I GOT IT!!!

Oh I am so darn thrilled! I have had the best Christmas, I am truly blessed. My mom finally took my hints (since the DH flat out refused to get it) and got me Wii Fit! YAY!!!

I got on my sister's last night and did my "Wii Age," yeah well that wasn't pretty (42!!!). It was right after a big dinner and also after Christmas Day where we ate like pigs at home! So I am hoping it will be better once I do it at my house. BFF Superjayman is in town so I hope to do it early this week. Although, her being here means eating out a lot. I NEED a day or 2 of eating well so I am making a plan for the days we will be eating out.

I didn't see 169 by Christmas but I saw 171.2 so that still makes me happy. I WILL see 169 by the end of January! After that my next goal is 166--pre-pregnancy weight! WOO HOO!!! I want to be 159 by Zac's first birthday--so I have less than 4 months at this point. YOWZA!!! I can do it though...I can.

I'm outta here for now. I'm not on my laptop so I can't post pictures but I will once I get home. I have 15# pictures to post!! :)

Merry Christmas!!!

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday!!!

Enjoy your family...not only at Christmas time but the whole year through--the time goes by so fast.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

P.S. I am posting this from my brand new lap top that DH got me for Christmas! So now I should be able to post more often! AND...I can post pictures from here too! SO no more waiting on DH to get up from the home PC so I can sit down. YAY!!!

Note to self...

STOP IT!

Okay, you didn't have a spectacular eating weekend, so what? Is that any reason for it to carry over into Monday? NO!

Did you really need that burrito at Taco Bell on Saturday night? NO! You went there b/c mom was hungry...you had eaten dinner and you were still satisfied even though it had been 4+ hours (it was after midnight anyway). You don't eat that close to bedtime, EVER!

You started off today well, but it's ended up like crap! Did you need either one of those Schwan's Mini Mint Andes Loaves? NO!

Now...let's re-focus here. Let's think about it. You've lost 15# and 15 inches. That's AWESOME!!! Get out of this funk and get back on it! You wanted to see 169 by Christmas--you saw 171.4 this past week--you're SO close! Get back on it and move on! You know if you don't straighten up now, you'll throw away the rest of the month and you do NOT want to do that! So what if you are planning to do your holiday baking this next weekend. So what if you are planning to make Monkey Bread for the family Christmas morning. So what if you will be traveling after Christmas. AND...AND...SO WHAT if BFF Superjayman is coming for a visit after Christmas. NONE of that is an excuse to throw it all away and start again in January! NONE of it!!!

GET OUT OF THIS FUNK AND MOVE ON!!! Up your water, give up the carbs and bad stuff, and get in some exercise and you might actually be able to salvage a loss for this week. Maybe...just maybe!

169 here I come!

Okay...I feel better now. :)

WI day and surgery update

I had WI this morning and I am seeing numbers on the scale I haven't seen since I got pregnant with DS2! I saw 171.4 this afternoon. That gives me a 1.8# loss for this week! I think that's 4 or 5 weeks in a row of losses! WOO HOO!!! I am LOVING my new trainer too, BTW. He is so much better than the first one I had. I feel like I wasted the first 8 weeks or so with him but oh well. My new one (Kyle) is awesome. Even last week when I was sick as a dog, he still worked me out but not horribly. On his scales I stayed the same but I also lost 4# on his scales last week and I didn't do that on my sclaes. I go by my scales for my losses. This week's loss also puts me over the 15# mark, so I hope to get DH to take a picture this weekend and I'll get it posted ASAP.

DS2 had his ear surgery this mornng and all went well! He was his usual playful self this afternoon. I know this was the best thing for him but it was still a very hard morning on mommy! But we made it through and I hope (PRAY) he can be healthy after this. He's breastfed--aren't those babies supposed to be the healthy ones?!? DS1 had tubes put in as well, but he was about 3 months older than Zac is now. Zac turned on the charm at the surgery center this morning. He had all the nurses cooing over him. :)

That's all from me for now. I'm outta here and headed to bed! Have a great OP day!!! I'm going shopping with a friend tomorrow--YAY!!!

People are noticing...

People are actually noticing and commenting on my weight loss!

Do you have any idea how good this feels?

It feels AWESOME!!! Even before I got pregnant with DS2, I was losing, but no one was noticing. I don't do it for other people but man it feels good when they notice! It sure helps me put a swing in my step, that's for sure!!!

Seriously...I think the last time people noticed and commented was when I started this journey 6 (yes, that's right SIX) years ago. That's a long darn time! I made it down to 145 back then and got to lifetime with WW and then I got pregnant with DS1. I lost 45# that go round, and gained 55 when I was pregnant with him. Actually, if you want to get real technical I went from 145 up to 205, but the day I found out I was pregnant with him I weighed 150. I've never seen the 140s since then. But I will this time. I know I can do this and I know I WILL do this!!! I got down to 150.5 shortly after DS1 turned 1, then a bunch of stuff went on in my life (all good but very stressful at the time) and I never got back to that number before DS2 came along. I have now decided I am done having kids (we'll talk about it again when DS2 is 2 but for now, I am DONE!) and I want my body back. I want to look good. I want to run with my kids and play with them and take them swimming and feel good about doing all of it. I WILL do it this time--ALL THE WAY. My goal is 140#. I didn't weigh myself this morning b/c I forgot but I will tomorrow but things have been going well. I am just so psyched right now. I have this awesome feeling of accomplishment. And I feel so driven. It's an awesome feeling. And those compliments from other people sure do help!!!

I have to scoot for now...gotta get to bed. I have a LONG day tomorrow. I'll post WI results on Thursday!

You won't believe this--I don't!

I am still in shock. Total, utter, complete shock.

About what?

Saturday morning I get up and decide I need to take my measurements. I hadn't done it since before we left for vacation back in September. My weight has dropped a total of 14.6# since I started in July. But here's the kicker--I've lost....are you ready for this??? Ready???

9.25 inches overall since SEPTEMBER!!!!

How is that even possible??? HOW???? I know I'm working out with the trainer but it just doesn't seem possible! WOW!!!!! I did the calculations three times b/c I didn't believe it. I don't measure that many places (at least I don't think). Waist (sucked in and not sucked in--got that from Dr. Oz), bust, right and left thighs, hips, right and left upper arms. I don't think that's too many measurements, do you??

To say that I am thrilled is an understatement. I have been floating on air since Saturday morning. The era (is that even the correct spelling?!) around me has been so different. I feel so much better, so thin, so in control! It's an AMAZING feeling!

In other news, I was sick as a dog this past week. I spent all day Tuesday in bed. Wednesday was better but still not 100%. My trainer told me not to gain after Thanksgiving and I didn't! I actually lost 4# but I also hadn't eaten much for 2 days. Although I have become an every day weigher and I was already on my way down from the holiday. I'm hovering right around 173 on my scales. I would LOVE to see 169 by Christmas.

DS2 has been sick again too with another ear infection. I took him to the ENT on Monday and he is getting tubes in his ears this Thursday the 11th. I would appreciate any and all good thoughts/prayers you could offer up for me and DS2 this Thursday.

Once I hit the official 15# mark, I will post some pictures. I have actually dropped shirt sizes and pants too. It's unreal to me right now but I LOVE it!!!

That's all from me for tonight. Have a great OP week! :)

I want that scale...I mean platform!

What an AWESOME idea!!! I want one!!!

I entered the Mary Lou's Weigh Platform Giveaway!

Check out Roni’s Weight Loss Blog for more information.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful day! The weather here is beautiful and I am about to head out for a walk with the hubby after a very indulgent Thanksgiving meal with DH family. It's almost 60 degrees here today!! WOO HOO!!!

I wanted to make a quick post of what I am thankful for on this wonderful day.

*My wonderful new family of 4. It is still surreal for me to have 2 kids. I love those boys with all my heart and I am so thankful to be their mommy...and of course a wife to DH. :)

*My family--mom, dad, sisters, brothers, grandmas--everyone. I love them all!

*My life--Life is good and I am darn thankful that I can enjoy it.


In other news...since this is a weight loss blog. I saw a new number on my scale Wednesday morning--175.2. WOOT! That means I have lost 13.something. I had to take a measurement of my waist for my health assessment for work the other day and I have lost 3 inches off my waist since September! I didn't figure up what it was total, but 3 inches since September is AWESOME!!!

And to share a NSV...my MOM mentioned my weight loss to me. MY MOM! This is HUGE!!! She never says anything about my weight...well anything in a good nature anyway and she mentioned it to me twice already! She can tell I'm losing and I've lost since she saw me last (a month ago) and that I look better. You have NO IDEA how that made me feel! Coming from my mom, this is HUGE!!!

Okay, that's it for me for now. I hope to get another post up soon. I need to post a picture of the baby--who is now 7 months old! Crazy!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! Enjoy your time with your family. They are so very precious.

13 Days and counting...

Well, I did it. I am actually doing it.

What you may ask??

Well, I GAVE UP diet coke, actually all diet sodas. Yep, you read that right, GAVE IT UP!

I had ran out of diet coke but I still had a cube of diet mountain dew and none of it was on sale anywhere (I only buy it if it's on sale) so I thought it would be a good time. So I drank that last diet mt dew and decided November 1 would be the day! So what did I do on Halloween? I had THREE diet cokes! I NEVER do that but darn it, I was going to enjoy it that last day.

Do I miss it? Sometimes. The hardest time has been lunch b/c I ALWAYS had one at lunch time--ALWAYS. I had started ordering water when we would go out just b/c sodas had gotten so expensive. I do order tea at certain places (especially Panera--LOVE their tea) but it's unsweetened. I aim for 160 ounces of water a day and I am having NO problem getting that in now...I usually get more.

Have I had withdrawal? Not really. I didn't have the caffeine headaches like I thought I would. I was smart enough to start this on a Saturday so I was busy and was able to get my Starbuck's fix as well. :)

I have had this dull ache at the base of my skull on the left side for over a week now. I learned from my massage therapist yesterday that it is probably aspartame/sacchrin withdrawl. I had never heard of such a thing but it makes sense.

As far as eating and my diet....well I lost 3# at my weigh in on October 30th. I gained 2# the next week (11/6) and this week I am still the same as last week. I think the last time I blogged about exercise I was aiming for 4 days on the elliptical that week and I got it! BUT...I haven't been on there since. :( Yes, there are excuses but the main one is I have been SO EXHAUSTED!!! DS2 hasn't been sleeping through the night and DS1 has had strep throat (DH also had it). Along with that, I have been working a lot of nights b/c everyone has been sick and I've made a lot of trips to the pediatrician. This week has been better with not a lot of work at night but I've still been so darn tired. I have no idea what's going on there.

BUT...this week will be different. I am making a promise to myself that I will get on that elliptical Friday, Saturday, Sunday and one more night before my WI next Thursday. I will plan my meals, I will eat all my fruit (vegetables haven't been a problem), and I will be better about portion control. I haven't been eating bad...it's just my portion control is out of control. I've been making a big huge pot of vegetable soup every week and that's been my saving grace for lunches and it's so darn good and very good for you! :) I really want to see 174 by Thanksgiving(I was 178.8 today and 176.6 on October 30) if not lower. I CAN DO IT!!!

Okay, I think that's it from me. I NEED to blog more...I WANT to blog more. I will make that time if I can get DH to give me room at the computer (gosh, I need a laptop). I hope you will see more of me blogging...but less of the actual me! :)

So proud...

DISCLAIMER: This is not a political blog nor am I really strong political person but I do have my opinions and this is my blog! :)



WOO HOOOOOOOO!!!!

I am so proud of our country right now. I am so proud that we voted for CHANGE!!! For the first time, I actually feel like my vote counted. I stood in line for an hour with 2 kids and cast my vote and it counted!!! And for the first time in 46 years, Indiana went Democrat! YEAH!!!

I loved Oprah's quote "Hope Won." LOVE it!!!

Okay, that's all for now.... Off my soapbox.

The best laid plans..

What is it they say about the best laid plans?

Seriously, I don't know. But I do know that last week my plans didn't mean squat!

Everything was fine until Wednesday morning. I had had it with no sleep b/c of DS2 so I called the pediatrician. We were JUST there the Friday before (10/17) and his ears were clear. Were they on Wednesday? NOPE. Full of pus. So we left there with antibiotic #3 for this infection. ARGH!!! Thank god he started sleeping better immediately. But, b/c I was gone most of the day with him I didn't get to work much during the day. So I had to work at night. I hate working at night! But I am very thankful that I have the job that I do and that I have a very understanding boss. So needless to say I didn't get to do what I wanted to do last week.

On Thursday, I had my first workout with my new trainer. He was pretty good!! I left there excited to be working with him. He didn't weigh me (thank god) but he will this week. I didn't know I was a stress eater but last week I found myself stress eating. The scale is moving back down, so that is a good thing.

On Saturday I went downstairs and got on the elliptical! I'm no where near where I used to be, but I am starting out slow. So I did 10 minutes (I know, not much) but they were 10 HARD minutes! I hope to increase it a little every week and be back up to 30 minutes 3-4 times a week. I am going to try to get on there Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week. It will be tough as the first part of my week looks to be a tad hectic, but it's only 10 minutes! I just loaded my iPod with all of Roni's Ask Roni sessions so I have plenty to listen to while I am chugging away down there. I love that elliptical b/c I just put my ipod in the docking station and it plays through the speakers in the elliptical! How cool!!! :)

Okay, better get back to it. I have a lot to acocmplish before I go to bed tonight! A mother's work is never done. Have a great OP day!!!

Happy Birthday!

to ME!!!!

I am 30 today.

HOLY COW!

I can't believe I have left my 20s behind. It was such a great decade. Here's to an even better decade! There are things I want to accomplish this decade and I truly do think they will get accomoplished. DH and I have big plans for the next few years. I personally have big plans. I am looking forward to my 30s! Here's to being 30!

WOO HOO!!!! :)

Do I have any readers left?

Oh, I am such a bad blogger! Has it really been a month since I posted last?!? Oh my.... A lot has happened! Here's a quick run down:

• We went on vacation. It was okay, a definite learning experience, kids were good and DS1 had a BLAST!
• Came back from vacay, swamped at work, life happens, got put on mandatory OT at work for 2 very long weeks.
• The entire month of September (except the week we were gone, thank god) someone in this house was sick. We've had about 2 heatlhy weeks and now the baby is congested again.
• I've been reading everyone's blog, just not commenting. I haven't had time! I am so very sorry, I really do apologize. I've just been swamped!
• I'm still seeing the trainer, but my cutie quit and went to be a fireman. So now I have a new trainer (who is cuter I think!) and my first session with him is on Thursday.
• As of this past Friday, I am officially seeing the 170s every time I step on the scale! WOO HOO!!! Last Friday it was 178.3. Anything below 178 is something I haven't seen in over a year.
• Ds2 will be SIX MONTHS old on Friday!!! 6 months!!! That's insane!!!
• I will be 30 on Tuesday! HOLY COW!!!! I don't think I am having any issues with turning 30, it really doesn't bother me...at least not now.

Okay, I think that about sums it up. Believe it or not, I did write out a post vacation post, but I never finished it so it never got posted. I do want to report a vacation NSV--#1--I ordered GRILLED grouper on vacation! I have never tried it and it was AWESOME! #2--I came back from vacay and only gained 2#. That's the best I've ever done on vacation! #3--I had zero alcoholic drinks on vacation, which is huge for me! I usually have a couple of margaritas, but not this year. Partly b/c I'm nursing, partly b/c I never had the opportunity. As far as vacation being a learning experience, we will NEVER drive for vacation ever again! The boys did awesome I can't complain about that, but DH and I hated the driving part of it. I never drove b/c I sat in the back and popped a boob in the baby's mouth if he got too fussy. Nice visual, huh? LOL!!!

With that, I leave you with this video I shot of the boys on 10/4. :) Enjoy! I promise to post more. I am going to try really hard! I've been working a lot of nights lately and I am trying to stop doing that so maybe this week I'll actually have some time in the evenings...especially since DS2 has been going to be around 630 and we've had DS2 in bed by 730 lately. :) Okay...the video. :) That is my sister in the video talking in case you were wondering.

100 Facts About Me

I saw this in a few other blogs that I read and thought it was interesting so I thought I would try it out for myself.

1. I've had my tonsils out--twice. Once in the 4th grade and again in 2006.

2. I kept the tonsils I had taken on in the 4th grade. Back then they let you keep that stuff, they don't anymore.

3. I've had multiple ear surgeries. Too many to count--3 major ones and at least 5 sets of tubes and I have a tube in each ear right now.

4. Because of the ear surgeries, I have permanent hearing loss and I now wear a hearing aid.

5. I will be 30 in October.

6. My first job was at Burger King.

7. I met DH at my first job--he was my manager.

8. I hated him when I first met him.

9. He wasn't too fond of me either.

10. We dated for 6 months before he moved away, then the rest of the time we dated we never lived in the same zip code until we got married.

11. We dated for 4.5 years before we got married.

12. We were engaged twice.

13. The first time was at my high school graduation party. WHAT were we thinking?!?

14. The 2nd time I was getting ready to start my last year of college.

15. I went to 3 proms.

16. DH went with me to 2 of them.

17. I went as a Sophomore with a friend of mine--had more fun at that prom than I did at the ones DH went with me to. Definitely more fun to go with a friend. :)

18. I've only had 3 real jobs in my life (not counting work study type jobs I had in college b/c they always ended when the semester ended)--Burger King, a local grocery store, and my current job. I don't like to job hop.

19. I've been at my current job for 8 years.

20. I'm doing what I always said I wanted to do.

21. I don't know that my job is my dream job, but I like it and it's good for me for this stage of my life.

22. I love to take naps.

23. I am NOT a morning person.

24. Over the past few months, I have developed an addiction to mochas. I have to have one about once a week...sometimes more.

25. My first love broke up with me b/c I would not have sex with him--I was barely 16 when we broke up.

26. I am a loyal friend. If you tell me not to say something or repeat something, I won't.

27. I don't have too many friends, but the ones I do have I have had for a long time.

28. I wish I had more close friends.

29. I am a good listener or at least I try to be. If you ask for my opinion, you will get it.

30. My favorite time of year is spring and fall. I love them both equally.

31. I always wanted to be a mom.

32. When I had my first, I couldn't wait to have another one.

33. Now that I have 2, I want 3. :)

34. Three will be it for me. I can't handle 4.

35. I am the oldest of 4 kids.

36. I have 2 sisters and a brother.

37. I am very close to my sisters.

38. My baby sister is 20...so we are almost 10 years apart.

39. My other sister is 26 and we NEVER got along until SHE moved out of the house (I was already married when this happened).

40. I love my brother, but he's a boy and he's young (23) and stupid. :)

41. I am a daddy's girl.

42. I'm also very close to my mom.

43. I am a family oriented person. I love my family and love spending time with them.

44. I am very close to my grandmothers--both of them and they are both still alive.

45. I have been very blessed in my adult life, but we (Dh and I) have also worked VERY hard to get where we are today.

46. I never got to go on family vacations as a kid. I can remember 1 when I was 15. There were 4 of us...my parents couldn't afford to do a vacation every year.

47. This is reason #1 why we bought a time share--it FORCES us to go on vacation every year with our kids. I want my kids to have those memories.

48. I love to pamper myself, but I don't get to do it often enough.

49. In middle school, I always wanted glasses AND braces. I always thought blonde girls with glasses and braces were so pretty. I finally got the glasses, but never the braces.

50. I had LASIK done a few years ago to get rid of the glasses.

51. I didn't have my first cavity until I was 21.

52. I've only had 2 cavities total.

53. My first car was a 1979 Mazda GLC. The body of it had holes in it where it had rustsed out and it didn't have a muffler or very good heat. I didn't care--I just wanted to drive and get me from point A to point B. It did!

54. I know exactly when I got fat as a young girl.

54. It was the summer between my 7th and 8th grade years. I remember sitting all summer and eating potato chips like mad.

55. When I started high school, I went BOY CRAZY!!!!

56. I had so many "loves" that first semester it wasn't even funny. But none of them would date me and I thought it was b/c I was fat.

57. I may have had a slight eating disorder after that. I dropped a ton of weight very quickly and then BOOM--got a boyfriend.

58. I love to plan things--especially baby showers and bridal showers.

59. I played volleyball in high school. I didn't get to play very much but I loved it.

60. I got made fun of in college b/c all I did was study and go to bed early. I had a hard time with some of my classes that required a lot of study time.

61. I hated Anatomy and Physiology in college.

62. I would love to go back and take it again just so I could learn it better.

63. I loved my Medical Terminology class.

64. I did not party in college.

65. I rarely drank in college.

66. I went to a 2 year school and actually made it out of there in 2 years...most people take at least 3--some were on the 4 year plan--at a 2 year school!!!

67. I went to college for a year at another college before I started the 2 year school. :) I wanted to get out of school and get my life started!

68. I LOVED to babysit as a teenager. I babysat for so many families at our church.

69. My parents forced me to church every Sunday as a kid/teen. I swore I'd never do that to my kids...probably the main reason I don't go now.

70. I still believe...I just don't go to church every Sunday.

71. I found out I was pregnant with DS1 on August 28...he was born April 28. DS2 I found out August 26...he was born April 24. DH birthday is September 24, mine is October 21. Our anniversary is June 24. Notice a pattern here? All in the 20s. Funny how life works.

72. I love numbers!

73. 3 is my favorite number.

74. I love the water. I love to swim (pools only though), love to go boating (although it's been years since I've been) love to be on or in the water in the summertime.

75. I've been to Cancun 4 times.

76. We may go back next year, but definitely for our 10 year anniversary.

77. I want to re-new our vows at the 10 year mark. I think it's a huge milestone and needs to be celebrated.

78. If we ever do re-new our vows, I am going to write my own.

79. My dream vacation is Australia.

80. I have a goal to visit all 50 states before I die.

81. I want to go to Rome and Paris.

82. I LOVE football! GO COLTS!!!!

83. I love to bake. Christmas time is my favorite time for baking. I've even got DS1 hooked on making cookies for Santa. :)

84. My favorite color is RED.

85. I am a huge sap. If I see someone else crying, I automatically start crying.

86. I love the smell of gasoline.

87. I hate bugs.

88. I am a city girl--love the city, grew up in the country and hated it!

89. I've had sex on a 4-wheeler. ♥ There are a few advantages to living in the country.

90. I THINK my dream job is an event planner (see # 58), but I may never get to do that, but I would love to at least try it out...someday....

91. I am not a creative person. I WANT to be, I'm just not. I don't have the creative juices flowing through my veins, thus the reason I may never get to do the event planning type job.

92. I am really shocked that I am still nursing DS2. I NEVER in my wildest dreams thought I would last this long. It's very surreal to me.

93. I have the birth of both of my children on video. We're talking the full money shot and all. I wanted it that way...with DS1 I have gone back and watched it every year on his birthday. It totally takes me back to that time and place and I can remember every single detail. Vividly. I will do the same with DS2.

94. I have a memory like you wouldn't believe. I can remember dates, times, and names like nothing else. It's amazing. I can practically memorize a calendar too. It's very odd. DH says I fill my brain with useless information, but I have no idea how to NOT do it.

95. I love shoes.

96. I have a bag obsession as well. I love bags--purses, diaper bags, back packs--you name it!

97. I love bling bling. Dh upgraded my wedding ring at our 5 year anniversary to a 2 carat total weight 3 diamond ring (one of those past, present, future rings) and I love it, but now I want a 3 karat center stone. He thinks I'm crazy (I am, we know that) but I love bling bing! OR he can get me a band to go with this ring and that will add bling to it as well.

98. For some reason--and I don't know what's different this time--I feel like I can attain my weight loss goals. It might take me a while (I fully expect it to take at least a year) but I have this sense of peace about me regarding it. I KNOW I can do it and I will.

99. I will be getting a tummy tuck and breast lift after we are done having kids AND I have been at my goal weight for at least 6 months. I think my goal weight is 140.

100. I got a mini van at the ripe old age of 27. I never thought I would love a mini-van at 27--or even almost 30--but I do. It's a 2002 Honda Odyssey--oh and guess what--it's silver. There are a zillion silver ones out there, but I don't care. I love that van!

THERE! I'm DONE!!!! Seriously, this has taken me WEEKS to write!!! I started it one night and got 20 or 30 done right away. Then the next night, I got to about 80 or so. These last 20+ have taken me FOREVER!!! Try it...you'll be amazed. It sure makes you think about yourself!

Is this cheating?

I decided to WI today since I won't be at home on Monday. I was PRAYING for a 1.3 loss--which would have put me at 179.9. DS2 got up extra early (of course he did, I went to bed extra late!) so I fed him and changed him and he went back to bed. I jump on the scale and it reads 180.0! I about died! You will laugh at what I did next. I went to the bathroom to try and pee out anything I had in there, blew my nose, got down to my skivvies and hopped back on the scale. 180.0 STILL! I took of my ring, got butt naked and got back on--180.0. I got on AGAIN--180.0. I was frustrated, but still THRILLED to see a loss and just since Monday!

So, then I go to take my measurements. I am down 5.75 inches overall. A quarter of an inch at least in every spot I measure. Some places as much as an inch or even more! Of course not the places I want to be (my belly) but I am losing inches! So before I put the scale away I jump on one more time--179.9!

WOO HOO!!!! I was jumping around my bedroom and bathroom!!! DS2 was up by this time (why oh why do they have to get up so early when we DON'T have to be anywhere?!?! they don't do this on school days!) and he was with me in the bathroom. So he starts jumping around with me! :)

So, is that cheating my WI? I got on and off that scale THREE different times and they all said 179.9. I don't care, I'm counting it! And it's only .1 so its not that big of a deal, but it is to me! So I'm down 1.3 for the week and in a new 10 pound range! YAHOO!!!!! This brings my weight loss total to 7.9# so far...and a LOT more to go!

We are heading out tomorrow for Myrtle Beach! I am excited but scared at the same time. I am terrified of this drive with 2 kids. Thankfully my mom is going with us so she will be in the back of the van to keep DS2 entertained. Say a prayer that we have a good trip and cooperative kids!

On a DS2 update--took him to the doctor yesterday. He has an ear infection! His first one, which also means his first round of antibiotics (Amoxicillin) which he hates. I think this one is going to be harder to get meds and food in. He is perfectly happy at the boob! :)

DH will have his laptop on vacation so I will hopefully get to check in at least once while I am there. I do plan on behaving myself while we are gone and sticking to my food plan. I have to show my journals to my trainer when I get back! AND I have to WI with him that Monday morning, so posting a loss after a vacation would be so awesome!!!

I've gotta go pack! Have a great OP day and weekend! :)

Pictures...

Here's a picture of my new 'do. I love it. Nice and short! :)

the front

the back

Tuesday morning DS2 got up before DS1. So I fed him and we played, then we ventured downstairs. I laid him on his play mat to practice his rolling skills while I looked something up on the computer. He got awfully quiet so I went in to check on him. This is what I found:

He was passed out, sound asleep. The TV was on and everything. He was tired! I scooped him up and took him upstairs and he slept for 2.5 hours!

Shouting from the rooftops!

I lost 4# this week!!!!!!!!!



FINALLY!!!! Some movement on the scale!!! And boy am I glad it has moved. My morning scale reading was 181.2. I am really hoping to see 179 this coming week!

I'll tell you what though...eating 4 servings of fruits AND veggies every day leaves me no room for anything else! Seriously...I don't have time or room in my belly for any "junk." I may eat a 100 cal pack or bar once a day (but no more than that--and that's a great improvement from before) but that's it! I'm really trying to cut out my night time snacking and so far so good. That wasn't a problem with me before but since DS2 has been born, I've picked it up. Not out of boredom or stress but b/c I was finding that when I didn't eat a snack before bedtime I was almost passing out by morning b/c I'd been through 3 nursing sessions without anything to eat or drink. So I had to fix that problem! But now DS2 is sleeping from 7-7 so I don't need to eat that extra snack or 2. :)

I think I am going to take my measurements on Friday morning. We are leaving for vacation on Saturday and I need to see how things are going other than on the scales. I've had 5 workouts with the trainer. He told me it would take about 6 weeks to see results. I plan to take a few walks while we are on vacation. We aren't right on the beach so I could take a walk to the beach every day. Or DH and I could take a walk every night after the kids go to bed (my mom is going with us so we have a babysitter).

When Superjayman was here, we ate out a LOT!! I don't think I ate at home the whole time she was here! I did once I think.... That's bad! We always go out to eat a lot when she visits. But we had such a good time. I gained that week she was here but "only" 1.2, which I think is pretty darn good considering how much we ate out!

Let's see what else... DS2 rolled over for the first time on Saturday! He's still sick but he's obviously feeling good enough to try new things. :)

I've started journaling everything! And it's really helped me to see what all I'm eating and drinking. I'm getting in 160 ounces of water every day too. That's a LOT!! If I don't get in @ least 100 ounces of water each day, I can really tell a difference in my body.

I got yet another new hair cut and style. I will post pictures ASAP. I don't want to go down stairs right now b/c I'm too darn sore from my workout this morning! LOL!!!!

I have to get back to work! I'll post those pictures this week. Maybe not today b/c we have soccer tonight and I'll probably have to work tonight. Have a great OP day!

Just b/c I haven't blogged...

Doesn't mean I'm off the wagon! Actually, I'm more on than I've been in a LONG time!

I have had a helluva week! First DS2 has been sick, DS1 was throwing up last night, DH and I have some sinus issues going on and I am ready for Calgon to take me away! UGH!!!

I have so much in my head to post, but no time. I may be taking DS2 to the doctor this afternoon. So I'll try to hit some highlights:

* First of all, I saw a number on the scale this morning I haven't seen in a while (182.2) so that has me THRILLED about weighing in on Monday.

* I've been journaling every single bite I take now..this is my 2nd week doing that.

* Things with the trainer are going great! I lost this week (1.2) but it was what I gained while BFF Superjayman was visiting.

* Had a wonderful visit with SuperJ. Can't wait to see her again in December!

* Drinking tons of water (160 ounces at least every day!) and eating tons of fruits and veggies (4 servings of each every day).

I think that's the highlights. I have another post I've been working on for a week now but I've got writer's block at the moment. Or maybe it's lack of sleep? I don't know.

I hope to post a real post this weekend! :)

4 months old!

I can't believe Izaac Jeremiah is 4 months old!!! The time has just flown by!! He is such a joy and a true blessing to our family.

Took him to the doctor the other day. He weighed in at 16# and 25 1/4".

Here are a few pictures:

Just took these this afternoon.

I think this is my new favorite picture!! LOVE it!!

This one was actually taken by DS1. Not too bad for a 4 year old!

Took this when we got home from the doctor the other day.

Where's the Beef?

Apparently, in our freezer!

Yep, you read that right. We got our beef and pork last week. It was kind of bad timing as I was NOT prepared to start cooking as much as the Core program requires, but my dinners have been more on the core side than not. So that's a good point right??

I'm taking some advice from Roni and a few others and starting out slow. I feel like I keep coming up with an excuse, but honestly, it's not. I'm overwhelmed at the amount of weight I have to lose. It's a lot. But I'm starting out slow. I'm slowly making the changes. I'm getting 160+ ounces of water in EVERY DAY. It kind of coincides with the advice I get from my trainer every week. One small change each week and keep building on that. Last week it was water (which was not an issue for me) and this week it is fruit. And I am having a HARD time with it! I'm getting it in every day, but I'm a vegetable girl. I eat vegetables with 2 of my 3 meals every day. So it's been rough, but I'm muddling through.

I do have an NSV to report. BFF Superjayman flew in yesterday. We went out to lunch together and hit Panera. I did the You Pick Two and got the Strawberry Poppyseed Salad and the Garden vegetable Soup. Such a super good lunch that was very filling and very low points! YAY!!!! I'm proud of myself for making that good decision. Today I fought the urge to go out for lunch with my boys after I took little man for his 4 month check up (post with pictures and stats to come!). I fought that demon the ENTIRE trip home! 40 minutes!!! It was insane. I probably would have done better going out b/c I kind of grazed all afternoon, but that's the trade off today. SuperJ and I have plans to go for a walk tomorrow morning and Saturday and Sunday as well. I'm psyched about it!!

I'm listening to Roni's videos while I type and she's so inspiring to me. Why is it I always get inspired AT NIGHT?!?! Even when I shower, I'll stand there and tell myself you'll have a good breakfast tomorrow and a good lunch and you'll do this and that, etc... (yes, I have these conversations with myself practically every night in the shower.) But anyway. She's had some good advice this week. Really spoke to me on quite a few of her questions. :) I'm outta here! Have a great day! :)

Assignment #2

I had my weekly appointment with the trainer yesterday. I now go every Monday. I had to keep track of how much water I had each day and then show it to him. I got in 160 ounces every day except one and even that day I had 132 ounces. He said that was "amazing". It was hard for me over the weekend, but I did it! I'm actually proud of myself. I did get on the scale both at home and with the trainer. I was the same at home and up just a tad at the trainer--.2. He told me not to worry about it b/c I may be losing inches. And he said that I am learning new habits slowly, so I don't need to worry about that number just yet. He has a point and I am trying to think that way.

So my assignment this week is to eat 4 servings of fruit every day. I had no trouble with it yesterday, but my fruit stash is quickly dwindling. I may have to hit the store today to stock up. We did get our first produce delivery on Friday. It was awesome!!! I still have some strawberries and raspberries left from that, but that will be all the fruit. DS1 ate the last banana as soon as he got home yesterday and he ate 2 of the 4 apples! That kid loves fruit!!! I know it's a good thing, so I don't worry about it.

DH is heading out of town today to visit "home" b/c his great uncle died on Saturday. It was expected, just happened faster than we thought it would. I was going to go, but...... da, da, dum....SUPERJAYMAN is coming for a visit!!!!!! FINALLY she is getting out here for this court date. It's been FOREVER since I've seen her. I'm so excited. I get to pick her and her mom up at the air port and then enjoy the time that she's here since I don't have to work. YAY!!! And DH told me not to worry about going to the funeral. It's too quick of a trip to drag 2 kids out of their routine. Just in case you were thinking I'm a horrible wife... LOL!!!

Okay, gotta scoot--gotta get some work done!!! I do have another post to make so I hope to put it up later today or tonight. :)

Exercise, WI, water, and craziness!

It's been a crazy week already. Thank heavens it is finally Wednesday!

I had my first real session with the trainer on Monday morning. This also means I had my WI day as well. I had maintained, which is good considering we went to the state fair on Sunday. My WI at home was 183.7. At the trainer it was 188.7. UGH. That is waaaayyyyyy too close to a number I said I would NEVER get back to--190. I know I'm close, but I'm not there so that's good. hopefully that number will be less come next Monday. I go to the trainer every Monday now so I'll WI there with him every week. He gave me my first "assignment" for this week--drink 96 ounces of ice cold water every day. Since I aim for 130 ounces a day, this has been no problem. I got in 160 ounces yesterday! I've also figured out that when my cup gets empty, I tend to eat b/c I don't want to walk downstairs and fill up my cup. So I fill up both of my 32 ounce cups when I first go down in the morning and then put the 2nd cup in the small fridge that's upstairs so when I'm done with the 1st, I can easily start on my 2nd. It's working marvelously!! And it keeps things cold! Did you know your body has to work to heat up the water when you drink it ice cold? I did not know that, so my water is COLD now! :)

I do have a NSV to report. While at the fair on Sunday we ate lunch there. I got a GRILLED pork tenderloin sandwich. That's it!! No bloomin' onion, no fried ANYTHING. I seriously wanted a funnel cake as we were heading out, but DH hates them and I knew I would eat the whole darn thing by myself and I didn't want to do that. So I said no thanks. We did stop at the dairy barn to get mik shakes and we all split 2 grilled cheese sandwiches. Again, not the BEST choice, but at least it was dairy! :) And it wasn't FRIED!!! WOO HOO!!! I'm quite proud of myself. I told DH I would get me a funnel cake when we are on vacation. My mom is going with us and she loves them, so I'll get a few bites and then "let" her eat the rest. LOL!!!

I have been doing better in my afternoon munchie time. I have the WORST trouble after lunch. About 2 in the afternoon until about 4--it SUCKS!!! I just want to eat. Yesterday wan't bad, I did have a snack, but I didn't eat everything in sight either.

DS1 started pre-K on Monday. School started here today. This time next year, my baby will be going to KINDERGARTEN!!!! I can't believe that. I'll have to be restrained that day I am sure. I won't want to let him go. The shool bus terrifies me. I know what *I* learned on the bus and it wasn't good. Breathe...deep breaths.... I'll think about it next year!!! He also started the fall session of soccer on Monday. So life will be CRAZY for the next few weeks. But that's okay...crazy is good, right?

I better get back to work. I have been neglecting my blog lately b/c we've been so busy. I need DH to get me a laptop! It's on my list.... :)

DizzyDazey had her babies!!!

I emailed Dazey the other day to see if she had her twins yet b/c I knew her due date was approaching. Heard back from her last night and she asked that I give a shout out to everyone.

The boys were born July 18. Conner weighed 4# 13 oz, and Oz weighed 5# 1oz. After 8 days they got to bring them home and they've been doing fabulous ever since! She's trying to nurse--she's pumping and then feeding--don't want to make them work too hard for their food just yet. She did have a C-section and she's healing quite nicely she says. She was never put on strict bedrest, but by that last week she said all she was doing was eating and sleeping (she made it to 34 weeks). She also said they still do not have decent internet and she's really missing her blog and all of you!

As for me, I have been doing SO MUCH BETTER in the eating department the last few days. My hardest time is after lunch and before dinner. I wish I could just take a nap every day at that time to avoid the afternoon munchies, but that's not possible so I have got to learn to deal with it better. The boys and I made a trip to the orchard yesterday for some peaches and blueberries. Oh those peaches are AWESOME!!! I'm going to freeze the blueberries so we have them for later on. I'm loving them in my oatmeal.

Gotta scoot. I have to get SOME work done today! LOL!!! :)

Baked goods are NOT my friend!

So as the summer has progressed, my garden has netted me quite a few zucchini (I just brought in 4--all the size of small baseball bats)...which means quite a few loaves of zucchini bread! And the peaches are abundant at the local orchard...which led me to make my first homemade peach cobbler. :) SO as these items are delicious...they are wreaking havoc on my digestive system (at least I think that's the cause). Too much sugar! So the baked goods are gone and I am back to a better eating pattern.

I sound like a broken record!

I know, I know. I need to take my own advice. So I am!

I went today for my first session with the trainer at Exercise Inc. Oh my...this is going to be good! First of all, my trainer is a HOTTIE!! We'll call him McTrainer. He got out of his car (in a suit and tie no less which to me is almost like a man in uniform) and I was like "HELLLLOOOOO Exercise!" :) He talked with me a bit on what my goals are and how things work and then took me through a mini workout. OH MY WORD!!! I was burning when I left there. It felt good. So I made an appointment to be there Monday morning at 8:40. I am choosing Mondays b/c I know how I am on the weekends and I need something to keep me accountable on the weekends. So I will be reporting my losses from their scales on Mondays. I will get on my scales this coming Monday since I haven't gotten on their scales yet. I did find out a little bit about the eating plan and it's basically core without the extra 35 points. So I will be good to go once my produce is delivered next week AND we get our cow. I will, of course, go to the store this weekend and get some yummy produce to get us through the week. After that it will be organic and delivered to my door! YAY!!

Oh and my milk delivery starts Monday too. :)

I'll give more details on the eating plan w/ my trainer later on, but I gotta scoot. Gotta get DS1 out of the tub and in bed.

Sleeping baby...

I couldn't resist posting this picture of Zac. I think we have a thumb sucker on our hands! He was sucking his thumb 2 hours after he was born...so he must have done that in the womb and it's taken him 3 months plus to find it again! :) But isn't he so precious?!? Not that I am biased or anything....

Happiest person on earth right now!!!!!

Waaayyyy back when, I talked about a local delivery service in the Indianapolis area that delivers fresh organic produce TO YOUR DOOR!!! Well, back in May I contacted them about signing up for this service and they told me they were not in my area yet. I thought okay, fine, maybe they will be in a year or so. So, this morning I get an email that they are coming to my area beginning AUGUST 15!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Colette's words....

HOLY MACKEREL!!!!!!



I immediately got on the phone with my friend who has this service and I was literally screaming and jumping for joy!!!!!!!!!! You have NO IDEA how happy this makes me. I am the happiest person on the planet right now. That just made me day!!!

I am hoping we have our meat by then and then I will start the Core plan. WOO HOO!!!!!!!

All of this, and I am a bit under the weather today. Got some dizziness going on and sitting up is kind of awkward, so I am headed back to bed to lay down. I need a laptop so I can surf in bed. :) I am on the hunt for a homemade granola bar recipe. The cook at DS school makes them for the kids for snacks and they are AWESOME. But she can't give out the recipe b/c it's a catering recipe?? WTH, I don't know. Whatever. So I will find me a recipe that is similar to that one and make these for my family.

Okay, I am off to get horizontal again. Been up too long already I think.

My 200th post--with pictures!!

I've been lacking in the photo department lately...


First off...I never posted pictures of my new hair do. So here you go:

The front

The side

The back

I LOVE IT!!!!!!! YAY!!!

And here is a picture of Zac...taken 2 days ago! :) He's getting so big. I can't believe it. Oh and he's so very very happy. Such a blessing!!!

Been a long day...

So this is going to be quick.

I did get on the scale today and I was up slightly. I think .4 (or maybe it was .8) I don't remember exactly and it was early this morning. But either way I am up. Grrr... Oh well, today is a new day and tomorrow is another new day. Going to make the most of tomorrow (as I am headed to bed for today). :)

I did contact a personal trainer at Exercise Inc. I hope I hear back from him tomorrow at some point. I'd like to get in there Saturday morning. That'd be awesome. It's supposed to be hotter than hot this weekend so I doubt DH will want to work outside. A good reason for me to be able to get started with the trainer. He'll have the kids and I'll have some "me" time. Ahhh.... Friday it will be just me and the little one as DS1 will be at "school" aka daycare. I have to work a short day and then I plan to hit a local orchard to see what fresh produce they have. YUM!!

Bad blogger..

Or maybe just a super busy momma with a sick baby!

Yep, that's right little one has his first cold. Woke up with it Thursday night. He slept ALL DAY Thursday and I thought he was growing (he was 3 months old on Thursday) but when he woke up at 9 Thursday night (after laying down at 5 for his, what I thought would be normal half hour to one hour evening nap) and he was all snotty and snorty. Poor boy. DH ran out at 1045 that night to get stuff to put in the vaporizer. We bathed him in vapor bath, rubbed the baby vapor stuff on his chest and propped up his crib mattress. He slept all night that night and last night was the first time since that he's slept all the way through. I was ready to DIE on Sunday b/c he was up at 230 Saturday night...when I had went to bed at 115...and then up again at 530 Sunday morning and up for the day by 8. UGH. But, I think he is on the mend. But now I have it. It's that slight little tickle at the back of my throat that is only relieved by carbonated beverages. I'm still getting in my 130 ounces of water but also a good 20 of diet something or other.

So needless to say, I didn't WI on Friday. I think I am going to switch my WI days to Wednesdays...IF I can remember to get on the scale tomorrow morning! That's my plan anyway. I have been very inspired by Colette and her success with Core so I have decided that once we get our meat in a week or so, I am going to do core for a little while and see how that goes. My lunches will be my problem right now b/c I've been having a Lean Cuisine 2 days a week. It will take some planning, but I'm going to do it.

I wonder what's realistic for a goal? I mean is it realistic for me to want to weigh 130? Is it realistic for me to want to weigh that in a year?? If I could lose a pound a week, I would be down to 131 by this time next year. So yeah, I guess it is. For now I am making small goals. I want to lose 10# (175), be back in the 170s (179.9), back to pre-pregnancy weight (166), and it goes on and on. DH is pushing me to join a "club" here...I don't know how to explain it. It's called Exercise, Inc. You work out with a trainer once a week for 20 minutes. That's it. There is a diet that you can follow but I am not sure on the specifics yet. I know it's 4 servings of fruits AND vegetables every day and a lot of water (which we know I have no problems with) and something about no more than 4 grams of sugar in whatever you eat. I don't know the specifics yet. I have one of the trainers cards so I am going to give him a call or shoot him an email. I am intrigued that is for sure. Plus it would give me an hour away every week (20 minutes working out, 20 minutes there and back travel time), which would be AWESOME. DH is fully supportive so that's good. The girl that cuts DH hair is doing it and loves it. She raves about it. She's lost 16# in 12 weeks. I would be happy with that. And I need the umph to do more serious exercise. DS1 and I take a walk about every night for 20 minutes or so. I've gotten in to playing the Wii (LOVE boxing!) and I am trying to just be active overall. So we'll see what happens.

Okay, gotta run. DS1 is ready to go for his walk. :) I'll post WI results tomorrow. If I remember to get on the scale!

Da Da Dum....drumroll please!

DOWN 1.7 this morning!!! WOO HOO!!!!


I forgot what the exact number was (183.something) but I am happy to be seeing progress.

Now..I just need to eat better! I'm eating okay, but with 36 points a day, I tend to eat worse things than I should. But...the ice cream that has invaded my house is gone so that's a good thing. And I started back to work this week and next week I will be working my full time schedule, so that should equal some better eating. When I worked on Monday, I was a ROCKSTAR with the eating! I had tons of veggies and water and I was so very good. Tuesday, not so great, but not horrible either. Wednesday was okay. I need to plan better when I'm going to be working and the kids are at home. I hate to buy Lean Cuisine type meals, but that may be what I need for the time being. So I'm hoping to get to the store at some point this weekend and pick up a few to get me through next week.

DH just called me...he ordered us half a cow for our freezer (and the meat is VERY lean) and also half a pig. YAY! We signed up for milk delivery service and that should start soon too. All I need to get at the store will be produce and canned goods once our meat comes in. YAY!!! I'm psyched about all that meat in my freezer. I've learned over the last few weeks that DS1 is a meat and vegetable kinda guy. He doesn't want chicken if it's in Chicken Tetrazinni or Burbon Chicken. He likes it plain. We fight with him every night at dinner for him to eat the main course and he won't. I'm so over it though. He loves pork chops too. We've never given him steak. He LOVES his vegetables, so that's good. I just get so sick of that fight every night at dinner. I can't wait to fire up the grill and throw some steaks on there from our own cow. YAY!!!

I still have some pictures to post so I hope to do that this weekend. Gotta scoot...little one is waking up. :)

Look what I've been up to...

WARNING: The following picture some may find offensive..DO NOT VIEW with small children in the room! Scroll down to get to it....

I went to a birthday party last Saturday for a friend of mine who turned 40. There was a male adult "entertainer" there...if ya get my drift. ;) I'd have never seen one of these "entertainers" before so this was a first for me. I must say...What a trip! It was fun. As you can see in the picture, I was beside myself. I can't believe some people can do that!

Oh and he WAS dressed as a fireman before the "show".

I'll be back later with W/I results!

Oh and I hate how I look in this picture...I have to keep telling myself...you just had a baby...you just had a baby....

How many of me?

I thought this was neat...

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 7 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Down 2.7!!!

Holy cow!

I was NOT expecting that this morning. I haven't been perfect by any means this week, but I've gotten out and walked with DS1 2 nights this week and we walked a lot at the zoo on Sunday and I hope to get out tonight too. It's not too long of a walk...about 15 minutes or so, but he loves it and it's our "special time" together in the evenings. Some days I put Zac in the stroller and he goes too, which gives me a work out on my arms pushing him. I tried to get on the elliptical the other night and I am not in shape at ALL to do that. SO I'll work up to it again like I was before I got pregnant.

I am really tired this morning so I am going to go lay down while the little one is sleeping. I go back to work on Monday! Oy!!

Back on Track

I've been meaning to post this post all week, but I've been busy! It's my LAST week of maternity leave so I've been trying to get a few things done. But I can not WAIT to go back to work. I know that sounds crazy and just a few short weeks ago I couldn't wait to be done, but I am so ready for a routine, a schedule. I seriously don't know how stay-at-home-moms do it. I really don't. I can't stand not having any kind of structure to my weeks. Drives me nuts! I do have plans most days but I like the mundane of having to work. Crazy, right?!?

Anyway...I got back on track on Sunday. Well, I'm trying to anyway. I'm writing things down and counting them, so I guess that's good, right? I haven't been perfect this week by ANY means, but it's better than it was. I got up Sunday morning and took my measurements and also got on the evil metal devil (187--up 4# from when I left for my mom's 3 weeks ago) and I have chosen my WI day to be Fridays. So I will get on the evil metal devil on Friday morning to see what he says. ;)

When I was at home, I got the chance to spend a lot of time with my baby sister. Poor thing...she's 20 and has gained a considerable amount of weight since October. We're talking 30-40 pounds. She's built EXACTLY like me and I've told her for a few years now that she's going to have to watch it later on and it just hit her like a ton of bricks. So now, she's trying to lose weight. I tried to tell her the good stuff about losing weight and what she should try to avoid, but I'm (obviously) no expert. BUT...we did make a pact. Whoever got to their 10% first--for me that's 18#, for her 16#--if it's me, she'll pay for me to get a pedicure, if it's her, I'll pay for her to get a massage. She's quite determined to get that massage, and I hope she gets it. Either way, we both win, but a little friendly competition never hurt anyone, right?

Today was Zac's first day of daycare. He did fine and I knew he would. I had the HARDEST time leaving him. I bawled like a baby....I did with X too. For some reason, I thought it would be easier b/c I've done it before, but it wasn't. I called my mom afterwards, crying my eyes out, b/c I knew I wouldn't get any sympathy from DH. Mom's been there done that and was very sweet to me. Where as DH would have been like, "uuhhh, sorry, what do you want me to say?" Men! So I had a whole day to myself. Went to the dentist first--yuck, bleh, but glad that's over. Lunch at Panera, alone, a few errands, and then to get my hair cut and colored (pictures to come--I actually took them today) and then to the chiropractor. VERY busy day, but good to get a few things done. ;) I couldn't wait to pick up my boys. Thankfully I had made dinner last night and we had tons of leftovers so I didn't have to come home and cook. I got to spend the evening with my boys.

Okay, I think that catches me up. Once I go back to work, I HOPE to be able to get back to posting every day. I want to set goals again for the week every week and post my daily food journal to hold myself accountable. I would LOVE to be down to 140 by Zac's first birthday, but that's 45# and a little over 9 months. That's 5# a month. Maybe a little lofty, but I can TRY! I got down to 155 by the time DS1 had his first birthday, so we'll see. ;)

Random facts about me..

This tag comes from Mtngirlincali at Taking the Reins.

I'm supposed to tell you 6 random things about me..I'll do my best so here goes.

1. I absolutely HATE the sound of teeth running across a fork, knife, or spoon. Drives me nuts. Almost as bad as nails down a chalkboard.

2. When I was younger, I had a black lab named Jasmine, a Doberman named Rajah, and a Beagle named Abu. Yes, at the same time. We LOVED the movie Aladdin. :)

3. I grew up in the middle of a corn field...literally. There was one in front of us, behind us, and on both sides. I HATED it. I'm too much of a city girl for that.

4. At the ripe old age of 28, I got a hearing aid. It's so small no one ever sees it. One of the BEST decisions I've ever made! I got it a little less than 3 weeks before my 29th birthday. I've suffered YEARS of ear troubles and had multiple surgeries (too many to count) and this was the last option. SO glad I did it!

5. My first car was a 1979 Mazda GLC. I got my license in the early 90s, so this was an OLD car. I did not care...it got me from point A to point B. Did I mention the body of the car was rusted? Yeah...so rusted that you could see through the floor board. Oh and it was missing a muffler. ;) I didn't drive it for too long, but I did drive it!

6. Since I have been married, each house I've lived in has been new. DH and I built our first one through a "cookie cutter" builder and moved in 3 weeks after we got married. And our current house we custom built and moved in April 2006. We did live in an apartment between the selling of the first house and the building of the current one. Not sure why, but we just never even looked at existing homes. Odd? I don't know, it's just how things fell for us.

The rules:

Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Write six random things about yourself.
Tag six people at the end of your post.
Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

I guess I tag Superjayman, Miss July, MMalloy, and Melanie.

I've been tagged...

not once, but twice. So here I go with the first one...from Miss July.

Ten Years Ago
Hmm, 1998...DH (well then he was DBF (dear boyfriend) and I were going through a rough patch. I was trying to sew some wild oats I guess. I was in my 2nd year of college, but first year at a new college (yes, I switched after a year). I was living in a dorm and studying a lot. My dorm mates made fun of me b/c I was always in my room doing homework and studying. It was the end of 1998 when DBF and I finally worked everything out and have been happy ever since. ;)


5 Things on Today's To Do List
1. Laundry--done
2. Do the dishes--AGAIN--I feel like my kitchen is NEVER clean!
3. Make beds--done
4. Catch up on Jon & Kate plus 8--DS1 LOVES this show, as do I, and I get GREAT ideas from that show. LOVE it! (I'm also addicted to a few soaps, but I try not to watch those when little ears are around...and I LOVE GH too...and One Life to Live...and Days of Our Lives). I can't believe I just admitted that. But I don't watch them all every day. ;)
5. Need to run a few errands, but I don't think I'm going to. DS1 had a melt down so I sent him to bed.

Snacks I Enjoy
Popcorn, ice cream (any flavor, except mint chocolate chip--yuck!), anything really. I love all food!

Things I would do if I was a millionaire
Pay off my house, fund my kids college, build my mom a house and pay off all her bills, help DH family out too, and TRAVEL! I would also donate to charities that help families that have kids with cancer and donate to my work (a non profit hospital). Then I would tell them to take their job and well...you know! ;)


I get to tag someone now...I choose Superjayman, Colette, and Mmalloy. Have fun!

Finally....pictures!

Yes, I know I've been home for a week. Life has been crazy this week and I haven't had time to sit down at the computer to post the pictures I want to post. ;)

First of all...the hair.....here is a before--2 views:


And the after: 2 views as well:




Yes, these were taken on different days. I forgot to have my friend take a picture when she was done cutting and I kept forgetting to ask DH to do it when it looked good. I like it b/c it's short, but I don't like the style. So I am going on Wednesday to someone else (friend lives almost 3 hours south and not going "home" anytime soon) to have her chop it some more. There is too much on the sides and it's still too long for what I want. When my friend cut it, I didn't know if it was short enough or not and she went on vacation right after she cut mine so I didn't have time for her to do it again while I was at my mom's. Since I've had time to wash it and fix it several times, I don't like it. So it's going shorter! I'll post new pics if I get what I want on Wednesday.


Speaking of Wednesday...that's when this little guy starts daycare. :(


No, mommy is not happy about it, BUT I have no other option. And my first one survived it (he still goes there and LOVES it). I go back to work on the 14th but wanted to send him for a day before that to get him used to it. He will only go 2 days a week and big brother will still go 3. As far as stats go on little Izaac...well he's not so little! As of Wednesday, he was 13# 12.6 ounces, 23.75" long. BIG BOY!!! The picture was taken on his 2 month birthday. I can't believe it's been 10 weeks already! But he's always talking and cooing and smiling at us. He's such a blessing!

That's all for now. I need to post about how OFF program I've been since my mom's, but I won't. I did learn one thing while down there...I'll never move back! ;) That and boredom + stress = bad eating for Amanda. 'Nuff said. ;)

Bottomless Pit!

That has been me the past 2 days--Sunday and Monday. Not sure why...things have been running through my head..is it the nursing? Not enough water? No idea, but I'm ready for it to be over! I'm hoping today (Tuesday) is better! I've tried to keep it in check, but it's been VERY hard!

In other things...sleep is a WONDERFUL thing! Izaac has slept 6 or more hours every night now since last Wednesday night. It's been awesome for me!!! We are still at my mom's and having a blast. Izaac is 2 months old today!!!! I can't believe it. He's gotten so big and he's really starting to talk and coo at us and I get tons of smiles from him EVERY day! I love it!!!

Today is me and DH anniversary--8 years!!! We've been together for 12 years. Sure doesn't feel that long, so I guess that's a good thing! I have a nice present waiting for me when we get home on Saturday. Last night DH found an open box special on the brand new washer and dryer I've been wanting. I'm so excited!!! It's the Whirpool Cabrio. I am so excited!!!! I've had my eye on a red one, but they don't make the top loaders in red. The one he got me is diamond dust, I guess. I did not want a front loader and those were wayyyyy too much money. I'm so excited and blessed. I truly have the best DH. He is so good to me and is such a good provider for our family. He is the best daddy too. He is my best friend and I love him more today than I did the day I married him. Happy anniversary my love!!!

Gotta get things going.... My sister and I are taking DS1 to the movies this afternoon to see Kung Fu Panda and then out for dinner afterwards. Guess they are my date for my anniversary...but that's okay. DH and I have a babysitter planned for Saturday night when we get back. Make today a great day! :)

4 days down...a lifetime to go!

Okay, I've done it! I have successfully counted points AND stayed within those points for 4 days now. I was even below my points yesterday (Thursday). I got on the scale Wednesday morning and was down 2# since FRIDAY! And I just started my "one day at a time" point counting on Monday. WOO HOO!!!

But now...I am at my mom's. Yep...made the trip Thursday....should have been 2 hours and 15 minutes...ended up being 4.5 hours--YIKES! The boys did AWESOME, however, so I won't complain. And I conquered a fear yesterday....nursing in public. I nursed DS2 while DS1 and I ate at Taco Bell. It was the only option I had so I went with it. Thank god for a nursing cover, otherwise I would have flashed my boob, but I'm getting better at that even! Anyway...back to being at my mom's. She does NOT eat right...BUT, I have come armed with meals to cook that are point friendly. My mom is trying to lose weight, but yet, she doesn't want to eat right or eat things good for you. Sigh...it's a never ending battle with her. Oh well!

Today is THE DAY! I am chopping off my hair! I can't wait!!! And yes, I am going to donate it. I am so excited...gotta find some new sassy, chic look for me. I will post pictures (before and after) once I get home next week...can't do it from mom's. Have a great weekend! Gotta hit the shower and pump. :)

Oh! Before I forget....Zac slept through the night Wednesday AND Thursday nights!!!! 10-5 both nights!!! Then he gets up, eats and goes right back to sleep. WOO HOO!!! And...he is 8 weeks old now. HOORAY!!!!

I'm taking your advice...and PLANKS?!?

I am taking the advice of more than one person here this coming week. Instead of waiting until I hit 159 to chop off my hair, I'm doing it NOW.

As in FRIDAY.

8 inches...going to be GONE!

What made me make this decision? Well, the fact that it was HOT the other day when I went on a walk at 10 A.M. with the boys and my hair stuck to my neck. Oh lord it was HOT. And I HATE my hair sticking to me. And I hate to wear a ponytail every day too. I hate the kinks it leaves in my hair. Oh and Zac LOVES to grab onto my hair and NOT let go. It hurts! So, I'm chopping it off on Friday. WOO HOO!!! But...DH doesn't know yet. ;)

The boys and I are leaving on Thursday to go to my moms for 10 (yes, that says TEN!) days. I'm gonna chop it on Friday and not tell DH. I'll let him see it when we get home a week from Saturday. He won't care, but I can't wait to see his face. :)

In other news....

I got my WW magazine in the mail the other day. There is an article in there called "Ab Fab" and gives you a 10 minute workout that combines Pilates moves and cardio. SEEMS easy enough, no? Well, there's a word in there I haven't done before....PLANK. SOUNDED easy enough.....so I tried one. You're supposed to hold for 30 seconds. Ummmm, yeah....I held for about 5! Swizzlepop (and anyone else who can do this), I BOW to you. Holy mother of god that was hard. But....at least I have something to work towards, right? Granted, I did just have a baby and I haven't worked out more than walking and stairs in a loooooong time. But I have 89 days until our vacation. I know I won't be "Ab Fab" but it would be NICE to at least be back to my pre-preg weight (166).

I got released from my OB/GYN the other day so I can resume all regular activities. So I'm TRYING to get back into some kind of activity. As long as it doesn't affect my milk supply, I'm good to go. So I'm trying....still holding my own in the weight area. I've stopped gaining and I'm just holding where I'm at (185) which is better than gaining. UGH. Oh well.... BFF Superjayman said if I really buckled down she thinks I could lose a good amount between now and our beach vacation. She may have a point....... It's so hard to get that motivation back...it really is. But if I can just do ONE day, then maybe the next day wouldn't be so hard. I should take it the way I am taking breastfeeding...one day at at time. That's my new mantra I think.

Gotta go...gotta get some sleep before the little one gets up to eat again.

36 points....

That's how many *I* get in a day right now.

WHOA.

This morning I decided to take charge and just see how many points I would get right now. I figured it up and it came up to 36. Now, if I can't lose on 36 points a day then there's a problem! So I'm starting to count points...I think. I'm going to try anyway. I tried to "be good" yesterday. I can do GREAT at breakfast...then lunch comes and I take a nose dive into whatever we are having. Yesterday DS had corndogs...so I had one...well okay, I had 2. Ouch. And chips. And dip. Double ouch. Dinner wasn't much better and the boys had been bears all day. The little one mostly....so by dinner I was fit to be tied. BUT...that was yesterday.

So today I am starting fresh...well trying to. I had to go to the dentist today and knew I would be starving afterwards. I had ate a pretty good breakfast but I knew I would be hitting something after the dentist. So I hit Taco Bell (which, BTW, is the first fast food I've had in TWO WEEKS--thank you very much). I had PLANNED to get stuff off the fresco menu. But they didn't have any of the fresco stuff (I'm guessing b/c of the tomato/salmonella outbreak). So I got my usual. Not the best...BUT...I'm writing it down AND counting it. Hey--at least it's holding me accountable, right?!?

So now I'm jonesing the web and Roni's site for some point friendly and EASY dinners for next week. Gotta hit the store tomorrow and I need to be armed with a good for you menu and list. We'll see how it goes.

I did get on the scale this past Friday and it was the same. So if I'm eating anything I want and maintaing the same weight, then if I watch it and count points I'm hoping to see some kind of a loss. I'll hit the scale again Friday and see what it says.

Gotta run...Zac is up and probably wants to eat. :)

Have you seen these? A product find/review

Rubbermaid has these new PRODUCE SAVER storage containers out. (I tried to put in a picture, but I'm not THAT computer savvy.)

Always having a hard time keeping strawberries before they go bad, I knew I had to have these when I saw the $1.00 coupon in the Sunday paper last week. So I went to Target last Monday and bought 2 of the 5 cup containers. Let me just say....


I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!


On Tuesday I bought zucchini and peppers at the store and cut them up when I got home, put them in the container and they are still good! I'm down to the last few bits and those will be gone today. I put grapes in the other container and they're still good too! I bought strawberries the other night and came home and promptly put them in one of the containers and still good--NO MOLD!!! And I ALWAYS have mold on my strawberries after 24 hours or so if I don't cut them up right away. I just tossed them into the container until I could get to them. Oh this is an answer to my prayers! I just had to tell ya! I'm currently surfing Amazon to see if I can get more of them (with free shipping of course) b/c I know they will get used in my house.

Embracing the suck....

I think it's time I started to embrace the things that suck about my body right now. Yes, this is a whiney post. But I haven't done one in a VERY long time, so here goes.

Right now, my body sucks. I love that it has now grown 2 children and is currently nuturing DS2 with my milk. I love that. What I don't like is how MOST women who breastfeed don't have a period the entire time....well I am not even 6 weeks post partum yet and I THINK mine is trying to come back. WTF?!?! With DS1, it came back at 7 weeks but at that point I had started to give up breastfeeding with him, so I understood THEN. But now?!? We're going strong and it's going pretty good so I shouldn't be having a period. Grrr....

Why is it that most women who breast feed the weight just melts off of them? But me? I'm gaining! WTF?!? I have a friend who is BFing her baby (she's 9 months old now) and she can't gain weight...it's just coming off of her. AND she is one of these people who does NOT need to lose weight. She's trying to gain and she can't! SO NOT FAIR!!! She eats full fat cheese, drinks whole milk, NOTHING low fat or low cal EVER and she can't gain weight. UGH. It's people like that who drive me nuts. Why can't *I* be that way? Why can't the weight melt off of me!?! For once, why can't something go the way it should with my body???

I'm even on Synthroid for my whacked out thyroid and I'm still not losing. It's sooo unfair! I even had a "controlled" gain with this pregnancy. My goal was 39# or less...I gained 38. The recommended gain is 25-35, so I was just fine with 38. Most of my "fat" clothes still don't fit, yes I did get into a pair of capris the other day but they were tight. I wore them b/c I am so sick of maternity clothes. And a shirt? Forget it. My boobs are DD now (was a C before I got pregnant) and I am fine with the boobs...but in order to wear a shirt it has to be an XL, so I wear a lot of DH T-shirts.

I'm just having a bad body image day. I soooo hate my hair and I can't wait to cut it off but I have told myself not until I get to 159. I feel like I will NEVER get there! I go back to the doctor next week for my check up and I plan to ask her a few questions then. But I know the answers to most of them. I have to keep telling myself "you just had a baby" but some days that doesn't make it any better!

BUT...I am trying to embrace it. Notice I said TRYING?? Yeah, it's been real hard today. I NEED to go buy some clothes that fit and make me feel better but I just hate to spend the $$$ when they hopefully won't fit for very long. I need to just let it go and know that I am feeding another human being so I should just let that be the #1 priority right now. But it's so very hard. Ahhh....

Sorry for the whiney/bitchy post, but I needed to get this off my chest. I promise my next post will be a happier one. :)