Changes on the Blog!

I have been envious of the pretty blogs but not willing (or able!) to put any money into mine. I tried to add the picture header to my blog right after I started blogging (anyone remember that??) and the attempt at HTML background ended in failure. So I was content to just look at all the pretty blogs out there in bloggyland while mine stayed, well, plain. I figured it didn't really matter as I only have about 3 faithful readers. :)

My sister-in-law, Courtney, just started a family blog and fancified hers up with a little help from thecutestblogontheblock.com and scrapblog.com so I decided to try it too. Thanks for the inspiration, Court! :)

I hope you enjoy the welcome changes to my blog.

An update...a little bit of everything!

Wow, I hadn't posted in awhile. I will just update on all fronts in one post.

I am still looking for a job, it has now been 10 weeks since I was laid off. I have been on two interviews out of the tons of applications I have filled out. Nothing has panned out yet so thank goodness for UI benefits. I am just trying to stay optimistic and enjoying the time home with Emma instead of stressing myself out! Some days are harder than others though.

I am down to 194 so I am losing but I really need to work at it more. So far I have only cut down on Coke - no more than 2 a week - also we are cooking a good bit from the Biggest Loser Cookbook. The recipes are healthy versions of the food we all love and so far everything we have tried has been amazing. I highly recommend it! Now I just need to get motivated to work out to my 30 Day Shred DVD and jog around the block with Emma...

Emma had been doing awesome with the potty training for about 3 weeks but she has had a rough week. The accidents keep happening and she refuses to "try" and potty when we nudge her to do it. She has been peeing in her pants (and on the floor) with a silly smile on her face so these are not accidents. We have been having some talks with her and are going to try to focus on it hard again this week. The ironic thing is that she is still doing well when we are NOT home (just two poopy accidents - sorry if TMI!) So if you have any advice to offer on the thinking it is "funny" to pee on the floor or on the poopy pants front then please comment. :)

We had a great Valentine's Day weekend with Emma. We spent the Friday at Granny & Diggie's house and joined GeeGee & Grandad for dinner that evening. We took her to Julia's Bakery and let her pick out a cookie on Saturday before going to Barnes & Noble to see Curious George. She really enjoyed singing and listening to the story but was getting impatient waiting to meet George. There were so many kids! It was finally her turn and she gave George a hug and smiled for a pic.

I think that is about all we've been up to lately so now I'll share a few new pics.





Granny & I made Emma this dress. I love it on Emma! Oh yeah - I joined Face Book. :)

Better me.

I have been struggling with my weight for awhile now and I finally decided I want to look better and feel better. I have a few work out DVD's but I've yet to really get into them. I try to walk whenever possible. I have cut out Coke...I did have a slip up last night though. I am not going to beat myself up about it - I figure if can at least cut down to once a month or even once a week I am so much better off. I also joined the Biggest Loser Club online last week and have lost 2 pounds so far.

The website offers a ton of recipes, grocery list ideas, exercises and member forums where you can challenge each other. You weigh in once a week. I've yet to really dive in but I can't wait to see the results when I do. The site offered three free books when you joined and one is the tips/secrets from the cast throughout the seasons. I think that will be good for me. The other one is the cook book. We sooooo need this - healthier cooking coming straightaway! I think we only own one other healthy cookbook which is Rachael Ray.

So I am putting myself out there...accountability. I weighed in last Wednesday at 199 and weighed in yesterday at 197. Here's hoping it is only down from here!

Quick pic

I am amazed at how much older she looks in this pic. Is it the hair, the dress, her expression? I love that she is letting me play with her hair again - even if she does rip it out about an hour later! :) I don't want to jinx us but she is pretty much potty trained - no accidents at all today.

Outside!

It was warm enough the past two days to go outside for a few minutes without a coat for a quick fashion show or three. lol







We need to try the Daddy's Sweetheart again for her Valentine's Day card. :)

Update: The potty training is going so well. She is down to almost no accidents and lets us know when she has to go even when we are travelling and out at places too. :)

Potty training (Hopefully not TMI!)

Emma received a little potty for her 1st birthday and shortly after we started sitting her on it before bathtime. She would look at us strangely but she went on it a handful of times then she decided she was over it. We started pushing the issue right before she turned 2 and she was absolutely not interested! She had a spell where she was anti-big girl anything - she wanted to be held like a baby, called a baby, etc. So we let it be. We kept pushing the potty dvds and books on her and she liked to listen to them. Since I have been home with her the past few weeks, after the Christmas craziness passed, we have been trying again. She wore her big girl panties a few mornings last week and woul sit on the potty every 30-40 minutes but she wouldn't go on the potty. She would wear them from around 8:30 AM to around noon when we would go back to the diaper for naptime. She would then pee in the diaper every. single. time. It was a little frustrating but I kept telling her she needed to pee in the potty to get the M&M and that only babies peed in their diapers and it was a good thing to become a big girl who peed on the potty.

We were having a lazy day at home this past Saturday so we tried again. I kept on to her, "Emma, need to go potty?" and "Emma, are you sure you don't need to potty?" I was starting to annoy myself. lol She had accidents in her panties twice while playing but then started to realize it and would run to the potty. Progress! She had more successes than accidents by Monday. We are working on the rewards plan of 1 M&M for a pee, 2 M&M's for a poo. She repeats this to us while she is on the potty so I know she completely gets it. Papa also talked to her on the phone Sunday and told her he would give her a $1 for each time she pottied this week...I think that was a motivator! She had a poo on the potty on Tuesday and immediately asked "Mommy two M&Ms and $2 monies from Papa?" I told her she would have to discuss the details with Papa if that was part of his deal. Girl is all about the monies - she is up to $10 "monies" now - it is so cute how she has turned dollars into monies! So far today we have had two successes and no accidents - knock on wood! Here's hoping that the potty training only goes UP from here.



We welcome any advice too so feel free to share any tips...especially night time training and also travelling with a potty training toddler!

Another picture post!

It has still been a little crazy around here after the holidays...Great Aunt Becky and Uncle Billy came to visit and so did Nana and Papa. This is another quick pictures share for everybody we don't see all the time. Enjoy!


Nana, Papa and Emma have gone fishin'...


Emma wants Papa to rock it like Hannah Montana...


Settling in for a nap with Magenta, Boo, Periwinkle and Blue...


Emma's adorable "fake sleeping" face...


Little stinker at the mall with Daddy...


Hangin' out with her Nana last weekend...


Just a swingin' and looking back at Papa...


Oh deer! It is goofy eyes Emma...


Goofy eyes Papa...


Goofy eyes Daddy and Emma's mondo sundae at the Mayberry Cafe!


Nana, papa and Emma in the lobby at the Mayberry Cafe...


Jon and the old sheriff's car in front of Mayberry Cafe...


Emma waiting somewhat patiently to meet Santa on 12/23...


Walking up to Santa...


Why didn't I think to bring the Nikon?


Showing GeeGee that Wubbzy has mad skills...lol


Grandad singing with Emma...


An attempt at a picture with Great Aunt Becky...


Papa, Emma and Boo rocking on the Jack Daniel's Distillery tour...


Emma did not like how the barrel rooms smelled...lol


Playing checkers at the barrel shop in downtown Lynchburg...


Modeling her new Matilda Jane dress for us...she has everything for 60% off this month! It is my weakness, lol, especially at 60% off so Jon let me have a little after Christmas splurge. Thanks honey!

Go check it out - she even has a limited boys line! http://www.matildajaneclothing.com