Brayden OMG he is 6 months old!

Where has the time gone? Brayden is now 6 months! Wow! It is like night and day difference from the first couple months till now! He had his 6 month check up today. He weighs 21 lbs and 13 oz and 27 3/4 inches long. He is big boy! The Dr went over some goals that he should reach one was doubling your birth weight at 6 months well he weighed 7lbs 7oz at birth so he has tripled his birth weight. We are on baby food he loves everything but not very fond of peas but that's okay either am I! He just got 2 teeth last weekend they are almost all the way up! The first day was very hard but he is doing well with it now. Giving him a cold rag does wonders! :) He is very talkative gibber jabber all the time! It is so fun to watch him grow and learn new things! He is hilarious he has lot of personality! He sleeps from about 8 pm till about 5:45 am when I wake him up to get ready for daycare other wise on my days off he sometimes will sleep till 7am wake up eat and then play for few minutes then will go back to sleep till 9am I love it! I love getting full night of sleep! He is almost holding his own bottle most of the time but still likes for me to do it! I got him a sippy cup he is not sure about it but loves to bang it on the floor or shake it! He loves bath time!

Going to do his 6 months pictures in 2 weeks I'm excited! For Halloween I have 2 costumes for him to wear a lion and bee! I'm excited to see him in both! Going to take him to my work  they are having a trick or treat night, all the residents adore him!

Doesn't even look like the same baby! He had darker hair and almost looked like it was going to be curly! Now its blonde and he barley has any!

Brayden's favorite thing to do!!

Future Racer! :)

Brayden Getting Big, Working Out, and Everyday Life!

Brayden will be 4 months old tomorrow. I can't believe how fast time has gone! He is loving his baby food! I have tried bananas, green beans, apples, pears, and sweet potatoes. Loves them all! The fruits go down little easier. So,  I mix just little rice cereal in his vegetables I think he likes it more. We are going slow he always wants his bottle first!  Sometime this month my sister in law Jill is going to teach me how to make some baby food! I can't wait to learn seems healthier and more cost effective! I know a lot of friends love making their baby's food. I love how much he is cooing at me and he always is trying to find me when I'm talking. He is also very fond of his daddy! He coos very loudly for him! These 4 months have been a huge learning experience but lot of fun! In the beginning when people would tell me it will get better he will sleep through the night soon I wouldn't believe them I was thinking yay right! When he hit three months he started sleeping 8 to 10 hours night in his crib in his room! Very proud I have stuck with that! He does pretty good most nights some nights he does not want to be in there but he eventually gives up and falls asleep! And he has became so active its so fun to watch him! I think he is noticing that Lucy (our dog) is here he has been very interested in her! She always has to be next to him the other day I caught him trying to pet her when he was in his jumper poo! He loves his jumper poo! I love it too keeps him entertained for while so I can get some stuff done around the house!

Working out has been and off and on thing. I did try the couch to 5k run last week I got 2 workouts done and then on Saturday when I was to do my third one my knee was bothering me way to much.  Sunday I was so tried we didn't do much but take naps and then my friend Brittany came over for awhile. I know another excuse! This week I walked Tuesday, Thursday, and today. My knee is feeling better but some of the days Derek was not here to watch Brayden and I do not have jogging stroller. I am not giving up on the workout yet. I'm hoping to start back up this week. But I told my self walking at fast pace is better than nothing and its not like I just do mile and go home our walks are good 3 to 5 mile walk. Thursday I took a little journey around Osky and did not know my sense of direction so, we went a little out of the way so we were gone a little over 2 hours not sure how long that walk was! Might do it again next week to see how long it was downloaded an app on my phone! I just need to be consisted and do some form of exercise everyday! I have been trying to make better food choices and going to have to be  more consistent with that. I got some smart ones to take to lunch when I am at work. And I have been cooking more and eating the portion size better! Paying attention to this will help small steps are better then no steps at all! I got on days at work except my weekends I still do 2nd shifts but having a more consistent schedule during the week will help make a better routine for me and my family! I am hoping to attend some zumba classes in the future its just hard when Derek works late sometimes but will see what I can come up with. Maybe on my days off will take him to day care for an hour so mommy can have sometime to her self and workout!

                                         Don't let him fool you he loves his walks he hates the sunglasses today he ditched them some where boo...... oh well they were only 1$!

This week my bestie for now 15 years Amanda had her baby boy on Monday! Got a call at 11:15 am from her husband saying I was god mother! I got done with work at 2:30 got gas, got changed, picked Brayden up from babysitter, headed to Des Monies to get my other friend Brittany and then we headed to Creston got their a little after 6pm and stayed till about 9 pm! Lewis is a very precious little boy! Love him so much. Brayden was little ham and loved all the attention and when it wasn't on him he would cry so this is why I do not want him to be an only child please tell my husband to agree! I was so glad I got to hold Lewis! I am so happy for Amanda! She is going to be great mother! She is doing good and trying to get use to Lewis schedule. When we were at the hospital and she was trying to breast feed baby Lewis she goes "come on Bray Bray" ha ha she has been around my baby too much! Poor Lewis wont know his name! No he is very loved we all love his so much! I am looking forward to seeing our babies play together! Hurry up Lewis and get chunky so you can play with Bray Bray!

                                              Lewis 5lbs 14 oz and Brayden almost 17 lbs

                                                My god son Lewis love him so much already!

                                           Lewis William Angus 5lbs 14 oz 18 3/4 inches

                                                       Mama and Baby Lewis

RIP Chloe!

Our dog Chloe passed away Sunday morning. Amanda my maid of honor who was watching Brayden for us woke up the next morning to check on Chloe and found her dead! I am so glad she's not suffering but I miss her so much! She was great dog! We got her 3 1/2 years ago she was a little over 4 years old.
Tuesday June 19th I woke up and let her out of her kennel she was not putting any weight on her back right leg. Derek took her to the vet later that after noon they said it was probably a disk that was out of line.  She was very swollen. Gave us medicine to give her to help with the swelling.
I personally think it has to do with her kidneys. My mom had dog and the same thing happened to her dog. She had kidney failure and died 2 days later. This is very common in small dogs and shitzus. It was just the worst week ever for this to happen. We knew that come Monday morning first thing we would take her to the vet but she ended up passing away Sunday morning. She is in heaven with my mom and her dogs!
Here are some great photos of Chloe's life.

                                               Chloe and Lucy best buds!

                                                   Brayden and Chloe she loved him

                        Night before we came home with the baby so they would get use to the baby's scent.

                                                                          Snuggling

                                                She needed a haircut badly!

                                                    She looks old and tired in this one!

                                                       Happy dogs they love car rides!

                                                               Rest in Peace Chloe!

                                                     She loved to sleep on our bed!

                                                        

                                                          Baby, Mama, Daddy

                                                         Chloe had five puppies!

                                                                 Chloe in heat!

Chloe after she had her puppies!

Wedding Festivities!

Derek and I got married on Saturday June 23, 2012! I was a great day!! Thursday my maid of honor Amanda Angus showed up around 2:30 we went to Ottumwa and met up with Jenni and Tina to get pedicures and manicures! A lot of fun! Then we went to courtside had drink and some appitizers nice relaxing night before the busy weekend!  We decided to go wild!

Friday we got up and got ready to head to Grinnell to the fairground to set up for the reception! Since we set up during the day a lot of people were still at work! But we had good group of us to get it done! We got done around 4 went back home to get ready for our reherasal dinner. Harland and Molly were waiting for us at my house. I was very excited to see Molly havent seen her since september since she moved to Georgia! We got ready and headed to the church for rehersal. Then afterwards we went to the dinner. Derek's Aunt Cristi and B made everything for a wedding gift! She even had black and yellow m&m's with "Mrs. and Mr. Hawk" and a picture of us on some! It was neat! The food was amazing everyone enjoyed it. Lot of family came it was nice social hour!

Saturday was the big day got up at 6 am! Brayden slept 8.5 hrs! We got ready to go to the church had to be there by 8 with my bridesmaids to get hair and make up done! It was lot of fun that morning. Molly was taking pictures of me and making it look like I was Bridezilla!

I was far from Bridezilla I was pretty calm the whole day. It was long day! After getting ready everyone helped me into my dress and then Derek and I had our moment where he saw me for the first time he had little tear! It was sweet I was so nervous! Brayden was so happy downstairs when we were waitting for the wedding to start. And then 5 minutes before 3 when we got in line to walk he started fussing really bad! My two awesome sister in laws Alyse and Jill treid to calm him down. So he was not able to walk with us I was sad! When I finally saw him at the end when we were being greeted by everyone they brought him to me in his carseat with just pants and no shirt. He was a hot baby and he hates to be hot! He looked super cute and he was passed out! Here is picture of him at the reception with no shirt on!

For our marriage class the pastor had us email him what we love about eachother! We had no idea what the other one said till the pastor read them out to us and everyone in the church! Derek said the sweetest things to me!

After the wedding we went out side. The wedding party and Derek and I each had balloons. Yellow and purple they were my moms favorite colors! We release them in honor of my mom! It was so neat!
And thank you Sheila for annoucing what they were for!

For entertainment Sheila paid for the booth on the move! It is so fun! It is photo booth they come to your wedding they set up. They are their for 5 hours. They have tons of fun props and print out pictures and those are your favors for the wedding! I totally recomment it worth every penny fun for all ages!

Toni Derek's Aunt was our amazing photographer! Please check out her link they are few pictures of the wedding will be more soon! She also did our flowers they were georgeous!

http://tjohnson-harryman.photobiz.com/cart/gallery.cfm
I would have to say it was a very fun day! I loved everything! Also I had my wedding food catered by an amazing friend of mine who is starting her own business! She did a great job! Food was great and best of all I did not have to stress about it at all! She shopped for it and made it all!

I would like to thank my Mother in Law cause with out her this would of not happen! She was my biggest helper! She was my wedding planner! Thank you Vicki!

Here are a few more fun pictures of the wedding!

 Eyes closed like always opps....

 Loved our cupcakes!!!

The famous look from Derek and me off in lala land!

So, I would have to say the funniest thing about he whole wedding is when the ceremony was done we went to the local bar in New Sharon before heading to the reception that is when I realized I had not shaved my arm pits! Really who does that... me! No one noticed and luckly a friend had shaver in her car so I fixed that problem! Wish I had picture of me realizing that they were not shaved!

Week 2/ 2 Days before the wedding!

Yay I am getting married in 2 days! No, I am not really stressed! I have a lot of great people helping me! Going to relax this afternoon and get manicure and pedicure with the girls! I can't wait to get married and to see all our friends and family! The weight loss journey this week was kinda hard to follow with busy week of getting ready for the wedding, and Brayden and I were sick Sunday and Monday. I walked couple days. I can't wait to get on normal schedule and routine next week!


I know this is short but I have to finish running errands!
 
Start Weight: 178 lbs
Week 1 Weight: 178 lbs
Week 2 Weight: 176 lbs
Weight Lost since last week: 2 lbs
Total Weight Lost: 2 lbs
Weight To Go Till I Meet My Goal: 41 lbs

Week 1/ Getting ready for the wedding!

Week 1:  

This has been a busy week. I have not kept up with walking as much as I would of like to.  Saturday is when I started this I walked Saturday. Sunday I walked after our premarriage class. Monday night I got to go on walk by myself. Tuesday I cleaned my house and then tanned and had to go to work at 2:30-11pm. Wednesday I slept in with Brayden then we went to New Sharon so I could get my haircut and highlighted for the wedding. Then I worked that night over night. Thursday I made amazing chicken Alfredo I'm sure it wasn't super healthy but I did eat small portion.  I need to use more fat free products. I also go to go on another walk by myself cause Brayden was napping. I worked Thursday again over night. Today I came home this morning took nap then got up played with Brayden then we went on walk and to a few garage sales. Found Brayden a ton of clothes all the way up to 24 months and my niece Alannah. It is so fun to shop for little girls. I have feeling next weeks not going to be that much better in walking......since its week before my wedding. After the wedding I will have more time to get a routine well sort of next month I work 3 different shifts at work. I'm trying to look very flexible because I want full time soon!

I think I am going to participate in the color 5k run in October in Des Monies it looks like a lot of fun! If anyone wants to do it with me you should join the team I am going to join! This is the workout plan I want to try and follow so, I can try to run the whole time! (I am not a runner) I want to get a jogging stroller soon Brayden loves being outside! 
 

Here is a video of the color run on you tube.

http://thecolorrun.com/des-moines/

I did not loose any weight this week. I am not going to get discouraged. It is going to happen sometimes and this week I was not fully committed. It is learning process and it takes time and patience. I am glad I did not gain any weight. I want to do before pictures. My friend Carie is doing them religiously and you can see a change and shes on week 2! I want to see my body change! Please keep encouraging me and any advice is welcomed.


I am getting married in one week from today!! I am so excited!!! I am going to try to walk at least 4 out of the 7 days!

Start Weight: 178 lbs

Week 1 Weight: 178 lbs

Weight Lost since last week: 0 lbs

Total Weight Lost: 0 lbs

Weight To Go Till I Meet My Goal: 43 lbs

Working out again!

Last week I read my friends blog she has started her weight loss journey.  It got me motivated to do the same and to write about it. I hope this will keep me motivated and inspire others to do the same! I am going to take before and after pictures like she did! I just don't have anyone here right now to do them.  In high school I weighed about 135 and I thought I was fat compared to others girls in my class. Now I know I wasn't and I wish I weighed that now! I graduated high school went to college my first year I gained 10lbs so I came home for the summer and worked out with my mom and lost the 10lbs! But then my mom passed away that summer! Life changed I moved to Oskaloosa and moved in with Derek.  I am not blaming Derek but when you are in relationship you get comfortable and well I got to comfortable. I was also depressed and didn't work out like I did in high school so I gained about 65 lbs so I was at 200 lbs 2010 then I lost 20lbs that summer.  Then in 2011 I got pregnant weight 182 and at the end of pregnancy weighed 200 again. I only gained 18lbs so I did good there. I also have lost my baby weight. I currently weigh 178.4lbs. My goal is 135lbs I know its going to take me while.  My first small goal is 10lbs.  My working out plan for now is going to be walk everyday 2 times a day when not working that day.  My walking routine is about 3 miles. So, if I do it twice day that's 6 miles.  I have couple workout DVDs I want to try them every now and then and lift my 5lb weights. When I work I will only walk once day because I work 2nd shift. Nice thing about my work is I am on my feet almost the whole time except about 1.5 hours out of the 8.5 hours I work. I also have been walking inside doing laps because its basically one huge circle between my med passes.  I'm also trying to eat more healthy.  I need recipes from any of you that are eating healthy. I really want to do this not just to be skinny but to be able to be more active with my son so when he's 1 I can keep up with him or at least try too! I also want to live to see my son and possibly other children grow up.  My mom passed away when I was 20 I miss her everyday! I know shes with me in different way.  But if I can benefit from this and keep me here longer to see my son graduate college, get married, and start family that would be wonderful! Please help motivate me and keep me on the right track! If you have any suggestions or advice I am open to them! Okay lets get off the sofa and go for walk or run! You can do this too! Thank you Carie Austin for getting me to do this too! Love you all!