Monday, October 31, 2011

MTCM: Perserverance


5 weeks: 14 pounds.

Friday October 22, I finally dropped a pound which I referenced last week.

That Tuesday I dropped another pound, then another pound, then another! Well, my last pound I think I lost on Friday before we headed out of town cause I had Mr. Incredible confirm the number.

After a frustrated week or two, I finally was back to regular weight loss. 3 pounds in one week, not bad.

I wasn't able to work out since last Tuesday, and I went out of town. I kept up with my Lose It app, but I was still worried my scale this morning would be mean to me, (not to mention Aunt Flow will be officially be in town by tonight).

Well, I was the exact weight as when I left on Friday! Wahoo! Praise God! I persevered and it was all worth it! Link


This pic is from my phone and it may be hard to see... in Dallas there is a place called Brahms that has THE BEST banana splits! I HAVE to get on every time I go since we do not have them here. Well, they are LOADED with calories! I could NOT justify getting one! Well, we went and I got this small version- 1 scoop as apposed to 3, and much less hot fudge, nuts and bananas. I had enough calories to eat this and I must say, it never tasted better! I was staying within my goals and was able to indulge in a treat! Definitely a huge step towards defeating gluttony forever! Praise Jesus!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Sweetpea Sunday

Pardon my fresh milk spot on my romper!


Saturday, October 29, 2011

1st Gotchaversary

This past weekend we went to Dallas for an adoption conference, and we visited Mr. Incredible's parents. Sweetpea was thrilled to see her PaPa and MaMa, (she picked their names). The conference fell on her Gotcha Day so we were our shirts in celebration! After we got home we all went to dinner to celebrate Sweetpea! Next year it will be fun to take her to a fun place to celebrate- she was still a little too young to appreciate a place like Chuck E Cheese! :)
10.29.10
10.29.11

What a difference a year makes! Look at that baby! Praise God for this wonderful year!

(excuse my face...not the best of me, but this wast the perfect recreation of last year) :)

The shirts say "Adoption Rocks!" and can be purchased here. All proceeds go towards the sellers adoption! Great cause, cute shirts! :)

First Gotcha Day Anniversary

Happy first Gotchaversary to our Sweetpea Beauty! It has been an amazing year! We loved you when we got you, but we had no idea you would be this amazing! Praise Jesus, from whom all blessings flow!

(pic is of Ms. Beauty eating her first cheeseburger while waiting for the tow truck yesterday. Is it just me, or do all moms get excited/choked up when their child eats new food?) :)


Friday, October 28, 2011

Angels among us

I'm about to burst into tears! God is so good! Our car stopped working just now... Mr. Incredible had to push us to safety, (Mr. Incredible- fitting name huh?), and thankfully God sent a stranger who jumped out of his car to help! I was worried someone would rear end us and with Sweetpea in the car-well, lets just say that man was a huge blessing! So thankful this did not happen when I was alone or in downtown or something! Praise God! We weren't able to meet or thank that man so please pray for extra blessings for him!

Furry Friday



Thursday, October 27, 2011

The {not so} Terrible Twos

I photographed a home birth yesterday! It was amazing- post and pics to come soon!

For now, I leave you with this little gem.

Sweetpea will be 2 this December and it shows in good and bad ways. In one good way it showed itself today:

Sweetpea took my phone, brought it to her ear and said, "Hello, hey, dodin." {dodin is whatcha doing in toddlerese}

Apparently mommy tends to use too many greetings when she answers the phone, (its true), and no matter how aware I am of what they are doing, I do always ask that question- redundant I know. :)

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Just can't get enough...

Look at this beautiful girl! How did we get so lucky? Praise Jesus!


Wordless Wednesday




Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Nature vs. Nurture

With all children, (though especially adopted children), there is a great debate. What makes them who they are- nature, (genetics), or nurture, (their environment they are raised in)?

Honestly, the debate is dumb. The truth is we are ALL products of nature and nurture!

Now, I an not here to discuss the nature vs. nurture of adopted children. No, today I am taking about the nature vs. nurture of girls. A lot of women, (not this one), do not want their little girls to"succumb" to girly "stereotypes." (what is wrong with that?!) Regardless of what you do, (what you encourage or discourage), little girls become little girls.

Pics below- I rest my case. Sweetpea found my shoes and without my prompting put them on. You should also see her with her baby dolls. I encouraged her to like baby dolls, (for awhile she was scared lol), but that was the extent of my encouragement. She mommies them out of her girlie nature.

(if you have a son who puts on your shoes or a daughter who only likes boy things- that is not a problem either. I'm just using Sweetpea to make a point. I was a little bit of a  tomboy when I was little and I'm VERY girly now. All children will play with ALL things, but they do gravitate to their gender specific roles naturally, (by their very nature, regardless of your nurture).)



Monday, October 24, 2011

MTCM: 4 weeks

Today marks 4 weeks since I began my journey. I have lost 11 pounds.

If I was doing this to lost weight I would be discouraged. I lost 10 pounds in 2 weeks and 2 days, and then I didn't lose another pound in a over a week!

BUT, I have not gained, AND I have seen many results!!

ALSO, and most importantly, I am NOT doing this to lose weight. This is out of obedience to God and to kill my gluttony sin! So, this keeps me from losing heart- I am focused on my "why."

My saving grace is the "Lose It" app.

That, and exercise. I walk about 6 miles a day on most days. A few times Mr. Incredible and I have done Tae Bo. I used to love running, but I do not have the will power for it right now, so walking has been something I can stick with and I do not succumb to the same excuses I did when I was running. I hope that encourages all of you non runners! I can burn almost 200 calories in 30 minutes of walking. So can you! Get up and MOVE!! The great thing of the app is that it tells you how much you are burning and it does all the math for you!

Sweetpea and I last Sunday, October 16th. I love NOT seeing any rolls on my tummy. And, my mom bought me this skirt recently- size medium. :)

The bottom pic, my face looks terrible. These two pics were not intended to be posted here. I took these two pics just to show my mom. She bought this top for me as well, and I was feeling really good in this outfit!

The Sunday before I began my journey, (4 weeks from yesterday), I put on these jeans for church and wanted to cry. I had a very sizable amount of fat hanging over the top of the jeans and I am sure a pound or two more and I would not have been able to zip them. Here I am above, a day short of 3 weeks since the last time I wore them and NO fat hanging over the top! NONE! I may not have a 6 pack, I may not be skinny, but I have a flat tummy, (in these two outfits at least- does that even make sense? lol At least there are no rolls when I am standing! lol)!

How are you doing in your journey? Can I be praying for you?

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Sweetpea Standin' in the Sanctuary on Sunday

As in the post below, Sweetpea is reppin' Texas Tech after their big upset in Norman last night! I made her this dress...it is double sided and the other side is a cute floral print. :) Here she is standing in the sanctuary at church today during a business meeting. A month or 2 ago, Sweetpea pulled herself up to this standing position using these same chairs all.by.herself.without.braces. Mommy was quite proud, and even with braces the pride doesn't diminish. :)


Wrecked Streak

We don't have tv, nor do we really watch sports. Last night was a big game, Mr. Incredible "watched" the game via updates on espn.com. :) He was ecstatic last night! Sweetpea wore her Tech dress that I made for her today to church. :) Wreck 'em Tech!




Saturday, October 22, 2011

Silly Saturday

Sweetpea loves to steal hats! :)





Friday, October 21, 2011

Flashback Friday

My uncle posted this to his facebook yesterday and it made me cry. :)

Qaddafi is dead!!! I remember almost 25 years ago a day that still brings tears to my eyes. We were at the airport awaiting my Brother-in-law Tom Hester coming home from being near LIBYA helping fight off Qaddafi. We all lined the walls of the airport with Apple IIe banners portraying our disdain for Libya and "welcome home" signs for Tom. But what really stands out is that he hadn't met his daughter Tricia Keierleber yet. I'll never forget his expression as he hugged his first baby girl for the first time. A mixed expression of joy and pride that was unmatched until nearly 4 years later when he announced from the hospital room, "It's a boy!"

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Twenty Year Gift

Back in July, I watched our pastor's children while they were out of town- performing a wedding and celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary! Their daughter wanted to get them a gift, so we began our quest. We began collecting images from the last 20+ years and considered a scrapbook- but that is pretty costly and time consuming. So we thought of a collage, then I thought of this:In the 2 yo will find pictures from their courtship, engagement, wedding, and newlywed years. In the 0 you will find the later years. :) {with flash}
On Pinterest, I have seen many collages like this one, but I thought of it all on my own, well before I ever joined Pinterest. (Yes, I feel that is necessary to say that! lol I have copied from Pinterest, but when I think of something without help from that addictive site, I feel creative. lol) Their daughter helped me make this... getting the pictures together, copying them, cutting them out, painting the canvas- took forever! She also cut out the bottom scroll by hand! I didn't have the deep cut blade for the Cricut yet so she had to help out the scroll! {without flash}

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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

3 Men and a Little Lady

Last week we had a Pumpkin Patch Playdate. On Sunday I gave a sneak peek of my pics, but here are the rest of the pics from that day. :) The title is very fitting... while the boys are far from being actual men, Sweetpea is the epitome of a LITTLE lady! Just know, she has at least 15 months on all the boys, but is smaller than some, (and I'm sure she'll be passed by the littlest soon!).
Notice Sweetpea and Nathan reaching for each other behind Danny... L♥VE ;)
Nathan Smiles

Nathan and Mommy

You may remember this baby when he was in the womb, but sadly this is his blog debut, (sad because it took me this long to put him on here!).
Meet Wyatt! (Mama, I have 3 versions of this pic, so if you don't like this artwork, never fear). :)


(Mama, I didn't take out your hand- if you want me to I will)! :)



Danny and Nathan, (Danny's mom had her camera so I didn't get many of him).
Someone get this child a sibling- stat! She is READY!
Wyatt and Sweetpea. Considering there is a 21 month age difference between these two, you'd never guess that by looking at them!

Wyatt
Nathan
Poor Nater Tot, but still so cute! :)

Monday, October 17, 2011

MTCM: How Do You...


Today has been 3 weeks, and I have lost 10 pounds so far! :)

I get many questions about how I am losing the weight.

First of all, the book Made to Crave! This is the biggest encouragement on my journey- it keeps me focused as to WHY I am doing this.

Next, and almost equally as important- I have a free app called "Lose It." Download it NOW! You put in your weight, etc and how much you want to lose and it does the rest for you! This app is what will allow me to continue and not "forget" what I am doing.

I work out everyday- mostly just walking. Lots of walking. I also do Tae Bo with Mr. Incredible.

Have you decided to join me? I would love to hear your stories and add you to my prayer list. :)