GO SCOTTY!!!

I just have to write about the progress of our diet.  It would probably be more accurate to say "Scott's diet"  since he is the one who is doing so great!  I really thought I would be better at this then I have been, it's almost the mentality that if you tell me I "can't" do something then I just want to do it more.  Since we have started, I think I went one whole day with no sweets, Scott has gone every single day.  For the past 12 years I have watched this man eat cookies every single night at bedtime.  Since this whole thing started, I have not seen him eat ONE!  We even had a tin of his favorite holiday cookies sent home, and he is so strong that he can open them up and hand them to the kids, but he refuses to take one.  He literally will open the container and smell the cookies and then put them away.  I am so proud of what he is accomplishing with this diet and hope to soon say that I am doing well also.  One of the reasons that I fell in love with Scott was his determination.  To me, he can do anything!  I love that he has such great motivation, I asked him the other day where all of this motivation was coming from and he told me simply that he wanted to be around for a long time.  He wants to be around when the kids get older. 

A good thing...right?

Yesterday, Emma took her first steps!  At 11 months old she is starting to walk.  Sitting at my mom's house we were talking about how close she was to walking so we tried to get her to do it, and she took 3 steps.  It was the cutest thing I have seen.  She was so proud of herself and just beamed from ear to ear.  She sort of looked at herself like, "whoa, what the heck did I just do and how do I do it again?"  It's amazing what a baby can learn in one day.  The 3 steps that she took just yesterday have now turned into about 10 today.  I am constantly in awe of how fast my kids pick things up, once they see it done and figure out how to do it, they have perfected it in a matter of hours.  I wish I could learn something that fast.  I am trying to convince myself that this is a good thing, she is walking.  To me, the fact that she is (or soon will be) walking is just one less thing that she needs me to do for her.  I LOVE babies, I always have...I wanted 6, I would still love to have more babies but I know that it won't happen.  The fact that my baby is turning less and less into one honestly makes me sad.  There is just no other word for it.  I have really struggled watching her grow up so fast.  I can not believe that just a short year ago, I was miserably sick and wishing that whole pregnancy experience away.  What I would give to have more time now to enjoy the movements of carrying a baby, and the joys of a newborn.  I am not in any way saying that I am not enjoying her now, because I do.  I love that she reaches for me or her dad when she sees us.  I love that she will lay on her tummy on the floor and watch a movie with her brothers.  I love that she says Mama and Dada and Yumm...  There are so many sweet things that she does that are simply adorable, that she would not be doing as a baby.  I am greatful for all three of my children and the things that they learn and accomplish each day.  I just feel as though time with them is slipping by too quickly.  With the boys in school all day the years just fly by.  I ENJOY being a mommy and I guess what my point is, is that the older your kids get, the less they need or want you around for a while.  Emma learning how to walk is a good thing right?  She is still a little girl who needs to have her mommy and I know that, but oh how I miss the baby days!  I guess that's why grandma's are born right?  I know it's a LOOOOOOONG ways off, but it is comforting to know that there will be other baby's in my future!  :) 

No more skittles???

Well today starts a new journey for Scott and I.  Scott told me about this fitness challenge they are doing at work a while ago, and told me he would really like to participate, but he also knew that he wanted me to do it with him.  So for the next 16 weeks, and hopefully beyond that...we will be eating healthier and exercising together.  I know this is something that we have BOTH needed to do for some time now and I am excited to see how we will do.  At the end of the 16 week challenge, we are supposed to run a 5K...Well, since I have never ran anywhere in my life this should be interesting.  This change can only bring about good things right???  This is LONG overdue!  So for now...it is goodbye skittles, and hello treadmill.  Wish us luck!!!  (we're gonna need it)

Sometimes I feel like all I do during the day, is wait for my baby to wake up!  The house is so quiet when she is sleeping and the boys are at school, I don't know if I will ever get used to it.  I am one of those moms who crys every year when the kids go back to school.  Our summers are fun, and I hate to see them end.  I miss my kids when they are gone, and yes some days, it only takes a minute or two before I begin to wish that they had stayed at school just a tad bit longer!  Today I may just have to wake Emma up a little early, I feel like I have a thousand things to do and I can't get anything done because I can't leave the house without her of course.  I really do have a good baby, as I was typing this and being a little stressed about not getting stuff done today...she woke herself up, she NEVER wakes up during this time period.  Good job Emma :)  Yay another picture!!!  Not the one I wanted...(I was trying to get one of her sleeping) but hey it's a start right???

Thanks Sista!!

Do you see this cute little sunflower border?  Guess where it came from?  No, no...not me of course, as I have mentioned, I am a little computer slow, sooo..my cute lil' sis decided to hack into my blog and change it for me.  The funny part about this is, is that I have not spoken to her about this at all and she just happens to pick out the one that I tried forever yesterday to download!  Am I that predictable?  Guess so lol.  My next challenge is going to be learning how to insert a picture.
     Ok, I have no idea how I just did this, but this is the picture I tried to get on here earlier.  Yay, something worked.  Hmm..wonder if I will ever be able to do this again.  Probably NOT!

I have been sitting here trying to figure out how to change my background and it's not working!!!  Oh well. 
So yesterday, I took Emma to the doctor for her 9 month well check (even though she is now 11 months)  oops, time really does seem to fly.  Anyway her doctor said AGAIN how tiny she is, and even seemed a little concerned, which concerns me just a tad.  If I really am honest with myself in my gut I really think that she is fine.  I have thought all along that her tiny size has been such a blessing to me.  I have a really bad back and it is hard to lift her now, let alone if she were in the "normal" size that they think she should be.  At 11 months old, Emma weighs 16 lbs.  She is in the 3rd percentile for her weight and the 8th percentile for her height.  She is such a joy to us all.  After spending the last 8 years completly throwing myself into all things BOY I have to admit that it is SO MUCH FUN to have a little (ok, A LOT) pink in our house.  I love to watch the boys with her.  They are so protective of her, and shield her from anything that might hurt or upset her.  I hope they will always treat her the way that they are right now.  I hope that they will always look after her well being and make sure she is treated right by ANYONE.  Our little lady is very lucky to have such great big brothers!!!
     At 11 months old Emma can wave, she says mama and dada.  She loves her brothers, and giggles often when they are around.  She is a quiet little thing when she wants to be, but man if you upset her at all, she will let you know.  She stands for long periods of time.  I know she could walk if she wanted to, but she is nervous to take that first step.  Her favorite toy is a little book that talks.  She eats EVERYTHING in sight!  Don't let her size fool you, she eats!  Trust me...  She loves to eat paper, which is a little wierd to me, but the doctors say it is normal.  She has pink and brown sqeaky shoes that she is trying to figure out how they work.  She still loves to play with Jacobs cars, but now she has her own little keys (pink of course) and her cinderella phone that she "talks" on.  She is a great sleeper, she has slept through the night since 5 weeks old.  Another BLESSING!  We are all pretty fond of our little lady, her smile can melt your heart in about 2 seconds flat, (Just ask her daddy and her Uncle J. about that one).

Halloween

Well, we survived another Halloween!  Zack was a vampire and as always, loved every minute of it, I think Halloween is his favorite holiday.  Jacob was a Ligtning McQueen race car driver.  He is very consistent on what he likes thats for sure.  I think we are going on 4 years with him LOVING anything "Cars" related.  Emma was a cute little puffy pink kitty.  We froze our butts off at the trunk or treat, it was raining so the turnout was not as big as it has been in the years past.  We went to my mom's for chili, and then the trunk or treat, and warmed up at Scott's mom's house.  Saturday morning (the day we celebrated) I was downstairs on the computer and I heard a HUGE crash, I went running up the stairs to find Zack pinned under the dresser in his room.  I really don't know what goes through his head at times, but for some reason, he pulled out the bottom drawer and stood on it (A very big no no at our house), as he did it the dresser and the 27 inch T.V. came down on him.  He is very lucky that he didn't get hurt!  Some days I honestly wonder if he will survive his childhood with some of things he pulls.  We had to sit down and explain (again) why he was not allowed to climb into his dresser.  I wonder if we will have to have this conversation again or if he finally understands!  I love my little clutzy man, but he sure knows how to scare me to death, and it had nothing to do with being a vampire!!!