2 1/2 Weeks down...10 1/2 Weeks left

So....how's it going?? It's tough. Mentally it's tough to constantly be conscious of what you're eating and when....keeping track of calories, carbs, protein, fat, fiber...I think I've got a pretty good handle on it now. That doesn't make it any more fun...but tolerable. The workouts? Exhausting! The crazy weight our trainer gets us doing is insane to me. Top that with overloading on cardio and I'm not good for much else. I'm trying to not neglect my family too much during this...but it is temporary, and I hope to make them proud and be better for it. Gabriel is totally pulling for me, and very aware of what I can NOT eat. And he tells me. :o) I'm starting to see a change in my appearance, which definitely helps and gives me the boost I need. Monday will be the next measurement/pinch day, so I'm anxious to see the results.

I'm posting a picture (definitely before) of Cara (my partner in all of this) and myself. She's probably sick of me dragging her into my ideas... :o) But she's hanging tough! And it's great support to have someone doing with me.

Don't wake daddy....

For quite a while now, I will wake up only to be scared by a small person standing next to my bed in the dark. This small person is none other than Gabriel....every morning, quietly just standing there. I'll ask "what are you doing?" and he'll say "shhhh....don't wake daddy...can I play my game?". "Yeah, sure...." I always respond.

This morning while eating breakfast, Jonathan started laughing at the fact that Gabriel just stands there....and so I asked G why he doesn't say anything. He said he doesn't know who is there, if it's me or daddy. I told him I almost always sleep on that side (unless I'm TRYING to sleep longer). Then Jonathan asked, why don't you ever wake up daddy? And Gabriel answered "because you always tell me to go back to bed." :o) OHHH. I understand now. And I was always so upset that he would wake me up and yet be concerened enough to let daddy sleep. It was just a smart move on his part.

Week 1 is under my belt....

So, I'm just going to keep a "diary" of my experience on here in case I forget how it was. Like childbirth. After it's over I may say "it wasn't that bad". :o) I think I've got the hang of the diet part...I hope. It's definitely a challenge making two meals every time - one for the boys and one for myself. I've had the occasional snippy moments, but overall I think I'm doing okay. I've even winged myself off my coffee creamer. :o( Hard to do, but I know I'll see my dear friend, French Vanilla coffee creamer, in my future.

Apparently my house doesn't smell as good as it used to (according to my father.) Well, I'm a pastry chef, and right now this girl is lucky to make pancakes for the kids without licking the plates afterwards. I officially start the "training" part on Monday. I'm very much looking forward to this! Now it won't be like I'm just on a diet, I'll actually start working towards seeing improvements! Anyways - with one week down, and I think a solid 3 pounds off my scale, I'm moving in the right directions. Now....12 more to go!!!

I Like to Move it, Move it!

Snow Day

So we had a nice snow/ice storm and have been stuck at home for a couple of days. Not too bad though. At least Jonathan was home with us....this wouldn't have been near as fun if we weren't able to have a little Rock Band time together. :o) That mixed in with the occasional parental duties...and he did some work, we've had a nice time being "stuck" at home. Wish we could do this more often!

Gabriel gets his first new belt

Gabriel has now gone from white belt to a white belt with a black stripe. :o) I (almost) cried as they tied the new belt around him. I got to watch him do his test....and he did great! I have it on video, but no pics. I just took pics before and then after.

Practicing at home

Ready to start the test!
Getting his new belt

Very proud!

The proud new belts!

A New Year...A New Me!

As I start this new year, and quickly approach my 34th birthday, I have decided (with the support of my awesome husband and great friends) to train and compete in a bodybuilding competition on April 9th. I'm excited about the training, and the opportunity to push myself to a new level, but I'm a wee bit nervous about sporting a small bikini (which I have not worn since college!) and posing on a stage in front of 500 people.

I'm putting this out here so there is no backing down...now that my blogging world knows, I feel accountable. ;o) Wish me luck...pray for my family, as they may need it if this diet makes me cranky. I'll post pictures in April!

Big Santa Gift

Santa brought the boys a trampoline for Christmas...and it has a been a HUGE hit. Here's a little preview.

Family Christmas Photo Shoot

I'm lucky to have a neighbor/friend who is talented in photography, and so kindly took our family photos this year. I loved a lot of them...but, kids will be kids, and Gabriel was either over taking pictures or Luca was just interested in kissing the dog. But, we managed to get a handful of keepers....and I threw in some extra. :o) Thanks Cara!!

It's Christmas Time!!

I love the holiday season. I totally embrace new and old traditions, and all the business it offers. After our crazy holiday last year, I was really looking forward to a little more relaxing one. Didn't happen. We had a beautiful Christmas Eve with our neighbors, and went to a great service at our church...then to a great Christmas Eve dinner at my dad's house. It's always too quick with the family, and then we have to rush home to get the boys to bed so Santa can come. Gabriel was sure to leave out 3 cookies and he put a glass of milk in the fridge so it would be nice and cold when Santa came.
Then on Christmas morning....at 3:30 am!!! Gabriel was up and ready for the day. This turned out to be a nice, but LONG EXHAUSTING day. We had our first white Christmas in Georgia...and then got on the plane at 4:00 to fly to Connecticut for a Blizzard up there. All was good until Sunday when Jonathan started feeling bad, and ended up at the immediate care to find out he had strep throat!!! We made it home on New Year's eve, and our sweet neighbors had the cul-da-sac group over for chili, and we crashed. Our fist year to miss the ball falling...and the midnight kiss. :o(

The boys Christmas morning

Luca on his 4-wheeler Me with some of the Italians....I'm really not that tall.

Some of the massive snow mounds

Gabriel and Luca helping G-Lu blow out her birthday candles....with help from Aunt Jessica
The boys on the plane ready for takeoff

At the airport on Christmas day

Jonathan did a great job on the lights this year!

Putting the final touches on

Luca up to no good, I'm sure

My brother, Cory, put together the trampoline...me explaining to him that I am NOT too heavy to be on there

Realizing that Jonathan was taking pictures

Gabriel and I snuck away one day to DD for coffee and doughnuts

My poor sick sweetness

That's me out there determined to dig our car out of the snow so we wouldn't be stuck.

Bacca Pa, Gabriel and Kevin

Random Pictures from Fall 2010

I have been so bad at keeping this blog updated, and even worse at taking pictures at family and special events! Poor Luca just gets the occasional cell phone snap pic taken. My goal for this new year is to keep at this better. Hopefully. :o)

North Georgia Mountains

We LOVE the mountains....LOVE LOVE LOVE them. We usually try to go to Colorado every so often to feed our love of the mountains, but we have been unable to do that for a couple of years. This year, however, our friends Amanda and Rob invited us to the North Georgia mountains for a weekend together....with the kids. It was short, but a very nice time. We woke up the first morning to snow and a beautiful view from our nice little cabin. We hiked with the kids, and were even able to spend a little adult time together after the kids went to bed. Looking forward to doing this again!

Halloween 2010

Another Halloween has come and gone, and I'm glad for it to go! I'm not a super big Halloween fan...and after this year with Gabriel getting TOTALLY freaked out at the costume store, I was glad for all the decorations and movies to be gone. But, he had a nice party at school, and then we did some fun festive things with our hood-friends, the Bairds. :o)

Gabriel dancing away

Dancing with his girl, Melany

Gabriel and buddy Chace

Getting ready for some Trick-or-Treating!
The Baird Clan