Resolutions update

Since we are half way through 2012 (!!!!), I thought I'd give an update on how my New Years Resolutions are going...I first blogged about my resolutions back in January here and here.  My two main resolutions were to 1) "be a better blogger,"" and 2) lose weight, be healthier.

So how have I been doing?  Let's see...

1) Be a better blogger... I've been doing fairly well on this one, I'd say.  I was not able to blog every day in January like I wanted to.  Somehow I just couldn't get it done (it's harder than it sounds!).  However, I have definitely been blogging more frequently than I was.  And, I (finally) did a complete blog makeover.  It took me forever (and that's only a slight exageration) to figure out how to do it, but I did it, and I kinda like it, if I do say so myself :)  Also, I've been making a point of trying to comment more on other people's blogs.  So, while I have room for improvment in this area, and lots of ideas for posts that I haven't written yet, I think I've been doing ok on this one...

2) Lose weight, be healthier...Actually yes, I've been doing this...Since February, I've lost a buncha weight :)  Thanks to kicking out just about all food that I enjoy processed foods, diet soda, and beer, plus working out regularly at the Y, I've made that number on the scale go down :)  And I definitely feel better (no more "carbo comas" or food hangovers)  Just hope I can keep this up!!!!!


 Just for comparison, below is a picture from July 2011, then a picture from July 2012. 



July 2011



July 2012

So...that's where I'm at right now...still a work in progress, and actually, I'm cool with that.  I think we should always be growing and evolving.  Otherwise, what's the point, right? 

Hmmm...this has been a pretty "all about me" post, hasn't it...?  Isn't this blog supposed to be "all about Elizabeth?"  No worries, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming shortly :)

Anyone out there want to share their progress on their New Year's resolutions?  Love to hear from you (especially you lurkers out there, you know who you are :)

Fun at the lake

One of my friend's Mom has a house on a beautiful lake in Maine, and we were invited to spend some time there this weekend.  We went up Friday night after work and spent the day on Saturday.  So much fun!!  There was swimming, Kayacking, a little walking in the woods, and just hanging out, relaxing.  Great times!!  Elizabeth loved playing with my friend's 6 year old daughter, and the two girls were inseperable the whole time we were there. 

Elizabeth was on the go all day, and wore herself out (it can happen!).  She fell asleep at 7pm, about 5 minutes into our car ride home Saturday night.  She didn't wake up until 8 the next morning...:)

Thank you Heidi, we had a great time!!

Meet my new daughter

This is Chikondi, who I am so excited to be sponsoring, through Save the Children.  She is 6 years old and lives in Malawi, Africa.    Isn't she adorable???!!!  I'll be getting more info about her in the mail soon.  I can't wait to learn more about her.:)

I'm in love...

with my new Kindle...I saw I had some reward points on Amazon, so I decided to get a Kindle, finally!  I didn't get the Kindle Fire, decided I really didn't need that.  I got the old school cheaper one.  And...I love it!!  I love being able to get books instantly, love how light and convenient it is.  I take it down to the pool with me when E goes swimming, so easy!  I still love "real" books, and almost nothing makes me happier than browsing through a bookstore.  But for ease, and instant gratification (which I'm a big fan of), the Kindle is awesome.  Anyone else out there have a Kindle and love it?

Artbeat

On Saturday, Elizabeth and I met up with some friends from E's school at a local festival going on called Artbeat.  Lots of fun! 

Riding in the back of her friend's stroller.  That's the way to travel!

Getting a tattoo :)

Fried Rice

Late Sunday afternoon, Elizabeth asked me if we could do "something special, since I'm 5 now."  I asked her what she had she had in mind, and she said "go out to eat fried rice."  My girl girl loooves her some Chinese food, especially the fried rice :)  I thought that sounded like a great idea  (especially since I didn't really feel like cooking dinner) so off we went to the town center, where there is a small Chinese restaurant we hadn't been to before.  Miss E was happy with her heaping plate of fried rice, a lot of which we boxed up and took home to enjoy the next day. :)

Just a little over a month until...

Elizabeth and I go to San Diego...Whee!!  So excited...we haven't been there since we moved east almost 3 years ago.  Can I just say that I still have a little PTSD from that particular flight?  Elizabeth had recently turned 2.  Need I say more?  OMG, it was...bad...She was not happy about being made to stay her seat, despite all the snacks and toys I had.  I even tried to bribe her with my usually forbidden phone.  She looked at it for about 20 seconds, then threw it over the seat in front of us.  There was a lot of screaming and crying (and Elizabeth had a hard time, too)...It was so bad that after the flight, in the baggage claim area, an older man who'd been on our flight patted me on the arm and said, "It gets better..."  I was so tired and frazzled by that point, all I could manage was a wan smile at him in return. 
Well, obviously, Elizabeth has grown and changed in the past three years.  There is a huge difference between 2 and 5 years, right?  I am anticipating a much better experience this time.  And just to insure that things will go better, I've bought her a kids e-reader, which can be loaded with apps for games, etc.  It was going to be for her birthday, but I may wait until we fly out to give it to her. 

What about you?  Any travelling-with -kids horror stories?

Birthday party!

Elizabeth's birthday party was today, held at the "Splash park."  This is a great playground that has a splash pad with sprinklers.   I didn't get a lot of pics unfortunately, but here are a few...Maria gave E a "rocket launcher" for her bday, that is what the kids are playing with in most of these photos.

And of course, there was pizza...

 And cake...

(some little faced blurred since I didn't ask parents' permission to post)

It was a fun little party, and E had a great time.  Until the guests started leaving, when she began crying, and really cranking out...I've mentioned  before that she does not like goodbyes, and hates for parties, and playdates to end.  I just hope she can take in and remember the great time she had with her friends while the party was still going on :)

So...this officially wraps up another bday for Miss E.  Another great one! :)

Birthday night

Elizabeth's birthday party is later today (!!!), but her actual birthday was on Wednesday.  That night we celebrated by going out to dinner with our friend Maria.  We walked from Maria's house down to the square where the restaurant was,  This is a very familiar walk for Elizabeth, and she (as always)made sure to visit the donkey that is in someone's yard along the way...

Chatting with Maria

Blog make over

So, I decided that this blog was long overdue for a makeover.  I really don't know what I'm doing, but I stayed up half the night last night playing around with different banners, etc.  I thought this banner looked bright and summery, and reflects E's love of the water.  What I really want is to be able to put two or three photos in the header, also, but I don't seem to be able to figure out how to do that.  I see it on tons of other blogs, so I know it's possible, I just can't do it myself.  So if anyone out there reading this can give me some pointers, that would be great!  :)

Dear Elizabeth (a letter to my sweet girl on her 5th birthday)

Dear Elizabeth,

So today is your 5th birthday.  Wow, is all I can say.  All of your birthdays have been important, but for some reason, this one seems like a really big one.  It feels like this is the end of your early childhood.  And it's true, you have been quickly shedding all remnants of "preschoolishness" and are turning into a "school age kid" right before my very eyes.  Some days, I swear you look bigger when I pick you up from Day Care than you did when I dropped you off in the morning.  You have even lost two teeth already, which you are very proud of!  You are getting more and more interested in reading and writing, although you would still prefer to be jumping or swimming.  Oh, how you love to jump...You would be so happy if I converted our livingroom into a giant trampoline!  And swimming...As I tell you all the time, you are a little fish.  You love, love, love to swim, and to jump into the water.  You took swimming lessons this Spring (courtesy of your Aunt Betsy) and can now do the crawl stroke.  People always comment on what a great swimmer you are when they see you in the pool. 

You love to sing, especially songs from "The Wizard of Oz", your favorite movie in the world.  You definitely have a dramatic flair about you, and love to perform.  I can't decide if you will be a famous athlete, or a famous actress.  Maybe you'll be both, I wouldn't put it past you.  You have a strong personality, and a strong will, which I wouldn't change, even though sometimes it makes for some "challenging" moments between us.  You get angry with me sometimes, but it never lasts long.  More than anything, you are loving and caring with me, and want to please.

You are an extrovert, and quickly make new friends wherever you go.  You get very unhappy when play dates and birthday parties are over, and it's time to say goodbye.  You have a vitality and a spark that draws people to you.  You are a happy girl, and pretty much sing and jump your way through life :) 

You have some big changes coming up soon.  You will say goodbye to the Day Care/ Preschool you have been going to for almost three years, and hello to Kindergarten.  I know you are ready.  I'm so excited to watch you learn and grow over the next year.  I think you will love Kindergarten and will do great.  I have a lump in my throat that my "baby" is no more, but proud and thrilled that you are growing into such a sweet, bright, funny, big girl. 

So Happy 5th Birthday, Tizzylish.  Mommy loves you to the Moon and back.

Love,

Mommy

A look back through the years...

Just for fun, I decided to take a look back at our annual photoshoots...

July, 2012- 5 years old

July, 2011- 4 years old

July 2010- 3 years old

July, 2009- 2 years old

July, 2008- 1 year old

5 year photoshoot

Last night, E and I had our annual photoshoot.  Each year around her birthday, I have professional pics taken of us (mostly just of her, but I always get one of the two of us also).  Love the last one, it is sooo her...:)

Some more Maine vacay pictures

E and I are home now, back to the Day Care/work grind.... We had a great little vacation last week :)  I love being with my family! 
Just got some pictures from my brother that he took, so I thought I'd share them...  Don't worry, this is the last of the Maine pictures- I promise!!

Now that we're home, plans for E's birthday are going into full swing :)  My baby will be 5 on Wednesday...How is that possible????

Maine- Day 5

Today was our last full day in Maine :(  This morning we took some family pictures down on the rocks.  We used my brother's fancy camera, and he hasn't sent any of those to me yet, but here's a few I snapped with my Blackberry. 

Elizabeth and her cousins with their Uncle Don

My brother, SIL, and nephews

My sister and BIL

Later in the morning, I took E for a swim in the neighbors pool...

This afternoon, my sister and I headed out to Ellsworth to do some clothes shopping.  We hit a few awesome thrift stores and TJ Max, and made a huge haul!!  Thank you Betsy for your excellent fashion advice and for your generosity- you're the best! xoxox  And thank you Mom, Dad and Don for hanging out with E back at the house this afternoon!  xoxox

And last but not least...E would like to remind everyone that being on vacation is no excuse for neglecting your excercise routine :)

Maine- Day 4

Ok, these pictures are all jumbled up, but Blogger is being a PITA, and I'm having trouble moving the pictures around...
Today we went to a Farmer's Market on Deer Isle (Stonington), and there was a small playground next to it, so E and I hung out there while my Mom, sister, and BIL walked through the market.  The playground had a wooden boat in it, which Elizabeth thought was pretty cool. :) 
After lunch, E and I went back to Deer Isle to go for a swim in a pond that we like there.  After that, we went to Nervous Nellie's, where they make homemade jellies and jams.  But the really cool part about Nervous Nellie's is there are sculptures all around the shop and in the nearby woods made out of old recycled parts.  Really creative, and fun to see any new sculptures they've added over the past year.

Enjoying a juice and scone at Nervous Nellie's

Eating a yummy "gluten free chocolate cupcake with strawberry buttermilk frosting" at the Farmer's Market