Update

Been kind of busy for blogging...but no worries. Here's a quick update:

So it's been 14 weeks since I started my journey to getting fit and guess what? I'm over half way there! Yes! I've lost 23 lbs total. That's an average of 1.64 lbs per week. I'm really surprised since I ate fried chicken, chocolate cake, french fries, and all my flex points during the last two weeks. Been hungry more than usual, so must be my metabolism working.

Only two more weeks until we hit the road for Mesquite! I will really have to be careful then. It's so easy to fall off the wagon when you are having fun!

TTFN

Monsters and Juice!

There's some pretty cute growing stages going on right now with Savannah...

This one I'm pretty sure she got the idea from the kids she plays with at her babysitter's as it seems our house becomes full of scary monsters when the sun goes down. But she isn't at the sitter's when it's night time so maybe they have just been pretending? Lately when we've been preparing for bed she comes running to me saying, "Scary!" or asks me to come see with her cause she won't go down the hallway to her room to get her blankie even though her night light is on. Two weeks ago she never thought of such a thing and walking in the dark never would have bothered her. So as we walk toward her bedroom I often don't bother to turn the light on since we have such a short hallway, and she attempts to form a spray bottle with the shape of her hand to "spray" the monsters away.

The other day when she and I were getting ready to go somewhere, we had just finished brushing our teeth when Savannah saw her orange juice sitting on the table, leftover from breakfast. She quickly took a swig and the next thing out of her mouth was a loud, "NASTY!!!!" I look over and she's throwing her cup, juice and all, in the sink as if disgusted and mad because of it. Little does she know that it wasn't the juice at all!

Brrr!

It's hard to believe that a month ago we were sitting on Sandy Beach soaking up the sun. Now there is snow on the mountains! This isn't supposed to happen until November 1st! I just hope it will warm back up, especially for Halloween. Guess I wasn't as ready for fall as I thought!

In other news, Michael's studying for the ASVAB to get accepted in the Army, Jake's still in football, and Savannah is in love with Dora. I'm looking forward to going to Mesquite in October! Can't wait to get outta here for a while!

We're having my mom over for dinner today. Mmmm...basil rub roasted chicken. No other food could be as comforting as that tender juicy chicken and mashed tatoes and gravy! I'm willing to sacrifice all of my extra WW points for the week without a blink of the eye for this meal. Can't wait!

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

I'm back!

To my pre-pregnancy weight with Savannah that is! I've lost 20.8 lbs to date and am proud of it! And I thought I was fat when I was pregnant with Jake at 116 lbs! Hah! Probably had a lot to do with what my ex used to pump in my brain. Jerk.

HOORAY FOR ME!

What were you doing in 2001?

I was getting ready for work when I hear this pounding on my front door. "What was going on?" I thought. I ran down the stairs and opened the door where I was instantly confused as to why I was getting a rambled on story from my moochy neighbor who was not very commendable in the first place. After he excitedly said something about a plane crashing into some World Center somewhere, I simply said, "Oh really?" And then said, "I've got to get ready to work," and quickly shut the door thinking, "Who has time for this? Doesn't he know that real people really work? So a plane crashed and hit a building. Don't planes accidentally crash all the time? What building is he talking about like I'm supposed to know where this is?" Yes, I'm a little naive and obviously haven't been much out of Utah for my whole life, so I figured I'd hear about it on the way to work and left it at that. I really heard the shocking news once I got in the car and turned the radio on as I was pullihng out the driveway. I was thinking to myself, "Terrorists? In my country? NO WAY! And where is this World Trade Center, what are the Two Towers? Why isn't anyone telling us to stay inside? No wonder my neighbor was freaking out." I couldn't believe what I was hearing and little did I know that wasn't all that was to happen that day. I can't believe five years have passed. Five years!

God bless the families who lost loved ones from horrible death...I know your pain, but the reason for it less comprehensible and without purpose than the reason for mine.

Go Joe!

Michael is going to enlist early in the Army. When I tell people this, they freak out. He has been dreaming of being in the Army since he was 10 years old, and as he was making his decision to call the recruiter, I reminded him of that. He was too nervous to accept but on the other hand really wanted it. So he decided to go for it. And now that the time has finally come, he is nervous about it, but even more he is excited. If he gets accepted, he won't be able to do anything for another year, so that is a relief for me. Until then, I will savor the time before he leaves.

Little Stinker!

Savannah has been mimicking me for some time now, but it is funnier than ever. I know babies and toddlers do this as a way to learn, that they follow our behaviors, but sometimes they find out that what we do is not always something they want.

Last night as we were eating dinner, Michael pulled out the Jack Daniels No. 7 Mustard for his burger. He originally bought the mustard for some bratwurst he and his friend were cooking the other night for dinner and now uses it on everything. Well I hadn't ever tried it, so I took a little off the top with my fingertip to taste it. Just as soon as you can imagine, Savannah cries, "I want to try!" So I do the same for her, she tastes it looks up at me and says, "Mmmm," then after a
second she scrunches up her nose pulling a look on her face I will not forget and said, "Ewwww." Yep, "ew" is one of her most frequently used words right now. Wonder if it's a girl thing to think so many things are gross.

The other day Charlie was doing dishes and cleaning the counters. I looked over and saw Savannah wiping down all the kitchen chairs mimicking him. It was so cute. I only hope she stays as helpful and willing as she is now.

Another funny things she's been doing lately is after I get done with walking on the treadmill, I like to stretch and tone. So there she is, on the floor with me following everything I do. She tries to do her sit ups and insists that I count for her. She gives up after the second sit up and decides she's done. It's hilarious to watch!

What I want for my birthday...

The title of this post reminds me of the theme the kids in A Christmas Story were required to write about what they wanted for Christmas. Funny. But it turns out this entry is really about personal change, and not about my upcoming birthday at all.

Recently I've realized that my goal for losing weight is working and I could apply the same idea on other goals with self talk. I decided I wanted to lose weight and I'm doing it aren't I? I didn't think I could before, but now wish I would have started sooner. As a result, I finally bought a treadmill after wanting one for so many years, and I bought it without feeling guilty for spending the money. (for the most part.) So to help my positive thinking and efforts to keep my self worth up, I need to really treat my needs and wants better than I have in the past.

Being an adult for the last umpteenth years, I've always said I don't want anything or I don't need anything for my birthday. But I've been thinking of how I cheat myself out of so many things by having that attitude, that by not letting myself discover what I want for a simple birthday gift has made me become habitually indecisive about everything in life. Besides, if I can't read my own mind, what makes me think other people can?

So in order to practice identifying what I really do want (not just for my birthday but in life) and to not feel selfish for wanting it, I've made this list. And what I don't get, I will learn to make an honest effort to get myself without feeling guilty about it.

What I want for my birthday...

1. New pajamas, robe, and slippers.
2. Chocolate cake with chocolate icing.
3. A gift certificate to a nice salon to get my hair colored and cut.
4. Money for new clothes.
5. Small radio for my desk at work.

Relish: a pleasing or enjoyable quality.

Ahhhh....I love three day weekends. The thought of Sunday evening approaching isn't bothering me at all. What rest and relaxation. Got my major housework done, my shopping done, and now all that's left is just free time! What a lovely thought! Hope you all are having a good holiday weekend as well.

What's in your Lunchbox?

I recommend Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Chicken, Spinach, & Mushrooms Panini sandwich. Who knew a frozen sandwich could be so good? I'd like to try and make one home made. That paired with a bunch of red grapes, you can't lose! (Except weight of course!)