What's been happening?

20 pounds lighter, woohoo!! Who knew it would mean so much and feel so good!?!?! I started this weight loss journey almost 2 months ago. I have to admit I have struggled a few times to lose weight. However with perseverance I have beaten obesity according to my BMI. Sad to admit that, huh? I know, it makes me realize how much I needed this lifestyle change for the good of my health.

In other news Londyn is on her second week of being in the Big one's classroom. She is loving it! This current month she is learning the color red, circle, A and B, 1 and 2. As well as the sign for please, thank you, sorry, more, eat, and drink. Although she is  fluent in all her signs except for drink.

Here she is on her first day of school!!

 She is currently cutting her 7th tooth, which makes for a fussy time. She currently enjoys putting your finger in her mouth to ease the pain, not a good sign for biting. But is easing my mind with her growth.


I am really looking forward to a few days away. Every year I get stressed out as the planning begins for the new school year and when I finally get a chance to relax, I enjoy it:)

Londyn will be in her first wedding Labor day weekend, we are getting very excited about this! That same weekend we plan on making a trip to the zoo, which she is going to LOVE!!!!!!

                                                           

♫My momma said there would be days like this, my momma said♫

♫My momma said there would be days like this, my momma said♫ 
It's true, from the time she woke up this morning Londyn was emotional. Getting ready for school was full of screams and no no's. At school I heard a lot of crying from my girl and "Londyn do you want to go to time out?".  After school I knew I needed to do a few errands before we hit home and with her emotions I was going to have to be creative.

Our last stop was Meijer. I decided she really just needed to feel the freedom that she had. So as a proactive mom I thought allowing her to walk through the store would be a great idea. Well it was, until we got to the diaper aisle and there were pictures of babies on everything. We admired the cute babies that Huggies and Pampers picked for their boxes. While deciding on buying the box that gave less diapers but a $2 coupon or the box that had the most diapers, I looked over to see that Londyn had climbed the bottom shelf and was hiding between the tall boxes of diapers (I have to admit it was pretty cute). I have been looking for beige shoes for a wedding Londyn will be in so I thought the shoe aisle would be perfect. Well on the way to the shoe aisle we found baby play mats and wanted everything to do with them. After her fit was thrown she quickly decided to help me carry her diaper box to the register. Such a BIG girl! We rung our things up, she hid between the self check out and the cart holder while I was getting help from an associate.  Gathering her up, we paid for our things and held the line up for people while we carried her diapers out together. (Somehow while putting her in the car seat I got her foot stuck and bent in her cup holder:( ugh).

When we got home the urge to be independent was still there, so I thought what better way to have Independence then to have her help me make dinner. With that said we gathered our things to make pancakes and begun.

pouring in the mix

checking out the whisk

mixing the ingredients 

Silver dollar pancakes!

Ready to eat

They are so good

here is my happy girl

time to wipe off

You see not every day is perfect (who am I kidding, every day there is something). Some days are extremely emotional and sometimes there has to be a change in plans and routine. Today was one of those days.

Today is the beginning of what I hope to be many days spending time in the kitchen with my little girl, having help in the grocery store, and stopping to take in all the cute babies on the diaper boxes. 

Happy 16 months to my very independent little toddler, I LOVE YOU!

Living to become the BIGGEST loser!

In the past month I decided that Londyn was too old for me to still be carrying my "baby" weight around. I decided that tight clothes on this body was not cute. I decided that I needed a life style change. A healthier me.

That's when my journey begin with My Fitness Pal. Now I would be lying if I said that this is my first try at this program. I tried it about 4 months ago when Londyn was turning 1 and I knew that she could no longer be my excuse. Truth is though, I dropped out after 5 days of doing it and no change in weighed. After hearing friends talk about the beginning of their success on this journey I wanted to take a second shot.

This is not always an easy journey, but a journey that I am quickly realizing is well worth it. My first week was a struggle to stay under my calorie goal and work off the calories that were over. Week two I could tell a difference in my appetite. Last week I found that I was eating too few calories by the end of the day, but yet it was too late to add calories.

Confession moment for me is ugly but here it is:

Starting weight: 173
Goal weight: 127
Weight as of 7/20/2011: 163

My first goal is to be at 140 the first week of September. I would like to be at my final goal by next Spring. I am giving myself more time because I know that this journey is going to get harder.

I have talked to a few people and would love to get a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meeting and weigh-in started soon. Girls, you all know we work better as a team when it comes to the biggest battle out there. Why not do it together. I'm thinking this meeting could, not limited to, consist of weighing in, sharing success stories, sharing healthy recipes, and possible a work out session. I am really interested to know who all would want to join me in this journey.

When you walk into the store what department is ALWAYS grouped with Health? That's right beauty! I love my new life style! I love feeling good! I love knowing that I am making a healthier me! With the healthier me brings a sense of beauty. I want both to run hand in hand in my life.

With the way that I have been losing my weight thus far, I have this fear that I am going to wake up any minute and realize that I was dreaming. I don't want to dream about it, I want to make it happen. I want to be the Biggest Loser!

It's all about the daddy's

Father's  daddy's are very important men. I strongly believe that every child needs a daddy in their life. Little boys need daddy's to show them how to be a good man, husband, and daddy of their own. Little girls need daddy's to show them how a man should treat them, and set a good example when looking for a husband. It all starts from the beginning of life.
I have three great daddy figures in my life, one loving husband, and a great big brother.

I remember when I was 9 and 10 my daddy would take me out on Saturday nights for our date night. Him and I would grab dinner, head to the toy store, and/or hit discovery zone. My daddy use to call me every night just to tell me he loves me. While in college my daddy would stay on the phone with me until I got inside of my apartment or home from the store. My daddy is my protector, my best friend, my daddy.

Then there is my step dad. No, I am not around him much. However, I can almost guarantee you if we get together we will have a good time and I will learn something about safety.

My father daddy-n-law. That's right, I would be wrong to just call him a father. There were a few incidents that I specifically remember with him. The one I remember the most was the night of our rehearsal. A lot of things began to go bad, people were hurt by the way Keith and I decided to do our wedding and I remember weeping and weeping. Kenny came up to me and said something I will never forget. "I love you and no matter what you and that boy will be getting married, it is your day". See how great he is. He has impacted my life in so many ways. He has raised a great young man. He is a loving dad

My brother-n-law is a great dad. He is a great big brother too. There were many nights that I would sit over at his house and cry and he would just love me, like any big brother would. I can always expect a great hug and arms opened wide when I walk in the door of his home.

My husband is a great man of God. He is full of love, care, and protection. I have enjoyed my time with him for the past 9.5 years. The best part about being married to Keith is watching him be a daddy. Londyn loves to go in in the morning and pat him and say dada. I love to watch the two of them roll around on the floor, walk hand in hand, giggle during a diaper change, and cuddle for nap time. He is one amazing daddy that Londyn will look up to. I hope she finds a man that will love her and treat her like her daddy does. The man of her future has some big shoes to fill!

This Father's day we were able to make a trip to Bedford. It was a short trip but we enjoyed many things.

Famous Father's Day Bag

Little hands for daddy

Breakfast from Mamaw 

Playing outside....

..and getting little feet dirty.

Getting all clean

 Being held by great grandparents

Acting like a baby with great cousins

feeding baby 

Story time with mamaw....

...and uncle Kevin

feeding the bur (birds)

dress up for daddy

playing with Mac-N-Cheese

taking naps with daddy on his special day

blowing bubbles with mamaw

sorting toilet paper

You see daddy's make a huge impact. Every little boy and girl should have one. I am so thankful that my little girl will have the same great experience as I have with her daddy.

Happy Daddy's Day!

Still my best friend after 4 years. Happy Anniversary my love!

Today marks a beautiful day in my lifetime. The day that we said yes! This week I have really been reflecting on the past four years and what they have brought us. Words came to my mind like...excitement, joy, love, adventure, strength, I believe I could go on for hours if I had the time.

The night Keith asked me to be his wife it was late, raining outside, and in the mall parking lot:). I'm sure he was working on this grand plan of how to ask me, but when my closest friend saw the ring he couldn't wait. Acting fast at 11:30 at night spiked my interest. Our wonderful meal at Ruby Tuesday's was full of laughter, I just had a feeling it was the night. Once we were in the car I gave him a hard time because I knew it was coming. The best part was the emotion that built up inside of me when I saw the trunk of the car close and he began walking to my side of the car. Yes in the rain he got down on one knee and asked me. It was simple....we are simple. I loved it and could hardly contain myself that 24th day of March in 2006.

Since our big day I have learned a lot. I have learned that doing a load of laundry is throwing the clean clothes on the bed and starting a load in the washer, Cleaning the house means taking everything from the living room and kitchen and throwing it in a room with a door, sometimes time well spent is time at home on the couch watching our favorite TV shows, expect to see dirty socks laying around the living room.
I did not grow up in a house watching sports. However, I now know enough about football that I can follow the game. Every once in a while you will hear me yelling at the TV for a stupid play or fight. I know that when basketball season comes around it will be a long 40 nights.

This week I have been so excited about our date tonight. Yes, I have been acting like a fifteen year old while planning this. It's going to be great to share an evening with my best friend and have no interruptions, just the two of us. I like to pull out our wedding video and reminisce, cry, and laugh about our big day. We have missed it a few times, but hopefully this year will not be the case. This weekend we are making a family trip to see family. That might be one of the greatest gifts I could receive at this time.

I feel so blessed to have shared four years with Keith. He is my rock in hard times, my shoulder for a good cry, my biggest fan when no one else is. I am so glad that four years ago I made the longest walk of my life and said yes.

I, Kimber, take you Keith, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.

I love you, Keith Ryan, with all that is within me. Happy Anniversary my love!

Mother's Day 2011

I feel like it's been way too long since I have written on my blog. I have been wanting to reflect on Mother's Day since it happened.

I was thinking about my first Mother's Day:

Londyn was just a month old. I was still squeezing into my maternity clothes. Matter of fact in the picture that our wonderful church took for us, I looked like I was about 4 months pregnant. I remember that day very well....I had a special little newborn dress for Londyn to wear that my friends bought her, she had the perfect little bow to match. We made it all through church. The children's ministry team wanted a picture of all the new babies, since there were three in a month. At the end of church we gathered together for our quick picture before the babies got hungry. "snap" and then there was this warm oozing stuff in my hand....Londyn pooped right out of her diaper, through her dress, in my hand, and down my white blouse. Welcome to motherhood:). At least we were able to get the picture before I was initiated.


This year my sweet Londyn was running around calling me mama....and no I did not get pooped on this year. I'm sure at some point in the day I had snot on my shoulder from a little girl who thinks it's a Kleenex. I feel so blessed to be a mama. No not just a mama, Londyn Rae's mama. Londyn has changed my life in so many ways. Back in the day I use to come home from work, curl up on the couch, take a two hour nap, wake up, eat dinner, shower, and go to bed, and talk until we fell asleep. Wake up the next morning curl up in my robe, get on the computer, curl my hair, do my make up, iron my clothes. I laugh at that now, who has time for all of this.
Yes some days I am exhausted and feel like I might fall over if I don't take time out for myself. But being Londyn's mama, coming home to find a snack and milk, play, make dinner, bathe her, read to her, Skye with her meemaw, mamaw and papa, get a cup of milk, turn on the music, rock her to sleep and tell her I love her, put her to bed, grab a shower before I pass out, maybe pass a few words back and forth with Keith before my eyes close, get up a few hours later to put a crying baby back to sleep, crawl back to bed, wake up in the morning to rush through my routine before she gets frustrated with me. Yes my schedule may be hectic, but it's the schedule I love. I would not trade the busy evenings, sleepless nights, and rushed mornings for any thing.
Being Londyn Rae's mama is the greatest privilege!

I can't find my picture but this Mother's Day I got a outdoor patio set. The bonus was the patio that my father-n-law, brother-n-law, and wonderful husband poured their weekend into.

My First Mother's Day

Mother's Day 2011


Thank you Londyn for calling me your mama! I am blessed

Happy Easter!

This Easter is extra special for us. Even though it is very late this year it reminds me of our time in the hospital. Last Easter our sweet Londyn was only 1 1/2 days old. We getting her hospital pictures taken, enjoying visits from family and friends, Londyn received her first Easter basket, and we were enjoying our fancy hospital meal.
This Easter I have thought about how special this little girl is to me and how hard it would be to let her be placed on a cross and not stop it. Mary was a strong woman. I am not so much.

Our First Easter:

First Easter

Papaw Deckard came to see me

Mamaw Deckard made me smile

Friends visited

Our fancy meal

This Easter

Enjoying Spring with Mamaw Deckard

Dying Easter Eggs

Eating Easter Eggs

Taking Easter naps

Having Easter Breakfast

Finding the Easter Bunny

Getting an Easter Basket

Enjoying Easter Candy




Happy Easter!!!! For today there is a reason to celebrate!