How many calories are in this?

So in anticipation of our upcoming wedding in Key West, we have been trying to workout and loose some lb's. I'ts been 6 months since Jack was born and I'm still trying to get back to pre-preggo weight. (Enter Debbie Downer whaa whaaa...) Note: Dairy Queen almost daily = very bad for your body image. Even though that little baby really, really wanted it every day - sometimes twice a day. I'm paying dearly for that now.

I've been using http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ to assist in the daunting task of counting calories. I hate it. (Not the website, just the whole counting calories thing). I actually considered joining Weight Watchers. Sidebar: WHEN DID I BECOME OF WEIGHT WATCHERS AGE??? This site has definately opened my eyes to how bad most everything in the grocery store is, well, the good things anyways. A Chicken Pot Pie from my beloved Byerlie's is 700 calories. WHAT. Say it ain't so. All I can think about when I'm at lunch with co-workers is how many calories are in each meal. I even picked up Birthday Treat's for a girl at work and decided against m&m cookies and instead got her ginger cookies! I'm doing everyone a favor (or misery loves company?) I have also found out that Panera is not that bad. You can get a nice normal size chicken cesear salad for 510 calories. Not too bad. As long as I get my 1 hour on the eliptical...if I miss a workout, it's lettuce and water and to bed. (If I was only that disciplined, HA!) I do need to pick up the slack on the light weight lifting. I'm not trying to win any contests, just rid myself of the flabness that has become my back and arms. And legs, neck, face...don't even ask about my behind.


The countdown is on. I only have 64 days until THE DAY. I will be sitting on the beach in my gaucho pants at this rate. I really need to see some results soon. I keep losing the same 2 lbs then gaining them back. I think I need to try and switch up my routine and my eating habits stat.


I have set my goal for fitness in 2011. I want to do 1,000 miles in 2011. This can be combined running, walking, or eliptical. All eliptical at this point but I'm off to a good start! Must. See. Results. Soon. Please. If. Your. Listening. And. Thank. You.

un-con-ven-tion-al

If I had to chose 1 word to describe my life up until now...Unconventional. Next week is Thanksgiving, so I decided that I should need to count my blessings. Is my life perfect? No. Have I made mistakes? Yes. Would I change anything? Yes, who wouldn't? No. It's what has made me, well, ME! Take it or leave it right? So in honor of Thanksgiving, here are some things I have to be thankful for:

1. My fiance. He really is my rock, my best friend, my soul mate. I really don't know where I would be without him. He showed me that love was possible (other than my kids, because I love them, I already knew that much). I always used to think that people "faked" love. (I used to think: Who holds hands with there significant other? Not this girl, no way!) Now, I can't get enough of him. Ever. I cannot wait until April when I can call you my husband. I love you more than you'll ever know. More! (Bad pic of me...whoa.)

2. My kids. I have been a parent for 13 years. I don't remember what it was like without kids. I wouldn't trade them for the world either. I really would do anything for my kids. They amaze me. They make me laugh, smile even cry. Having kids is like having your heart beat on the outside. They are sponges, they are performers. They 3 very different kids. I have the Socialite, the Entertainer and well, we are still learning what J will be like but I'm guessing he'll be the Serious one (more like his Dad with his Mom's lack of patience). I can't wait to see what they will be like as adults. But not too soon! I want them to stay with me forever!

3. My friends. I really have some of the most supportive friends. Friends who have helped me move, let me cry, listened to my endless rants, talked me off the ledge, encouraged me when I needed to be encouraged. Friends who have made me smile, refilled my glass, made me dinner, helped clean my house. Friends who have been there when Family should have. Although we don't get to hang out as often as we would like or should, I love my friends dearly. They really are the family I wasn't born into.

4. My family.  I have an Aunt who is like a Mother to me. She has stepped in when other's have stepped out. I have Cousin's who are more like Sisters. The Sister's I didn't get (or know, who knows that's a whole new ball of wax folks!). Just thinking of them makes me laugh. Oh we need to get together ladies!

5. My soon to be In-Laws. I really geniunely love my fiance's family. All of them! They are a sincere, nice, loving, family. They are a very close knit group and I love that. They are all there for eachother. They have been nothing but supportive to our family. I just love them. From the Grandpa's to Grandma's, Aunt's to Uncle's, Brother's to Sister, to Cousins. I even love their pets.

Life is good. So many things to be thankful for.

I'm baaaaack.

So, it's been a while. Yeah, I suck. I get it. My friend Carolyn and I decided to start these at the same time. Her's is excellent, has a bizillion followers, etc. Mine? Well, mine sucks. I have 2. So here is my desperate attempt at Round 2 (ding, ding!)

I was trying to think of ideas for our family Christmas Card. I. Am. Running. Out. Of. Time. Thanksgiving is next week already? What happened to November? We bought a new camera in June (Father's Day present) so we should have a million pictures to choose from right? Wrong. Don't get me wrong, I took a million pictures, it just so happens that I have very few with all 3 kids in them. I do however have this. It's a gem.

This really does sum up our family. I think it's a keeper! "T" is thinking this whole idea is insane. "J" is just screaming, it was 1 second past his normal feeding time. "E" is just loving the leaves, has no care in the world really. I love my family. Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like this photo.

Weekend at home

So, I'm back! It was really hard to find the time for blogging but after seeing Justin's post, I decided to do just one more. This weekend weather was supposed to be less than ideal so we decided to stay home and get some projects done around the house since Jack will be here next month so we'll try and get to the cabin every weekend until then.

Friday night was spent watching the Twins game and then we had a couple visitors. My cousin Becky stopped over with her adorable baby girl Cody who is about 10 weeks old and such a doll. Justin was holding her and talking to her like such a pro. He will be such a good Daddy! Well, he already is but some guys are really nervous around babies, not him! Ella held her too and was so careful, she is very excited for her brother to arrive too so the practice is good for all of us. Taylor wasn't home she went to her friends house for the night after her first couple days of summer employment. She got her earnings and was off to the mall!

Today, Saturday, we were woken up by Ella around 3 am because she was sad no one was sleeping with her. So she climbed into bed with us. Now we only have a queen size bed so that is pushing it with me and my belly. We all got up to go to Ella's second baseball game. It was so cold, 57 degrees and the rain was forecasted to come. I ended up running home to get a blanket, sweatshirt and long sleeves for Justin and Ella. The game was good as usual and the rain held up til the last inning, which in this case is the 3rd inning. Yes, 1 1/2 hours and we make it to the 3rd inning. I'm hoping for better weather here out.

We came home and Justin started right away on finishing the kitchen, all we have left is to paint but its something we keep putting off. So he's painting, I nap. See how the "project's" get done? Well I better get off the couch and do something productive or else I will be disappointed in myself. Off to show my moral support for all the work he is doing and to try and get something done myself.

"Our" Blog...

Yes, in order to make this "our" blog, Dottie said I had to post something to it...she is right again! That was probably 2 months ago so I'm finally getting around to it...haha! What have we been up to the last few months...

Baby watch! We are now at 32 weeks and 5 days. We have the c-section scheduled for July 26 at 7:40 am! So a little over 6 weeks left to go! The day will be here before we know it, but it can't get here soon enough. We had the ultra sound in March and Baby Noah "showed" us! We'll be welcoming Jack Mills Noah into the world on that day! We are all so excited and can't wait to meet him! He's certainaly been letting Mommy know he's in there and active! Sometimes he'll kick so hard, it almost like he's kicking through! Dottie has been doing great! I'm so proud of her, there's no way I could go through what she's going through. Daddy has been feeling and seeing him move a lot too! I've put my head on her stomach and told him, "it's the only time you can kick Daddy in the head!"

Taylor and Ella are now finished with school and starting their summer vacation. Taylor will be watching Ella during the day until Jack comes and Mom is at home! Ella is playing baseball this summer and I decided to help coach her team! We've had a number of practices and 1 game so far. It's been a lot of fun to watch and help these 5 and 6 year olds to play baseball! It's also been pretty entertaining to watch!

We started our summer season of going to the lake already, although we had a longer than planed ride up on fishing opener. We were pulling the boat up and were in traffic on 94 just before Rogers when we were rear ended! We were just about to the Rogers exit and were stopped when a lady hit us. She hit us hard enought with her little honda pilot to push the boat up the trailer and into the back window of our car. We then were pushed into the car in front of us. Thank God we had the boat though as it took a lot of the damage. It was pretty scary at first, the kids were watching a movie and freaked out, then had to sit there for an hour and a half while the cops sorted everything out. I guess we were on the news for the major delay on a major freeway on a major weekend. The main thing was everyone was ok. She ended up totaling the boat and we did get the car fixed, all paid by her insurance. It was tough to see the boat in that condition as I had been taking care of it, washing, waxing, and of course using it for the last 13 summers. But I am so thankful we had it with us to take that impact. Taylor was in the third row of the car and had glass in her hood from the window being blown out. I don't even want to think what could have happened if the boat wasn't there. The boat definately took one for our Family.

On the upside of this incedent, we did get to go boat shopping with the insurance money! We got a 2004 Glastron 175 SX. Basically the same size boat, same size engine, but with a different layout. It was tough to be without a boat up there...2 weeks was enough! Hauling the new boat up there a couple weeks ago was a little nerve racking...tried to leave a lot of space between me and the car in front of us. Dottie only had to tell me to "watch out!" a few times. It was a much better trip up.

Dottie and I are thinking Key West in April for our Wedding! We still have to finalize a date and plans, but it's getting there. I can't be more excited to be able to spend the rest of my life with the one person I am supposed to, my best friend, my soul mate! I love her more than I ever thought I could love someone! I love you babe!

T.G.I.F.

I thought this week would never end, but I think that every week so what's new? Time seems to stop during the week. To compensate for this, it flys by on the weekend. Go figure.

This is a rare, rare, very rare statement but, I can't wait for Monday! Don't get me wrong, I will enjoy every second of the weekend but Monday is our ultrasound! Hopefully, this little one will let us see what "kind" it is (that's from Uncle Ryan). "When do you guys find out what kind your having?" ha, ha! Not that we are not concerned for Baby N's health because we are thinking about that too. Finger's crossed baby is a.o.k.

Today's Ellaism took place this morning while Justin and Ella where in transit to daycare. Ella sneezed and Justin said "gesundheit". To which Ella replied, "no we are not in German, you have to say bless you". She then said "when we're in German, then you can say gesundheit". Out of the mouthes of babes!
Bonus! Here's another Ellaism from earlier in the week during bedtime. Ella is supposed to be going to bed. You know, closing her eyes and relaxing. Well, she said "I can't, I have too much fun-ness in my brain." I know that's not a word but still...she's pretty good.

Ok, the last couple days Carolyn has been sending me funny craigslist links. Some things people post: wedding bouquets, mixing bowls, Metamucil, etc. Today, she sends me one of trailer. As in trailer park. 14x70 ft trailer to be exact-its even FREE. Oh the things they post on there. So to be funny, I pass this link along to Justin asking him if we need a trailer. To this he responds "do we need an additon on our house for the kids?" Good gravey, I thought that was so funny. Then he keeps going with it "we can park it in the driveway and tell the kids... GO TO YOUR TRAILER." Seriously. Could. Not. Stop. Laughing.

2 pictures for you to enjoy:

1. Our baby at 19 weeks...Your baby equals a large heirloom tomato in size and weighs 8 1/2 ounces. (length: 6 inches, head to bottom)

2. The trailer, yep its FREE.

Brrrrr!

Brrrrrrrrr! It's so darn cold out! Another reason I want Summer to come.

So last night, Ella was snacking on some potato chips. She then became slightly agitated and said she had an owie on her tongue. When asked what happened to her tongue, she said "I fell down". Hmmm, you fell on your tongue, right. Finally, she admits that she and another boy named Ben stuck their tongues on a pole outside yesterday at school. Yep. A real live "Christmas Story" only she has never seen this movie. Should have had her watch that marathon while it was on. Live and learn right?

Ella and school. Reminds me of another school story that kind of irritates me. So last Friday, it was a school release day. I unfortunately had to work, so she was signed up to attend Kid's Place all day (her before and after school day care). They were going on a feild trip to see a movie. Sounds fun right? Well Friday night she tells me, "Mom, I like pop now!" Confused by this because we don't give her pop, I ask her when she had it. "the movie theater lady gave it to us, I drank it all, it's really good!" Thanks movie theatre lady. Thanks day care for not giving instruction for water only. The last thing Ella needs is caffine. Oh well, I guess not much you can do about it huh?

Today, I get to work and maybe ten minutes later I get a phone call from Taylor's school nurse. Poor thing doesn't feel good. So I unexpectedly had to leave work and now I sit at home. Taylor's sleeping and I should be doing some cleaning but yet here I am blogging. Better get something done!