{Meet the D. Family}

I met this great family at the Boise Train Depot and I really enjoyed photographing them. They have such a great spirit about them.

Enjoy the sneak peek!

{Weight Loss Weigh In: Week 17}

This week seems to have gotten away from me...who knew a week could fly by so fast. Due to my dizzy spells I really hadn't done much exercising but I have been eating the way I should, so that is something right?

I did rearrange the house, again, and I like it much better, (does that count as exercise?). Not really a ton to say, this week was kind of a blur. I did gain a pound but I know it's from baby, she is getting bigger and William felt her move for the first time this week and I know I will start gaining and really will have no control over it and that's ok.

William says I am defiantly looking pregnant more and more everyday. My stomach is starting to round out and I am seeing less and less of the "B" belly and is rounding out but not even close to perfect though.

(found online while searching the letter B)

For those who have no idea what a "B" belly is it's when your belly above and below your belly button make a letter "B" because your belly button sticks in farther then both, hence looking like the letter "B" and not looking so much like that perfect round belly every mother craves while pregnant.

Life is good and I am happy about the progress I am making even while pregnant! I know once MJ gets here that I will be right on track to keep up my weight loss and I am showing the kids healthy habits that they will be able to use for a long time.

(source)

The kids have been eating more vegi's with their meals and when making a meat sandwich they make sure to put on some lettuce and a bit of tomato and have even started requesting salads as long as they can have some bacon bits on it.  I love that it's not a struggle to get them to eat their fruits and vegetables.

We talk all the time about how your body works so much better when you are giving your body healthy foods to process for fuel and how eating too much foods with sugars can make us feel sluggish and weak. I also remind them of moderation and how we can have a treat now and then but not at every meal and never before we have "real" food first.

Anywho, that's all for now. I gained a pound but am feeling great. I am starting to get some energy back but will have to talk to my doc about the dizzy spells I have been having. Life is good. Hope your week goes well!

Current Weight: 291 pounds

Weight loss: + 1 pounds

Total Weight loss: 14 pounds 

Weight still to lose: 57 pounds to go

{Summer 2010 Specials}

{Half Baked}

(image found searching "20 week fetus" on bing.com)

Today MJ is "half baked", as in we have hit the midway point and only 20 more weeks to go!! My uterus is right in the middle of my belly button and I can see that things are rounding out and so can William. MJ is moving around alot more but not so hard as to feel it on the outside yet, but when we had the gender ultrasound the tech said that it may take a bit longer to feel her on the outside because the placenta was in front of her (I think meaning she was hiding towards the back instead of up front).

Below is an excerpt from baby center:

"Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals. 


Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery)."


Of course you know we had our anatomy ultrasound and we know MJ is a girl and that she is right on schedule and growing beautifully! I can't believe we are at the halfway point already but so happy we are. Only 20 more weeks to go (or less if she's anything like her sister or it could be longer if she's like her oldest brother or she could come right on time like her second big brother, who knows what will happen this time around).


I haven't gained anything so far and actually because I have been doing light exercises and eating better I am actually down 15 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. Which is a good thing, because with ALL my other pregnancies that went to full term, I gained 30 lbs and if I do this go around at least I will have lost 15 lbs before so maybe I won't gain as much, (fingers crossed that I just break even).


I have been craving sweets lately, but have been trying not to indulge in those cravings. If I have one that is super strong I will give in but most of the time fresh fruit or even frozen will help curb the cravings. Although the other night I was craving chili fries with nacho sauce and was glad we didn't have the stuff to make it because I know that wouldn't have been a good choice.


I have been keeping my glucose levels under control and have really been watching what I eat but I do splurge every now and then but just in moderation - which I have found is the key to keeping my glucose levels in check. I do not want to go on insulin during this pregnancy if I do end up not passing my glucose test in the upcoming weeks. If I keep 'em in check now then it will be not a worry to keep them in check if I do end up with gestational diabetes.


Anywho, all is going well and I am feeling much better although I am getting tired earlier and earlier during the day, but that is all part of the joy of having a bun in the oven.

{Aaron's Birthday Party}

We had Aaron's birthday party this weekend and it was low key this year. We just had it at home and my Uncle and Aunt were there with William, the kids and I.

I decorated the house with some red & blue streamers and a few other things gotten at the dollar store & Aaron just loved it!! Which was the goal! We got him a cake from Albertson's, a ninja assassin cake. He was super happy about that and of course we had pizza - his favorite on hand was pepperoni.

Everyone had a good time and Aaron was so happy as he got legos from everyone. He has been busily putting them together since he got them - I haven't stepped on any yet, but  I know it's just a matter of time before I do though.



(Yes, I have a bed in my livingroom - get over it)

(we made Aaron read all the cards he got before he could open his presents)



(This card was his favorite from his grandpa Wiese)

(He wanted an assassin ninja cake and I got Albertson's to make it)







(putting together all his many lego sets)

(yes, we ate the cake & ice cream first then the pizza showed up)





(we got "punch balloons" for the kids)

(Ruth just loved hers!)



(yes, my house is a mess, just ignore it - everyone else did)

(Sam was sad Aaron wouldn't let him open up all the legos)

(I interrupted Aaron's work to snag a few shots of him looking at me)



(he gave me his fake smile to get me to leave him alone - it worked)



(Aunt Jeanie loved the cats & I was surprised Toby let her pet him)

(Sam was not a happy camper)

(but he did manage a cheesy grin for the last shot - poor guy)

(Jeanie loved the guinea pigs - here she is holding "Alvin")

(and here she is holding "Stewart")

{Happy Father's Day}

To the best Father's ever in my little world!! May you have the greatest Father's day EVER!!

(the best father my kids could ever ask for - not to mention the love of my life)

(the two guys who helped to make me who I am today)

{He's 9!! When did that happen?}

My first born, Aaron, is NINE!! When did that happen? How did it happen? It seems like just yesterday I brought him home from the hospital and now all of a sudden I look at growing taller and becoming his own person and being so independent.

He's 9!! I just can't believe it was only 9 short years ago he was born and was just a little thing in my arms and now he's getting so tall - within a few years he will tower over me...They just grow too fast!!

He is my artist and builder of robots w/lego's (ya know the small ones that hurt like crazy when you step on them). He is amazing and wonderful and so kind and sensitive. I just love him to pieces! Happy Birthday, Honey!!




(Aaron just days after he was born)

(Aaron at the zoo earlier this month - he's such a ham!)

{Weight Loss Weigh In: Week 16}

This week has been good. We did outdoor activities when we had a chance and the weather wasn't too hot. I have noticed that with this pregnancy I can't handle the heat in the slightest. I am praying it doesn't get super hot this summer.

I got to find out my babies gender this week!! It's a GIRL!! MJ is growing and each day I feel her more and more, wiggling and kicking. My tummy is getting harder and harder as my uterus grows.

I have really been watching what I eat, but not really denying myself but watching the portion control. Although I can eat as much salad as I want!! I also have been working on what makes my glucose levels spike and staying clear of those foods.

My migraines have been coming and going and this week and they have been hitting me hard. I find I get them if my glucose gets too low or if I have had lots of water to drink or sometimes if I have forgotten to eat or drink (which happens because I get busy and I never feel hungry most of the time).  This is something that I am trying to work on and I try to eat at least every two hours, small snacks inbetween the main meals.

Aaron's birthday is the same day as Father's day, but we are having his party the day before so as not to interfere with Father's day. There will be cake and ice cream but also real food too and I do plan on having a small piece - but not enormous like everyone else's.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and good week! This week I haven't lost anything but didn't gain anything either.

Current Weight: 290 pounds

Weight loss: - 0 pounds

Total Weight loss: 15 pounds 

Weight still to lose: 56 pounds to go

{It's a......}

Today I had my anatomy ultrasound. Everything looked good and jellybean is right on track and measured as 19 weeks 1 day (exactly what it should be!!).  I was super excited that everything looked good and that jellybean is growing and is right on track. It was great assurance and made most of my worries fade into the background. The ultrasound tech was super nice!

I even got to find out what we are having. I asked the ultrasound tech if there were any boy parts or if it was all girl and she said "It's all GIRL!!" So from now on I will be referring to my little girl as "MJ" because of the name I already have picked out for her, (I also have a name picked out if it was a boy and it's initials would be "ET").

I told Ruth and the boys when I got home and they were all super excited. Ruth especially, well and me too!! I am super giddy with excitement!

But just in case I will have a boy outfit ready if for some reason the boy parts were hiding and MJ turns out to be an ET.

{Weight Loss Weigh In: Week 15}

This week has been a good one. I have been applying my eating habits not only at home but when we do decide to eat out. I have been watching my portions and making much better food choices (especially at the buffets). I have also been trying to get the kids out more and in the process I am doing more outdoors.

Sure this past week I made a cake (which I only had the smallest of pieces with ice cream) and sure we had lunch at the buffet and yeah I had pizza too but I knew when to stop eating. Which is a huge deal for me. It's like the light bulb went off and I had an "ah ha" moment.

I know that the progress I am making in eating more healthy and knowing that I don't have to deny myself just keep my portions in check, I can lose weight in a very healthy way, even while pregnant. Which is just awesome! I am not denying myself or the baby and because of my healthier choices I know not only am I reaping the benefits but so is my growing babe.

So anyways, below is my progress for the past week. I lost 3 pounds and I am happy about it. I know when I stay on track things happen and not only do I feel better but I know the babe does too, (by the way, I have been feeling babe move around in my tummy more and more! I can't believe I am already 1/2 way thru the 18th week. Next week I find out the gender of my babe so I can refer to it as a he or a she!!).

Current Weight: 290 pounds

Weight loss: - 3 pounds

Total Weight loss: 15 pounds 

Weight still to lose: 56 pounds to go