This Week Is A Battle

Well I'm a few days early on the weight loss post... but I just had to get it out. I'm not doing so hot this week. My junk food cravings over powered me a few times this week. I even ate 10 piece nuggets and a small fry at McDonalds. And no... I did not stay within my alloted Weight Watchers points that day either. Yesterday I also chowed down on a little bag of mini oreo cookies (meant for Isaac's lunches). Now, I know all of this is okay with weight watchers so long as your doing the point system. Well, I wasn't... in my little head I was just saying "Screw it! I'm hungry for junk!" I was so fed up with myself by last night that I decided to take a picture of myself (a sister suggested this) in my sports bra and some little swim shorts (That sadly fit me perfect before Carter and last night I struggled immensley to get them up over my thighs and butt). Anyhow, there's no way in heck that I will post those photos... I'm way too embarrassed. However I plan to look at those now whenever I want that junk food so bad. I was so disgusted of myself when I looked at them... I'm still crossing my fingers that when I step on the scale Sunday morning it will be another loss and not a gain. I've got a few days to make up for my laziness I guess. Right now I'm eating a 1 point Weight Watchers Yogurt (that is actually really really good) and a 2 point Minute Maid Juice Box. That's my breakfast... I'm already feeling full. I may eat a banana to hold me over too. Today is a new day.

Potty Training My Runway Model

Bella recently started this new pose when we ask her to say "Cheese" for the camera. One time I tried to imitate her and I put both my hands on my hips and said cheese. She quickly fixed me, "No Mom... like this... not both hands" and place one hand on her hip. As many of you know Bella has this horrible habit of climbing on our counters and walking around. The other day I was making dinner and she climbed up there and started walking back and forth like a runway. At each end she stopped to pose and said "cheese" with her hand on her hip. I laughed so hard... she is such a girl!

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And on another note, Bella is finally wearing underwear! She will be 3 in April and Doug and I just had enough of the double diaper changing. Especially on Bella because she is so big. She was ready the last couple months, I was just too lazy to do it. She started the whole process straight to underwear last Wednesday. Wednesday had 4 accidents, Thursday had 2 accidents, Saturday had 2 accidents, and yesterday had no accidents. She's doing great! We're so proud of her. She's pretty dang proud of herself too. When she sits down to go pee and knows it's coming or hears it she grins from ear to ear. Such a big girl now!

Not Much But Better Then Nothing

Just reporting in to my public readers.... I started Weight Watchers one week ago today. I started sticking to it about 4 days ago. As you can see with my weight loss ticker to the side... I've lost weight! Yippee!!! I stepped on the scale this morning and read 178.4... finally! So I've lost 3 pounds. Not much, but better then nothing. I'm praying for another good week and hopefully a bigger weight loss.

My Public Weight Loss Journey

First I must start with sharing this poem that I read in my January MOPS newsletter. This is so me...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

T'was the month after Christmas, and all through the house,

nothing would fit me, not even a blouse;

The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I had to taste,

at the holiday parties has now gone to my waiste.

~

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!

When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber),

I remembered the marvelous meals I'd prepared,

The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared;

~

The wine and the rum balls; the bread and the cheese,

and the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."

As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt,

and prepared once again to do battle with dirt,

I said to myself, as only I can,

"You can't spend a winter disguesed as a man!"

~

So, away with the last of the sour cream dip.

Get rid of the fruitcake, every cracker and chip.

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished,

'til all the additional ounces have vanished.

~

I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.

I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.

I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,

I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

~

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore,

But isn't that what January is for?

Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.

Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Oh how true that poem is for me... even down to the "husband's old shirt" part. I want to be cute again! I want to wear my pre pregnancy clothes again. Better yet I'd love to wear my pre marriage clothes again (but I'll settle for the first one).

~

I've never been good at losing weight, working out, staying fit, and eating right. I've always given up and never followed through. I'm embarrassed now that I've let myself go so much. For some people, my weight may be perfect for them... but knowing what I once was and what I am now... well, I just know I can do better, look better, be healthier, and get back to the shape that makes me happy inside and out. I know, I know... I just had a baby! However, that baby was born over 9 weeks ago. Time to kick my butt into gear. I figured the best way for me to do this (for the 3rd time) was to make it public here on the blog. Yes, embarrassing... but at this point I'm willing to try anything.

~

So here's my weight history:

Pre Marriage: 119 pounds

Pre Isaac: 122 pounds

Gained 47 pounds with pregnacy

Pre Bella: 147 pounds

Gained 56 pounds with pregnancy

Did Weight Watchers and lost 19 extra pounds

Pre Carter: 152 pounds

Gained 48 pounds with pregnancy

Current Weight: 181 pounds

SHORT TERM GOAL: 150 pounds

LONG TERM GOAL: 130 pounds

~~~

My weakness is junk food. Chocolates, candies, chips, pie, cake, brownies, fast food, etc. I'm a bored snacker... meaning I just snack and snack and snack when I'm bored and not on healthy food. So this weight is never going to come off unless I do something about it. Wish me luck on this journey... I hope that I can blog with positive, but I'm sure there will be negative moments along the way as well. The past is what the past is... and tomorrow is a new day!

97th Percentile

Carter had his 2 month check up with the doctor yesterday. I wasn't surprised to find out he is in the 97th percentile for his weight. Isaac was the same way... I think there even was a time when Isaac was off the charts. Big boys just run in the family (especially the Norton side). It's so sad that they grow up so fast... but especially when babies like mine get big so fast. Carter can only wear a few of his 3-6 month outfits but for the most part is moving onto 6-9 months. He loves to stare at me and smile. I love it! He just makes me so happy.

Weight: 15 pounds 5 ounces

Height: 24 and half inches (95th percentile)

Our Little Girly Girl

As many of you know, our little Bella is the ultimate girly girl. So much that if I even try to put her dinner on a blue kids plate she says "no, blue is for boys." Well, you'd think that with her being such a girly girl she would have had her nails painted a long time ago... nope, just never thought of it. The other day she was rifling through our junk drawer and found some bright pink nail polish (which my sister Tonia sent to me for Bella when she was a newborn). Bella was so excited so I helped paint her fingers and toes. This is the biggest smile we have every captured in a photo... maybe even her biggest most real smile that we have ever seen. At least we know what makes her happy.

So 2 and half years later... Thank you Aunt Tonia!

Continuing with the story of our girly girl... after eating breakfast and sending Isaac off to school I told Bella to go upstairs and get dressed (something new we've been trying... letting her pick her clothes). Well this is how she came downstairs, boots and all. I couldn't stop laughing. I'm just glad that she is only 2 dressing like this and not 16.

Tummy Time

Out of all the positions we put Carter in (the vibrating chair, the swing, his back, and his tummy) I think tummy time is by far is favorite. He does so well with his head too and has begun the kicking of his legs and trying to get his knees up.

Isaac's First Tournament

Isaac participated in his very first wrestling tournament on January 3rd. He competed against other little 5 and 6 year olds and ended up taking home the 3rd place medal. We are so proud of our little guy! I was so nervous that he would cry if he got pinned or his arm got twisted but not a single tear was shed. He actually LOVED every minute of it. Even when he was matched up against someone he knew and lost, Isaac was still glowing. He did really well and we cannot wait to watch him at his next tournament. My pictures are kinda lame... I knew my dad was there taking tons of photos with his really nice camera so I only captured a few on mine from way up in the Mez. I have yet to download my dad's pictures. I'll post a slideshow of those sometime this weekend.

Ice Skating New Years Day

Carter loves to smile and of course it melts my heart every time. You can tell from the photo that my face next to the camera and not behind it. New Years Eve the older kids spent the night at my parents so this picture was taken when it was just me and Carter at home getting ready to go ice skating (Doug went shooting with family). It was so nice to have a little bonding time with him.

For New Years Day we went ice skating with Grandma, Aunt Kristin & Trina and all their kids. Bella was so excited to put the ice skates on. Just another cool pair of shoes to her. She was excited alright... that is until a little later....

This was Isaac's first time ice skating

Our local ice skating rink offers these little walker things for the kids to use to balance on. Isaac tried it a few times without, but ultimatley decided it was best to use the walker. Even with the walker he fell down on his bum a few times as you can see below... however, he still LOVED ice skating and wants to go back really bad.

Bella on the other hand... hated it. She was so excited up until the minute I put her down on the ice. Her feet started to slide and she started to scream and cry. My sister Kristin even tried to help her use the walker but she wanted nothing to do with it. The picture below is us half way around the ice (I carried her) then put her down for a picture... she just screamed. When I ask her if she wants to go ice skating she always says "NO!". Maybe one day when she's older she'll change her mind.

My mom was sweet enough to come along and help watch Carter so I could participate with the older kids on the ice. Carter did so well the entire time and just stayed all snuggled up to his Grandma.

Christmas Day With The Mapley's

It's tradition to head over to my parents on Christmas Day. This year we (or I should say my sister Kristin) did something special for them. This past July was the first time in 5 years that we had the whole family all together. My sister decided to put together a published book (blurb.com) with everyone photos from those 9 days, along with quotes from everyone. My parents loved this gift, especially my mom... who as you can tell was in tears most the time.

Gracie & Carter

Isaac and Bella were excited to get a new sled from the Anderson Family

Can't you tell how much Doug loves me??? (Yes, that's his new knife in his hand)




Isaac LOVES his Uncle Brian & Uncle James

Christmas Morning

Isaac had fun sorting the presents this year (finally knowing how to read everyone's names)

Isaac was so excited to get his very own laptop computer to play games on


Bella was just as excited about her Barbie computer

I almost didn't get Carter anything this year because he is so little and we already have all the big baby items. But I decided that wouldn't be fair to him looking back at pictures one day of his first Christmas... here we are after opening a "tummy time" (which actually has come in very handy latley).

This was one of Bella's favorite gifts. She wouldn't even put it down for the photo. For the first few days after Christmas she would sit at our kitchen counter in the barstool putting on her "make up" and doing her nails.

Christmas Eve With The Norton's

Every Christmas Eve we celebrate with the Norton Family. This year we celebrated at Rachael's house. I always manage to capture lots of photos of the kids but never the adults. Here's a sister in law photo below of AnnMarie, myself, and Rachael. Unfortunatley the other girls (Amy, Emily, and Bonnie) were unable to make it home this year.

I also had to add this photo of Doug's mom. There's a story behind this one. Christmas Eve was just going to be a day of appetizers and snacks, but I complained on behalf of my husband (who was not present when the decision was made) saying that he would be so disappointed there wasn't a big yummy Christmas feast. I of course offered to help with much of the meals... but Doug's sweet mom took on the task of preparing an amazingly yummy mexican style dinner. She went all out, above and beyond what I had expected. Everyone was soooo thankful for all of the hardwork she put into the meal. Everyone loves Meme's cooking! Thank you!!!

Every year Papa Norton reads the nativity story out of the scriptures while the grandkids act it out. This year Bella and Isaac got to portray Mary and Joseph while our little Carter took on the role of baby Jesus.

And then came the gifts... Isaac was psyched to get more cars as well as a rug he can drive them around on. He LOVES his little vehicles.

Bella was glowing when she discovered her baby doll (that talks!) and dress up shoes.

This was one of the first times that Carter smiled at his daddy. Doug was so happy and as you can tell, Carter was happy that his daddy was holding him.

Santa Took Them All...

I have so many blogs and pictures to post from the crazy last few weeks. First I thought I'd start off by sharing our little story about Santa and the binkies (pacifiers for those of you who don't use the term binky). Bella has been a binky addict for 2 and half years now... stuck to her like glue. So we decided to get rid of it the same way we got rid of it with Isaac (however he was 3). We told Bella that Santa needed to take all of her binkies to other babies who weren't big like her and he'd leave her presents in place of her binkies. She was totally cool with this plan, but we still worried about the outcome.

Christmas Eve she fell asleep on the way home with the binky in her mouth. I carried her up to bed and once I laid her down she woke up a little bit so I asked her for her binky so I could leave it for Santa. She handed it to me and went to sleep. That night she only woke up once asking for it and we just reminded her the Santa was bringing presents. The next morning she was so excited to see all the presents.

She only asked for it a few times after that and we continued to explain that Santa took them to babies. She never through any tantrums and never cried... we got lucky. She occassionally takes Carter's binky and hides in a corner to suck on it but that will pass (Isaac did the same with Bella). A funny moment though- The other night she woke up about an hour after going to bed just screaming so I kinda laid down with her in bed (with Carter in my arms in between us). I told her to snuggle me and Carter and go back to sleep. She grabbed his hand (usually she does this and kisses it) so I assumed that's what was going to happen. Instead she picked it up and was trying to put it in her mouth like a binky. She finally stopped herself and looked at his hand, realizing what it was, put it down and went to sleep. So cute! I couldn't stop laughing...

Anyhow... Santa took them all and she's doing great! Yippee!!!