Dolly's First Easter

1 Month Home Photos

I got out the camera today to take a few photos of Dolly

(and to learn a little more about how to use the camera)

She's surprisingly photogenic!

Sitting in her favorite spot in the yard.

She knows the "sit" command very well!

Pretty girl

Playing with the ball. This is something new she has discovered in the past week and a half!

Sitting with her first toy! We got this for her on the day we adopted her and it is VERY well loved!

(This is my attempt at being artistic and getting a photo from one of the trees in the yard)

One Month Home!

Dolly has been home exactly one month today!

In the past month she has:

• ... learned 3 commands (sit, lay, and shake)
• ... had only 2 accidents in the house (both of which were in the past week)
• ... still not figured out how to sit still for pictures
• ... had 5 baths (and is starting to warm up to them a little more)
• ... torn up 3 socks and countless dryer sheets (without eating them!)
• ... chewed up 4 shoes
• ... met both sets of "grandparents" and both "cousins"
• ... gone to Bella and Gramps' house once 
• ... taken 2 car rides
• and last but most definitely not least, she has given and received countless hugs and kisses, and has never stopped wagging her little bob tail!

She loves snuggle time with Chad! 

Thank you again to 4 Paws 4 Rescue in Fenton, MO for giving us our Dolly-girl!

1000 Gifts....(And Being a Big Loser...)

...AND I WAS THE BIGGEST LADY LOSER!

Now, most people don't cheer about being a loser, but when it comes to weight, its TOTALLY worth cheering about.

Much more than the cash, the richness has come from setting a goal and meeting it!

So what changes now?

Not too much.

I definitely don't intend to gain back the weight.

What will change is the focus from weight loss to full-body heath.

How?

Well, I joined a gym so that I can start gaining muscle.

I intend to stick with smarter food choices, portions, and snack times.

I am setting my plans in order to get outside more with the garden.

And possibly the most important, I am working through a challenge from this book:



We are doing a Bible Study on this book, the premise of it being to learn "Euchristeo" which basically means living thankfully.

The tag line from the book is "A dare to live fully, right where you are."

And if you know me, you know that this is

I am a very "project oriented" type.

If I don't have some big event/project/whatever to work on, I drive myself crazy.

If I don't have something big to be scrambling around for, I feel bored with life.

In reading the book, I'm forced to ask myself the hard questions...

Why do I feel the impulsive need to be busy?

Why do I always feel like I need a "project" to work on.

Am I so busy being "busy" day to day that I forget...

...to be thankful?

...to stop and enjoy the small blessings that are passing so fast?

...to just sit back and maybe, rest?

As I have been kicking these thoughts around in my mind, it seems I am not the only one.

Friend and fellow blogger Hayley has some things to say about this too in one of her latest posts.

So, moving forward, how will life look?

Will I struggle through it?

Most likely.

Will it be worth it?

Absolutely.

(As of today I am at number 49 out of the author's challenge to list 1,000 things we are thankful for.)

Being a Big Loser...Week 11-12

One more week to go!

And I'm down another pound!

Which is amazing considering the fact that I found a bag of M&M's in the freezer, and they just seem to keep jumping into my mouth!

I am finally above 10% loss.

That is something to celebrate!

Although it would be a LOT easier to celebrate if I clinched the lead girl spot and won some prize money.

I have house project plans  for it already!

That's about it.

Chad passed his insurance exam, which is awesome!

Now we just need for the weather to get better so he doesn't freeze while he spends time outside.

Dolly is in a little bit of trouble.

Yesterday, she chewed up TWO pairs of shoes and a towel.

And I caught her getting into the trash three different times.

One of those times was 4 a.m. today.

That was a VERY unhappy thing to wake up to.

She totally knows when she does something bad too!

She won't look at me, the tail stops wagging, and her ears lay down.

Notice how I have that memorized?

Sigh...we have a two year old...

Here's a picture of her to remind us that she is still cute!

(As if we needed reminding)

Also, both nephews got haircuts on Saturday and it makes me sad because they look so BIG!

As Emmett put it, "Daddy cut my haircut."

They're so cute!

Updated house photos!

Living room

Coffee bar...obviously!

Main bath...

The den...and Chad working like normal!

Our room! And Dolly's bed in the corner that she's finally sleeping in!

(Dad also painted in here the weekend we cleaned)

My craft room doesn't have anything new and noteworthy, since I can just close the door to the mess. 

Hopefully I'll be outfitting that room next!

Dolly's First Bath

Tonight, Dolly had her first bath at home!

We were a little worried about how she would take it, but she did well!

....well once Chad picked her up and put her in the tub.

I got in there with her and did the bathing, but Chad did manage to catch a few shots!

Laugh if you want, but I am thoroughly enjoying having a "little one" to take care of again!

...and as I said, this blog is just as much a memory book for us as it is a way to keep people updated on out life!

She wasn't too sure about the soap!

I think this is her thinking, "you just wait Mom. I am totally going to make sure you get soaked too!"

Is it time to get out yet Mom?!

All clean!

We didn't get a chance to get a picture of us drying her off with the hair dryer.

She wasn't too sure about that thing!