Show Us Your Life: Proposal Story

It's time for another rousing edition of Show Us Your Life over at Kelly's Korner. This week's topic: Proposal Story (in case it was less than obvious from the title ;) ).

I wish I was this really great eloquent writer, like so many ladies I follow, but alas I am not so here is the short and sweet of our "Story."

It is weird when you know you are dating "the one." The one you know is your best friend, partner, cheerleader, confidant, and the man you are going to spend forever loving and growing old with. It didn't take us long perhaps a few months to "know" that we wanted to be married someday. We talked about it. A lot.

The time had finally come that Chad was ready to propose. Evidently, over Christmas 2002, he and his mother were scouting out rings. One evening he even took me to the jewelry store to try on rings, but really he was sneakily getting my ring size. Clever boy. I in typical Michele fashion was oblivious to what was happening. Perhaps I just didn't want to read too much into it...yes, that's it. :)


Chad's plan was to propose over Christmas. He wanted to tie the ring around Geoffrey the Giraffe's neck (because if you haven't figured it out by now I heart giraffe's and Geoffrey is my favorite. :) and then do the whole "will you marry me?" routine. However, his plans were thwarted when my dad got me the exact same Geoffrey as a fun Christmas present. Needless, to say he was bummed and out of ideas.

Fast forward to Jan 10th, 2003. We are out hanging out having our usual date day. Except today he keeps asking me if he can give me a present? I am someone who loves to wait to open presents it just saves up all the fun, once they are opened all the fun is over. So I kept saying later, later. That evening we went to see the movie Just Married with Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy. The movie was great, but you have seen it, it made Chad a little nervous for what was to come later in the evening. After our movie we went to Picadilly, talked and reminisced about our relationship.

See the tall bottle...that was my present.

Finally, we headed back to his house so I could open my present finally. I should have known something was up when his loud beagle was missing. When I opened the present it was a message in a bottle that said:

What a joy to know love
Like the love I share today
What a feeling to be blessed
Since the day you looked my way

So I say with these words
I will pledge my love to you
And swear with my heart
That all my love is true

With the warmth of my arm
I will hold you at my side
To propose those precious words
Will you be my loving bride?

As I was reading this poem, Chad got down on one knee with the ring. It took me a moment to completely understand what was going on. I was in complete shock.

The best shot of the "ring" I could find

And of course, I said YES!
We have been happily married for 6.5 years! Just one of many chapters in "The Story of Us."

Show Us Your Life: Baby Name Edition

This week at Kelly's Korner we are talking about our kids' names. I am always intrigued by the names people come up with and why. We live in such a world that is bound and determined to name each of our babies something different and unique and of course, we are no exception. Rather my husband is no exception. I love classic and simple names, but since Chad is a teacher and he quickly associates names with students, which results in shooting down an entire list of names in a matter of seconds. Naming Leighton wasn't easy.

Since I was a little girl I had my heart set on so many little girl names. Never any boy names, because I just assumed I would always have girls. :) I loved the name Elizabeth forever. Then Hannah, Samantha and Reghan. Reghan was 100% THE name I would name my daughter, no questions. As life would have it, a couple in our small group have a daughter named Regan...so back to the drawing board.

There was another name I was DEAD set on, again no questions, don't want to hear your opinions (ahem. Chad.), but once we got pregnant and found out it was a girl Chad just would not come around. ( I am not sharing the name, due to the fact if God ever allows us the opportunity to have another baby, let alone a girl, this may be the name...because in true Chad fashion he has finally come around, slightly.) While I wanted to put my foot down and demand we name our daughter this, I just couldn't choose a name Chad wasn't 100% behind.

One evening I was flipping through our 12 channels, and heard the name Leighton (you know Leighton Meester from Gossip Girl), I threw that out there figuring he would hate it and I could go back to my original choice...Nope, he loved it! I love it when my plans backfire on me.

However, once I paired it with Olivia, I fell in love with the name too. It sounded so beautiful to me. I laid in bed that night and could completely picture my Leighton Olivia.



Part of me wishes we had some great lineage or meaning behind why we chose her name, but we don't and that is ok. We love her name and it fits her perfectly, she is our little Lo Lo girl. And for those of you who haven't figured it out yet Lo is for Leighton Olivia, Chad came up with that one too!

We do have a boys' name, but that is a secret too. If there is a next time?!? The name will be top secret, because I think that is fun. Chad wasn't up for that the first time, but this time I get to make the choice. :)

I can't wait to read about all the names everyone else chooses and why.

Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day!

Show Us Your Life: Diet/Wt. Loss Tips

Friday means "Show Us How You Live" over at Kelly's Korner.

Let me start out by saying I am a Registered Dietitian. I spent 4 years in school for this and one year long internship, followed by a comprehensive exam to gain this status. Anybody can call themselves a "nutritionist" because the read a book or lost 20#, but R.D.s WORKED for this and have not only the knowledge but the science to back us up. So be careful who you listen to and if it sounds too good to be true: IT IS!

It is hard for me to read and see what others "advice" is because everyone is looking for the "quick fix" drop 20# in two days diet. Guess what it DOES NOT exist. Losing weight and being healthy is a LIFESTYLE choice. Those who truly lose the weight and keep it off took years that's right YEARS to get it off and they continue to make lifestyle choices to keep their weight off.

With that said weight loss is simple calories in vs. calories out equation. You cut out 3500 calories you lose 1#.

Here are a few things that I believe sabotage people's "diet" attempts.

• Drinking your calories (i.e. sodas, coffees LOADED up with creams, sugars and syrups, milkshakes etc.)
• Using ginormous dinner plates. The smaller your plate the LESS you will put on it and you will find you got just as full as if you used the larger one.
• Eating out...enough said.
• Skipping meals (i.e. namely breakfast...this sets you up for failure)
• Banning yourself from the "bad" foods. You CAN have an Oreo, but notice I said A Oreo not entire sleeve. If you don't allow yourself some of the things you enjoy you will just quit or give up because of all the unrealistic rules you place on yourself.
  
• Not exercising

I could go on but you may be surprised how those few little changes can make a HUGE difference. I will end with some ideas to hopefully get you going!

• Try making a food journal...you will surprise yourself on how much you put in your mouth a day.
• Look for ways to exercise. Exercise is cumulative. Park your car further away from the store. Walk around your building at lunch. Take the stairs.
• Look for ways to swap out calories. Try some of the Lo-cal stuff (ie Skim milk, Crystal Lite, Splenda, Sugar-Free Jellos and puddings) you might like it. Even if it is just swapping out to a couple of those items it again adds up.
  

And remember it isn't going to change over night. Don't kill yourself trying to do everything at once. Build up to it. It all starts with ONE small change.

Show Us Your Life: 65 in 365 Resolution/Update Edition

Back in November I posted my 65 in 365 goal list. Which basically is my New Year's Resolution List. So today I am linking up with Kelly from Kelly's Korner for her Show Us You Life series.

However, I have been working on this list...so here is a little update, plus, I added a few more things since I never reached the magic 65 (yet). Perhaps reading what other come up will inspire me.

RECAP:
Starting Nov. 19th, 2009 through Nov. 18th, 2010 I have the highest aspirations to get this list completed. I need my blog to keep me accountable. Currently, my list is only 27 36 tasks...I can't come up with 65 but I will add to it as I think of things, but let's face it, I may be hard pressed to get these 27 36 things done. HA!

1. Finish Leighton's First Year Scrapbook/Photobook by Feb. 15th.--IP
2. Submit RD portfolio (currently awaiting approval)
3. Do at least 30 continuing Eds.
4. Get grocery budget to ~$150/mo.
5. Start exercising again...consistently!--IP
6. Complete at least 4 personal Bible studies (0/4)--IP
7. Memorize at least 24 verses (3/24)
8. Read at least 12 adult books. (ie not kid's books) (2/12)
9. Finish decorating my basement
10. Start going on monthly dates w/ the hubs. (1/12)
11. Get Meg's HS Grad "project" done (MAY)
12. Get my storage closet under control.
13. Try 1 new recipe a month (1/12)
14. Volunteer at church
15. Research/Start own RD counseling career.
16. Get all loose photos organized in albums
17. Donate excess clothes and stuff (2x/ year).
donated 2009 stuff
18. Wipe clean my Mac computer and sell it.
19. Organize/consolidate office area.
20. Create and implement cleaning schedule.
21. Clean fridge 1x every 6mo.
22. Keep my photo site up to date every two weeks. (3/24)
23. Host at least 2 family dinners (1/2)
24. Start a vegetable garden
25. Paint the house trim
26. Clean out window wells.
27. Clean and organize garage.
28. Learn how to draw a line through words on my blog.:)
29. Get into a routine with Leighton. (after not having one for the last 10.5 months!) (0/12months)
30. Work with Leighton consistently on sign language.--IP
31. Read to Leighton at least once everyday.--IP
32. Get in a play group or host one...basically GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! (at least 2x/mo.)
33. Make "school" scrapbook for hubby.
34. Be a better friend. Since Lo we have neglected some of these relationships. Go out w/ friends 1x every 6 wks at least. (0/8)
35. Strive to live up to Proverbs 31.
36. Take more pictures of everything!

Key:
IP= In Progress

Well there you have it...Everything in PINK is NEW as of today. Still haven't reached the magic number, but I am exhausted looking at the list. However, it will feel good to have all of that behind me in a year! It already feels good to have this much accomplished! Maybe it is my Type A personality but I get such a high crossing things off my list and looking back and saying "see I didn't just sit on the couch all day watching soaps and eating bon-bons!" :)

I plan to update my progress every few months. (Perhaps that should go on the list...) I would encourage all my fellow procrastinators to try this out!

Show Us Your Life: Christmas Decor Edition

Well, it is Friday and time for another edition of Show Us Your Life at Kelly's Korner. This week Christmas decor!

We decorate right after Thanksgiving, so we can enjoy all our hard work for a few weeks before it goes back into our teeny tiny storage room.

This year we had a tiny helper. Lo did so good, I was impressed I could still decorate with her "helping."

Showing her, her "Baby's First Christmas" ornament.

Here is the finished product.

Enjoy!

Christmas angels my grandpa and grandma made for us.

I heart snowmen...in case you couldn't tell. :)
(please excuse the junk in the back...forgot to move for the pic :( ).

The miniature Christmas trees are from my Jan winter wonderland wedding.
We found these trees for $1.99 1/2 price at Hobby Lobby that year and just went to town flocking and spraying glitter all over them. They are one of my favorite things!

These are our stockings that my mom knitted. Somewhere along the line a relative knitted one for each new child with their name and birth year. My mom has picked up the tradition to ensure all her family and grandbabies have one. And yes, even our dogs have stockings (only they are store bought :) ).

The Christmas tree.
This picture does NOT do our tree justice. I think our tree is so beautiful lit up at night! It just sparkles. We use ~6-700 mini lights and then ~100 big bulb lights as garland.
I then add these glitter tree sticks (again from my wedding) to make it look like frost has landed on my tree. This year I found my cousin's beaded snowflakes from her Jan winter wonderland wedding and added them and man does it make the tree sparkle even more.
I love the icy look. Plus, as an added bonus the tree decor matches the rest of the upstairs in color and theme...not that I planned that or anything ;)

This year's most important ornament!

Finally the entire reason for the season.
The Nativity scene.
Our is the Willow Tree collection. You will find Willow Tree people all over my house. I love how they capture moments so beautifully.

I can't wait to get more ideas and see how everyone else decorates! It is such a fun season.

Merry Christmas!

¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11

Show Us Your Life: Pet Edition

This week at Kelly's Korner it is all about the pets!

I love dogs!
When I went away to college my heart was so sad because I couldn't take my poodle, Buddy, with me.

Then I got married and DESPERATELY wanted a dog, but all the dumb apartments had a NO PETS ALLOWED rule. (I think it is dumb...I am sure it is proven that college kids are more responsible and do better in school if they have a pet! :) ).

Anyway, Chad promised me that when we moved back home we would get an apartment that DID allow pets...and we did!

I was then able to bring my beloved Buddy to come live with us. Those of you who know Buddy know he was a very mean and aggressive dog most days of the week. We tried so hard to break him of his aggressiveness, but after 7 years nothing was changing. Where was Cesar Milan when I needed him!! Sadly, we had to put him down. This was and still is a gut wrenching decision for me. I am tearing up just thinking about it. Matter of fact I hardly EVER think of Buddy because it can still bring on uncontrollable tears. The decision had to be made because we wanted to start having babies and Buddy and a small baby would not mix.

In Loving Memory
Buddy James
March 1999-April 2006

A few days later we got Tuck! Another poodle! He is loving (well towards balls) and a great companion. Tuck is under the impression he is part human and really wants nothing to do with other dogs per say. HA!
He was our baby forever. We had no idea it would take us so long to get pregnant. Then when we did we feared Tuck would be overcome with loneliness. (Stupid perhaps, but we truly believed it!)

Our 1st "family" photo

Tuck with his "Mini-Me"

So when I was 8 weeks pregnant we picked up another phantom poodle, Toby! (they are actually 1/2 brothers).

Toby is night and day different than Tuck. Toby is the dog I always wanted. He is my lap puppy and snuggle bunny! (Not even Lo let's me snuggle her...a mommy needs snuggles.) Toby is also THE BEST pup with Leighton, he lets her pull his ears and "pet" him all she wants and never "complains!"

Meeting Tobias he fell asleep on my shoulder and it was LOVE!

Toby LOVES the outside even when it is SNOWING!

While there are plenty of moments I question where my hormone levels were at when I made the choice to get another puppy, I have never ever regretted it! We are all one big happy family!

Tuck even secretly loves his baby brother!

Now if you are an animal lover then hop on over to Kelly's Korner and check out others pet stories!

Show Us Your Life: Halloween Edition

I dressed up every year as a child and "trick or treated." However, my mom would have most of those pictures, so sadly I can't include them. Mostly I was a 50's girl in a poodle skirt practically every year. I liked it so I stuck with it. It was more about the candy then the costume for me! HA! My mom always made our costumes which makes them extra special...perhaps one day I too could learn (don't hold your breathe though :) ).

Anyway as a dog mother I felt that I should dress my fur baby up. So here is Tuck on his first Halloween! (Lovin' every minute of it by the way ;) ).
P.S. That is NOT my costume those are my work scrubs! We don't dress up currently since we have no place to go!

Halloween 2006

And here is fur baby #2, Toby, in the same costume a few years later. (I am cheap and it wasn't like we were really going anywhere!) He did much better in it than Tuck. Tucker was just glad he didn't have to wear it this year. He thought 2 years was enough!

Halloween 2008

If you look closely you can see they have on festive scarves that they wear for the whole month too!

Now this year I finally have someone to dress up and hopefully be able to take trick or treating next year! Halloween is fun and I sort of miss it...kids are so great in helping you get out there and re-live your youth!!


I think she is the cutest Minnie Mouse ever!!
I just used what I had and made little mouse ears to attach to her headband. We aren't planning on doing to much but seeing the G-parents, aunts, uncle, and cousin since we are usually past out and in bed by 7pm, but it will be a fun start to holiday season!

Happy Trick or Treating everyone!
BOO!


P.S. Chad dressed up as a Nerd today for school. I wasn't able to get a picture of him before he left this am :( So you may check back later and see if I can get one uploaded!

Show Us Your Life-Fall Decor

Well it is time for Show Us Your Life again. I sort of missed out the last few weeks...

Anyway I really excited to see how others decorate. It always gives me really good ideas to try or dream about doing! HA! I grew up watching my mom decorate the house for all the seasons and she always does such a lovely job...probably should just post her pictures. :) Now, that I have Leighton I want to do more and am going to start slowly collecting things to put out but for now this is all I have and I wanted to share it because I think it is so cool!

My pumpkin snowman. I LOVE this. My little sister knows how much I heart snowmans (mens?!). AND how much I love fall. One year for my birthday she carved me this pumpkin and I LOVED it, but was so sad because as all pumpkins do it rots and you have to throw it out.




The next year she and I got together and bought fake pumpkins from Micheals and made this everlasting snowman for me!

And my other lil' pumpkin

So like I said I have a few knick knacks of fall stuff but no overwhelming fall decor to share...maybe next year! But I am ready for when it comes to Christmas!! :)

Show us your life: Baby Edition

On Kelly's Korner she does a weekly "Show Us Your Life" this week's edition: Baby gear.

Top things I couldn't not have survived without! (in no particular order)

1. Swing. Oh, how this saved my life!!!! I remember thinking I didn't want or need one when registering...but thought if someone got it for me great if not no biggie. I am so thankful my mom and sister got this for me! It was the ONLY way Leighton would sleep for nap time during the 1st four months (had to stop using it then b/c she kept wanting to sit up and get out!) We wanted one for every room just b/c we got tired of lugging it up and down the stairs when she was a newborn. At night she would sometimes sleep in it as our make shift cradle.

2. Cuddle sack. I don't think they sell these anymore :( mine is from my baby days. Seriously Leighton LOVED it...again re-created the warm womb like environment...helped my colicky baby sleep, well, like a baby! It also had a heartbeat simulator but that didn't work anymore :(

3. All in one carseat travel system. I felt like this was the cheapest way to go instead of buying all the different parts...can save you close to $50-$100. Plus, the one we got is supposedly one of the safest. According to Baby Bargins (another must have when shopping...really gives you the nitty gritty on baby stuff...kind of like this post!)

4. Baby 411. My dad got this for me and I refer to it all the time for what ever crazy thing I think may be going on with my baby! It tells it to you in plain language and eases your fears.

5. Sheet/changing table savers. A MUST unless you like changing dirty sheets in the middle of the night! ;)


6. Medela Breast pump. Great for nursing moms who want to pump "painlessly" and quickly. I know there are a lot of pumps out there that can hurt...I honestly didn't mind pumping using this. It also had a backpack w/ it so you could discreetly take it with you.
Nursing tanks could not survive without this item...I practically live in them! They keep you covered in all the right places while you nurse!

7. Bouncy Seat. Again something I didn't think I needed/wanted but so glad I received as a gift! Now Leighton did NOT like this at first. But once she got to be about 2 months it saved our backs from hauling the swing up and down the stairs. We just left the bouncy seat up and the swing down. Both kept her fairly happy depending on what level I was on. (Please note: My daughter was extremely colicky...so very little made her happy!)

8. The womb aka the sling. Now while this felt like a bit of a waste of $15 (only b/c I didn't use it like I should have and she out grew it fast) it really helped keep my colicky only wants to be held 24/7 baby calm and happy, while I got stuff done. If you could only get one I would probably recommend going w/ the baby bjorn style just b/c it grows with your baby longer.

9. Barenaked Boppy Pillow (this way you can change out boppy covers for different babies or if they get dirty). Now this is a great investment for nursing moms. I didn't really like it at first because baby girl was so tiny she just slid through the hole. But as she filled it out more it became nice to help hold her while she nursed and I typed on the laptop! HA! My hubby also liked to put it around his waist to hold her...not sure why?!? She also sleep in the boppy while we were at the hospital in bed w/us (we had a family bed)...and yes I know it says not for sleeping but we did it anyway! Also great for babies learning to sit...helps catch them when the topple over.

See daddy's love it too!

10. Bath seat. My kitchen sink isn't big enough to give my baby a bath. Plus, I just think a bath place should be not where I throw dirty dishes. This grew with her until she could sit up on her own and take a bath.

11. Play mat. Babies just love these and I just put ours away like 2 days ago and just went with the toys strewn about the floor look! HA! (Leighton will be 8 months on Tues.)

Lo at about 7 weeks

Lo at 5 months

12. Shopping cart cover. I am not a germaphobe, but when you see how much your little one wants to put in their mouth you will want to get one! Plus they are soft and cozy for baby to sit on instead of the cold metal hard shopping carts. They also covert to a high chair cover which again is nice.

13. Exersaucer/walker. Leighton has loved her exersaucer she plays in and out of it. It helps give them a safe place to be while you work. Ours also converts into a walker once she starts walking...so I think that is a bonus but since she isn't quite walking yet I do not know.

Trying to show how it comes apart to turn into a walker.

14. Bumbo. I liked it helped her be near me and sit up. She didn't use it long b/c I had forgotten about it and then within the next month she started sitting on her own. But it use to keep her contained while I worked. (until she would try and throw herself out of it!)

See these things can go anywhere!

15. Space saver convertable high chair. As you can see I love stuff that duels...it saves tons of money and SPACE! This easily straps to your dining room chair, you can take it w/ your to grandma's for the holidays. AND it goes from newborn all the way up to toddler!


Things I could have survived without (but nice to have):

Pack n Play. Alot of new mom's use this as their bassinet in their rooms. Are room was too small for it. And I ended up using the swing for nap times. I think it will come in handy for traveling or going over to grandma's and giving her a safe place for naps...but overall I can probably survive with out it.

Jumpin' Johnny. Leighton never really got into it. I tried countless times with no success.

My number 1 advice is this: ALOT of my stuff I got 2nd hand or borrowed! I TOTALLY recommend this if you can find friends to let you try some of this expensive stuff out before you buy. So often (ok ALL THE TIME) what works for one baby doesn't work for yours...or what you think you can't live without you can! I feel totally blessed to be surrounded by such generous ppl who have graciously let me borrow toys, equipment and clothes! THANK YOU!

And if you are a mom out there out of the baby days stage...think about offering some of your stuff to women you may know that are about to have babies or just had them! It will bless them tremendously!