Little Update

What a month it has been! After moving into our duplex we discovered that all of the dsl lines in Blue Ridge were in use so we are having to suffer through a year of slower than a snail satellite internet. Ok. It's not that bad. An hour ago I began uploading 41 pictures for this blog so far we've managed 12. Go satellite internet! You're the best!

7 months.

She crawls now. Well it's not really a crawl-- more of a pushup lunge but she gets around. Tugging on cords, eating random things off the floor, getting into the DVD's-- she is mobile. It's exciting to see her grow. My eyes have been opened to how un-baby-proof my house is. We're trying to house proof the baby. I spanked her hand the other day and she looked at me like I was crazy. I'll let you know how it goes. 

Pushup lunges have become second in worry land to pulling up on furniture. This is a new skill that she has developed over the past few months. She is still not so great at it so I am pulled away from laundry, dishes, vacuuming, decorating, alphabetizing my library, and cooking several times a day. There is a bang and then a terror filled scream that can only be halted with a hug and a nurse. 

She still has little to no interest in baby food. I've begun giving her small little bites off my plate whenever we sit down to eat and she seems to do alright with that but she makes a big show of coughing and gagging anytime we try baby food. I think she may go from nursing to solids. 

After she wakes up she'll sit still and watch an entire episode of Baby Einstein that is when I get the majority of my work accomplished. She is pretty content to play by herself unless she's sleepy and then she wants me to sit next to her. 

At night Brady and I like to watch movies. She sits on the couch with us, in the crook of my arm, and watches too. She is turning into a little person--it's hilarious. 

weight loss. 

In March I weighed a whopping 220.3 lbs. I decided to start the 30 day shred and adopt a couple healthier eating habits. Before I got pregnant with Avey I weighed 204 lbs and at my heaviest weight ever--9 months pregnant and ready to pop I tipped the scales at 258 lbs. 

I remember the last time I was below 200 lbs. It was in 2008. The day after I hauled all my stuff to Colorado Springs to begin attending the New Life School of Worship. I stepped on the scales and was appalled to see that I was 198 lbs. I called a friend and swore that I'd never see the other side of 200. I was on a mission to get my weight under control but no matter what I tried--eating healthy, working out-- I just couldn't seem to lose the weight and when I came home in 2009 I was 212 lbs and it was then that I was told that I had hypothyroid disease-- an autoimmune disorder that can cause significant weight gain.

When we moved to Texas in 2006 I was 125 lbs. 

87 lbs in three years. 

It was horrifying and humiliating. I was 20 years old and I had stretch marks and cellulite. 

I've tried diet plans and gym memberships but nothing ever worked. I'm addicted to food. The other day the power went out and all I could think of was going to In-n-Out to get a burger because I was upset that my plans to decorate that evening had been spoiled. I eat when I'm sad, bored, happy, annoyed--any emotion is a reason to eat.

In March I began to lose. In April we moved and I used that as my excuse to go back to the way I ate before. I told myself that as soon as we moved into our new place I'd go back to the diet. I did not anticipate that our home renovations would take us two months. 

I weighed 209 lbs the day we moved into our new home and I am proud to report that I weighed in at 197 lbs this morning. 12 lbs in three weeks. I'm very proud of myself.

I've lost 23 lbs since March and 61 lbs since I had Avey. I am very very proud of myself. 

The day I saw that I was no longer in the 200's was a life changing day. I cried. I hadn't seen the 100's in three years. 

Today was also a very happy day. When I met Brady I was over 200 lbs. I have weighed more than my husband since I met him. This morning... I weighed less. It made me feel all skinny and womanly.

I would like to get down to at least 185 before we get pregnant again. We'll see...

A tour of our new little home is coming soon!

Why Are You Dating?

The birthday festivities continued into the weekend. We danced, we dined-- it was marvelous. Afterward Brady and I headed to my parents for yet another game night. I stayed downstairs with the high schoolers reveling in their teenage drama and the fact that they'll look back one day and have a face palm moment. 

Was I really ever so naive to believe that I knew everything?

I know that when I was 16 I whole heartedly believed that I was ready for adult responsibility. That I could get married, settle down, start a family-- and I could have. But I'm glad I didn't. I was still figuring out who I was at 16 I don't know how I intended to contribute anything meaningful (other than feelings) to a relationship.

My parents got married when they were young and unestablished. For so long I believed that was how you were supposed to do it. By the time I was 18 I felt like an old maid--it depressed me because I felt like I was supposed to have my life all pieced together by then... much like my parents. What I failed to take into account was my parents relationship in their first 6 years of marriage. It was terribly hard. Divorce was contemplated. Two kids that hadn't even figured themselves out entered into an adult union.

Growing up was forced instead of gradual. 

God inevitably intervened and my parents are still together but if he hadn't. Things were headed downhill fast. There is no telling where we'd all be today. There probably wouldn't be seven of us. I know I wouldn't have the same view of marriage that I do today.

My point-- there is so much pressure, when you're a girl in high school, to date, to be in a relationship, to find your "soul mate". My perspective--the perspective of a former teenager-- I don't think it's smart to date in high school-- if you're looking for a spouse. I think it is best to wait until your hormones have calmed down and your brain is running the show instead of your heart (Jeremiah 17:9).

Sure. There are people who meet in high school, get married, and spend the rest of their lives together. I'm not saying it doesn't work. I just think it makes it harder in the beginning. It absolutely makes it harder to stay pure. If you meet the love of your life when you're a freshman you better be walking pretty close to Jesus because the next four years are going to be rough and at 14 you don't really have the option to marry instead of burn with passion (1 Corinthians 7:9). At 14 there is pretty much only burning.

When I was 16 I had a boyfriend who I wanted to marry. It would have been awful if we did. We were two completely different people-- though we sure did love each other a lot. Love is not enough to make it work. If there are no common goals or interests-- if Christ is not the center of your relationship and life. It doesn't work. Don't even let your heart go there (Proverbs 4:23).

"In whatever man does without God, he must fail miserably or succeed even more miserably." *George McDonald

There was a four year period of time where I struggled to move on. The heart is really a deceitful, wicked, thing (Jeremiah 17:9). I almost missed out on the best thing that has ever happened to me because of it. I was still talking to my ex when I met Brady. I very quickly realized that if I wanted to be in a healthy relationship with anyone I had to permanently sever ties.

It wasn't easy and that is why I love speaking to the younger generation about these things. Because I've been there. Because my parents have been there. Because history loves to repeat itself. Because no matter how much that 14 year old boy tells you he loves you--you are still not ready to marry him and he is still not ready to marry you. And if neither one of you are in a position to get married-- why are you dating?

Strawberry Flavored Cigar and a Corona

monday.
We started off the week with a visit from a good friend. This friend and I have been through the ups and downs of life taking us in separate directions. Our relationship suffered, then got better, and now we are apart of a beautiful support system for each other. Sister's got my back.



I live vicariously through her adventures. I do not have time to go to Africa, or India, or Russia but Zuzu does and her stories enrich my life and the lives of those around her. Avey is in love.

grandma.
The boys go in these game spurts. This week has been a juicy spurt. I have spent more time at my parents house this week than I've spent at my own.

Proof.

Sister figured out how to suck her thumb. It is the cutes thing I've ever seen!

Cutest butt you ever saw!

adulthood.
My baby sister turned 18 yesterday. I remember how disappointed I was every time my mother told me I was having a brother. I remember crying real tears when she told me she was pregnant with Tristan and that it would be their last baby. The Lord knew that two girls were more than enough for our family though. We're a lot like my parents. I am very much like my father and Bethany is just like our mom. My sister and I have not always had the best relationship but with each passing year we grow just a tad bit closer.

We had a girls day to celebrate. We did things that most 18 year old girls enjoy. We started the day with a shopping trip.





Bethany hammed it up while my mom and I oohed and awed over her tiny body and superb sense of fashion.





Little one was the perfect baby while we gabbed about boys and picked out swimsuits. She just smiled and laughed like she knew just what we were talking about. One day...





Bethany loves The Cheesecake Factory so we dined in luxury. I don't know how but my bill was only 7 bucks. That never happens! Bethany talked about buying cigarettes but I suggested she buy flavored cigars-- if anything. The girls I used to work with smoked them frequently and I remembered how they'd always come in off their smoke breaks smelling like grape jolly ranchers. She was stuck on the idea and I'll admit I was a little excited. I had never smoked anything before.



Obviously I know smoking a flavored cigar and drinking a 7oz beer with our feet in my parents swimming pool isn't the epitome of cool but I sure did feel it. I laugh at myself sometimes. Because I am silly and honest and a good girl to my core.



Avey conked out on the car ride. Her age was showing.
 

She didn't get to snooze for long because we decided to make a pit stop at Adriatica--one of my favorite places-- Brady proposed there.

 

At the base of that tower... but that's another story.
 











Fussy britches decided it was time to head back to my parents place. My mom is such a killjoy sometimes. KIDDING! Avey was tired, hungry, and ready for a decent nurse. She had been such a good baby all day. Who was I to say no?

After nursing Avey to happiness my sister and I ventured into the backyard. Me with my baby beer and her with the cigars.





When it was time to go inside we felt giddy, silly and drunk off the night. It was one of the longest times I had been away from Avey and I realized that it's time. I'm ready to venture out without her now. I am ready to go on a date with my husband and let my parents have her to themselves for a couple hours.

I'm not just ready. I need it. At first I felt bad but now I just feel sane. It's funny how much insight a strawberry flavored cigar and a corona will give you.
 

The birthday festivities continue tonight with my sisters "twin"-- as she calls him. My cousin Gabriel was born the day after Bethany. In the same hospital. They are both graduating soon. It's exciting! There has been so much to celebrate this week. I don't want it to ever end.