Can somebody please kick my a$$?

Sigh. As I watch the fees for personal training deduct themselves from my bank account, I think (yet again), I REALLY should get back to the gym. I was doing great - working out 5x a week, and working with a trainer 4x/month. I lost 18 lbs. blah.blah.blahdefrickinblah. You've heard the story, I need not bore you with the same cliche excuses... but I will:

I have about 1000 excuses. My Ipod's not charged, I can't find my lock, I didn't sleep last night, Axel's too fussy, it's too hot, I have to work later and don't want to wear myself out...really all I'm saying is "I'm a lazy blob, please don't judge me". Aside from all of these excuses, I really don't know why I can't get back into my routine.  I have racked up enough training hours that I could see them 2x a week for the next month, and really get a kick start on my workout again. I just have this HUGE mental hurdle about going. When we moved and I took a few weeks off, I was terrified of the ladies at the gym making comments about how I slacked off. "Don't worry," Jeff said, "No one cares that you haven't been going, except you." LIES. When I dropped Ax off at the KidsKlub, both of the ladies were like "Axel! We haven't seen you in SOOO long!" I lied and told them we were on vacation, because I wasn't strong enough to create a sarcastic, "Yeah, I'm just a lazy piece of crap" comment.

My old personal trainer has either been fired or quit, because I don't see him there anymore, and when I asked, they're like "Oh, Danny left!" like I had been living under a rock, or just haven't been to the gym in 47 years. (Way to boost my confidence! I already know I'm a lazy piece of crap; see above). I'm technically okay with my old trainer being gone, because he was rude and never taught me anything. I had to ask about my form all the time - which, if I'm not mistaken, is an important part of weight training. I tried to sign up with this one lady I always see working people out - she and her customers always look like they're having a good time, so I thought that would be a good start. But when I went to the training desk, the old man sitting there was so rude and told me to sign up online. (Um okay, but I still don't know her name so thanks, guy.)

So, I sit here, desperately wanting to work out, but afraid. I'd work out with a video tape, but I can't overcome the fact that I'm paying so much money, and it'd be pointless to workout at home. If I workout with a friend, it has to be at 8am when I can bring Axel to the KidsKlub - aka babysitting with the most inconvenient hours - or like 9pm after work. Ugh, I'm just so fed up. Help?

"The Honey-do List"

My fiance hates that term. You know, that ever-expanding list of things that are broken around the house and need repair. I feel like our house creates something new every single day. That's right, our house breaks just to spite us. But seriously, there are never enough hours in the day, and not enough air-conditioning in the world to replace the life that the Arizona sun sucks out of you. I feel like I need a "Mommy of the Year" award for just keeping everyone fed, my customers happy, clean clothes on everyone, and not losing my sanity. Forget about organizing the shed, or cleaning out the computer desk...

But every now and again, we get a little burst of motivation from my friends at 5-hour energy, and stuff gets done. Hardcore.

This weekend, despite teaching 5 classes and managing a little one, somehow we have turned into little buzzing bees and have crossed a few things off. For starters - laundry. I don't know how, but every now and again, we rack up like 9 loads of laundry! I think it's mostly bed items/towels/dog beds/rugs, but it's also 10,000 onesies and little shorts, and just as many mismatched socks. Today was a super-productive day. It's only 2pm and I'm over halfway through with washing every article of clothing that exists! *pats myself on the back* Don't laugh, I deserve it. If you saw my house, you'd say I deserve it too...after you picked your jaw up off of the floor.

Secondly, we have a "dog-room". This is where every crate we own is stored, all of the dogs shack up to eat and then go to sleep at night. We also have a mini-closet in there full of boxes that we have yet to unpack from our move. We just bought two new Great-Dane sized crates, and had no where to put them, so something had to be done. So all of the crates were taken outside and disinfected, ALL of the dog-laundry was washed, the closet reorganized and dusted, and some of the boxes unpacked. Whew! Just thinking about this reminds me of how much work it was! Some highlights of the evening: we found a whole box of Axel's toys that had gotten lost in the move, found our missing Netflix DVD (thank goodness, now we can finally rent something else!), I found a new box of tampons (do you know how expensive those things are?! lol), and Jeff found one of his How-To books he'd been looking everywhere for :) And to think, this never would've started if I hadn't dropped a box on myself the other day, or if I hadn't stubbed my toe on the crates folded up in the hallway :)

Jeff is currently installing a doggie door for Ava and Carl to enjoy, and he's doing an excellent job! It's currently a huge mess, but soon the doggies will get to spend time in the back yard whenever they please. Knowing my dogs, my German Shepherd will be out there 24/7, and I will have to call her in to see if she's still alive, and my Lab will say (pardon my language) "Fuck that, it's hot out there!" and spend his days exactly like he does now, curled up on a dog bed, enjoying the AC.

Other than that, our porch has been cleaned off, the chicken coop repaired and moved onto the porch with the misting system (more shade, because again, it's hot out there!), the garden has been dug up and more cantaloupes planted, and I'm about ready to call it a day and take a siesta.

In other news - Jeffrey just returned home with an Oreo Jamocha shake from Arby's - and it is AMAZING. That is all.

Thanks for reading! Hopefully this will inspire you to go clean out your medicine cabinet or something. Or to go buy a Jamocha shake. Look Arby's, free advertising. You're welcome.

Dear LA Fitness...

I normally don't bash companies, but I'm actually very upset with LA Fitness right now. After Axel was born, I signed up for the gym because they had what seemed to be the best day care and were right by my house. I even got suckered into paying for personal training, but at the time, it was okay, because the person who signed me up taught me a lot and I was super motivated to work out! All was great, I was going 5x/week, and I ended up losing 18bs. Go me!  But then we moved - not super far, just a mile north, so I still was going to go to my same gym. But the move caused me to get out of my 5x/week routine. Also, the personal trainer that I got stuck with wasn't actually the same guy that signed me up, but rather some kid who basically got paid to watch me to do situps and text on his phone. Whatever. What REALLY upsets me is their bogus KidsKlub.  The ladies that work there are amazing. They know Axel by name, and he always is super excited to go hang out with them. The problem is that if he cries or fusses in the slightest, I get called to pick him up, and there goes my workout. Now, previously, when Axel woke up at 7am it was just enough time to get him fed, me dressed, and us out the door to be there right at 8. Now, he wakes up anywhere from 5am-630, usually on the earlier side, but the daycare doesn't open till 8. So I'm stuck either waiting to shower and feeling disgusting, or showering twice in one day. Also, since he wakes up so early, if I don't get there RIGHT at 8, he's too tired to allow me to have a 1 hour workout. 

Now the wise choice would be to have a relaxed morning, give him his nap and go afterward, right? WRONG. The daycare is closed from 12pm-4pm. What the hell? Axel wakes up from his nap around noon, and I usually work in the evenings, so there goes that idea.

How is a Mom supposed to fit the gym in if she only has one option of when to go? I would LOVE to go at 6am before it gets hot and humid, get the gym out of the way, and then have the rest of the day to buzz off of the gym-high. Maybe I'll have to start waking up at 4am so I can work out, get home and shower before the little one wakes up. Yeah, like that's going to happen...

I really liked LA Fitness too :(

I love my little monkey...

But he is just too darn smart! I know every mother says this about her child, and as much as I praise his intelligence, I often find it's a hassle to try to keep up! No wonder my mother got me into reading before kindergarten - so she could plop me on the couch with a book and have some peace and quiet for a few moments. 

I don't buy Axel toys anymore. He figures them out in the cart, and by the time we get home, that toy is old news. No, Axel wants to help Mommy. (Which will be awesome once he becomes more efficient)  Today, I found him "watering the dogs".  I have a watering can with a slender nozzle that I use to fill up all of the pups' water bowls in their crates - major time saver! Axel saw me doing this once, and decided he should help, and of course water was everywhere. He had a good time, and the doggies enjoyed watching him splash around, so no harm there. He also likes to help me unload the dishwasher.. but while I'm trying to load it with dirty dishes. Yesterday, he accidentally broke Daddy's favorite cup, but the look of terror on his face when it shattered was more than enough of a "Sorry" for me :) I've taught him to load up the laundry hamper and push it to the back door so we can wash the clothes, he just needs to grow taller so he can load them for me too :) hehe! 

What other jobs can I keep this bizzy bee interested in?

Hi there! Nice to meet you!

Let me welcome you into my little world of madness. You will find that you either fit in quite nicely, or you will want to run for the hills, ripping your hair out as you scream for help; either way, once you enter, there's no going back. You have been warned ;) 

Let's start with a little about me. My name is Leah, I'm currently 22 years old, engaged to a wonderful man named Jeffrey, and mother to a 1 year old little monster named Axel. (He's technically 15 1/2 months, but after a year, who really cares? I actually had to count on the calendar the months since his birthday.) Oh, and I'm the owner/operator/head trainer/person who does everything for my business.  I've been a dog trainer for 6+ years now, and decided to work for myself about 3 years ago. I love it, it's challenging, it's rewarding, and every day is something new. That being said, the business aspect of it is emotionally draining, tedious, exhausting, and above all, takes time away from my little one, the reason I'm working in the first place.  

My uncle once said to me about a year ago, "So you work full time, but you're also a full time stay at home mom?!" Yup, that's pretty much me. Wake up (way too early), make the baby some breakfast, inject coffee directly into my bloodstream, walk the dogs (and by dogs I mean my own personal two, and whatever client's dogs happen to be sharing my home with me at the time), feed the dogs, feed/water the chickens (oh yeah, we have chickens too! haha), advertise online, answer emails, clean up whatever mess the baby has made, change the world's smelliest diaper, answer the phone 10 times, run errands, train doggies, clean up whatever the baby has currently broken, thank God that Jeffrey has returned home, leave home to go teach class, come home, make dinner, walk/feed doggies again, clean up, collapse in bed in a coma-like-state. 

Note things that were not mentioned: time to pee, breathe, shave legs, apply makeup... etc. 

When we got pregnant, visions of being a stay at home mom, keeping a tidy house, well balanced meals on the table, and home schooling the kids fluttered around in my head. Unfortunately, like many others in this day and age, the economy has forced us into having a second income, and has stolen my sanity. Most working mothers drop their children off at day-care or with Grandma, work their 8 hours, then come home to their families. I'm fortunate enough to be able to spend my time with him, but finding the balance is something I'm still struggling with. Please join me on this journey, and maybe we can shed some tears together, laugh at the day's epic sitcom-worthy story, or just get lost in a 5-hour Energy-induced rant. :) Hope you enjoy the ride!