Day 1

I have just started day one of Shred and I feel like my body is completely confused. "What are you doing this late at night? You usually watch a movie, feed a baby, or play a game. All are SITTING DOWN activities! Seriously!" Jillian promises that things are easier by day 6 or 7 and I hope she is good on her promise. As I was doing push-ups (which I HATE) I just kept breathing "swim-suit-swim-suit" to keep myself going. Maybe I should pick one out that I want to wear to keep me motivated (like I would ever want to wear a swim suit...)

Today I am grateful for my Baby Todd. He did great at his check-up today, by the way. He totally made the doctor's day by giggling and smiling through his examination. This chunky monkey weighs 16 pounds and is 90% for height! I will have to break out the 6-9 month clothes this week. Todd makes me happy. He is a super snuggler when he is sleeping (I held him for an HOUR sleeping on my chest today!). He is so even tempered. The kids fight over whose turn it is to make him smile (I don't like the fighting part but I like the loving part). I feel special to be around this little guy all day. So I guess pregnancy and delivery really is worth it.

Taken today. My camera had a double flash for the red eye reduction and this was his reaction to the first flash. I think it is hilarious!

Smiley, smiley, smiley!
Anybody else think that he is Bram Jr.?

Jake is turning into quite the little reader and practices with Todd. I love how Todd is even looking at the book. Doesn't he look so squishable?!? (and can you believe that skinny Jacob was just as pudgy as Todd back in the day? What happened?)

30 Days

Today Todd is 4 months old. He is an amazingly good baby- sleeping through the night most nights, happy and smiley during the day, he takes a bottle like a champ and takes frequent naps. ( He has a check up today and I suspect that he is a chunker! He weighed 12 pounds at 2 months...)

With all of this baby goodness happening, I have decided that it is time to lose a few pounds. I am 20 pounds off my "Anna Weight" and swimsuit season is fast approaching! I have never in my life really TRIED to lose weight before so this is new to me. I know the principles to doing so but have never applied them. I am not going hard core, but this is my plan.

For the next 30 days (including today) I am going to work out in the morning and evening. Sound extreme? Not really. I will get on the Elliptical for 30 minutes in the morning (and enjoy some fabulous TV programming) and then do a Jillian Michaels video with Bram in the evening (that takes 25 minutes). She combines cardio with strength and it kicks my butt! As far as eating goes, I am just going to watch what I eat. I'll have something healthy and low carb in the morning (smoothie), a sandwich loaded with veggies in the afternoon, and then eat one portion of dinner. I'll stop snacking on bagels, toast, cereal, and dessert. Instead I'll grab a plum or grapes when I am hungry. I am hoping that the exercising will jump start my FABULOUS metabolism and I can get away with a modified eating plan. Oh, I will also weigh myself this morning and then have Bram hide the scale and weigh in again after the 30 days. I am posting this on my blog so that I will have accountability to someone. I'll check in periodically and honestly admit how well I am doing.

There is another segment to this 30 day program. I have found myself complaining a lot about my life, my house, my kids, etc. and there is no reason why I should be complaining! Therefore, I am going to post something I am grateful for everyday during my 30 days. Okay? Okay!

Here's to losing weight and being grateful!

Valentine's Day

Who decided that the way to show a woman that you love her is to give her chocolates and flowers????? If you are going to give me a gift, give me something that I can't buy while walking through the aisles of Wal-Mart. If you want to SHOW me you love me, clean the house, make dinner, and watch a chick flick with me:) That shows true devotion!

Everyday life

" I love my house, I love my nest, in all of the world this nest is best!"

For those of you who have multiple children, you will understand why I took this picture. One evening while Bram and I were making dinner we noticed that is was QUIET! Luke and Jacob were reading, Courtney was "reading", and Todd was happily playing with his toy. This will never happen again when 4 kids are awake so here is the proof.

I sat Todd on the couch so I could do something. He noticed Jacob sitting there and just stared at him for a good few minutes. It was pretty cute! (Notice Jake in his costume...) My kids really love each other.

Jacob is 5!

My little Jacob turned 5 this month. He is into dinosaurs and Mario (addicted really! He plays pretend Mario every day and still wears his Mario Halloween costume). I made him a dinosaur cake. I was originally thinking of making a 3D actual dinosaur cake, but decided that just buying $3 dino figurines was much easier. So here is the cake.

Here is cute Jacob (goofy picture, I know).

MARIO SHIRT!!! (I am the coolest mom)

So there you have it. Jacob's birthday wrapped up in three pictures.

3 month Todd

This is Todd's favorite blanket. He LOVES to stick his fingers through it and eat his hand. Oh, and sometimes his toes stick out too:)

SMILES!!! This kid smiles all the time!

Huh? Did someone call my name? Yes, I know I am cute!

Still here

Life is good! Family is great! Hopefully this week I'll find time to tell you about it:)

Better late then never!

This only took my about 2 months to complete! The rectangle was painted forever ago and I finally got around to hanging the mirrors this weekend (now people will stop walking into my house and asking what the blue rectangle is for). I don't love this wall feature as much as I thought I would. I think the brown outline needs to be thinner. Oh well. I got a lot of wall space covered for a small price.

So pretty!

This post is for my good friend Holly, who wanted to see what Bram got me for Christmas. Enjoy!

These bracelets were actually made by my aunt.


I picked these ones out and Bram hates them! I love the funny shape and the little bling!

Look- I have a bracelet! I feel so cool when I wear it.

Growing, growing, growing!

Oh, and Todd is 2 months old today. He is getting chubby and weighs 12 pounds and is a little over 23 inches long. He didn't make that big of a stink while getting shots and has been happy this evening. He LOVES to smile, eats every 3 hours, and sleeps great. He is very even tempered and is so sweet! We are all in love. That's our update!

Courtney is THREE!

Courtney's new "take my picture" face. Not sure where she learned it....

Making and eating the birthday cupcakes.


This is why I LOVE Courtney. She is such a girl! She has grown up with cars, trucks, and superheros, but still comes downstairs with outfits like this. She always wants to wear the fluffiest Sunday dress, loves pink, and will hold perfectly still while I do her hair.

Our house

A friend of mine bought a house with an open floor plan like mine and requested pictures. I decided to share them with you. I did not clean up before taking the pictures so this is what you get! This first picture is looking straight ahead after walking in the front door.

Look to the right of the foyer. This is obviously the dining room. I am making a feature on that far wall- hence the blue rectangle (now you can all wait in anticipation until it is finished!)

Looking to the left. There will eventually be 2 leather chairs and an accent table where the Christmas tree is.
Standing in the great room looking at the entrance (I painted those walls blue yesterday and I LOVE it!) Do you like my pillar that "separates" the different rooms?
A closer look at the great room. Those chair by the fire place are not staying there. I am saving up for awesome La-z-boy chairs with crazy polka dot fabric. The leather recliner will go in the study, where the Christmas tree is with one to match. Also, the walls will be painted the same blue-green sometime this week (hopefully).
Amy, I don't know what kind of furniture you have. If you let me know what pieces you have, I could help you arrange them.

The kitchen and "breakfast nook".

A closer look at the kitchen. We LOVE our kitchen, especially the bar. We eat all our meals here.

Amy- I just posted the main rooms on the first floor. Do you need anything else?

You want pictures?

A whole bunch of pictures in no particular order- starting with Luke eating the leg of the turkey from Thanksgiving.
In case anyone wanted to see me post baby and 30 lbs away from pre-pregnancy weight!
The sunrise from my kitchen window.

Jacob thought it was SO COOL to feed baby Todd.
The next few are of Courtney at the fair.


"I want to go to the carnibal and ride the Merry go round!"
Jake on a camel. The next few are the boys at the fair.




Luke is a super helper. There have been times when Bram and I are running around to get everyone out the door and Luke feeds Todd.

That's it for now!