And I Have Now Lost....

Oh I lost 20 lbs this past week!!!!!! It is official...I weighed in yesterday...and on 3 different scales because they were certain the scale was wrong, I lost a total of 20 lbs last week! Finally some weight loss! My diet and exercise finally paid off. I was so excited I had to text my mom right away and tell her. Expecting to get the lecture of, "Kristina, that is not healthy," I had the reply of, "Mom, watch the show 'The Biggest Loser', it is possible!" But, sadly, I didn't get that response. I was all prepared too!

Today is my last day of working 9 days in a row, a few of which were longer than my standard 8 hour day. I am completely exhausted and more than ready to have a day off! I also get this weekend off and we are going back to the water park in Shipshewana. It will be nice to actually spend time with Emily and not feel like I am getting just a few hours with her and then rushing off to work. I am beginning to miss her!

I am sure that I will have a lot of fun pictures to post on Monday!

Finally Some Pictures!

I just love this picture!

The water thing that she got to play with a lot.

In the lazy river with mommy! She looks quite relaxed!

Going up the steps in the pool!

A few updates!

Where to begin!!! I do not have pictures to post with this one, but hopefully will within the next couple of days!
Life has been a tad on the hectic side. Emily had been learning so many new words here lately, it just amazes me! This past weekend we went on a quick trip to Amish country to go to a water park in Shipshewana, IN. There were so many buggies and horses...it was unreal! But the wood work was completely amazing. I took a picture of Emily rocking on one of the rocking horses. I would love to get her one, but I am not about to pay $100 for one! She had so much fun swimming.
There was a little kids area in the water park. There were 2 side by side water slides that they could use too. It was just perfect for her. I have no idea how many she down that thing! We also went down the lazy river together and she LOVED that. She woudl run and get the innertube and bring it to me when she would want to go! Uncle Rob took her down the big people water slide and she loved that too. She didn't much care for the big bucket that would fill up and then dump! It was neat to watch her interact with other children. Luckily, since I have moved back here to to Michigan, I have never had to leave Emily at a daycare of a babysitter. On the bad side of that, she has missed interacting with children her own age. This weekend, I got to sit back and watch her. It was so neat to just see the way she is with them vs. how she is with her cousins. I kind of wish there were play groups or something like that back here that I could take her to a few times a week.
And as for me, I have signed myself up for a program that the company that I work for is doing. ..The Biggest Loser!! I weighed in for the first time last Monday. Yesterday I weighed in again...I lost ONE pound! AGH! I did the cardiac diet, walked 1.5 miles on the treadmill every day, and I only lost ONE pound! However, I am trying to not let it get me down, and I am still working my butt off this week. Now next Monday if I weigh in and I have only lost a pound, then I might just break down and cry!
It is still so cold back here. This week we are going to make it to above freezing temps though!!! Last week our low's were -40 with windchills! I was freezing. I am an Oregon girl...this weather is not in my blood! Tomorrow we are expected to have a high of 27, and then Thursday...34!!! YAY!!! It is way too cold for me to take Emily out, so the poor thing can't play in the "snowk!"
I will attempt to get pictures on her very shortly. I have a few cute ones!

Weekend in the Windy City

The best part about going to Chicago in the winter are the Macy's Windows! This, of course, was Emily's favorite part of our walk on Saturday! You couldn't tell from this picture...she was in the middle of whining because she wanted to eat...which, btw...uncle Rob detoured from where we were wanting to go, to a McDonalds that was a few blocks away!

Seen this advertised on the TV and had to go see it...Millenium Park. It was so amazing. Have pictures of the kids underneath it on the other camera...the one that I do not have with me at this moment! Down below, by where you see the buildings, was where the ice skaking rink was. We got to watch them go around and resurface it while we were there. The line to ice skate wrapped around the rink!

Emily patiently watching the ice skaters! This was her first time wearing the coat that my aunt got her for Christmas...Thank you Aunt Lynn!!!

Emily's favorite part of the entire weekend...the pool! She woke up in the morning, grabbed a little swimmer diaper, walked over to me and said, "Mommy, we go swimming in the pool now?!" It was too cute. Luckily she got to go swimming 3 times while we were there.

And one of the best things about living in southwestern Michigan...only a 2 hour train ride to get to Chicago! Didn't have to use gas, drive around in crazy Chicago traffic, or pay for parking...which btw was $47 a night! OUCH!

We had so much fun this weekend. Got to have deep dish Chicago pizza, first train ride, first taxi ride, and just a weekend to relax and have fun with the kids! I am already wanting to go back!!!