Happy New Year!

To all my blogging buddies :)

I know I have been terrible at keeping this up, so it is one of my resolutions to blog at least once a month, I need to keep the few followers I have and it may just be enough ;)

My other resolutions include:
1) Spending more time with God and deepening my relationship with Him
2) Run Bloomsday in May
3) Get healthy and fit and finally reach my goal weight!

I'll be tracking my fitness progress on dailymile.com, so join if you are getting in shape this year and be my friend :)

We had a fantastic time in North Dakota visiting the family. The cousins were fast friends, the boys faces lit up and they went crazy every time Lily came to visit. Carter played shy and momma's boy the entire time we were there, but I had planned on that. It still amazes me how complete opposite he and Alex are.

We arrived before Blizzard Alvin and I got to see my first snow in almost 4 years! I was in heaven, 25"....what a great Christmas present! We also introduced the boys to sledding, Alex was a HUGE fan, Carter not so much...but he liked it the first couple times down. Guess he will be a southerner at heart ;) I got to see most of my extended family and a few friends, and I got introduced to the amazing beer tower. We left just in time, a cold front moved through and it was -30 without the windchill Saturday morning....I miss my family and the snow, but I don't miss the crazy cold temps!

Well, that's all the time I have! Happy New Year! Hope everyone keeps their resolutions, and keeps me motivated in mine!

It's about time I posted a blog ;)

Finally! After a month of being sick, life seems to be getting back to normal.

Alex started preschool this fall and absolutely loves it! They have a pet hamster the class named Mr. Nosey, and Alex talks about him constantly. He has also decided that he can no longer use the girls bathroom...so that has made trips without dad interesting ;) He is doing well, learning new songs, how to color in side of stuff instead of all over the place, tracing, letter and number recognition. They say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. His imagination has gotten better too and I love listening to his stories and to him playing. While I was cooking dinner, he was running around the table saying "I'm going so fast, I can't stop mommy!" and I asked what he was gonna do. He said "I'm gonna have to find my breaks..here they are mommy! EEEERRRRRR! I STOPPED MOMMY I STOPPED! The break was on my foot" He never ceases to make me laugh!

Carter has started going to MDO at the Baptist church on Mondays and Thursday, and he has done a complete turn around on clingy-ness. Yeah, he's still a momma's boy, but not an infuriating one anymore! He goes to the nursery ladies without crying and plays for 3 hours and absolutely loves it. When Alex and I go pick him up, he's nothing but smiles and it completely melts my heart! He just had his 15 month check-up and he's about 20.5 lbs. In the past year he has only gained about 5 pounds. He is an active boy, so it's understandable, but the doctor still wants me to bring him in for a weight check in November. He's not worried, he just wants to keep an eye on him. He loves playing peek-a-boo and wrestling with his 'Bubba'. He also likes waking me up to play at the butt-crack of dawn. I just pray that ends someday ;)

Yesterday the boys and I went to a chili cook-off downtown while Jason cleaned the garage out. I didn't realize how awesome this thing is! For 3 bucks I fed my entire family and got to taste test 20 chilies, some brisket, and some ribs...YUM! After that we headed to Hobart for their annual Pumpkin Palooza, where they featured Pumpkin Chuckin'. Unfortunately we arrived 2 1/2 hours before that began so we had to waste some time. I actually broke down and spent $3 for Alex to play in one of the bouncy slides. And as far as he is concerned, those were the best 5 minutes of his life:

We wasted more time painting a couple pumpkins, and eating lots of tasty food. I had a caramel/chocolate/white chocolate apple that was amazing :) Finally 4 pm comes, along with the rain, and the Pumpkin Chuckin begins:



I'll admit it, I was pretty impressed by it all ;) Alex though that it was the coolest thing he's ever seen. His favorite chucker was the big black one, of course. Carter could have cared less, and Jason was impressed by the 'Redneck game'.

It was so good to finally get out of the house and have some great family time! If you want to see more pics of the day, see the Oct 09 in my Facebook profile! I think most of you who follow me have a FB account now ;)


*~Many Blessings~*
The Larimores

new blog...

for my CrossFit journey! Check it out HERE

Alex is THREE!!

I still can't believe I have a 3 year old! Wait...yes I can...especially with the 'I do it all myself' ringing in my ears all day long ;) We will be having his birthday party on Saturday and I will post pictures and more about that afterwards. As for his actual birthday, we did just a few of his favorite things:

played outside and rode his bike:

played with his best friend Kayeli:

ate chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting:

and his new favorite thing, riding in his new power wheels:

The past 3 years have gone by really fast it seems! Here's a little montage of him from birth:

Goal Accompished, and new goal set!

I did it! I jogged 3 miles this morning, something I have never ever done! Even in high school I couldn't jog for more than a few minutes at a time. Not quite the 5k, but I know I can do it. It's hard to believe that I could barely run for 90 seconds just 2 1/2 months ago...and here I am going for 36 minutes!

Jogging has become my 'me' time, I used to hate it. But now I look forward to my running days because it helps wake me up and clear my mind. I just wish it wasn't so hot out! Good thing I've got a 3 week trip to ND coming up, just in time to cool off ;)

My new goal is to get up to jogging 7.5 miles because I am planning on participating in Spokane's annual Bloomsday run in May next year. The tricky part is that there is a lot of hills up there, and there aren't too many here. I'm going to have to go up to Quartz Mtn for training every now and then! I'm so excited and I hope this will help keep me motivated through the winter!

Running update!

Here I am about 2 months into my couch to 5k training, and I am beginning to LOVE it! I am up to running for 25 minutes straight, one run I got 2.3 miles in! I am getting there :)
I found a new podcast to listen to while running, and I am loving it! Songs I actually know and can sing along with: www.kissmyblackass.org Go check it out and start your own couch to 5k training! :)

I am also doing a couple of work out DVDs on my off running days, and they are kicking my behind! Jillian's 30 Day shred and Jillian's No More Trouble Zones ROCK!!

I have been seriously lacking in the actual diet department though. I'll get back there some day! I've gained a little weight back, but I am to the point where I am worrying more about my health and strength than I am about those pesky little numbers on the scale!

Anyway, hopefully in a month I can be up to running a 5k race! I am on the lookout for ones I can participate in :) I'll keep ya posted!

Happy Birthday Carter-Man!!

I know, I'm late, but Happy Belated Birthday!

We had a few friends over to help celebrate with cake and ice cream, nothing huge, since it's just his first...and we will be having a big one for Alex next month ;)

So Carter's stats at one year are:

*19lbs 14oz

*28 3/4"

*3 teeth

*walking with extreme ease and can even get a good little trot in every once in a while

*climbing on everything

*eating everything

*following big brother (aka Bubba) around

*mimicking our every move from waving, to snapping fingers, to screaming and beyond

*Says 'Bye-bye' 'Buddy' 'Mama' Dada' and other various babblings

*Loves actions songs like Patty Cake and Itsy Bitsy Spider

*Loves wrestling with Bubba and Daddy on the bed and playing peek-a-boo

Here are a few pictures:

1 day

6 months

1 year!

And his super cool birthday cake ;)

Last weight update for a while...

Hey all! Things have been crazy here for a little bit. I found out a couple weeks ago that my cat, Layla, had diabetes. We decided to put her down and it was pretty hard on me. I went off of my diet and ate out a lot, and I am struggling to get back on track. I've only gained back 2 pounds, so I am not doing that bad, but I think I need a break for a little while longer. I might start back up in the middle of June, not sure if I'll blog about it or not though.
I am, however, keeping up with my couch to 5k training and might blog about that every now and then. I am on week 3, and it's a tough one, but I'll make it through!

Some fun facts from where I started:
My blood pressure was usually 120/80, had it taken today and it was 98/60!
I have lost 7 inches off my waist
I have lost 6 inches off my hips
I have lost 3 inches off of each of my thighs
I have gone from a tight fitting 16 to a loose fitting 12

I still got about 14 pounds until my goal, but I feel pretty good about what I have accomplished in 5 months. I still plan on shedding those pounds eventually...and even though I never reached my goal, I am still going shopping at Grapevine Mills next week for my birthday :) One can never have too many clothes, right?!

Thanks for sticking with me on this journey!

Getting fit in '09 update #17

Hello! I am down 1 pound this week :) It's still coming off...even if it's a little slower than I'd like. I just keep trying to remind myself that these last 15 pounds are the hardest! I'm still doing the 'C25k' program, and I'm actually enjoying myself. I found a podcast to listen too while I'm running, making it much easier to do the running parts! You can find it here if interested. I have one more day of week 2 left, which will be done on Saturday, and Jason promised to tag along this time :)

This weeks weight 147.5
Total weight loss: 24

12.5 to go!!

Alex's Update

As you can see from the Alex-isms post, he is getting more and more understandable every day! It seems like he has turned into a little boy overnight. He is much more independent and decisive in his decision making. You should see some of the struggles we have just getting dressed in the morning...he's very specific in what he will wear. It's gotta be something cool..no wonder they don't make 'cute' boy stuff once they hit 2 years of age!

He can ride he bike for hours on end, if I let him. He loves playing outside in the water and in the dirt. He likes to sing songs, especially ones with actions in them like 'Wheels on the Bus' 'The Bumblebee Song' and 'Itsy Bitsy Spider'.

I enrolled Alex in preschool for the fall...can you believe it?! He is such a social butterfly, that he will love it, and I think he'll learn a lot. He'll go 3 days a week :)

Some pictures and video:

Alex-isms

He's at it again...here are a bunch to make you smile :)


*Half way through eating his pudding:
Alex: Mommy, I'm a mess!
Me (taking in all the chocolatey goodness spread all over his hands and face): Yes, yes you are
Alex (laughing): yeah..




*So, I have been telling him to shake of the little 'pains' he gets during the day instead of kissing each one. One day Alex is screaming at the top of his lungs:
Me: please stop, that hurts my ears!
Alex: AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH
Me: I cover my ears and frown
Alex: Shake it off Mommy!
Me: I shake my head
Alex: There, better, Mommy?
Me: yup, all better




*Alex brings me a nail and says "Handy Manny can fix it!"




*Whenever we introduce a new food or something he doesn't want to eat he says "I can't like it"



*Each time we go to the doctor's office (doesn't matter who it's for) He tells me "I'm all better now, Mommy"

Carter update!

I know, the blog has been taken up by my weight loss journey...time for an update on the boys :)

Carter is moving into the toddler phase, and I am just not ready for it. He took his first steps in the beginning of April and he can now do at least 10 in a row, if not more. I don't really count...I just know he can go quite the distance. He is also climbing on everything. When we're playing on Alex's bed, he knows to turn his body around to get off feet first instead of diving off head first.

He has started to babble a lot more, no real first words yet. He loves clapping along when we are singing songs. He can wave and give kisses (nice and slobbery ones!) He still only has one tooth, that he got almost 2 months ago...no signs of any more coming in.

This boy loves to eat. Weather it's nursing or regular food, he can't get enough! He's not so big on pureed food anymore, but stick a banana in front of him and he's a mad man. He loves anything he can pick up and eat with his fingers...with the exception of veggies, of course. Still can't get much more than sweet potatoes, carrots, and peas in him...but at least it's something! His favorites are peaches, bananas, and grapes. Last weigh-in at the doctors office, had him at 18lbs 13oz. So he has definitely slowed down in that area!

Here are some recent pictures of Carter:

And the only video I've gotten of him walking...I keep trying!

Getting fit in '09 update #16

Hard to believe I am 16 weeks into this thing! Even harder to believe that I have pretty much stuck with it. I am only down .5 this week, but it was time for a break. I am happy to report that I have completed the first 2 runs for my couch to 5k program (C25k)! First one was super easy, but I pushed myself the second time (and I was pushing a double jogger) and it was much harder. I did manage to do a little over 2 miles in 29 minutes! My friend Bobbie and I (and possibly Jason too) are going to run a 5k when my training is done to celebrate my accomplishment! I am very excited!

This weeks weight: 148.5
Total weight loss: 23

Getting fit in '09 update #15

Sorry for the lateness! I am down 1.5 this week, which is very surprising. I've been kinda laying low, so all I gotta say is, thank God for nursing! haha I finally broke the 150 mark, so that makes me feel good. Plus I took out all the clothes I packed away early spring last year, and they all fit again, some are even too big! I've decided to take the plunge into running. I've been pretty adamant that I hate it, and I am pretty sure that I will hate it forever. But I need something that's a little easier to get into my schedule, since I can basically do it whenever. I am going to do the Couch to 5k program starting Monday. Wish me luck!

This weeks weight 149
Total loss so far 22.5

Getting fit in '09 update #14

I am down .5 this week...much more than I expected! It's been a rough week with eating. Alex has been sick off and on and it makes me too tired to make something healthy. Hopefully I can get back on track this week. I know I won't make my goal, but I am still hoping to get as close as I can!

Getting fit in '09 update #13

Well, I weighed-in yesterday instead of today because we went out to eat at Red Lobster for our 7 year anniversary and I really didn't want to face the scale this morning after all those biscuits and ranch ;) So I am happy to announce that yesterday I was down 1.5lbs. And this morning I got to go down another notch on my belt! When I started I couldn't even wear this belt, now I am 3 notches into it...that makes me feel so good!

This weeks weight: 151
Total weight loss so far: 20.5

Things I did this week: got sick with strep...yet again...and really didn't do anything else LOL
Things to do this week: Stay away from Alex's Easter goodies and drink more water!

Getting fit in '09 update #12

Sorry for the delay! I only lost .5 this week, but I'll take it, considering how terrible I ate this week! It was just bad, bad, bad! But this is a new week, and I WILL get back on track :)

Today's weight: 152.5
Total weight lost so far: 19lbs

Things I did this week: worked out once, ate really really bad

Things to do this week: continue working on the water in-take, and get back on track

Getting fit in '09 update #11

Yay! I'm down 2 pounds this week :) I weigh 153, for a total loss of 18.5 pounds! I've hit my first mini-goal, which was 10% of my starting weight. I am so happy I have stuck with it, even during the hard weeks when I gained for no apparent reason. I'm half-way there...18 down, 18 to go!

Things I did this week: Did pretty good at staying within my points, worked out once, took care of sick kids and a husband

Things to do this week: Work on water intake, I really suck at that.

Getting fit in '09 update #10

Holy cow! I have made it to the halfway point in my journey! It seems to have gone by really fast. Keeping this journal has helped me keep on track along with the support and comments of all of you, family, and friends.

This week I am only down .5 pounds, which makes me kinda sad, but at least it's something. I didn't eat the greatest this week, but I did get in a couple workouts using Jillian's 30 Day Shred (and...wow...that kicked my butt!). I also got to go on a couple walks because of the nice weather. I will count them even if they were slow ones....Alex refuses to sit in the stroller and insists on helping me push these days. Anyway, I am at 155 so only 20 more to go until I hit my goal. I have to maintain 2lbs a week to reach it, and that worries me a bit.

I took some pictures yesterday so I could see the difference 16.5lbs has made, and I was pleasantly surprised. Even though I have dropped from a 16 to a 12...it was still hard for me to really see how my body has changed. So here are my before pictures, with my halfway there pictures:

Getting fit in '09 update #9

I am down 3lbs this week! I am at 155.5 (only 5.5 pounds away from pre-Carter weight!) I am totally shocked, as I didn't get to work out at all! But I ate pretty good. Having strep really sucked, but at least I still lost weight. Stay tuned for next week...it marks the half way point and I will be taking some comparison pictures! I am excited to see the changes. :)

Things I did this week: Nothing but recover

Things to do this week: Get back into the swing of things...start off small, so it's not so daunting!