Changes This Way Come

Well tomorrow is my first day at work at Oriental Trading Company, and consequently Emma's first day at Daycare! We decided, after much debate, to go with an in-home daycare which is run by a woman that lives just a few miles from our house. At first, I was deadset against an in-home daycare, but after doing some research and price comparisons, decided that just because you paid more to take your child to a daycare center doesn't mean it's any better than a licensed in-home daycare.

I am really excited to start to working and think it's going to be a good place for me! I also think that, after she gets over any shyness and anxiety, that Emma's going to enjoy daycare and getting to play with 4-5 other kids :) Please say a prayer for all of us! Nick gets to be the bad guy and drop Emma off to daycare tomorrow, and I'm the savior and get to pick her up, at least for this first week! After training this week, my schedule will be 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, so then I will be taking her to daycare and Nick will pick her up. Anyhow, I will update my blog tomorrow night on our first days! Fingers crossed :)

Weekend in Maysville

We just got home this afternoon from Maysville where we had a bbq birthday thing for Emma at Gma and Gpa's house. Lonna, Zack and the kids, and Greg and Wendy and Lauren all came and it was great getting to see them! The only downside was having to come back home. I SOOOOOOOOOOO enjoyed getting to have a get together with everyone, and it just reminded me how lonesome and sad I can get here in Omaha. Nick goes to work at 7:45 a.m. and doesn't get home usually until 6:30 if not a little later, and it just gets to me, spending almost every day by myself (not counting Emma). Here I hear about everyone down there getting together and having supper, and yet here I sit all alone and wishing sooo badly that we lived closer so I didn't feel left out of everything.

Now don't get me wrong, I love my family more than anything, I just don't love living here in Omaha, so far away for everyone :( I hope that a few years from now (if not sooner!) we are able to sell our house so we can move closer to family.

"Weighty" Issues

If you're close to me then you know that I've had some issues with my weight for about the past year now. After giving birth to Emma I got back within 3 pounds of my previous pre-baby weight of 130 within a month. However, due to postpartum depression I had to start taking Zoloft, and the zoloft mixed with less activity caused my weight to creep back up to 151.4 pounds (at the heaviest) these past few months. It's always been hard for me to lose weight and after looking through some photos and just feeling bad about myself, I decided it was time to really DO something about it.

Enter the HCG diet. I won't go into details of it, but it's a diet where you take drops under the tongue three times per day about 15 minutes before meals, and then you proceed to follow a strict diet and calorie limit of 500 calories per day. Well, I bought the drops and began the program and am on day 8 now. I am down 5.4 pounds and am happy about that, however, I don't notice any change in how my clothes are fitting yet. Also, this diet has been really tough for me because being such a picky eater, I don't like many of the things that are approved for it. For the first few days I lost about 1.5 pounds per day, and now my weight loss has slowed down to about .5 pound per day. I know that compared to other diets these results are great in such a short amount of time, but I'm having such a hard time sticking to it really strictly. However, if I can deviate from the diet a bit and feel a little more satisfied, and my weight loss slow to .5 pounds per day, it's a sacrifice I would be happy to make. I think in the long run it would be harder to keep the weight off if I were to stick to the diet really strictly, because I would think the carbs and starches would be a shocker for my metabolism.....at least, that's my reasoning :P

Anyhow, my goal is to get down to 130-133 by my birthday which is about a month and a half away, and a very achievable goal if I can set my mind to it. I read a quote today that I will have to remember when temptation is about to overcome me: "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!" Amen!!!

Thankful

These are some of the moments I am so thankful for!

Emma and Gpa Harold with her early bday gift!

Emma playing with one of the Bday gifts Mommy and Daddy got her


Enjoying cake, and wanting to share the love with Mommy!

Dancing with Daddy

The three of us on Emma's first birthday!!!

Our baby girl is officially 1 year old as of 12:05 a.m. on Saturday morning! It seems like it was just yesterday when we were leaving the hospital with her, scared out of our minds about how we were responsible for this 6 lb. life! Well, we have survived the first 12 months and I can't imagine life without her! Her first birthday party went really well! We had lots of company, and she got lots of nice clothes, and even a 4 wheeler and a "house" from Mommy and Daddy!

Even though it has been a challening year, I can't help but think about all I have to be thankful for! Emma's in great health and has overcome stomach and sleep problems :) Nick got a new job with a better and more stable company. I got to spend the whole first year at home with Emma watching her grow and change every day! I got hired by Nick's company for a seasonal position that I will be starting in a few weeks. And the list goes on! For the past several months I have been reading this blog called Another Day Stronger and it has really given me a new outlook on life and a new appreciate for it, and every day we have with our baby girl, even some of the worst and hardest days! The blog is written by a mommy of an angel named Maddie who passed away from SIDS when she was about 4 months old :( It sure makes me cry a lot, but makes me realize how precious life is, and to enjoy every moment together! Maddie's mommy is so strong, and I can't even begin to IMAGINE life without my beautiful baby girl.....or should I call her a toddler, as she's walking everywhere now!?

Remember, tomorrow is promised to no one, so pack a lifetime of love into today!

It's Coming!!!!!!!!!!

In less than a week Emma will be One!!!!! Nick and I are in the process of getting our house all cleaned up and ready for the influx of company we're expecting Saturday. I know i haven't mentioned much about her birthday so I thought I would fill you in on a bit! Her theme is Butterflies and lots of color! I am making the cake for her to eat from a butterfly shaped silicone mold and we're getting one for everyone else to eat from HyVee. Mom and Dad are coming down Friday morning and are going to mess around with Emma, giving me the chance to make her cake, a chocolate penut butter cup dessert, and to get the last minutes things done here at home!

On party day (saturday) we are going to order some Casey's pizza for lunch, then everyone is supposed to start arriving around 2 or so. I have decided that we are going to do her cake very last because she doesn't like having her outfit changed and being cleaned up, so that way she won't be upset when we're trying to get her to open gifts :P Then Sunday is Dad's birthday, and his plans are for all of us to go to the zoo for the day. Monday when Mom and Dad leave Emma is going with them for a week, so that Nick and I can have some time together :) Anyhow, that's what's going on this coming week! I will post pictures after her party :)