Here are a few Bren-bits for you:
Mama: “Twinkle, twinkle little star…”
Bren: [Puts palm in my face] “Stop!”
Mama: [Starts clipping Bren’s fingernails]
Bren: [Moves hand away after first clip]
Mama: “It’s okay, Bren”
Bren: “It’s alright. It’s okay.”
Mama: [Reaches over and feels Bren’s diaper}
Bren: “No pee-pees!”
Bren likes to get up on the toilet now and sometimes he tries to pee so hard he shakes. But “no pee-pees in the potty” yet. He always wants to try after he has wet a diaper and pulled it off. Potty training is being child led for the moment.

I have lost 11 pounds on the South Beach diet now. DH has done even better. It’s been- what?- 3 1/2 weeks? As Brendan now says- Wahooo! 😀
It doesn’t seem like a diet except for the very obvious lack of rich desserts. But I have 1/2 of a low carb Hershey bar for 60 calories and it’s enough. Gotta make room for baby!!! Just over 5 months to go!

This cute video is a bit graphic but not in a negative sort of way. Thanks Carrie for the link!

Bren woke up a bit early this morning so we popped him in bed between us. We all went back to sleep. When I woke up, I noticed Darrell also opening his eyes and waking up. After a bit, I whispered something to him. Brendan, with his eyes still shut, said, “Shhh! Be quiet Mama!” I had a fit of giggles.
We went to a coworker of Darrell’s 5 year old daughter Kendall’s birthday party yesterday. They had a huge toddler paradise of a backyard. Brendan had a great time, especially swinging side by side with shy little Nicole. It was like being at a Country Resort- truly beautiful in a comfy, old-timey way.
Going to ride the train and feed the ducks at Brackenridge Park today. I am really looking forward to it.

The past couple weeks have been rough and not too memorable. Brendan *finally* slept a couple nights in his bed the normal, no fuss way- just in time for us to go back up to DH’s parents’ house for a weekend party and mess it up again. I cringed big time as I closed Brendan’s door last night, waiting for the howling to begin. It didn’t. I couldn’t believe it. He DID wake up at 5 am though, stayed up til 9 and then slept til 1. He does this once in awhile. I am calling it his nap unless he suddenly falls asleep on the floor somewhere, cars clutched in fists.
Our roomies are on and off again considering moving. Please let it happen and happen soon. I just want to get past this and move on. I don’t care if I have to resort to a Ramen noodle diet to afford it.
Brendan has made a jump into understanding and being more understanding and helpful. He sometimes answeres questions now. He’ll also hold his legs up when you change his diaper. And often will go in the house when you say it is time instead of running the other direction. He throws things away. He sits in regular chairs at restaurants and when food is in front of him he stays there. Life is suddenly easier concerning him- less of a fight. I hope this lasts. It’s a breath of fresh air. He sometimes plays so well independently that I have to stop my activities and purposely go and interact with him.
I am into Phase 2 of the South Beach diet. I lost 8 1/2 pounds up to 2 days before going away to the party. I gained 1 1/2 pounds while up there. Even though I stuck to what I was supposed to eat, I still ate too much. I am pleased that I didn’t sucumb to cookies and brownies- just 2 bites of cake. YAY! I pushed the proverbial plate away- and by golly, that plate was hard to push!!! I am now allowed a fruit and a whole grain product a day. Whole Grain pancake with blueberries and sugar free syrup- here I come!! 😉
We finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on audio tape on the way home. I was so sad to have it end and am very anxious for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince to come out in June. Even if I have to read it out loud. I am really curious how Harry is going to get Snape to let him into his advanced potions class.

I looked back on my bathroom calendar, where I record AF’s visits. Back in December I got AF on the 23rd. Since then it has slowly slipped back to where last month I got her on the 19th. My cycles have been a pretty regular 30 days so everytime we have a 31 day month I slip back a day or so. I can’t believe I am so regular- I didn’t realize it! I have never been regular before! My PCOS must be improving because I think I may actually be ovulating. Probably the gluchophage’s doing.
Anyway- where this is leading- I am guessing I’ll get AF in October on day 14, 15 or 16. So I’ll have 2 weeks before that to go see the RE and be ready with a fistful of Clomid for CD 3-7- perhaps on October 18th. That’ll leave my first IUI for maybe October 30-31. A Halloween conception??? Heh. Don’t want to think of the implications of that one. LOL. I was pretty sure it’d be November before the actual IUI but I may just get a late October one. YAY!
Looks like I’ll be in “Clomid H*ll” for my birthday on Oct 25th. And if I conceive, I’ll be due smack in the middle of a very hot summer. But you know what? I DON’T CARE!!! 😉 But if anyone wants to pray that I get twins with at least 1 girl, I’d be honored. Quick- say it now- it’ll jinx things if you pray for it later!!!
In other matters- Brendan is going through very bad sleeping issues. He had 10 days of sleeping with Mommy and Daddy at Darrell’s parents’ house and he *will not* adjust back to his own bed. I just can’t stand to go through many nights of 3 hours straight screaming that doesn’t work in the end anyway. And I think he has developed a fear of the air conditioner. Really. We weren’t using it because we had such nice weather. We just recently turned it on at night. He screams even louder every time it comes on. It’s very strange. I just don’t know what to do. 🙁

Did I mention that Brendan has his first mole? It’s a teensy thing behind his right knee. He’s loving the outdoors and our 80 degree weather. I got out a big circle ring sprinkler and he finally got over his fear and jumped in the middle of it- once. LOL. My spirited child is quite content to sit in a chair beside me on our patio and just be outside- he loves it that much. He also took off his shirt yesterday. It was a loose one but he’s getting there. He just tried to take off today’s shirt- picture shirt over face with him going round and round in circles calling out “I’m stuck!” over and over again. LOL.
I am hanging on with the South Beach diet. Phase 2 with it’s reintroduction of fruit and whole grains will be my savior- 1 1/2 weeks to get through first, however. But I have lost 5 pounds in only 3 days!! Go me! Darrell is doing great too.
I made All Phase Peanut Butter cookies yesterday. Not the greatest cookie but fabulous when you can have no other. I’m looking forward to trying this recipe also:
Noodleless Lasagna
1 pd lean ground beef (I use ground sirloin)
1 cup Mozzerella cheese
2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
1 large egg
1 jar of spagetti sauce (I used Ragu Pizza quick Natural)
1 clove fresh minced garlic
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 zucchinis, thinly sliced lengthwise (“noodles”)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Brown the ground beef and drain.
Mix ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic, oregano, basil and egg until blended.
Layer the ground beef, zucchini, spaghetti sauce and ricotta cheese like typical lasagna. Top with mozzarella cheese.
Bake until hot and cheese on top is golden.

Well, Bren does somersaults on his own now. Hahahaha. He wants to do them on beds though and he doesn’t give himself enough runway. He also points out the color blue now and snd says “blue”. I point out colors all day long so I am happy one is sinking in!!! He has been Wild Child for a good part of each day for the last week. It is hard to take. He threw a heavy metal car at DH’s new Dodge Durango and dinged the door. Darrell was in a funk for the rest of the day.
Bren did his first “Paint with Water” page recently. He loved it!!! It is perfect for this age! I am going to bring out the Play-Doh set he got for his birthday soon and the fingerpaints again.
I was snuggling him in the kitchen one day and asked him if he wanted a brother or a sister and he clearly answered “a sister.” Shocked both me and my MIL. LOL.
Bren got used to sleeping with me while away- he’s been sleeping 1/2 the night with me for the last 2 days. Gotta break him of that, it’s terrible sleep but… he does sleep in later that way! 😉
My garden is erupting. I pulled a white radish out that was the size of a large carrot!!! :O I have one cherry tomato plant that has 2 teensy green tomatoes and one larger tomato plant that has a half-dollar sized green tomato! YAY!
I made it through day 1 of Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet yesterday. Or as my friend Alora says, the “2ww” LOL. It wasn’t too hard! But we went grocery shopping and spent $160!!! Has anyone ever noticed that 99% of coupons are for carbohydrates??? 😕 Sheesh. But I found 1 good deal- low carb steak sauce was on clearance- I got 4 small bottles each for $1 when they are normally $3 each. Can’t eat steak w/o steak sauce!!!
Menu for today-
Breakfast- Cheesy omelet with salsa and sour cream
Snack- String cheese
Lunch- Cucumber slices filled with tuna salad
Snack- almonds
Dinner- Broiled marinated flank steak and broccoli.
Dessert- low carb/sf white chocolate almond ice cream bar