OMG Leigh,
You are looking so hot WOOO HOOOO! And Liam is just such a cutie! Beautiful pics!

Michelle,
Let us know how the combined plan goes. That is great. I have some of the books if you need me to look up anything. Have fun riding today! And have fun at the library!

BTW, The Dora Bugga Bug episode is on

Spryng,
I just signed up for cookinglight.com I am already getting quick cooking.com but I still love my 1million and 1 recipes cd too!

Btw,
I am making lowfat homemade pizza for supper. I knead my own dough and fill the pizza up with toppings. The kids and hubby just love it..... yummmm

Have a great day!

Leigh you look wonderful and that little guy is just a doll!!!!! I love your glasses too!! Unfortunately that sytle doesn't look very good on me lol.

Penny Thanks for the offer girly!! I can't wait to get out of the house hubby should be home soon and I'll be free, free FREE!!!lol

mmmmmm pizza, great now my head is filled with pizza hut deliver cars lol jk!!
Have a great day everyone!!

Michelle

hi ladies,

Still feeling a little brain dead today, but better now that DH is back from his trip. Hope all of you are doing well today in all aspects of your life. i'm so glad to be a part of this board! Sorry if i haven't addressed everyone yet, i am still trying to get used to the board and it moves so fast! that is awesome as i have been on some boards that no one posts on for days...very boring...

Penny; sorry you had such a rough time with your pregnancies! that is hard to have things not go the way you want them too. for the most part, the nurses at the hospital are pretty nice (of course there are those few... ) But i think now that they are getting used to seeing me there and watching what i do, they are more accepting. i think in the beginning they just didn't really know what i did, or if i was really any help. i just kill them with kindness. The doctors have pretty much been nice as well. some doulas really have a problem with docs, but so far i have not run into any. the docs are hardly ever in the room anyway, just pop in for a look and to catch most of the time, so i don't think they really care who is there as long as everything is going ok. i work with midwives and doctors, whoever my client has. so far i have only had hospital births, though i am hoping for that home birth eventually! i am mostly just a birth doula, though i do a postpartem visit in the home and a phone call or two. (depends on how well mom is doing). there are what is known as postpartem doulas as well; they come into the home after the baby is born and help with breastfeeding, baby care, and light cleaning and cooking chores. i don't do any of that as i have a ton of that to do in my own home! LOL...but i do make sure that my clients have good support at home after the baby is born.

spryng; being a doula is so rewarding! i can't even begin to tell you. the only sad parts are when something is wrong with the baby (i haven't run into that yet, but i know it will happen eventually) and having to say good bye to my clients when it is all over. you get to know these women so personally that it is hard to keep professional sometimes. i still have a few of them that i have kept in contact with and they have become good friends. one of them even wants to become a doula! I guess my advice to you, if you really are thinking of doing this, would be to start collecting and reading as many birth books as possible. "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin, is an excellent book (i keep a copy in my birth bag as a reference while i'm working) If you go to DONA's website, they also have a lot of information. (dona.org) Also, you may want to start to build your birth bag. mine is just a duffle bag full or massage tools, lotions, hairties, kneeling pad, tennis balls, ect. You can email me if you want more info. Also, you may want to attend a friend or relatives labor/birth to start with. that will give you a better idea if this is really what you want to do. Good luck to you and feel free to ask any questions you want!

well, i need to go and repack my birth bag, as i have another client who is due...just sitting by the phone...aahhh, a doula's life...
hope all of you ladies have a great day, and i will try to get to know all of you better!

Hey all, so far no exercise in today. I have been cleaning out Bugga's closet and room. ....I did hear them watching the Bugga bugs on Dora while I was doing this....

Penny, do you put the dough in your bread maker? If, not, can you post the rec for the pizza dough. I'd love to try it.


Tricia, HOpe you are fully recouped before the next baby wants to make it's entrance.

Leigh, great photos. So cute.

BTW....does anyone want or need any 12-18 mo clothing for boy or boy shoes stride rites....I have a bunch of sizes. LMK I would be happy to give them to you. Have lots of size 6 shoes for some reason. some hardly worn. Anyones little guy in wedding or need a dress shoe. I have black dress shoes that PJ only wore once. Perfect for a wedding or special event. Have to check the size though.

Michelle, have a great bike ride. It's really much too hot here for that.

Afternoon Chicks!

I have had a very busy few days. Sunday we went to church and then an ALL day cookout at DH's boss's house! I didn't get formal exercise, but keeping Christian away from the above ground 5 foot pool should have counted for alot of steps or something. I will be so glad when he is older and can be watched by others more. He is just too busy now! Yesterday I slept way late and then went grocery shopping, but not much else, I did do my routine when I got up though. My eating for the weekend was very good. Chasing after energizer baby leaves no time to eat!!!

Glad to see so many of you trying so hard to exercise and do well on holidays!

I have tons of laundry and cleaning to do, and I also have a job cleaning for a sick friend for a couple of days a week. So I gotta get crackin here!

Don't forget your water, ladies! AND YOUR 15s!!!!!

Back in a bit!

Good afternoon ladies.
Cindi, I won't be doing exercise today, but I have a good reason. I just got back fromt the dentist, again, and I am in pain. I will be working out again tomorrow though.
Spryng, sorry about your phone call with your brother. I do know what its like not talking to your parents. I haven't spoke to my dad in a long time. I LOVE to bake. Especially in the winter. I did make a cake from scratch not too long ago. It was chocalate with a vanilla creme icing, also from scratch. I bake cookies, cakes, bread, whatever. I think you will enjoy it.
To all you ladies who have your picture as your avatar, that is great. You all look amazing. That should keep you motivated on your weight loss. Leigh, your pictures are great. I hope you had fun.
I started a different way of eating today, and so far I have been satisfied longer. It's a diet program that came with my work out videos. I just never thought about doing it.
Hi to Geri, Ginny,Michelle,Jaymi, and all the others I missed.

Michelle,
It is homemade pizza so it is not too bad as far as calories and fat. I have been missing it so much b/c I couldn't have it on SB so I am going to make it tonight.

Tricia,
Let us know when the baby comes! YAH! Do you know what she is having? I assume that insurance doesn't cover any costs for doula's, right? Have a great on plan day!

Cindi,
Hope you get your housework caught up..... It is a never ending battle. And I hear ya about chasing after Christian. That is a workout.

Ricci,
Hope your new plan works out great! It sounds like it. Thanks for the kind words about the advators. We are all doing so great and will look awesome at goal. (I know Spryng already does )

Mel,
I love your advator I don't really do well following recipes.. LOL I can give you a general idea of what I use and you can modify as needed......

Good Afternoon Ladies!
Hi all, I just wanted to check in .
Leigh, those pictures are great.
Ricci, I too love to bake especially in the winter. Love the smell of the goodies in the cold weather.
Spryng, what are you gonna make?
Cindi, I see you are one busy lady lately.
Well, Hi to the rest of you.
Just wanted you all to know that I'm feeling so well. Whoever it was that said the placenta takes over at 10 weeks, that must have been it. I'm 10 weeks now and I feel really good. I even ate a WW frozen meal for lunch, of course with 2 chocolate chip cookies afterwards, but still. I almost wanted to get up early and drink some coffee today, which I haven't done in a month or so. But I didn't yet, that will come soon enough. I've done the bills, gotten my mom's kitchen remodel stuff up to date and our house stuff, cleaned off my desk, it was terrible. Still trying to get caught up on laundry though. I'm fixing to get a nap then go buy groceries and I think go to the closest produce stand, which I haven't ever been to. I love big, fresh peaches and cantaloupe and watermelon. I'll let y'all know what I get. Hope everyone is having a great day.
TTYL

Good afternoon! I'm convinced Liam will take a nap at some point and I'll get my work out in Keep your fingers crossed.

Tricia- Hi! Being a duola sounds great - I've always wanted to be a midwife. I'm fascinated by pregnancy and childbirth.

Penny- thank you! Lowfat home made pizza? That sounds delicious! So, what are the directions to your house?

Have fun, Michelle!

Hi, Mel! What season is your 12-18 month clothing? Liam wears mostly 12 (12-18) month right now. I think cleaning is exercise! Just kidding. Well, it is kind of exercise.

Hey, Cindi. I also have tons of laundry and cleaning to do.

Ricci - hope your mouth feels better soon! What is the diet program you're now doing called?

TTYL

Leigh,

I will check on what I have here. Big bag full. Do you think he'll be in 18m in the fall/winter. Cleaning is exercise, just not cardio. It's lots of stretching, bending, squating and so on.... LMK about the clothes.

Crystal,
Glad you are feeling better! Congrats on getting all that stuff done. I know you must be tired!

LIAM, TAKE A NAP SO MAMMA CAN GET IN SOME EXERCISE

MEL,
I will pay you for the shoes! Andrew doesn't really have any size 6's for the winter. He is in a sz 4 right now. Let me know :P

I just got in a mile walk so I am proud to say that. Once I get the mile down packed, I will start adding more.

Well I gotta get some paperwork done for hubby so I will check in this evening. It is karate day

Good afternoon ladies,

Leigh...you didn't get rain at all on Sunday??? We got it twice at a parade and then when my gf and I went for a bike ride in the afternoon we got hit again..but that time it felt great . I'm so glad you had a great time. Wisconsin is a beautiful state. Have Dh's relatives been here long? You're pictures are great...you look wonderful and Liam's getting so big! Glad you're back with us.

Tricia...if I were wanting to be a doula I'd have to attend several births. Both of mine were planned C sections as Will was breech and Tony's cord was around his neck. I never even felt a contraction! I would love a job that I LOVE you know? Good for you!

Crystal, glad you're feeling better. I got to taste a carrot and 2 beans from my garden today .

Penny, I feel like my eating has been much better the last few days. I don't have WI until next Monday...but I've been getting my exercise in and trying hard to behave. Thanks for asking! Sounds like you're doing much better. I don't think I would do well on SB at all!

Ricci, I HATE dentists. I think they were put on this earth to create pain rather than alieviate it . A necessary evil. Hope you're better quickly.

Cindi, I know how you feel chasing Christian. Tony's only 1 so I did quite a bit with just Will this holiday and Dh stayed home with Tony. Somethings you just cannot enjoy if you have to chase a little one around so much. We did take him to 1 parade. He enjoyed it but wasn't thrilled about sitting in the stroller while it wasn't moving. . It's like you want them to grow up fast, but not too fast .

Michelle...how's the bike??

Well, I am trying to start potty training Will..yeah I know...he's 3 it's about time. In the first 20 minutes he went through 3 pair of underwear and peed on 3 rugs. So, now he's wearing pull ups so he can at least get used to pulling them up and down and I'll try to get him to "pee pee on the potty". No success yet today, but we'll keep trying. He's good at saying it, just not doing it. Wish me luck!!

Got in a 3 mile walk this morning. That's about it for today. Supposed to rain more this afternoon. It was dry yesterday but only in the low 60's and the 50's last night (Thanks LEIGH ). They're saying 80's by the weekend. I would settle for 70's! I'd love some pool time.

OK, I'll check back in later. Hi to everyone else out there!

Exercise report: 30 minutes done. 2 mile walk with weights.

Mel - yes, I'm certain he'll be 18 months in fall/winter - that's what size I've been buying when I see things on clearance. Anyway, let me know what's there and I'll put in a bid if it's stuff I can use

Penny: on the mile walk! Good for you.

Question - I've always been confused about this. When they say you should drink at least 8 cups of water a day, do they mean cups as in 8 ounces? So, a total of at least 64 oz a day?

Okay, the laundry calls . . .

Hello again!

Just got back a little while ago from running my errands. I did get to rent that movie (the butterfly effect) and I can't wait to watch it. But not sure if I'll watch it tonight since the new Big Brother starts tonight (I'm so excited!! I'm a reality show junkie...lol) Lunch was Wendy's. I had a junior burger (6 pts) and a small chili (3 pts) YUM! Always fills me up. Must be the fiber in the chili.

Melissa, Tanner is in 12 months clothing too so if you have any extra feel free to send them my way! LOL. I'll email you my address just in case.

Crystal, I'm not sure what I want to make first. I have one recipe for an icebox chocolate eclair that looks so yummy, but online I found a great recipe for this chocolate fudge layer cake (I've never made a layer cake before so it could be fun or disatrous!lol) But I will let you know when I make it and even take pics! And it was me that mentioned about the placenta taking over at 10 week along, so glad it has helped your morning sickness! I always felt better by 10 weeks along. Now that the placenta is working full time it doesn't wear on you as much. You may even get some energy back someday soon! You probably forgot what that is like. lol.

Penny, that is so sweet of you to say about me looking great. Sucking up is always good! LOL It's true you never see yourself the way others do. I don't think I look that great at all. I'm just an average mom.

Ricci, it's nice to know you know how I feel when it comes to my parents. Someday we will have to meet in Joplin and exchange war stories, lol. And it great to find a baker among us! I totally suck at breads. I have tried so many times to make home made yeast rolls and my dough never rises. Can't ever get that darn yeast to cooperate, either my water is too hot or too cold or the yeast is dead. Someday I will get it right though, lol, I'm determined. I LOVE yeast rolls and if I could make them I'd make them for every meal, lol. Which one of your workout videos came with a diet plan? What does it consist of? Sounds good!

Cindi, sounds like you are very busy cleaning! Not only your own home but your friends too! Wow, I can barely keep up with my own house sometimes. You go girl! LOL. And I do plan on getting a workout in today, I will do The Firm Ab Sculpt sometime today. Probably later.

Tricia, thanks for all the info on doulas! I definitely want to look into it and see what kind of need there is for them in my area but as I mentioned earlier I won't pursue any kind of job until the kids are older, the oldest two in school and Tanner getting close to that age. I just love being a SAHM right now.

Penny, do you get a subscription to the cookinglight magazine? Because if you do then cookinglight.com is all free and you have access to ALL the recipes there. I just love that site. The message boards are cool too, lots of reviews on neat dishes. And if you have a cooking question you can ask it there. Like I did with the splenda in meringue question. I found out that you can use it in meringue but use some cream of tartar also to help form those stiff peaks.

Leigh, thanks so much for posting those pics!! I think you look great! And your little one is adorable.

Michelle, thanks so much for your kind words. You are a great friend! I do feel like I am a strong woman but sometimes when stuff like that happen I realize I can be very fragile too and I have to be careful. With me being by myself so often I can't allow my emotions to run me ragged or my kids will suffer from it. So I have to stay strong for them. When DH is home I can let my guard down some because he is here to comfort me when I need it, but I can't tell you how nice it is to have all of you to talk to and get feedback from. You're the best! And yes, my DH comes home this friday! I will see him thursday though and stay overnight with him in his truck. And then of course at the end of the month I get to go with him for a week! I'm excited and nervous about that still. But I know we need it. And yes, he's been gone 3 weeks this time so it has been awhile since he's been home. What new books did you get at the library? Can you recommend some for me to check out? I want to take a few books when I'm on the road with Dh, I don't want to get bored. So I like books that are exciting, thrillers or adventure (even romance! LOL) so if any of you can recommend a good one, let me know!

Oh and Penny I didn't get any shorts today. I started to look through them but wanted to try some on just in case, you know? And I can't do that with the kids there so I figure I'll get a pair this thursday or friday when I'm with my DH in KC. But I am wearing a "new" pair of jeans today. I bought some pepe jeans off of ebay last winter and I put them on this morning and they fit!! They are size 9/10 but are cut really small and have small legs so I had to wait and wait for them. But they fit and look great!!!! Maybe I'll try and get in a pic today sometime. I need to update my avatar anyway, I was 133 lbs when that pic was taken so I need a new one.
Ok, gonna get off here now. TTYL!

I'm awake, not much of a nap, but oh well.
Leigh, yes that is correct. 8-8 oz. glasses of water a day for a total of 64 oz. I'll tell you the easiest ways to do this: 1) get bottled water, you can refill them at home instead of buying more, but you ALWAYS have COLD water at hand and a bottle is usually 16 oz. 2) Use Crystal Light or decaf Tea with no sugar or with splenda, if it's caffiene and sugar free it counts as water intake. The Peach Raspberry Crystal Light is really really good. I like my caffiene in my tea though. Maybe that will help.

Mel, your clothes give a way, gave me a good idea, I think. What does everyone think about a swap or a clothes, books, etc., etc., etc., swap? I mean if you want to SELL something that's fine, but for things that we want to give a way we can post that here or on Moms Losing Weight and the person interested can pay for shipping only or whatever is agreed upon. I through so much stuff out or give it to the benevolent center. I wouldn't mind checking with y'all first. It was just a thought. What does everyone think?

Anyways, I'm gonna try to make a grocery list before Ally and Andrew wake up. I think tonight for dinner is Chicken Stir Fry over rice, I may have to have an egg roll with it, we'll see.
TTYL