Look who showed up today!

MY NIECE IS HERE!!!:)
Reagan Danielle Smith arrived today, May 27 (cuz in our family, apparently people can only be born in March, May or September!) @ 1101. She is 9lbs 1 oz and 21 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well.
I am so proud of my sister: what an inspiration you are! What you did today and for the last 5 months was amazing in itself, but you did it without complaining or feeling sorry for yourself. A lot of others, including me, couldn't do that, at least with the poise and confidence you have. You had the prayers, love and support from so many, I'm sure it helped. I know Daniel is proud of you too. What an honor to be related to you:)

What a sweet face!


One of the first things Shosh told me when she called was "she has your butt-chin!".
Fantastic. it is cute tho:)


Look at that hair! Isn't she lovely?


I am so happy to be your Auntie, Regs!

Beautiful

Any day now and I'll be an aunt!!!





One of my most favorite songs ever... the lyrics are below. The song is Beautiful, by Plankeye off their Commonwealth album, which is also very good! Parts of this are for Shosh and parts are for Reagan. Enjoy!

You shared her with me yesterday, so close and yet so far away
It's the little things she does that magnify your grace
And your grace resonates in my soul every time I see her face
At your feet I lay her down, humbly before you I bow
She's a blessing, you've given to me, Father of light
The lines have fallen in pleasant places, Many daughters have done well
But you excel them all.
Protect her and mold her with your hands You've been good to me my sweet
And your grace resonates in my soul every time I see her face
You have been a shelter Lord, and she has been my dream
Beautiful, beautiful, I feel your grace abound on me In the light, in the light
At your feet I lay her down, humbly before you I bow
She's the blessing, you've given to me, Father of light

Love and Prayers to ya, Shosh

Biggest loser and more weight loss tales

I have never voted for any reality show competition before... till last week. I watch the Biggest Loser and really like that show, for a reality show. It at least has positive results in the end. It is really fascinating to watch these people morph physically and mentally. I voted for Daris last week. I really wanted to see him in the top 3. I always liked Koli and Sam, but I was so over their "we are inspirational and motivational to everyone and want the confetti to fall on our head" shtick. Perhaps I still "lost" tho, as Koli won the at home prize and Daris got nothing. I was happy to see Michael win. At first I didn't like him, but as the season progressed, so did his attitude and his work ethic. I liked his humor, too. I kinda thought if he worked hard, he would win, just cuz he had so much more weight to lose than anyone else. I wish they would quit pandering to Shay from last season tho. She needs to quit having people hold her hand now. She looks fine. Why not help the twin brothers, James and John? They need some extra attention, too! I don't get why some people get more attention/help than others. Every one of those contestants could benefit from extra incentives to lose more weight at home.

Speaking of weight loss...

I have been maintaining my own weight loss 3 weeks after completing the first of 2 HCG diet cycles. It hasn't been as easy as advertised. I have been doing Weight Watchers... well, let me be honest. I started doing Weight Watchers last week FAITHFULLY. I put on 3 lbs. 2 weeks ago, but since I have been faithful, I have dropped that 3 lbs and am back to my original weight loss #. Oh, and I just got my new treadmill and am loving that! I will continue with Weight Watchers till about mid-summer and do a second round of HCG diet and hopefully be to my goal weight before school starts up in August! I have been getting a few inquiries about the HCG diet and let me tell you, I am happy to share my experience but I don't know if this is the absolute cure-all for weight loss. It has been so far for me, but that doesn't make it fool proof! I don't mind being the guninea pig here, but time will tell if this will be a long term thing or not. A lot of that is up to me tho, not the diet itself... this is important to remember!

You have to follow the diet to the letter and I have a co-worker's daughter who is doing it and will fail because she is not doing the diet. She will be disappointed and mad at me cuz I said it works. It does, but only if you STRICTLY follow the diet. No Cheating Allowed! So that is advice #1 from me: Follow the diet. If it says no cosmetics other than eyeliner, lip gloss, and powder, don't use any other cosmetics. If the diet says to eat only so much of this type of meat and this type of veggie, eat just those types. If you don't think you can handle that, then don't do the diet. It won't work for you. And no alcohol! Why do people just want to whither and die when their alcohol is restricted for 3 to 4 weeks?! (Perhaps AA instead is in order? Seriously!) Not a big deal silly! All that food: the candy, chips, burgers, alcohol will be there when you're done. (Just remember moderation when you get to that point, mmm-k?) You can do it!! And I'll help and cheer you on the whole way:)

For Manda

Little sister
Youngest one of all
It's also kinda funny
of all of us, you're also small!

But if one asks
and be sure they do
I tell them twice
she's got more talent than you!

A musician, a writer
A drawer, a painter
A sister, a Daughter
You'll find no one quainter

She works hard
and dreams big
She studies long hours
and waits for her next music gig

I hope, Manda,
tho this is a little late
you know how much I love you
and had a good b-day on the May 10th date!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday, Honey!

Tony, I love you
more and more each day
Does it seem corny
I should talk this way?

A third of my life
has been spent with only you
Tho, there are times it seems longer
This is very true!

But the truth is,
no matter how I kid
You are my soulmate, my friend,
my support... no matter what I did.

This time of year
when the 14th rolls around
you roll your eyes and wish so much
we'd bury your day underground.

But for someone as funny,
as smart, as loving as you,
is it so bad that we want
to celebrate with and for you?

Well, like it or not
(the presents you don't mind!)
we'll celebrate today
and then you can unwind!

Have a wonderful day, babe!

Happy Mother's Day!

... or in my house, Momma's Day! I hope everyone had a wonderful day. I sure did. Started off by working, but that isn't so bad. Then, came home to the cutest card Aria and Tony put together for me, along with some flowers (dandelions!) Aria picked. "You should have flowers for Mother's Day", she stated. We traveled to Havre to eat and then did the usual trip to Walmart, picked up some of this and that. I bought some bulbs and flower seeds and when we got home, Aria and I planted lots of flowers. We all did some yard work, which was actually nice considering how crap-tastic the weather's been lately. It was nice to be outdoors! We capped the evening off by sitting around out fire pit and roasting marshmallows and hot dogs. A good day.

I am so glad to have my mom, gramma, mother-in-law, and so many wonderful women around to set a great example of how a mom should be. I have many good friends who are also terrific moms. One of the most rewarding experiences in life is being a parent and I am so lucky to be among such an elite crowd! So to all you moms and especially my mom, Happy Mother's Day today and every day!

Too good to be true?

That is what I said when I first started this diet. Well, I have 2 more days and then on to eating whatever I want minus starches and sugars for 3 weeks. And you know what?... I'm down 34 lbs! It's hard to believe I started this April 3. Of this year! I have to say that this diet works, and it REALLY works. I, cross my heart, did not cheat once. I followed every tip along the way and wouldn't you know? It worked! Now, time will tell how "permanent" the results are. I have discovered I actually have pretty decent will power, too. So, within reason, I should be able to maintain. I still have a way to go, but am well on my way to my ultimate goal. There's nothing better as far as motivation is concerned when results are almost instant. If you're curious, look up hcgdiet.com to learn more about it. It may sound drastic to some and ridiculous to others, but there is no one more skeptical and jaded when it comes to dieting than me. And not to brag, but being a medical professional also comes in handy with this diet. As time goes on, I may reveal more specifics to this diet as it pertains to me, but for now if you're interested, do your own homework! If you want fast results with a great outcome... look no further than this diet.