My Little Baker

Elizabeth loves hanging out in the kitchen, getting into all of the cabinets, playing with the salad spinner and of course the pots and pans. Normally she goes in there and only gets into 2 cabinets but today she had to explore. I think she had a lot of fun dragging everything out and playing with them.

Here is the salad spinner and the pots and pans she loves so much:
Here she is exploring all of the cabinets:Oh and you will notice in the last picture that there is a towel and a bib on the floor...I hang those on the stove handle and every time Elizabeth goes in the kitchen she thinks she must take them down :)

First Steps

Elizabeth took her first steps today!! I am so proud of her :) We were playing together and she stood up holding on to my fingers and I let go and she stood by herself and was holding her key chains she likes to play with and I stepped back to see how long she would stand on her own and all of a sudden she took 3 steps towards me!! I was so excited to see that for the first time!! But that was also the last time, she has not repeated those steps but I am sure in no time and she will be running everywhere!

Busy Day

My day today was so busy!! I had to work at 9:30 teaching water aerobics and then I rushed home and practiced for my interview. My interview started at 12 and lasted until 2:30. I think it went pretty good, I did not mess up on step and I actually taught them a move they did not know about so that was awesome. Then I had to rush home and eat and go to work from 4-8.

I got good news at work, they want me to teach more classes which means more money!! So I basically have a fall back plan in case I do not get that job.

I need that job though, I went to the interview and it sounded so good. The pay is amazing! Please keep your figures crossed that I get it. He said that I am the only one so far that is qualified that has applied so he is not in a hurry to hire right now, he wants to get a few more people and then bring me in for a final interview. I so hope I get this job, it is def. something I could see me doing for the rest of my career.

I did mess up at the interview I could not remember how many calories you need to burn to lose 1 pound, it was in the back of my head and I just could not remember so I said 300 because the 3 stuck out at me and it was 3500!! Then they asked about the ACSM guidelines and I could tell them for aerobic training but I could only remember two of them for weight training! I really hope that does not cause me the job.

I hope to update soon saying I got the job...I will be so bummed if I don't get it. Wish me luck!!

Before I was a Mom

I read this poem today and I think it describe how I feel perfectly. Before I was a mom I knew I would love my child but I did not know I could love her this much. I also figured that I would do anything for my child but I never realized how much I would do for her, I would seriously give up my life so that she could live...she is the best thing that ever happened to me. This poem expresses my feelings perfectly...hope you enjoy!

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toy

or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not

my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind

and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child

so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night

watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because

I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces

when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small

could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of

having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel

to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond

between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small

could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night

every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,

the joy,

the love,

the heartache,
the wonderment

or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,

before I was a Mom.

Step Aerobics

I am currently trying to learn step aerobics. I have a very important job interview on Tuesday that will be very impressed if I learn how to teach this class. I have expressed to the manger how much I suck at step aerobics, so he said he would be very impressed if I can some what learn it in a weekend. So I am trying my best, but I seriously do suck at it. I bought a step and have been practicing all weekend so now my calves are so sore!!

On Tuesday I also have to give a 5 minute class on strictly abs and a 5 minute class on Legs, Shoulders and arms...which I do not think will be a problem, my weakness is definitely step aerobics.

I really hope I can learn it well enough to get this job...it will be a great job that I may be able to stay at for the rest of my career!! So wish me luck!!

10 Months

My little princess turned 10 months yesterday. She is such a busy baby, I figured she would be walking by now because she started pulling herself up so early but she is not, she can get anywhere she wants to go by crawling or walking while holding mommy's fingers so I guess that is fine with her. She does cruse the couches and will let go and stand on her own but not for very long. She really is not saying anything new, but she did learn to play pat-a-cake, wave bye-bye, and she is tiring so hard to learn how to whistle...oh and mommy also taught her how to click her tongue, it is so cute :)


Here is a cute video of her playing with her teddy...she is so funny:

My Brother Needs Your Prayers

My brother graduated from high school a year ago, got married and then he and his wife joined the army. Then a month ago in June my brother was sent over seas to Iraq. We were informed this weekend that he fell and hit his head. We do not know how far he fell but we do know he fell from a tower and it must have been pretty high because he has lost all of his memory. He will be flown to Washington D.C. sometime this week where my mom will meet him and stay with him during his recovery. He has no idea what our mom even looks like but he has talked to her on the phone where he asked her...how many sisters and brothers do I have?

So please keep my brother in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks!

10 Month Milestone

On Friday Elizabeth will be 10 months old and I am very proud of myself because I am still pumping enough breast milk everyday to feed her. I always knew that when I had a baby someday that I would breastfeed him or her but I had no idea how hard it would be until I had Elizabeth. Don't get me wrong, I love that I am giving her liquid gold but some days it is very overwhelming, and very hard to get in as many sessions as I need. Elizabeth was great at latching on and nursing until she was 6 weeks old and I had to go back to work, then she realized that the bottle was easier and faster to get what she wanted, so from then on she refused to take anything but the bottle.

So from that point on I have been a full time pumping mom and it is a lot harder than most would think. I am very proud of myself for getting this far, when I got pregnant with Elizabeth my goal was to breastfeed until she was 6 months old, then by the time I had her I said well maybe I can make it to 9 months...there were a few times when I thought about stopping but then I made it to 9 months and I just love giving it to her so much that I have now decided to go for the whole 12 months. I am also thinking crazy thoughts of going on further than that...trust me I have no idea why these crazy thoughts are entering my head, but I am considering it right now. Today when I was glancing at the calendar and realized that she would be 10 months on Friday and that if I was only going to keep pumping until 12 months then I only have 2 months left,so that is when the crazy thought popped in my head and said to me...you can do a few more months than that!!

So I guess we will just wait and see, but for now I am still going strong and what keeps me going strong is the thought that I am giving my daughter the best thing in the world...pure liquid gold!!

Wonderful Surprise

Some of you may hate me after this post but I am so excited, so I have to blog about it. Anyway, before I found out I was pregnant with Elizabeth I had decided to go on a diet because I had been gaining weight and was the highest weight I have ever been which was 140lbs. Most of it was put on because I was not exercising like I should and was going through a period in my life where every weekend I would go out with John and some friends and we would drink a lot of beer.

Anyway, as soon as I found out I was pregnant my diet got put on hold and I gained even more weight...40 lbs to be exact, so when I went into the hospital to give birth to Elizabeth I weighed a scary amount of 180 lbs. I was so upset when I left the hospital only 7 lbs 3 oz lighter, I thought to myself that I would never be able to get back to my previous weight of 140 lbs.
I had set a goal to get back to my previous weight of 140lbs and once I reached that, I decided to try to loose 5 more pounds witch would make me weight 135lbs. It took forever to get to that weight and I figured I would stay that weight until I stopped breastfeeding and then it would go back up to 140. Well I was amazingly surprised when I stepped on the scale last night and saw a number that I never thought I would possibly see again....I now weigh 128 pounds!!! I am so excited!! I have been watching what I eat and exercising more and it has paid off big time. Now let's just hope that it stays the same after I stop breastfeeding in a few months :)

Almost There

Elizabeth has been pulling up on things since about two weeks after she learned to crawl at 6 1/2 months, but she still will not let go and stand on her own!! She is getting better now at cruising the furniture, and I bought her a little push toy and as you can see she is doing a very good job with it. I don't exactly want her to walk but I am at the point where I am tired of walking her around everywhere. She has gotten to the point where she really does not want to crawl anymore...she wants you to hold her little fingers and walk her everywhere around the house and my back is getting so sore because of it, so I would like her to walk because I am tired of walking her around, but I don't want her to walk because that means my little princess is growing up.

Not on Vacation Anymore

Well I guess my little vacation is over now, although it sucks, I guess I had to get back to the real world sometime. I started my new job today at the YMCA...it was a great day and I think I am really going to like it. After this week I will be working most evenings from 4-8 which is not bad at all! That means I will get to spend my days with Elizabeth!! The only thing that sucks is she normally goes to bed at 8 so I won't be able to tuck her in like I normally do...but maybe since I will be getting home by 8:30 she can stay up and wait for me...but I am not sure because as soon as it turns 8 pm it is like a switch goes off and she turns from a very happy active baby to a very unhappy baby!! LOL
John still does not have a job so he is watching her now while I go to work but when he does get a job he will get one during the day so hopefully we will not have to put Elizabeth in daycare, and that will be great!! One more stress lifted off of my shoulders :)

They are Finally Here!!

Elizabeth has been working on her two top front teeth for what seems like forever and they are finally here!! I am so excited because she has been pretty cranky lately, so maybe now she will go back to her old happy self! Now with the two new top teeth, that makes a total of four teeth :)

Mirrors...and Elizabeth

Elizabeth loves looking and playing with herself in the mirrors...she is so funny. In her new bedroom she has full length mirrors as her closet doors and she loves them. She just looks at herself and gets so excited! She loves to kiss the baby and play peek-a-boo with the baby...it is so amazing to watch! She just cracks me up all the time. I got some cute pictures of her playing with herself the other night so I just thought I would share them.

Not a Baby Any More

I can't believe my precious little girl will not be considered a toddler
in just 3 1/2 months!! She is proving herself to be a big girl everyday by doing many new things. She has begun to eat regular food and does not like the baby food anymore. Last night she had Gerber graduate pasta and asparagus, then when everyone else ate she had baked ziti and bread! She is doing so well with regular food, it is amazing. If you do try to give her baby food she just spits it at you! I try not to laugh but she is just so darn cute, that it is very hard not to:)


Now for a sweet note...Elizabeth just makes me melt, she is the sweetest little girl, she just learned to give kisses and she just loves giving them to her Mommy and I love receiving them! Here is a cute little video.



p.s.- I know there were alot of videos today...I really hope you enjoyed them all and they were not boring! :)

I am so sick :(

I am sick again with another ear infection!! This sucks! Ear infections hurt so bad, I seriously feel so sorry for babies that get them all the time..I have no idea how they can deal with them. I am in so much pain that I wake at night and my ear and jaw are throbbing, I also can't eat very much because the movement of my jaw makes my whole left side of my face hurt. Anyway, I hope I feel better soon and this medicine works fast. I am on Amoxcillin and I was thinking this afternoon while taking one of my pills that I should have lied and said I did not know how to swallow pills because then they would have given me the liquid that taste like bubble gum...that would have been the highlight of me being sick, but I didn't think about it until it was too late and now I am stuck with the yucky pills!!

So Many New Things

Elizabeth is doing so many new things, I just had to write about them...I am so proud of my little girl!! She is now playing "Pat-a-cake", putting her blocks in the small hole of her little giraffe, walking behind her little car walker, knocking over blocks that mommy stacks for her, nd talking up a storm. I really can not understand what she is saying but sometimes some of them sound like "up", "this", "that", "num, num" when eating something good, oh and she loves to say "ooo"

Anyway, I tried to upload videos but for some reason it kept crashing on me...so if you would like to see the videos of all her new tricks then you can visit her website: http://standerferbaby.aboutmybaby.com

Hope you like the new videos!! :)

Our 4th of July

Yesterday was Elizabeth's 1st 4th of July, and it turned out to be a great day. She got up at her normal time and we played for awhile until Mommy had to go to work for an hour. While Mommy went to work Elizabeth took a nap so it worked out perfect! When mommy returned Elizabeth woke from her nap and we played some more and ate lunch, then went down for another nap. After her afternoon nap we went to a party! There were a lot of new people for Elizabeth to meet so she was scared at first but then she saw a doggy and wanted to play with her, then we got in the pool and everything was much better. After we went to the party Elizabeth conked out at about 7:45pm and Mommy was not far behind...it was a busy, busy day!

Job Hunting

Everyone knows that we just made a big move without jobs, we have been here for about 2 weeks now so it is about time to go out and find a job. Let me tell you that job hunting is no fun at all, so if you don't have to do it then don't!

Well I am pleased to announce that I got not just one job but two!! I am so excited! Well I don't have the official word on the second yet but she said all she needed to do was check my criminal background...which I have none and talk to my references and then I could start after that...so it is pretty much a done deal! The first job I got is at a fitness center called Fitness For Her, there I will be teaching Water Aerobics one Wednesday and possibly Thursday nights at 6pm. The other job is at the local YMCA, there I will start out just working the floor and making my own hours which is great, and when people need a sub for their class I will fill in. Also I am going to work on my Personal Training certification so after that is done then I will also be doing Personal Training for them. I am just so excited!!!

So as for right now the job hunting is DONE!!