Last Weekend

Last weekend I did the walk & roll in our town with my sister & IV.   My mom works for State Farm and she had a tent at the walk & roll.   Not to brag, but I think we are some pretty cute ladies.  My mom emailed me the picture.  We walked & IV rolled in her stroller.   It was a great day!   We had so much fun!   Can't wait to do it again next year!   

AJ, Mom, IV, & Me

Favorite Photo on Monday

Here is my favorite photo of my favorite little girl's curls :) - What a sweet sweet baby she is and I'm having a hard time with the fact that she is about to be almost a year and a half old this summer - right now she is 16 months old. She'll not hit the 17th month mark until the 12th of this month. So a few days we have left of sixteen month old IV.

I posted a picture of IV, because she always makes me smile and I had a rather rough weekend when it comes to people/friends making plans and then canceling or just really seeming like when you show up they would have rather that you didn't show up at all. I'll have to write more about this later. I'll also post about why there are no more face shots of my favorite little girl. I just wanted to say that I've been praying and thinking about all of you out there and I hope that you are doing well.
MJ

IV's Birthday Celebration

So when you have a neice and she is so sweet like IV - you just want to talk - which here means BRAG about her all the time! IV has been such a blessing for so many reasons. She makes me smile, laugh, look at life with brand new eyes. Her first birthday was wonderful. My Grandma Runner came up to visit for IV's birthday; she got in on a Wednesday night and then stayed until the following Tuesday morning. My sister had some vacation time and took a few days off so that my sister AJ & baby IV - could get in some quality time with Great Grandma! Then on Saturday we had IV's birthday party. She had two cakes. Lots of people at her party. Family, Friends and another little boy who was so cute. IV really got the hang of ripping the paper off of packages. She got a tricycle from EV and AJ. Mom and Dad got her a little grocery cart. She got lots of books and toys. I got her a little vacuum cleaner that sings & teaches the alphabet. I also got her a cute little winter outfit w/ cute sweater and brown cord pants. It was great to be able to spend some time with my family.
During the past few weekends, I've had so much time with my wonderful family. We had some good talks, we played some cards, watched National Treasure Book of Secrets-even IV went to the movie. She slept most of the way through. Her smart mommy planned the family going to the movie during her nap time. I would recommend the movie to any of you that need an idea for a date night. National Treasure the original was a great movie, but the second one was just as good. If you don't check it out on the big screen, make sure you check it out on DVD. My dad and I went Christmas shopping on Christmas eve for my mom, which is always fun - even though the roads weren't the greatest. Much to the rest of my family's dismay Dad and I took so long shopping for mom we didn't get home in time to make it to Christmas eve service at Church. :( It was good to spend time with my Dad though and just having time to talk to him.

I wanted to let you all know that I have pictures that I'd like to add to these blogs, but what has happened is - I was so busy with work at DFI - that I didn't get a chance to write my blogs and update you all on everything over the last week I was at work. I ended up taking my computer home (with all my pictures on it) home yesterday! I am going to work on getting internet at my house, but as of right now I don't have it at my house so I'm posting from a computer at the family I nanny for. I have some great pictures from IV's birthday and I think that right now I'm only missing one post and that one would be for Christmas... hope you all had a great Holiday! I've enjoyed reading all about you guys! Pictures to come.... MJ

Lost Battery Charger...

Okay .. so usually I don't like to do negative posts! It's just that I'm very frustrated that I've lost the charger to my digital camera! I'm wondering where to go to replace it! My camera is less than a year old I bought it for myself as a birthday gift last January! How could I have lost the charger? I use that camera for so many things that I just can't believe I misplaced the charger some how! I guess I'll have to go to National Camera and Battery and see if they have a replacement that I can buy or order. My grandma IAR is coming to visit on Thursday for IV's birthday and then IV's birthday is on Wednesday so I definitley can't miss these major going ons! Well I hope that the holidays are all going wonderfully for all of you! Also on Wednesday Alivia (http://baby-story.blogspot.com/) is having surgery. So could you all keep her in your prayers! She is a sweet little one who was adopted from Russia as well. I'm hoping that since her surgery is on Wednesday IV's birthday it will bring little Alivia good luck. Also Alivia's mom Jeana - just posted Alivia's cute adorable Christmas pictures! Check them out! Have a wonderful day everyone!
Blessings -
Mandy
Update ... I just looked all through my truck because my sister suggested I check there and guess what ... no charger! Back to the drawing board on places to search!

What Happens when the phones & internet go down at the office ...

What Happens when the phones & internet go down at the office ...

So all summer construction crews have been working down the street from our offices and even right in front of our offices, but besides causing traffic to be crazy we haven't really noticed them all that much. Until one day in November - we come in and all the sudden ... no phones... no internet... no nothing! Atleast we had power because it would've gotten very cold in the offices with no heat! So the question is what do you do when you have no heat at the office?
Hmmm......

Well since there isn't really anything to do in your office you might as well go out of your office and look around for something to do..... this might be a challenge as what could there be to do when you don't have any phone or internet....

Man... this looking for something to do is a tough job....

Ahh Ha... Here are some filing cabinets these don't need to use the telephone or the internet!

What is this other worker trying to do .... show me up? I better get in there and get some work done!

I'll show her how it's really done!

What are all these empty hanging folders doing in here .... looks like I might need to de-clutter!

Let me take this one out and well I'll mark it up w/ my highlighter while I'm at it make sure everyone knew I worked on it!

Geez ... this folder is outta here!

Now this is organization at it's finest! So glad this drawer looks so much better!

Hope you all have a good day! This was too funny not to post of IV!

Thanksgiving.... just a little bit late!

Thanksgiving this year was a rollercoaster ride. I digress ... let's go back a little bit to the weekend that my friend JM came to visit. I found out that weekend that the lady that I nanny for had decided that since her husband had to work and have meetings during the week that they were suppose to go to Palm Desert, CA and the husband wouldn't be able to go on the trip with them that she would like for me to come along! WOW! I was so excited especially since I've never been to CA. Plus I live in Minnesota and it's cold here in November. So cold that I haven't even wanted to really go 4 wheeling! Which if I'm turning down going wheeling you know it must be cold because 4 wheeling is just about my favorite thing to do! So the thought of spending time in Sunny California - I was just so excited! I barely knew what to do with myself. So I got ready and packed! We were suppose to leave on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and I would fly home w/ MK on Thankgiving night because she had a weekend hockey tourney to go to! I was so excited and the only draw back in my mind was that I would be gone for IV's first Thanksgiving. So we get down to the Friday afternoon before Thanksgiving & I get a msg from the lady that I nanny for that the husband has changed his mind, he's going and now I'm not going to have a seat on the jet. Then she asks if I can watch the dog while they are gone and so I said yes, but I was very disappointed. The girls were very said especially MM and MJ - of course I didn't really know what to say other than I wished I was going too, but it was not to be. So I ended up watching Kirby the dog and had a whole long list of things to get done, I had taken 3 days off of work and ended up going ahead and not going to work just because I needed a break and I had such a long list of things to do for the lady that I nanny for that I was lucky to get it all done on Wednesday so I could pack up Kirby the dog and take him out to my house, it's about an hours drive. To top things off IV got sick and I ended up watching her on Wednesday for AJ my sister. So it truely was crazy. I managed to drive home on Wednesday w/ a whiny dog, a sick baby and all my stuff packed into my truck. Geez it was quite the hour drive. So I got up the next morning and made bran muffins to share w/ my family and headed over to my sister's who was hosting Thanksgiving dinner. I even brought Kirby the dog! So we had a very healthy meal and I didn't overeat this year which I was very proud of myself for especially with my weight loss going so well at this point! I've lost 52 pounds and I only have 48 pounds left to lose. My weight loss is still going, but it's going slower now than it did at first. I knew that would happen - but it is harder to stay in the same place on the scale for longer periods.
We watched the Macy's parade, played w/ IV, talked and hung out as a family. We just had so much fun and it was so relaxing this year. I'm going to post some pictures that we took on Thanksgiving! I hope that you all had great celebrations with your loved ones.... From my family to yours: Happy Holidays! Blessings & Prayers - Mandy

So now here's what you've all been waiting for the pictures right :) !!! The first one is my family: EV, AJ, Me, IV, Dad & Mom.

In these photos my mom is trying to show IV - kirby the dog in his holiday sweater!

What was really funny about Kirby and IV is that she would grab the back of his sweater & he would pull her along trying to get away from the toddler's mighty grasp! So comical!

This is my Dad and IV - she loves him so much and he loves her too it's just too cute!

This is my Mom and IV - she loves being a Grandma and can't wait to have more Grandbabies!

This is my parents w/ IV and I just love this picture - I took it and I said: "Wow... I just really got that moment you know!"

This is EV, IV, & AJ on their first Thanksgiving as a family of 3.

EV & IV - so sweet!

So last but not least I couldn't leave out a picture of me and my baby sister AJ!

Happy Thanksgiving all... I've enjoyed reading about all your holidays! Thanks for Sharing!

Happy Halloween

Good Afternoon Everyone -
I couldn't help but post some cute pictures of IV today! She is 10 months old and so sweet! We love her more and more each and every day! I'm sure all families say that ... but I just do love her so much! So can anyone guess what IV is going to be for Halloween? She's too small to eat candy, but I still think she looks just precious!
Before:


TaDa.......


Little Miss Ladybug!


I don't know if I told you she started walking around last month! Right before she turned 10 months she just started toddling around ... even though she's only 17 pounds!

Here is IV and the proud Mama AJ..... I hope that everyone has a happy and safe Halloween... keep the pictures coming! I love that everyone shares! I enjoyed Owen's and Iliya's so far! They are so cute! Love to all your families! MJ

Prayers for my sister...

Good Morning Everyone ....
I hate to start the morning out w/ bad news - but I need help with a prayer request for my sister. On Saturday night I was coming back from 4 wheeling and I'd had a rough evening anyway - my friend's trailer blew two tires on the way home from Nemadji forest so it took us 4+ hours to get home on Saturday night. We were all of about 15 minutes from home and I got a call from my brother in law EV that my sister AJ needed to be taken to the ER and could I come and get IV. Well you know me...we got there as quickly as I could and my sister couldn't walk her back pain was so bad and EV had put her into the truck and they were just waiting for me to get IV. So I scooped up IV and put her into the car seat and into my truck and took her home as EV took my sister to the ER. AJ has some kind of pulled muscle or nerve in her back and she is on pain meds and can't walk very well. The kicker of all this is she isn't suppose to lift any kind of weight for atleast a week. Which wouldn't be a problem if she didn't have a baby. So I kept IV overnight and then all the next day till about 5 p.m. I'm just asking for prayers not only for my sister to get better but so that she can stop taking the pain meds so that she'll be able to keep nursing IV. IV is a breastfed baby and so healthy and I would hate for my sister to have to give up this bonding early - because of her back. AJ has not had back problems before so I'm hoping that it will get better. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and prayers. MandyJo

Oh and I couldn't remember if I'd posted a picture of AJ and I so here is one from a week ago Saturday night. We went out downtown dancing. We had so much fun. My sister is my best friend and I depend on her so much. I just love her and want her to get better more than anything! Love to you all and your families.

CSI, Weigh Loss, New Quote... and Inspiring Happenings

9/27/07 - Tonight is the first episode of CSI - Season 8. For all of you that don't know it's my favorite show! The only one that I really enjoy watching - I'm not really a big TV fan - more than anything I enjoy movies, but I love CSI and would even go as far as saying I wish I would've gone to school to be a lab tech or a field investigator. For all of you that already watch CSI - I'm sure that you know that Sarah has been kidnapped by the miniture killer & tonight we find out if Grissom and the CSI Team can find her in time.

Here's an update on where I'm at with my weight loss - I'm down 37 pounds. I know a few of you have asked me what I'm doing and the biggest thing is my brother in law EV - is training me. Personal training is something I never thought I would end up doing but it's worth the work & it is hard work. It's definitley 20% of losing weight. The other 80% of losing weight is what you eat. So I don't know how everyone feels about eating a certain way but if you are interested read on and if not ... then skip it & please don't read. Losing weight is 80% what you put into your body. You need to drink water which we all know - but don't put processed foods in your body. I have stopped drinking pop, juice, alcohol, coffee and have limited my beverages to organic skim milk and good old water. I don't eat processed white flour anymore. I don't eat hardly any food that's been processed. I only eat whole wheat bread w/ whole grains, fresh fruits, fresh veggies, lean meats, proteins, such as egg whites, legumes, and brown rice. Sometimes to add variety I'll eat protein bars or protein shakes - but I carry the protein bars w/ me incase I get into a pinch where I'm hungry and there are no healthy choices. The weight is coming off and for the first time in years I feel good, tired sometimes from working out - but healthy overall. I know I used to drink a big coke and just keep going when I was tired and now I go to bed early when I'm tired. I'm fitting into clothes that I haven't fit into in years? Actually I don't remember when I weighed this amount because I'm guessing it must have been back in high school or shortly there after? I eat 5 times a day - I know there are a few people out there who have been worried that I must have been starving myself to be losing all this weight but that isn't the case. I'm actually able to run for short periods on the treadmill something I've never been able to do before. Not that I actually want to post my start weight and my current weight but my goal is about 63 pounds that I have left to lose. I've gone from a size 22/24 to a size 16. I just want to be a healthy parent for my child and since I'm going to be a single parent, I think having healthy attitudes toward eating and food is going to be important. I don't want to pass down my bad habits to a child. That is just not fair. I know this in not for everyone and this isn't about me trying to be 'perfect' it's about me being the best parent I can possibly be & if it means that I have to wait a little while to get started on my journey because I need to get my head in the right frame of mind and my body in shape then so be it. I know that w/ out the support of the Lord and my family I wouldn't be where I am today. I also know that I can do this! If anyone has specific questions or comments that they'd rather not put down for me in a comment because they are private please feel free to post a comment w/ your email addy attached and I'll email you!

I haven't really blogged much lately it's been more of a post here about prayer requests or something I've done on the weekends. More over not really thoughts on where I'm at with my adoption pursuit. I wanted to tell everyone about my weight loss because right now I know that I'm focusing on the weigh loss and I know that if I can make the weight loss happen, I can raise the money for my adoption and go through the what if's and what will I do. I guess what I'm trying to say is when I started my weight loss track on July 11th - I took a leap of faith & I was forced to trust in God, myself and EV my trainer that if I followed the path laid out for me that I would be able to do what I had started out to do. This does not mean that I'm planning on waiting till I've lost all 63 pounds before I send in my application. Just last night I re-read through my application and I want to send it in, but I'm still concerned about the financial aspects.

Inspiration... on Monday night and Tuesday night of this week, I spent time w/ IV. On Monday night my sister AJ has a volleyball team that she plays on and EV her husband is usually training people in the evenings so IV and I hang out at my house during volleyball (there is a strict no child policy at volleyball - I'm guessing it's a Mom's night away type of thing). IV inspires me and reminds me that it is my dream to be a parent and while I love being her Aunt and I love her more than she'll ever know - it tells me that I can't wait until I'm the mom. On Tuesday night was AJ & EV's anniversary of the first day that they met so I offered to watch IV so that they could have some couple time - a romantic dinner out! So IV spent the night at my house and she is just a joy to have around in all senses of the word Joy. She is learning her signs (all done, more, eat, drink), she's learned to say 'Manda', she can say 'icky' when I change her dirty diaper. She has started to stand on her own in the past few weeks. IV walks between furniture as many as 4-5 steps on her own. She loves the bath and I love doing her hair! I can not wait to be a mother to a child who needs one. IV shows me every day that I was meant to follow my dream of adopting and that when the time is right everything is just going to be wonderful. I believe it will be. I'm going to leave you with a quote that I found on one of the other blogs that I read this past week and some pictures of IV and IV & I together. May all of you be blessed.

This is right after IV had a bath and was all jammied up as I like to call it!





Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use. ~Earl Nightingale

*IV always holds my hand when she falls asleep, it's one of the things that I love most about watching her... someday when she's older I can't wait to show her this picture and remind her just how much she is loved and how much love she gives as well.