The great thing about nursing a baby is that it makes it a lot easier to lose weight. Unfortunately, you still need to make an effort to eat healthier. So, today I decided to join Weight Watchers online. Portion control is probably the hardest part for me when it comes to dieting and eating healthier and that is a major part of Weight Watchers. My goal weight is 145 and I don’t really remember the last time I weighed that, but I know it’s a reachable goal for me if I try hard. I do know I’ve not weighed that little since I’ve been married. So it’ll be a big bonus for David (and me) when I reach that goal. Hopefully, between the breastfeeding and healthier eating, the weight will come off quickly. I will update here as I lose the weight. Wish me luck!

Ella pouting on New Years Eve

Ella in her new outfit

Anna on New Years Day

Anna & Leah with Aunt Julie on New Years Day

Here we are… the last day of 2008. Ella picked today to give me her first little laugh. And man, was it sweet! 2008 was a great year! Ella joined our family and that was quite the highlight of the year for us! After a miscarriage late last year and a rough pregnancy this time, Ella was such a long awaited blessing.

2009 will mark my 15th year out of high school. Wow! Time flies! Jacob will turn 12 this year and start 7th grade in the fall. While Leah will turn 9 and Anna will turn 7! Man, I’m getting up there! The years just keep on coming (thankfully, LOL).

Happy New Year!

It’s almost 3 o’clock on Christmas Day, and so far, we’ve had a nice relaxing day. Anna is wheeling her new baby doll all over the house in it’s new stroller. I caught her feeding it earlier out of the corner of my eye. So cute! David and Jacob have been Guitar Hero and Leah has been bowling on the Wii. Ella wasn’t especially impressed with anything to do with Christmas and she’s taking a nap. I even got to doze for a few minutes earlier.

We woke up this morning at about 6. Well, actually Ella woke us up ready to nurse and then spit up on me, so I figured it was as good a time as any to start the day. The kids got up and we opened presents. They really seemed to love all their gifts. After that, we went over to my moms for a delicious breakfast, complete with eggs, bacon, biscuits and grits. Then we opened presents with my mom and dad and Noah, Erin & Alex. It was very nice. We hung out there for a while and then came back home to relax and let the kids play with all their new goodies. This evening we will head over to David’s parent’s house for dinner and time with his family. His brother and his family will be in tomorrow and we will do gifts with them when they get here.

To everyone who reads my blog, I want to wish you a very blessed Christmas. I hope everyone got what they wanted for Christmas and that you had the most wonderful day today! God Bless!

I took all the kids outside yesterday to take some pictures. I just loved the way this one came out! I got a bunch of good ones. I’ll definitely post more soon!

Naledi, Anna, Leah & Tau pose for a photo in my mom’s yard.

Last night after we got home from the Chalmette Christmas gathering, Noah & Erin and mom & dad came over and we played cards. First we played Phase Ten. Mom and dad arrived after we’d already started and mom actually came back and beat me! Noah won, but I still received a good pounding. Then we played Spades, one of my favorites. I was winning, but we had to stop playing when little Alex woke up. Every time Noah & Erin come over, we play cards, but it’s always fun to have more people playing. Jacob usually plays too, but he decided to stay in Chalmette and hang out with his cousins until Tuesday. I love playing games with my family. It’s one of my favorite things to do. Unfortunately, David never wants to play. What a party pooper! LOL

Today, my aunt and uncle will be getting into town with their grandkids, my little cousins, and we will be doing Christmas with them. The girls always play with Naledi and Tau always looks forward to seeing Jacob. I’m hoping to get some cute pictures of the girls all together with the new camera. I wish it wasn’t so frigging cold outside! I’d love to go to the park and get some good shots on the playground and along the river. I got Tau and Naledi Disney pajamas for Christmas and I also got my girls a set, which they have already. Naledi’s match the ones I got my girls. I definitely want to get pics of them in their matching pj’s. So cute!

School is out until January 5, 2009. They’ll have over 2 weeks off before going back! I have been looking so forward to their Christmas break. Now we can sleep a little later in the morning and we don’t have to rush around each day. If we want to just stay home and relax, we can! How wonderful!! I know the break is going to fly by, but I’m so glad it’s finally here. Christmas is just a few days away and I am excited about that too. I love to see the kids’ reactions when they open their presents. Priceless! This year, I think they’ll be super surprised. They have no idea what they are getting (a Wii) and they are going to LOVE it!

Our first Christmas get-together will be this Sunday at my Uncle Mike’s house. That’s the get-together for my mom’s side of the family. We will eat and open presents and watch the Saints game. Then, on Christmas Eve we will get together with David’s mom’s side of the family. Again, we will be eating and opening presents. Someone always reads the Christmas story from the Bible also. A nice touch. On Christmas morning, after we open presents at our house, we always go to my mom & dad for breakfast and more presents (I’m noticing a trend here, lol). After that, we just take it easy and enjoy our day until the afternoon when we go and spend some time with David’s mom and dad and siblings. Yep, more food and presents. We really love our Christmas Day. We never feel rushed. We don’t spend the day driving all over creation. It’s just a nice day with family, close to home. The way it ought to be, in my opinion.

My mom and I took Ella and Alex to Walmart today. I had to get a few things for my kids’ Christmas parties at school and mom needed ingredients to bake cookies. She also needed to have a copy of an old photograph made for her cousin. This close to Christmas Walmart is so crowded. Back by the photo lab, we had to wait over half an hour to use one of those photo machines. If had been up to me we would have left, but mom insisted on waiting while the girl ahead of us printed out over 60 pictures. It took friggin’ forever. And with two babies, who were getting hungrier by the minute, it took way too long. I was so very ready to get out of there by the time we left. It will be nice if I don’t have to return to Walmart until after Christmas. However, with family coming in for the holidays, I’m sure I’ll have to head back between now and then to buy ingredients for dinner and desserts.

WALMART = Bah HUMBUG!