milestones

Last week Wyatt got up on all fours! YAY! He's getting ready to crawl. He also got himself into the sitting position! It was a big week for him! He's growing so fast.

Speaking of growing, as in my waistline.......well, I gained another .4 lbs. I wasn't surprised. I'll explain why.......

July 23rd was our 15th wedding anniversary. Yes, 15 years! I feel proud that we have been married 15 year which is much longer than many. I am also excited for the next 15 years of our lives together. So many things have changed in 15 years. We've had struggles, joys, triumphs, loss and everything in between. We were just kids, it seems now, when we got married. I was 2 weeks shy of my 21st birthday and Randy was 24, but we're still here and still together. I love you, honey.

So, for our anniversary, my mom offered to babysit the boys for us on Friday (the night before my WW weigh-in). I'd always envisioned our 15th anniversary on a cruise somewhere tropical, but since that wasn't an option this year, we opted for the next best thing, SEAFOOD! ;) We usually like to try something new on our anniversary, so we set out for the Northshore Grille Smokin' Crabshack and Canteen (http://www.northshoregrille.com/). Let me just say this, WOW! We shared an appetizer of 2 sauteed crab cakes with a delicious remoulade served over a black bean and corn salsa. I chose the cream cheese and crab stuffed trout with a wild rice pilaf and haricots verts (green beans). It was absolutely wonderful! Randy chose the steamed crab for 1 which came with red potatoes and corn on the cob. Let's just say that he didn't let anything go to waste! He also ordered a side of jalapeno hush puppies. I helped myself to one, and they were really good. They weren't as spicy as I was afraid of, so it was a pleasant surprise. And lastly, for desert we had the Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie. It was wonderful. It was so wonderful, in fact, I felt the need to take a photo to confess my Weight Watcher sin of eating half (or a little more) of this delectable treat!

Following dinner we went to see The Ugly Truth. It was trashily funny (yes, I made up my own word to describe it). It was really funny, but the language was on the verge of NC-17! We laughed and laughed....I guess we like trashily funny! lol At the movies I indulged in movie popcorn. What's a girl to do?

Do I ask for forgiveness for something I'm not sorry I did? No, I don't think so....but I will confess, to you all, my sin of gluttony on my anniversary. I absolve myself! :)

Then, to top of our night we went to see a friend of our run karaoke night at a little bar. I had 2 beers. So, I can't actually remember the last time I drank a beer, but I know it's been a while. They were very good, but my tummy was killing me the next day, so I guess I just don't have the stomach for it anymore. I think I'll stick to my fruity little girly drinks when I feel the need.

All in all, we had a fun night. Great food, funny movie and an ok bar watching people try to sing.

So, I think all of that explains my minimal weight gain on Saturday. Do I really care? A little. Would I change it? Hell no! We had fun!

Took Wyatt back to see Dr. E today. He has bronchitis and a minor ear infection. While we were there Dr. E took a peek at Walker's ears to see how they are coming along....not looking good. His next appointment will likely include a referral to an ENT and probably surgery. My poor sick babies :( Here's a pic of Wyatt getting his first breathing treatment.

This week is starting out a little rough.....but I am hopeful it will get better.

ok.......

so, I have properly chastised for not updating my blog as promised. I'm sorry. So, here's the stats.

I gained .4 at my weigh-in on Saturday. I was pretty bummed, but happy it wasn't more.

I'm trying harder this week, but I'm struggling every day. Since school has been out, it's been harder for me to stay focused on eating the right things.

Today, however, I took a new step in the right direction.....I exercised! Not for long, as I didn't choose an appropriate time for this, but I got in about 10-15 minutes and I found one on Comcast On Demand that I really like. So, I'm going to try it again tomorrow during nap time, or just after eating so I have a happy, content baby. I also went for a walk at the battlefield today. I think we walked almost 2 miles.

Milestone.....well, almost. Today Wyatt got up on all fours for the first time! It was the cutest thing, but I didn't get a picture. Next time, I'll try to be prepared. He didn't go anywhere, but he got up and looked like he could just take of crawling. He's growing so fast!

School....Walker will be entering the 1st grade in just 2 weeks! Yep, school starts on August 6th this year, which happens to be my birthday (36th). What happened to the day after Labor Day?

Here are a few pics of the kiddos from the last week or so.

weekend with friends

We spent Saturday hanging out with Stacey (my BFF) and her family at her home. Walker loved swimming with Alyssa in the lake and doing cannon balls off the pier.

But, I think the highlight for him was riding the new jet ski with his daddy!

We had a great time.

Before that, I took a few pics of Wyatt in this little outfit that was Walkers...one of the few articles of clothing I saved.

And here is Walker at IHOP Saturday morning after getting his hair trimmed.

And then one of Wyatt from Thursday when he had his first taste of steamed rice at Best China (our favorite Chinese restaurant).

I vow to LOOSE IT!

Well, today I'm starting anew with my weight loss. I haven't been blogging about my progress in Weight Watchers much lately because I haven't been doing so well. I was up to 19.4 total loss until a few weeks ago when I gained 1.6. I skipped 2 weeks of meetings and was dreading my Saturday weigh-in, only to find I had actually lost (.6). Not much, mind you, but a loss is a loss. So, now my total loss is 18.4. Since I am nowhere close to where I thought I'd be by now, I am rededicating myself to getting to a healthy weight.

Now, I'm not willing to share my weight with the world, but I am willing to tell you all how much I'm loosing (or gaining) each week. I am willing to share when I've gone over my points and when I've done well. I'm hoping that by being more open with everyone about my day to day struggles with this, it will help me to stay focused on what I want. I am under no illusions to get back to the weight I was in high school or basic training, but I do wish to be a healthy weight in order to be a healthier woman, mother & wife.

The first 15lbs seemed so easy and I thought that I'd be down to my goal weight in no time. I think the first 15 was so easy because I'd been eating so poorly that the slightest healthy change in my diet made the first of those pounds just melt away.....now, I have to work at it a little harder.

So, as I said, today begins anew....follow along with me on this journey of weight loss. I'd love to read your comments.

like-sisters

With the sad events of the week, it has make me realize even more how very special my BFF, Stacey, is to me. I think we have devised the perfect plan:
Should we both out live our husbands, we will become roommates in a nursing facility and die on the same day. Problem solved....no tears, no sorrow, just us two 'like-sisters' kickin' it at the nursing home until we take our last breaths together.
I don't want to go through what my mom went through today, nor do I want Stacey to endure that pain and sorrow. Just last year I watch my mother-in-law as she lost her oldest and dearest friend. It was heartbreaking to watch, as it was again today with my own mother.
Don't get me wrong, I feel for the family, especially Tara, Teari's only child. But that bond you have with your best friend is something that cannot be duplicated by family or another friend. It is unique and special. A marriage, if you will, of two kindred spirits who are always there...you may not speak every day, see each other every week, but you are there for each other when the chips are down, when they're up, and everywhere in between. You know each others secrets from years and years ago....and you've never told a sole and never will. You've seen them at their worst, as they've seen you; you've seen them at their best and are always proud of them. This comes only once. We all should cherish these friendships because one day, it will come to an end as it did for my mom this week. You will have regrets for maybe not talking to them the day before, or realizing how close to the end they were. However, and most important, you will have those years of memories of all you've been through together as "like-sisters" and nothing can take that away and no one else can understand.
So, tomorrow when I go visit with Stacey and her family, I will give and extra hug, kiss and I love you. Sometimes it is when you see loss, up close and personal, that it hits home how very fragile life can be and how quickly it is gone. Love those around you with all your might.
Stacey and I have been friends for nearly 20 years, that seems so strange to say...I hope we have at least 40 more to come.

Sad news

I'm sad to report that my mom's best friend of over 40 years has passed away. Teresa(Teari) Lynn (Bolden) O'Daniel passed away last night July 7th, 2009. She is survived by her daughter, Tara; grand-daughter, Ryleigh (5months); along with other family members. I'm so sad that Ryleigh will not grow up knowing her grandmother.
Teari's mother, Juanita, passed away just last year so I hope they are now together looking down on us all.
Teari has been ill for quite some time, but this still comes as a surprise to everyone. She will be missed.
RIP Teari, we love you.

O'Daniel, Teresa "Teari"posted July 8, 2009
Teresa O'Daniel Teresa “Teari” O’Daniel, 54, of East Brainerd, died on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 in a local hospital.Teari had lived most of her life in Chattanooga and was a member of Bayside Baptist Church. She had been employed as an L.P.N. with HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital and retired in 2000. Her husband, Michael O’Daniel, and parents, Marion and Juanita Bolden, preceded her in death.Survivors include her daughter and fiance’, Tara Barrett and Jesse Horvath of East Brainerd; brother and sister-in-law, Tim and Kim Bolden of Chattanooga; granddaughter, Ryleigh Horvath, East Brainerd; great-aunt, Peggy Andrews, Ringgold; nieces, Ashly, Sydney, and Bradie Bolden, all of Chattanooga.Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 10, at 3 p.m. in the South Crest Chapel with Pastor Eric Stitts officiating. To share your thoughts and memories, visit www.lane-southcrestchapel.com.A special thanks to Dr. Ronald Streko and to the staff of LifeCare Center of East Ridge for their care and concern during her stay for rehabilitation.The family will receive friends Thursday from 4–8 p.m. at the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home & Crematory, Rossville.

Happy 4th of July!

We've moved in to our new home!! YAY!!!!
We finished moving our things in yesterday afternoon. We are still tired and sore, but happy it's done. The house is a mess, but organization will come in time. We'll get started today.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe 4th of July holiday weekend!