9 Months

Lola bear is nine months. She hasn't had her check-up yet, so the update on her weight and length will have to wait until next week. She's growing up so fast! It's so much fun. I think her top teeth are beginning to bother her. That means they will be cutting through pretty soon! She is such a happy baby. I think I've almost got her to start clapping! she grasps her hands together and shakes them up and down; but I think that's her way of clapping. And, she is quickly learning what "no" means. While she is crawling and creeping around, she is of course, into everything! She is so close to walking, too. She stood by herself two times already. Once was on our bed, which was quite a wobbly attempt. The next she stood in front of the couch. She let go of my hands and stood there! I swear it seemed like a long time, but I'm sure it was a short 3-5 seconds. The next step is to take a step! I'm both excited and scared! We're going to have to start chasing her around pretty soon. Fun!

This is her mischevious look.

?

It's almost been a month since her passing. March. It's still surreal. I still can't believe that one of my best friends is gone.

I loved her so much and I am going to miss her immensely. Her laugh, her smile, her sense of humor, her advice and her love...

The memories are all we have left. I feel like I haven't mourned enough. But, when is it enough?
I hope that we are reunited in the end.

Guad, you were a great friend, I will always love you and the times we shared.

Boxing Gloves

Max made a Boxing Glove cake and cookies for one of his pals son's First Birthday. They turned out awesome!!

Close-up

48 Cookies!

I didn't get the final picture with the Happy Birthday written, but it was cool! They loved it!!

7 and 8

Some new pics...Lola's 7 & 8 month photos.

Yo Gabba Gabba!

My new block tower

Crawling around...

Looking outside

Playing with my food

Climbing into Mommy's lap

Passed out

Play time!

Bath Time!

Mommy's Little Monster

Cars

Well, Max finally got a car! After two weeks of searching and haggling with car dealers, he found a nice 2005 Chevy Tahoe. It's really nice. It's red with tan interior, and it's pretty huge! We figured he only drives about 7 miles to work, so the gas guzzling should be kept to a minimum. It's nice to have an additional vehicle, but it was also nice not having an additional car payment! Oh well, it's for the best.

Lola has been sick this week. Tuesday she left daycare early due to a high fever. Wednesday I was feeling pretty crappy as well, so we stayed home that day. Took her to the doctor and he confirmed that she does not have the flu, which I somewhat suspected. Glad to hear that it's nothing more than a cold.

Went back to work today, wishing it was Friday all day. I am hoping that soon I will be moving into a full-time position. There is a slight possibility that the current researcher will be leaving soon. He has a pretty good business opportunity that he is working on that he is pretty sure will happen. So, if that happens, I hope they will offer me that vacancy. I think I've proven myself to be a pretty competent researcher. We will see what happens, though. It is time for me to work full-time. I love my part-time hours, but it's reaching a point to where I need my benefits and the opportunity to contribute to my retirement! Yay 401K!

Just another Manic Monday

Hard to believe that February is almost over. Time sure does fly! Weigh-in today at 149, still. Did not track at all the past two weeks. I did, however, enjoy some Root Beer Creme Brulee from Max's Wine Dive. My goodness, the best creme brulee I've had yet. Seriously, it was scrumptious! Yeah, so I have motivated myself to get back on track and set a goal to work towards by the end of March. So, I have a little over 30 days to lose 10 pounds and hopefully leave the 140's behind me. Trying not to worry about it too much, therefore making it easier on myself. I have high hopes.

As I write this, I am listening to Lola babble away whilst she watches Baby Mozart. One thing that I have noticed about this baby is that she loves music. I don't know if this is common to every 6-9 month old ankle-biter, but anytime music, especially female vocals is on, she automatically stops what she is doing and focuses her attention on the song. For instance, during Jennifer Hudson's rendition of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, Lola stared at the television, with a huge smile on her face and watched the performance. Super cute! She does it during other things too, but that instance was most notable.

Oh yeah, little bear will be the big 8-months on Wednesday! Shit! They really do grow up too fast!

One Five O

I am officially out of the 150's! Hopefully forever. I don't remember if I was ever at or above 150 before, but for some reason I think I might have been back in my early 20's. You know that stage where all you did was drink and eat fast food?! Yeah, I think back while Guad and I lived together, (wow, seems like forever ago), I was at or pretty close to 150. Well, with not paying much attention to WW, I have finally left them. Yes, it's true. I think WW has done me well, but I think maybe I was trying to hard or something? Because as soon as I stopped really logging and all of that is when I started to see a good loss. I'm still going to use it as a reference, but just continue what I'm doing on my own. So, my weigh in on Monday was 149. I "started" this week, and I did indulge in some cookies and such, but my weight is holding steady at 148-149. I was hoping to get down to 146 by next weigh-in, but I'm not really sure if that will happen. But, I am super duper happy that I have left the 150's. I still am pretty uncomfortable with the extra baggage I'm carrying aorund, but it's getting better. I didn't get to the gym or the park at all this week. Just wasn't feeling it, due to feeling kind of under the weather and the womanly aspect. I plan on getting to work out a few days next week, and that may help me get to 145 by the following Monday. That's the goal!

A few other non-weight related things:

What's up with all of these plane crashes?! Seriously. I actually had a dream the other night about seeing a plane crash, while in a plane, and seriously freaking out about dying. I was even writing a letter to Max & Lola! But, for real...scratch taking a serious trip anywhere soon. I'm officially freaked.

My new favorite cartoon is The Backyardigans. The songs are so damn catchy!! Love it. As does Lola!

Speaking of Lola...I am SURE she will get her two bottom teeth if not this weekend, then next week, for sure! They are inflamed and look like they are about to burst! I can't wait for that little girl to have some teeth. My baby is getting so big! She's the best.

Oh, and here is the BEST PICTURE EVER! Ben is hott! I love it.

February

February got off to a good start, you know with my Steelers winning their 6th championship! That game was super awesome. I was about poop my pants there at the end. Geez. But, in the end my sexy Big Ben made it happen. Yes, I said sexy...Woot!

My diet is just the same. Haven't really tracked anything all week, but my weight has stayed the same. I plan on getting to the gym and hopefully the park in the next few days.

Lola is officially a crawler now. She is crawling all around. Well, maybe not "officially". She doesn't technically get up on her knees and move, but she goes to her knees and pulls her body with her arms and then her legs go into this frog like move. So, maybe she's officially scooting. AND, she's began saying her "b's". She is constantly saying, "bah bah bah blah blah blah!" It's pretty cute. I will need to add a video of her babbling soon. For now, some new pics!

Ready for Valentine's Day!

Standing Tall

Getting so big!

When she learned to stand...she has no pants.

Morning play time.

Waking up

So, every morning is no longer filled with cries of Lola wanting to be changed, fed and loved. They are now filled with raspberries, squeals of laughter and her standing in her crib, feeling very accomplished. For the past week she has stood herself up and inched her way to the edge of the crib. When I walk in she has a huge smile, as if to say, "Look, Mommy! I did it...again!" It's so cute. Although, it's getting quite ridiculous at the same time. It's all she wants to do! While we're changing her...while she's sleeping! She started crying the other night at about 5:30, when Max walked in, he her found her kneeling with her head on the crib rail, but she was asleep. This girl is trying to stand and pull herself up in the middle of the night. Last night she began crying and I walked in to find her standing at the backside of the crib. I think she was confused because she couldn't see outside like she usually can. She's scooting and has yet to crawl, but a part of me thinks she may try to walk before she crawls. The people at the daycare said she gets in the middle of this little circle they have and she holds on and walks around the circle. And it's all she wants to do. Nevermind the exersaucers, and the jumperoo's, she'll take walking!

She's growing up too fast. I don't want her to walk yet!!

Seven

My baby is 7 months old! She still has no teeth, but hopefully soon. She is completely on the move now. She is scooting around, and pretty much about to crawl. She gets up on her knees and just has to move her arms in unison and she will be off. She can scoot all the way across the room in a matter of minutes; it's exciting, yet scary at the same time. We actually have to keep a close(r) eye on her now. She puts absolutely everything in her mouth and is drooling like a monkey. We also had to move her crib mattress down a level because she can pull herself up and almost launch herself out of the crib. She pulls herself to her knees, and then to her feet and into a standing position! It's mighty cute, but again...scary. She is so proud of herself, too! She just laughs and smiles once she is standing up!

I guess it's finally time that our lil angel is beginning to be a "real" baby! Things to look forward to in the coming months include her babbling, using consonants along with her vowels, crawling, and TEETH!

My babycakes: Pulled herself to standing!

She's so happy!

Sitting up by herself.

First swing ride!
High Chair!