggies for soup.

Side note: 

We had an amazing weekend in North Carolina. It was fun and full of drinks and food that was buttery and valentines day chocolate and airport snacks. This past week, we ate half healthy, half not so great. So this week, THIS WEEK, we go healthy.

I have a big thing of salad, three lunch portions of chicken soup, grapes, blackberries, pears, apples, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and homemade bread (made a whole loaf with only 2 cups of flour instead of the typical 4-6 cups thanks to a secret ingredient). I can do this!

I am also working hardcore with my trainer again. I got lazy and did less and less with him. Not anymore! I'm three weeks away from a bachelorette party of one of my best friends and four weeks from a Vegas weekend (Ahhh!). 

This is my time. This is my crunch time, so here we go. Current stats: lowest weight was -8 pounds, currently at -6 from starting weight. My goal is -28. I will take any amount of - pounds.

Soooooo excuse me while I do a plank on the floor. 

Life at home after a comedy festival

We just returned from a comedy festival. It's kind of a non-negotiable trip for me and Bryan. We just love it. We went all through college, in Philly, in Oklahoma and through pregnancy and baby. Of course, we took Bradley.

I love travel. I remember my first plane ride at 7 or 8 when we flew to my uncles wedding, and I was hooked. I flew home and back from college. I had a job where international travel was my job. And our families have always lived too far to drive for holidays and trips.

Bradley has been on too many flights for me to count. I stopped counting at 50 flights which was last summer. 

So for this trip, since Bryan had a new job and Thursday classes, I flew alone with my toddler, got the rental car, checked into the hotel and attended shows with my toddler.

My mind is blown and my heart is happy. We had a fantastic weekend of seeing shows, hanging out with friends, doing a (KICKASS) show as our duo Red Letters,

and seeing Bryan's parents (who live only 4 hours away). 

Also, we got our pictures taken at the festival and I took all three and made this. Love it!

You win some, you lose some...in public

Sometimes my kid is really good in public at dinner. I love taking him because I love going with Bryan.

(Old picture, but we had a great dinner that night, with a calm baby)

Tonight was not a good night for baby in public at a restaurant. 

As soon as we were seated, Bradley started hollering to anyone within fifty yards "Milk! Milk!" No amount of shushing could stop this.

In hindsight, this is where we should have decided hmmm maybe let's just go home.

But we stayed and ordered the mother effing milk. We gave Bradley a choice between hot dog, burger or chicken. Hot dog. Of course.

We wait and he happily is sucking on ice (classy) and drinking milk. We are actually enjoying an adult conversation with a well behaved toddler.

Until the food comes. Bradley doesn't want his hot dog. He wants French fries. But Bryan and I aren't giving in. "Eat some hot dog and then you get fries," we explain.

Commence screaming.

Omg. My kid has never done this. It was soooooo embarrassing! 

Screaming.

In a moment of stress, I offer him a French fry to stop the screaming. It works.

Then he grabs his milk, and instead of sipping through the straw, he tips yr cup back and spills milk all over himself! 

More screaming. Because: wet pants.

I'm so frustrated and Bryan's ready to leave. Bryan grabs Bradley and takes him to the car and returns with a pacifier and a calm, milk-soaked baby.

We get te check and get the hell out of there. Good lord! Whyyyyyy?! Toddler tantrums are the worst.

For the record, that was the best hot dog I've ever had. 

A slice of the weekend

Yesterday, Bradley was a mess of sick. I mean, gross. I hate when I have a runny nose. I hate blowing my nose. I hate tissues.

And I wasn't even sick! It just is not fun to wipe up someone else's snot. Especially when that person doesn't want you to wipe their nose. 

So I'm washing my hands millions of times and putting on movies and giving him way more crackers than usual.

It's pretty gross over here. We had to cancel a play date and a dinner with friends. 

But, today we went to the movies. We saw the Lego Movie! 

First, it was awesome! Loved it. Bradley loved it, then put his head on me and fell asleep for 30 minutes, then woke up to see the rest of the movie. 

During the whole movie, we would whisper "Le-Lo" (his version of Lego). Just over and over whisper it. 

After the movie, he was blown away by the people and all the kids. I tried to get his reaction to the movie on my phone and he just kept staring at all the people in the lobby.

Now back home for wiping noses and playing with Legos.

Also, here is a very cute Lego version of my family.

I'm as tall as my baby because the other lady Legos are zoo keepers, old ladies or a dancer w a tutu. Lego Duplo, if you're listening, make a cute mom Lego!

Life lately

Things have really settled in our new place. We've been here a little more than a month, and we have a good routine.

We visited Bryan at work, in the freezing cold in the snow. It was awful walking to his building, but it was really neat to see where he works.

I signed Bradley up for gymnastics in an attempt to make friends. Turns out, it's his favorite part of the week. And, if I'm honest, mine too! 

For thirty minutes, the toddlers climb on mats, walk on beams, hang from rings and bars, jump on the trampoline and jump/get thrown in/slide into a big foam pit. It's awesome! 

One of the reasons I picked this apartment to live at is the proximity to the mall, the Target and (slightly embarrassing) the Chipotle. Once a week, I take Bradley and split the kids two taco lunch with him. He eats one tortilla, beans, rice and cheese. I eat the other taco, steak and salsa. He gets his juice and I get my weekly indulgence of Dr. Pepper. It's also right after the gym, so I make sure to burn at least 300 calories to counter the 150 for the soda.

I threw away our trash and came back to see this adorable, tiny cool kid.

Bradley is a kid of few wants: juice, crackers, Legos and coloring. 

He's always on the move, and the only quiet time is naps and movie time (strictly for weekends and really good/really bad days). He was amazing at the grocery store, helping put things in the cart, counting and pointing out things for me (red! Yellow! Green! Leaf! Pepper!) even after an hour at the gym daycare.

He helped me with the groceries (carrying one bag of bread) and then brought me the muppet movie and said "peeeeeeas" how could I resist? So, we watched it and this was his face for an hour.

I just love him! He really is becoming so fun to hang out with and I am truly growing into my motherhood. I feel pride when he can do things that he couldn't a week ago, when he says please and thank you, when he answers my questions, when he builds a Lego stick, when he is obsessed with cute things like bananas and muppets and crackers.

Things are good.

Day in our Life: 18 Months

6:45am - Alyssa and Bryan wake up, Bryan showers, Alyssa unloads dishes 

7:00-7:30am - Bradley wakes up, Alyssa turns on lights and open curtains, morning cuddles and songs

7:30am - family breakfast of cereal, milk and fruit (weekends include bread/muffins/pancakes)

8:00am - change diaper, put on Bradley's clothes and get ready to go

8:15am - turn off lights, turn on roomba, all leave

8:30am - drop off Bryan on campus

8:45am - Alyssa and Bradley go to the gym, Bradley hangs out in the train room and I head upstairs to work out

10:00-10:30am - hang out at the gym either watching pool classes or go swimming together, then go home

10:45-11:00am - eat lunch (Wednesdays we do Chipotle!) at home, usually leftovers from dinner or sliced turkey. Current favorites: rice, turkey, peas and (if good) blueberries

11:30am - change diaper, Bradley takes a nap.

11:30-2/2:30pm - while Bradley sleeps, I have time to shower, do my hair & makeup, check email, clean, do laundry/dishes/bills, sometimes I nap, too!

2:30-3:30pm - play at home

3:30pm - run an errand (Target, post office, grocery store, mall, etc) on Wednesdays, we do gymnastics

5:00-5:30pm - drive to campus to pick up Bryan

5:30-5:45pm - drive home (Tuesdays and Thursdays we go out for dinner)

6:00pm - eat dinner as a family 

6:30-7:15pm - play

7:15-7:30pm - bath, books, songs and bed for Bradley 

7:30-10:30pm - grown up time! We watch tv, play games, or Bryan goes to the gym while I relax at home.

Pretty routine days. Sometimes I skip the gym and take Bradley to the library, definitely Tuesdays. We try to keep Bradley's home life structured since we travel so often. He really loves knowing what comes next. It's cute to hear him in the backseat say, "Home!" After the gym or "Dada" at the end of the day on out way to pick up Bryan. 

Brain Dump: Baby and Life Edition

There's so much swirling in my head. Bryan and I had a big talk about our short term and long term future and it was scary. I had some confessions to make.

First up, I am putting down roots. I am loving this new place. I love our city, love my job, love our friends, love our gym. I feel so at home here. Thankfully, Bryan does, too. (Sigh of relief).

Secondly, I want a house sometime in the next few years. I want a newly built house with enough room for all the future babies. I want a big living room and an awesome kitchen. And a garage. Bryan hadn't even considered it. Discussion.

And lastly, I'm still not ready for a second baby. This was truly terrifying to admit. I feel like once a baby turns 18 months, it's time to talk about the second one. Well, I'm not ready. Thank god, neither is Bryan! (Sigh of relief).

So I'm happily experiencing peace with my family. We have named this year: Happy Buckleys. We shall avoid the pain of a newborn, of moving, of Oklahoma, of breaatfeeding, of all that mess. We shall enjoy the beauty of our trio, our great sleeper of a baby, our awesome ability to travel/go out/host parties. 

I was terrified that Bryan would want another one. Before we had kids, we wanted kids 2 years apart, but now, I'm like no effing way! I am loving the freedom and we are finally enjoying all the hard work we put into Bradley (sleeping, eating, being good). 

I am so confused that it's Tuesday. It feels like Saturday, or at least Friday. I just can't believe how relieved I am that it's out there. And now, mom and my other friends, now you know. I'm not pregnant, not trying and I'm happy about it.