Birthday Festivities!

Birthday Festivities

This week, my beautiful little girl turned 2 years old! I can't believe it. I was driving home in heavy traffic Tuesday evening, and I took some back roads because I heard the freeway was closed. I happened to drive by the hospital where Rachel was born, and I thought how strange it felt to drive by on that particular day, almost exactly 2 years after I showed up there because my water broke. I was so scared and excited that night as we drove to the hospital -- I was more than ready to meet this little baby who had been kicking me for a while, but I had no clue what would come from the birth experience nor from becoming responsible for another person's life!

Now I can't remember what my life was like before I was Rachel's momma. I remember being slightly thinner (see below re: weight loss battle), but I know I wasn't nearly as fulfilled with my life. Rachel and I got to spend 3 days together this week, and I really wish I could stay home with her every day, because I had so much fun. We went to the Zoo (as has become tradition) for her birthday. Her cousins, Aunt Jen, and Grandma Wood joined us and even though it was scorching out, it was worth it. Then I went home and made her Foofa cake just for her birthday.

Thursday we met my friend Barb for lunch and then spent the day outside having fun. And today we have been laying low, running some errands, but overall just relaxing. Tonight I am headed to Cincinnati for a baseball game with my parents and brother, and then Sunday is Rachel's and Owen's birthday party! I have a lot to do tomorrow to get ready for that, including baking two cakes! Pray the weather holds out!!

**WEIGHT UPDATE: 151

Weight loss to go: 11 lbs

Not exactly as much as I had hoped for, but I did miss all my workouts this week, and I had cake 2 days, so I guess that is okay. Back to work next week though!**

Day at the Gym

Starting weight: 152
Week 1: 152
Weight loss to go: 12 lbs

I have decided to devote some of my blog entries to my weight loss journey. It kind of goes along with the theme of the blog -- it is life- and baby-related. I have about 10 pounds of baby weight left, and we are about a week away from Rachel's 2nd birthday, so I have run out of excuses for continuing to carry this weight. And before Duane and I start trying to have another baby, I would really like to get back to my original weight or lower, so I don't just keep adding to my weight in the end.

So one week has passed and I haven't lost any weight. I am not at all discouraged by this though, because some of the exercise I have been doing has involved weight training, and I know this adds muscle weight. My diet could be better, I suppose, but I have been incorporating more vegetables and cutting back on some of my portions.

My schedule to this point is Cardio on the elliptical Tuesdays and Thursday and AquaFit on Saturday mornings. I love AquaFit. At first, it is a bit disconcerting to be in this class, because you struggle to find a class member under the age of 65 when you look around. Then, the instructor came in. Now, I understand that you can be a less-than-fit fitness instructor and still know what you are doing. However, this particular instructor had cankles. Looking at her, I thought she was a class member -- she looked to be 60 or so...quite overweight...
And the cardio part of the class was somewhat disappointing to me in comparison to previous classes. But once we got to the resistance training, I was truly challenged. I left feeling refreshed and sore!

Walking around the gym, I see girls who are fit and trim and remember a time when I qualified as fit. This is my goal. I don't need to be skinny -- I just want to feel "in shape." I want to put on a pair of my old pants and have them be just a bit loose.

I have given myself the deadline of my birthday to lose these 12 lbs. That leaves me about 9 weeks, which is about 1.333333 lbs each week. That seems less daunting than an overall goal of 12 pounds. And ultimately, if I can fit into those size 8 jeans comfortably, I don't care if I lose 1 lb.

If I haven't reached my goal by August 23rd, I will get a trainer to force my butt to work harder. But, as frugal as I am, let's hope I can kick my own butt into shape. =)

Stress and Destressing

So I have not been so great with the blogging and keeping in touch with friends thing lately. It's another year at work, and that means another round of corrections to a major state's math books. This makes year number 3 where I am working too many hours, stressing far too often, and I am struggling to find the motivation to keep it going. It is frustrating I guess, knowing that I have done this for 2 years now and it doesn't seem to have gotten me anywhere. But on the plus side, I do have a job, and even though I may complain, I am grateful. And I find that I thrive on the big projects much more than the little ones.

Duane's job is also a source of stress right now. Some management re-organization has led to some questions in where we are going to be in the next few months.

So for now, through all this stress, I am trying to leave the weekends for family and friends. Duane left for another round of races this weekend, so last Saturday Rachel and I headed out for a playdate at COSI. I hadn't been there since I was a Girl Scout, I think, so it was intriguing to me. Rachel even "Oooooo'ed" over many things we saw. She is getting so perceptive. Her daddy has taught her how to say some fun words (i.e., Alllllllll-riiiiight! and Oooooo-eeeeee-zzzzzy). She seemed to do really well through most of the day with no nap, and I enjoyed getting out.

This weekend, with my long project finally mostly behind me, I went out with some good friends to celebrate my friend Lawrene. Unfortunately, she was let go from our company suddenly, and Friday was her last day. So we sent her off in style, and I am confident she will find an even better job. It was a good way to celebrate the virtual end of this stressful project too, and even though there is no end in sight to my busy workdays, I am trying to stay positive.

I have some days off this month for Rachel's 2nd birthday! I can't believe my baby girl is almost 2! I still vaguely remember her kicking me late at night. I barely remember when we couldn't get her to sleep in anything but her swing. I slightly recall nursing her once or twice a night, wishing she would fall asleep so I could get some rest. Now I put her to bed and I am sad because I want to talk to her some more.

Her sentences are starting to become more complex now. I am excited to head to the doctor on the 18th for her check-up to see what he thinks. I just remember back to last month when it was a challenge to get two words from her, and now she is really communicating with us. She understands us completely, and she is learning how to ask us for what she wants without pointing and whining so much. This weekend, she looked at her cousin and said "Why Ca'en cy-ing Mama?" (read: "Why is Caden crying Mama?")

Last time I weighed her on our home scale, she was 24 lbs! (The fact that she is addicted to mini chocolate-frosted donuts may have something to do with that.) She has now officially outgrown her 18-month pants. She got her first real boo boo and handled it like a champ. She barely cried!

I am excited to see what this month brings. I know it will be stressful, but it should be rewarding. My best friend Kim finds out the sex of her baby on Thursday (I am betting on a girl!), and I am psyched for that!! Then, I am headed to the track this weekend to watch Duane race. =)

My Blog Award

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. List who gave you the award and use a link to her blog.
3. List 10 things that make you happy.
4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know.


Ten Things That Make Me Happy
1. My husband. Even though we lose patience with each other on occasion, we have endured a lot and managed to come through it together. He is generous and wonderful, and I too often take him for granted.
2. My daughter. I look at her and can't imagine how she came from Duane and me. Her personality has flourished so much in the last year, and she really is just an easy kid. She doesn't fuss too much (though she has phases of clinginess) and she sleeps easily at night. She is beautiful and full of life and I thank God every day that she is healthy.
3. My friends. If you know me, you know it takes a lot for me to let you in. I will be friendly to just about anyone, but I don't trust easily and I am very guarded. So my friends are very special to me, because they know me and know my ways and put up with me and all my sarcasm.

4. My jobs. Yes, plural. My first job sustains us, and I really do enjoy it, because I house more knowledge about our products than most people could ever hope to. My second job has helped us get back on track to being normal people who can go to dinner without worrying about where the money is coming from. On that note, my husband's job makes me happy because it was the lifeline we needed at a very rough time and it holds MUCH potential for the future.
5. Shopping for my "new" car. I am very much looking forward to purchasing it, after test-driving a Honda Pilot yesterday. I am admittedly nervous though, as I was very uneasy driving a car that is not my Accord. I have grown to be a part of my car, so that I know just how to steer to take a turn with ease.
6. Buckeye football. The spring game was a horrible tease for the upcoming season, and I can't wait to go to a Thursday night game in September. I am even thinking of planning an away-game trip.
7. Thinking about redecorating Rachel's new room this summer. I am by no means talented at this, but I am excited to make a better room for her, now that we know more about her personality.
8. Thinking of future children we may have, if we are so blessed to have them. Not just yet, but maybe soon.
9. Online TV/audiobooks. I love listening to these as I get ready in the morning or while I am at work, doing something mindless.
10. Making cakes in my spare time. Though this is extremely stressful to me, it is always fun to see how they turn out.

I'm passing this on to...

Allison, my very wonderful friend who always has such sweet things to say

Easter & Anniversary

We had a lovely Easter, but something wasn't quite right about it for me because we didn't get to visit my family. Overall though, I think it was nice. We did go to church and brunch with my parents, but a scheduling glitch meant that we didn't get to visit with any extended family.
Rachel had a fun time playing with her cousin Caden and searching for her Easter basket, as it is the tradition in my in-laws' family to hide easter baskets and have people find their own.
Last weekend, Duane was at the racetrack for another motorcycle race, so Rachel and I hung out and relaxed. I didn't get enough done around the house, but I got it pretty clean in his absence. I also made a cake for a friend's daughter's First Communion. I don't generally do that, but this particular friend is the daughter of some very dear family friends who have done a lot for Duane and me. So a cake was the least I could do! I was very worried about it, because First Communion is a very big deal, but it turned out okay. I even made some roses!
Speaking of roses, Thursday was our 4-year anniversary. I wasn't sure if I should mention this to Duane or test him about whether he remembered. Thursday morning, Duane gave me a kiss before he left for work and I said "Happy Anniversary." He obviously hadn't remembered, because he said "Today is the 22nd." To which I replied "Yes, we got married on the 22nd." To be fair, my birthday and Rachel's birthday are both on the 23rd of their respective months, and I think he got confused. But he went out and got me a dozen roses and a beautiful card, so all is well!
This week is his birthday and I just ordered his birthday gift, so I am very excited to see what he thinks.
This weekend we have Quentin's birthday party and we are going out with some friends tomorrow evening. Then Sunday I was supposed to walk in the March for Babies, but unfortunately that fell through. But I raised more than half of my individual goal, which isn't terribly considering what I did last year.
We have decided to try to trade in Duane's car for something new. I was going to get a new car next year and trade in my Honda, but Duane wants to get something that can haul his trailer now, so he is willing to sacrifice his car and drive my Honda so we don't have to pick up an extra car payment. We are looking at Acura MDXs, Honda Pilots, and possible a Kia Sorento. All seem pretty comparable in their reviews, so it just comes down to what kind of deal we can get. :)

Darth Cake

It was designed based on this:

And turned out like this:

What do you think? The bottom cake was meant to be smaller because she didn't need as much cake.