Weight Watchers: GOAL

So talking about weight can be an awkward conversation or make people uncomfortable but I want to remember what I've been working really hard at since January. I joined Weight Watchers because I was mortified when I went to get fitted for the bridesmaids dress for my friend Christy's wedding. I refused to buy the size they were wanting me to buy and I ordered a size smaller. I at that point had already lost all the weight I put on with Emma but I was at my heaviest EVER when I got pregnant so really I had more weight I needed to lose that wasn't "baby weight". 

Anyway that first week of January I started weight watchers. Now 35 weeks later I have hit GOAL. I've lost a total of 30 pounds. It's a marathon and not a sprint. There were weeks where I didn't lose any or it was 0.2 pounds. There were weeks I went up. I had moments where I was discouraged because I felt I had done great that week and the scale didn't show it. Weekends are still hard because those points go FAST when you want to have an adult beverage and not eat mostly fruits/veggies. The nice thing about weight watchers is there are extra weekly points and when you exercise you get activity points. I try not to eat any of my activity points and I will use my weeklies on the weekend but stick closely to my daily points during the week. This is what works for me and I finally feel comfortable in my own clothes. 

It's funny (not really) that you don't even realize just how much you have put on until you look back at pictures of yourself and you're like "dang, I let myself get that far off the wagon". I have always struggled with my weight. I am never going to be "skinny". That's just not how I am built but to be comfortable in my own clothing and my own skin is what is important. I would dread anytime someone wanted to take a picture with me because I was paranoid as to how my face would be (cheeks) in the pictures or if I was on the end what my arms would look like. I can honestly say I feel more confident in myself than I have for YEARS. 

I am a stress eater and I am learning how to curb that with more logical responses than eating. I want to be comfortable having my picture taken with Emma. I don't want her to look back at family photos in 10, 20, 30 years and wonder why I wasn't in any pictures. Here is a before/after picture of me from the end of August last year to now and I must say I myself am amazed at the difference. No I wasn't on weight watchers a year ago but it's pretty amazing what can change in a year. I NEVER want to go back to where I was a year ago. Since having Emma I've lost 65 pounds total (the 35 I gained while pregnant) and now the 30 since then. 

 December 2016

 January 2017

 February 2017

 March 2017

 April 2017

 May 2017

 June 2017

 July 2017

August 2017 (and you can't tell but that's a jumpsuit. I've NEVER been comfortable wearing a jumpsuit and now own TWO!)

and now moving on to our regular programming with mainly pictures of my little buddy :) 

Friday Favorites

I haven't linked up for a bit so doing a little bit of everything on my Friday Favorites this week. I'm linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci today. 

1. Emma just keeps me smiling with what she picks up on. Her latest is her "roarrrr" which is the least ferocious thing ever but it is too cute! I have a cute video of it and I can't get it to work! You can just imagine from the picture how cute it is sounding. 

2. This is the new view I have from my office. MUCH better than my old office where I didn't have a window. Getting some light into your office helps when you are stuck working on your computer (thankfully which isn't my whole day usually). 

3. Beautiful sunrise I saw walking into school the other morning. If I have to be up as early as I do, pretty sunrises make it easier!

4. We met some friends at the Brookhaven Food Trucks Wednesday night and Emma loved wandering around and exploring between bites of her dinner. 

5. Last weekend I had some friends in town and we had a pool party on Saturday. It was good for the soul getting to see some of my best friends who live so far away. 

6. And just some snaps from this week. This chunky monkey and I had a lot of alone time (dad was away on business one night and had a work event another night) this week. 

Happy Friday! Looking forward to a weekend filled with my people. We have an all-day family event with Tommy's work tomorrow at Lake Allatoona. Other than that just taking it easy and Tommy will be working on the bathroom. 

Emma: 15 months

Emma has changed a LOT since I wrote about her update at 12 months. We went to the doctor last Friday so I have updated stats. 

Weight: 25 pounds 4 ounces (92nd percentile)

Height: 30 1/4 inches (39th percentile)

Head: 46 3/4cm (78th percentile)

Diapers: Size 5

Clothes: 18 months 

Shoes: 4.5/5 depending on the brand

 My attempt at a picture. It's impossible these days!

Milestones: Since your first birthday you have become a master at walking (running really ha!) and are ALL over the place! You have started in the toddler room at school and are down to one LONG nap in the afternoons. You are finally getting adjusted to the new room at school but are such a big girl. You eat at a table in the school cafeteria for your meals and take naps on a mat on the floor. You have started mimicking us more lately. You are very aware of what we are asking you to do even if you can't verbalize back to us what you want to say. You are very much still babbling most things but "mama" is your favorite word. You can follow one-step commands like "bring me your babydoll" or "take the book to your daddy". 

Since you turned one you have been to the beach 2 times, spent a weekend away from mommy/daddy, had your first surgery (tubes), had your first ER visit (this was not fun!), gotten your first goose egg on your head at school, switched classrooms, started drinking whole milk, dropped the bottle, dropped a nap, got 4 molars, and so much more. We love watching you explore new things and love seeing you grow. You are such a bright light and I hope you never change that. Your smile could light up a room and your beautiful blue eyes just stare into our souls.

Likes: still basically all food, splash pad/pool (any body of water for that matter), Cooper, your ball machine, playing with your food in your kitchen, the ABCs being sung to you, any books about animals being read to you, and jumping on the bed. 

Dislikes: when your nap gets cut short at school, when I take your paci away (since it's only allowed in bed), riding in the car after school, and being told no. 

We are so lucky to be your parents and are having the time of our lives watching you grow. I thank God every day for giving me the job of being your mom. May you grow to treat others well, love those around you no matter what, and that you always know who your Lord and Savior is.

A few recent photos:

10 Year High School Reunion

This past weekend I had my 10 year high school reunion (Walton High School). I was Vice President of my class in high school and my close friend, Christy, was President so we were part of the planning crew to put this event on. Two weeks ago we were getting worried because we hadn't sold enough tickets to cover the cost of the event. Well the week leading up we just about doubled in ticket sales. We ended up with just under 150 people come which was a great turnout! We did it on the rooftop of Fado Irish Pub in Buckhead. It was really fun seeing so many faces I haven't seen in ten years. It was really a fun night! A guy I graduated with organized an after party for us at Lost Dog after and we had wristbands which got us drink specials. A large portion of people went there too so it was a fun night catching up with people. I can't believe I've been graduated and out of my parents house for ten years now. So much has changed but also so much has stayed the same. A few of my closest friends are those I grew up with which is such a special thing. Here are some pictures from the night! 

 The best we could do for a group shot!

 The four party planners!

 cute photo booth props Christy bought!

 These are my people! Boy do we miss Andrew and Christy with them living in South Florida. 

HERE is the slideshow I made that played throughout the night. We had a facebook page for our class where people could send us pictures to include. 

We had a great time and cheers to another ten years!

Life Lately

So Summer break is over and I'm back at work. I started last Thursday and teachers all come back tomorrow. Here's a little snapshot at what we did the last little bit of the break and the past two weekends! 

We checked off going to Piedmont Park and walking/picnicing with Cooper. It was a really nice morning and the park wasn't crowded at all. We walked a good long loop around the perimeter and then found a little garden area to sit for a picnic. Cooper, Emma and I really enjoyed the fresh air! 




The day before I went back to work my mom and I took Collier and Emma to the aquarium. It's so HOT in Atlanta right now that we wanted to do something indoors. We got there just after they opened (around 9:15am) and were able to really see a lot of the exhibits before it got too crowded. we left just before noon to get the kiddos back for naps. We had a great time! Thanks for joining me mom!







This past weekend we met the Willis at the splash pad when they first opened. I wish we had gone sooner because Emma loved this! It was nice for us because she's not submerged in any water and can just wander as she pleases. She doesn't care at all when a fountain splashes on her face. This was a great little activity to get outside but it didn't take the whole morning. We will be going back for sure. 






Two weekends ago we took some friends of ours to my parents beach house and left Emma back in Atlanta to spend time with both sets of grandparents. We went one night early and got to have a day on the beach just the two of us and out on a datenight. We really needed the alone time. The three other couples came on Thursday night. The three guys all lived with Tommy in Buckhead before we got married. We hadn't done a trip with just the 8 of us before and it was wonderful. These are our people who we are so grateful to share so many memories with. Thanks to my parents for letting us stay at their house!




Thomas Hoffman turned one and I went to celebrate him last weekend. Laura did such a cute job decorating for the "par-tee". 








For Bonnie's birthday on the 24th we had a family pool/pizza night at our neighborhood pool. Such a fun night celebrating and we were so glad the rain/storms moved on. We were the only ones at the pool until just before we left. 




Emma is adjusting to the toddler room at school. She is SO tired when she gets home because naps on a mat aren't quite as long as naps at home. 2/4 days so far she has needed a cat nap when she got home because she was just completely exhausted. I hope she learns to nap longer soon. I love the snuggles and naps on me (she hasn't done this in MONTHS) but I also want her to be happy when we get home. I'd love to still enjoy the pool in the afternoons after work while we still can. Other than naps she is doing great in the toddler room. I am moved into my new office at work and excited to start this year in my new position as math coach. I have a really strong feeling about the successes we will see this year with our students. Can't believe it's already the start of another school year. 

Just some playtime photos from recently. Emma is at such a fun age. I love watching her explore and learn something new every day. She is such a bright light in our lives.