Family Plans?

Over the past week or so I seem to have been given signs that a baby might be in our future. First off, I started my usual pack of pills a week late because for one reason or another I got off track. Next, my parish companion, Deanna, said that she had a dream that I was pregnant again. And finally, Mom has been asking me what I think of different baby names this past week. I think there were a few other things, but can't remember right now! And in case you're wondering if there IS a chance I could be pregnant, the answer is YES! However, I won't know for a few more weeks. For some reason I just have a feeling that I could be, and am trying to figure out how I would feel if it were to come to frutition. I think initially I would be nervous about how Nick would feel, and would also be nervous about raising two kids. However, I do know that I would be excited as well, I just don't know how long it would take for that emotion to be the dominant one. Anyhow, I just had to get some of this off of my mind and onto the "paper" so I don't keep thinking about it :P Will let you know in a few weeks if any of these "signs" were real!

WW Thoughts

Today marks 5 days since I started the Weight Watchers Points Plus program and so far I am feeling pretty good about it. Mondays are my weigh-days, so I won't know if I lost any weight until then, but I do know that I have only had 2 pops this week, and the rest of the time I have drank water or Light Lemonade, whereas I used to have 3 pops or so per day, it seemed. I also haven't had any candy or crap food...when I needed a sweet I either had some fruit or a Weight Watcher's fudge bar. I also have been eating more veggies, namely baby carrots because those are about the only 0-points veggies I like. I do have a bag of prepped salad waiting when the mood strikes me :)
Today was the first day I had to use some of my Weekly Points because Nick wanted to meet at Arby's for lunch, which didn't put me over my daily allowance, but the Papa John's pizza we had did. However, I still have 37 weekly points which I plan to use some of on Sunday when Dad and I go to the movies and Buffalo Wild Wings :) Anyhow, I'm slightly anxious for my weigh-in on Monday because I really hope this is going to work for me as it's a plan I can see myself being able to do for a long time!

Weight Watchers

I don't think it's any secret that since I had Emma, my weight has been a struggle for me. A week after she was born, I was back within 5 pounds of my prepregnancy weight, and was thrilled! However, I began to have some post partum depression issues, and had to begin Zoloft, which caused my weight to steadily increase until I was right around the same weight that I was when I was 9 months pregnant (150 lbs). I had a bit of success with the HCG Diet wherein I lost about 6-7 pounds. However, this diet was one that was nearly impossible for me to stick with because it was sooooo calorie restrictive and food restrictive. We're talking you could have 500 calories per day.....yeah, more of a starvation diet if you think about it :(

Lately I have really been wanting to try the Weight Watchers program because I know many people who have had success with it, which is really encouraging :) I am going to be doing the program at home with a kit I purchased from a person on Craigslist. What I really love about this "diet" is that you can have almost all of the fruits and veggies that you like, and you can still have normal dinners because you are allotted a certain amount of points per day, and every food has a certain points value, even pizza! So anyhow, tomorrow is when I am going to start, so I am using today to figure up how many points are in some of the usual foods I eat, and also figuring out some substitues as well :) Fingers crossed for success!

Snow Day!!!

Today really marks the first "real" snowfall we have had so far this winter. Sure, back in December we got a skiff, but it ways maybe 1 inch at tht most. Today we have probably gotten 5-6" so far, and could get up to a foot! I'm not quite sure if I'm ready for a foot of the white stuff, but I honestly don't mind the snow since we have been lucky thus far! Our neighbors that live across this street have a little girl who is probably 4 years old, and this morning they were outside playing in the snow and Emma was glued to the window! So, we decided that it was time for her to get to see what it was all about :)

At first she was pretty uncertain, and couldn't get a good enough footing to walk well, but after we moved her to the partially plowed street, she really began to enjoy it! She ran up and down the street a few times, kicket some snow, and then sat down in it and began to pitch a fit when I decided it was time to go inside and thaw out! All in all I think she loved it, but what did I expect from such an outdoorsy girl!?

Taking her out to play reminded me of the snow days Evo and I spent sledding down the big hill we had for a front yard, trying to make a snow fort, having snowball fights, and making ice cream from snow. However, the memory that stands out most vividly was when I was in either 5th or 6th grade. We had gotten quite a bit of very heavy, very wet snow, and it had been quite windy, so there was a huge drift in front of our house. Ethan and I crawled behind the drift (on the side facing the house), and we proceeded to scoop snow out, leaving a little cave inside for use to crawl into. I literally think we play outside for hours that day, despite Mom's efforts to coax us back in with hot chocolate...which eventually worked!

Thinking back about all of that really is bittersweet, because I remember having such a blast doing that, but know that I most likely won't be the one doing those kinds of things with Emma, but rather, a sibling would. Sure we will play outside and have all sorts of fun, but there are some things that Mom and Dad just aren't the right part for :P Anyhow, here are a few photos of our outdoor excursions today!