South Carolina to Pennsylvania

November has been a busy month for us with lots of traveling.  I have not been able to update as often as I would like, so I am taking the opportunity now to catch up on a month's worth of activities.

In the beginning of November, we drove down to Columbia, South Carolina to visit our friends and go to a Gamecock game.  Elizabeth had never been to South Carolina (nor had she met Mollie, Paul, Emmie, or Ellie).

Elizabeth and Mollie

 

Tailgating with Ben, Stacy, and Paul

THE Brook Bristow

Ben, Me, Stacy, and Paul before the game

 

Go Gamecocks!

Elizabeth, Emmie, and Ellie

I love these girls! 

'

Do you know how hard it is to push 3 kids?

 

We celebrated my 31st birthday back in DC!

 

We went to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving.

This is Thanksgiving morning before the 5K Turkey Trot.

Thanksgiving afternoon.

 

 

Family football game, Thanksgiving afternoon.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Saturday after Thanksgiving we took Elizabeth into Pittsburgh for the first time.

We drove through her first snow, so she could go to her first football game.

 

Inside the box at Heinz Field.

Go Pitt!

 

And that was our November.  I hope you had a great month too!
I am so thankful for my wonderful husband and daughter and each day I get to spend with them.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Nine months old!!!

Dear Elizabeth,

You are 9 months old!

You are so beautiful, our lovely daughter.  Each day I think you become more beautiful and more lovely than the day before.  Your smile melts our hearts and your laugh is the best sound in the world.  You have discovered your very loud voice this month and I love it!  You love to be in a room with an echo (like a bathroom) and make funny noises that echo back at you.  You think this is one of the best things ever.

I am truely amazed at how much you have changed in the last month (yes, I say this every month).  You sit up all the time now and you love to play with your toys in the pack n play.  We feel comfortable leaving you in there to play because you can't roll away and it is very padded.  You love to clap and sing along to songs and you love your dance parties at Laura's house.  Sometimes when you are in the pack n play or your crib, you sit up and press your face against the mesh or bars and eyeball us until we come pick you up. It's mostly in the morning or after a nap.  It makes your dad and I laugh a lot.

You almost always wake up happy and sing or talk until we come get you.  We love listening to you in the morning and you talk in your crib and sound so very happy.

Dad took you for your 9 month appointment on Tuesday.  You got a flu shot and met your new doctor (your first doctor changed offices).  You weighed 17 pounds and 6 ounces at your appointment and you were 27.36 inches long (we think they were a little off on the height).  You don't go back to the doctor until you turn 1!

This past month you started eating bananas (or trying too, they are very slippery and you might have actually had 2 bites from about 5 or 6 bananas).  You also had yogurt, cherrios, and other gerber finger foods.

You also feed yourself a bottle!  This is so fantastic and your dad and I are so happy you can do this!

You take 2 naps a day, one in the morning (about 1-1 1/2 hours) and one in the afternoon (about 2 hours). 

You celebrated your first Halloween this month and went to Butler's Orchard to get your first pumpkin.

This month you made your first trip to South Carolina and met Mollie, Paul, Emmie, and Ellie.  You also saw your fabulous Fairy Godmother Stacy again!

You also helped me celebrate my 31st birthday!  It made me so happy to have breakfast with you on my birthday and spend the evening with you and dad.

Elizabeth.  We love you.  So, very much.  Stay sweet our wonderful girl. 

Love,

Mom & Dad

Here are some pictures of your adventures from the last month:

Trying bananas.

Enjoying the pumpkin patch.

1st Halloween!

Meeting Mollie!

Elizabeth, Emmie, and Ellie!

Pushing all 3 on the swings!

Elizabeth's first time on a swing.

Being silly with Dad.

Happy Birthday Mom!

I am 31!

I am 31 years old!

(and a day, this is a bit late)

I have been trying to blog for a few days but our internet has been acting kinda funny at night.

Yesterday was my birthday and after work, Ben took me to a Japanese steakhouse for lunch and then to see SkyFall (so good!)

After the movie was the moment I have been working towards and looking forward to- 

new clothes in new smaller sizes!!!

What.a.disappointment.

I found one pair of jeans at Old Navy.  Remember those fabulous jeans I bought last week that I loved?  Yeah, too big.  Way. too. big.

So...I found another pair of jeans.

Then we went over to Ann Taylor Loft because a) I love that store! and b) I have a ton of gift cards to there.

I did not find a single thing I liked.  Everything was way too big (a great problem to have but a little annoying)

Hopefully one day when I am least expecting it, I will find a ton of new clothes that I like (and that fit) in my new smaller size.  Until then, please don't make fun of my baggy clothes- I really am trying to find new clothes.

So...

I am at 139 and I want to get to 130.

I wear a size 6 or 8 depending on the store and a small or extra-small shirt depending on the store.

I am happy with my hard work and know that I have done a really good job at achieving my original goal (140).  I am having a hard time really visualizing my weight loss and seeing it for myself until I put new clothes on or try to put my old clothes on and they fall off.

For anyone that is struggling out there- know that it is worth it to get in shape for yourself.  Don't do it for anyone else.  I want to be around a long time for my husband and my daughter, but ultimately, I am working hard to get in shape for myself.

I am done with the countdown to 31.  But I will keep the blogosphere updated, especially when I get to my new goal!

7 to 31

In 7 days I will be 31 years old!

 

These are the jeans I bought today at Old Navy.

They are the perfect length (short) and fit like a dream!

 

 

Today I weigh: 139.6!!!

(I made it into the 130s)

 

Today I ate:

 

For breakfast:

2 Special K Bars- 220 calories

 

For lunch:

Hummus, veggies, yogurt, and granola bar- 350 calories

 

For dinner:

Pasta, meatballs and sauce- 560 calories

 

Total calories: 1130

 

*Full disclosure: We are going to have a cocktail later tonight, so my calorie total is before that*

 

I did not workout today.  I am pretty sore from lifting on Monday, but I plan to hit the ground hard tomorrow (I am hoping to run 2 miles and lift a little bit)

8 to 31

In 8 days I will be 31!

 

These jeans from Ann Taylor Loft look fabulous!

 

 

 

Today I weigh: 140.8

 

Today I ate:

 

For breakfast:

2 Special K bars- 220 calories

 

For lunch:

1 serving of Tomato & sweet basil bisque, 1 English Muffin, 1 strawberry yogurt- 480 calories

 

For dinner:

Chicken, green beans, garlic bread, and 1 Reese's peanut butter cup - 485 calories

 

Total calories: 1185

 

Today for my workout:

I ran 3.1 miles in 35 minutes and then walked 0.6 miles 

9 to 31

In 9 days, I will be 31 years old!

 

LOVE this purple sweater from Ann Taylor Loft!

 

 

Today I weigh: 141. 2 pounds

 

Today I ate:

 

For breakfast:

2 Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter bars- 220 calories

 

For lunch:

Hummus and veggies, yogurt, and granola bar- 340 calories

 

For dinner:

Chicken, green beans, and french fries- 375 calories

Total calories: 935.
*I am probably going to eat a snack to get up to around 1200 calories*

 

 

Today for my workout:

I did a 1 hour workout with my trainer. 



10 to 31

In 10 days I will be 31 years old!!!

 

This shirt is fabulous!  It is lace and has a zipper in the back.

 

 

Today I weigh: 140.8 

(140 was my original goal, but I have now challenged myself to get to 130)

 

Fun fact: Since using My Fitness Pal, I have lost 13.7 pounds!

 

Today I ate:

 

Breakfast:

 2 Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars- 220 calories

 

Lunch:

1 Chocolate Chunk Granola Bar & 6" turkey on wheat with lettuce, tomato, and onion from Subway

 

Dinner:

(I was very, very bad)

4 servings of Tostitos chips, 4 servings of Velveeta cheese with chilies and tomatoes, and 2 ultimate chocolate chip cookies- 1390 calories

 

Total Calories: 1975 (whoops, guessing I won't weigh 140.8 tomorrow)

 

I did not workout today.  But tomorrow is my last session with my trainer.

 



Saturday Savings

Yesterday I stopped into Giant to pick up some salsa for our taco dinner.  I walked by the clearance table saw a ton of baby food on clearance.  Baby food is generally pricey and even more so when you buy organic like us.  So... I went home and pulled out my coupons.  After the gym today, we went back to Giant and picked up a TON of baby food for a great deal steal!

 

What we got:

(10) 2-packs of Gerber Organic baby food

(5) Ella's Organic baby food

(1) Gerber yogurt 4-pack

(2) Gerber graduates finger foods

(2) Gerber Organic juices in a 4-pack

 

I had (3) coupons that doubled for an additional $3.70 in savings.

 

Original total: $35.82

Total after discount and coupons: $14.11

 

11 to 31

In 11 days I will be 31!

 

This pink skirt from Ann Taylor Loft is fabulous!  It has sequins!!!

 

 

Today I weigh: 141.8

 

 

Today I ate:

For breakfast:

Egg, Bacon Sandwich- 210 calories

 

For lunch:

Minestrone soup, vanilla yogurt, and chocolate chunk granola bar- 370 calories

 

For dinner:

Shrimp Alfredo- 360 calories

 

For snack:

I am going to enjoy a glass of wine (haven't yet)- 145 calories

 

Total calories: 1085

 

Workout for today:

Step class for 1 hour



12 to 31

In 12 days I will be 31 years old!

 

I kinda like these jeans.  I've never owned skinny jeans but maybe they will fit under my boots.

 

 

Today I weigh: 142.6

 

Today I ate:

 

For breakfast:

2 Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter bars- 220 calories

 

For lunch:

Minestrone soup, chocolate chunk granola bar, and light strawberry yogurt- 380 calories

 

For dinner:

3 tacos with lettuce and salsa- 553 calories

 

Total calories: 1153

 

Today for my workout:

I ran 2 1/2 miles and did some abs and triceps



13 to 31

In 13 days I will be 31 years old!!

 

 

Love this dress from Ann Taylor Loft!

 

 

Today I weigh: 144

 

 

 

 

 I did not update yesterday because we were busy with Halloween activities.  Let me just say, I ate too much and gained 1/2 pound.

 

 

Today I ate:

 

For breakfast:

2 Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter bars- 220 calories

 

For lunch:

Tomato Soup, Chocolate Chunk Granola Bar, Light Strawberry Yogurt- 380 calories

 

For dinner:

Egg, Bacon, and Cheese Quiche- 550 calories

 

Total calories: 1150

 

 

Workout for today:

Elizabeth was not feeling well today so we did not go to the gym.  Instead we walked the neighborhood with 2 neighbors and completed 1 1/2 miles.





Happy Birthday Pap Pap!

Dear Pap Pap,

I hope you are having a great birthday Pap Pap!  I made you a sign, and then I decided to eat it.  I hope you like the pictures.  Happy Birthday Pap Pap.  I love you!

Love,

Elizabeth