I’m not sure why, but I’m really excited about having a long weekend this weekend. Perhaps that’s because the weather here is supposed to be beautiful… Perhaps it’s because both Dana and I have been working extra hard these last few weeks… I’m not sure. What I do know is that I can’t wait to leave at 3:45 and relax for the weekend.

Not that there will be much relaxing. With my cousin Lisa’s wedding tomorrow, we really only have Sunday and Monday to ourselves, and I think we are heading over to Grandma and Grandpa A’s one day for burgers… But it will still be nice and relaxing.

Hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend!

Dana and I started our “spring cleaning” over the weekend, and let me tell you what a monumental task it was. We moved in about a year ago, and we haven’t really had the time to do a good solid cleaning. Not to say that we don’t vacuum or do the floors on a regular basis, but the idea of wiping down walls and washing baseboards and such never really entered our mind.

So we started cleaning Friday before we saw The Da Vinci Code (which, by the way, is an excellent movie and a must-see in my book). We got about as far as the great room, but that included rearranging the couches so that we have more space. Since the movie was about 2 and a half hours, we pretty much came home and went to sleep.

Saturday, we went and picked Deuce up from Grandma and Grandpa A at Panera Bread. On the way home, he decided he’d like to nap and promptly fell asleep in the car. So we put him on his bed and I started cleaning the kitchen while Dana ran out for some groceries. When she got back, we finished cleaning the kitchen and the half bath downstairs. Dana also got the bug in her ear that she wanted to paint the half bath.

Now, when we painted last year, we bought 8 gallons of paint in various colors. We had planned on using the same pale blue from Deuce’s room for the downstairs bath, and Dana has been purchasing or receiving various beach theme decorations for the room. On Sunday, while Deuce slept, I took the tank off of the toilet, and Dana started painting while I ran out for more groceries… (Yea, we were at the store a lot this weekend. It’s a long and boring tale).

Just as I got home, Deuce woke up from his nap. So Dana took a break to hang out with him and I finished the second coat of paint in the bathroom. All in all, it was a pretty easy job, but once we hung up all the decorations, it definitely became a different room. She did, however, pick out a color for the hallways. I’m not looking forward to that paint job, as some of the walls are easily 12-15 ft tall (the stairs have a vaulted ceiling from the first to second floors.

Yea, the trick is getting him to shut up
So, he’s not exactly reading “Great Expectations,” but Deuce is really starting to put words together an express himself. Its really amazing to experience. Initially, it’s all about imitation, but he’s starting to say things “out of the blue,” and that’s exciting. A favorite of mine and Dana’s is he’s response to “Where is insert object here.” His answer is “There you are” (although, phonetically spelled, it’s more like “dare ou r.”

Besides talking his head off, he’s starting to get used to his new day care. While they’ve said he’s always been good for them, he always cried when Dana dropped him off. While he’s still doing that a little bit, he’s starting to stop earlier (like, even before Dana leaves). Tonight, he’s sleeping of Grandma and Grandpa A’s house, leaving Dana and I free to see “The Da Vinci Code.” I’m actually a bit excited.

Someone obviously cranked up the dial on this year’s clock. It really only seems like yesterday that it was Easter Sunday… That was about a month ago. Dana and I are planning for Deuce’s second birthday and vacation already. Before I know it, this year will be half over.

I’ve noticed that, as of late, this area has become our weight loss journal. While I would apologize for that, it is a pretty big part of mine and Dana’s current focus, so it tends to leak into my writing. So I’ll try to keep the weight stuff to a minimum.

Deuce is really starting to build his vocabulary. Although his pronunciation is stil shaky, he’s definitley picking up new words and phrases. He absolutely loves to watch Spongebob Squarepants, and even sings certain parts of the theme song to the best of his ability. He’s also doing very well at his new school/day care. They do some teaching in the mornings like a normal preschool, and he seems to be having a lot of fun there.

Don’t forget, Mother’s Day is this weekend. Get Mom something nice!

We started the South Beach Diet a little more than 9 weeks ago, and I’m very happy to report that Dana and I have lost a combined weight of 58 lbs. We are averaging about 2 to 4 lbs per week, but it’s very consistent. Grandpa G has lost 40 lbs in 8 weeks, and he’s feeling a lot better in regards to his sugar levels and blood pressure.

I have to say that, for Dana and I, this is more about changing our lifestyle and eating habits than anything else. Just because we’ve been on the diet for two months doesn’t mean we haven’t endulged a few times, but nowhere near the levels that we used to eat. A small piece of chocolate or a bite of a chicken nugget have not derailed our progress in the least. I think that’s the nicest thing about this program… I really feel as though I can eat like this for the rest of my life.

My ankle is gradually getting better. Achilles tendonitis pretty much stinks, simply because it takes a very long time to heal, and requires a lot of attention. I had a physical therapy treatment yesterday, and it really seemed to help with some of the swelling and pain. Hopefully I’ll be able to make the golf course in the next month or so.

In unrelated news, Deuce is talking up a storm, and even starting to sing. Dana and I were coming home from Giant Eagle the other day, and he was in back, babbling in what sounded like full sentences. Dana was sitting in the back with him and noticed he was doing some hand motions with it as well. It took us a bit, but we figured out that he was singing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” and making little hand jestures. I assume he learned that at school.

I got some good pictures of him while he was watching Spongebob Squarepants. I’ll post them as soon as I download them off of the camera.