Progress Report

I can not tell you how many times I got all hyped up to get something going....and fizzled out in the first couple of days.  Well, not this time.  I made it through the first week - not a perfect week but I didn't give up and I kept my focus!  

Let's start with the pros:
■ Got out and walked 5 times this week!  No less than three laps per outing
■ Consciously made some wise eating choices
■ Barely had any soda (only when I was getting a headache and felt I may need a caffiene boost) - but drank almost ALL water
■ Didn't quit!!

Now the cons:
■ Still need to work on my meal planning!
■ Two people brought in donuts for the entire accounting department ---- by the end of the day I had eaten THREE donuts....I felt really guilty about it for a while - then made myself snap out of it
■ Missed my walking goal of 18 laps by two laps.  I was planning on walking five laps on Sunday night....but after 2.5 laps it hit me that I was not immune to the nasty stomach bug Emily and David had.  I barely was able to finish that lap....NOT FUN!

End result of my first week: -7 lbs!  WOOOHOO!!  I have a long way to go but I am at least 7 lbs closer than I was when I started!

I have not gotten the pictures back from our photographer for my official "Before" picture...but I did take a quick picture of David and I this weekend after Emily's Christmas performance.  

Much Love,
Heather

Santa Time!!

I love almost everything about Santa pictures.  I love to watch how the kids change through the years.  It is hard to believe Emily has racked up THREE Santa pictures already.  

2011 

Emily and Santa "had a moment" - and I also think this might be the best Santa picture of all time.  I am completely not biased or anything!

2012

Emily was not so fond of Santa....not that I blame her - he does look a little uncomfortable in this photo.  

2013

Fear of Santa is gone but out comes the "fake smile".  She started doing this a few weeks ago.  Still a keeper.  

Does everyone love Santa pictures as much as me?

Much Love,
Heather

So it Begins...

My journey starts today at 350 lbs (sigh).  And I am officially taking a stand against being unhealthy.  My plan is do this the old fashioned way - with diet and exercise.  (novel idea right!)

Diet: Food choices are so hard for me.  I love food!  I am not a huge sweets person, but give me an extra helping of the main course and I am thrilled.  My plan is to do better at having snacks in between meals so that I am not so hungry at meal times.  I tend to try to make drastic changes and then end up overwhelmed and back into my comfort zone.  I am trying something different.  I am going to make consistent but small productive changes to my diet each week.

Exercise:  We have recently moved close to a big park that has a little pond.  Last Monday, David and Emily went and played at the park and I walked three laps around the pond (each lap is .4 miles).  It was actually a nice walk and I felt really good about it.  So I walked 4 more days since!  I ended up walking a total of 17 laps which according to the app MapMyFitness was 7.26 miles!  For most people, this is not an accomplishment - but for me.... This is an amazing start! (If anyone else uses MapMyFitness - my user ID is HeatherNash10 - let's be friends).  

I have really enjoyed getting out and walking.  I don't get a lot of time alone - but when I do, it is usually because I have somewhere to go or something to do.  For me, walking this past week has been really peaceful and therapeutic.  I have really been enjoying the cooler weather and even  watched a few beautiful Arizona sunsets.  I am already looking forward to going again. 

December 2013 Goals:

■ Don't quit!

■ Walk 25 miles

■ Don't go crazy on holiday treat

■ Lose 10 lbs

■ Enjoy Christmas!

We just had pictures taken this past weekend - when I get one I will post my official "before" picture (gulp).

Much Love,

Heather

1000 Days Beautiful

My baby girl turned 1000 days yesterday!  David and I took her to the park.  It was a lot of fun and time flew by.  It got dark before I remembered to take a picture.  The picture is a bit blurry but I love it.  

When I was only 7 months pregnant and knew that we were about to go in for an emergency c-section, the doctors made sure I knew every possible bad outcome that we could be facing.  I had no idea what to expect but all I knew it was the day the Lord designed for me to meet my sweet baby girl.  When she was born she was the smallest (weighing in at 2lbs 8oz) but most beautiful person I had ever seen in my life.  Emily had the most perfect tiny round head, the perfect little nose and the little perfect mouth.  I often take a moment and watch the 30 minute video (seen here) David took of Emily right after she was born.  You can see her funny little chicken legs, listen her little squeaky cry, and watch the doctors and nurses whisk her away to the NICU.  This video never fails to brighten my day and put life back into perspective for me.  For all the ways it could have gone, Emily was born perfect.  

I can't believe 1000 days have come and gone - but each day my sweet princess has grown even more beautiful than the day before.  

3 days (first time I was allowed to hold her)

Emily - 1000 days beautiful (which translates to a little over 2 1/2 years)

Much Love,

Heather

Halloween 2013

Halloween with a 2 1/2 year old is really fun!  Emily's understanding and enjoyment of the holiday is so much greater than it was last year....and I am sure next year I will be saying the same exact thing!

 

Here is Emily with our neighbor (and Emily's BFF) Kacie - this could be my new favorite picture ever.  I love how happy Emily looks - this is usually how she is when she is around Kacie though.

So at the very end of the night, someone informed David that I had put her bumble bee wings on upside down.  I wondered which way they went and thought they looked cuter like this....oh well.  Emily will never know!

Emily LOVED knocking on the door and seeing the people.  She was instantly shy when it came time to say "Trick or Treat" and "Thank You".... but who could be mad at such a cutie!!

This is the best picture I could get of Emily and David together.  Emily was way more interested in what was happening at the next house.

October 31st is not just for celebrating candy and cute costumes.....it also happens to be my dad's (and favorite Aunt Barbie's) birthday!  So after we got done trick or treating we headed over to my dad's fiance, Venus' house for cake and ice cream.  Emily was awake long enough to blow out Pop Pop's candle and have a little cake - then she was OUT.  We all had a loooong but great day!

Much Love,

Heather