Eight.

Well, if I'm being honest, I wish that number was more like twenty. Eight is the number of pounds I've lost since I began my quest to go to the gym regularly and track what I eat. I actually thought I would lose faster, but I have been meeting with a registered dietician/nutritionist through my health insurance and she says that this is just perfect. Slow and steady wins the race!

I am on a calorie-intake plan that should allow me to lose 1-1.5 pounds per week, and so far, it's been just about spot on. I began my healthier lifestyle approximately seven weeks ago. This is not a post to pat myself on the back, but I'm going to be frank with you. I generally HATE working out. I get wickedly jealous of the people who love it. BUT--for the first time in a long time--I can say that I am enjoying it. Joining the gym at my job has been the ticket. One, I do not go out for lunch or shop on my lunch break like I used to (and our credit card bill shows it, too!). I blocked my work calendar every day from noon-1:30 p.m. so that people cannot put meetings on my schedule. Two, and probably most importantly, I do not feel guilty when I sit down and watch TV after the kids go to bed because I've already worked out.

I literally feel an obsessive desire to go to the gym right now--just makes me feel so much better. Plus, I go with a friend so that helps. AND, I almost exclusively take classes. See, here's the thing. When left to my own devices, I don't push myself. I just don't. If my legs are tired, I stop. But the classes are intense, there are mirrored walls so everyone is watching you, and there's someone giving you encouragement/telling you what to do--and that's exactly what I need!
SO--there are nine weeks to the day until Christmas and, by then, I really hope to be reporting a 17 pound weight loss (at least).

Let's do this.

Growin' girl!

Addison is growing like a weed. It's sort of unreal to think that, at this time last year, she was just four months old. It's been awhile since I've done a "monthly" post on baby girl, so I thought I'd do so now. She just turned 16 months old a few days ago.

- She weighs about 27 pounds and is 32 or 33" tall (Bad momma--I forget!).
- She wears size 4 diapers and size 18 month, 24 month, or 2T hand-me-downs. She wears a size 5 shoe.
- Says a few words - mama, dada, baby, uh-oh, dah-doo (exactly the opposite of what Carter said at this age -- doo-dah) for doggy, hi, doctor, bye bye, tayne too (thank you), peas (please), and a few more I'm probably forgetting.
- She has 10 teeth and is getting more molars.
- She goes to bed around 8 p.m. and sleeps until 7:30 a.m. or so on the weekends; on almost every week day, I wake her up at 6:30 to go to school. She naps for 2-2.5 hours every day (once a day). She is a rockstar sleeper, thank God.
- She adores Carter and sweetly says "ay-ay" to him all the time while she hugs him. Brother is slightly rougher on her, but she'll be tough! :)
- She LOOOOVES to swing and play outside. She gets dirty all. the. time. (see photo below for proof)
- She has the most gorgeous blonde, ringlet curls and her hair is getting LONG!
- Addison is a DADDY'S GIRL through and through. She loves him oh so much.

Halloween parade

Last night, we took the kids to the Halloween parade. I didn't want to take my good camera down into the madness, so I snapped a few pictures of them before we left. My goodness, I love those babes!

 

 

They had a great time. Carter was the candy policeman. He waved and waved to the people in the parade to get them to throw it and when they did, he was ALL business. It was adorable. We left about 50 minutes into the parade because Addison was getting antsy, and Carter cried and cried because he wanted more candy. Granted, the child had a pumpkin HALF FULL of candy only 50 minutes in. Can't imagine the damage that would have been done if we stayed the rest of the time. (Funny sidenote: he ate only 2 pieces after the parade and hasn't mentioned it since. Guess it was just the act of collecting!) :)

 

They both had HORRIBLE nights of sleep. Carter seemed scared, which I wouldn't doubt because there were ugly, obnoxious things in the parade that would scare any 3-year-old. Aside from cute kids in innocent costumes and all things pumpkin, I'm definitely not a fan of Halloween. We had to distract him to look at something else like 10 times during the parade to keep his eyes off the gore! Gross.

 

But, all in all, it was so cute to see them so happy! 

Apple Picking 2013

I seriously love fall. If I could bottle up this 70 degree weather and sun with cool nights, I would for sure. Every year, we go apple picking--usually the first weekend of fall. And we almost always go with Oma and Opa, Aunt Polly and Uncle Dirk, and sometimes the Stones as well. We attempted to go with Oma and Opa and AP and UD on September 21, but of course as we prepared to walk out the door, it began raining....HARD. So, those plans were thwarted and we instead went out for (a really yummy!) dinner, which was fun too.

 

Turns out, the next day, my sister, Jason and the kids and my parents were going (to the same orchard we were going to be going to on Saturday), so we ended up meeting up with them. It was a beautiful day!

 



 

Running like banshees through the aisles.

 

Silly boys.

 

This little miss was adorable. When she had an apple in her hands. Heaven help you if you took it out of her hand for ANY REASON. Add in molar teething and let's just say we didn't anger the beast too much. So, apple at all times it was! :)

 

I do this picture every year--Mr. "Golden Delicious." I know I'm the mom, but seriously. He's so cute I could eat him up.

 

TWO golden delicious loves! :)