38 weeks & 2 days Pregnant

Two milestones were reached this past weekend!<br /><br />First, I made it to the 38 week mark in my pregnancy - that is great news!  I know she's still growing because by the day it seems as though my stomach is getting tighter and tighter.  More aches and pains keep occurring in the lady parts.  Sleep is getting harder and harder by the day.  For example, last night I started in a laying down position.  At around 1 AM, I transferred to a sitting up position.  By 3:15 AM, I moved to the couch.  The couch may be my permanent bed from here on out.  I need something to grab onto to help lift myself up and roll over.  I haven't had much exhaustion during this final trimester, but I credit that in large part to working at home.  I'm sure if I was getting up everyday at 4:30 to head downtown, it'd be a much different story.   The exhaustion I've been facing recently is no doubt due to the restless sleep I've been getting.  Nearly everyday I've been taking a nap to help make up for it. <br /><br />This afternoon I have a doctor's appointment, so I hope it fairs good news for us!  I should be learning more about whether or not I'll have another rate-of-growth ultrasound.  If they do decide to do another, then I should also learn after that how quickly I'll have her.  Part of me wants her to arrive on her own time (preferably before the 40 week mark), but part of me hopes they say - "let's schedule you for a c-section" - and that way I may not have to endure the pain of labor.  Right now, I just really want her out!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-U5W5fEewWOHPSD8BuG8ti97dj8GFxoyokQclarkKpS0hOJ_FY6zLehhvw1uR0MMF8NMsTt_I-IYuM6BP9eAl-jyPP0DKvKyutxtsk2FT5NfudXlQzEL1pbwwtYzboTBi2h4GAsKWn8Y/s1600/38+weeks+pregnant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-U5W5fEewWOHPSD8BuG8ti97dj8GFxoyokQclarkKpS0hOJ_FY6zLehhvw1uR0MMF8NMsTt_I-IYuM6BP9eAl-jyPP0DKvKyutxtsk2FT5NfudXlQzEL1pbwwtYzboTBi2h4GAsKWn8Y/s400/38+weeks+pregnant.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><br />Also on the milestone marker this weekend was the celebration of our one year wedding anniversary.  It is so hard to believe that it was <i>just </i>one year ago, on June 9, that we were married in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  A lot sure has changed in just 1 year!<br /><br />From wedding dresses...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgex5hG8Xr4a5rctYxEvCafCvA42lsH53hysLekSE6YHUmwPivTIXYncaQWwp9mgYRbr2RldLoVDNJVL6S4_y0SGJZc1o-FyYh0xhpjMLZBiAp1fYwNS7s9_typ0NYAdN3YnwZ-pICpKM/s1600/palm+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgex5hG8Xr4a5rctYxEvCafCvA42lsH53hysLekSE6YHUmwPivTIXYncaQWwp9mgYRbr2RldLoVDNJVL6S4_y0SGJZc1o-FyYh0xhpjMLZBiAp1fYwNS7s9_typ0NYAdN3YnwZ-pICpKM/s400/palm+tree.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROIdxaOlQ3SKvSOyWiEt6J23mAo6L3qJvnU4yv6ZfPYKUPeIu1saURANsvJC7zeLPNVd4nz049UTZMAhMHvB9tRmAd_2tsUKsLC9hVRhVvBqwPaG3uwWvAmf3YZNRVH7n_ctBYyM8yf4/s1600/051_51+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROIdxaOlQ3SKvSOyWiEt6J23mAo6L3qJvnU4yv6ZfPYKUPeIu1saURANsvJC7zeLPNVd4nz049UTZMAhMHvB9tRmAd_2tsUKsLC9hVRhVvBqwPaG3uwWvAmf3YZNRVH7n_ctBYyM8yf4/s400/051_51+(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">......to maternity dresses!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuzQ2IEdG_o8HdXpRb9EZJsvPRjC7GXmqf1eMmYdBhsS6_uDm1VFTUNahUi6GUBgKvrzLik3b1x2Nw4ozY2-y2_hLpfZXtsBXE6yBSdfHOKCCstC_1cNMbtJi10N798h7WbQYTyWVHyo/s1600/38+weeks+pregnant+anniversary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuzQ2IEdG_o8HdXpRb9EZJsvPRjC7GXmqf1eMmYdBhsS6_uDm1VFTUNahUi6GUBgKvrzLik3b1x2Nw4ozY2-y2_hLpfZXtsBXE6yBSdfHOKCCstC_1cNMbtJi10N798h7WbQYTyWVHyo/s400/38+weeks+pregnant+anniversary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>For our anniversary meal, we dined at the <a href="http://nationalharbor.com/" target="_blank">National Harbor</a> at <a href="http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/" target="_blank">McCormick & Schmick's</a>.  We chose that restaurant because they offered red snapper, which was part of our main dish for our wedding dinner. It was so incredibly tasty - especially with the added lemon garlic butter crab on top.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrrZMCfpc_QwVHXURtGSdOHS69g4xdFibAJwm94YeGpEXRaV7352yDHZVYKC5sLbziGi7zsgDa0p5zVNgmALeynCBoS5BcB7zEDJGkmFIOZEGcZfDJ3vVJcv-LXbmU5DgBkyRCgqBXk4/s1600/red+snapper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrrZMCfpc_QwVHXURtGSdOHS69g4xdFibAJwm94YeGpEXRaV7352yDHZVYKC5sLbziGi7zsgDa0p5zVNgmALeynCBoS5BcB7zEDJGkmFIOZEGcZfDJ3vVJcv-LXbmU5DgBkyRCgqBXk4/s320/red+snapper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Afterward, we came home and had a very tiny piece of our wedding cake.  It actually tasted just fine, but rest assured the remainder will be going into the trash.  That is far too much cake for either of us to consume!  The flavor was a Jamaican spice cake, which we chose for obvious reasons.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcVbIcQW5VoQPLu8w9XQtEJOGTU58sxguC4_anbbT6HAMCSytrx3yHHECe7tuqtq0NPq7ybmZNd1ylk6abGW0WK8x2DrkWmaae-lTurOI5sH-Ci9rUNRJvVgH8EYVTWB0TgkJtu4_LWo/s1600/wedding+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcVbIcQW5VoQPLu8w9XQtEJOGTU58sxguC4_anbbT6HAMCSytrx3yHHECe7tuqtq0NPq7ybmZNd1ylk6abGW0WK8x2DrkWmaae-lTurOI5sH-Ci9rUNRJvVgH8EYVTWB0TgkJtu4_LWo/s400/wedding+cake.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><br /><br />If you would have asked me a year ago how I thought we would be celebrating our first anniversary, I would have said via a cruise back to the Caribbean.  But as they say, "If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans."  Honestly, our little dinner out at the National Harbor was perfect.<br /><br />The month of June has been fabulous to us so far, and it's only going to get better with the impending arrival of our little lady!

Anniversary Baby Busbee Pregnancy wedding 38 weeks & 2 days Pregnant

Two milestones were reached this past weekend! First, I made it to the 38 week mark in my pregnancy - that is great news!  I know she's ...

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1 Year Anniversary

This past weekend marked the one year anniversary since I have officially been tracking my weight on this little lady, The Big Weight.<br /><br />I definitely got off to a rocky start.  A year ago, my dedication to hitting the gym and being active was impeccable.  However, the weight loss itself was hardly a reflection of all the time I spent hitting the gym or doing <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/04/another-5k.html" target="_blank">all</a> of <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/04/1st-annual-peter-mahon-memorial-trail.html" target="_blank">those</a> <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/04/setting-goals-for-2011.html" target="_blank">5Ks</a>!   <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/08/lets-say-it-all-together-folks.html" target="_blank">At one point</a> I was even worried that something might be wrong with me.<br /><br />I mean, just look at the first part of the graph {click for a larger view} - I was barely moving!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIA_xIJsMdqNvqC-WfmzNjfr1PIj8pB90xh_NXL6hyZNgHQVTq4JUrFHIGFojafLFrkgBOLwCLGimsdNa6MLdoZc8DwKoJIhtKrKKlJhSxzukIq8t2yE7R8475YCsQoGyxzD8roEdyYd8/s1600/weight+loss+chart+03052012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIA_xIJsMdqNvqC-WfmzNjfr1PIj8pB90xh_NXL6hyZNgHQVTq4JUrFHIGFojafLFrkgBOLwCLGimsdNa6MLdoZc8DwKoJIhtKrKKlJhSxzukIq8t2yE7R8475YCsQoGyxzD8roEdyYd8/s400/weight+loss+chart+03052012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Thankfully I continued to persevere through the lack of significant losses, and finally started to find my losing streak late in the summer, and since then it's been a fairly steady downhill battle. <br /><br />What I think was holding me back was definitely my eating habits.  For starters, I had a pretty hard time staying within my Daily PointsPlus Target and Weekly PointsPlus Allowance.  I almost daily/weekly went over both.  Perhaps even more importantly, I was still eating a ton of fast food.  By fast food, I mean just generally going out to eat and eating things that weren't PointsPlus friendly. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-1sNHL_2TNoQcdZlQ3xS2osvAvb6jCYNLgYHHsJ9kxLUujgBosN7R2AUZXgy5N0hJ8ya1kULTM1RXiaYd2ERqiG0-4vZ9qwHdlNzVntq4dlvsr7ZMUX7NL7dG59UZpqqxbYpwrRDg-c/s1600/february+blog+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-1sNHL_2TNoQcdZlQ3xS2osvAvb6jCYNLgYHHsJ9kxLUujgBosN7R2AUZXgy5N0hJ8ya1kULTM1RXiaYd2ERqiG0-4vZ9qwHdlNzVntq4dlvsr7ZMUX7NL7dG59UZpqqxbYpwrRDg-c/s400/february+blog+006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOVE these purple carnations from Giant!</td></tr></tbody></table>The bottom line is that I wasn't planning.  And guess what?  I'm still not super great at planning each day out, but I have gotten better at coming up with meal ideas for the week that I can throw together.  I try to do a lot of cooking on Sunday's so that the 3 main meals are in the fridge/freezer and ready for the taking as the week progresses.  <br /><br />The mini goals have also helped me significantly.  Who doesn't love working for a new piece of jewelry plus whatever other item I've been wanting to get myself?  Even the mini goals each week in terms of activity have really helped me keep a positive mindset about exercise.  I'd rather do 2 days of activity a week (working up to 3 here soon), than do none at all!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMFqgoDW2H0Us4errnllRJz0rl9vEUzQAIpWVxKseCysF5Wi4uNAlwgCXoCmWKYSDebvCdeAbv_oi7E7nU6taRp09iS2HQFijm6JmyHHYNqCDrSho6bYqBSiNP9vzvuzu64OkMX5pjgQ/s1600/march+tulips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMFqgoDW2H0Us4errnllRJz0rl9vEUzQAIpWVxKseCysF5Wi4uNAlwgCXoCmWKYSDebvCdeAbv_oi7E7nU6taRp09iS2HQFijm6JmyHHYNqCDrSho6bYqBSiNP9vzvuzu64OkMX5pjgQ/s400/march+tulips.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tulips I just bought - aren't they pretty?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />So in one year's time I have managed to lose just over 30 lbs and I am THRILLED with those numbers.  Do I wish it was more?  Yes, of course.  However,  a negative 30 lbs is better than sitting where I was a year ago, or even worse - weighing more than the 263.8 lbs I started with.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWigxpjToifNRUB0OyMJCRyknaNhCro-MZnqjFymOHD8G3WBAKA0UX6uYd_jBLjK7eXzXAI3mAsCC4NPWyVNjgfevi0yyRIY-8vdJlna6mi_YBsitFpK3hawr5GR16ujMELUzvN74wGs/s1600/march+tulips2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWigxpjToifNRUB0OyMJCRyknaNhCro-MZnqjFymOHD8G3WBAKA0UX6uYd_jBLjK7eXzXAI3mAsCC4NPWyVNjgfevi0yyRIY-8vdJlna6mi_YBsitFpK3hawr5GR16ujMELUzvN74wGs/s400/march+tulips2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />It is my goal to have lost <i>at least</i> another 30 lbs by this time next year.  It doesn't sound like much, but just 30 lbs off of my body already feels so amazing, I know another 30 lbs removed will feel even better!   <br /><br /><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">This week I have some pictures to share of those recipe links I posted last week, as well as an itty bitty giveaway that will come to you tomorrow.  Weight Watchers sent me another duplicate magazine (I really need to call them to find out what's up with this!), but you are going to benefit from it... stay tuned!</span></i>

Anniversary 1 Year Anniversary

This past weekend marked the one year anniversary since I have officially been tracking my weight on this little lady, The Big Weight. I def...

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