Weight lost since my last weigh in- +1.5lbs
Weight lost since the start of the challenge- 1.5lbs
Total weight loss since Hailey was born- 34.5 lbs
I gained 1 1/2 pounds last week, but I lost inches. Go figure.
Time to go check in at Tales From The Scales.
This must be the month for awards because I have just received another award. Angel Mama from Pearls of Wisdom has given me the "I'm A Bloggin' Princess" Award.
The rules for this award are:
This is the first Fun Monday I have ever participated in. This week it is being hosted by Amy at A Family Story. Since I've never done a Fun Monday before I'm not even exactly sure what it is. But, I think that each week there is a different host and the person hosting comes up with an idea of some sort of picture they want everyone to post. This week Amy has asked to see the inside of our refrigerators. And Amy's instructions were "DO.NOT.CLEAN.IT.OUT. We want to see it in all its glory. However empty or full." And, so here it is- the inside of my refrigerator in all its glory!
Laura over at My Quotidian Mysteries tagged me a little while ago to do this career meme.
Here is how to play:
If you had the opportunity to do a 1-year internship in a company or field completely unrelated to your current career or specialty, what would be your top 5 choices?
This is hard for me to do because I am actually living my dream as a stay-at-home-mom. But, if I could not be a stay-at-home-mom these would be my next five choices:
1. To be a teacher in a 3rd grade classroom.
2. To be a child psychologist.
3. To be a restaurant critic, but only if the calories during my testing didn't count.
4. To be a professional organizer.
5. To be a forensic scientist.
And now I have to tag five people to do this meme. So, I'm tagging Becky, ComfyDenim, JennieBoo, La Bellina Mammina, and Michelle.
1. I am thankful that I have joined the Thankful Thursday group. I used to participate in the Sunday Seven meme which is where you list seven things you are thankful for each Sunday. But, due to my problems with being a blogaholic I have resolved that I will not be blogging anymore on the weekends. I really like taking the time out each week to reflect and realize how very blessed I am. I am glad that I can reserve the weekends for family time and still be able to take one day a week to post about what I am thankful for.
2. I am thankful that Hailey's 9 month doctors appointment went well. She is healthy, happy and right where she should be developmentally. For those who are curious- at her 9 month appointment (which actually took place at 9 months, 1 week) Hailey weighed 20 pounds and was 28 1/2 inches long. That is right in between the 50th & 75th percentile which her pediatrician says is wonderful.3. I am thankful for my blogging friends. I love reading about what is going on in my blogging friends lives, knowing that they are reading what I'm writing about, and leaving each other comments or sending emails. It helps me to see other people who have the same issues that I have. Being able to offer and get some advice or support and being happy for each other during the good times is so wonderful.
4. I am thankful that Rich gets up every day and goes to work to provide for us. He makes it possible for me to be a stay-at-home-mom, which has always been my dream.5. I am thankful for the work that Rich did on my blog to give me my new look.
6. I am thankful for the way that Rich is with Hailey. I love watching her face light up when she sees him and enjoy seeing how Rich plays with her. The other night we went out to eat and I was just sitting back watching Rich be silly with Hailey. Hailey looked up at him and grinned and giggled. I can't really put into words the feeling I had just watching them, except to say it made my heart feel full.
Don't be alarmed! It's still me. I'm trying a new look on my blog, so let me know what you think.
I'm also going to add a signature to my posts. I can't decide which one I like best, so I am leaving it up to you, my faithful readers. Leave me a comment with the number of the one you like the best. And, for those of you who don't like to leave comments, send me an email here to pick your favorite.
I'm "Back In The Saddle Again"
Weight lost since my last weigh in- 3.5lbs
Weight lost since the start of the challenge- 3lbs
Total weight loss since Hailey was born- 36 lbs
The last time I weighed in 2 weeks ago things were not good. I didn't weigh-in last Tuesday because actually things were even worse than the week before and I had gained another 1/2 pound. I didn't want to tell you, so I just didn't post.
Then two things happened last week. First I threatened myself that if I did not start losing weight that I was going to post my actual weight, right here on my blog. I really didn't want that to happen so that helped me to get motivated. But, what really got me motivated is that we decided that we are going to go on vacation in September. I want to be skinny in time for our vacation. So every time I want to snack on something I shouldn't eat I remind myself that I want to be skinny for our vacation. (While you're here, if you have any advice for a good place to go on vacation with an 11 month old, stop by my post here and let me know your idea.)
My goals for this week are to continue walking everyday, keep up the healthy eating, and as always- drink more water.
Time to go check in at Tales from the Scales.
KC, my blogging friend over at Mindless Chatter of a Busy Mom, has given me an award. Two awards actually, and here they are:
This is a sticky post that will remain at the top of my blog. Please scroll down for newer posts.
Where is a good place to go on vacation with a baby who will be 11 months old at the time? We would prefer somewhere in the US (we do not have passports). Please leave a comment with your suggestions or advice. If you prefer not to leave a comment you can email me here.
I posted this prayer request a little while ago and I just heard from Michelle that Arianna has been put on medication. They have already seen an improvement in her health in the short time that she has been taking the medicine. Thank you for keeping Arianna in your prayers!
This week my Uncle Dave's mother died. Although I was not actually related to her I always called her grandma. She was a wonderful women who lived a full life. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers during this difficult time.
Last week my great Aunt Winnie fell and broke her arm. Please pray that she will have a speedy recovery without any complications.
Grams over at Talk to Grams has nominated me for the Blogger Reflection Award. I was thrilled when she told me she had chosen me for this award. This is what she wrote about me: "Melanie is a lovely young Christian woman, who loves and cares for her family deeply. She is a encouragement to me every day. Her Christian values shine through all of her writings. She always has something kind to say on all of her comments to everyone! She loves her little girl with so much love, that you wish all the little girls everywhere had a Mommy like her! She also tries very hard to be a wife that her husband is proud of everyday! She is one sweet lady!! I am glad she is my friend!" Thank you so much Grams for your kind words!! I too am glad we are friends! This award was originated by a teenage girl and here are her guidelines: "As for my award, it is called The Blogger Reflection Award. Why? The reason for the title is because this award should make you reflect on five bloggers who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted you in some way, and have been a Godly example to you. Five Bloggers who when you reflect on them you get a sense of pride and joy... of knowing them and being blessed by them. This award is for the best-of-the-best so consider who you pick, carefully. This award should not be given to just anyone. If you're going to do the award don't just write a few words and slap it on your blog. Write real thoughts about these bloggers and what they've been to you, and if the bloggers you pick have already been given the award, don't be afraid to give to them again. They deserve it as many times as it's given." So, that means that Grams thinks I am the best-of-the-best. Wow! Again, thank you Grams!! Now I know I am supposed to pass it on to five bloggers I think are the best-of-the-best, but I think all of my blogging friends are the best-of-the-best and I can't pick just five. So, I'm breaking the rules and not passing it on, because I just can't choose!
In our LGM we discussed what qualities a person had to have in order to be a leader. We came up with 2 pages front and back full of qualities. We voted on a president and my new friend Josh from Mississippi won the election. We also held our own press conferences. At the press conferences we had to ask the President (Josh) questions about the war on Iraq, the economics issues, and what would happen if his plan had failed. During the conferences I was the Economist. LGM wasn't all just business though we had fun too. We played games and I even learned that our leader, Anthony, was really good at break dancing and a really good singer!
At the hotel we also had Model Congress (MoCo). MoCo was to prepare us for a session where we were to have Cacauses and Committees. There were 4 committees. The Democrat Criminal Justices Committee, Republican Criminal Justices Committee, Democrat Telecommunications Committee, and the Republican Telecommunications Committee. I was on the Democrat Criminal Justices Committee. The Cacauses A-G were democrat and the Cacauses H-L were republican (democrats had majority because of the congress today). The Cacauses were to come up with amendments for 2 bills, a criminal justice bill and a telecommunications bill. The Committees were to ask the Cacauses questions about the amendments they had come up with. Committees voted on the amendments and turned them into a bill. The next day we had a huge session with all 380 people and voted on the bills to make them laws. Both bills passed and became laws. 
One of the monuments that I went to was the Washington Monument. Some of the memorials I went to were the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, and the WWII Memorial.
The shopping was great and my new friends and I had a lot of fun.
My friends and I had a lot of fun and even though I didn't know them for that long, I still miss them and I am keeping in touch with them.
Thank you again to everyone who helped to make it possible for me to go on this great trip! Love,
Brooke
I met Rich my senior year in high school. We started dating a couple of months after we met and our first "official" date was to my senior prom.
After 5 short years of dating, Rich finally proposed to me in December of 1999. (Actually, Rich waited, very wisely, until I was done with college before he proposed.) Since I wasn't in a big hurry or anything I immediately started planning a July 2000 wedding. Rich wanted to wait until the summer of 2001, but I explained to him that it would be easier for him to remember how many years we had been married if we were married in the year 2000. Finally Rich my mom and I decided that July 15th 2000 would be the wedding date.
We (my mom and I) planned a wonderful outdoor ceremony that would take place in the midst of some very beautiful gardens at the Owego Treadway Inn. We only had 7 months to get everything planned so we were two very busy ladies trying to get everything done. Each Saturday during the months of May, June, and July the weather was spectacular- sunny and beautiful. Then the week of our wedding it started pouring on Tuesday and did not stop. We were sure that it would stop in time for the wedding, but alas it did not. The morning of the wedding several people scurried around to move the ceremony to an outdoor covered patio. Everything turned out perfectly and the ceremony was beautiful even with the rain. And, as the pastor told us that, "A wet knot is harder to untie."
Exchanging rings
Lighting the Unity Candle
The kiss
Married!
Our cake
First dance
Us
Later that day the rain stopped, so we 
Me, Rich & Brooke
Us with the ring bearer and flower girl
The wedding party
7 wonderful years later.Last week Grams at Talk to Grams tagged me with the Five Things I DIG About Jesus meme. I decided to use this meme for my Thankful Thursday. So, I am writing about five reasons I am thankful for Jesus and why I DIG Him.
1. He died for me so that I can live forever- (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2. When I am concerned about something I know I can turn to Him- (I Peter 5:7) Casting all your care upon him: for he careth for you.
3. No matter what is going on in my life, I can feel at peace- (John 14:27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
4. He loves me- (1 John 4:10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
5. Jesus loves kids- (Matthew 19:13-14) Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Now I'm supposed to tag 5 people to list 5 things they DIG about Jesus. But, I'm not going to- instead- if you're reading this- TAG, you're it! Come back and let me know when you've posted your 5 things so I can come read them.
For more Thankful Thursday visit Sting My Heart.
I've been tagged by Grams at Talk to Grams to participate in the My Four Favorites meme.
Four Jobs I've Held
Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over Again
Four Places I've Lived
Four TV Shows I Watch (This is the hardest one for me because I don't watch very much TV)
Four Places I've Been on Vacation
Four Favorite Foods (How will I ever narrow it down to only four???)
Four Websites I Visit
Four People I'm Tagging
