It starts today...

Today I start it. The big "IT". The Diet.

In the last year I have had some pretty "weighty" issues.

In September of 2008 I had meningitis. While recover from this I put on about 10 pounds just from sheer laying around doing nothing exhaustion.

In September of 2008 I decided I no longer needed to smoke. So I quit. I was ready. It was great. It was wonderful. Then I looked at the scale and realized in the process of quitting I gained 27 pounds. Not as great anymore.

Then in February I found out I was pregnant! So exciting. I gained 54 pounds. Not so exciting. (Not the baby part but the extra poundage part).

I start today. Josh and I have decided that three is the perfect number for our family. There will be no more little ones for us. I haven't smoked in over a year. So that should no longer be an issue. I haven't been sick in quiet some time either so no more excuses there.

It starts today. My goal is 70 pounds. I would like to weigh 200 pounds. Which is what I weighed the day that I married my husband. (Actually it was 199 but hey I am giving myself a pound). I am giving myself until our seventh anniversary which is September 21st.

So the world now knows that I weight 270 pounds. You may be asking yourself WHY? Why is she putting such a personal thing out there? One word. Accountability. I want my friends to help hold me accountable. You see me eating a giant piece of Chocolate Cake... ask me about it. You see me wolfing down 3 pieces of pizza. Mention something to me. I want you to ask. It is okay and I won't be mad.

I need this. I need to feel better about myself. I need to look in the mirror and know that I am taking care of myself and setting a good example for my children. So ask me. Join me. Yell at me. Just a warning I may cry when you ask. I may act like it isn't a big deal. Please know that it is. I am working on it. But that is a lot of weight to lose. A lot of work. And this is a much bigger Shay trying to lose it AGAIN.

Weigh in #1
November 30th, 2009 = 262

(Apparently I have already lost a little from my doctor's appointment last week or this scale at work is a little off but it is the scale I am using so...)

Thanks
*Shay B*

6 weeks?

Yep that is right I head in tomorrow for the 6 week check up. If all goes well I will be going back to work on Tuesday. I am not handling it well. I just promised myself I was on such a roll I would continue posting.

A more in depth post on my still exhaustive thought process dealing with this "work" thing tomorrow. Hopefully after I have had more than 4 hours of sleep in 2 days.

Thanks

*Shay B*

The mom of 2 boys and a girl dun dun dunnnnn.

I was reading a friends post at her blog the other day and I left a comment. It made me think. All the thinking about that one comment led me to this blog post. See Sarah who knew that a question blog post would turn into a comment and then into this? Yeah that is my thought process... still sure you want to read here?

She is the mommy to (soon to be) three gorgeous girls. I love her girls they make me smile. I don't know her middle daughter little Eva as well as I know Lily. Lily and Leanna are friends (sadly we don't see them often enough). Lily is Leanna's and I quote, "girliest girl friend". That is what Leanna calls most of her girl friends.

It reminds me that I am a mommy to a girl. That is a hard job for me. Really it is. I am not a "girls girl" I am that rough, tough tomboy type. I hate trying to pretend I understand "girl" stuff. I don't. Drama it frightens me. I worry about her middle school and high school years. I do truly. How in the world will I handle her? Raising a gentleman. I think I have a handle on "most" of that. Luckily I married one so he will be an amazing help.

My comment on Sarah's blog I believe was close to this...

I can handle blocking karate kicks and identifying bugs in mud holes better than I can painting nails and discussing the art of princess walks (yes that was a true discussion at our house about a week ago).

Pray for me okay? Better yet pray for Leanna. I want to raise her to realize she is a princess of the King. I want to raise her to have a compassion for other people, to have respect for herself, to want to be a mommy and a sister and a daughter. I want her to be good. Even more so than good I want her to be kind. I pray (most nights if I remember to pray before falling asleep that is) that she goes past the arena of goodness but acts on it in kindness.

The problem with all of that? I am not sure I know how. Here's hoping I am doing an okay job at it.

*Shay B*

Zoo Trip

Some friends and I got together last week and all took a trip to the zoo. It was a GORGEOUS day for it. We had sunshine and a nice breeze. All in all there were 5 adults (one aunt, three mommies and a meemaw) and 7 children. All 5 and under. Plus we were there from 10 am until 2:30pm. Crazy right?

Surprisingly minus some tears at the very end of the trip (it being nap or past nap time for most of the smaller ones)a great time was had by all. Good attitudes, great listening and lots of animals were out thanks to the pretty weather.

Here are some pictures of our fun day.

The non-stroller crowd. Left to right...Craig (3), Cadence (5), Hudson (3), Aubrey (3) and Leanna (5). The giant turtles were moving.

Clearly Nolan was overly impressed by our great Zoo!

Beth's oldest Cadence.

We spent some awesome time in the Herpetarium. All the kids love this place. Hudson truly loves him some creepy crawlies. Taking a peek at one of the pythons.

Hand Turkeys

Monday was a dreary, rainy and gray day. So I was trying to think of something to do today with my older two when I got Nolan laid down for a nap. I happened to call my friend Beth and she had been making hand turkeys with her girls and her nephew. I thought to myself well here we go.

Construction paper, glue sticks, scissors and some imagination and we made hand turkeys. Here are some pictures of our fun afternoon.

Leanna hard at work.

Hudson having fun with a glue stick.

Proudly displayed on the fridge.

The momma took some time and made one too.


All in all it was a fun time. A little crazy afterwards (hey this is my personal journal too) and some attitude issues cropped up. But that night when Daddy came home. They both ran to the fridge to show Daddy the hard work they had done and were so proud of. Guess what they said..."Daddy guess what? Even Mommy made one with us!" Taking time out from washing a dish or folding some laundry while Nolan slept? Sure it meant a little more time after they went to bed to finish up some stuff. But doing sitting down and having a good time WITH them more than made up for it.

Yes! They fit again...

I can't bet you all are thinking I know ... pre-pregnancy clothes. To that thought process I scoff and scowl all at the same time. I can only dream about that right now. Hopefully soon. No the items that are fitting again? Well it's these...

Siblings...

Leanna and Hudson for the most part still play really well together. I shouldn't complain to much. They drive me up a wall and they argue and they bicker and they hit and pinch and kick just as much as everyone else. With all things considered though, I have never seen another little brother play tea party or house for hours and I have never seen an older sister play monster truck smash for an afternoon.



This was a quieter day neither was feeling totally themselves. Snuggles and movie watching was on order for the day. However one day I promise pictures of the tea parties and the monster truck smash too!

*Shay*

Survival.

Twas a rough weekend. This is how I made it through. And yes my coffee mug is almost as big as my coffee pot.

Guess what?

Nolan will be one month old on Thursday.

How in the world is he already a month old?

Tell me if you know. Because let me tell you I.Have.No.Clue.

Here are just a few things after this past month I do know...

I love him to pieces.

I can't imagine our lives without him.

His brother and sister are crazy about him.

He looks just like his daddy.

When he cries it sounds a little like a baby lamb.

When he smiles (you know the ones that he isn't even doing on purpose yet) my heart melts like butter in a hot skillet.

When he is angry he is ANGRY (just like his brother).

When he stretches his right foot shakes uncontrollably contributing to his pet name from Daddy and I...Thumper.

I heart him.



Don't you?

*Shay*

A Lesson in Mathematics

It has been a long day today. I am not sure I have any funny stories or cute anecdotes for you today.

Equation A = A sleepy mommy does not equal a patient mommy.

Equation B = Tired child(Hudson)+ Not tired child(Leanna)= fights, tears and tattling.

Equation C = One very unhappy baby today (Nolan).

Equation A+B+C = A very unhappy, unorganized, not rested, not well fed Brewer Clan.

It is still a learning curve and I get that. However... I am majorly disappointed and discouraged with myself and a little disappointed in my (older) children today. To be honest though mostly with myself.

Thankfully God's grace and mercy cover today and give me the opportunity for a brand new chance tomorrow. I don't deserve it and I sure as heck haven't earned it but it is there for me nonetheless. Just like tomorrow I will forgive my children and we will start new tomorrow. Hopefully with a little more rest for all parties that needed it today, a better game plan if ugliness should rear its ugly head a gain tonight or tomorrow and a better attitude after a long talk with my God who is letting me start over again.

*Shay B*

Sweetness in a Sister

I asked Leanna to watch her brother for me for a few moments while I took care of Hudson. It was bath time. She said, " sure mom he is just sleeping I can make sure he doesn't roll off the couch..." Awesome I thought to myself. I ran to give Hudson his bath. I heard Nolan stir about 6 minutes later and after Hudson's bath I walked in to find this...



She was watching iCarly and snuggling her brother. Me? Well I was crying while peeking around the corner.

Hudson's Many Costumes

Halloween was a ton of fun this year as it usually is. The kids love to get all dressed up and pretend to be something different.

This year was a little difficult as Hudson couldn't decide what he wanted to be and to be honest he had three different costumes for three different functions.

The first was the pumpkin hunt at Lavonne's... he was a cowboy (imagine that!)



The second was the trunk or treat at church...he was a knight in shinning armor. I don't have a picture but trust me he was pretty cute. So cute that he won the best costume prize for his age group.

The third was Halloween... he was... well I will let the picture speak for itself.



Yeah I think we will keep him too :)

Life Stuff...

So introducing to the blog world (and the three readers I have *grin*) little man Brewer.

*picture by my friend Casey*

Isn't he amazing? We think so. Nolan Scott Brewer... yep we will keep him.

*Shay*

To return or not to return?

That is the question... To attempt this world of blogging again or not. Do I have the time or the dedication to step up and accomplish this again? We shall see. I don't even think but 3 people read this. Thanks Sarah and Casey and Beth! To be honest I don't even know if you all read it anymore considering that I haven't written in... well let's just not talk about that. So I had 5 minutes to myself today and I thought what the heck lets see how it feels.

To be honest it feels pretty good.

We shall see. We shall see.

*Shay*