Thursday, July 30, 2009

Insert Choice Title Here

search engine marketing
search engine optimization


There are so many titles I could put for this post, so I'll just let you put one in there yourself.

Rhys slept ALL. STINKIN. NIGHT. I feel so happy, blessed, energetic. He usually would get up around 11pm, nurse, and go right back to bed. Then he'd get up early morning, like 4ish. And go right back to bed. Well the past couple of nights he'd pushed his first feeding to 1am, then 2am. Then he just dropped the second feeding and was getting up once. I'm not holding my breath though, because I had to wake him up from all his naps yesterday. He was just a sleepy boy. I think he's growing. So he might go back to getting up again and that's ok. This is the point where I did controlled crying with Nadia, but I just don't have the heart to do it with Rhys. So I won't, at least not yet. And that's ok. I know that if he did it once, he can do it again when he's ready. He's my last baby, I want to enjoy all the baby/nursing/bonding moments I have with him. And as long as I'm getting sleep why should I force him to go through that?

Anyway, it's a good day. I even woke up before he woke up. Wow.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Little Weight Loss Joys #3

search engine marketing
search engine optimization


Yesterday I was walking through our annual street fair with a friend from Ohio. This particular friend has seen me at almost my highest weight. Everybody else in our little town has not. A lady who comes to our church when she is visiting her mother in law was there. She saw me and exclaimed "hey there skinny mini!" I have never, ever in my life been called that. I've been called a lot of other things, but never skinny mini. It's a first. And it was nice. She's only ever seen me as heavy as after I had Rhys. What she didn't know is that I had been much much heavier. And what was really weird is that she herself is thin. I can't believe I'm being classified with the skinnies. How cool is that?

Friday, July 24, 2009

Can't Loose Cankles

search engine marketing
search engine optimization


I was watching the Early Show this morning while I was doing my 200 Squat Challenge (more on that later) and they had a segment on Cankles (remember my previous post?). They said that the only way to get rid of cankles is surgery. That's a load of hooey. Now maybe for this woman, I mean she was fairly thin all over, but the other pictures of women with cankles they were showing were heavier women. Exercise would probably help in most situations. I find it irritating and depressing that the only way they are saying you can get rid of fat is to cut it off! Now there are sometimes I'd like to do that and I can remember my mother actually saying that, but I'm not going to put myself through an elective surgery just for looks. No way. That's asking for trouble.

And another thing, do you know what irritates me about those shots of heavy people? They never show their faces. Now they probably do that because of the lawsuit factor there. But it makes those people seem nothing more than the excess weight they carry. It irritates me. And why do they feel the need to film heavy people at all? Can't they just show the announcer talking or something? Or show medical pics of the area or whatever? Grrrr. I realize that a lot of people who have excess weight is their fault and they need to do something about it, but still it's irritating.

I'm off my soapbox now.

By the way, have you heard of Turbo Jam? I just tried it this morning. I LOVED it! It was so much fun! And different. I was getting tired of Jillian. I figured that if I was getting bored mentally, I might be getting bored physically. Time to mix it up. I'll still do the Shred, but not everyday. This DVD has 5 different workouts. YAY! Never get used to it.

Now to go eat and mow the lawn. yay.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Little Weight Loss Joys #2

search engine marketing
search engine optimization


For the longest time in my life I had cankles. Those ugly, tree-like impostors for ankles. Yuk. I would wear heels in high school to give myself the appearance of ankles. I mean, this was not reserved for pregnancy, no I had them day in and day out. My wonderful best friend felt the need to point this out to me. Nice, thank you. I used to admire other women's ankles, just because they had them. I would think how nice that inner bone sticking out was.

Well now I can admire my own. I finally have ankles. Nice ankles. I have the prominent bone on the outside and even a nice little bone sticking out on the inner ankle. I, finally my friends, have ankles. And for that I am happy. It's small, but it's a step.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Pardon Me...

search engine marketing
search engine optimization


The idea for this post has been rolling around in my mind for a long time. It's sort of an embarrassing issue, maybe for some, but I think you can handle it.

It's about underwear.

Now I realize that some of you are already moving your little white arrow to the 'X' at the top of the screen to shut me out, but but but! Give me a minute, hear me out, I'm not going that embarrassing.

Here's the dealio, for a long time I was brand loyal to Victoria's Secret. When I had lost enough weight to finally fit in a pair I only bought undies from them. It was something in my mind that if I wore from that store I mustn't be as fat as I thought I was. Whatever. But I discovered that even though they were a bit more expensive than my previous brand from Wally World, they lasted FOREVER. I mean I had pairs for 5 years before I forced myself to throw them out. Nary a snag, hole, tear or fading. They remained fabulous throughout the entire time I owned them. Then about, oh, a few months ago I decided that I had had enough of buying into the hype, I was who I was no matter what underwear I wore and I went back to Hanes. Lemmee tell ya, they tore after just two washings. I was miffed.

All that to say, I've gone back to VS. I don't like the way they portray women in their catalogs, stores and website. But I have to hand it to them, they've got the market on underwear (bras are a different story. To me, a bra is meant to hold me in, you know, I want to be able to bend down to pick up my son without having to adjust afterward. That's annoying. Women move, VS bras are meant for women who sit around and do nothing. That's not me. Anyway.) But I'd like to know, do you know of a brand that does stay together fairly well? I mean they don't need to last 5 years, but at least 1 year would be nice. I was so irritated that I wasted money on underwear that fell apart so soon.

There I said it. I got it off my chest, oo, bad verbiage there. Well you know what I mean. That wasn't so bad, now was it? :)

Friday, July 17, 2009

Randomly Not Here

search engine marketing
search engine optimization


I am here, but not here. That means, I am active, not sick, busily running around, but not blogging lately. So, feeling bad for the small, very small following of followers that I have, I'll blog for you. Isn't it nice to be thought of?

My garden has reached the minimal weedage stage. I love this stage. It seems in the spring I could weed all four gardens and need to do it at the end of that same week. It's ridiculous. Then around this time the weeds sort of give up on trying to take over my garden and only the few tenacious ones refuse to give up the ghost. It's nice. I can sort of take my time on weeding. The only reason I like to weed is the same reason I like to mow...expenditure of calories. If I didn't have just a few pounds to go to my goal weight, I would chuck both and do them a whole lot less. Of course the garden and the yard would look disastrous, so I suppose it's a good thing.

I have been stuck at the same fluctuating 4 pounds for about a month now. Really, since about April. Yuck. I get down, really low to 157, then I sort of wiggle back and forth to 161, much to my dismay. But I am noticing a change in the mirror. I look more toned and I feel stronger, so I know change is happening, even if the scale isn't reflecting that change. I know eventually it has to come off, but I believe it may have something to do with nursing. I wonder if my body is sort of holding onto the last few pounds in favor of nourishing the baby. And that's ok. I am slowly getting more and more comfortable with being at this weight. For some reason, though, I hate seeing 160. I'm much happier at 157, and I know it's only a 3lb difference but it makes all the difference for me in my day. I know that's bad, and I'm working at changing that, but mindsets take time. I would've given anything to weigh 160 when I weighed 280. What am I griping about? Someone slap me. I guess it's the idea of it all. When I'm so close to being 'normal'. 154. That's all. I'd settle, right there. That would be a healthy weight for me, normal on all the charts. Someone pray that for me? Will you? Pray I make it there. Just 4 (right now) more pounds. And I'll stop. I'll be content. But perhaps it's the mind that needs to change. *sigh*

Rhys is pulling himself up on things left and right. Last night he was standing in a dry tub holding on the edge, just so happy about it! He crawls to who he wants to have hold him and he is usually held by more men in our church than women. Which I think is awesome. It's one of the only times I actually see their guard fall and it's sweet. These big, burly, tough men, cooing and playing and blowing raspberries much to the delight of a sweet baby boy. And he enjoys them. Never once have I had a man refuse to hold Rhys. It's adorable. There is something about a man holding a baby.

I got the book about raising spirited children and I also got a book by Dr. Lehman that's much more enjoyable to read. So I read it first. *blush* That's all I'll say. I figure if that is in place and going well, parenting should go much better.

And Rachel, it looks as if I won't be able to get my nose pierced. I'm still nursing and I would squirm like a worm on a hook to lie about it. I guess we can still ask, as I don't have a problem with getting it done while nursing, I just have a problem with lying about it. Of course, those who might do it, might have less than ideal scruples and therefore less than ideal piercing standards. I should probably nix the idea till Rhys is weaned. BUT, I will so go with you to get yours done! Don't let me stop you!

Well the lawn needs mowed and I have calories to burn. *sigh* Somedays I wish I could just eat whatever I wanted and laid around and do nothing. Eat everything and do nothing. Sounds like a vacation! Heck, that'll be our 10th anniversary. And no conception of children, thank you very much. We are done. But that's another post.

Later!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Emily Post Was Out...

search engine marketing
search engine optimization


I need your advice. I am having a couple couples over (yes you read that right) for dinner in a few weeks. These are totally awesome people and one of the ladies, when I invited her and her husband, offered to bring something. I didn't ask, but she offered, so I said, sure, how about dessert. Well, now I'm concerned that if she shows up with something and the others don't, that the others will feel awkward. Should I mention to the others that this other lady is bringing something, and that I don't care if they don't bring something, but if they would like to bring something they may? What would you do?

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Little Weight Loss Joys

search engine marketing
search engine optimization


I've been changing my mindset about this whole weightloss thing. I've been looking to the last 13lbs that I want to come off. I've been badgering myself, beating myself and just generally down about the whole thing. And ya know what? I've lost 122lbs. That's a lot of weight. I need to re-focus on what I have done. So when I see one, I am going to post little weight loss joys to remind myself that I have come a long way, even if those last 13lbs never come off.

So here is my one for today:

I can wrap a bath towel (and not a bath sheet, just a regular towel) the WHOLE way around my body and it covers everything from pits to thighs. Before I might be able to cover my chest. Now I can cover everything. That's just cool.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Nephew and Cousins


Over the Independence Day weekend I had the opportunity to meet my new nephew! This is the boy that made me an aunt. I'm so honored. His name is Ivan and he looks just like my brother and Dad. He's a cutie. Enjoy some pics of the kids.




Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Nose Piercing Update

search engine marketing
search engine optimization


I've gotten a lot of comments on the nose piercing thing, so I thought I'd make my 'comments' right here.

Yes, Andrew approves. I suppose he sees it as the lesser of two evils. He knows how much I want a tattoo. I've wanted one for years, but this is something he's putting his foot down. That makes him sound bad and really he's not like that. There is very little he just says no to without discussion. So I respect that. And I think because this is totally reverse-able he's for it.

Now I'll only be getting this if I get down to 145, so it could be a while yet, seeing as how I only loose like 2lbs a month now. Grrr. I found a place locally that looks reputable to get it done, so maybe this winter. It would be great if it could coincide with my 30th birthday. Sort of poetic.

Rachel, I'll tell you what, if I get my nose pierced, you get your belly button pierced. If we still lived in the same town, I'd say lets do it together. You know what? We could do it this summer when the commission meets! What do you think? I guess I could fudge a bit on the weight goal, sort of a preemptive reward. (Heck, as if 120+ pounds isn't enough for a celebration, I don't know what is!)

Yes, Sandy send me pics, especially of the ones that aren't as noticeable.

One other question I have, I know while it's healing you can't take it out, do they have piercing studs that aren't as noticeable from the beginning?

Oh and how much did it cost?

Thanks ladies for all the support!

Monday, July 06, 2009

Nose Piercing

search engine marketing
search engine optimization


I have been toying with the idea of getting a nose piercing for some time now. In fact, I'd rather do that than go Goodwilling. But, being the cautious one that I am, I am really weighing this before I just go and shove a poker through my nose.

Do you have one? Know anyone close to you that has one? Remember I am a pastors wife and I don't know how the church will react. This is a backwoodsy, down-home sort of place and I can just imagine the reactions.

What do you think?