Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary Hubby!  It's been an amazing 8 years.  I can't believe how much has changed over the years and I am privileged to grow and change and live life with you.  I love you lots!

Here are 8 reasons that I love you and that I'm so glad we picked each other (in no particular order):

1. You are so hardworking.  Thank you for working so hard everyday for our family. 

2. You are quietly and patiently persistant in the pursuit of your goals.  I have watched you pursue your degree over our years together and I will be so proud to watch you walk across that stage in May. 

3. You love our girls.  You're hottest look this year was sporting a sticker on your forhead.  You make me smile everytime I hear you playing with the girls, making them laugh, or just snuggling with them. 

4. You're a champion snuggler.

5. You love me and allow me to be fully myself.  You've seen all sides of me: sweet, snarky, goofy, kind and unkind, happy, sad, really sad, tired, hungry, angry, funny, smart, hairbrained, etc. and you're still here loving me.  Thanks!

6. You're smart and funny.

7. You love God.

8. You do things just to make me happy.

And one more because I just had to keep going...

9. You make me and the girls your priority.

Here are some pictures that make me smile...

Losing the Baby Weight... Seriously

After I had Naomi, I wanted to get my body back, but my progress was so slow that I hardly got anywhere with it before we got pregnant again.  So, here I am again, going after the ever elusive pre-baby body (or at least some blessed shadow of it). You may have noticed that one of my goals for this year was to get halfway to my weight loss goal, eg. lose 30 lbs this year. 

Some background/stats:

I have always struggled with my weight.  I like food and I'm lazy and I'm honest about it.  In high school I worked out and stayed healthy.  In college, I drank and ate and didn't workout enough and wasn't healthy.  Then, I got a job that traveled full time, eating out constantly and gained even more weight.  When I met and married my husband I was at my heaviest.  A little bit after our honeymoon, I pulled a horrible cholesterol number and decided it was time to do the work and get it off.  I did it - worked hard, ate right, lost the weight and became a Jazzercise instructor.  I even started running and completed several 5Ks, a few 10Ks and even 2 half marathons. 

Then, I gained 60 lbs or so with Naomi (feeding the nausea, cutting down my workouts and eventual bed rest did not help) and was already up a little bit before we got pregnant.  Like I mentioned, I really didn't lose much after having Naomi especially once I knew we were trying again. I did complete another half-marathon, but really didn't run much of it. 

Then, I got pregnant with Olivia.  I worked much harder with Olivia at not gaining much weight since I knew I was still carrying weight from my first pregnancy.  I worked out more and harder and I didn't eat every time I was nauseous (hello Zofran!).  I was successful in only gaining what I should even if I did get stuck on bed rest again.  After Olivia, I knew I wanted to wait a couple of months before trying to lose any weight so that I could establish my milk supply.  Then the holidays hit, not a good time to start that sort of thing, and I actually gained a little weight. 

So, all that to say, here are my stats and I'll keep you posted as I hit milestones.  You can find me on MyFitnessPal and at Jazzercise in Plano on a regular basis.  Hoping to add in some other stuff too, but it's tough right now with two in tow. 

Top Pregnancy Weight: about 215

1/1/13 Weight: 200
1/1/13 Clothing: maternity and some size 18
1/1/13 Measurements: I couldn't find my tape measure, so don't have that. :(

3/10/13 Weight: 181
3/10/13 Clothing: size 16 (mostly)
3/10/13 Measurements:
             Arm - 13.5"
             Bust - 41.5"
             Band - 36.5"
             Waist - 40"
             Hips - 45.5"
             Thigh - 26"
             Calf - 16.5"

So, 19 lbs lost!  I'm almost 2/3 of the way to my goal for the year and 1/3 of the way to my total goal.  That feels pretty good.  I LOVE being ahead of schedule.  And, I LOVE all my Jazzercise gals who constantly encourage me and tell me how much slimmer I look and how much more energetic I am on stage.  This also should tell you that if you've ever said, "I'm too fat to do all that [Jazzercise or really anything]", then you couldn't be more wrong.  Come dance with me!