Becoming Emily

208.6

2011-03-28T12:13:00.004-05:00

Yesterday morning I woke up, stepped on the scale and saw that I now officially weigh half a pound MORE than I did the day I stepped on the scale at the hospital when I was induced. One part of my mind was wondering HOW I let this happen. The other (sane) part, knows exactly why it happened. Too much eating, no enough moving. In January I tore my ACL and I have gained 13 pounds since then. My exercise has gone from some to none, even though I am now in a brace and could at least be taking some walks. Eating has been out of control, to say the least. Every so often I'll debate starting a new diet. Sometimes I will actually diet for a day or so. Normally less than a day. I'll let stress or boredom get to me and I'll find myself face first in a bag of chips. Yesterday was a wakeup call of sorts. I have been wanting to lose weight for a very long time now, but have only watched the scale go up. If I don't get it under control who knows what it will read in another year. I do not want the number on the scale to define me, but I also don't want to be unhealthy. So, today I re-downloaded My Fitness Pal. I am tracking my calories. I'm going to start walking. I'm so tired of being a quitter, watching my pants get tighter and feeling depressed about my size. In a few months I will be having surgery on my knee and that really will slow down my exercising. I want to have my healthy eating habits established well before then, so I'm not doing what I'm doing now--sitting around eating crap, not exercising and watching myself get bigger and bigger. You'll notice this blog is titled with a number. You've probably guessed that number is my weight. I am sad and embarassed to admit that number. But that's what it is. I have a long road ahead of me, but this time I'm committing myself to actually continuing down the road. No more turning around, getting off track and being disappointed in myself.

Cleaning It Up

2011-01-28T14:15:00.003-06:00

Grocery shopping this evening, with the intent to clean up my eating.

Self.com has a Jump Start diet, with input from Jillian Michaels. The recipes are the types of foods that I see myself eating ideally. Somewhere in my mind is a picture of the way I want myself to eat and this Jump Start menu is practically a mirror image of it.

What is that saying? Fake it till you make it.

Ring the Alarm

2011-01-04T10:58:00.003-06:00

Why is it so hard to get up early to do a workout? There are NUMEROUS logical reasons why I should be working out in the mornings:

1. Aidan is still asleep, therefore I will not be interrupted by a tiny person demanding milk, juice, attention, etc.

2. I can start my day with the feeling of already accomplishing something. Looking into my own personal history, starting with a workout leads to making better food choices.

3. If I would just get up and DO it I would be done for the day! It wouldn't be on my mind all day long wondering when to fit in my workout. Also, I would clearly have less time to think up excuses.

So we come back to the problem of not getting out of bed to do the workout. It's like Early Morning Emily is completely irrational. Alarm clocks goes off, Early Morning Emily immediately resets it for an hour later and goes back to sleep. By the time I wake up an hour later Rational Emily is like "WHY DO I DO THIS?"

Any tips on morning workouts? Because ideally, that is what I want to happen.

Inertia

2011-01-03T10:05:00.003-06:00

With the new year upon us, I have been thinking a lot about what I want to accomplish in the next twelve months. Let's face it, losing weight was the first thing that popped into my head (shocking, no?). But there's so much more under the surface.

I think I'm suffering from inertia with life in general. It's like I'm sitting still while the time is passing me. So in 2011, my goal is the be the best me I can be. To stop sitting here, settling for status quo and start going after the things that I want. While I accomplished a few goals in 2010, there were so many big ideas that I had that didn't get out of the hopper.

So, it's time to write them down (again). My "resolution" is to work at this list, to break out of the rut.

1. Lose weight: I couldn't let it go, but the past few weeks have given me a lot of thought on the issue. I think I am holding onto the extra weight like a security blanket. Anything that makes me uncomfortable I just avoid and say I'm avoiding it because I feel like I'm too fat. Truth be told, yes I am bigger than I want to be. But I'm not so big that it should be holding me back in life. It's time to shed the weight and the excuses. ALSO: We have decided we want another baby sooner rather than later, but I refuse to get pregnant with this extra weight. I want to lose about 50 pounds before we start heading down that road again. Lastly, Aidan is on the move! Keeping up with him without getting tired or out of breath is another reason.

2. Make exercise a habit: I started on this in 2010, with running. My knees started bothering me though (#1), so I just stopped doing any exercising. This year I'm going to be smarter. First I'll be walking as I start shedding pounds. Then, once some of the weight is off I will start up Couch to 5k again. Borrowed from Christina, I've decided my running goal is 11 miles on 11/11/11. That gives me 11 months to work up to 11 miles.

3. Make healthy eating a habit: My husband and I decided together to give up fast food for the year. Today is day three and I am feeling really positive about this one. Having someone else giving it up with me is really helping. I don't want to be one to cave! (He, by the way, will likely not cave. He would eat fast food from time to time, but I'm the one who would have it almost daily. He could take it or leave it I'm sure.)

4. Work to my potential at work: Work is probably the area with the greatest inertia. I got out of the workplace that I hated and found an environment that I really love. But, I've gotten to where I do what is expected and then.... well that's it. I procrastinate a lot. I could put more effort in to my appearance. I should look for opportunities to impress my boss. My job is great for right now, but I do want to move up the ladder. I knew through all of 2010 that I could and should be doing more, in 2011 I'm going to do it.

5. Organize! I hate that my house, car, office, etc. get so cluttered and messy. I've bought a new book to work on organization at work (as a part of #4). As far as the car goes, I think once a week I just need to go out there and get out the trash, toys, etc. and use the dustbuster. The plan for the house is to do the daily type chores, of course, but then to focus on one project a day. Saturday I cleaned the fridge for example. Today I'm going to clean the hardwood floors.

6. Work on relationships: I want to be a better wife/mom/sister/friend, etc. This area has the least firm plan in my head. But I know that I want to be more patient, less selfish.

Each of these areas come back to my resolution: To wake up every day and be the best me that I can be. I hope that at the end of 2011, I can look back and see that I broke out of my rut and got a few steps closer to the person I want to be. And deep down, I know that the first step to becoming that person is to do what I say I'm going to do. Here we go!

The 27th Year

2010-11-22T15:28:00.003-06:00

Today I'm 27! So far this has been a great birthday.

I'm really looking forward to what my 27th year has to offer. I have some exciting ideas!

My in-laws got me a Sony eReader, which I am pretty thrilled about. It's the pocket edition, so the perfect size for my purse and it's pink. Unfortunately I'm totally engrossed in The Girl Who Played With Fire right now, the actual book, so I won't be ereading anything until I finish that one.

Not much else to say, just wanted to drop in to document my optimism about the coming year.

Details

2010-11-15T09:31:00.003-06:00

(Before I get into the dieting stuff in this post: Aidan used the potty for the first time yesterday!)

French Women Don't Get Fat arrived in the mail on Saturday. I started reading and realized I was trying to put the cart before the horse.

The "Magical Leek Soup Weekend" is still a few weeks away. The first step in this diet is to start writing down everything you eat, what time it was, where you were, and what you were doing. This continues for three weeks, so you can identify your problem areas. I almost skipped this step. It seemed ridiculous for someone who has been obsessing over diets for years to do. Of course I know what my problems are. I snack too much, I eat too much fast food, I eat until past the point of fullness.

But, I want to do this right. It is a "research project" afterall. Skipping steps would not fit into my plan.

Yesterday was my first day of tracking and I actually am making new discoveries. Not one meal yesterday was eaten at the table. I had breakfast in the car on the way to church, lunch and dinner in front of the tv, and multiple snacks all eaten while standing.

One of the guidelines that come later in the book (I peeked ahead a little) is to eat your meals at the table. Slow down and enjoy the meal. I never realized that I had such a big problem with that. Just goes to show, writing it all down with DETAILS will open your eyes.

I am committing to the three weeks of journaling (well, roughly three weeks). From yesterday (11/14) through December 3rd I'll be journaling what I eat with all the details, December 4th and 5th will be the "Leek Soup Weekend", and then December 6th will start the next phase of the diet.

Today I am decidedly past the exhilaration phase of starting a new plan. I'm in the digging my feet in phase, which I usually skip---and that always leads to quitting.

As far as exercise is concerned, I'm still doing P90X (have not lost weight.... diet is 80% of the battle and my diet has been poor. I am getting stronger though) and I am going to try to walk at least 30 minutes a day.

Just Call Me Amelie

2010-11-12T10:29:00.003-06:00

In my, seemingly neverending, quest to lose weight I stumbled across the book French Women Don't Get Fat. I remember seeing this book in stores when it first came out, but at the time I wasn't really trying to lose weight. I don't think at that time I "needed" to, so I didn't give it much thought.

Today, however, I stumbled upon it again while researching eating "real" food. Several of the bloggers at Bodies in Motivation are doing the Primal diets, but I don't think that is for me. I like the grains too much. The idea of eating real food though, appeals to me. Junk food fills up a big part of my diet and it needs to go. Needless to say, I ordered the book.

From what I could tell from the website, it starts with a 48 hour leek soup jump start. I didn't even know what I leek is, so I googled that too. Turns out, or so they say, leeks taste like mild onions. I think I can handle that. So, this weekend I'm doing to the 48 hours of leek soup, then going forward on this new French way of eating.

While I was on Amazon, I noticed a plethora of books on the French lifestyle. I am intrigued by the fact that there are so many books out there on the subject. While I change my eating habits, I want to research, read up, whatever you'd like to call it on the French. A research project, more or less. (Yes, this may indeed make me a complete nerd, but what can you do?)

The first thing I found in my research was the French Manifesto. A few things stood out to me, and honestly drew me into the idea of making myself a little more "french":

French Women Adore Fashion - I am not big on fashion. I like clothes, I like shopping. But I skim the fashion sections in magazines. I wear the same outfits week after week. I don't know if this is because I feel so frumpy because of my weight or because I'm lazy or what. BUT, I do know that I feel twinges of jealousy when I see women who are fashionable and put together.
French Women are stubborn individuals who don't follow mass movements - Stubborn I have down, but I don't know that I let myself be an individual as much as I should. "What will people think?" crosses my mind more often that I would like. Fear of rejection fuels this, no doubt.
French Women Don't Diet - Leave dieting behind? Yes, please. That sound gimmicky to me. All diets do and all eating programs that say they aren't a diet also do. Still, the ideal picture I see of myself includes a person who isn't dieting, but who just eats real food.
French Women Love to Laugh - Taking life too seriously is something that I tend toward. Laugh, more stress less?

There are more that really drew me in, but for now I'll just list those. I'm excited about this new "research project." I don't know what the goal is, really. Maybe I want to add a little Frenchness to my lifestyle, maybe I'm just bored and want a project (and we know I am always looking for a project). Either way, I think this will be a fun learning experience. Hopefully it will push me a little more into becoming the "Emily" that I have always wanted to become.

Green Monster

2010-10-15T09:09:00.003-05:00

My friend just got offered a new job! I am so happy for her!

And I am jealous. Which, of course, then makes me feel like a HORRIBLE person. We are both in accounting. Coming out of college we were making right around the same salaries. Since then I have no idea what she makes. I know that I am making less. In my mind, I have justified this a million times. My husband and I left the city, cost of living is lower where we are now, I'm at a hospital now instead of an oil and gas company. Less money kind of sucks, but life is better here... it's fine, it's fine, it's fine.

Until today. I have no idea how much my friend is making at her current job. But I do know that what she got offered at this job is roughly DOUBLE my salary. So, yeah, I'm jealous. We have the exact same degrees from the exact same college. So it's not really her success that is causing the jealousy--I really am happy for her. Is it my relative lack of success? I know success isn't measured by money alone, but more money sure would make some aspects of life easier.

Moving out of the city was definitively the right choice for us. No, I wouldn't want to go back to the city just to make more money. But DANG! if it doesn't hit me right in the gut that I'm planning a yard sale this weekend to make some extra money....and then.... a wake-up call of some sort of potential I didn't reach.

Yes, that's it. The potential I'm not reaching. I'm a staff accountant, but I know I am capable of more. I know that I have so much more in me--I've just let that drive settle into a place that I'm not tapping into anymore. I LOVE where I work, I just haven't figured out the path from the desk I'm sitting at right now, to a position where I'm realizing my potential. And that issue has been bothering me for awhile now.

(By the way, being jealous is NOT becoming, and even typing this out makes me feel icky. I am happy with my life and the decisions I made, so I hope this doesn't come off like I would do things differently...I really just needed to get that feeling out.)

(Also BY THE WAY, my immediate response to the feelings of jealousy were that I wanted to eat. Typing this out made that desire to eat my feelings go away, maybe if I start journaling or something I'll quit eating so much?)

(Annnndddd.... I've been sitting here debating on publishing this post for like five minutes now. I'm just going to do it and then worry I've come off as bitter and money-hungry. Please don't think I'm bitter and money-hungry!)

Kitchen Overhaul

2010-09-29T13:45:00.003-05:00

Without trying to brag, I'm just going to come out and say it: I am a good cook. A great cook, if I do say so myself. Only, I fear that I rely on too many unhealthy recipes. Sure, I have some meals I cook that are good for you, but the ones I fall back on time and time again are not. Enchiladas, pizzas, mashed potatos, macaroni, casseroles... comfort foods are my vice. In my mind I have a picture of my family eating thoughtfully prepared, HEALTHY homecooked meals. However, in reality I end up cooking food that is probably not the healthiest.

I would not say I'm the worst as health food goes. I buy lean meats, lowfat dairy, whole grains (sometimes), but I want to do better. The time has come for a kitchen overhaul. If my eating habits are going to change, I need to start from square one. The junk needs to go and healthier food needs to come in. I don't want to spend a fortune on food all in one swoop and I don't want to be wasteful. However, tonight I am going to purposefully go through the fridge, freezer and pantry and make cuts. Is there somewhere I can donate food that I deem needs to go?

Thursday I will be sitting down with my cookbooks. I want to find recipes that can make use of ingredients I already have (with adding this and that of course). Friday is grocery shopping day. These small steps are going to be the beginning of changing the way my family eats. My husband is laid back and will be on board with healthy eating. Aidan is two, and let's face it, getting him on the right track now will be easier than when he becomes more set in his routines.

Does anyone have any healthy, delicious recipes to share? I hope to post the good ones I find on here in the future. Switching to a healthier eating/cooking style is a little scary for me. The fear of failure is lurking... what if I'm just not as good at cooking these healthy meals? I mean, fatty foods taste good on their own, don't they? That's why we eat them. What if I can't make the good stuff actually taste delicious?

(P90X is still going great. Today is day 17-- can you believe it?!? I can feel my body getting stronger am starting to see small changes in my thighs, calves, and arms. Yet, I know that 80% of the formula on how your body looks is determined by diet--thus, the kitchen overhaul.)

Surprise, Surprise

2010-09-23T13:04:00.002-05:00

I bet you are thinking I quit the whole 90 day challenge, gave up on p90x, etc. It's okay, tell the truth.

However, I am still going! It's been a busy week and I haven't gotten to update on it here, but things are still going well with p90x! Tonight will be day 11 and I am really enjoying it. The workouts are hard, but I can feel myself getting stronger and improving. Plus, my friendship with my workout partner is growing (and that is really exciting too).

Eating hasn't been quite as successful. Last week I did really great, this week I craved chili cheese fries for days. But I didn't have them (at first). Instead I kept eating things that weren't quite as "bad" as chili cheese fries, but still were bad. Wednesday I finally got a small order of chili cheese fries. Guess what.... today I'm back on track. It's a tough line to walk, making healthy choices and indulging every once in awhile. But next time I crave something like that I'm going to figure out how to work it into my points. Plan it, eat it, move on. Because trying to ignore it completely resulted in eating way too much for multiple days in a row.

****On an unrelated note, isn't it great that TV is back? Thank goodness.

P90X Day 4: Stretch X

2010-09-17T15:29:00.002-05:00

Stretch X was a MUCH needed break. Being so sore was getting old; today I'm feeling great sinec my muscles got loosened up with the stretching. I'm a pretty flexible person and love the way stretching feels, so I really enjoyed this entire workout. I didn't feel like I was torching the calories like I did in the others, but loved it anyway.

I have officially had no fast food breakfasts all week. Today a friend wanted to go to lunch, so I planned out points to go and followed my plan. The plan even included splitting dessert. The chocolate cake was delicious, but.... my stomach is staging a revolt this afternoon. I guess after eating so well all week, the influx of sugar really threw my system. So, even though it was part of my plan for the day and it was "allowed", I wish I had just skipped the cake. Hopefully the gastrointestinal issues pass before tonight's workout: Legs & Back. Saturday we're doing Kenpo X and the Sunday we get to REST.

Never before have I so looked forward to my workouts. I think there are a combination of reasons, but the biggest ones are that I am working out with a friend instead of alone and that I am getting out of the house for some "me time" each evening.

Friday is my weigh in day for weight watchers, I'm down four pounds!

P90X Day Three: Arms & Shoulders, Ab Ripper X

2010-09-16T16:02:00.002-05:00

Day three was a welcome respite from days one and two. Thank goodness, because going into the workout I could barely move.

I probably could have pushed myself harder and gotten more out of the workout. I think next time using heavier weights would probably help. In all though, this workout moved along quickly and there weren't quite so many moves that seemed impossible.

The Ab Ripper seemed easier than the first time, but that is still a tough workout.

As a sidenote, I am pretty proud of the amount of time I've spent working out this week. I'm probably around 200 minutes---and I've got three more workouts this week.

Weight Watchers has been going really well! Big successes today and yesterday--both days my coworker brought me a snack (first half and ice cream sandwich, the next day 3 oreos) and I thanked her, but threw them away after she left my office. I have ALWAYS struggled with people pushing food. Finally, I have figured that if I just accept it and don't eat it life is easier. This method, of course, would not work in the situation where someone sticks around after handing me the food.... but I feel it's a step in the right direction.

Also, I'm working on not eating things that I don't want. For example, I will figure my points for dinner and include something like peas. I would eat all the peas because I had allocated points for them, even if after a few bites I just really didn't want them. This time around, if I don't want them I don't eat them and I re-adjust my points!

P90X Day Two: Plyometrics

2010-09-15T14:25:00.002-05:00

Did I mention yesterday that day one was difficult and that I was sore? Ha. Little did I know.

Plyometrics was insane and it kicked my butt. My the end of the workout all we were doing was hopping on one leg. Easy, right? No! I couldn't do it, my legs feeled like they weighed a few hundred pounds a piece. I had to hold on to the edge of the chair just to get airborne at all. An hour of jumping around is not my idea of fun. We were only about ten minutes in and I could started thinking that I just can't do it.

But I did it! I was so proud of us when the workout was over. There were quite a few times I had to slow it down and definitely couldn't give as much as the guys on the video, but I gave it everything I have.

I am feeling it today, pretty much sore from shoulders down.

Diet is going really well too. I've stuck to my points and made good choices. I'm feeling great and just need to build momentum on this feeling to make it through the rest of this 90 days!

Tonight we are doing Shoulders & Arms... it can't possibly be as hard as the plyo. Right?..... RIGHT?

P90X Day One: Chest & Back, Ab Ripper X

2010-09-14T14:32:00.003-05:00

We aren't doing our workouts until after the kids are in bed, so we're starting at 8:30pm. I ate my dinner early (I didn't want anything on my stomach in case the workout was intense enough to make me nauseaus) and changed into my workout clothes right after work. I headed over to Julie's pumped and ready to go.

After some technical difficulties setting up the dvd player in their home gym/garage, we got started. The workout was TOUGH. I have horrible upper body strength, so a barrage of pushups and pullups were hard work. It was a fun workout though and the time flew by. Working out with a partner was infinitely better than working out alone. Decline pushups were probably the hardest part of the workout, for me. Also, pullups.... I cannot do them. We had to have a chair underneath us for help and they still about killed me.

We also did the 15 minute Ab Ripper X, which was again very tough. I won't lie and tell you I could do all the reps they did on the video. I had to take a few breaks here and there, but the 15 minutes flew by and before I knew it we were all done.

I got back home at 10pm, showered and was too wired to sleep! I watched a dvr'd episode of Gossip Girl (which I am probably too old for, but I love it) and finally headed to bed around 11. Today I'm feeling good. I'm not tired like I expected, so that is fantastic.

1 day down, 89 to go! Tonight we do Plyometrics. Jumping around is not something I enjoy (as I'm sure anyone with any jiggling feels), but I really excited to continue doing P90X.

(Oh and I am sore already. I was beginning to feel it when I woke up this morning, but as the day goes on I can feel it more and more. And.... well it was chest & back, then abs--interestingly along with those areas, my arms and legs are also sore. I'm expecting to be more sore as the week goes on, but honestly it's one of those "hurts so good" situations.)

---As far as my first mini-challenge, these first two mornings of not getting fast food breakfast have been great. Yesterday I had oatmeal, today I had toast with Laughing Cow cheese.

90 Day Project

2010-09-13T09:57:00.002-05:00

In the spirit of finally losing weight (and getting back to blogging, I'm starting a 90 Day Get Fit Project for myself. Starting today and for the next 90 days I am buckling down, focusing and sticking to getting fit. The plan involves the following:

1. p90x: This is not something I've purchased, because we are on a budget these days. But a new friend has it and is looking for someone to do it with her. I said sure! First off, I have been dying to make close friends since we moved here and I figure working out together six days a week would help that effort. Second, I watched the infomercial this weekend and I want to look like that!

2. Weight Watchers Online: I signed up on Friday and am going to use this instead of the p90x nutrition program. My focus is on eating filling, healthy foods, but the p90x program seemed too complex. If I'm going to stick to it, I'm going to need something easy. Plus, I love the Weight Watchers program. I feel like their advice is smart and the plan is really healthy (if you do it the right way!)

3. Blogging: I plan to try to blog every weekday about my progess. This blog has been inactive for about a year now and this will be a great way to get it up and running again.

4. Mini-challenges: These are going to be little challenges that last 30 days that I am going to use to break some of my worst habits. The mini-challenge for the first 30 days is cutting out fast food for breakfast. I am HORRIBLE about this one. It's a waste of money and makes me feel sluggish all morning (not to mention it just puts a bad start eating-wise on the whole day). So, that habit is the first to go. Goodbye Chickfila burritos and hashbrowns, Donut Palace donuts and kolaches, Burger King Cheesy Bacon Whateveritscalled. Hello oatmeal!

Wish me luck! I've committed to a lot of different weight loss "plans" over the years and quit. So I HOPE you believe me when I say this time I'm really going to do it. My goal is to lose about 30 pounds in this 90 day time period.

Craziest Goal Yet

2010-09-03T12:06:00.003-05:00

Remember a few months ago when I actually ran in a 5k? Well, I want to take that goal farther.

My best friend signed up for the half marathon in New Orleans this February. My first thought was "oh, good for you." The second thought was "I'm going to feel so left out when you accomplish this without me." So, of course I want to do it too now. The only problem is that I have not run, at all, since April.

So in order to accomplish this goal I'll have a lot of work to do. The plan is to start Couch to 5k again. Once I can run 3 miles straight I will start on a half marathon training schedule. I've found two options. The first is 12 weeks, the second is 8 weeks. For the 12 week option I won't have to start until November 22 (my birthday!). The 8 week option would be in December.

Surely I can run 3 miles by late November, right? Because seriously, if my friend goes to NOLA and runs a half while I sit on my butt, it will be a sad day.

Weekly Will

2010-08-26T08:49:00.002-05:00

I stole this idea from Incubation Nation. It's a weekly will. Since last week I've been thinking to myself that I want to post one, but I haven't. And, yes I know it is Thursday, but I'm doing it today anyway!

So.... we'll call this an End of Week Will I suppose.

For the rest of this week:

-I will eat only when I'm hungry.
-I will do pilates at least two more times.
-I will clean the bathrooms in my house.
-I will sit down and relax and watch a movie.

These seem simple enough. I love the idea of a few simple goals for the week that can help me reach much larger goals.

Expansion

2010-07-22T10:11:00.001-05:00

Long time, I know! I'll update soon!

In the meantime, check me out over here...

http://www.bodiesinmotivation.com/2010/07/introducing-self-meet-control/

Apps

2010-04-27T15:24:00.002-05:00

Today I've been researching iPhone apps that will help with weight loss. What? You don't do this? Anyway, it got me thinking about what my apps say about me. Let's take a look:

Pandora: I absolutely LOVE Pandora. Admittedly, I listen to it more on the actual computer than I do on my iPhone. But it does came in handy when I go for a run. I have a Best of the 80s station that makes for a great running soundtrack. Also--I like to use this one during Aidan's bathtime. I do not know of greater joy than watching my kid dance.

Directv: To schedule my DVR OF COURSE. Because how could life continue if I can't immediately schedule recordings from anywhere at anytime?

C25K: This app was instrumental in getting me started with running. Apparently there are two apps for this, differentiated by being "the green one" or "the brown one". I have the green one, in case anyone wants that much detail. I loved being able to listen to my own music. And the alerts at 5 min, 1 min, halfway were great for my "how much LONGER" state of mind.

LineUp: This was the first game I got. It's ok. I don't play it anymore, I could delete it. But what if I get bored?

Coin Free: Well, we know what this one says--I cannot make decisions. Or keep up with coins.

Facebook: I check this about a MILLION times a day. Not because I neccesarily need to know what all those people are up to. And certainly not because I care what is happening on your Mafia/Vampire Wars, Farmville, etc. etc. It's an addiction nonetheless. Probably because I am nosey and feel like I'm getting a glimpse into other's lives. Much the same reason I read blogs, yes?

The Weather Channel: Because Directv does NOT show my local weather when TWC does Local on the 8s. Good thing it DOES let me schedule the DVR from my iPhone...

3 Apps: This is BRAND NEW as of today. It is a calendar/to do list/grocery list app. I am nothing if not a planner, so I'm pretty excited about this little guy.

Your Chain!: "Don't Break the Chain" Basically a calendar that you mark an 'X' on each day that you do whatever it is that you are tracking. Right now it's the Shred and I have two x's. Pretty self-explanatory I guess, if I skip a day the chain is broken. (Planner that I am, I have lack of follow-through, we will see if this helps)

Lose it: Also new today. This is the weight loss helper I decided on today. I've decided to do old school calorie counting and this seems to cover that pretty well.

Words with Friends: Oh my gosh, downloading this app has been like trying drugs (I would assume). I am fully addicted. Do you have it? Let's be WORDS FRIENDS. Only, um, if you want to play words with me you are going to have to leave YOUR username in the comments because my username is my FULL NAME! Way to think it through right?

So.... I like music and tv, word games, can't make decision, am nosey, care deeply about the weather, really like planning things, and want to lose weight. I'd say that's a pretty good summation of my interests actually. (Okay, okay I DO have more interests than that)

Any good apps I should know about?

My Everest

2010-04-26T15:11:00.002-05:00

Today is a landmark day. I am embarking on the 30 Day Shred. Again.

My first trip down this road was in the fall of 2008. I made it through 9 or 10 days, I believe. I could look it up in the archives, but I'll just go with the 9 or 10 estimate. Anyway, it was going pretty good. I was still in level one, but it was FINALLY not killing me. Then I skipped a day...and that was that.

Since then I've decided to try it again and again. Sometimes I'd last 3 days or 5. Sometimes I'd do it once, then give it up. I was "too tired", "too busy", "too ______". Whatever excuse I could think of to fill in that blank. "Thirty days of one dvd is too boring", I can remember saying.

It has become my own personal Everest. I suppose I could just give up the chase. Only I can't. It's on my List. I've got to do it. I'm calling today THE day. It's already planned for me to do this evening. Then, I want to make it a morning activity. Working out in the mornings really helps me eat better throughout the day. And I do still have 50 pounds I want to lose.

No more excuses.

5K Rehash

2010-04-20T11:43:00.004-05:00

The 5k was great.

First of all, it was sponsored by Blue Bell (those of you not from this area--Blue Bell makes the best ice cream ever). It was "all the ice cream you can eat" during the entire event. So everywhere I looked there were little kids eating ice cream. It felt like I was smack in the middle of an ice cream commercial, they were so adorable.

We got there pretty early to get my packet. There was a 10k that day also and they had the earlier start. While we waited we just caught up. My husband and I met my friends new boyfriend, so all the getting to know you's made the time pass pretty quickly.

Soon enough it was time to line up for the race, we ended up really close to the back of the pack. This ended up being a good thing, because we got to pass quite a few people (it was a 5k run/walk, so there were MANY walkers to pass). I have long felt like I am the slowest runner in history, so this was good for my moral.

Unfortunately, the part of Texas where the race was held (it was about a three hour drive from my home) is called "Hill Country" and they are not kidding. It was up hill, down hill, up hill, down hill. There were FEW relatively flat parts of the course. The hills, couple with the fact that I didn't run for about two weeke before the race, made for some walking. I would have loved to have run the whole time, but it didn't happen. My friend, who is AWESOME, stayed with me the whole time. I know she probably could have finished at least 10 minutes faster on her own.

We ended up finishing in 46 minutes. I was so relieved to cross the finish line. While training for the race I made the joke that if I was going to run 3 miles, there might as well be ice cream waiting for me at the finish line, but I didn't even want any! I just wanted some water. Maybe 30 to 45 minutes later I finally felt like having an ice cream bar.

Overall, I'm proud of myself for deciding to do a 5k and following through with it. I didn't lose a much weight during my training. I'm not an awesome runner. But, I did it. I didn't quit.

Our next race is on Memorial Day weekend. My goal is to run the whole time. It is in Houston and I feel certain it will be much flatter than the Blue Bell run, so that will help.

Also, y'all, I got a haircut.

Friday Round Up

2010-04-16T11:16:00.002-05:00

*What's this? I'm posting? Yes.

*Tomorrow I'm running my first 5k! I'm super excited about it. If you recall, it's on my 101 Things to do in 1001 days list. (This list has, admittedly, been adjusted a bit since it was posted on here, but the 5k is still on it)

*I'm working a halfday today in preparation for the upcoming 5k. Um, ok, really I just want a half day.

*CONFESSION: I have been training for this 5k since January. Except, I haven't actually gone for a run in about two weeks. So....there's that.

*Aidan LOVES preschool. For example, Monday he ran to his classroom door while saying "okay, bye!" when I dropped him off for the day.

*Weight loss is still a slow going issue. I tried Weight Watchers for awhile, wasn't losing that great and then wanted to save the money. This week I decided to give up dairy, sweets, and carbonated drinks. I've lost 4 pounds so far. Only 46 more to go!

*Spring has sprung at my house and SURPRISINGLY I didn't manage to ruin the flower beds in my first year as a homeowner. We have azeleas and roses blooming! (and weeds, oh my GOSH the weeds)

*Do any of you have iPhones? Do you play Words with Friends? Because if you do, let me know in the comments. I'm kind of addicted.

Big Goals

2010-02-17T15:13:00.003-06:00

(I didn't get in trouble last time. It is a slippery slope now, isn't it? My computer at home died AGAIN. Hard drive failure this time. Mere DAYS after that post in December.)

I was looking over my last few (sporadic) posts and I notice that in August I wrote about my desire to become a runner. Then again in December I mention that I started running in November.

November...I started running on November first and did a walk/run combination 30 minutes a day for 2 weeks. It was supposed to be for 30 days, I didn't make it through.

In January I did two big things. I joined Weight Watchers and I started running.. At the actual meetings, not online. I absolutely love it. There is more accountability, for sure. And the meetings are great. They are informative and inspiring and funny!

At the second week's meeting the leader challenged us to "Move More". I downloaded the Couch to 5K app for my iphone. It's nine weeks long. Week one started with 60 seconds of jogging and 1.5 minutes of walking (or something close to that) alternating for 20 minutes. I'm not on Week Five! Guys, I have stuck with this for over a month. I'm running! Last night's run was Run 5 min, Walk 3 min. I did that routine three times. Tomorrow I run 8 minutes at a time. Saturday is my first 20 minute run.

My first 5K is going to be in April. My friend Laura is running with me. After that we have our sights set on a Half Marathon in August and, yes, a Marathon next January. I almost feel silly writing it down here, but it's my goal. I'm going to do this.

I have lost six pounds and am down a pants size. My legs feel stronger than they have in ages and on Sunday I had someone tell me that it was "very noticeable" that I am losing weight.

This is just the beginning.

Breaking the Rules

2010-02-05T10:26:00.002-06:00

Blogging at work in a outlawed...

I'm breaking the rules today, because I'm feeling guilty about a choice I'm mulling over and want some input.

Up to this point he has been kept by a sitter who keeps the kids at her home. She is certified by the state and Aidan loves her. Most of my experience with her has been great. The only real issue has been a few times when she has been "closed" because of a family event and I still had to pay on those days AND had to secure someone else to watch him. Or my husband or I would have to take off work. That has only happened twice though and it's not a huge thing. She's a really sweet lady and obviously loves the kids.

But...Aidan will be turning two this summer. I'm feeling like I want him in a preschool environment. The preschool at our church has a curriculum in the two year old class were the kids start learning letters, numbers, colors, etc. I really like he'll like that. Kids are just such little sponges at that age, I want him to learn all he can. I called and put him on the waiting list. They start registering for August next month.

I feel guilty about taking him away from the sitter. He likes her a lot. I know he'll adjust and will like his new teachers. Right? And the sitter, I feel like a traitor for wanting to take him somewhere else. When I originally decided to go with a sitter I thought I'd switch to preschool at three, so REALLY this was planned to happen eventually, now it's just a year earlier.

I think the right decision is to put him in preschool in August, but can't stop feeling bad for the sitter we have right now. I LIKE her, will she feel like it's a slap in the face? Am I just too softhearted?

'Tis The Season

2009-12-06T15:37:00.003-06:00

When we were looking for a house to buy, I fell in love with this one at first sight. It was a bit of a struggle getting into this house. The seller's had a horrible realtor and multiple times we thought it just wasn't going to happen.

Buying a house is always stressful (from what I hear--this was our first one). Every time we thought it was going to fall through I was so upset, because in my mind this was already Our House. If someone else ended up with our house, it just wouldn't be right. I had envisioned living in this house, I wanted it. I even knew exactly where my Christmas tree would be.

It's December now and my tree is right where I pictured it. I love Christmas, everything about it. I love how cozy and nostalgic everything feels at Christmas time. This year is so special, because it is our first Christmas in our new home. It's Aidan's second Christmas, but it's the first one where he is showing interest in the tree, the lights, the music. This season I'm trying to remind myself to savor each day, because it goes by so fast.

Today I'm watching Christmas movies on tv, while my Christmas tree lights glow in the corner of my living room, right where I pictured they would be.

(ANNND...this is where I was going to post a picture of me tree. Only, I realized my husband is gone right now, in my car. Which is where my camera is currently located.)

Wait For It...

2009-12-03T11:47:00.003-06:00

August: Started new job. Read in Handbook that bloggeing is Not. Tolerated. Also: computer at home dies. Will not start up. Still under warranty.

September: Apparently there was NO TIME to take the computer to Best Buy to be repaired. New job going great. Discover the joy that is How I Met Your Mother.

October: Still no time. Computer moved from living room to storage cabinet. Aidan celebrates Halloween dressed as a monkey. Learns to walk.

November: I turned 26! I started running (sort of)! I realize I have lost 9 pounds since quitting my stressful job. Start Weight Watchers. Lose another six pounds.

December: My computer is fixed! Once I finally took it to Best Buy, all it needed was a new powercord.

That's right. I'm back. "It's going to be Legen...wait for it...dary."

New Job

2009-08-14T19:53:00.002-05:00

*Is going well so far. I don't know enough to be "busy" yet, but I anticipate it.

*The guy I am replacing appears to have been AWESOME at this job. I have a lot to live up to.

*He is currently in some sort of CFO program.

*Blogging (writing and/or READING) is prohibited in the handbook and punishable by termination. I am so curious as to what happened to cause THAT you know?

*Because of said note in handbook I am SCARED to get online much at all. I checked the weather and was all "oh crap, I hope that's okay?"

*Same with email. My boss was gone for two days so there was little to nothing for me to do besides sit there and look pretty (haha). So I sent an email to a friend and then was worried.

*Regardless of all that, I am enjoying it. I love my boss, she is just so awesome.

*Now if I could just fast-forward through the whole "learning the systems phase"

*Also. Must find time to blog at home now, obviously.

*Had gotten so used to Partners giving dirty looks any time I talked to ANYONE that it has messed with my mind. My boss was talking to me about Grey's Anatomy and I kept thinking "I hope no one gets mad about this", then realized it was my BOSS and this was OKAY.

Crazy with a Side of Insane

2009-08-09T13:10:00.003-05:00

Running is something that I have never enjoyed. More accurately it's something I've avoided with a passion. I can't recall the last time I ran anywhere, much less voluntarily.

Yet, I've always been jealous of runners. Jealous of people who say they love running. Jealous of those who can't stand to miss a run. I want to be one of those people. Today things are changing. That's right. I'm on a mission. A crazy mission that I haven't even told anyone else about because it is so out of character for me. I can guarantee you that there is no one who knows me that would believe I will do this. I am going to train myself to be a runner.

Maybe that's why I want to do it. I've chosen a task that I know will challenge me. It will be tough, possibly miserable. But, imagine it. . . if I find myself in shape and a runner a year from now? Last night I decided to lose 60 pounds in a year. One year from today I want to weigh 60 pounds less. When I went to sleep I wasn't sure how to get there. This morning I started thinking about running.

Then, I'm not kidding you, the preacher at church today kept talking about running. He asked who in the congregation had ever run a marathon. Part of me wants to do that. . . to run a marathon one of these days. Is that crazy? Is it even possible?

My Ipod is recharging and as soon as it finishes I'm going for a run. My goal is one mile. From there, we'll see where it goes. Maybe after my first test run I'll set my first goal.

While I can't quite wrap my mind around why I want to do this, the fact remains that I do want to do it. I want to be in shape. I know I want to transform my body. So I'm starting small. Very small, to be sure. I know that to most people running a mile is no big deal. To me, it's a HUGE deal. I don't know if I've ever run a mile. But I'm going to attempt it in a matter of minutes. I'll be back to let you know how it goes.

Moving Right Along

2009-08-04T10:28:00.002-05:00

It's my last day working here. Obviously I'm not sad. Yesterday was the exit interview and it felt good to speak my mind. There are people I will miss, but we can always meet for lunch. I am just incredibly excited about my new job. I can't wait until Monday.

In other news, my sister, her husband, and her four kids just moved to Texas. They live on my parents land, about an hour from here. Tomorrow I'm going down to visit and I'm excited about that too. My sister's youngest is a year older than Aidan and I'm hoping they'll play with each other.

Well. . . it's about half an hour left before my "goodbye" lunch and then it's downhill from there.

I GOT IT!

2009-07-30T16:06:00.001-05:00

I got the hospital job!!!!!

It's a good day.

Birthday Pictures

2009-07-30T10:37:00.006-05:00

Birth Day to Birthday

2009-07-28T15:11:00.006-05:00

July 28th 2009.

It was hot. We drove a half hour to our last weekly doctor visit. The prior week our doctor had told us we could talk about a day to induce at this visit. We were so excited. Would it be this week? How soon would he want to induce?

After the doctor checked me out he indeed said we could induce either "tomorrow or the next day." Which we would prefer? Tomorrow! Let me tell you, knowing that I had less than 24 more hours of being pregnant in the horrible Texas heat was priceless.

We drove home, calling people informing them of the news all along the way. Tomorrow's the day. It was around 4 in the afternoon. We had to be at the hospital at 7 am.

On our last night as not-quite-parents we went to Outback Steakhouse to eat dinner with our inlaws. We went back to their house and played Phase 10. Everyone went to bed, but I could barely sleep. I was excited about the baby coming, but also extremely nervous.

July 29, 2008

I think I slept two or three hours, but I was up by 5:00. With nothing else to do I played around online for a little while, waiting on the time to come.

By 6:15 we were out the door. My husband, my mother-in-law and I were en route to the hospital. My husband was wound up. He was singing and seemingly taking the longest route ever to the hospital. All of this, of course, got on my nerves because I was nervous. NERVOUS. I know I wasn't saying much.

When we got checked into the hospital I changed into the hospital gown and remember wishing I could keep my bra on, but they said I couldn't. I get into the hospital bed and waited a few minutes. At nearly 7 on the dot the doctor came in and broke my water. They started pitocin. And, the wait was on.

The contractions weren't too bad at first, just uncomfortable. By 10 am, my father in law, grandmother in law, mother, and my mom's friend had all arrived as well. The room was bustling with energy. I was still very quite. From the nerves. Sometime in that hour the contractions got worse and the nurse gave me a dose of something (I forget the name now) in my IV.

My vision went fuzzy for a moment. And then it started. The uncontrollable laughing. I had been lying there, in a dazed silence for three hours. But, now I was laughing like a fool. Everyone in the room was looking at me like "what, what's so funny?" My husband asked if I could get some of that medicine to take home, I was in such a good mood.

The Price Is Right was on tv and someone had just one a year's supply of laundry detergent. The humor in this was obviously too much for me. I told everyone who entered the room "Can you believe that? Someone goes on The Price is Right expecting to win big and they come home with laundry detergent."

Also, The Dark Knight was pretty big last summer. My husband was playing solitare and the jokers were sitting out. I said to him "wouldn't it be hilarious if the baby comes out and is all 'here's my card'?"

The drugs finally wore off. But I wasn't feeling so silent any more. The tension broke. I was hungry. Someone brought in a gift basket of snacks. I vowed to eat some as SOON as it was all over. I couldn't wait to eat.

I don't remember what time I got the epidural. But, I do remember being a big baby about it. And, no it wasn't that bad. As far as I can recall. I cried though, because I was so scared of it. Once that was over it was smooth sailing for awhile.

Since the labor was induced and I had the epidural, I don't remember labor being excrutiatingly painful or anything until near the end. I do remember the pain of contractions though, even through the epidural and I admire anyone who does this without drugs.

Eleven hours later they told me it was time to push. By 6:00 that evening there were about a million people there waiting on Aidan to be born. My parents and in-laws. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, you name it. Friends of the family even. They were all ushered out into the waiting room.

Next door, a lady was having an emergency C-section. That is where my doctor was. It was me, my husband and the nurse. There was some machine that kept beeping when it wasn't supposed to. I believe a cord was loose. Whatever it was, it was ANNOYING. I wanted to get up out of the hospital bed just to throw that machine out. the. window.

I pushed. And pushed. And pushed some more. For an hour. AN HOUR. I was so tired and at this point the pain came through. I didn't think the baby was ever going to come out. Finally the c-section next door was over and my doctor came in. Along with three or four other nurses. Things went very quickly from there, in comparison anyway. The baby still wasn't budging though. The doctor said he'd have to use the vaccuum and if that didn't work forceps.

It was like and "oh, hell no" moment for me. I did not want them using forceps on my baby. I don't know if that vaccuum would have worked either way, but using all the energy I had left I pushed and out he came. Twelve hours after we had arrived at the hospital. He was amazing. Beautiful and perfect.

I held him for just a second it seemed and they let me kiss him and then they took him away.

I should have realized then that something was wrong. They told us in our birthing classes that the baby would be in the room for about an hour if everything was ok. In all the confusion I must have forgotten.

Suddenly, the room was empty. Just me and nurse cleaning me up. It wasn't like I was deserted or anything--I know everyone told me what was going on and where they were going. I just don't remember. But I was hungry and the nurse finally gave me some crackers from the gift basket. I ate them and she left the room. I threw up.

When I called the nurse she said "oh, yeah sometimes that happens if you eat too soon." I wish I'd have known.

No one was telling me what was going on with the baby. My parents came in to see me. And then my husband was back. Someone, I don't know who, it's all a blur came to let me know that the baby's breathing was a little strange, grunty, and they were having another doctor check him out. They were worried he may have problems with his lungs. They might have to ship him to a different hospital.

I can't put into words the amount of "scared" that I felt. I was worried I had done something wrong, maybe if I hadn't taken so long to push him out. Maybe if we hadn't induced. What was going on?

They didn't have to ship him anywhere. They put him on monitors in NICU. They told me to get some sleep. I think I must have gotten a little sleep. Around midnight they let us go into the NICU to see him. He was so small and precious. He was hooked up to so many monitors. They said to try not to disturb him to much. All I could do was look. I was afraid to touch him. I think I may have rubbed his little foot.

After the Birth Day:

We found out the next day that he was okay. He didn't have fluid in his lungs or anything, he was fine. He was monitored in the hopsital, but by the third day he wasn't even in NICU anymore and we got to go home.

(About two weeks after he was born we found out he has laryngomalacia. It's a condition where the larynx is too soft. I think this is why his breathing sounded grunty and the doctors were worried. It's not a serious worry. The doctor said he'll be fine and grow out of it. And he is doing just that.)

Overall, my experience with the hospital was good. All the nurses were great, except the one who dealt with me right after delivery. With all that was going on I should have informed of all that was going on quicker. And giving birth was amazing.

I appreciate that the doctors took concern over him so quickly. I was obviously scared to death, but am relieved to know he was fine. I much prefer them taking the safe route and having him monitored and him turning out fine over them doing nothing and something going wrong. That experience was scary, but it made us parents. Right then.

I cannot believe that this memory is from a year ago. My tiny baby is now turning one. He is crawling and babbling and into everything. He wears a size 4 shoe and 12 to 18 month clothes. He loves babyfood (fruit and sweet potatoes only), but hates real food. He's learing how to use his sippy cup. He always wants to be moving. He likes his swing, watching the dog play, and is possibly a little spoiled about being held. He likes the theme song to Two and Half Men and dances when he hears "Thriller". He seems to prefer his Tigger toys and watches Handy Manny. He sleeps through the night and amazes me with what a brave little guy he is. He has the sweetest smile you have ever EVER seen and I can honestly say that I've never known a baby, or anyone for that matter, who is as happy as he is.

Our first year has gone by so fast. This little guy made us a family. He's brought us so much happiness. The tiny baby who would sleep on my chest? I'll miss him. But this guy? This toddler with the personality? I am having so much fun with him. I can't wait to see what he'll do next.

The Big 1!

2009-07-28T14:23:00.002-05:00

Big day tomorrow. Aidan turns one! I am so excited for his first birthday.

We are starting the day with a trip to the doctor. He'll get weighed and measured and then some shots. Hopefully he is as brave about those as he's been about his other shot visits. He cries a little, but mostly he's a tough little guy.

A little while after that we have an appointment for his one year birthday photo session at Sears. I just decided on that this morning and was really glad they had an opening. Now I just have to decide what to have him wear.

Later tomorrow night both sets of grandparents are coming over for dinner. I'm making Baked Pasta with (Chicken?) Sausage. The recipe calls for chicken sausage. I'm hoping I can find that, if not I'm going to use turkey sausage. I'm adding a salad and garlic bread.

His real party is Saturday at 1. First party on the 1st at 1, see?

At Least I'm High Caliber

2009-07-27T16:22:00.003-05:00

Well, there is news. Not good news. Not bad news. Just some "hmm, this could go either way" news.

Anyway, she was really nice again. And thanked me for calling. She said she took her recommendations to her boss and they decided they need to speak to corporate to decide who to hire. It's based on what they want to "do" with the position.

Either they want a "high caliber" person or a "clerical" person. High caliber is the side I'm on(which was a nice compliment, yes?) clerical would be someone else. So the waiting game is back on until Thursday.

I feel like it's a salary issue. They probably don't want to pay for "high caliber", right? But knowing I'm not totally out of the running. I wish they'd have decided that question before interviewing, but who knows why people do what they do. I hope the controller is pushing for me, but again who knows?

On the positive side, I am replacing someone who is a CPA, so hopefully they want to keep this position as professional instead of changing it to clerical. On the negative side, corporations like to save money.

More waiting sucks, but I'm trying to think positive and put it in God's hands. Nothing else I can do at this point.

Mid-Day Update

2009-07-27T12:50:00.002-05:00

No word yet. My cell phone has rang exactly twice. Both times were my mother.

Need a Call Before Brain Explodes

2009-07-27T08:49:00.003-05:00

My stomach is in knots. I couldn't eat breakfast. I am staring at my cellphone thinking the following things:

"When will they call?"
"Wait. . . what if they don't call? They may not call if it's a no."

"Hm, if they don't call for a no, then maybe they picked someone on Friday and already hired that person."
"If they did THAT I've been nervous all weekend of NO REASON AT ALL."

"What are they waiting on?"
"CALL CALL CALL"

"Unless, of course, they aren't calling for a no."
"Oh God, what if it's no?"

"No means I'm stuck HERE."
"No means I don't get to work with the two really nice ladies."

"It could be a yes, maybe they'll call and it'll be YES we want you."
"Emily! Don't do that, you're jinxing yourself."

"Crap. Definitely just jinxed it."
"Now it'll be a no for sure."

"I wonder if they are going to call for a no."

I really want this job.

1,2,3,4

2009-07-25T17:52:00.002-05:00

1. Tonight's dinner was Chicken Helper Asian Inspired Chicken Fried Rice. For something quick and easy when craving Chinese--I recommend it. Hit the spot.

2. Nervous wreck waiting on news about the job.

3. It's like half raining, but thundering and lightening. Kind of like it wants to storm, but doesn't have the energy.

4. Watching Juno again. I love this movie.

I Really Want It

2009-07-24T12:56:00.002-05:00

Today was my hospital interview. While I really think it went great, I keep telling myself not to get my hopes up.

They have one more interview today and they will make a decision Monday. I enjoyed this interview. The two women I spoke with were so easy to talk to and I really liked them. The job sounds like something I would LOVE doing.

But, I'm afraid to get my hopes up. I feel that I did the best I could in the interview, I hope they liked me and I hope they want me to take the job.

Cross your fingers, think good thoughts, say a prayer--whatever you can for good vibes. Thanks!

Special Thursday Edition: Friday Round Up

2009-07-23T08:47:00.002-05:00

*The first interview I went to told me I would hear something "hopefully" by the end of this week, possibly Thursday. So. I'm sitting here impatiently waiting. Hoping.

*The Audit Partner that is teaching me how to audit is extremely nice. I fell guilty because he is investing time in training me and I know that I hope to not be here much longer. If nothing comes through on other jobs and I'm stuck at this place, I'm seriously considering finding out if this audit thing could be indefinite (instead of the 1-3 months).

*Aidan is turning 1 next Wednesday. ONE! ALREADY!

*I am making him a baseball cake. After the first practice run, I decided that I need to use different icing and a different pan. Also, I found a recipe for making batter from scratch. So, obviously I'm doing another practice run this weekend.

*The stress around work has pushed me right off the progress I was making with Weight Watchers. I'm disappointed in myself. Extremely. Yet, I just need to get back on track and I keep eating crap food.

*I am serving a meal for six people on Wednesday. I'm thinking spaghetti and meatballs. Any other ideas though? Something kind of simple yet tasty for a medium sized group?

Conflicting

2009-07-22T10:24:00.003-05:00

Last night, I went home and grumbled to my husband about how much I hate my job now while I made dinner. Just as I was draining the macaroni my cell phone rang. The number was unfamiliar, so I answered hesitantly.

It was Human Resources from a local hospital. You see, when I was told yesterday that my clients were being moved to someone else I took hold of looking for a new job with even more gusto. I searched high and low for job postings online. I had checked at this particular hospital last week and there was nothing to be found. But yesterday? An opening for a staff accountant. So I applied.

I was totally shocked to have received a return call so quickly. They are having interviews Thursday and Friday and she said they are "very interested" in meeting with me. My interview is Friday at 10 am. I have high hopes for this interview. The hospital is right in town, the benefits will be great, and most importantly it's not this place.

The company I interviewed with on Monday should be getting back to me by the end of this week. The hospital job is my preference at the moment, but I'm hoping to get an offer from either/or, you know?

As the situation deteriorates at my current job I am fighting the feelings of "I just want to go home." I'm having a hard time dealing with the "I just don't care" attitude that has overcome me. The audit work they have me doing is something I have never seen before. So I'm in a position of trying to learn to do something brand new while not caring. Not even a little. I did not feel this way until recently; I was pushed to it by Tax Partners who have NO people management skills.

I know that I need to continue to do my best here until I leave. This economy is not one in which I want to be without a job at all. And I may not get an offer from either the hospital or the other company. But it's hard to do my best. I've spent months trying to show them that I DO care, that I want to do a good job. I've asked for feedback and been told I'm doing fine, I'm headed in the right direction. I've asked for more work and been told there isn't any. Then they finally do give me something out of left field-to do temporarily, but take away stuff. The actions are not matching the feedback they gave me.

Let's get this straight: I am a rule follower. I am not a troublemaker. In high school I didn't go to parties, I didn't drink, I didn't get into trouble. I never saw a principle's office. I was the good kid. Drum major, Yearbook Editor, Student Council, you name it. The majority of my friends were guys. Not because I was a flirt or anything, but because I could not DEAL with the DRAMA of girls. In college I never failed a class, didn't have my first alcoholic drinks until I was 21, and didn't set foot at a real college party until my THIRD year. My extra-curricular activity in college? I was President of the Methodist Student Center. Four years after graduating high school, I graduated college with my Masters degree. I drive the speed limit. At my prior job I didn't have any of these problems that I have here either. I did my work, felt respected by my coworkers and bosses, and got good reviews. After my first year, guess what? They gave me more challenging work and trusted me to do jobs that involved organizing other people. And they had me train other employees. I got bonuses and raises and never felt that I was not valued. So, unless my entire personality and work ethic changed when I set foot into this building things just DO NOT ADD UP.

I'm not saying all that to show that I'm perfect, because I'm not. But yeah, I'm kind of a goody-two-shoes. I'm too afraid of getting in trouble to really break the rules. I'm too hard on myself to want to disappoint people. Yet, for some reason, these people think that I'm stirring the pot, am untrustworthy, and that they need to police me the entire time I'm here. If I'm in another staff member's office they think I'm "gossiping" when I'm really just talking about work. I worked by butt of during tax season to show them that I can do a good job. And when I ask about my quality of work I am reassured that it is good.

That leads me to wonder what is it that is causing the problem? Why am I applying for new jobs? I certainly did not WANT to update my resume, fill out a zillion applications, buy a new interview suit and worry, worry, worry. But, I finally bit the bullet and did all these things. Because deep down, I can't help but feel like I'm being pushed out the door. And if I don't prepare myself I'll land flat on my face.

In two days I'll be sitting in another interview and I want be as prepared as possible. I hope that I get offered the job. And I hope I work with people who appreciate me and don't look down on me for some unknown reason. I want to be happy and successful. If the past couple of weeks have shown me nothing else, they have shown me that I cannot be happy and successful with the people here constantly pushing me down.

Things I am Loving Today*

2009-07-21T16:58:00.002-05:00

1. It's 4:55. I get to LEAVE this place in 5 minutes!

2. We are going to Starbucks tonight.

3. Macaroni and cheese with dinner.

4. My friend in the office behind mine cracks me up.

5. Aidan has a new swing outside and he loves it.

6. My Ipod.

*Because Optimism in neccessary.

Giving Me Reasons to Hate Them

2009-07-21T09:34:00.002-05:00

Guess what one of the Partners said yesterday? I didn't hear it, because I was working out of town. But here's what was said:

"That's the problem with accountants that come out of Industry. They don't know how to look at the big picture. They might know how to do their little part, but they can't do anything else."

As someone who came out of Industry, I'm so offended. What a bitch, right? You know why I can't do anything else? Because you won't give me any work. Because I sit here 8 hours a day with NOTHING TO DO.

I'm really torn between crying and yelling. So I'm sitting at my desk, quietly. Taking it in.

Oh, they also are moving me to the audit side for 1 to 3 months. They are taking away all my monthly tax work permanently though, so I will have time for this audit work. I think it was put to me exactly as "you have to be free whenever the audit people need you." I guess when they don't need me I'll be doing more NOTHING, not improving my Industry lack of Intelligence. Mind you, I only have about 6-8 hours of monthly tax work anyway, so I'm pretty pissed that it's being taken away. And taken away permanently when I'm only doing audit for 1 to 3 months? What the HELL?

(Rereading this I realize it must sound to you all like I'm a Bad Employee. I'm not, I swear to you. That is why being treated like a Bad Employee is such a slap in the face. I do not deserve this.)

Interview. Today.

2009-07-20T13:42:00.002-05:00

I have an interview today. I found out about it approximately 5 minutes ago.

The job is in a smaller town about 30 minutes away. It is coincidentally the town my husband will be teaching in next year. No, our new house in not in that town.

It's doing accounting still, but a mixture of what I did before and what I did now. It's 40 hours a week, none of the busy tax season b/s.

They don't have benefits. This was a major downfall at first. But, they seem open to higher pay in leui of benefits. If they pay me enough to offset the cost of adding myself to my husband's health insurance I could be okay with it. Also, I'll have to see how "no benefits" translates into vacation, sick days, etc.

I am nervous and excited. And if it wasn't for the no benefits issue, I would not be pessimistic. Cross your fingers, though.

On the Subject of Flicking

2009-07-16T10:18:00.003-05:00

Tess posted about Jon & Kate + 8. She compared Kate's jabs at and ridicules of Jon as "flicking". You can read about it here.

While I don't feel like a flicker or a flickee in my marriage, I've started to feel like my work situation is making me a flickee of a different sort.

Rather than get into the details of it all, I'll just say that yesterday was the last flick. I'm educated, experienced, and intelligent. I know that I can do this job. Unfortunately, I think some bad management decisions have made me feel stifled here. I feel like I'm underappreciated.

I'm not happy. It's hard to leave Aidan with a sitter every morning. It's even harder knowing that I'm leaving him to go to a place that I like less every day. I know that I have to work. Financially not working is just not an option. But, there needs to be a better balance.

So, like Tess said. . . that last flick wasn't a huge thing. It was actually something small. But it's enough.

I applied for 5 jobs yesterday. I'm hoping to find a few more to apply for. I'm hoping to hear something back soon.

I'm excited.

Working on The List

2009-07-13T14:29:00.002-05:00

Totally forgetting about my 101 Things in 1001 Days lists seems exactly like something I would do, no?

Well, that's not at all what's been going on. Progress has been made.

# 45 - I struck up a conversation with a stranger in Wal-Mart while waiting in the returns line. It was short and boring, but I tried. And hey, it was better than standing there doing nothing. We talked about how long the line was. (5/30/08)

# 52 - We bought our house, obviously. (6/12/09)

# 60 - My new kitchen has a cabinet with glass doors, I've displayed my formal china there, for now. It looks pretty and will work just fine until we can buy an actual display for the dining room. (6/13/09)

I'm working on a few others, but they are still in progress. I've read one of the five non-fiction books, watched one season of ER*, and am working on crocheting a baby blanket.

I really will try to upload some pictures tonight. If nothing else of Aidan, because he's growing so fast. And I have brown hair now!

*There are 15 seasons of ER. Why I thought "ten" when making my list I do not know. So, yeah, that's a lot of seasons.

Finally

2009-07-06T09:02:00.002-05:00

Two weeks ago I went shopping for new pants. Something summery, a pedal pusher length. One of my best friends was visiting from Houston. We went to Target and picked out some really cute khaki pants. Perfect for summer.

I tried on my normal size. Too small. I tried a size higher. Still too tight.

I gave up, bought nothing and my mood went sour.

That Sunday night I signed up for Weight Watchers again. Last week I stuck to the plan better than I ever have before. I learned a lot about myself. I have more self-control than I gave myself credit for. I can make the right choices. I can restrain from snacking after dinner.

I only ate three meals last week that were not either Lean Cuisine or made by me. One of the meals was Subway. The other two? I planned my points in advance and stuck to the plan. I tried new recipes and started to remember how much I love cooking. I took my own low calorie popcorn to the movies instead of eating the bad stuff.

Today was my first weigh in and I'm down 2 pounds (but actually about 6 from where I was about a month ago). I'm excited and so proud of myself.

My mind is finally right and I'm going to do this.

Catch Up

2009-06-29T10:15:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted in what seems like ages. Everty time I think about posting I don't. I'm making myself do it now though.

What's been going on with me lately?

*We closed on our house June 12th.

*I love it.

*LOVE it.

*Aidan is saying "mama" and "dada"

*He's also learned to wave.

*He can stand on his own now, but we still don't have any walking.

*The girls at my office are getting more immature by the week.

*I'm trying to focus on ignoring it.

*They're really mean to someone that is not me. I feel like I should stand up for her more.

*At the same time, I feel like this job is my livelihood and I need to stay out of the office politics.

*WEEDS is the show of the moment. My husband and I have been watching the seasons on dvd. I'm enjoying it immensly.

*I've been reading everyone's blogs and not commenting on any.

*I don't know why I'm not commenting, I do find everyone just as interesting as ever.

*I'm working on my 101 things list.

*I've actually crossed a couple things off and am working on several.

*Soon I will post about those.

*I will also post some new house pics.

*That's right NEW HOUSE! Still so, so excited to be in it!

What's new with everyone else?

Nomad

2009-06-01T11:21:00.003-05:00

(I know I've posted about all my moves on a blog before, but I can't recall if it was this one, and well, I'm going to do it again. I am not in my normal office today. I am in a smaller office about an hour away and I'm bored)

Christmas 2007, my two best friends from college and I went to Galveston for Dickens on the Strand. We had our palms read. The palm reader told me that I was going to have a baby boy (true) within the next year (I was about six weeks pregnant at the time) and she asked if I was homeless. No, not because I looked like a homeless person, but because my palm indicated that I was not settled, that I was wandering. Now, it cost like $15 (ah, the money I could spend on frivolities before having a kid!), so it was a stupid question. But, not totally off the mark. I have moved around so many times in the past 8 years that I've lost count.

Let's start from the beginning:

Move #1 (2002)-During the second semester of my senior year in high school my parents decided to stop renting out our rent house. They said I could live in it since my college was 30 miles away and I was going to commute. Being the goodgirl that I was my parents had no qualms about me moving in before graduation.

Move #2 (2002)-I got a full scholarship! I got to live on campus. I moved into a "small house" dorm for Honors students. My first year in the dorm was unforgettable. So. Much. Fun. My roommate was off the reservation, but she dropped out in October. My next roommate became my best friend (Laurie).

Move #3 (2003)-For summer school we had to move into different dorms. These were two rooms with a kitchenette. Very cool and a huge step up. We lived there two months.

Move #4 (2003)-We moved back into our small house. We had our original room back too. The second year in the small house wasn't as fun. The friends we had made moved out and there were a bunch of new, loud freshman. We slept a lot that year. Some good things happened in that house though. This would be the year I met my husband, chose the major I stuck with, got the best GPA out of all my time in college (expcept summer, which with only two classes a session doesn't count, lol), and it was probably the closest Laurie and I ever were.

Move #5 (2004)-Laurie and I were moving on up. That summer we moved into on campus apartments. They were so much nicer. But, you know, sharing a room and sharing an apartment are two different things. It was a big change. Every night was no longer like a sleepover. We were still best friends, but we grew apart a little that year.

Move #6 (2005)-I moved out of the on campus apartment and into a real apartment with a new friend. Laurie wasn't sure if she'd graduating in December or May. I couldn't get a real apartment with her not knowing if she'd be there to pay rent after December. I was starting Grad School, so I decided to share an apartment with Kristen. We had met in class the prior August and had become fast friends. We got along great, until we lived together. She didn't like my boyfriend (now husband) and there were a ton of other issues. It ruined our friendship.

Move #7 (2005)-After just one month with Kristen I found someone to take over my lease. I moved in with Laurie. She was living in a rent house with a friend. I didn't spend a lot of time there. Most of the time I was at my boyfriend's house. Which is good. The other girl kind of went off the deep end that year. Lots of drunkenness, nakedness, crazy stuff.

Move #8 (2006)- For our last semester (yes, Laurie was there until May) we moved into an apartment. It was nice and good way to end my time in college. We both had our dogs there and we had a lot of fun. We'd grown up and apart, but we were still best friends.

Move #9 (2006)- After graduation my husband and I moved into our first apartment together. We moved in June and married in December. It was a tiny one-bedroom. What I wouldn't get to have rent that low again.

Move #10 (2007)- One year in the one-bedroom was all we could handle. We started talking babies and moved into a two bedroom in the same complex. A lot of changes went on in this apartment and I think the end result is that we both grew up a lot.

Move #11 (2008)- At the end of our year in the two-bedroom the baby was due in three months and I had a new job. We were moving to be closer to family, to have more help with this baby. Hands down this was the best decision for us. We moved into our current apartment.

Move #12 (2009)-Only 11 days way. Into our HOUSE. I can not wait. I'll be settled; a nomad no more.

Successes, Failures, and Plans

2009-05-21T16:24:00.002-05:00

Success: We went to Olive Garden at lunch today. I ate salad, one breadstick, and soup! I did so good.

Failure: While we were at lunch we ran into the larger group from our office eating there too. They, um, ignored us. Seriously, we are nice people. It's their problem, I suppose. But at any rate it stressed me and I ate a metric ton of peanut m&ms when we got back.

Success: I worked out at lunch yesterday.

Failure: Olive Garden today. I should have just worked out, then I wouldn't have run into the mean girls.

Plans! I read a blog today that really motivated me to start the Shred again. Look at these results! How awesome is that? I want that!

Four day weekend! We start our Summer Fridays off tomorrow (there is talk of extending this into the Fall, but more on that later). I'm excited. One of my nice coworkers brought the Pride & Prejudice dvd for me to borrow, so that is in the plans for tomorrow. I don't know what else the weekend will entail, but I'm looking forward to every minute of it. And I hope to pep myself up to come back on Tuesday a different mindset about this place. Currently I'm so irritated with the mean girls (who, by the way are all a good 5 years older than those of us they are shunning, shouldn't they be more mature?) that I want to find something else. But, there is nothing else to be found at the moment. So I hope to come back Tuesday with some sense of just impressing the people who matter (the partners) and letting the mean girls go suck it.

Pound For Pound Challenge Widget

2009-05-19T13:50:00.002-05:00

I signed up for The Biggest Loser Pound for Pound Challenge.

My pledge was to lose 30 pounds this summer. For each pound pledged 14 cents is donated to a food bank.

If you are thinking of losing some weight, why not pledge it here? It will motivate you and help someone in need of food.

Wedding, Wine, Whine

2009-05-17T09:38:00.002-05:00

This weekend we went to a wedding. A big, fancy, expensive wedding. Out of town. It was so fun to get out of town! I haven't been out of the city I live in since Christmas. And it was all free! Free is good, yes?

Friday night we went to the rehearsal dinner and afterward my inlaws babysat! My husband and I got to go out for a late dinner alone. I know, I know. I just said we went out for dinner after dinner. There was a lot of socializing after dinner, so there were really several hours between the meals.

The wedding was pretty. It was a Catholic wedding, which I've never been to. It was long, but not as long as I anticipated based on stories I've heard. After, we went to the reception. Aidan wore a suit with a tie, it was the cutest thing I have ever seen!

There was wine. Let me just say I've not had a lot of experience with wine. In college I drank mixed drinks. I rarely drink now, and when I do it's usually a martini or margarita. So anyway, wine. Wine is stronger than I thought. I did a lot of dancing. In fact, I'm currently wondering what exactly I did to injure myself in the rib area. It concerns me that my dancing was in fact crazy and ridiculous. A dancer I am not. I want to whine about how it hurts some more, but we'll leave it at that.

I asked my husband this morning if I did anything embarassing and he assured me I did not, that I just danced a lot. Let's hope this is true. I mean, I feel like I remember the whole evening, but you know how when you see someone who has had to much to drink? And you think, "wow, she's drunk"--THE DRUNK PERSON DOESN'T KNOW. I do recall thinking that everyone was probably drunk. Except my mother-in-law, who does not drink. Anyway, the worrier in me is all "I hope they don't think I'm a big ol' drunk". Because the truth of the matter is that I rarely drink, so you know, a little goes a long way as they say.

Regardless, it was a fun weekend. So, after a week off of work with a sick baby (he's all better now) and a nice weekend out of town I should be ready to face the week of work coming up. . . lol. I'm not, I want to stay home with my baby for another week. Maybe I'll trip over a million dollars or so sometime today.

ER

2009-05-12T15:00:00.002-05:00

We spent Mother's Day afternoon in the ER. Aidan had a fever of 104.4. His little feet and legs were fire red. He was poked and prodded and they came up with nothing. A dose of motrin brought the fever down to 102 and we were sent home. It's not the flu, it's not strep.

His pediatrician diagnosed him with a virus and sore throat yesterday, so we are at home together until he goes 24 hours without fever and can go back to his sitter. Staying home with him is great, even if I am using up my vacation days.

I should be packing up for the move while I'm sitting at home. But I'm playing with him while he's awake and napping when he's napping. It's been so long since I've napped!

Today his fever has stayed below 101. But, it's still too high for the sitter so it'll be another mommy & baby day tomorrow. The good news is that he acts like he feels okay. He has some fussy moments, but mostly he's pretty calm and happy. Crawling around and playing with anything he can find.

Mother's day weekend wasn't all bad news. Saturday we went out to eat and after the ER fiasco we had fajitas. And I got two new charms for my charm bracelet-- a heart that says "Mommy" and some baby shoes. I love it.

The Christmas Tree Has A Place, Afterall

2009-05-08T19:50:00.002-05:00

The sellers came down to on the price and we gave in on the roof. They ARE repairing a leak, but as far as replacing the whole roof we will have to do that. Eventually.

It was a tough decision. Honestly, I'm glad the day is over and this decision is made. We have about a month before closing so it's time to get packing.

I'm so excited though. The previous owners did some major upgrades: granite counters, stainless steel appliances, brand new a/c, all new wiring. Three bedrooms, two baths. A huge family room and dining room and a "formal" living room that is going to be Aidan's "informal" playroom. The backyard is big enough for a football game, with a privacy fence. There is an outbuilding for my husband and a garden for me.

Yes, it is going to need a new roof at some point in time. But not tomorow. Not next month. And this is OUR house. If we hadn't bought it someone else would have been living in my house, as crazy as that sounds.

Now, I still can't relax. I won't relax until the papers are signed and the keys are in our hands. But, I'm trying not to stress. The road to getting this house has been uphill from the first step, but I think it's going to be worth it.

Friday Round Up

2009-05-08T10:56:00.004-05:00

*The deal on (what I thought was going to be) our house fell through. For two reasons. First, it did not appraise for the selling amount. The sellers refused to drop the price. Second, the roof needed replaced which was going to cost $5000. The sellers refused to pay any portion of that amount. It's a bummer, but I'm telling myself we'll find something else.

*I had already pictured where I was going to put my Christmas tree during the holidays.

*I am behind at work today (why am I blogging?). I want to get it done, but I feel like I've hit a wall. I'm confused and the person who can help is gone until two. Here's hoping I don't feel so stuck after lunch.

*I haven't worked out even one time this week. I have gone out to lunch four times. Next week has to be better.

*Grey's Anatomy was actually good last night! Barring the fact that in the middle of the wedding I was concerned that they obviously had no time to procure a marriage license (making this not a "real" marriage), I loved it.

101 Things, 1001 Days

2009-05-06T09:22:00.003-05:00

Miss Zoot posted her list of 101 Things in 1001 Days a long time ago. As soon as I read it, I wanted to do it. I started a list (and like so many other things did not finish it). Today I finished the list. I'm going to document this whole thing on the blog. I can't wait!

I really liked the format of Miss Zoot's list. I kept the categories with just a little tweaking. I wanted things that would be easy to do and things that would be challenging. Mostly though, I wanted balance between things that would be fun, things that would help people, and things that would make me a better person. With a few challenges thrown in that are just there to challenge myself to do it.

This list will, hopefully, make me work on my little problem of follow-through. I've got 1001 days to complete all these things. And I really want to look back at the end of this and be amazed at what all I've done, not disappointed that I gave up!

My List:

Start Date: 05/06/09
End Date: 02/01/12

Food/Cooking
1. Make a Chinese Meal
2. Attend a cooking class
3. Create and original recipe
4. Make and decorate a birthday cake from scratch
5. Eat vegetarian for one week
6. Cook one recipe out of each of my cookbooks
7. Host a dinner party
8. Learn to bake bread
9. Make a holiday meal
10. Learn how to make omelets

Giving to Others
11. Give blood 3 times
12. Donate to the animal shelter
13. Teach a sunday school class
14. Send a care package to a soldier
15. Give a "Just Because" gift
16. Send flowers to someone
17. Surprise someone
18. Send snail mail cards to 5 people
19. Volunteer somewhere for at least 1 hour
20. Give a sincere compliment to 1 person a day for 5 days.

Local to Texas
21. Shop at the Galleria in Houston
22. Spend a weekend in a major city
23. Take Aidan to the Houston zoo
24. Tube down a river
25. Go to a pro sporting event
26. Go to a concert
27. Go to a museum
28. Go hiking
29. Go to a festival
30. Visit Out of town Friends

Travel and Vacation
31. Take a trip with Laura
32. Take Aidan to the beach
33. Visit Family in Ohio
34. Go camping
35. Travel somewhere I've never been
36. Go back to Cotulla
37. Eat a picnic lunch
38. Visit a plantation home
39. Take a Day Trip
40. Travel out of state

Trying New Things
41. Attempt to water ski
42. Learn to speak Italian
43. Eat only raw foods for a day
44. Try 3 new fruits or vegetables
45. Strike a conversation with a stranger
46. Get 3 nice nightgowns/pajamas to sleep in instead of t-shirts
47. Eat indian food
48. Throw a birthday party
49. Sew something on a sewing machine
50. Learn to make Margaritas

Home/Family Life
51. Organize Baby Clothes into categories
52. buy a house
53. Learn to Garden
54. Get Patio Furniture
55. Get Aidan's picture made three times
56. Pay off credit cards
57. Pay off hospital bills
58. Have a "Date Night"
59. Have a family portrait taken
60. Display Formal China

Arts, Crafts, and Photography
61. Put Aidan's pictures in albums
62. Make a scrapbook
63. Crochet a blanket
64. Take pictures to hang in the house
65. See a play
66. Paint something
67. Support a craftsperson--buy something handmade
68. Make a christmas ornament
69. Go to a museum
70. Buy a memory card and put pics on digital picture frame

Monthly Challenges
71. One month without sweets
72. One month without eating out
73. Stay on plan with Weight Watchers for one month
74. Cook dinner every night for a month
75. Watch the news every day for a month
76. Wake up at 5 every day for a month
77. Give up dairy for one month
78. Do a devotional every night for a month
79. One month without diet coke
80. Get a sketch book and fill a page every day for a month

Miscellaneous
81. Read 5 non-fiction books
82. Plant something from a seed
83. Subscribe to a business magazine
84. Pass the CPA exam
85. One week without TV
86. Have all matching sets of underwear
87. Watch all 10 seasons of ER
88. Read the Bible
89. Read a Stephen King book
90. Watch the Wizard of Oz with Aidan

Fitness
91. Complete the 30 Day Shred
92. Run a 5K
93. Complete a Stair Climb
94. Complete the 100 pushups challenge
95. Get back to 135 pounds
96. Be able to run for 30 minutes
97. Stay at goal weight for 3 months and buy designer jeans
98. Do at least 1 unassisted pull up
99. Do Winsor Pilates for six weeks
100. Workout every day for seven days.

Last, but not least
101. Make a new 101 things list by the time my 1001 days are done.

Friday Round Up

2009-05-01T09:05:00.002-05:00

*Rejoined Weight Watchers this week. I know, I know. . .

*Worked out 3 days so far, going again to today at lunch. Today I'm working with a trainer (free session when I joined). I'm looking forward to it, sort of. The wallflower in me wants to just get on the elliptical, put in my 30 minutes, and go.

*Working For The Weekend: Anyone else feel like Friday was never going to get here?

*Still waiting to hear back about the roof on the house.

*Since Tax Season has ended I've really been slacking at work. I can't get focused on it. My mind is absolutely anywhere but here.

*American Idol. I like Kris Allen. I think it's the Jason Mraz-y feel. I don't care if he wins or not, I hope he puts out an awesome cd though.

*Lastly, LOST! I am so, so confused. And I LOVE it.

Hello There

2009-04-27T10:46:00.003-05:00

*I'd like to do a long post about what's been happening, but I'm in a bullet mood.

*At lunch today I'm going to join a gym. It's about a 1 minute drive from my office, so I can go at lunch for a 30 minute workout. This is a good thing.

*We have started the home-buying process and we found the best house. Then we found out it needs a new roof. Currently our loan is approved, we have a contract on the house, but we are waiting on the insurance adjuster to look at the roof. Cross your fingers.

*Aidan can stand! On his own! For seconds at a time! I can see that he'll be walking soon. I really hope we are in a house at that point.

*Yesterday I cleaned his room. Tax season had left it quite the mess of toys/clothes/blankets. It was bittersweet. I put away, into storage containers, all the receiving blankets and the 3-6 month clothes. Along with a lot of 6-9 months (the kid is LONG).

*HA! Storage containers. My one storage container of clothes was nearly full of 0-3 and newborn clothes, so while a few things fit into the container, most everything went into plastic bags. Many, many plastic bags of clothes, etc. line the top of the closet.

*I gave blood for the first time last week. It was. . . interesting. A post of it's own I suppose.

*Baby food. Aidan is pretty much a fruit only kid. He does not like vegetables. We had a victory yesterday when he ate "Vegetable Risotto with Cheese". But, I'm worried and can't figure out how to work in more veggies.

*Also, solid foods. He's 9 months. When do people typically start on these. He's on stage 2 baby food and he's had biter biscuits. But, when is it okay to move him to stage 3 foods? When is it time to try things like crackers? Another mom told me her baby has been eating solid food since Christmas (at which point she was 8 months old) but I just don't know if he's ready. And I don't want a choking situation on my hands, you know?

Currently:

2009-04-03T09:42:00.001-05:00

Sitting at my desk repeating "Do NOT Start Crying" to myself.

Unsettling realization that I suck at my job has hit.

Is This Seriously How Grownups Behave?

2009-03-28T10:36:00.003-05:00

There is a person I work with that is disliked by the main group. Let's call her Michelle.

Michelle isn't actually disliked by the main group, but by three people in particular. Why do they dislike her? Because they *assume* she did something. See the "Three" disliked another woman who used to work here, let's call her Annette. The Three would blatantly talk about how they did not like Annette. Naturally, eventually Annette came to know these things.

The Three assumed Michelle was the snitch.

Only she wasn't. Michelle knows who the snitch is/was. Annette doesn't work here anymore, so one would think this stupid situation would have been nipped in the bud. It's hasn't. There is still animosity between Michelle and The Three. Not even between though, because Michelle is practically the nicest person I've ever met. There is animosity towards here.

I should mention that The Three are like Alphas around here.

Now. Normally I would not care, because I think this kind of office drama is stupid. But two things are at play:

1. I feel so bad for Michelle. She is nothing but nice and is disliked because of something she didn't do. She's just been keeping the Snitch's identity to herself to keep more drama from being stirred up.

2. I have apparently started to be shunned as well. From lunches anyway. Another girl, who we will call Ashley, and I USED to be included with the main group. Until recently. Emails go out about lunch and we don't them. Then, mysteriously, at 11:00 EVERYONE is gone except me, Ashley and Michelle. It was confirmed yesterday that they aren't inviting us to lunch because of Michelle.

Michelle is hurt because she is alienated and shouldn't be. Ashley and I are greatly offended because, in the absence of Michelle everyone goes back to treating us normally. But when she's around us they shun us too. It is so stupid. Really? "I'm not your friend because you are her friend" should have been left in grade school.

One of The Three used to be someone I really did consider a good friend. And yesterday, after SHE sent out an email inviting everyone else to lunch, she tried to act normally towards me.

Michelle is going to talk to the Ringleader later today. She's had enough and is going to reveal the actual snitch. Which is really going to cause big drama, because guess who the real snitch is? An HR person. . .

I know that women can be catty. It happens all the time, every day. But I hate it. Women shouldn't be this way toward each other. We all go through things that are hard and we should be lifting each other up, not tearing each other down.

What is Twitter?

2009-03-26T09:01:00.002-05:00

Last night we had thunderstorms in the area. They interrupted LOST to tell us about it.

Now, first off: Do you really need to do this during LOST? No, weather man, you don't. There was a saving grace though. I got to hear an East Texas weather man describe Twitter. He said we could get more updates from Twitter:

"a Social Networking Thing."

Thanks for the in-depth analysis on that one.

Avoiding The Mom Cut Since 2008*

2009-03-24T11:23:00.001-05:00

*By wearing my hair in a ponytail. Every. Single. Day.

Do I still own a hair straightener? A blow dryer?

Today I'm going in for a haircut and I am so excited! It's going to be short, and hopefully thinned out a little bit, because good Lord, right now it looks like a bird's nest has exploded on my head!

Backtracking

2009-03-21T10:15:00.001-05:00

"After today only 2 more Saturdays to go."

This is what got me out of bed this morning. The thought of just TWO more working Saturdays.

Then I got to work this morning and realized. . . after this Saturday THREE more working Saturdays.

Can I crawl back in bed now?

Friday Round Up

2009-03-20T12:58:00.004-05:00

*Every time I type "Friday Round Up" I picture some sort of cow-roping, rodeo.

*I want to do the 101 Things in 1001 Days Thing. I'm pretty sure I have mentioned that on her before. . . anyway, I'm mulling it over.

*Tax Season Breakdown: Weeks To Go: 3.5. Working Days To Go: 22. Working Hours To Go: Approx 193. Give or take.

*I'm getting a haircut Tuesday at lunch. I am totally undecided on what cut to get. Shocking, right? I'm thinking something short and sassy. But I may just get a trim and be done with it.

*Right now I SHOULD be doing something productive, like finishing the tax return sitting in front of me. But, come on, it's FRIDAY POST LUNCH. And I have to be here another 5 and half hours.

*Next week's episode of LOST looks like it's going to be great.

*I am in last place in the Office March Madness Thing. Of course.

In Need of 24/7 Motivation

2009-03-19T09:50:00.002-05:00

This post really motivates me. I have probably read it 5 times. I just keep going back to it when I want to be motivated. The things that she says are things that I WANT so badly to say. Those before and after pictures- I WANT THOSE!

I finally had to just get a new copy of the 30 Day Shred. Sunday I did it. It was hard, really hard. Harder than the first time I think. It's now Thursday and I haven't done it again. What is my problem?

I started the week with a plan of eating healthier. For breakfast this morning I had a breakfast toaster sandwich (bacon, egg, cheese, toast) from Sonic. Again, what is WRONG with me?

Seriously, body image is a huge problem with me. I think we've covered that here. So now what? What, exactly, is going to make me do something about it? I need a kick in the butt.

Quickly.

2009-03-10T14:03:00.003-05:00

Let's see. . . It's Tuesday and I'm working.

Now I guess I see why I haven't been blogging--I've got nothing to talk about!! It's just work, work, work.

I do have some baby updates!

He can sit up on his own now!! He's just such a little man. And he's discovered that his crawling will take him anywhere he needs to go. Quickly. Lol, he is always on the move these days.

And DST has screwed us up. He was up until 10 last night. Wide-eyed.

Lost The Shred!!

2009-03-09T10:25:00.003-05:00

I decided last night to start on the 30 Day Shred again. I'm gaining weight instead of LOSING, so I need to kick it into gear.

Anyway, long story short: I've lost the 30 Day Shred DVD. It's got to be in the apartment somewhere, but WHERE?

So, I thought I'd just buy it again and if my copy ever turns up I'd mail it to my sister. But. . . no where in this one-horse town has it in stock.

L.A.M.E.

So now I'm on a mission, I have to find it.

Why is it that you can see something laying around your house for months, then the one time you want to use that thing it's missing?

Friday Round Up

2009-03-06T12:43:00.004-06:00

*I'm done with the Rose business. Done with the Live From East Texas (though I do think it's a good blog name). Back to basics around here.

*Tax season is over in six weeks. OR Tax season is still six long weeks to go.

*The baby is crawling! And trying to stand up! And 28.5 inches tall!

*I haven't updated in ages. See Tax Season, above.

*I want to get back to blogging more regularly. If it's any consolation I've still been reading all the same blogs I was reading before.

*We are back to the buying a house discussion. We're thinking of looking in May. We want to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit for first time home buyers! Let's all cross our fingers that the whole process doesn't nearly kill me this time.

Gradual

2009-01-07T09:43:00.002-06:00

It's taken a couple of days, but I think I'm getting into the swing of this diet. Monday I didn't do too well, I snacked like crazy when I got home from work.

Tuesday I did better. But someone brought cookies in and I had two. I didn't let it ruin the whole day though. I had a smaller dinner and after that I was done. No extra snacking in the evening.

Today my goal is to do better than yesterday, no random cookies or treats. So far so good. It's only 9:43, but I feel like I can do this.

Now, I just need to start fitting in some workouts! I've been visiting bodiesinmotivation.com and it really has been, well, movitating. Also, on womenshealth.com they have this "You Lose, You Win" link. It's full of every day people with some amazing weight losses. If you need some motivation too, check it out!

Jumping on the Bandwagon

2009-01-05T09:19:00.004-06:00

I'm starting a diet!

No, a lifestyle change.

Or perhaps just trying to redirect my stubborn energy into something productive.

At any rate, it's basically trying to eat a lot healthier than I have been in the past. More chicken, fish, vegetables. Here's a basic plan, with some room for improvement if neccessary:

Breakfast: Slimfast (or a hard boiled egg and fiber bread, if I ever remember to buy eggs!)

Lunch: Lean Cuisine, Salad, or Southbeach Wrap (yeah, I KNOW there is a lot of sodium. But I'm at work and want something really quick. And it's way less sodium than oh, I don't know lunch at a mexican place, right?)

Dinner: chicken or fish and vegetables (ah, the classic celebrity diet answer)

Snacks: Veggie stick and low fat dip, or a low fat cheesestick, or fruit

Now, I know that I can stick to this. I really can, if I set my mind to it. The problem is setting my mind to it. I need to be as stubborn about it as I am about the other areas of my life. I've put a picture of a celebrity in a bikini on my refrigerator to keep me out of it. I've gotten rid of any foods that are bad in our apartment. I mean, if it's not there I can't eat it, right?

Any other tips? I want to lose about 35-40 pounds. Gosh, that sounds like a lot.

Exercise: I'm going to really strive for 3 times a week, 20 minutes and build from there. It's my first tax season though, so it'll be interesting to see if I can fit it in.

Related question: How many hours of sleep do I really HAVE to have? If I could survive on six, that would really help. Like, sleep 11-5. Hm. . .

Wrapping Up 2008. Finally. Thank God.

2008-12-31T15:15:00.002-06:00

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Gave birth! Worked in public accounting.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No, I don't think so. I can't even remember what they were. I don't know if I'll make some for next year-I guess I should get on that, since next year starts in about 8.5 hours!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Me! You can't get closer than that.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No. Thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

Not a single one. Why couldn't this question have been "what places" did you visit? How many of us visit other countries yearly?

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A healthier lifestyle. More eating right, exercising and less stress.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

7-29-08: Giving birth to my son

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

It was a tough year. I consider making it through with the ability to be optimistic about 2009 is my achievement.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Letting things get out hand. I always want to be the bigger person, you know? I hate life's drama, I hate arguing. There is a lot of that in my family and I try so hard to not be that person. Too many times this year I let myself fall into the trap.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Is pregnancy illness? Is post-birth injury?

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Our new bed and all the stuff to go on it. It was the best upgrade.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

The baby. He's so good.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

There are several. Let's leave it at that.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills. And. . . bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Having a baby. Christmas.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

I don't know. Maybe sometime later in life I'll hear something that will bring this year to mind.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder?b) thinner or fatter?c) richer or poorer?

Happier, I think. There was a lot of sad this year, but I'm happy that I'm through to the other sie. Thinner! Poorer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Enjoying life. Exercising. Sleeping. Reading.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Stressing.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With my husbands family, then my family, and also our own little time at home. It was a nice holiday.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

Yes, see #1.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

LOST

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No. Though there are a few people that are on the "dislike" list.

24. What was the best book you read?

Okay, let's be honest. I didn't read anything very, um, heavy this year. The Twilight Series is probably the best thing I've read.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

"Hallelujah" Jeff Buckley

26. What did you want and get?

A son.

27. What did you want and not get?

A size 6 body.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Had several dinners out with different people, I turned 25.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More perspective.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

"What's Clean?" "What Fits" or "Oh my God I'm Tired, Let's Wear Whatever I See First"

32. What kept you sane?

I don't know that I was entirely "sane" this year.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Gerard Butler

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Government "bailouts"

35. Who did you miss?

My family that is out of state.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

My friends at my new job. My son.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

I learned that I'm stronger than I thought I was. I think I learned that from some really weak moments, but regardless, I learned it.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Too many shadows in my room
Too many hours in this midnight
Too many corners in my mind
So much to do to set my heart right
Oh it's taking so long i could be wrong, i could be ready
Oh but if i take my heart's advice
I should assume it's still unsteady
I am in repair, i am in repair

Stood on the corner for a while
To wait for the wind to blow down on me
Hoping it takes with it my old ways
And brings some brand new look upon me
Oh it's taking so long i could be wrong, i could be ready
Oh but if i take my heart's advice I should assume it's still unsteady
I am in repair, i am in repair

And now i'm walking in a park
All of the birds they dance below me
Maybe when things turn green again
It will be good to say you know me

"In Repair" John Mayer

Strangely

2008-12-30T16:15:00.003-06:00

Today I have a horrible headache. I mean, maybe the worst headache of my life. But I had to work.

I also have been more productive today than I have been in weeks.

Curiouser and curiouser.

(Useless fact I learned today: A female Executor of and estate is an Executrix. I had no idea. It just sounds so much less professional and more. . . dirty)

Oh Hell No.

2008-12-29T16:11:00.003-06:00

I just spent 20 minutes doing a post on Christmas gifts. Complete with pictures. No I'm not doing it again. Sorry.

Boring, pictureless version:

Beverly Hills 90210 Seasons 5 and 6. Mindless hours of tv watching warms my heart.

George Foreman 360 grill. Loving it. I used it to make a pizza for lunch yesterday. Then for dinner I used it in conjunction with the microwave to blow a fuse. Whatever, still love it.

2 desk calendars. "Moms" and "Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader?" Both are currently on my desk next to Moms 2008. I look like some sort of date freak.

Camcorder. To cover all baby milestone documentary needs.

Hideous Sweater. Because what is Christmas without one?

Lego Batman for Wii. Do you have a Wii? Well get one so you can play this game. It is so hilarious. And the little Lego characters are so cute! You know how it's frustrating trying to figure out video games? Yeah, you'll be so busy laughing at the little guys you won't get frustrated. Also! I've died like eleven billion times and they still let me continue.

There's more, but I'm pretty mad at blogger and I'd hate to spend another 20 minutes only to receive the dreaded "Error" message, so I'm done here.

(Oh! And the baby got a massive haul of toys. Most popular toy? Tub Time something something. A boat, walrus, octopus, fish, seahorse medley. He got three of these things. So far he looks at it. And then tries to eat them.)

This Can Not Be True

2008-12-16T12:55:00.000-06:00

NO!

Swoon, Swoon

2008-12-09T14:33:00.003-06:00

A friend of mine was talking to me online today and said that she had a crush on Maculay Culkin when she was seven. This reminded of me of the crush I had when I was 5. Meet Randy Travis:

In case you are unaware, Randy is a country singer. He's ancient now. But when I was 5, I was in love. My mom would play his records (yes, the old fashioned black spinny ones) in our house and I would sing along. I said I was going to marry him. It was quite the blow to my dreams when I found out he was already married.

My friend about died laughing. She pointed out the obvious that at least her crush was on a kid, whereas mine was a grown, married man.

I progressed in my celebrity crushes and in Junior High had moved on to JTT:

This was a big crush. My best friend had a similar crush on Devon Sawa, of Casper fame. Anyway, we bought all the magazines Teen Beat, Tiger Beat, Bop, Big Bopper. We cut out pictures of these two and we each had one of those big photo albums. The ones where you peel the plastic off the sticky page, put the pictures in and put the plastic back. Yeah. . . we filled these "scrapbooks" and carried them around with us during sixth grade. I watched Man of the House about a billion times and, obviously, was quite the fan of Home Improvement. Then JTT dropped off the face of the Earth or whatever and I hear he's gay now.

I don't recall a major celebrity crush in high school. I mean, yeah there were the obvious Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, yada yada, but I guess I was more focused on actual boys at the time.

In college it was John Mayer:

Back when he was less of a news item and more of just a singer whose songs said all the right things. Ah, John. What happened? Anyway, I had several cds and listened to Heavier Things nonstop for awhile. We drove to Little Rock to see him in concert because he wasn't coming any close than that. This pretty much lasted all through college. I cringe a little now, because he's gotten so tabloid-y. I still like his music though.

And let's bring thing right up to the current day. My current celebrity crush is Mr. Gerard Butler:

Gerard and I met during P.S. I Love You. He is wonderful. And scottish. And HOT. Yeah, let's just go ahead and add second shot of Gerard, you won't mind? Will you?

That's nice. Now, who were your celebrity crushes?

Introducing. . .

2008-12-09T08:31:00.002-06:00

I decided to make the changes I wanted right here on this blog. First off, I've decided on my own psuedonym, Rose. A friend of mine gave me a ring for my birthday with a rose on it that I love. I had a hard to finding a name for myself. I was drumming my fingers and looked down and thought "Rose"! So, if "Rose" posts in your comments that's me!

Now I just need psuedonyms for everyone else.

I also changed my title, as you can see. "Live From East Texas". . . for now anyway. Unless I come up with something better.

I figured out that I can change my domain name on here. . . I don't want to lose any of you though, so I'll post in your comments or something when that changes!! I'm assuming I'll just replace "emilyspeaking" with "livefromeasttexas" if that's available. . .

Opinions Please!

2008-12-08T09:24:00.003-06:00

Seeing as I am no longer "enceinte" my blog title is misleading. ALSO I wish I had set up my blog with a pseudonym system, just to make it all easier. I realize I could just start using the pseudonyms now and blogger will let me change my title. But I also don't really like my www.emilyspeaking.blogger.net address. . . and I want it set up through a different email, one just for the blog. Lol, could I have any more demands about a blog that I set up? I didn't think it through.

Along those lines, I'm thinking of moving. Probably starting pretty soon, or as soon as I decide on a title and fun pseudonyms. Anyway, just letting everyone know that Emily is Enceinte is probably morphing into something else. Which is a good thing, I think.

My question is, is Wordpress better than Blogger? Does anyone have any opinions on the matter? Is it faster to upload photos with Wordpress? Also, if I wanted to do something fun with backgrounds, sidebars, etc. which is easier?

Thanks!

The I Should Be Working, But Instead I'm Making a List List

2008-12-03T13:18:00.003-06:00

*Sometimes, especially in the nighttime, I cannot believe how lucky I am to have my son. His little noises and the way he just cuddles into me. It seems a little surreal.

*A little bit of work gossip is getting under my skin today. I can't stand work gossip. Everyone should do their jobs, worry about themselves, and if they have a problem go to the person they have a problem with. So much could be avoided.

*A has a double ear infection. He seems to be taking it pretty well, but I feel horrible for him. Poor little guy. Flu in September, now an ear infection. I know, I know, all babies get sick. But. . . they are just so helpless.

*My 1 year old neice was just admitted to the hospital with pnuemonia. I hope getting an IV with some fluids and medicine into her will make her better soon.

*Starting WW over Thanksgiving week was a wash. BUT I started full force on Monday and am doing really well. I'm working on small goals. The first one is to lose 5 pounds by Christmas.

*Fiber One now makes a fiber drink mix. It actually tastes pretty good. I got pink lemonade. Each packet contains 10 grams of fiber. It, um, works.

*Ugh-you know the post I wrote a while back about it being so easy to gloss over the bad stuff when blogging? There are some things on my mind. Not really horrible things, just issues I guess that are in the process of needing to be worked out. I don't really want to get into it all-what with my new attempt at a positive outlook, but at the same time it's really bringing me down. The biggest one though is my husband's bonding with the baby. Are men different? Sometimes it seems like he's really close and other times I'm put off by how they don't seem to have bonded yet. I don't know. . . am I worrying over nothing? What can I do about it?

*I still need some good thoughts. The thoughts are about that ADD medicine my husband has been taking (I think I deleted all the previous posts about it, so sorry if you have no idea what I'm talking about). I think I've finally convinced him that it's doing more harm than good and he said he's going to stop taking it. He says he didn't take it yesterday. And he WAS really tired, which usually happens when he misses a does. BUT, normally when he doesn't take it he is really grouchy/irritable. He wasn't yesterday. While I appreciate that he was not that way, I worry that maybe he is just saying he didn't take it. (I'm a little bit of a worrier, in case you couldn't tell) I just figured that when he stopped taking it there would be 3-4 bad days while he comes off of it and then he'd FINALLY be back to the person I married again. Like I said, don't get me wrong--I'm glad he wasn't a huge grouch yesterday, I just hope he really is getting off that medicine.

Those last two were kind of heavy, I am really trying to think of something lighter to end this on. . .

*I'm thinking of going into teaching. I did some alternative certification work last Spring, but then got this job. All I have left to do is take the tests and I'll be able to start a paid teaching internship next August if I wanted to. . . I KNOW I would have more fun teaching than I have with this job. I know there are problems that teachers have too, but man is accounting boring. Anyway. . . I have a lot of time between now and August to decide, but a lot of lame stuff has happened at work lately and it's getting more and more appealing. The big downside is the pay cut. I hate that I'm letting money factor into a decision so much, because I believe in doing what makes you happy. But, I'm also really practical.

Hm, not really light, but lighter than medicine that makes you insane. . .

Cross Your Fingers

2008-12-02T13:07:00.004-06:00

Something is going on around here that will hopefully bring about some extremely positive changes. I'm superstitious about saying exactly what it is, but please think positive thoughts, say a prayer, knock on wood, cross your fingers, whatever you prefer that what needs to happen is going to happen. I'll update the situation in a few days. A problem that started nearly a year ago could get cleared up if someone just takes the first positive step. I think either way the next couple of days may be tough, so please positive thoughts, ok?

In the meantime- PICTURES!

Me and the baby in Austin on Thanksgiving Day.

BatBaby!

Well. . . more to come. Blogger is slow uploading these things!

Concise

2008-11-25T13:44:00.004-06:00

Christina did this Meme today and it seemed fun--and challenging for me! I'm kind of wordy, always with an explanation. Answers have to be one word.

Where is your cell phone? desk
Where is your significant other? basketball
Your hair color? blonde
Your mother? flighty
Your father? bold
Your favorite thing? bed
Your dream last night? scary
Your dream/goal? happy
The room you’re in? office
Your hobby? reading
Your fear? crazy
Where do you want to be in 6 years? unsure
Where were you last night? basketball
What you’re not? shallow
One of your wish-list items? ipod
Where you grew up? nowhere
Last thing you did? bills
What are you wearing? dress
Your TV? old
Your pet? away
Your computer? white
Your mood? ambivalent
Missing someone? friends
Your car? black
Something you’re not wearing? pants
Favorite store? Target
Your summer? hot
Love someone? yes
Your favorite color? pink
When is the last time you laughed? today
Last time you cried? monday

Postivitity Hodge Podge

2008-11-24T10:53:00.003-06:00

(Let's get it out there-Sunday was a bad day. Rather than writing it all out here--which might be cathartic, but might end up just making things worse--I'm trying a new coping mechanism. I think it fits in with my efforts at having a positive outlook. )

Just the Good Stuff

*I finished Twilight on Saturday. I really liked it. I do NOT think it's better than Harry Potter, but I sure did run out to get New Moon on Saturday evening. I had to try two different stores, but finally found it. I'm two chapters in and can't wait to find out what happens next.

*A client brought cake in this morning. It had raspberry filling and lemon icing. So good.

*Birthday Presents: Baby Bjorn (I really wanted this and A LOVES it, I'm so happy with it), Two framed pictures of A (they surreptitiously took him for pictures and they turned out so cute), some money. I have one more present waiting at the post office.

*Short Week- I'm only working today and tomorrow. I was planning to work Wednesday too. Yesterday's bad day caused some problems with plans to visit with my family, so I'm going to spend the whole day with them Wednesday.

*My hair turned out cute. She cut it a little shorter than I expected, but it has a cute flip at the ends. The highlights turned out good too (I know, I will try to remember to post a picture)

*The Fast Food Ban is going well. I haven't had any since Friday. This morning my bad mood was trying to talk me into it, but I resisted.

*My neices and nephews are visiting (hence the Wednesday plan) and they are so cute!!

*My sister got to meet my son. He really likes her (and vice-versa, lol)

Birthday Resolutions

2008-11-21T12:51:00.002-06:00

T-Minus 11 hours and 10 minutes until my birthday. Time to get these Resolutions out there:

I resolve to. . .

*Become a healthier person, through diet and excerise-I'm getting back on Weight Watchers and I'm going to get my exercising done in the mornings. As an added challenge with this one-I've decided to give up fast food for YEAR. I really think I can do this. It's not even that good, you know? Just quick, easy, and there. (There is one exception: Grilled chicken salads. I figure if we are traveling or something and it is unavoidable getting a salad is the option.)

*Enjoy life more by being more agreeable, more laid back. Less quick to anger, less defensive-attitudes are contagious, I really believe this. I'm going to work on keeping my own attitude positive. It's so easy to take the bait and let other people bring me down. I'm tired of that. Optimism and looking for the positive-that's where it's at.

*Be a better employee, by trying to learn as much as possible and be more comfortable in this job-I don't dislike this job so much as I dislike it not coming naturally to me. It's WORK in every sense of the word. There are so many different things that we do-which is exactly what I wanted, less monotony. But that also means there are neverending things to figure out and learn. I want to learn those things, so that one day this becomes something I am good at, not something I'm struggling with.

*Help people in big ways and small-give blood, volunteer, food drive, donations, giving compliments, whatever I can think of. Helping people inherently makes you feel good. The world can sometimes be a crappy place and everybody needs a little help.

I was shooting for five, but I think these four cover it. Realistically, I have no idea what the coming year has in store for me. But, regardless, I want to make the best of it. Life is short. I want to spend mine having fun and being happy.

Early Birthday Present

2008-11-19T15:29:00.003-06:00

Remember when I mentioned hating my hair?? Tomorrow I am doing something about it. I have an appointment for a cut and highlights.

This is the cut I like. It'll basically be a trim and some they'll have to thin it out. It amazes me how they do that. My hair is uber-thick though, so thinning it out is usually neccessary.

I want the highlights pretty heavy too. My hair has darkened up in the past year or so, so the highlights should be a nice touch. I can't wait!

Rose 2.0

2008-11-18T12:21:00.003-06:00

I'm so excited about my Birthday Resolutions. I haven't nailed them all down yet, but I've been thinking them through. I haven't decided if I want to commit to a specific diet or just commit to healthy eating. You know-the overhaul the kitchen kind of healthy eating. That seems like the healthiest route and I want to make a commitment to healthier living in general. Shape up, slim down, but also be all-around healthy. Some fad diet won't do that. It's going to be tough though.

Whole wheat bread, lean meats, low fat cheese. I already do all those things. But I also do the whole burgers, sweets, fast food thing too. I've got to knock out all those bad habits. It's definately going to be a challenge, but if I succeed it will be so much better for me and my family. I know, for a fact, that if I eat healthier so will my husband.

Along with the Resolutions, I've decided to do something along the lines of "25 Things To Do While 25". I got the idea from Andrea's comment yesterday. My Resolutions are going to be serious "make myself a better person" type of things. The 25 things are going to be fun!

That idea reminded me of the 1001 things in 101 days that I wanted to do earlier this year (big shock: I started on the idea and never finished). In the spirit of becoming a person who does what she says she will do, I'm going to give that a go too. So my 25 things will be a jumping off point for that list. I'm so excited.

Something about this birthday seems different. Between becoming a mom and having a pretty crappy 24th year I just want to make positive changes in my life. I need an upgrade, Rose 2.0.

Hodge-Podge

2008-11-17T14:19:00.002-06:00

*I kind of think the partners here think I am an idiot. In reality, maybe I just don't always dig accounting. Some days it's fine. Other days, I just think "what a waste of time."

*My birthday is Saturday. I'm looking forward to turning 25. 24, as a whole, was kind of a dark, crappy year. It shouldn't have been. I was pregnant for the bulk of it and my son was born. And that is great (and great is such an understatement). But the rest of the year can suck it.

*Each time I come here, to blog, I think "what happened, no one comments anymore." And it's not like "oh no, people think I'm boring." I just like the community of bloggers. Then I wake up and realize I haven't really been commenting much either.

*Today I'm in a funk. Not really a bad mood or a bad day. Just one of those can't shake it kind of clouds, I guess. It's better than an all out bad day, but it's irritating. I started this day thinking how bad my hair looked-perhaps these two things are connected? Do you ever have a day where nothing seems quite "right"? Everything is just somewhat off? It all started with the hair. (I just realized that I am sitting here making an incredibly sour face. Geez. I wish I had a sure fire mood lifter to do in this office.)

*I'm actually kind of hating my hair fully at this point. It's a weird length. Bangs cut weird that I'm trying to grow out. I hate putting it up, because I just look like a bum. But leaving it down is so much work. I just want it to be long and pretty, but I have ages until that happens. In the meantime I'm fighting the urge to go in and say "chop it all off" because I seriously hate it.

*You know how people do New Year's Resolutions? Yeah, I've never actually stuck to them. But I'm thinking of doing Birthday Resolutions. I'm quite tired of starting projects/diets/ideas and never finishing them. I'm sick of being halfway organized, halfway mess. I feel like I've failed at New Year's Resolutions so often, why not try something new? I've got between now and Saturday to come up with them. I'm so tempted to make a huge list. That is so me. Make a huge list and not follow through on any. I think I am going to make 5. Five that matter and stick to those.

*One of those resolution is going to be to lose weight. I am pretty unhappy with my weight/figure. I am still really proud of the progress I've made since giving birth. The scale is much lower. Lower than pre-pregnancy. But, I was overweight then anyway. It's higher than I want it to be. And pregnancy changed my shape. Even though I weigh a good 20 pounds less than I did before getting pregnant, I am still in the same size pants. Looking in the mirror is not fun my friends. Not fun at all.

*I want to LOVE my job. And I so want that to happen with my current job. So much of my hesitation with it is how much I still don't know. I'm tired of asking questions and feeling unsure. I just want to be confident.

*Good Lord, that could be the motto for my whole life at the moment "I just want to be confident."

Election Day

2008-11-04T09:45:00.002-06:00

Is it just me or is there excitement in the air?

This morning I dressed A up in a onsie that had red white and blue on it. He looks so cute! Later tonight I want to be sure and get his picture in front of the election coverage on tv. We took a picture of him in front of the Hurricane Ike coverage, so now he'll have another big news story for his baby book.

I just got back from voting. It was much quicker than I expected. This is only the second Presidential Election I've been eligible to vote in. For some reason I was much more excited today than I was for the first one.

Go Vote!!

Weekend Rundown

2008-11-03T09:16:00.003-06:00

*I made chili this weekend! Finally! It was so, so good. We have a good bit left and I'm thinking about freezing it. How great will it be to just heat it back up next time we get a cold snap?

*I completely missed early voting. Tomorrow I'll have to brave the general voting. The problem is that the polling stations are by precinct and I'm not sure what precinct I live in. I hear it's on my voter registration card. . . which I will have to find. . .

*A was waking up many, many times in the night over the past week. The consensus from, oh everyone, was to give him some rice cereal. So I did. Do you know what it did? Nothing. He loved it, but he did not sleep better.

*Halloween was fun! We took some pictures of A in his costume, went to a Fall Festival, and saw a few trick or treaters (Spiderman and a Pirate were the cutest).

*NaBloPoMo. I was seriously going to do this. Then I realized "hey, today is November 3rd and I am just now making my first post of the months." So. . . hm. I could just make a goal of 30 posts TOTAL in November, and have two days with two posts. OR I could scrap the whole idea. Very unsure.

*Seriously, the chili was awesome.

Coffee

2008-10-28T16:34:00.001-05:00

I've been a BIT of a grouch, as of late. Lack of sleep is probably the biggest factor, so I'm trying to deal with that.

Coffee occurred to me today. I have been drinking diet coke by the gallon since last Friday and it's not doing the trick. I realize it's late afternoon, but I poured myself a cup of coffee with a bit of cream and sweet & low. . . the problem is that it's too freaking hot to drink.

Last night I felt like A was up all night long. Today I'm thinking it through and I think he wasn't. I think I fell asleep holding him after the feeding. I think I held him for about two hours. Then went to bed and it seemed like minutes and he woke up again famished. So I think I fed him again and fell asleep holding him. Before I knew it the alarm was going off. Now, he was up for an extra feeding for sure-but it felt like I hadn't slept at all. I hope this two feedings in the night doesn't keep up!

(EDIT: Coffee cooled and not too bad. . . this could help.)

Stolen Meme

2008-10-27T14:32:00.002-05:00

Ten Years Ago I Was:
1. 14 years old.
2. Very, very blonde.
3. A freshman in high school.
4. In LOVE with a guy from my church who I only saw once a week.
5. Counting the days until I could drive.

5 Things on Today's To Do List:
1. Wash baby bottles.
2. Start reading a new book.
3. Not picking up the phone.
4. Making a Heathly Choice meal for dinner.
5. Watching tv.

5 Snacks I enjoy:
1. Fiesta Ranch dip with red bell peppers
2. Cheetos Asteroids 100 calorie packs
3. Pickles
4. Cheese
5. Peanut Butter Crackers

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire (or billionaire):
1. Buy a house.
2. Put money away for my son's college
3. Stay at home while he's not in school
4. Go back to school. . . culinary school!
5. Travel

5 places I have lived:
1. Small Town Texas, with my parents
2. Larger Small Town Texas, with my college Roommate
3. Houston Suburb w/my husband
4. Same Suburb different apt, with my husband
5. Different Larger Small Town Texas, with my husband

5 jobs I have had:
1. Church Nursery Worker
2. Whataburger Cashier
3. Sears Asset Protection Associate
4. Revenue Accountant
5. Tax Accountant

Weekend

2008-10-23T10:15:00.002-05:00

I know, I know it's almost a new weekend and I'm just now posting about last weekend.

Saturday we finally rearranged furtniture in the apartment and I am so much happier with the result. The bassinette was taken to storage and A moved into his nursery. He is weighing in around 13 pounds now. The bassinette tops out at 15, so I figured it was time. He did so good in his own room. It's a good thing the bassinette was removed from the apartment completely though, because as bedtime closed in I was having second thoughts about moving him. But, he had to go because it was gone. When he woke up Sunday morning smiling and looking around his room I knew it was the right decision.

Video monitors are awesome, by the way.

Sunday was the PERFECT day.

Like I said, A woke up in the best mood. We lazily got up around 9 and he had a bottle while I (finally) got to watch the dvr'd Grey's Anatomy. When we both finished we got up and went into his room. We played with toys. I learned that he is so alert now that playing with his toys is a lot more fun for both of us. He can kind of shake the rattle and LOVES to have me shake it for him. We took pictures and he had such BIG smiles.

My husband got home from church and had a surprise. Three pumpkins. We watched football, ordered pizza and carved the pumpkins. It was so much fun. After the carving I found out how to roast pumpkin seeds. They turned out really good and I'm excited to have found something that can be a tradition for our new little family.

How To Blow Dieting for the Day in Five Steps

2008-10-20T09:44:00.004-05:00

1. Weigh in and realize you are up two pounds from the week before.

2. Spend the morning to sleepy you realize after arriving at work that you didn't eat breakfast.

3. Choose low-fat yogurt for breakfast.

4. Eat only the yogurt and realize you are starving.

5. Daydream about a barbecue sandwich from the place down the street. Or buffalo wings. Or candy.

Geez. . . send help.

Unstuck, 30 Day Shred

2008-10-16T08:05:00.002-05:00

Good news--I am feeling better about things today than I was yesterday. I don't really feel so "stuck" in my job and marriage. Just sometimes things get so frustrating! I finished the work for that partner so at least next time I'll know what I'm doing without having all the back and forth and feeling dumb.

As for my marriage, I think I'm just letting too many little things get under my skin. We went out to dinner last night, just us, and it was good. Things can get better.

I started birth control again after I finished breast feeding and it is messing with my emotions. I'm not surprised, when I took it before the same thing happened. I was happy one minute, mad the next, then sad. I realized I was pretty miserable to be around and quit taking it. I'm on the lowest dose of hormones, so I don't know if switching to another kind would do the trick. And I don't really want to stop taking it altogether again because another baby is not in the cards for a couple of years. Anyway, if my blogging seems to be happy/sad/happy it's probably because of that. Because honestly there is a lot in my life to be happy about at the moment, if I could just relax and enjoy it!

ALSO: 30 Day Shred. A couple of things here. I went 9 days working out every day. I have been lazy about getting up the past few mornings and had to do it at night. Which is bad, because I was bound to run out of time one day. Last night I ran out of time. My first free minute came at 10:30. . . so I went to bed. And I felt guilty. Then this morning I was dragging through interval one and then A started crying and I had to stop. It got me thinking that I DO enjoy waking up early and working out, but there is no way I will enjoy 20 more days of the same exact workout. I can tell I'm not ready for Level 2 yet, so my only option with the shred is to continue with more days of Level 1.

I'm adjusting my plan. I'm not throwing working out out the window. . . we're tweaking. I'm still going to workout every day, but I am going to do different things. The dvds are a good plan because I can do that at home, so I'll just vary up which dvds I do. I have Winsor Pilates, so I've already planned that for tomorrow morning and I'm going shopping after work to try and find maybe two more.

I'd have loved to see where the Shred would have taken my body in 30 days, but let's be honest. I'm already getting bored on Day 10. . . and I don't want to burn out and end up not exercising at all!

Lobby of Hobbies

2008-10-15T15:16:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I go to Hobby Lobby. See, I would like to have the type of hobby that Hobby Lobby would carry.

I wander through the aisles and imagine myself a painter, a scrapbooker, an knitter, an embroiderer. Each time I can't decide and I leave hobby-less. Sometimes I'll decide on a hobby, gather some things and start toward the checkout. The last time it was crocheting, which I can already do a little of. But each time I've bought the yarn I haven't finished my project. . .

Today at break the girls were talking about Hobby Lobby and because I am so prone to suggestion I now want to go find a hobby. I'm thinking scrapbooking, because I just so happen to have a billion pictures of a super-adorable baby just waiting to be displayed.

Talking Points

2008-10-14T08:04:00.003-05:00

*30 Day Shred is still going. Today will be #9. Sunday I kicked butt, if I do say so myself. Interval one is still hard for me, but after I got through that one I did Intervals 2 & 3 without stopping once. I was so proud. Yesterday I think my energy was lower. I was moving slower. But I worked out and that's what counts.

*I lost 1 pound on weight watchers last week. I know that's not a lot, but I'm proud of it.

*Chili. I am so ready to make it. Christina sent me a recipe that sounds so good. I am just waiting on the weather to get right for chili. I just checked the ten day forecast though and it's not looking like chili weather.

*A is going to be Batman for Halloween. It's just the cutest thing ever, wait till you see the pictures!

*Saturday I have a haircut scheduled which I am going to cancel. For multiple reasons: 1. last time I had her cut it short and I'm tired of short now, of course 2. I'd end up just getting a trim that I don't NEED that desperately 3. I'd rather save up and be able to get highlights and a cut next time I go in.

*This weekend I was at my parents to visit. I was looking through an old photo album of myself in high school. I want to look like that again, lol. And it's funny because at the time I probably could have named 20 things I'd have wanted to change about myself. . .

Days 5, 6

2008-10-11T13:40:00.003-05:00

Yesterday morning I was tired. A kept sleeping until 7, so I didn't get up to work out. I felt crappy about it all day long. BUT I did it as soon as I got home.

I haven't worked out today, YET, but I'm on it at as soon as my lunch settles. Day five wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I still don't have the endurance to do the whole workout without stopping. But my breaks are short.

I wish there was a little more ab work, but that probably has to do with my "just had a baby belly". It's so funny, as I lost weight after having the baby I felt so much skinner. However, the weight loss slowed and the skinny feeling has been replaced with feeling like my belly is gross. I should just do some extra ab work on my own.

In July 2007 I went to Kansas for a work trip. I bought a pair of jeans from Old Navy to wear on the trip. But, they were too snug. I left them in my closet with the tags on them. Yesterday I was getting dressed to go to a football game. I had capris, but I thought it would get to cool for those, so I started looking through jeans. I had a pair that was too big. And multiple pairs that were a few sizes too small. Then I spotted the ones from Old Navy. They fit! Now, unfortunately I don't really like the style of them anymore, but they FIT! I wore them to the game and felt so good about it. I guess even though my stomach as no definition whatsoever, I'm still smaller around than I was this time a year ago, and that feels good.

My husband said he was suprised I was still doing the Shred. He meant it as a compliment, like "good for you", but it kind of hit like "I figured you'd quit by now." I'd be mad, but, well, it is my nature to quit. I'm not an all-around quitter or anything, but working out has never been my strong suit. At any rate, the comment served as motivation-for sure.

I was trying to think of something to reward myself with after I DO finish all 30 days. Do you know what I want? Other workout dvds! Yoga and then there is a 5 dvd set by Jillian Michaels. I could do one dvd each day of the week. And yoga on the weekends.

The major thing I need to work on is diet. I went over my weight watchers points for the week (blame the nachos at the football game). I am going to make myself stick to my points for today and tomorrow. Monday I weigh in, I'd like to see a loss, but I'll be surprised if I do. But it does no good to beat myself up about it-that isn't going to change that I went over my points. All I can do is say it was a step backwards and move forward. Overall this week my eating has improved. I've had more veggies and less crap. In fact, yesterday's nachos kind of wreaked havoc on my stomach.

Okay, I told myself I'd do the Shred at 2 pm, so I need to get ready.

(edited to add - sorry if all this Shred/diet talk is getting boring. But knowing that I am going to blog about it is also motivation!!)

**post workout update: I just finished today's workout and wanted to update that I can really tell a difference from Day One. My muslces aren't as sore, so I can do the strength exercises easier. When I get to the cardio I no longer feel like I'm struggling through it. Instead it's a nice break from the strength exercises!)

Day. . . 4. . .

2008-10-09T12:58:00.002-05:00

Day 4 was a struggle. Getting out of bed was tough. I was so, so tired this morning. My eyes were heavy, but the baby was up anyway. As I fed him his bottle I tried to talk myself into going back to sleep when he finished. But I didn't. I got up. Small victory.

I turned on the dvd player and put my hair up (being already dressed helped!) and got to it. I wanted to quit during Interval 1. I didn't. I kept up and finished. Before I knew it I was on Interval 3 and no longer tired. Sweaty, yes. Sore, yes. Tired? Not anymore. Big victory.

26 Days to go. But, tomorrow is Friday!! I love Friday!

Day 3

2008-10-08T08:38:00.002-05:00

30 Day Shred: Day 3

Still on Level One (but does that really need to be said? I mean, obviously I'm still on Level One). My legs and arms feel so much stronger, I can't believe there is actually that big of a difference after just three workouts. I feel like today was easier than yesterday, but harder than day one because I'm still sore. At the same time though, I feel like my endurance is improving. Because to be honest I have to stop with the jumping to catch my breath every so often in the cardio--but today I noticed I had to stop less often. I could jump a little higher and a little bit longer. And sometimes with the strength I have to skip a rep or two (although I think that is more because of sore muscles and I won't have that problem in another day or two).

To be totally honest, while I was feeding A at 6 am I was thinking how great it would be to go back to sleep when he finished. But, I didn't. I got up and turned on the dvd. I'm so glad I did. A big helper for me--I slept in workout clothes. Yeah, sleeping in a sports bra kind of sucked, but for these first few days it's helping me get my butt out of bed.

Another motivation, those stretches at the end of the dvd. They just feel so great. Through the whole first interval today (the hardest one, in my opinion) I thought to myself "just keep going so you can get to the stretches." I totally want to get some sort of dvd that is just stretching now. Something short that I could do in the evenings.

Day Two

2008-10-07T08:57:00.002-05:00

I woke up at 6:00 this morning to do Day two of the 30 Day Shred. And I actually got up!! I fed the baby, put him in his swing and got down to business.

It was harder this morning because muscles were still tired from last night. And the longer I sit here the more they are hurting. But it's a good hurt. I know that I'm going to benefit from this.

You know what I love? That the interval is only six minutes total and then repeated three times. It helps to know "okay, I only have another minute of this" or "I've made if to the second interval, only one more after this." And the cool down stretches felt SO good this morning.

I'm really hoping working out first thing in the morning will help me make better food choices throughout the whole day. So far so good, I had high fiber oatmeal for breakfast and I'm thinking either Subway or Smoothie King for lunch.

2 days down, 28 to go!!

(Weight Watchers update: after getting off the program for a couple of weeks I'm back to it today. As of this mornings weigh in I am down 6 pounds from when I started Weight Watchers and 36 pounds from when A was born. Um. . . 37 pounds to go.)

Day One

2008-10-06T22:17:00.002-05:00

Day one of the 30 Day Shred went pretty well. I got the baby to sleep in his swing and luckily got through the whole thing before he woke up.

The pace is great, it was over before I knew it which was really great. There were certainly some hard parts. . . hopefully I will have more endurance as it goes on. My legs were a little shaky when it was over, but right now I'm good. I imagine tomorrow I'll be sore.

"Oh" & 30 Day Shred

2008-10-06T10:56:00.002-05:00

Last night I said "oh" to A. He said "oh" back. It is the cutest thing you have ever seen. You can tell he is watching me to see exactly what I do. Then he makes his mouth into an O and says it. Everything is so precise and he's trying so hard. I think the cuteness could just kill you.

Also, bootcamp is a no go. Over the past week I've realized I am just too tired to get up that early. I think I'd crash by 3 pm. So, I bought the 30 day shred dvd instead. Today is going to be Day One. I plan on doing it sometime this evening. Originally the plan was mornings, but I am getting attacked by allergies, so this morning all I felt like doing was hitting "snooze". I do wish I'd gotten up though because then it would already be done for the day. . .

Just So We're Clear

2008-09-30T15:38:00.002-05:00

My Dad does not like my Grandma.

My Grandma does not like my Dad.

My Husband does not like my Mom.

My Mom does not like my Dad's parents.

My Sister does not like my Husband.

My Mom and Dad do not like my Husband's Mom and Dad.

Everyone likes the Baby.

With the holiday season upon us. . . doesn't this seem like a fun element to planning?

(Will it be okay to just lock myself in the bathroom until January 2nd?)