17 Months

Little Lady is 17 months old!
We braved the heat (again) and snapped some pictures of the little one on her 17 month birthday after our visit to the Farmers' Market.  We go just about every Saturday to get our favorites - peaches, watermelon, peppers, sweet corn, blueberries....it's hard to not buy everything, and Natalie loves to sample. :)  There's a sweet little bridge that leads over to a walking path.  We scoped out some shade, there was a light breeze, and we lasted about 15 whole minutes before calling it quits and heading to the car for the mercy of air conditioning. :)

Natalie doesn't seem to notice the heat at all, and despite her rosy cheeks and the beads of sweat on her baby nose - she is happy to explore and be outside.

Miss Independent seems to be slightly less frustrated these days.  Last month we really struggled with tantrums and throwing fits and her just completely falling apart if she didn't get her way.  This month seems to be a little better, and I think I can attribute that partly to her communication skills continuing to develop.  She is able to tell me most of the time what she wants (in one way or another), so she is easier to deal with most days.  We still have our moments, of course. :)

Otherwise, I feel that haven't been any major changes this month.  Still sleeping the same - I'm a little worried about when school starts and we have to move her wake-up time two hours earlier!  She and I have both gotten a little too used to sleeping in lately...  Still wearing the same size.  Still going through a picky eating phase.  Still the cutest girl ever. :)

I've been loving watching her play.  She comes up with some interesting ways to occupy her time and keep herself busy!  I found a sand pail full of magnet letters yesterday.  She likes to "fill" things like that, so I often find small items in weird places.  My measuring cups in her picnic basket.  Her sorting shapes in my mixing bowls.  She loves flashlights and cell phones and coasters.  Yes, I said coasters.
She has become such a little "helper".  In fact, HELP is probably the word I hear most often all day.  She either wants me to help her do something, or she is dying to help me!  She likes to stir or pour things when I'm cooking.  She loves to carry things for me, throw items in the trash, or pick up toys and put them away. 

She is so curious, and I love that she is learning so much.  I continue to be amazed by this fleeting thing called time, and how I have watched Natalie transform before my very eyes.  My little blessing!

4th of July

I love holidays.  Any excuse to gather the family, indulge in favorite foods, watch the little ones play....sounds good in my book!  Despite the sticky heat that just wouldn't quit - we gathered the lawn chairs and cold drinks.  Once the sun went down and a small merciful breeze kicked in, it wasn't so bad.

Round 1:

You know we love a good, festive outfit and hairbow!

Natalie loved playing with all of her cousins, and especially enjoys watching the older kids play.  She is such a little studier.  She watches and absorbs and soaks it all in. 

Round 2:

 My beautiful momma and sissies.

 Natalie loves her Mimi!

 Impossible to get a picture with a wiggly toddler!

Cousins!!
Here's a pic in the same spot last year - they have changed so much!

Little bug tuckered out at my mom's long before it got dark, so we didn't go to see fireworks.  When we got home, we did enjoy a sparkler before snuggling into bed for the night.

Happy 4th of July!

Weight LOSSSSSS

Okay, I honestly have no clue what "week" I am on...I've lost track!
What I DO know is that I've lost TWENTY POUNDS!!!!

I am SO excited to be at my next goal!  When I started back in March, I decided I would take it 10 pounds at a time.  The first ten came off so quickly, but these last ten have been much harder.  I'd love to lose another 10, but not sure how long that will take....  But my recent thinking is "Who cares?!"  My exercise and eating routines have become such a lifestyle change for me, that I know if I continue to eat healthy and workout, the weight will come off (even if it is more slowly).  You see, I've had a big shift in my thinking.  The beginning was full of eating less, feeling hungry, and feeling guilty when I ate something I shouldn't.  But I've really started thinking that the key to maintaining this weight-loss is what I am the most interested in.  A little history....

I've been up and down in my weight since about the age of 16.  Got heavier and heavier towards the end of high school, and went off to college at 185 pounds.  Luckily, I contracted a nasty stomach bug/infection my freshman year and I lost 30 pounds in about 3 weeks.  With that jump start, once I started feeling better, I began working out with friends (working out is such a social activity in college!) and lost another 10.  Came back after my freshman year - all of my friends had gained their "freshman 15", and I looked like a totally different person!  Of course, I couldn't take all the credit....nothing like a stomach virus to get you looking great!

Met my honey my sophomore year, and throughout our dating I gained about 20 pounds.  LOTS of nights out, indulging in yummy meals, ice cream dates, etc.  We broke up for about 6 months and I lost 15 pounds.  Back together, gained.  Engaged, lost.  Married, gained.  Lost before having the baby (about 15 pounds).  Pregnant, GAINED.  Do you see my pattern?  I'm so TIRED of it!!!

What makes me excited now is that I've never lost this much weight on my own before.  Feels like a giant accomplishment to me!  It hasn't been by any crazy means....just doing stuff that makes sense.  Working out 3 (sometimes 4) times a week.  Watching portion sizes.  Making healthier food choices.  Recently, trying to cut out as much processed foods as possible (within reason and within budget).  Eating whole grains.  Incorporating protein into my breakfast.  These are things that I can keep doing.  And I hope that I can stop this endless cycle of weight gain and weight loss. 

So, enough chit-chat.  Do you want to see my 20 pound pictures??

I'm gonna keep-on, keepin'-on.  I know that my weight loss has hit a bit of a plateau, but I think if I change up my workout routine a little I can get things jump-started again. 

If you are on a weight-loss journey, keep at it!  You can do it!  I know what it feels like to cry because none of your clothes fit, to look at pictures and not recognize yourself, to avoid mirrors, and to feel like you are destined to be heavy.  Now, I'm not skinny by any means, but I do know that I feel healthy these days, and I feel good when I look in the mirror.  And that is so much more important to me than numbers on a scale or the size of my jeans.  You can get there, too!