The dreaded scales...

I love the fact that I have the time (and energy!) to blog. Summer rocks!  Anyways, just a quick post about a recent struggle of mine that I feel the need to get down on paper computer.  The past couple of months have been extremely hectic and stressful for me for multiple reasons.  Of course times like these always spark poor eating habits because, let's face it, a bowl of ice cream can cure even the poorest mood.  I have been avoiding the scales like the plague, so I knew when I stepped on them tonight it wasn't going to be pretty.  Well, it was rather ugly indeed.  Five pounds OVER my pre-pregnancy weight (dun dun dun!!!).  Okay so I know it really doesn't sound that bad, but when put in perspective, the last time I weighed this amount (other than immediately postpartum), was when I was 18 weeks pregnant.  I went back and checked the blog just to be sure.  And oddly enough, the picture of my baby bump at 18 weeks is strikingly similar to the gut I have now, HA!  So needless to say I am not thrilled with the fact that I am looking like I did at 18 weeks pregnant.  Plus it does not help that everyone is beginning to wonder when I will get pregnant again, being that Morgan is 16 months old.  I can sense people staring at my stomach and pondering to themselves if I had too much lunch or if I am with-child.  Before someone points out a non-existent pregnancy, I think I want to get this weight thing under control.  Five pounds doesn't sound bad, but trust me, it's a slippery slope!

Now, here is the reason I am making this personal battle public...I need motivation!  I know if I go at this alone and have no means to hold myself accountable, I won't make any progress.  So here I go, brutally honest,

I weigh....


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GOTCHA!  Okay so I am not actually brave enough (right now) to reveal my weight, but I will certainly share my goals and my progress.  I would like to lose 15 pounds in 3 months.  Very doable.  So there, by September 30, I should be lean and mean still nice.  I will also try to post some progress pictures, but right now I'm in my jammies and a "before" photoshoot just isn't gonna happen!

Wish me luck :)

Summer So Far

Has it already been almost 2 full weeks of summer vacation!?  I have to admit I was a little worried about the adjustment to being at home full time, but let's just say it was a peaceful transition.  I am LOVING every second of being with my little girl.  We read books, play with puzzles, go to the park, go shopping, have playgroups, go walking, swinging, etc...  Morgan is at such a fun (although sometimes difficult) age.  She is bursting with energy and amazes me with how smart she is.  I swear I can have conversations with her and she knows exactly what I am saying.  She is also starting to imitate EVERYTHING I do, so Mommy needs to be careful about what she says!!!

I came to the conclusion very early into the summer that our downstairs living arrangement was just not functional for us.  Morgan's toys were crammed into a corner in our living room, and when we took them out, our living room looked like a complete disaster. Kind of like this...

Horrible!  I didn't mind it too much, but I have to admit that I was a little out of my comfort zone with the main living space in my house looking like this all the time.  Not to mention, Morgan was totally overwhelmed with the amount of toys and how disorganized they were.  So, being that we still have no dining room furniture (who really uses their dining room anyway?), I made the decision that Morgan needed a play room. So here it is!

Now her toys are out, organized, and easily accessible and she LOVES it.  She knew right away that this was her room.  Not only does she have her own space to play, but Brad and I have our living space back (kind of).  Here it is...

We still have her toy chest, Princess castle and stuffed animal basket in the living room so that she has something to play with in there too.  I don't miss my "dining" room at all and would much rather Morgan have it for her toys.  Maybe down the road when all the Hooper kiddos are bigger, we can get some dining room furniture, but I am in no hurry.

Dining rooms that are playrooms, Princess castles in your living room, goldfish on the floor, and diapers in the trashcan are what makes a house a home!

Happy Summer everyone.  :)

Just a quick "thankful" post...

The Hooper house has been very hectic lately, and there are times that I feel incredibly overwhelmed.  Life has delt Brad and I a few wild cards lately and I am finding it easy to feel sorry for myself.  Well, it's time to stop that nonsense and be grateful, because we have so much to praise God for.  Here we go!

1. Our health - this is something that I usually don't think twice about, but the minute I come down with the flu, or Morgan has an ear infection, I am reminded that being healthy is invaluable.

Poor baby sick at the hospital.  So glad to have her healthy again.

2. Our jobs - My job doesn't pay much but it does provide us with amazing health insurance.  Not to mention I love my job, which is a huge plus.  Brad's job provides us with the means to live in a beautiful home and pay our bills without too much trouble. 

Home sweet home.

3. Our families - Not only do they live close (minus my brother and his fiance), but they are so supportive.  I can't imagine not having our families around to watch Morgan grow up.  I pray for the day my brother moves back to Richmond.  Morgan loves her Uncle Ricky!

Meemaw and Grandaddy!

4. Our marriage - Brad is my backbone, my soulmate, and my best friend.  Our relationship is far from perfect and we constantly have to work on it, but I can't imagine my life without him.

Can't believe this was three years ago on June 19th. 

5. Our daughter - Morgan is healthy, happy, smart, and beautiful.  What more could I ask for??

Love her so much.

Sorry for the sappy post, but I felt the need to get some of these things down in writing.  Now, for some happier news, school is almost out! Which means ... stay-at-home mommy mode!  I have to admit, I am a little nervous about the adjustment, both for Morgan and myself.  She is used to having non-stop playtime with the sitter's kids, and I am worried that I won't be as much fun as them!  I hope to come up with a very structured schedule for the summer so that we are productive and busy.  I have to admit that last summer we did a lot of napping and watching the Olympics.  Now that Morgan is a busy toddler, I doubt watching tv and taking naps will be on her to-do list.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!  And when your feeling down, remember to focus on the positives.  Every rainstorm must end, and sunshine is just around the corner.