In just a few hours it we will close the chapter on 2011. The past year has brought more blessings than I can handle most days. I am thankful for our health, our family, our home, a bed to sleep in and for more than we could ever ask or imagine.

We started 2011 with  my 39th birthday, 6 years of marriage, Garner turning 3, a healthy pregnancy, and lots of snow.

In 5 days I’ll turn 40, and the day after that Graham will be 6 months. One month after that we will celebrate our 7th anniversary, and a month after that Garner will turn 4.

This will be a year of huge milestones for Graham as he grows, sits up, crawls, and walks. How amazing!

And Garner will start JK at ECS, God willing, in August.

I’m overwhelmed by God’s grace, mercy and blessing each day. I pray I can be content where we are, and see what He is doing in our lives daily.

May 2012 be the year we notice what we have and give God the honor and glory for it all.

The sun is setting on this beautiful Friday…and the sun is setting on our vacation. This is the first vacation with the four of us…Garner – 3 1/2, Graham – 10 weeks, JD – turned 38 while we were here, and me…39 for a few more months.

I’m sitting on our 15th floor balcony looking into the beautiful jade green Gulf ocean. The sand is white and soft like sugar. I see Garner and JD treking through the sand to the ocean for one of the last times this trip. They are searching for treasures and shells.

The other night Garner told JD that she wanted to swim in the sunset…not swim in the ocean while the sun set, but swim in the beautiful sky. I love how she describes things.

We have had wonderful weather. Graham has loved hanging out on the beach with the breeze and the sound of the water washing up on shore. We have eaten a lot of delicious seafood – Poppy’s at Baytown Wharf, The Back Porch, Dewey Destins, and McGuires.We have shopped and hung out in the condo. Most of all, we’ve had uninterrupted family time.

We have seen dolphin, stingrays, sea turtles and lots of little crabs and fishies. Garner has marveled at the sea creatures and I’ve marveled watching her excitement.

Last night we took some portraits of Graham in and old canoe bookshelf and then family portraits on the beach. I’ll post some when we get home as our wifi is lacking.

We plan to take a few more photos tonight and to go back to Dewey Destins for another delicious dinner. I’m  looking forward to one more fresh shrimp dinner. YUM!

We’ll go back home tomorrow  and vacation will be over, but our memories are amazing. We have taken a ton of photos and I”m thankful for that. I think an annual beach trip might be in order. I’ve never been one to want to go to the beach but this trip has changed my mind. September is an awesome time to come and I hope we can visit again this time of year.

Only two more weeks of maternity leave. I’m feeling a little sad and a little happy. Graham will love Ms. Jane, his daycare teacher. She is wonderful and loves little babies. I hope to work less in the coming years. I’m going to let God take care of that.

No WW update  – haven’t stepped on a scale all week and that’s a good thing, I think.

So excited football season is here! Graham seems to be enjoying the game…especially since Bama is rockin! ROLL TIDE!

Now we’re just ready for the weather to catch up with the season. 70 degree days, where are you?

WW Update: -2lbs, feeling good about it, motivated to continue, looking forward to meeting my first goal.

The last 45 days have been a blur of bottles, dirty diapers, fractured sleep, crying baby, fuzzy brain, and who knows what else.
I’ve learned to let go a little and go with it. He is a sweet baby. He smiles a lot. He’s making fun noises that sound like laughter or babble. He makes me smile.

My day looked like this:

5:30 am – up to fix a bottle for Graham
6:50 – up again to fix coffee, make lunch, shower, and get ready before JD left at 7:45
8:20 – took Garner to school
9-12 – worked on various work items for ECS. Researched WW.
2:30 – JD stopped by to say  hello and give me a moment of adult conversation
4:45 – headed to pick up Garner
5:45 – dinner – Rotisserie Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Steamer veggies – nothing that required cooking.

It’s been too hot to cook and I’ve been too tired to think about it. I have moments where all I want is a night’s sleep, or a girl’s night, or a vacation.

Stop reading if you don’t want to read about diet and weight loss.

So today I hit the end of the constant diet conversation in my head. I probably saw about 15 commercials for Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers while I was watching the Hallmark Channel – Martha and the Waltons – I know. I logged on, went to WW and joined. I’ve half heartedly done WW before. I haven’t had the motivation I have this time. 40 is coming ’round the corner fast and my goal is to be at my goal when that day comes.

Mini motivation – trip to the beach in 2 weeks, JD’s 20 year high school reunion, Fall clothes, going back to work.

I figured the best way to be accountable was to put here. I’ll document my progress on this blog. I will not put my weight or measurements because I’m really to vain for that. But, I will track my progress, my ups, my downs, my good recipes, my strategy, my challenges…all here.

My goal is to lose 47 lbs. I’ll be in my taget BMI. I’ll be in my perfect size. I’ll be healthy and thankful.

Mini goal #1 – 7 lbs, white jeans (that I won’t wear after Labor Day but I can at least try them on). I think it will take more than 7 lbs to get in them but I have to have mini goals.
Goal #1 Reward – manicure

Once I reach goal #1, I’ll set goal #2.

I’m a stress eater. I’m a bored eater. I’m a social eater. I graze throughout the day on junk. I’m a decent eater at meals – just have to get those snack under control. I want this to be the last major weight loss I ever do. I’ve spent half my life not being the size or weight I want to be or should be. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wishing I were thinner.

My prayer: :”Lord, I want my body to be a temple for you. I want to be healthy for my family. I want to show my children healthy eating habits. Lord help me to be mindful with every bite I take. Help me to stop and ask myself if I am really hungry before putting something in my mouth. You are almighty and powerful and I know I can accomplish this through you. I give  you all glory and honor as I move forward.”

Below is the story JD passed along to me. We laughed out loud. I wonder how he kept a straight face and didn’t laugh as she was telling it. I am always amazed by her little imagination.

There’s a few meals in the freezer.
Every article of clothing is clean.
Nursing items have been purchased.
Baby items are in place and ready.
The bag is mostly packed.
The house is mostly clean.
I’ve gone through all of her clothes and made donate bags, give to people we know bags, and to sell bags.
We’ve had some special QT with Garner, including ice cream, Cars 2, and presents purchased for her.

I told JD tonight that I could go into labor tonight and feel pretty good about where things stand. I have a few things hanging out there at work that could be finished next week or the week after. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if they didn’t get done next week.

I have been able to mark a few more things off my 40 before 40 list…

One really really big one is the new shade of lipstick. That might sound ridiculous to some. It might be a non-necessity to others. It might be a luxury to many – but a good lipstick and liner is critical in my world. I can go without a single stitch of make-up and throw on some lipstick and feel great. Without it I feel like I look sick, or frumpy. So, trying a new lipstick color is a big deal.

High School and College – reds – mostly Clinique
College -  Butterscotch – Clinique
Post College – Tanarama with Chesnut liner – MAC

Sure I’ve thrown in 5 or 6 other colors and some lip glosses here and there over the last 10 years but my stand-by, go-to, always makes me feel good was the MAC combo. I have Ashley to thank for that. I’ll probably revert to it at times, as my new color is a little shocking still. It’s brighter than I’ve worn in years but I love it. I was at the MAC counter trying on colors this after when Garner and JD walked up. They didn’t have to say anything, although both did, to let me know the shade of red I had on was NOT the right one.

We settled on a pretty Red with a hint of Pink frost and a liner that goes on more pink/red that it sounds. When I got to the car and looked at the names on the box I was pleasantly surprise:

New York Apple – no where near as dark or plum as it looks here:

And you can take it as dark and “party girl” as you want…or keep it light for a nice daytime look.

Liner – Mahogany:

It will definitely look better with some eyeliner and mascara. I really can’t believe I went to MAC counter with no makeup on.

The next post will most likely be about Graham’s arrival. I’m a little anxious, a little nervous, and oh so excited to meet this little guy that has moved and kicked and flopped like a fish for the last 6 months. We love him so much already and all those sleepless nights and exhaustion will be worth it. I’m thankful to have a bit of a clue this time. And to be closer to friends. And to have a sweet little girl who is ready to help. And to have a husband who goes above and beyond all that I could ever ask or imagine. Thank you, Lord for our many, many blessings.

JD said goodbye to his “baby” but it was not all loss. He said the look on his nephews face made it worth selling. JC is now the proud owner of the stang and we have space in the garage!

Which has led to shopping for these:

We would probably prefer the black and gray version of this but the red/black is on sale.

A sneak peak from Mom at the nusery bedding. I went back and forth in my mind on this fabric after we’d bought it – mainly the blue. But after seeing this it is perfect. Graham’s furniture is very dark so this brighter fabric will be nice and happy for us – especially on those long sleep deprived days.

We will be using Natura® Interior Waterborne Paint, Eggshell in Harbor Fog by Benjamin Moore – No odor, No VOCs which means I’ll be able to help.

We’ve enjoyed a trip to see the Redbirds, a trip to the zoo, and a trip to our favorite baker, Muddy’s, this week.

I’m so proud of my husband for all his hard work in our yard. I’m so thankful he loves yard work because I do not. We’ll be finishing this little (big) project today:

That’s only one side of our front flower bed. The side to the left of the door is about 1/3 this size. We have the plants ready and will weed and dig today!