Quiet Time

Writing this is NOT because I am in the business of giving out parenting advice because LORD KNOWS I need as much advice as I can get. Trial and error is a Miller family favorite. Lots of errors in parenting. Plus, everything that worked for Bryn, doesn't work for Vivian.

But!!!! THIS might be the most brilliant thing I've implemented in my home. I'm home with the girls Tuesday- Friday all day. It's Heaven. Except, it's not always. Hehe. I am a mom. I am a wife. But I am STILL Ashley. I still have to have ME time. And if I don't take a mental break from my girls, I get a little crazy. I'm a better and more patient mom with a little down time. I used to think I needed to be on mom duty sun up until sun down. I would feel guilty to do ANYTHING that didn't involve my girls. And I always was entertaining them. I was EXHAUSTED. 

About a month ago, I implemented "quiet time". Vivi takes a morning nap from 9am- 945. But Bryn and I would still be playing, reading, etc. I decided to start putting her in her room to play independently during that time so I could clean, read, or JUST SIT and watch tv. 

At first, she wasn't a fan. But honestly, it was a super easy transition. She cried the first day maybe 5 minutes? Then played the rest of the time. Now, she cries for about 3 seconds and gets over it and plays hard the rest of the time. 

Check out that baby playing all alone. This picture cracks me up because I put it in selfie mode and reached around the corner so she wouldn't see me. See the shadow of my arm? I'm so sneaky.. and probably slightly crazy. 

The grocery bags are individual quiet time activities.. puzzles, coloring, legs, etc. Eventually, they will make it into individual containers. Someday. Hehe

SO, there it is. My most brilliant and sanity saving idea yet. 

And then this might be a close second..

Vivi can sit, but still isn't awesome at it. And definitely not well enough to sit in a slippery tub. Now, my babies get to play together. SO CUTE. Ps.. how different are their complexions? Love it. 

<3 

I'm Back!

I've taken a hiatus since beginning of May. Mostly out of being completely crazy busy, but I'll blame it on my computer breaking. My husband bought us a new one this past weekend, so I'm ready to get up and running again. That guy. I could've gone a million times to get a new computer, but the idea of taking 2 kids into a store and trying to find a computer that met our needs was completely overwhelming. But my guy?? He had no fear. Off he went with both girls while I slept after working my night shift and he came back with a computer. SO, HERE I AM!

What has changed since the beginning of May? Too much for one post. But in a nutshell, everything. ;-)

I'm working weekend nights and loving my job (most nights). Jake got a promotion at work and will be a huge part in the expansion of his company in 2016. Bryn is talking big time and being the best big sister ever. Seriously, she is so rough and tough.. but so sweet with Vivi. Vivian is babbling a lot, can mock everything we do, sits, scoots and is very close to crawling. Big stuff, people.

The girls go to the same daycare one day a week and I just love it. Bryn just thrives in those situations and I love the girls being socialized.

Jake and I have been on a healthy journey. He has had some great results. He is also a lot more dedicated to the working out portion of it (5am workouts? No, thank you). I do a lot of walking with the girls, and a few home workouts but I'm not as dedicated as I should be. I'll get there. I have really loved the knowledge part of losing weight. You really do have to be smart to lose weight the right way. I have really worked on educating myself and I have a good sense of cooking and eating healthy.


So, this is what we were looking like around April-May...

Yikes, Ashley. You were looking like you just had two babies back-to-back..

And a few weeks ago on vacation...

Not perfect, but BETTER! :-) I'm pretty happy with my progress. It's slow, but it's also a life change.. not just a "diet" for me. Seeing sick patients all the time in the hospital makes me anxious to grow old.. so I want to make healthy decisions now, and keep with it.

Ps.. the florals distract from my stubborn belly fat. Which is why I'm also wearing it here..

And here I am with the girls just last week :-)

My babies looked like back in May (when I stopped blogging)..

And now..

Time is going WAY TOO FAST!!!! These girls are growing like weeds. Their hard enough that I don't want to think about another baby anytime soon, but fun and sweet enough to know Vivi isn't my last. :-)

Til next time, friends!