CPR Training

I have been getting all kinds of health certifications for my new job (watch out Dr. Quinn-Medicine Woman). Earlier this week was CPR training, which consisted of 4 hours of pushing on a dummy’s chest then taking test that covered everything we didn’t learn during the 4 hours of pressing on a dummy’s chest.

The instructor’s favorite part was making people ask the dummy if they were “Ok.” Yes, I know you would do this in real life but asking a plastic half man if he is OK 85 times in front of a room of strangers is awkward.

At one point we practiced with the baby cpr dummy’s.

It was a bit creepy because it reminded me of Olive! This made things scary and weird for me. I felt like I was watching a room of people press on my baby!



The other great part of the class was our workbook. It taught us things like how to perform cpr on MLK jr.



So, next time you are having a heart attack or choking on a chicken bone, give me a call.

Family Pictures and Hives

Remember that really affordable picture place that I told you about HERE? We went back over the weekend. I am still taking Benadryl to recover.

Let me back up for a moment... Do you ever have situations in your life where things just seem so chaotic or theatrical that you swear you must be on an undercover show?

For me, this is a reoccurring saga that I actually enjoy because number one, it makes a great story later... and number two, I like to test the patience of my Glover blood.

Anyway, this picture appointment was that kind of day. The lady who took our pictures was like a character off of a movie. You know, the all obnoxious, all quirky child photographer.

I don't even want to talk about how many times I thought she was going to hit me in the face with her big, blue flower.

By the third pose, I was in hives. My chest was all blotchy, the way it gets when someone talks about Bill Clinton being anything less than the Greatest President of All Time. My elbow was starting to bleed because I was promising Haven pinches for an equal ratio of smiles.

And I totally just realized that I spelled amused with a "z." I'm cringing at myself. My apologies.

Are they not STILL so cute?! We're going to try our luck with the Easter bunny this weekend.

Hello, Tuesday.

I have been awake since 12:30am. I am running on the caffeine in the Excedrin that I took around midnight. I passed out before 7pm with a terrible migraine. Only to be woken up to my little booger playing sweet music on his harmonica. At 12:30am, with my eyes twitching and nausea lurking, I crushed up a few Excedrin and inhaled.

Then I watched all of my shows on DVR, unloaded the dishwasher, cleaned all of the bottles, packed today's bottles, laid out outfits, fed and changed Olive, got little lady dressed, made Haven breakfast, packed my lunch, went to the gym... and was still a half hour early for work.

I'm thinking I'll be crashing come 3pm.

But we have parent teacher conferences for Haven tonight. For a three year old. Oh, Haven is apart of the wrestling probem in the classroom? Well, he is the reigning heavy weight champion at home.

At the last parent teacher conferences, they were just going on and on about how polite he was... and how he is the only kid potty trained... ba ba blah... Then, I look over at him... and he had peed his pants in the corner. :)

Hoping we stay dry today.

In other random Holly Stanfield news...

I am addicted to the Draw Something app. Clearly, I am an undiscovered artist. This is my drawing for my co-worker to guess. That blonde, spunky lady in the picture isn't me. But I covered up her screen name in case any weirdos read this little blog. But if you are interested in dating her, shoot me an email. {Bah!}



Did a little decorating for Easter...



And now I'm on instagram... or I at least have it on my phone. I have no idea how to follow people, comment, browse, or anything. I just noticed that a lot of people had it on facebook.... and Holly Stanfield hates being late to the party. And I hate when people talk in third person. I'm sorry.

A 6th grader gave this to Chris. It kind of makes me a little sad looking at it because Chris accepted a job offer last week. This will be his last week with his students.



Dr. Seuss was onto something... Oh the places you will go...

The new job offer was something he couldn't refuse
Something out of the blue
Something exciting and new!

He will no longer be a teacher
An English preacher
Or sitting on the substitute bleachers!

Like my Dr. Seuss stanza? I'm available for children's parties.

Happy Tuesday!

Olive's Dedication

We had Olive dedicated on Saturday at Chris' family's church back home. Little girlfriend needed her own day in front of the Lord so we could thank Him for the bundle of perfection that is Olive.

Haven on the other hand, took the open church to being his stage for his I-didn't-get-a-nap-today-so-I'm-going-to-karate-chop-everything-and-make-this-pastor-question-his-own-moral-character.



We got to the church about 4pm. Since the church had been closed all afternoon, the air hadn't been running. It was hot.

I gave my five year old nephew, Blaine, a dollar to keep Haven in his pew. In the middle of the dedication, Blaine told me he needed another dollar because Haven doesn't listen.

Blaine is a good business man.



So here we are... in the pews.... heads kneeled... pastor giving the prayer... When out jumps Haven from the pew behind us. He runs up on stage, nose dives off, and then continues to make karate chopping sounds as my five year nephew is trying to enforce the law to earn his money.

While this is all happening, the pastor was in the middle of a prayer about how "Chris and Holly need prayers and guidance..."

Yes, Chris and Holly need a lot of prayers. And booze. And someone who will make a tape to send into Nanny 911.



She enjoyed being held all weekend by family. I don't think she was ever put down, except to sleep. It was a perfect weekend with the Stanfield's! :)

Wednesday Loves & Formula Recall

Linking up with Jamie today. :)

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I changed my schedule at work back to five days a week... but they are shorter days, so I am a happier wife and mom. Or least a more rested wife and mom.

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I sent Chris on a Craigslist find for me. He didn't die, but he didn't talk them down on price either. But, they did have a pretty funny wi-fi network name. My kind of humor.




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Olive is being dedicated on Saturday at Chris' family's church back home. Her and I are going to stroll around town tonight to find her a little pair of shoes for her dress.

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Haven and I put together his first big puzzle last night. I hope Haven is apart of the nerd herd when he is older; meaning I hope he always wants to put together puzzles with me, go to Space Camp together and eat Fig Newtons.



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My perfect forecast.



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And to end this post Debbie-Downer style, there is a formula recall on Gerber Goodstart Gentle {orange can}. I didn't know about this recall, but I noticed Olive spitting up a lot. In the meantime, I switched to a different gentle formula. Then over the weekend, a lady sent me the link about the recall. I also had a can that was made the day after the recalled batch was made. This is the can that was giving her so many problems.

I called the company number and they told me to empty out the recalled can and mail it back for a voucher... and then to send them what's left of my other can that I think is bad. They are sending me another voucher so that they can inspect it. In the meantime, a dietician called to check on Olive. It's a lose-lose situation because this new formula {Enfamil Gentlease} is constipating her. I plan to call her pediatrician this morning.

If you use formula, what kind do you use? I was thinking about trying a soy one since she is having spit-up issues.
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Happy Wednesday, friends!

Family Weekend

Oh Daylight Savings, you're kicking my Monday butt. I'll love you tonight, though.

We had a jam packed weekend.

First, let me start with my happy little girl.

Smiling machine. Chameleon in social scenes. Betty Lou!



Saturday night, Chris' parent's took us to a Blue's game. It was Haven's first hockey game. He was so well behaved and happy. He kept repeating, "Wow... Whoa!" over and over. :)



Sunday, Haven and I made the three hour drive back home to see the family for my sister's baby shower. Noel is due the first week of May with a little girl, Eliana. {Eli & Oli-- awww!!}

Anyway, her husband got drafted to the Houston Astros, or as Haven pronounces it, "the ass-toes." I'm sure Olive and I are going to be making our way to Texas in May. I plan on bossing Noel around and telling her how to raise her kids. Distance knows no boundaries of my controlling. :)

{Bottom Left to Right: Grandmother, Haven, Mom, my sister Noel, my brother Brad, and ma-waa}

Too bad our family cannot take a normal picture. Too bad we're not normal.

And yes, we have the same mom and dad {supposedly}. And I know God didn't give me the beauty, but he gave me the brains... and the wit... and the talent to make the most delicious cheese balls ever created. So I've accepted the fact that I have to drench my skin in sunblock, that I won't look like a Kardashian and that I'll always be the pasty sister.

Happy Monday, friends!

Post Pregnancy Weight Loss: Another 5 lbs Bites the Dust

Two weeks ago, I posted about my ambition to lose my pregnancy weight from Olive. I hate to sound like a Bragger McBraggerson, but every pound I gained with her was worth it because she is the easiest, sweetest baby of all time.

And I hate to sound vain, but I am what I am. I feel better and act nicer when I'm thinner. So checking in with all of you moms that have been there, keeps me accountable.

I also have a workout buddy at work named Merrill. I don't know how old he is, but he has worked here for 30+ years and he recently lost 50lbs. We happen to be at the gym at the same time every day. I make him watch Ellen and while I'm doing my cardio, he tells me the calories in every fast food item.

Anyway, I was stuck at 153.4 for a solid week, not budging an ounce. I decided to switch up my workout and start doing this stair machine at the gym. Oh my word. I could only do level 12 for two minutes the first day, but I've been moving up and now I'm at 15 minutes. It says I only burned 150 calories, but it looks like I just stepped out of the shower when I'm done. And I honestly think that this machine has made all of the difference.

So here I am... Biggest Loser-style.

13 weeks post Olive: 150.2 lbs



And here is a 20lb recap. :)



I can't tell a difference in the last five pounds from the pictures, but I feel a difference. Everything seems to be going back to normal.

The doorbell rang on Sunday. There was a young girl and her mother on our porch. Chris had ordered a few boxes of Girl Scout cookies and they were there to drop them off. Fantastic. I stayed away. But now I am going to Olive Garden on Friday with my work girlfriends and inhaling a few breadsticks as my reward to myself. I saw on pinterest an image saying, "You're not a dog. Don't reward yourself with food." Um.... Guilty!

My goal is just to lose 15 more pounds by Memorial Day. So if you see me eating cookies and buttery breadsticks, come up to me and knock them out of my hand. :)

Also... I only had the guts to post these pictures because of Mama Laughlin. Right now, she is in a contest to be featured in Fitness Magazine because of her weight-loss journey/story. If you have an extra minute today, you should go vote for her.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Baby Name Regret

I read this article a few weeks ago on Yahoo Shine. It struck something in me because I've been thinking about it ever since.

Basically, the article interviews parents who have a little regret about the name they gave one of their children. A few of them I sympathized with; the Jonas one made me feel bad for the 8 year old boy.

I was asking Chris if he regretted what we named Haven. He said no. Then asked me the same question.

And yes, I kind of regret his name.

I had loved the name Haven Clinton for years-- way before I had even met Chris. And I always pictured a husky, little blonde boy with the name Haven. He was such a calm, soft baby-- it always has just fit.



Then Jessica Alba named her newest daughter Haven last year. Now I have a feeling that he will go to school with a few girls named Haven. We call him Glave anyway. I have no idea where that came from; I think it was something off of the Simpsons {Glavin?}. We're a nickname-kind-of-family anyway.

If Olive was a girl, her name would have been Truman. I love Presidential names. It's the raging liberal in me trying to be re-born. Don't worry, she has been silenced for years.

So anyway... It's an interesting Tuesday read, if you have the time.

Happy Tuesday!!

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Pretzels

I know what you're thinking... "Um, Holly... Aren't you suppose to be... ahhh... working out and not popping creamy sugared peanut butter, covered in chocolate into your mouth?"

And yes. You are right. But I only popped in two. Just had to make sure it didn't taste like poison for my game night guests. The little sacrafices we do for our friends...

Anyway, I'm sure everyone and their mother has seen this float around on pinterest. We had people over for board games Friday night and I thought I could whip up something new.

What you'll need:
Bag of mini pretzels
1/2 bag of milk chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups of creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup of powdered sugar
1/3 cup of brown sugar



1. In a bowl, mix the sugars together with the peanut butter. I used a pastry cutter, but a fork would do the job too.

2. Grab a little piece of Heaven out of the bowl, rub it into a little ball and place on top of a mini pretzel.

3. Sandwich all of your mini pretzels and pop them in the freezer for 30 minutes {but not before popping a few in your mouth}.

4. In another bowl, melt chocolate chips in the microwave for about 2 minutes. I added a tablespoon of butter and a splash of water to get the mixture into a dipping texture. With your fingers, dip the pretzel into the thick chocolate goodness.

5. Place freshly dipped pretzels on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Then throw them in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set.

And then finally.... enjoy!!

{They were wonderful and this recipe made at least 4 dozen pretzels}

Fast Fact Friday

Haven has his three year check up today. I'm pretty sure that a few shots are involved. I don't know how other moms handle shots, but I do not handle them well. The worst is when the nurse wants you to hold them down. I can't do it. I just can't. After the shots are over, I always scoop Haven up and call the nurse a mean lady so that he doesn't think I had any say in what she did. Usually the nurses play along. Sometimes they don't. Either way, it will end with some kind of candy and we both forget about it by the time we're home.

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I had my mole removed on Monday. The nurse just gave me a numbing shot around the mole (stiff burn!) and then the doctor just came in and sliced it. He said it looked like a mole that women commonly get on their lower leg from shaving. If you nick yourself just right, a mole will grow in place of a scar. He sent it off just to be sure. His office called yesterday to confirm the biopsy. Chris' new wife hunt ended fast.

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My working out/eating right is still chugging along. I'm pushing myself this weekend so that I have a 5lb update next week.

I didn't eat any of this yummy good stuff at Haven's party. Self control at it's absolute freaking finest.



However, I've been feeling a little blah these last two days. I came home from the gym last night {and with Olive still in her car seat}, I stood at the counter and ate some Chips Ahoy Cookie Monster-style. Like... Get in my belly, I need you to breathe, right now! I counted it as my dinner, so it all balances out, right? Fat girl moment of the week.

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Melinda gave me a blog award. Whohoo!



It's for blogs with less than 200 followers. Thanks, lady. I'll come up with a post soon. :) In the meantime, you should check out her blog. It's colorful and happy, plus she has a cute baby girl, Elena. AND... She started dating her husband in middle school; it's a very cute story.

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Little Olive is just a coo-ing and smiling machine. She is the happiest after bath time. Chris gives her a bath every night. He takes this little plastic bowl and pours warm water over her as if she is in a Swedish shower at the spa. She loves it. :)



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Happy Friday!! :)