Houston 4 months

My dear sweet, lovable, happy Houston boy-
   you my sweet boy are the greatest baby in al the land.  your easy going attitude makes our life so much better.  you are a trooper and take on whatever we throw at you with grace and ease.

 you love being naked.  your favorite time of day is laying naked and kicking before your bath.   you get to lay there and kick for about 30 minuets every night.  its great exercise for your little strong legs.

 you love lots of people in your life but momma still holds the number ONE rank for now.  you and me have spent lots of time together and we have created a bond that i used to think was impossible.  you have melted my heart and my love for you is as big as the sky.

 in October you took your first air plain ride.  i was a nervous wreck but you handled it just fine.  we went to see aunt chels in Denver.

 you love to watch your big cousins.  they are real entertaining and loud so they keep your attention for a long time.  tucker is a huge houston fan.  he always tells me that he wants a baby like you.  Casen and Ben like for you to be around but need you to grow a little so you can keep up.

 you got your first haircut in late october.  you loved the whole experience.

 We spend a lot of time in the car, we have watched many hours of horse riding from our front seat.  you seem to not mind it one bit.  you are your sissy's biggest fan.  she loves for us to watch her and cheer her on.  she is getting really good at winning all her play days.

HTH- We love you so much and are so happy that your part of our family.  God knew exactly what He was doing when he made you into the healthy, smart, and sweet boy you are.  we pray that He continues to bless your life and that you grow to honor Him with yours.  We love you SO SO SO much little buddy.

Fat to skinny

There have been many things in my life that i have "achieved" with hard work.   i look back at things like building a house,  remodeling the Beauty shop,  pregnancy, motherhood,  marriage…. things such as these.   i can't think of anything that really compares to weight loss.   it's such a personal and ONE man role.  there is no other person that you can blame or depend on, its just you.  every bite taken or mile ran, is on you and you alone.   thats why i think the success or failure can mean so much.  its defined by what you choose or your dedication.  
When i got healthy in Jan 2013 it was a hard challenge, i mean hard.  i loved bad food in a serious way, but after that first month i felt alive again.  by month 5 i was ready to take on the world.   by month 9, i had found my groove and felt my very best.  then in month 10 i found out about my Houston boy, so i slowed down and ate some pasta.  with him and the pasta i gained 55 pounds, i will add that it was the best weight i ever gained.  i loved being able to carry and give him life.  having him i lost 35pds, but the other 20 wanted to hang on.  i started working out and eating good 5 weeks after i had Houston.  so in 11 weeks i lost the other 20 and have gotten back to my pre-baby weight.  
it has not been super easy but this time it was not hard to go back to eating good and the gym.  it was hard to leave my baby and give myself that 30-45 minutes a day.  i am thankful for my nana who waits for him to come play every morning.  she loves to see her "sunshine boy" every morning and it made it easier for me to leave him.  
i had made lots of excuses in my head before i had him,  but i am living proof that if you really put your mind to it, you can do it.  i want to be an encouragement to you, if you really want to change your life, don't let anything stop you.  at the same time i will tell ya that its up to you alone.  No one can do it for you, and you will be the only person that will push as far as you will need to go.  
my next plan is to run in some part of the memorial marathon in the spring.