CAA

Did I mention I put myself in CAA?

Hello, my name is Gretchen Brown (Hello, Gretchen). It has been three weeks since my last Coke.

This may mean nothing to you, but in this battle to lose weight I decided to take baby steps toward losing weight, instead of starting some major diet that would frustrate me. First step: cut out all coke, tea and coffee - they are just empty calories. I love Coke, not Diet Coke, I hate that, I want the real thing. I also enjoy tea and coffee, but I don't need them, I don't need them, I don't need them - I'm still trying to convince myself. That leaves me with a lot of water, Crystal Light tea for flavor, and Diet Pepsi or Diet Mountain Dew when caffeine is necessary. Did I mention that I love Coke?

As part of the first step, I am getting back into my exercising. I still haven't been given clearance to run (*hmpf*), but I am doing aerobics in the morning at least four times a week and each night I walk on the treadmill for 45-70 minutes (I've even cheated and had some 90 second runs to boost my heart rate - shhh, don't tell). It is getting to the point that I crave the exercise, which I love that feeling. I can't wait until I am really running, but I'm happy with what I've been able to do for now.

I've also been keeping a food log. I've never really done this before, but it is amazing (or sad) if you actually do it. I'm a grazer, but now, since I have to write it down, I think twice about raiding the kids Halloween bag for a snack size Snickers. I know this wouldn't work for some marriages, but Jason handles it just right, so I leave my log on the counter (so it is easy to write things down immediately) and he can look at it any time. That is good motivation! I've been keeping track of calories, fat grams, fiber and protein (since I'm doing weights in my aerobics I was told to make sure I was getting enough protein, which I haven't been doing, so I drink a protein shake after aerobics).

So, three weeks in, what I have learned? Calories add up quickly, I don't really need Coke, if I eat oatmeal for breakfast it really kills my snacking needs throughout the morning, I can drink water, I don't need Coke (did I say that already?), exercise is good, etc. I also have found that I don't crave the grease that I once craved. Jason wanted to go get Zaxby's chicken last night, which is my favorite, and it just didn't sound good. It could have just been my mood, but I think it is also that I realize how long I'd have to walk on the treadmill to burn it off.

I'm not saying I'm a health nut and that you'll never see me eating junk food, but I have been making some major changes that I hope stay life changes. Since I assume I won't be getting pregnant again I have motivation to get this 'baby weight' off and I don't want to keep playing the roller-coaster weight game.

I'm going to stick with it. I have to do this! I can do this!

Nothing like a little pep talk for yourself!

PS. I've lost 9 lbs in three weeks, that is also good motivation!

The Weekend!

After many, many very busy weekends (mostly because of Greta's Beads shows), this weekend was just what we needed. It actually was supposed to be busy, but ended up not being busy at all. And it was productive!

Jason didn't work Friday so he was home, which is always a treat. He got to work on his truck and got a few odds and ends done around the house. I had Baby David and wanted to get some cleaning done and some laundry done because we were going to be gone all day Saturday.

Unfortunately, our Saturday plans didn't work out. We were supposed to go to Franklin to visit with the McClure's, but at the last minute Shannon found out she had to work Saturday. It was very disappointing not to go, Mollee and Tavis didn't handle it well, but we will make it happen another weekend (this was the second time to get cancelled this Fall)!

Since I had all my cleaning and laundry done (ok, really it is never completely done), I went out Saturday afternoon and got some Christmas shopping done. It was a good reminder why I don't usually wait until December to do my shopping - it was insanely busy!

It was probably for the best that we didn't go out-of-town because we have all been fighting a cough, etc. At the beginning of last week, Daegan missed school because of strep and on Wednesday Mac had to get a steroid shot for a rough case of croup. I haven't had a voice for about six days (this happens to me every Fall?), but, thankfully, I haven't really felt bad.

Therefore, we stayed home from church Sunday morning, and it was nice just to take a slow, relaxing morning to do nothing. We went to Mom and Dad's for lunch (thanks mom for cooking!), but didn't really stick around like we normally do and came home for some more "nothing". I watched "UP" with the kids (which we all enjoyed, but it was a little sad and Capps said the movie made his stomach hurt) and then, after the kids went to bed, I watched "G.I.Joe" with Jase (which was entertaining - if you like action packed).

And now, another week starts!

Can you believe next week is Thanksgiving?

Wii

This is a delayed blog. A few weeks ago, we were invited to Dusty and Rachel's house for some Wii time (we used to spend every Sunday night with the Kemp's, but things have gotten busy). The kids have been begging to go for awhile so it was nice that it finally worked out. Of course, they had a blast.

The evening started out with some Guitar Hero: Beatles.which Mac didn't understand, but throroughly enjoyedThere was a lot of sword fighting

Mario Kart (Mollee driving was way too scary) Daegan enjoyed everything about it (and wants to know how long it would take him to save up money for a Wii) And Capps enjoyed the frisbee throwing - here with a triumphant cheer.

It was great! And amazing! Computers can do anything now!

Thanks Dusty and 'Skip'.

Paul Frank

My Capps loves all things MONKEY! He is so excited about the Paul Frank line at Target of shirts that have monkeys on them (maybe his excitement has been encouraged a little by Mommy!).

The Winter Toboggan Monkey:

The Hockey Monkey:

And the Race Car Monkey:
I love it! :)

Happy Birthday T Dog!

As is our tradition, Tavis had three birthday parties:

One with the Brown's on Friday night. Uncle Daniel (and Aunt Heather, but we don't blame her) gave Tavis a roll of paper towels for his birthday. This picture makes it look like he thought it was funny, but when no other gift was in sight he seemed very sad, but I must say he was grateful and kind about it (which made it harder on mommy!). Then Uncle Daniel ran out to the car for the real gift which was some big G.I. Joe Jet that was so AWESOME!

A party with the Caines' (which he celebrated with Eleanor - there is always a cousin to share your birthday with in the Caines family). Tavis isn't a sweets lover (go figure?) and usually only eats dessert if it is oreos, so Grandma made him a pile of oreos for his cake (which is a tradition!). And we celebrated at home tonight, we always try to celebrate on the actual birthday. As a big shock, he asked me to make No-Bake Cookies for his birthday (not Oreos??), but we couldn't get the candles to stay in the cookies very well. Tavis was laughing and being so goofy that he blew out the candles somehow by his laughing. WHAT A HAM!

Like I said, What A Ham!(Obviously, he didn't get his two front teeth for his birthday, maybe Christmas?)

Tavis is the hardest one of my children to buy a gift for. He doesn't ask for much and when you get him a toy, it is usually 'adopted' by Daegan or Capps within a week. He did request a watch, so hopefully, he can keep track of it.

Happy Birthday, T!!!! Or T Dog!!!! Or Mr. T!!!! Or Sweet T!!!!

Tavis turns 8 (tomorrow)!

Yes, just nine days ago Mollee turned 9 - you do the math - it was a busy/hectic time. Unfortunately, Jason and I don't remember a lot about it. Tavis was a happy baby (not requiring a lot of 'attention') and Mollee, as a 13-18 month old, kept us on our toes. Mollee actually cried for the first nine months of life so it is our belief that the Lord made us pregnant again quickly before we decided this baby thing wasn't for us. Tavis was a wonderful baby that made us think maybe the baby thing wasn't so bad.

My memories of Tavis as a baby are this: Labor was induced because of preclampsia and he was born around 11:30 AM, he had RSV at 2-months old, he was always happy, ate more oatmeal than any child should, and he never took a bottle.

Here Tavis is only a week old and Mollee had already decided he was a good baby doll.As I was looking through pictures I wanted to scan to put in this post it cracked me up that in most of Tavis' pictures from his first year, he had this glazed, 'I don't really know what is going on' look on his face. That really should explain a lot.
(I remember this was St. Patrick's Day - because all good Protestants wear orange for St. Patrick's Day - did you know that?)

This was Tavis' response to meeting Daegan at the hospital (15 months later).

And here I was trying to get a group shot after getting Daegan home - and Tavis is still glazed over (and Mollee has another doll baby).
At age 3 1/2 he was my little sweetheart charmer - Oh, wait, that label still fits him perfectly!Wearing big-boy ties with Daddy!!Age 5 (still enjoys wearing a tie)
Age 6 (Birthday hat he got to wear for his birthday in kindergarden)

Age 7 - wearing an awful sweatshirt, compliments of the brainwashing from Uncle Daniel (Roll Tide!) And now he is turning 8!

Mollee turns 9!

Somehow, my oldest daughter turned 9 yesterday! I honestly can't remember how I let the time slip by so fast. She is beginning to look so grown up that it is a little unnerving. For her birthday, she got her ears pierced and she got an MP3 player from her Uncle Daniel and Aunt Heather. Those things alone make it seem like she is even older.

Like every other birthday in our household, we celebrated three times.

One with the Brown family on Friday night:

One at home on the actual birthday:

And one with the Caines family (which Mollee always enjoys sharing with Uncle JR) on Sunday:

Our kids get lots of blowing-out-candles practice.