Monday, January 24, 2011

I honestly don't have much to say. I've had so many things pent up inside me and I don't know where to start or what to say or what I really shouldn't say.

The main thing going on around my head is this long winded dream I've had over the last couple of weeks. It's so weird. I'm part of Harry Potter, only it's REAL and not a fantasy. I'm a friend of Harry, Ron and Hermione (and obviously Ginny and Fred and George, Luna and Neville) I'm in Gryffendor and it's the 6th and 7th year...so the fight is coming up very soon. The odd part is that I'm in love with Draco Malfoy....and he's in love with me. It's just a really odd dream, but for some reason I'm really intrigued by it. I won't divulge all the details of the dream, I do like to keep some things to myself...it's just funny to me that it's taking up the most space in my head.

In other news...Alaric is getting a ton of teeth all at once. I think I've counted 7 teeth trying to poke through, maybe 8. I haven't really decided if that last one is a tooth or just swelling from the teeth around it. He's been eating solids for about 2 months now. He's loving it. I'm thinking of putting it up to two times a day instead of just the one. He's been up once or more a night, but I think it's the teething more than anything. It can't be comfortable with all those teeth coming in.

Caralyn...she's growing by leaps and bounds. She's got a love of coloring, she loves talking and watching PBS shows. She even takes the PBS shows over her favorite Disney shows! It's crazy! She's almost 3 ft tall now too...She's growing WAY too fast! Ric is still about half her size.

The last official weigh ins had Caralyn at 30lbs and Alaric at 18lbs. Caralyn was 2'10" and Alaric was 2'1" Can you believe that?

As for me and Josh...nothing too new is going on. I'm going through pole classes again. This Wednesday is my last Pole 100 class. I'll start Pole 200 soon after. It's a little expensive for the little money we have, but I need to do SOMETHING just for me, and this is what I choose rather than bi-weekly mani/pedi/massages. At least it's exercise.

Josh is leaving soon again for a short underway that could get extended to a normal underway. We're not looking forward to this, but it's all worth it in the end. On the other hand, his 10 year high school reunion is this summer. We are planning on going back, but if they don't pick a date soon we're not going to be able to make it. I'm already going to be skimping like crazy just to pay the over $1,000 to get to Michigan for the four of us (hopefully five either before we leave or before we come home!)

Well, I need to go see what Caralyn is screaming about. I'll hopefully be on again soon!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Dolphin Dance Studio, Poulsbo

There are three Dolphin Dance Studios in the country as of now. The first is in Columbus, Ohio the second in Poulsbo, Washington and the third in Monroe, Michigan. My friend Emily is the owner of all three. I currently take classes in the Poulsbo studio and hope to check out the Monroe studio while I'm visiting someday.

I have taken three pole classes in the 101 course so far. I did these lessons in November. I am finally finishing the last three classes starting Thursday (then the following two Wednesdays). I can not wait to start these classes again. I am hoping to go to the 201 class afterward. I am loving the exercise and the kid free time (just an hour and a half a week, but it helps me destress BIG time!)

Tonight was the family friendly open house for their two year anniversary. I took Josh, Caralyn, Alaric and my friend Mahria to it so Josh could meet Emily (and Andy was there too! What a stroke of luck!) and to introduce Mahria to the possibility of pole classes. I don't think she is going to get into it, but at least I tried.

I think the person that had most fun (other than the people watching) was Caralyn! She really took to the pole FAST! She was adorable! I would lift her up and she automatically crossed her legs and would hold tight and let me spin her around. Great form for a 2 year old! What do you think?



I know some people think it is horrible that I'm so open about pole dancing and that I let my children near a pole, but I do it for exercise and I'm not going to tell my children that they can't do something that I have done. I don't want Caralyn to ever become a stripper...that's definitely not why I'm taking these classes...and I hope she never feels she has to do that for any reason...but if she ends up wanting to take pole classes when she's older, I'm not going to tell her no. It is one of the best kinds of exercise I've ever done. The first three weeks I lost a couple pounds (but always put it back on because of my eating habits) and started getting more strength back that I've lost since I quit dancing. I felt good for the first time since South Carolina when I was working out with a friend and a personal trainer. I wish people would get their heads out of the ground and realize it's not JUST about money when it's pole dancing...it's about body image and feeling beautiful and sexy for yourself no matter what size and shape you are. It's wonderful.

If anyone in any of the three areas there is a Dolphin Dance Studio is even slightly interested or curious about it, stop by, take an open class, ask questions, check out the studio...it's so much fun and can give you a HUGE boost in your self confidence! If you're here in Washington and want to check it out, let me know and I can set something up with Emily sometime...or if you want to jump in and do a party, I will host one there so it's just a friendly and fun time where we can laugh and joke and be completely relaxed about it all.

For now, I'm going to close. I just had to put this out here because it's the most fun I've had in a long time...and it was just a simple open house that I didn't really do much of anything at, but I got to share it with my family and that's what made it so wonderful for me.

What are your thoughts on pole dancing?

Why oh why

So I barely get enough sleep as it is...so why in the heck am I on the computer at 12:05AM when I should be sleeping? Because I'm afraid that the moment I lay down and get comfortable, Ric is going to wake up wanting a bottle. So I'm trying to wait up to see if he is going to wake up...stupid, I know...especially with the long day ahead of me.

I do have to say...I'm amazed my daughter hasn't woken up yet. She's been asleep in her bed by herself for 2 hours already...she's normally been up at least once, scared from a nightmare or something. She has always slept with my husband and I, she is 2 years old and, until recently, has only slept 2 weeks out of our bed. Monday we started sleeping in HER room. She is in her bed, we are on a futon. I miss my bed, but she's (or maybe it's me...) isn't ready to be alone in her room, especially if she wakes up...she freaks out just because she's alone in bed. I think one more week in her room (if it goes as well as this last week or better) and then we'll be able to at least mostly sleep in our own rooms again...It will be the first time we have been alone in bed in over 2 years...3 if you count the big baby belly when I was pregnant with Caralyn.

Well...Caralyn has woken up and needs her mommy since Papa isn't waking up to her cries. Later.