Life,Arizona,Nags Head

Well Sorry it took me a while to get the pictures up. I've been pretty busy unpacking,washing clothes, and getting ready for school.

Here's some pics from Arizona









Arizona was beautiful! I loved everything about it!!! The heat was eh.....But it was still awesome. Britt and I are considering moving there when we are done with school. So probably 3 years. We all had a good time visiting with Britt's family and seeing his old friends.
We went to where Britt's Dad's Ashes were scattered and that was great. He is on a huge Mountain called Mohawk Mountain. I would love to visit Arizona again! I just don't know about flying. Madison screamed pretty much the whole time.

My life right now is pretty hectic. I'm never on the computer anymore. I started school this past Thursday and I'm taking some pretty intense classes. Anatomy and Physiology plus a lab,Medical Terminology, Orientation to Health Care and a Computer Class. I only go to school two days a week, but from 8-5. I am going to try my hardest to pass all these classes with atleast a B. So wish me luck!!
But, you know what is not really fun about school. I feel so OLD! I am around nothing but 18 year olds that talk about "going to the club" this weekend and all that stuff I'm not really interested in anymore.

We also went to Nags Head right after Arizona. We went with my mom for 5 days. It was awesome being right by the beach and just relaxing!! Here's pics from there








We had a blast in Nags Head too! It was fun hanging out with my mom and sister. I didn't post pics of them cause they said I couldn't!!

Until next time...

Little Update

I haven't done any detoxing yet. I went to Arizona last week and pretty much ate whatever the heck I wanted to, whenever I wanted to.

Arizona is beautiful though. Britt and I are considering moving there maybe. I'll post pics soon. I have to go repack a bag though. We are going to the Outer Banks for a week with my mom. :) The vacation never ends!

Detoxing.

I'm thinking about doing a detox on my body. I've been reading up on some. Like the Water Detox. Or the Juice Detox. I really want to do it. One to get rid of some of the toxins in my body and just to cleanse it. I feel so sluggish and bloated all the time.
I'm going to research it a bit more though to see which one is the best.

I forgot to update though on Madison. She had her 15 month appt about a month ago. It wasn't my regular Doc that was their. It was a Nurse Practitioner. Anywho She was concerned about Madi's weight. From her 12 month to her 15 month she had only gained 4 ounces. She was 19 lbs 10 oz. The doc said her weight should be at about 23 lbs. I was pretty shocked. Madison is just a small kid. I was small too at her age. Anywho the advice she gave me was outrageous. She basically told me to feed her ice cream and chocolate milk everyday for a month to "fatten" her up. I was appalled that she was even suggesting that. And the sad thing is. If I wasn't as informed as I am about nutrition unlike some people in the world I would of followed her advice. Many people just take their doctor's advice like it is golden information. You can not trust everyone. I like to do research.

She tried to "scare" me with the "well if she doesn't gain weight we will have to do tests". I looked at her as if she had lost her mind. No test will be run on my child until I see a reason for them to be done. I don't think anything is wrong with her. She has always had a problem eating, but I know that she is getting enough to eat.

She has a follow up weight check today to see if she has gained anything. I will update later.

Smiles.

Life has been awesome these past couple of months.

I signed up for this upcoming semester and I'm actually going to the school instead of doing it online! I'm really excited to just interact with students and teachers again.

My Mother was in town this past week. :) It was fun! We had a blast. We went to the Zoo and we went out for my birthday that was this past Sunday. I'm 24. I know some people are like "you're so young!" but I just feel like I look my age now. Before I could pass for 18 when I was 21. Now I actually look my age!!! :) It's ok though. I'm like fine wine haha I get better with age...

Here's me and my Hubby <3



I have some news.... :( Madison weaned a couple weeks ago. It makes me really sad, but she lasted almost 16 months. And that's an accomplishment. Some people don't even last 2 weeks.


I've also been going out a lot more lately with friends. It's been really good. I feel I guess "normal" again. I mean I love my life. My husband and my kids are my world. I guess sometimes a women just needs to be a women! And talk to other women about women things! :) hehe anywho. That's all I have for now


Just a pic of a pretty flower I took at the Zoo

My Hair

This blog will probably be boring sorry. But I just need to vent about my hair! So yes. I am writing a blog about my hair. For the past year and a half I have been growing out my "natural hair" I haven't been putting a relaxer in it to keep it straight.

I wanted to do something different. I never in a million years would think I would have an afro but I do!!! I'm kinda digging it. I guess my problem is before now. I was brainwashed to keep my hair "relaxed" by my mother and pretty much the rest of society. My mom thinks I'm nuts. She thinks i'm going through a phase. haha. She's funny. My mother has been relaxing her hair for a while. And she just pushed that on me when I was a child. Pretty much that "nappy" hair or "unmanageable" hair is not pretty. That flowing,straight looking Pocahontas type hair is pretty.

Don't get me wrong. I love my Momma. But I just wish she would have showed me different ways of managing hair rather than putting a chemical on my hair that alters the state of your hair permanently and even puts dangerous chemicals inside of your body.

The process of growing out your natural hair is a *it*h!! Unless you pretty much just shave your head and you have no hair and you can start from scratch. I decided not to do that. I wanted to just grow my hair out and then cut off the relaxed part after a while. Which I did about a 2 weeks ago. It was kind of a relief kind of moment. And then a scary moment! I didn't know how to care for hair like this! I knew how to deal with hair that was straight!

But now I am growing into it. I've learned I kind of like this hair. I'm learning something new everyday. Hubby likes it. So that's a plus. I just need to convince my Mom. She is determined that I'm just going through a phase. I'm not. I really like it and I guess it will stay this way for a while until I need to change it again!

Here's the before and after:

Yummy!

So the other day I made Rolled up Lasagna! It was DELICIOUS! I changed the sauce to a fire roasted sauce and it made it really tasty! I wanted to share pics of it cause I was really proud of myself!

Searching..

I'm in the search of a new bathing suit! I got one last year and it's cute,but last year some body parts we still perky. *cough* now. Well. You know. Let's just say I will ALWAYS need a underwire in everything I wear.

So I have been on a quest for a bathing suit that is reasonably priced,with an underwire and that doesn't look like my grandma would wear it.

I have been unsuccessful. I mean when I do find a decent one it's way overly priced. I refuse to buy a swimsuit that is 50 bucks! I think the reason it cost more is because there's more fabric. I mean if I was a size 0 or 2 again I would be paying half of that probably. Like something like this I would totally love to wear again, but it's not going to happen unless I lose some serious lbs.


We are also searching for a new vehicle! Right now I have a 96 4 door altima. We need a bigger car. So we are thinking about getting a Ford Expedition. I know I know. Big jump from little car to pretty much a Mac Trailer. But we need something that will two a camper trailer and a Ford Explorer won't. So that's our new option. It's going to be my vehicle so I get the final say on colors and stuff like that, but my husband is persistent on getting a four door pickup truck. I told him uhh yeah no that's not going to happen. He's always wanted a four door truck and I told him when we have the money to get another car after mine we will talk about it! But we will probably be getting a new car with in the next month! I'm excited! :)

Life has just been.....Life

Sorry my faithful readers. I have been royally sucking at updating this blog. I truly am just at a weird place in my life right now. I can't explain it. I feel like there is something missing in my life, but I don't see how. I mean I have an awesome husband, two beautiful little girls and I have my good health.

I don't know if I'm just getting down on myself because of my weight or what. I think I just need to get out more. I mean I have friends, but they leave atleast 20-30 mins away. It's hard to travel around with two kids in tow. Trust me. The trip to florida this past month proved that.

We went to florida to see my Grandma. It was awesome. My Grandma has never met my nephew or Madison. So to see her Great-Grandchildren for the first time was exciting. My Mom,Sister,Nephew,Britt,Alyssa,Madison and I went. I thought they would be horrible on the plane,but it wasn't that bad. You would figure four adults could handle three kids right?! Yeah well we couldn't.

Here's a pic of all of us with my grandma


She's awesome.

Anywho. Since my last blog I finished another semester in school. I got two B's for my classes. :)

Madison is getting bigger and bigger everyday. She is trying to talk and say words. She's eating solid food a little better which is good. She's still nursing like a champ. I honestly did not think she would nurse this long! She's 14 months old and still nurses like she's 5 months old.


Alyssa just finished preschool and this Sept she will be going into kindergarten! YAY! I'm excited and she is too!

Britt and I are awesome. Are 4 year anniversary of being together is coming up! I'm excited! Hopefully we can go out to eat and maybe see a movie. :)

Anywho. Well that's all the updating I'm going to do right now. I have to go clean! :P

Miss America Controversy

I felt the need to comment on this because it is really bothering me.

Yes. She said she didn't agree with gay marriage and that she believes that it should be between a man and a woman. What is wrong with that? Yes I understand people including myself believe everyone should have equal marriage rights. I would never want someone to tell me I couldn't marry my husband because I'm black and he's white. Even though not even 50 years ago that was the case.

This is HER opinion. And that is MY opinion. I think everyone is getting in a hissy because some didn't like her answer. Well I think some people need to understand not everyone is going to agree with the same opinion.

It makes me mad because some people are bashing her for what SHE believes in.
I think people expected her to say "yes, I believe in gay marriage" just for the fact that she was ask by a gay man. And that she should have been politically correct. Which is absurd. She said what she believes in and that should be it. Whether you agree or not. She is allowed her opinion and the people that disagree are allowed theirs. But I just think people are taking it to far.

Slacking...

I'm sorry. I have been slacking hardcore on this whole blogging thing. I've had a lot of my mind these past couple of weeks.

Alyssa's Grandma(Rebecca's Mom) is coming to visit tomorrow and is going to stay for 6 days. *blank stare*. Yeah so this should be interesting...

Besides that. It seems as if all my friends are so unhappy with their significant other. It makes me kind of sad because of course I want them to be happy and be with someone they love, but I also don't want them to have to settle because they think no one else will ever love them. I just hope all my friends find or have already found their true love!

Cristian's Birthday was today! He turned two! I can't believe it! He's such a cute little boy. I love him. <3

I've been extremely tired lately. It seems as if I can never "catch up" on sleep. It's like once I shut my eyes they open back up and my human alarm clock (Madison) is waking me up. Hopefully I can get some more restful sleep here soon. I am really needing it.



Cute Doggy getting some restful sleep.

ugh soreness.

I have been doing the shred for 11 days now. I am still doing level one. I don't feel comfortable going to level two yet. I am still so sore though. My ankles,heels and my knees are KILLING ME! I hurt my knee back in High School and it has never really felt the same after that. Now I am walking with a limp.Ugh. I want to continue exercising, but I can only do but so much.

I can see a change in my body though. My legs are shaped like tree trunks anymore! They actually have definition! SO I'm excited about that. I took a day off the other day from exercising and it help out a little. I just don't want to get in the habit of taking days off.

Finally!

After months of actually trying. I have gotten down to my pre pregnancy weight! I am totally excited and happy it's finally happened! I have lost 11 pounds and I have 20 more to go! Doing this 30 Day Shred has definitely helped with the weight loss. And also not eating junk all the time! I'm so excited to continue the weight loss so I can get in some jeans I had in highschool! hehe

New Adventure!

Well I have started a new workout program. It's Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred! Let me tell you. That first workout is not a joke! I am so sore!

I got into it from some ladies from my birth board. I have been struggling to lose weight since having Madison. So I am determined to make this work. This workout program involves 3 Levels. And each level you do in 10 days and then you move on to the next.Each workout is 20 mins. You continue that for 30 days and the end result should be a healthier and leaner you! I am really excited!! I want to get back to where I used to be! With balancing a healthy diet and this exercise I think I can accomplish my goal. I am one pound from being at my pre pregnancy weight which was 140. And then from there I want to lose another 20.You can find the the videos on you tube. Here is Level 1 Part 1. So here we go!

A year ago today..........

A year ago today at 8:32 pm my life changed dramatically. I became a Mommy. The most important job I will ever have in my life. I became responsible for a 6 lb 15 oz baby girl. Madison Elizabeth. My life would never be the same.

I wondered if I was capable to do the job. I wanted to do everything right and perfect.

When I first laid eyes on her I couldn't believe how beautiful she was. (I know every Mom says that) But truly. She is so gorgeous. She has her father's chin and my big brown eyes. I can remember when everyone left the room except Britt and I. And we just looked at each other and I could see the happiness in his eyes. And I know he could see it in mine. We sang her "Happy Birthday" and I was crying the whole time.

She has made my life so much more complete. I have never loved anyone as much as I love her. She is my heart and soul. I am so blessed to have in her my life.

She has grown so much in the past year. I can not believe it's even been a year yet. It went by too fast. I miss when she would do nothing, but sleep. Now she runs,plays,screams,and crawls everywhere. I love it. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Birthday Fun!

My pumpkin had her 1st birthday party this past Saturday! Besides my parents being weirdos. The party was awesome! Madi had fun. She was a little fussy, but she didn't have a nap the whole day so she was tired. She loved her little cake! She did a face plant into it! Priceless I loved it. We sang her Happy Birthday and it made me tear up a bit. I just can't believe she is almost one. ( In 4 days ) She went from a little bean in my belly to a walking and babbling little pumpkin. I love her so much. She so much fun.

Her little party outfit was a success. Everyone thought she looked adorable. The tutu got ruined though because cake got all over it. But it's ok. My house was jammed packed with 7 little kids raging from the ages of 5 months to 5 years old. ( eye twitch)and about 18 adults. My house isn't that big so it was kind of cramped but everyone I think had a good time. The cake came out OK. I think next time I will just make it. The cake wasn't really 100% what I wanted.

So she turns one on the 19th. I think we will probably go out to eat just the four of us and then have some icecream. Nothing major. Her turning one kinda makes me want another little one. :-(

Party Madness

I did not know planning a 1st birthday party would be so difficult. I want everything to be perfect. My family is telling me she won't even remember so why stress myself out. I guess it's because I want to take tons of pics and her to look back when she's older and say "wow!! That was an awesome 1st birthday mom". I just want to be a good momma.

I mean the cake is stressing me out because of the ignorant people at Walmart. I want a blue cake with purple trim with purple flowers. And on the cake I want it to say "Happy 1st Birthday Princess Madison." What is so hard about that? They were looking at me like I was nuts!

Anywho. Madi's party will be on the 14th. I'm excited. I will probably cry though. I mean this is my baby; my first born. She's already walking and somewhat talking. She is still nursing like a champ. And I don't think she will give it up anytime soon. Which is no problem to me. I love nursing her. It's our special time together.

The only thing I think I'm not excited about is "hosting". I mean don't get me wrong. I love my family. They can just be rather crazy sometimes and I just don't have the tolerance for it.

But I will post pics of the party when it happens. :)

90 out of 95

I got a 90 out of 95 on my Anatomy and Physiology exam. YAY!! *shake your booty dance*

I'm really happy cause I thought I did really poorly, but I didn't!

Made my day.

Baby Legs

A lovely woman on my birth board Andrea made Madi some baby legs! Love them! Isn't she precious!

Dieting and Junk

Well my diet has run off course the past 2 weeks. I haven't gained but I also haven't lost any. My total weight loss so far is 7 lbs. I wish it was more, but since I have an obsession with Taco Bell and their darn chalupa's it's hard. I'm pretty impressed though with the 7 lbs I have lost. My tummy isn't so "poochy" anymore. So I'm pretty happy about that. Losing weight is hard especially when I'm nursing Madi. I am hungry all of the time!! I need to join a gym. I think I will join the YMCA. I need to do something if I'm going to make my goal of 125 by June. :-D

High School

It seems so long ago. Well actually it was.

IN YOUR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL DID YOU...

1. Did you date someone from your school? yep

2. Did you marry someone from your high school? nope

3. Did you car pool to school? yeah mostly Sam

4. What kind of car did you have? I had a 1988 ford escort and then a 1992 toyota corolla
5. What kind of car do you have now? A 96 nissan altima

6 Its Friday night...where are you now? At home with my kids!

7. It is Friday night...where were you then? Anywhere but at home. With chad or sam.

8. What kind of job did you have in high school? kmart and pizza hut

9. What kind of job do you do now? stay at home momma

10. Were you a party animal? yep

11. Were you considered a flirt? I guess so

12. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? No.

13. Were you a nerd? I could act like one. But I wasn't one

14. Did you get suspended or expelled? yeah suspended I slapped a boy in his face

15. Can you sing the fight song? uh no

16. Who was/were your favorite teacher(s)? none of them

17. Where did you sit during lunch? lots of places usually dodge's

18. What was your school's full name? Woodside High School

19. When did you graduate? 2003

20. What was your school mascot? Wolverine

21. If you could go back and do it again, would you?Yeah highschool was fun. I would of changed some people I dated though

22. Did you have fun at Prom? yeah it was alright. I looked hot and so did chad!

23. Do you still talk to the person you went to prom with?sometimes

24. Are you planning on going to your next reunion? yeah

25. Do you still talk to people from school? yep my best friend is regina!

26. What celebrities came from your high school? uhh no

It was time...

Well..my baby is out of our room now. She now shares a room with her sister. They're both really excited about it. Alyssa can't wait to paint the room and decorate. I'm a little sad. I knew this day had to happen, but I just liked to be able to look over and see Madi sleeping. :-(

She's sleeping a lot better though. She still wakes up, but it is not as much. So I'm getting some sleep which is a good thing. I think I was going a little crazy there with not that much sleep.

Alyssa turned five today! Yay! We sang her happy birthday and we went and had lunch at chuckie cheese's and loaded her up with icecream! It was fun! Madi got to ride a few rides which was classic!

School is doing ok. Boring but ok. Britt and I are doing ok as well. Like everyone tells you before you get married. A marriage is like a job you have to work at it. We have had some trying times, but we are a strong couple and I know we can get through it. We have been talking about getting into church. I would really love to, but how do you go about finding one? I mean do you just walk into a church and sit down? I have never done this before so I don't know.

I need to revamp my blog. I can seem to find a background I like. I guess I'm just to picky.

Seriously?

A double ear infection for my baby girl. Will I ever catch a break? Probably not.

Birthdays!

Well Alyssa had her 5th Birthday Party this past weekend! She had tons of fun! We went to Chuck e Cheese's. Where a kid can be a kid! and where a parent can get a huge headache! It was fun! Just a lot of people and screaming kids!







My Baby is getting so big. :-(

Anyways. My other baby is turning one next month. I truly can't believe it! I want her to be my baby forever! But I know that's not possible.


Life has been life. I'm tired a lot. Maybe it's because I have a baby that won't sleep. *pondering* Yeah I think that's it. I love her and I don't want to CIO but I am EXHAUSTED. I don't even think that is the right word for it. I'm always just tired. Hopefully she will sleep through the night soon.

School has been doing good. I just wish it was over with already! I'm doing it online so I guess it's not "as hard" but still! It's school! blah.

Madi Walking!

My Baby

My poor pumpkin. Last night we went to the ER because she was breathing funny. The doctor said she has croup. Click this link to see what it is if you don't know. http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/croup.html

Anyways we ended up getting admitted to the hospital. She had some steroids and breathing treatments so her air way won't close up. I feel so bad for her. We got out of the hospital today. She seems to be doing fine. I'm just exhausted haven't gotten that much sleep.

Yerp.

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Just not really up to blogging lately. And nothing really exciting has happened. I have lost a total of 4 pounds now. So that's good. I just hope the weight keeps coming off. I'm pretty proud of myself.

I've been pretty busy planning Alyssa's and Madison's birthday parties. Alyssa's is going to be a Chuckie Cheese's. And Madi's is going to be at our house with some friends and her little friends. I'm really excited about it. I can't believe Alyssa is going to be five and Madi will be one. I'm sad. It seems like yesterday Madi was just a little itty bity baby. Now she is trying to walk and she's babbling words. It's fun to see her grow, but just sad.

She still isn't sleeping though. She still get's up about every hour wanting to nurse. It's honestly really frustrating, but I can not and will not let her cry it out. Even though Britt,my mom, and even our Ped is saying I should. I honestly believe I am doing what is right. I know she will eventually sleep through the night. So until then I guess.

New Blog

I have a weight loss blog now. I'm still going to blog on here. The weight loss one is just basically blogging what I eat everyday and stuff!

http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/Sembhm03

Changing

I don't know what's up with me. I keep changing my backround on this blog. I can't seem to find one I like.

Feeling Low

I don't know what's wrong with me. I feel like shit. I feel horrible about myself. I have gained so much weight and I just want it all to go away like today! But I know that's not possible. I feel like I don't have the will power to try to eat right and exercise. I want to be back to 120. But I guess I just don't want to do the work that comes with it. Just like school. I want to get a degree. I just don't want to do the work that comes with it. I need to reevaluate myself. I need more confidence. I want to be this girl again.



I had so much confidence and I was so happy about myself. I'm going to print this picture out and put it on my fridge and on my mirror so I can see it. Hopefully it will help.

Back in full swing

Well yesterday everything went back to normal. School started back up and Alyssa went back to school. Granted it is only 4 hours a day, but those 4 hours are well needed. Now all I have to wait for is the 12th of this month and Britt will start school! YAY! :-D Well we both start school on the 12th but I am doing it online. I can't be away from my pumpkin yet. And I won't put her in daycare so this was the only way I could go to school.

Britt's Birthday was yesterday. He is 27. :-D. He hates it because he thinks he is getting old. I don't. He's still Sexy! haha. We went to dinner at Ruby Tuesday's without the kids. It was fun. We dropped them off at my mom's for 2 hours and Madi did pretty well. I had one drink when we were out. My goodness. It knocked me on my butt. Haha. But it was nice to be able to go out with him and be all huggy and kissy without without the kids for a bit. Usually when we go out to eat with the kids and us. We have loads of crayons flying everywhere,crackers and kids crying. It was just nice to get out by ourselves.

Resolutions

Definition of New Year Resolution: is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous.

I honestly have never stuck to any resolution I have ever set. I would like this year to at least try and make a honest effort to obtain the resolutions I have set.

1. I would like to by the summer be back at 120-125. I have 20 pounds to lose so hopefully I can do it. I think really I just need to not give into the goodness of Taco Bell. That's my weakness. If I see a commerical or I think about how good a Chalupa taste. I want one. Ha.

2. Finish and be done with school. I just want it to be over with now. I'm 23. Almost all my friends from High School has finished College. It makes me feel like a loser that I haven't finished yet, but I don't regret at all the way I did things in my life. I wouldn't trade any of it for anything.

3. Get back into Yoga. When I was in it. It was so relaxing and calming. I felt I guess they say "in tuned" with myself. I just need to get my butt back into gear.

4. Just Relax. Plain and Simple. Just Relax. I have a tendency to get really upset about things. To the point where I have panic attacks. I would like to be able to not get upset about the little things anymore and just calm down. As long as I have my family then I'm Ok.

5. SAVE MONEY! I would love to buy a house by the end of 2009. Hopefully we can save enough money to do it. It's hard though. I can be really good with saving money at times. And then I can be really bad. I just need to keep telling myself I don't need it.

Anyway. That's what I hope to get accomplished this year. Hopefully I can. But if I can't there's always 2010 right?!