CARLSON December Celebrations

I seriously just deleted this entire blog post on accident. I was done with it too...WHAH! Oh well...here's a new shorter version.

Nick turned 32 on December 14th. It was a very laid-back day, and I think that's the way Nick really likes it. :) We ordered pizza, Nick played video games, and Ry and I gave him his gifts. That week we also attended the annual dinner at TASTE OF TEXAS that Nick is invited to through his job. It's always a fun time, and the food there is top notch. It's very expensive, but it's so worth it! If you're ever in Houston, make up something to celebrate and go there to eat. You won't regret it! We weren't able to make Nick's work Christmas party this year, but we are hoping to get to go next year.

The next weekend we had Nick's dad, step-mom Julie, and brother & step-sister in for our first Christmas celebration. Derek and Amy also came in from Dallas for the weekend. It was a great time, and we all enjoyed seeing each other again. We took family portraits on Sunday morning, and then we had Christmas dinner and did our gifts that evening. Game night was fun...as always! Monday all the guys (minus Ryker) went shooting, and the girls went out for some shopping and lunch. It was so nice to be able to spend time with them all. I hope we can keep up with each other more in the future. :)

My family came in the following weekend for our second Christmas here at our house. Val and Michael & my parents arrived on Friday, and Beth came in Saturday night after church. We had a Mexican feast and did presents with my family on Saturday. We had Italian food with Beth and did our gifts with her on Sunday. Ryker even woke up at 5:30 am on Christmas morning (He wouldn't go back to sleep after his feeding), and we did our first family Christmas early that day since we were all up. Nick and I enjoyed it so much! We even had the grandparents downstairs while we all watched Ry's first Christmas morning. He was more into it than I thought he would be. He is such a good baby!

My birthday was the following Tuesday. I also turned 32. Nick made me breakfast, and he took me to eat at Genghis Grill for lunch/dinner. I wasn't feeling well so we didn't do much. :( I also went to get a pedicure later that week so that was some nice alone time.

New Year's Eve we had plans to hang out with our neighbors. Nick and the guys did fireworks here at our house while the girls were hanging at another neighbor's house. I was in and out of the fun since Ryker wasn't feeling too good that night. Even though my parents were here, I wasn't able to hang out much outside the house. Once I finally got Ry comfortable and asleep I was able to be outside with everyone to ring in 2012. I just know this is going to be a WONDERFUL year for our family!


Hayden and Ryker. Hayden is my friend Holly's little boy. He is 6 weeks younger than Ryker. They love play dates!

Ryker and Dada on Nick's birthday

Us at Taste of Texas...yum!

Ry opening his first present EVER! From the Stevens <3

Derek grilling for Carlson Christmas #1 

The beginning of Carlson Christmas #2 weekend

Thanks BRADENS!

He loves the swings!

Baking cookies :)

FAMILY game night

Ready for our Christmas celebration

Awe...he was SO tired! He feel asleep waiting for Grandma Beth to get here.

Santa came!

This dog is so sweet. Ryker will put his teeth in the nose for the tooth fairy!

Ry and all his loot!

The Carlsons get healthy...

Nick and I have been talking, and we have decided that 2012 is going to be the year that the Carlsons start taking a healthier approach to life. From food to activity to everything. We are both overweight, and we are tired of being this way. It is such a hard thing to take control of, but I know we can do it.

I have been in serious need of weight loss for a long time now. It's pathetic to blame it on anything other than myself and my love of eating. I often find myself eating when I am bored, sad, etc. NO MORE. I can't be truly happy with myself this way, and I haven't been for awhile now...even before I got pregnant. Pregnancy just helped me hide it. It is such a shame that I can't be one of those people who can "eat whatever they want" and still be skinny. 32 years later...I am finally coming to grips with it and truly acknowledging it. Sad, but true.

Losing weight is a difficult thing to do, as many of you know, but it's necessary for me RIGHT NOW. I come from a family with heart disease and diabetes to start with, and if that's not enough, we also have cancer and hypertension among many other things. I was also diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome...look it up) before my pregnancy, and I had gestational diabetes. Can you say scary?!? That should be the only wake up call I need to hear. Don't you think? But...there's more.

I also know that Ryker deserves to have parents who can keep up with him and not feel tired all the time. I can't wait to run and play with him. Take him swimming. Play soccer. Ride bikes. Be more active in general. I am also ready to want to clothes shop again some day and feel good about it when I leave the store and when I wear the clothes I bought. It's been quite awhile seen that's happened for me. Not to mention the overall feeling better about myself part. Weight loss is such a great ego booster!

I started back on Weight Watchers about 1 1/2 weeks ago, and I have already lost 7 pounds on it. The Points Plus program is a bit different from what I was used to from 2008 when I did it, but I am adjusting and enjoying feeling healthier already. It's nice to be hungry before a meal. :) I am also trying to add in activity most days of the week...mostly walking with Ryker. Today we went on a family bike ride, and I have also been doing some Country Dance on the Wii. I have a long way to go, but it's a start.

I would appreciate any support, helpful tips, words of weight wisdom, and healthy recipes anyone has to pass along. Hopefully next time you see me I'll be looking healthier, happier, and hotter. :)

RYKER turns half a year old!!!

Ryker's 6 month (half) birthday was a special day. We celebrated the birth of a little boy who has drastically changed our lives for the better. He is such a blessing every day. Nick and I took our standard pics of him with his 6 month card, and as you can see, he is into everything! I couldn't get one shot of him not trying to eat his card. :) It's amazing the things he is learning with any new opportunity. He is so amazing.

As part of a tradition with my family, I made Ry a half birthday cake to destroy. Also...great practice for his first birthday! He wasn't really sure what to do at first, but he seemed to figure it out fairly quickly. He dug right in, and the pics are adorable. He didn't make as big a mess as I would have liked (can't believe I am saying that), but he still gave it a good shot. He even tasted a little bit of the icing. It seemed he wasn't too big of a fan which I loved. Maybe I can keep the sweet stuff at bay longer than I thought.

Here's some pics from his half birthday...

Ryker's 6 month check-up was a couple days later. He is flourishing. They asked a bunch of behavorial milestone questions, and he has either started attempting it or has completed it. I was so proud! Even though he got 3 shots, he had a good visit. He now weighs 16 pounds and 2 ounces...27th percentile. His length measured 26.5 inches....52% percentile. His head measured appropriately. Growing and learning every day. Ry also started baby food around that time. His first taste of food was bananas. He is now also eating carrots and many other things...along with the rice cereal and breastmilk. He has been sitting up for long periods of time without falling over, and he is doing a lot of rolling around. Real scooting is sure to begin shortly. Uh oh...