30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 15

Day 15: A moment you've felt satisfied with your life

I'll let you know as soon as my iTunes is organized...

;)

Kidding (sort of)

I would have to say that I felt pretty darn satisfied with my life on my honeymoon. I had just married my best friend. I had a great job, and we had found a cute house to rent. My biggest worry in the world was the fact that our bedroom at the bed & breakfast where we stayed in Connecticut didn't have any blinds/curtains on the windows. (I mean, really???)

More recently, I usually feel pretty satisfied with life after a race or a long training run. I feel I can conquer almost anything. :)

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 14

Day 14: A picture of you last year - how have you changed?

How appropriate!

Today is my birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today, March 14, 2012, I turn 35 years old.

Wow.

Last year, on my 34th birthday, my life was slightly different but not horribly. None of my kids were in school yet, so my day-to-day life was a bit more stressful.

I had begun running and had completed two 5Ks, but I was still very new and couldn't run more than three miles or so at a time.

Now I've run 12 races: 6 5Ks, 1 8K, 1 10K, and 4 half marathons. With the exception of when I'm sick (hellooooo last week), I run three times a week. I have several races (5Ks, a 10K, and a 15K) coming up, and I look forward to running them. I look forward to running.


I weigh probably about 25-30 pounds less today than I did on my 34th birthday. I have a much healthier outlook on what I eat and drink.

Here's a picture of me last year:

I'm pretty sure those jeans were a size 16. Or maybe 14s and they were tight.

Last week I wore my size 12s comfortably around the house.

But I had just lost six pounds in two days from the stomach bug, so you have to keep that in mind. :)
That's probably the thing that's changed the most about my life.

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 13

Day 13: Goals

I feel like I need to say something grand, like "Lose weight" or "go back to work."

And while I still would like to take off another 10 pounds, and I may one day go back to work, I am more of an immediate-goal kind of gal.

The goals I have staring me in the face right now are:

• Organize my iTunes--Matthew got me a new laptop for Christmas, and because of my all-or-nothing personality (see day 9), I have just now gotten it out of its box. It's not that I don't need a new laptop; my old one is on its last legs. But I want to do it right, and there hasn't been time. My iTunes has been a mess since I first installed it a year ago--when I moved my music and transferred all of Matthew's music over to it, there has been no rhyme or reason. There are lots of duplicates, incorrectly-labeled songs, and a bunch of crap on there I didn't want. I like order. I crave organization. And having over 6000 songs all jumbled and messed up has been a thorn in my side for nearly 12 months. And now it's even worse, as I have my music stored in different places on my hard drive, and, well, BLAH. It's been very s-l-o-w-l-y chipped away at for quite some time, and I've had the necessary playlists I've needed (running playlists & audiobooks), but the rest of it is useless. I also want to move over all my CDs (remember those) to my iTunes, and I want it all done by the time I get my iPhone in May. (I plan to break the bank to get the 64 GB iPhone and sell my iPod Touch.)
•  
•  
•  
• Ummm....that's really it for now. My closets and cabinets are organized. We cleaned out the garage last weekend. I do need to plant some new flowers by my mailbox soon, and in a matter of weeks, I'll need to see what spring/summer clothes fit the boys, but iTunes is what keeps me awake at night. (Though not necessarily awake doing anything about it. Just awake thinking about how I need to do something about it.)
• Ugh.

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 12

Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without

Duh. My cell phone.

Though lately it feels like I never get to leave the house OR I don't leave the house without at least one of my children.

But I am desperately lost without my cell phone.

Right now, I have a Palm Pre.

I've had it for almost two years, and it was my first Smartphone. I really have loved it. I resisted the Smartphone for a long time, saying I didn't need all that fancy stuff. Saying I only needed my 400 texts a month.

HAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank goodness for Sprint and unlimited texting b/c I had over 13,000 texts last month. (I blame Twitter...)

But in less than two months, my contract will be up, and I am making the leap.

iPhone 4s, baby. I can't friggin' wait.
All I want for my birthday (two days away!!) is money and more money so I can buy an iPhone with lots of GB and accessories.
 
Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 11

Day 11: A tv show you're addicted to

Siggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh........................

If you haven't yet fallen in love with this show, you are missing out.

Season one is on Netflix instant streaming. Sadly, you just missed season two on the PBS website. But I'm sure it will be available soon.

PLEASE NO SPOILERS!! I still have the last two episodes of the second season (four hours!!) left. I'm waiting for Matthew to catch up. (He has two hours prior to that to watch.)

It is brilliantly written and superbly acted. I just love, love, love it.

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 10

Day 10: Something you're afraid of

Really? Just one? Well, you're gonna have to settle for three.

My most immediate fear is the fear of car accidents. Particularly in the rain. I was in a single-truck (yes, I had a pick-up truck) accident in college. It was about 1:30 in the afternoon. I was on my way home from class, and it was raining. There was a wreck up ahead, and everyone braked. When I braked, my light-weight truck started to hydroplane, and I could not control it at all. I tried to remember what they tell you, to pump the brakes, to steer into the hydroplane, etc. (or whatever it is), but I ended up going up onto the median and slamming the guardrail countless times until I finally just stopped. Also, my eyes were closed the whole time (instinctually so), and in my mind, I envisioned that I was hitting cars instead of the guardrail. To say I was terrified is an understatement.

Since then, I have known of FAR too many people (especially teenagers) who have not just had accidents, but who have lost their lives in car accidents. It is heartbreaking, and it is scary. I am always nervous driving in the rain. I am nervous riding in the rain. And my boys will never be allowed to get behind the wheel of a moving vehicle unless it's at Chuck E. Cheese's.

I do, of course, have two more fears. More like deep-rooted fears that I hope and pray never come true.

The first deep-rooted/irrational fear I have is losing Matthew. I think it's because he's so very wonderful, and I am so very dependent upon him for many things. If I were to lose him, you'd truly see that I am not strong. I am not brave. I do not have it all together. I. Would. Die.

The second deep-rooted fear is cancer. I've always had this thought in the back of my mind that I am going to get breast cancer. My grandmother got it when she was in her early 50s, and I've always just thought it would be my unfortunate turn some day. It doesn't help that several of my friends my age have been diagnosed.

But now that I have a child with Down syndrome, my fear of getting breast cancer has subconciously switched to Benjamin being diagnosed with leukemia. Children with DS have an increased likelihood to get leukemia. Any DS momma out there knows that. Any time there's a CBC taken, I have to remind myself to breathe normally after they tell me the numbers are within the normal range.

All that to say, I really am not an irrational person. I like thunderstorms. I smash bugs with my shoes. I have gone parasailing before.

But I do have those fears, and they're not going anywhere. I only hope they remain fears and never, ever become realities.

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 9

Day 9: A habit you wish you didn't have

Well, I would say cracking my knuckles, but I actually really like doing that.

I would say drinking Dr. Pepper, but I only have like one a week now.

I would say being late, but that's not really a habit, just usually caused by my children; I'm a punctual person.

After much consideration, I would say that I wish I didn't have such an "all or nothing" attitude about life.

If I can't get the whole house clean in one day, I'm just not going to clean it at all.

If I can't eat right the whole day (or week!) then SCREW IT--I'm just going to go on a binge.

If I can't exercise every day of the week, it's not worth doing at all.

Is anyone else like this?

I have slacked off a little. I do have a house cleaning/laundry schedule that, barring sickness, I stick to on a regular basis. I'm grown okay with having a spotless kitchen even though my bathrooms are a week "old" from their cleaning. It's okay. As long as I stick to my schedule.

I am also fine only exercising three times a week. (Though I will tell you that Benjamin and I have had a bad stomach bug, and there has been no exercise in six days for me.)

I am also getting *much* better with making healthy eating a habit instead of a diet. I track my calories (and exercise) with My Fitness Pal, and I have found that a wonderful (free!) tool to help me stay accountable. I also have a running schedule to help me plan out my three runs for the week.

But it is my gut instinct to be all-or-nothing. I wish I could completely break myself of it, but it is ingrained in my OCD personality!

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 8

Day 8: A place you've traveled to

One place????????

Hey, this is my blog. I can cheat.

I just can't pick one.

We've traveled once to the following beaches:

St. George Island, FL
Charleston, SC
Jensen Beach, FL
Hilton Head, SC
Jeckyl Island, SC
West Palm Beach, FL
Seacrest Beach, FL

We've had several weekend trips to:

Crossville, TN
Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, SC

I've visited family in Lumberton, TX.

I've visited friends in Gulf Shores, AL.

We've been several times to Six Flags over Georgia.

We've vacationed countless times in:

Myrtle Beach, SC
Outer Banks, NC

And then there are the "real" vacations. The picture-worthy trips. :)

Barbados

2007

Boston Girls' Trip

2011

California

2010

This is George Clooney's house!!!

Disneyland (CA)

2010

Disneyland (CA)

2012

Disney World (FL)

2010

I'm seven months pregnant with Thomas.

Disney World (FL)

2011

Disney World (FL)

2012

Athens, Greece

2004

Hawaii

2005

Okinawa, Japan

2005

Tokyo, Japan

2005

Tokyo Disney Sea 2005

Las Vegas

2011

New York City

2005

We also went in 2001 & 2002, but didn't own a digital camera then.

Washington, D.C.

2005

See? I told you we travel a lot.

I can't wait until our kids are older so we can travel more & with more ease!



30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 7

Day 7: Favorite movie

For years, my favorite movie was Sleepless in Seattle.

But it has since been replaced with a similar movie, You've Got Mail.

I know, I know.

It's cheesy. It's predictable. It never won any awards.

But it is just so wonderful.

And it's oh-so quotable.

Any true fan of the movie will recognize these gems:

"Thank your."

"Happy Thanksgiving back."

"WHERE ARE MY TIC TACS? UNNHHHHH......"

"I...can't help myself."

"Leave the gun; take the cannoli."

"She had to be! SHE...HAD...TO...BE!!!!"

"It's not personal; it's business."

"I tried to have cybersex once, but I kept getting a busy signal."

"I am a lone reed."

"Never marry a man who lies."

"F-O-X."

"That's why it's worth so much."

"One hundred fifty-two insights into my soullll."

"Don't cry, Shopgirl."

---------------------------------------------

In fact, Matthew and I love this movie so much that on our last trip to NYC (April 2005), we did a self-guided tour. Here were the highlights:

A NYC Brownstone

This is similar to the one used for the front

of Kathleen Kelly's plush apartment.

Cafe Lalo

This is where Kathleen and Joe (as Shopgirl and NYC152) arranged

to meet. Joe showed up with his friend, but then realized that Shopgirl

is Kathleen, so he went in and was a real jerk. 

Gray's Papaya

This is where Kathleen & Joe eat hotdogs

on one of their many social meet-ups.

Ocean Grill

Kathleen & Joe eat on the patio here, discussing

who "NY152" might be.

The 91st Street Garden

Joe and Kathleen stood right in front of this green sign

(you can see it in the movie) and kissed for the first

time. ("Don't cry, Shopgirl.")

Picture Joe and Brinkley walking up on the sidewalk,

from the right side. This is at the very end of the movie,

when Kathleen realizes that Joe is NY152.

(Sadly, we were there in early April, and it was not

nearly as beautiful as it was in the movie!)

This is the storefront of a cheese & antiques shop. It was

used for the front of the Shop Around the Corner. (The

inside was all a set.)

Do you remember in the movie, when Kathleen walks

on one side of this sidewalk, and Joe walks on the other?

Here I am on one side.

And here's Matthew on the other side. (Of course, logistically, they

worked in totally different places of the city and wouldn't

have been walking to work near the same place,

but we'll overlook that.) :)

Sitting on a bench near the above shots.

"I hope your mango's ripe."

Zabar's

"Happy Thanksgiving back."

Well, there you go! Anyone else love this movie?

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 6

Day 6: A picture of you as a baby

Confession: I don't really know how to use my scanner.

But my older brother went through a bout of nostalgia late last year and put up a bunch of old family photos on Facebook.

Michael and Angela Crosby

circa 1978

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 5

Day 5: A song to match your mood today

"I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor (or the 90s version by Cake)

Why, you ask?

It's spring. Spring brings warmer weather, prettier days, and my husband's busy season.

From about mid-Feb through May or June, he's working a lot. If he's not out of town, he's working super late.

Last week, one night he got home at 3:00 a.m. The next night was midnight. The next night he came home to help me with dinner, to "wake up" with a quick run around the neighborhood, then he headed back to work until he crawled into bed just before 5 a.m. (He slept until 9:00 and headed straight back to work.) Have I mentioned how glad I am that I don't have a job???

This week he's gone all week. He flew out to Charlotte today. He'll be there until later tomorrow, when he'll fly to Norfolk. He flies home late Wednesday night. Then early Thursday he will drive to Knoxville. He'll return mid-afternoon, depending on traffic. Early Friday morning he drives to Cumming, GA, and will get home later in the day.

So basically we will share a bed a few nights, but I won't really see him.

This is how several weeks will be until mid-summer. And the weeks when he only has 2-3 meetings, he will be working ridiculously late in order to prepare for those meetings.

But it's not all bad.

By traveling so much, he racks up Delta SkyMiles and Marriott Reward Points, which allows us to earn free flights and hotel stays for the other times of the year.

It's also great later in the year when he doesn't have to work late or travel very much at all.

But in the midst of it, I have to pump up the "I Will Survive."

Because I will. (I just might go kicking and screaming...)

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 4

Day 4: Your parents or siblings

This seems like a straight-forward post, but it has gotten kind of muddy over the past year or so, so I'd like to keep it kind of brief.

My parents divorced last January after almost 40 years of marriage. They have each since remarried, and both seem happy with their new lives.


As far as siblings, I have an older brother, Michael. He married Edie in 2006. Edie already had three kids, and they have since had two of their own. Talk about a full house!

I also have a younger brother, Justin, who is single, though I have no idea why. He is amazing.

I love my family, and am very glad that they all live close!

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 3

Day 3: Your first love

Hmmm...I don't really know how to answer this one. I had many crushes throughout elementary, middle, and high school, but I was a late bloomer. I didn't actually go on a first date or get a boyfriend until I was a senior in high school. It was spring, and it was magical.

But it didn't last long, and it wasn't love.

I had a couple more boyfriends in college. Okay, maybe one? But nothing that was serious or what I would consider "love."

I fell pretty hard for a couple of guy friends, but alas, that was unrequited love, and my heart was broken.

But my first reciprocal love, my first real long-lasting relationship, was with my husband. He is my best friend in the whole world, and I would be absolutely LOST without him.

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 2

Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name

It's pretty self-explanatory. It used to be called "The Amicks," which, I realize, is extremely creative.
Then I changed it to "My Three Sons" after Thomas was born.

Here's a little bit more about each of my sons.

Andrew James Amick was born @ 5:27 p.m. on March 24, 2006. He was five days over his due date. He was 8lbs, 11 oz, 21 in. long.

He wasn't the best baby b/c he was very very fussy about breastfeeding. He has continued to be a picky eater, even at almost six years old.

He is a very smart child; he knew all his ABCs at 21 months and could read well at age four. He likes Kipper the Dog, and often speaks with a British accent. He's not that good at sports, but he loves all things "scary," like pirates or Halloween.

He is doing well in kindergarten, though he sometimes gets in trouble for not paying attention. He is goofy and funny, and he keeps us laughing.

One of the things Matthew and I worry about with Andrew is that he's not the most compassionate person. He isn't mean-spirited, but he's not very loving. He is not one of those sweet older brothers who is sweet and helpful with his siblings; he's more like an only child with two brothers. But he has started to come around some, so we encourage it as much as we can.

Benjamin Matthew Amick was born @ 7:28 a.m. on April 24, 2008. He was born via repeat C-section seven days before his due date. He was 8lbs, 6 oz, and was 20.5 in. long.

This picture, to me, is the epitome of bittersweet. This picture was taken about an hour after he was born. It was also taken a few minutes before my dear OB came in the room and changed my life forever.

Most of you know that Benjamin has Down syndrome. He had open-heart surgery at five months, intestinal surgery at nine months, and has had many out-patient surgeries and procedures. He has a compromised immune system, including his lungs and his intestines.

He is almost four years old but is very much still like a toddler. A non-verbal toddler. I love him with my entire being, but I am still not okay with the Down syndrome. It is hard. It is heartbreaking. It is unfair.

But I know that God is good, and that He does things for a reason, even if we don't always understand them. I trust in His goodness and His wisdom.

He goes to special-ed preschool four mornings a week, and does well at school.

He likes playing with Matchbox cars, plastic rings, and enjoys chucking toys across the room. He often gets frustrated and screams, and we many times have no idea what's wrong with him. He is still in 24m, 2T, and 3T clothing, sleeps in a crib, and will be in diapers for years.

He loves to play with my hair, and loves to watch Elmo and Barney. He loves to be tickled. If you sit down on the floor, he will throw himself into your arms, even if you're not looking. You have been warned. :)

Thomas Alexander Amick was born @ 6:29 a.m. on March 25, 2010. He was born via repeat C-section nine days before his due date. He weighed 9lbs, 7oz, and was 21 in. long. (I birthed a toddler!!)

THOMAS WAS THE PERFECT BABY. In fact, I nicknamed him "TPB." This nickname was true until he turned 13 months old, when he started coming into his personality. He is now a stinker. He has a lot of drug allergies, and already has two sets of tubes due to constant ear infections that could not be healed by antibiotics.

He is not nearly as verbal as Andrew was at this age, but his receptive language blows Benjamin's AWAY. He is my only blonde child. He loves Mickey "DEE!" and Elmo "OHHH!" and Ernie "ERRR!!!" He has a strong personality, and I can tell that we will most likely be turning the girls away at our door, and that we will be visiting the principal's office for him.

I just love, love, love my boys. Part of me is sad not to have a girl, but I love being a boy mom. I cringe at all the drama my friends with girls have to go through, and I am so glad! ;)

30-Day Bloggity Blogness: Day 1

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts

Introduction

My name is Angela. I have been married to my best friend, Matthew, since November 2000. We met in college and were mutual friends for almost a year before we started dating. Our first date was September 24, 1999. We got engaged on February 12, 2000. We got married on November 19, 2000. When you know, you know.

Matthew has worked (in various departments) at Cigna Healthcare since he graduated from college in December 2000. I taught elementary school for seven years directly out of college (1999 to 2006) and am now a stay-at-home mom. We both earned our master's degrees and enjoyed going out to eat, traveling, and sleeping late on Saturdays. We spent five-and-a-half glorious years as a married couple before we started our family. (Why did we used to think life was hard???)

NYC--December 2002

We have three sons: Andrew, Benjamin, and Thomas. (More on them in another post.)

We now spend our time cleaning the house, changing diapers, and traveling. We love to travel. Some people golf. Others go out to eat a lot. Others own a boat and spend time on the lake. We travel. Specifically to Myrtle Beach and to Disney World, but to other locations, too. Sometimes we bring our kids, but other times we are fortunate enough to go alone.

Recent Picture

January 7, 2012

3:45 a.m.

Right before running the Disney Half Marathon 

15 Interesting Facts

1. I once punched a complete stranger in the chest. (Click here to read details.)

2. When I was nine years old, I wore women's size 9 shoes. When I was 10, I wore a 10. And, yes, when I was 11, I wore an 11. (I stopped there, thankfully, though now that I run longer distances, I have to wear size 12 running shoes or my toenails go dead--gross, I know...) So basically, I can wear the same shoes that I wore in the 5th grade.

And the same roller skates.

(Yes, I still have them, and, yes, I can still wear them. But mine are WAY more beat-up and dirtier than this!)

3. I have two brothers and no sisters. My husband has two brothers and no sisters. We have three boys. We are destined to be surrounded by a LOT of testosterone. My only saving grace is our female cat. (Though the male cat kind of cancels her out...)

4. When I was in the 1st grade, I won a reading contest in my class. I read over 1000 books. The prize was that I got to go up in a small airplane and fly around my town for 30 minutes (with a classmate's dad, who was the pilot and owner of said plane). That was circa 1984, and I barely remember it. The next time I ever flew was in 2000 on my honeymoon.

5. That wasn't the only first that took place on my honeymoon. ;)

6. Roughly a year and a half ago, I could not run for 60 seconds without stopping for breath. I also weighed about 30 pounds more than I do now. Last Saturday, I completed my 12th race, 4 of which were half marathons since December. (If you have ever said, "I only run if something is chasing me," that was me. If you are that person but have a desire to be able to run, click here.)

7. My middle son has Down syndrome. More on that later. ;)

8. My birthday is March 14. Which is 3-14. Which is like 3.14. Which is pi. If you don't know what "pi" is, then you must've slept through geometry. Two weeks from today is Pi Day, otherwise known as my 35th birthday.

9. I am an organized person, and I like my days to be very predictable. I am also a grammar nazi.

10. Matthew and I wanted four children until we had three. Three children, especially one with special needs, is PLENTY for us. Part of me is sad that I will never get my Katherine Elizabeth, but 99% of the time, I'm fine with the family that God has given us.

11. I am one of those really annoying pregnant ladies that never gets sick and loves being pregnant. I am also a self-proclaimed poster child for C-sections.

12. I have over 1000 Facebook friends. I am not bragging, only pointing out that most of those people I have never actually met in real life. I met many of them online. There are two kinds of people in this world: People who get that and people who don't.

13. My very first movie to ever see in the theater was Ernest Goes to Camp. It was October 1987.

14. I love cheese and Dr. Pepper. Like borderline-obsessed love cheese and Dr. Pepper. I don't partake of either as much as I'd like, but if I could marry both of them, I would.

15. I also love my minivan. (Again...there are two kinds of people in this world...)

That's all for now! Hope you enjoyed. And if you didn't, why in the heck did you read the whole thing? It's YOUR time; don't waste it!