Wednesday Weigh-In

So, I feel better than I have in a really, really long time.  I had no idea how much the food I was eating was affecting my life.  I didn't realize just how bad I really felt until I felt better.  It has been amazing.  I have more energy, my mood is stable.  I feel like a completely different person.  The people around me are probably tired of hearing about how shocked I am and how good I feel.  I'd been feeling really lousy the first half of this year.  At one point I thought I might have post partum depression.  But it didn't make sense for it to happen so late, my baby was almost a year old.  I thought if I got back on my medication for ADHD I would feel better.  I felt a little better but I kept telling my doctor that I still just didn't feel good.  She checked my thyroid and everything was normal.  She just kept saying, "you've got two kids, you're going to be tired."  To an extent that was true but I guess tired wasn't really the word I should have used.  I was uninterested & unmotivated to do anything.  I loved the thought of going out and doing something but almost always talked myself out of it.  My house was an absolute disaster.  (I'm a terrible housekeeper but this was way worse than normal.)  I would let the dishes pile up until A) I needed something that was dirty (like a sippy cup) or B) Patrick got fed up enough to take care of them (if you know Patrick you know it had to be pretty bad for him to get fed up with it).  I would go days without showering.  The thought of having to get ready exhausted me.  I felt a lot like I did in college right before I was diagnosed with ADHD so I knew it wasn't normal but I couldn't make it better.  Just when I'd get ready to call and make an appointment with the doctor I'd start to feel better and decide that I was fine.  Then a few weeks later it was the same feelings.  I'd decided it was hormonal and that I would just have to live with it. 
I started this diet on a Friday.  Saturday, Sunday & Monday were brutal.  If it hadn't been for my friend/coach/talk me off the cliff person, Brittany, I would have quit.  She kept me sane and for that I'm thankful.  Tuesday I was still not real happy about the whole thing and I was looking forward to vacation so I could finally be done.  I would have completed my 3 week goal and I would be done.  Wednesday evening I noticed that the red bumps I'd had on my arms since AveryAnn was born were almost completely gone.  Thursday morning, my alarm went off and I thought, "listening to podcasts while I'm getting ready has really motivated me to get up and get ready every morning".  My bed was made everyday, The kitchen was cleaned and the dishes handled each night.  I finally realized it was the diet.  It was my body finally coming off of all the crap I'd been eating for years.  I felt better that I had in years.  I was shocked.  I've told anyone who will listen how much better I feel. For a day or two I was convinced I had a gluten allergy (google those symptoms) but now I think it's just all the crap I was eating was bogging my body down.  I feel relief.  Now I've been researching what I'm going to eat (and drink) while we're at the beach because I don't want to feel like crap. 
I finally starting seeing some results on the scale and I'm so encouraged.  I've got a long way to go but I'm really confident this time around.
I've been a little more flexible this week as I get more and more comfortable with the plan.  I've also been cooking more and Barrett is starting to love to help me cook which is fun.  Now if he'd only eat what he cooks.  Now for this weeks weigh in.


-3.4lbs from last week! 

I'm not sure if I should measure every week too or not, but I did.
Waist: 37" (-2" from last week)
Chest:  44" (-1" from last week)
Hips:  43" (-1" from last week)

I'll take it!
I really am so proud of myself for sticking to this. My goal weight is 135lbs.  Its been about 6 years since I've weighed anywhere close to that but I know I can do it.  It's going to take time.  I'm hoping to reach my goal before 2018.  Slow and Steady is my motto.  Along with "Is it worth it?"  This is what I tell myself every time I want something that I shouldn't have.  So far it's worked.

Summer Bucket List update

We've been having so much fun this summer, marking things off our Summer Bucket List! 

We are all in for the Summer reading program at the library.  Barrett has been saving most of his tickets every week for a fidget spinner.  He saw that in the case and he knew he had to have one.  The way the program works is you read books and keep a log and for every 100 pages you read you get 1 ticket.  The fidget spinner was 15 tickets.  It took him a few weeks to save his tickets but he got it.  We lost a ticket so we were one ticket short after they checked his log.  Well I knew we weren't leaving without the spinner so we sat down to read the 100 pages right there in the library.  While we were reading a sweet girl came over saying she'd found a ticket and thought it was the one we were looking for.  Now, whether she really found one or she just gave us one of hers i'll never know but that little girl was like an angel to me that day.  So Barrett got his spinner and he was so happy!  I'm pretty sure the remainder of his tickets will be spent on ring pops and I'm totally ok with that.  We are so loving our reading time each night.  Sweet memories we're making!

We got to go see SING! in the park last Friday!  It was so much fun!  We can't wait to go see another movie there! 

The Keeleys were there too and Keegan sat with us most of the night.

I love this picture of AveryAnn looking up at Barrett.  She thinks he is the grandest person on the earth.  I'm also a sucker for matching outfits, but you already knew that!

She was just there for the snacks.

And her Grandaddy hooked her up with some snacks!

This boy had the best time.  It was a while before the movie started so his grandparents took turns taking him down to the creek. 

We also checked the splash pad off our list.  We got to go twice in one weekend!  This was for Drake's birthday party.  That's a lot of matching brothers.  Barrett matched the Keeleys.

Barrett and Drake, I love these two boys so much.  Drake is my little buddy! 

We also Met Jessica & Jackson one afternoon!  It was AveryAnn's first trip and she was excited.

Well she was actually more excited about my pink drink from Starbucks.  (I miss sonic so much!  I loved getting a drink for a dollar and heading to the splash pad in the summer.)

I can't even handle that belly.  She would walk out and get tickled and come running back to us.  She was so cute.

That's all we've done so far!  We've got a couple things on the calendar for July that we're really looking forward to and we're excited for all the spontaneous fun too!

Wednesday Weigh-In

Well folks, it's time.  I'm bringing back Wednesday Weigh-In.  Not because I'm super eager to let you all know how much I currently weigh.  {Spoiler alert:  It's a lot more than I'd like.}  But because I need some where to record my progress.  When I did this way back in 2010, I was very successful.  I've loved having it as a record to go back and read.  Things are a lot different this time around.  The biggest difference is I now have two kids to feed along with my husband.  In 2010, Patrick was working night shift and if I didn't feel like eating I just didn't eat dinner.  He could fend for himself.  This time those two kiddos demand a meal every evening.  They also like snacks. Snacks that, in the past, I would have avoided keeping in my house because I don't enjoy being mocked by them when I open the pantry.  Also I don't have as much freedom when it comes to working out.  I really hope to get back in the habit of sweating every day.  Even if its doing some sort of work out video in my living room.

I have a million reasons for wanting to do this.  I want to look better, I'd be lying if I said this wasn't my number one reason.  (I'm not trying to be a size two, I just want to be comfortable.)  I also want to be able to wear my wedding band and engagement ring again without having it sized.  I want to wear real jeans, not the maternity jeans that I've been wearing for 2 years.  I want to sit in the floor and play with my kids and not struggle to get up.  I want to wear a swim suit and not want to hide. (I'm not sure this will ever happen, Is anyone ever really comfortable in a swimsuit?)  I want to eat better and feed my family better.  I want them to enjoy healthy foods.  I want to take care of this body.  It's the only one I'm going to get and I'm not getting any younger. 

One of my best friends asked me to start the Keto diet with her back in April.  I didn't.  I should have.  She's been very successful, so I'm jumping on the bandwagon.  I feel like it's something I can do.  I can make small modifications to meals I'm already feeding my family to stay within the guidelines.  I can eat out, it just takes a little planning.  The biggest hurdles for me are going to be sweets, sweets and alcohol.  I like to have a drink, especially on a hot summer night. So on Thursday, June 15th, I decided Friday was the day.  I was jumping in.  Head first.  I'd done minimal research.  I relied heavily on my friend and her two months worth of knowledge and went for it!

Starting weight.  185.6lbs.

I also took my measurements so I can track my progress that way as well.

Waist: 41"

Chest: 47"

Hips: 44"

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I intended to post that on Friday when I started the diet.  I never got around to it so I'm posting it today with my first official Wednesday Weigh-In.

So far the Keto diet isn't terrible.  I'm not hungry.  The worst part is the sweets.  I haven't missed bread or pasta.  I miss sweets.  I'm also painfully aware how often I indulge in sweet treats.  On Friday, day 1, we stopped to get donuts.  I was ok with that.  I didn't really miss getting a donut.  For lunch I had a grilled chicken club from Chick-Fil-a without the bun and a side salad with ranch.  It was good.  I didn't miss the bun.  I kind of missed the fries.  When we got home, Barrett's monthly cookie delivery had arrived.  That made me angry.  I wanted one.  Badly.  I resisted though.  We went to the movie in the park that night and the kids had popcorn and cheese curls.  I got a cup of ice so I'd have something to crunch on.  I didn't miss the snacks.  The next day was rough.  We were home most of the day and I just wanted to eat, mostly junk.  I resisted.  Sunday, we went to lunch at my parents house and I did good.  I really wanted cake but managed to distract myself and it didn't bother me too much.  Dinner was worse.  We had chicken alfredo.  I was able to eat the chicken over a salad and it was delicious.  I didn't miss the pasta or bread at all really.  However, when the 4 desserts came to the table I wanted to stuff my face.  They all looked amazing.  We usually sit around the table and talk most of the time while we're there so it was basically torture for most of the night.  But I resisted and didn't cheat.  I was so proud.  Sunday has by far been the worst day.  I'm not entirely convinced this is the diet for me but I'm going to stick with it until we go to the beach.  I may decide to go a different route when we return but I may not.  We'll see.

My ketone test strips finally arrived Tuesday and I tested positive for ketones which means I'm officially in ketosis.  I suspect I would have tested positive Monday too but I'll never know.

Well, that's a little disappointing.  I felt like I was seeing results in my body and I fully expected to the scale to reflect that.  It did not.  Only down 0.8lbs.  :(  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed.  Everything I've read people reported big numbers that first week.  I keep telling myself it hasn't been a full week yet for me and I've already lost about 20lbs from my highest weight this year.  So I've probably already lost that initial big loss (I don't know if that makes any sense).   I'm going to try to drink more water ( I don't think I'm drinking nearly enough daily) and watch my protein.  They say if you get too much protein and not enough fat you won't lose as steadily. 

I was a little surprised by this weeks measurements. 

Waist: 39" (-2")

Chest:  45" (-2")

Hips:  44" (-0")

I don't really understand how I can lose 4" and little weight.

I thought maybe I'd measured incorrectly but the fact that there was no change in my hips makes me confident I measured correctly.

For my first week (actually 5 days) I'm pleased.  It has been hard at times but I have not been hungry, I have seen some results and I'm encouraged. 

Offical results for Week 1 (which was really only 5 days)

Weight: -0.8lbs

Waist: -2"

Chest:  -2"

Hips:  No change.

Bring on week 2!

I'm no where near an expert but if you have any questions let me know! :)

Weekend Review (Fathers Day edition)

We had a really nice weekend!  Patrick had to have a procedure done on his eye Friday afternoon.  It was a fairly simple thing but he had to have his eye taped shut for 3 days which was really annoying.  So he was out of commission most of the weekend. 

Friday night we watched SING! in the park!  It was so much fun!

Barrett brought this home for Patrick for Fathers Day!  He couldn't wait to give it to him.  We have laughed and laughed at it.

So thankful for this Daddy.  He works so hard to provide for us and takes such good care of us.  We love him so much!

AveryAnn and Madelyn were so sweet together!  They both sat in the rockers and played.  Madelyn is such a ham and cheesed big for the camera.  AveryAnn wouldn't smile for anything.

Then Granddaddy got some cake and they both sat as close as they good to him.  Again, Madelyn is cheesing big time and AveryAnn is all "hey, there's cake over here!".

The only picture I got of us matching!

We had a great day celebrating the dad's in our lives.  We're so lucky to have their example!

(I'm also going to add a few pictures from the previous weekend because they never got posted and I want them on here)

I couldn't get over how big (and cute) she looked one afternoon at work. 

I love a big bow!  That's the only one we have that size and I think it's time to upgrade all of our colors!

Last Saturday, we had a girls night!  We were sad everyone couldn't make it.  But we had a good time.  We went to dinner at 5 in lakeview.  I'd never been but everyone raved about it.  It was delicious!  I can't wait to go back and take Patrick.  (I also want my dad to go because the décor in this place is right up his alley).

After dinner we went to the Arc Stories live event.  I'm obsessed with the podcast and now the live events.  (The only bad thing when you go to the live events, then you've already heard the stories on the podcast.)  It was so much fun and there were several funny stories. 

Sunday night, Barrett and I went to the Splash Pad to celebrate Drake's 4th birthday!  Drake is my little buddy and I loved getting to celebrate him.

That's a lot of matching brothers in one picture!  Barrett matched the Keely boys!  It was so much fun seeing the boys play together and visiting with their mommies!

I think I'm caught up now!

Summer Bucket List

I've been feeling really guilty about making Barrett go to daycare three days a week this summer.  He easily could have gone with me to the office but I knew it'd be better for both of us if he we tried to stay with his routine.  I still want to do some fun things with him but I knew if I didn't write them down, it'd be August and we wouldn't have done anything we were hoping to do.  Thus, the Summer Bucket List was born.

• Splash Pad-  I want to go to the one at the zoo and the one in Gardendale.
• Movies-  One outside (there are several playing in a park close to us), one at the Alabama Theater and we want to see Cars 3.
• Summer Reading Program at the library.
• Lake Weekend- We don't usually spend the night when its a holiday weekend because there just isn't room anymore for everyone and we live the closest so it makes the most since for us to go back and forth.  I love waking up at the lake so I'm hoping we can get up there one weekend when it's just us.
• Beach Weekend-  We've already got a weekend planned to go stay with our friends and we can't wait.  I don't want to wish the time away but we're counting the days until we've got our feet in the sand.
• Sno Shack-  Who doesn't love a shaved ice for a fun summer treat.
• Urban Air trampoline park-  We're hoping to get the boys together and do this one day.  We've never been but have heard great things.
• Barons Game- We had the best time the last time and can't wait to go again.
• Zoo Day!  We want to put our membership to good use! 

I feel like we've got a good mix of big things and smaller things.  We're so excited and ready to take on the summer!

Catch Up!

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've posted about our day to day life!

So, I'm going to dump a months worth of photos here and call is caught up.

We had dinner at the Moore's house and Barrett put on this Batman costume and wore it all night.  We laughed so hard at him. 

Barrett got his monthly cookie delivery.

We went to Brookside to celebrate my Dad's birthday.

The kids looked so cute in their matching outfits!

My dad with all the grandkids minus Madelyn. 

Barrett had his last day of K3.  He's still going this summer but he got to move up to the 4 year old class.

I don't think he looks that much different but he has matured so much. 

One of his sweet teachers.  If it hadn't been for Ms. Charleen I'm pretty sure he and I both would have given up after drop off those first few weeks.  She peeled him off of my too many mornings to count.  She had the sweetest soul and we're going to miss her.  Barrett moved to his new class and she was so sweet to help by telling me to bring him on a day he doesn't normally go so he could go to his new class with his friends.  The first morning I had to drop him off in a new place and he cried and cried.  Luckily Ms. Charleen's new class is dropped off in the same place so she walked in a peeled him off of me again.  The next day he ran right to her and by the third day he was fine.  I'm so thankful she took the time to love on him and help him transition. 

Sweet sister is everywhere these days.  I love this sweet dress so much.  (I love kids summer clothes.  I tend to go a little crazy each summer.)  I watched it a Target and it finally went on sale enough for me to buy it and I'm so glad I did.  It is so cute!

Barrett had his end of the season party for ragball.  He got his trophy and he's so excited.

When I was a kid we participated in the Summer reading program at our local library.  We always enjoyed it so much.  This year I signed Barrett up and we've been having the best time reading.  I love to read and I hope that's something they learn to love too.

I finally ordered our new canvas family picture with AveryAnn.  I love it so much!

I also got one for this frame of both kids!

We celebrated Mom's birthday.  I took zero pictures so this proof from our family photo session will have to do. 

Barrett and I went to Mass one Saturday night so we could head to the lake Sunday and he fell asleep in the car on the way there.

We went to the lake for Memorial day and I took zero pictures.  AveryAnn took several steps and she hasn't slowed down since.  I took this picture one morning, Barrett asked to sit with me and it was so sweet.  I love him so much it hurts.

Sister's first pony tail.  She wasn't impressed.

So we did piggy tails the next day.  Equally unimpressed.

National Donut Day! 

Sister has embraced Donut Friday.

We celebrated Harper's birthday with a fun pool party and Barrett was so excited.  He jumped off the diving board too many times to count.  I was so proud of him.

I didn't take any pictures, thankfully Hope snapped this one of AveryAnn.  She toddled all around the pool but wasn't super excited to get in. 

I tried to get a picture of the kids before church.  AveryAnn was not having it. 

Thankfully one of the cooperated.  I just can't get over how big he looks.  My heart seriously can't take it.  He's so handsome and sweet and I love this age but I can't believe how fast he's growing.

I think that catches us up.  We're so excited for Summer.  It's been a roller coaster first half of the year.  We're glad things are calming down and ready for fun in the sun!