Some new scraps:click to enlarge!

My mom wanted to see some of the pages I have been working on and this is the easiest way to share them. I have been sticking to my one page a day rule pretty well. I am happy to say I have done 48 pages since I got home from the states. Pretty impressive huh? I am going to apologize for the poor quality of the pictures. I took them in a hurry and didn't take time to edit them, but you get the gist of it. Enjoy!

I apologize that this one isn't turned the right way. I am too tired to change it.

My ever shrinking family...

So the last week I have been feeling really down about my physical appearance. I am sure most people know that having a baby changes your body in so many ways. In most cases, your hips grow wider, your chest begins to sag, your feet may grow, you get stretch marks, love handles form, and your body feels and looks like something you don't recognize. Not to say all these things happened to me but some I can relate to. So now when I look in the mirror all I think is "UGH!" Truth is that I was so excited after I had Kara because I lost all most all of my weight in the first 3 weeks. I felt at the rate I was going, I would look awesome before I knew it! I just knew that my skinny jeans were a few weeks away. Then after returning to my pre-pregnancy weight, I realized my body isn't as toned as I want it to be. I have been having a hard time making it to the gym being that we only have one car now. Also, Kara is on a schedule that I don't dare try to change. She gets grumpy with change. They have a mommy and me room at the gym that I want to go to, but Kara doesn't like just sitting in her car seat anymore. I was going to start walking a few miles every night but the rain has been hindering that also. So what's a girl to do? I have been eating healthier and luckily that has been paying off a little. Up until today I had only lost 2 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight of 125. I was so frustrated that I hadn't lost any weight in the last three weeks. Finally today I dropped down to 122. I am pretty happy about it, but still have a lot of work to do to get where I want to be. I don't think I would mind being this weight if I was more toned.

Most of my family has changed their way of eating and are all doing great with it. Nick has lost a total of 19 pounds in the last 3 months. I am very proud of him because he too has been feeling down on himself. I never saw a problem with his weight but he did and now he eats healthier and works out 5 days a week. My mother-in-law has joined Weight Watchers and has lost a total of 41 pounds this summer. She has really changed her life around with her new diet and having quit smoking. My mom is eating healthier also and is about to start walking a few nights a week. I don't know her weight loss, but she's been working hard to keep herself healthier. I am so proud of my family for their accomplishments. It seems like everyone I know is trying to better themselves. It's kind of motivating to hear about everybody's accomplishments. I am still going to do my best to get myself the way I want to be. Nick and I went walking last night and I plan to keep it up as long as the weather will allow it. At this rate we may all be skinny minis next year!!

Some new pages to share

It's been a while since I shared some scrapbook pages so I decided to add some today. I have been trying to get at least one page done each day, which unfortunately doesn't always happen. Some of these I have done recently, some a few months ago. Tell me what you think of them. I am really trying to use more than one pattern sheet on each page. It has been a real struggle for me but I am getting better at it. Scrapbooking is my FAVORITE thing to do, besides playing with my sweet baby girl. I will try to post some new pics of her soon. Have a good weekend!!

What is this world coming to?

So a few days ago I go over to my mother in law's blog to read a story that just made me think, a whole lot!! It was about her 11 year old niece calling her fat and a pig. Now if you had ever seen my mother in law you would know she's not fat or a pig!! It really bothers me how children (and some adults) are these days. Sure she may have been trying to be funny, but whatever happened to thinking before we speak? Apparently that saying has been thrown out the window. I hear more and more stories of people saying things that are entirely inappropriate and hurtful to others. Why do people do this? To build themselves up? Who ever learned that tearing someone else down would build you up? Do you not have a conscience? I come from a family full of people that are considered overweight. Therefore any situations dealing with hurt feelings over name calling about this subject hits home. I believe it has a lot to do with our society today. We are made to believe that if you aren't a size 2 you need to shape up and slim down. But the worst part is the people who are that small are never satisfied with themselves either. I know this because I was once a size 2 and I still felt I was fat. I looked in the mirror and saw all the things about my body that I wanted to fix, not the things that were fabulous. Before my pregnancy I wore between a 4 and 6, at which I still felt fat. All the women in Hollywood make women with curves (like me) feel shame for having them. Wasn't it not too long ago considered a good thing to have curves and more than skin stretched over bones? I just don't get it. The funny part is as small as I have been in my life there are still people that have made comments to me like, "Hey are your hips getting wider?" People need to realize that these are hurtful to others. What was the point of saying that? Do you think it will make me feel better or are you just vengeful? Another thing that bothers me is when a woman is pregnant and people say, "Are you sure there's only one in there?" As if it isn't enough that your body is going through a total transformation. I also remember another time that I got me feelings hurt over some comments that were made. It was last Thanksgiving (2006) and we went to our friend's house for dinner. Another couple was over there with their 3 healthy children. All evening long the couple kept making comments about how Nick and I don't know this or that because we don't have children. Nick informed them that we did have children but they weren't with us. They still kept on. Later in the conversation Nick was talking about Maddy and the woman asked, "Who is Maddy? your niece?" "No, she's my daughter," he told her. It was like they liked making it a point of saying that we didn't have children. What they didn't know was that just the year before on that same day we had buried our son. It was a hard day already and they kept on with the comments. I was ready to scream. Sure they didn't know our circumstances but why go on and on about something when you don't know the reason behind it? I now realize that they were just clueless as to how that could hurt someone. I do believe that some people aren't trying to hurt others. I know this is true because I made a fool of myself not too long ago. My commander's wife was talking about having children and how she just didn't think if was meant for her. She did say that she loved children and being 35 was running out of time. So I simply said, "If you want them then you should have them don't wait any longer, you don't want to regret it down the line." She then told me that she had been trying and had just suffered her 3rd miscarriage a couple of weeks prior. I had no clue, but I still felt foolish. So I wrote her a long email the next day apologizing. It may seem a bit extreme to some people, but being that I have been in similar situations, I wanted her to know I didn't mean to cause her pain. There is no way to know how some things you say will be taken. Sometimes it is just a thought you have or something you don't thing will bother the other person. However comments like name calling or telling someone they have put on weight is a given hurtful thing to do. So before you do this please think of how you would feel if it were being said to you. It's something we should teach our children to. Okay I am off my soapbox.... for now!!!!

Christmas Spirit Award!

A very long time ago, well back in November or so, I was awarded with a Christmas Spirit Award from my mother in law, Kari at just living large. I was thrilled with it, being that I do love Christmas. However, amongst my forgetfulness and my lack of computer skills I have failed to post about it. You see I don't know how to copy the little animated picture to my blog. Yes, she told me to ask her how to do it and that's where my forgetfulness kicks in. I always forget to ask her. So here I am only 5 days before Christmas telling myself to get my butt into gear. So I am going to post my thanks for the award without posting the cute little animated Santa with his sleigh. Thank you, Sissy, I love the award!! I feel very honored to have Christmas Spirit. Who wouldn't?? As a matter of fact starting this weekend that's all I will be doing, Christmas things. Saturday I have to layout my turkey. Maddy and I will start baking our Christmas cookies that night. I have both gingerbread and sugar cookies to make. I am so excited. I just love cutting them out and decorating them. Then on Sunday, I have to make my Rolo pretzels, a cheese ball, and start a veggie tray. We are having a few people over for Christmas Eve and I am serving finger foods, wassell, and hot chocolate. After we eat and play games we are all going to the Botanical Gardens light show. It is absolutely beautiful. We went last year and I loved it. Hopefully this year we will get to see the laser show, we missed it last year due to rain. I will be sure to post tons of pictures. Oh and another thing I hope we can do is go to the zoo where they are supposed to be making snow and igloos. I really hope we get to go. I just can't wait!! Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you all have a joyous time!!!!!

Another tag..

It's true I have been tagged again by Aunt Sandi. So I have to tell you 7 things about you you didn't know. I am pretty open about my life and things about me, but I am going to do my best to think of things you wouldn't know. So here it goes:


1. While laundry is my favorite chore around the house I am not so great at it. Well, okay so I am good at washing, drying, and folding them up, but not so great with bleach and ironing. I just started using bleach about 8 months ago. Before then I never used it, therefore we probably always had dingy whites. I know it's horrible but hey I've got the hang of it now. Oh and ironing, well lets just say it doesn't happen. EVER. If anyone irons in the house it is my husband. Hey that's what my dryer and dryer sheets are for. I just toss them in there for a few minutes and Viola, most of the wrinkles are gone.







2. I used to be a good artist(at pencil drawings) when I was in school. I was even accepted to a art school in high school, but I backed out because I didn't think I was good enough to make a career out of it. My mom still has some of my drawings at her house.





3.I can't remember a time in my life that I didn't believe in God. As far back as I can remember I have always believed in him and heaven. I was saved at the age of 12 but I was a believer long before that. I think it's weird when people don't believe in God.





4. I was always in the advanced classes in school, but I never seemed to do as good as my friends on tests. I hate taking test. I think I have test anxiety.





5. I like to eat blueberry waffles with peanut butter and syrup on top. It is so good, but a lot of people think I am weird for liking it. You should try it. Mmmmmm.





6. I don't watch the news. Nope not my thing. It is entirely too depressing for me. I am always the last to know about world events for this reason.





7. Finally...hmmmm. Okay so last but not least I will tell you how my Tinkerbell obsession came about: I always thought she was cute but when my family when to Disney one year. All my aunts and uncles along with my mom took my cousins and me to a place where you dress up as Disney characters. I of course was Tinkerbell. So in high school I had that nickname for a while so it made me start collecting some things with her on it. So now I am really into the Tinkerbell thing. No I am not hugely obsessed with her but I do like the stuff. I think I sometimes try to push her on Maddy so I have an excuse to buy the stuff. Crazy I know.





So there you have it 7 things about me you probably didn't know. So I know I am supposed to tag 7 people but with my lack of blogging buddies I am only able to come up with a few so here goes:





1. Sissy- cause you always have the funniest things to tell about yourself.





2. Abbie- my newest friend on here I wanted to tag you to learn more about you, but I see someone beat me to it.

And well that's about it, if anyone else reads my blog then you can consider yourself tagged also. Happy blogging.

I'm so glad to make you smile!!!

So Aunt Sandi has awarded me with this award. Saying that I, Jodie Adams, make her smile!! How sweet of her to award me with such a high honor. Truth is she makes me smile with her comments and sweetness. Yes I said sweetness, she's one the kindest people I've never met. Sure I wish we could meet, but it's kinda hard when you live on the other side of the world. She wrote the nicest things about me on her post. She laughed about me shaving my ratty old cat, but truth be told I've been eyeing her all night and she's about to get the cutters, soon. Heck she may be half bald by the time I get done with this post. I took a before picture already, now onto the after pic.... Oh and thank you Aunt Sandi, you are a rare jewel, we will meet one day, I hope!!! I would pass this award on to my two trustee blog buddies, you know who you are, but they've both already received it. So If you are able to double award someone, then I want to award my mother in law, Sissy, and of course Aunt Sandi.

I award Sissy, because no matter what her stories make me laugh. She can be talking about something as simple as how she hates to cook(even thought she's one of the best cooks I know) or about how she scares easily by a spider, she never ceases to amuse me. She's probably one of the funniest people I know, hmmm maybe I should be awarding her with a you make me laugh award. Silly me.

And Aunt Sandi, well she's an old soul. She enjoys the simple things in life. She has stories that make perfect sense to me. Oh and she ALWAYS comments my posts. You gotta love that. It's like when you had AOL and it said "You've got mail!" You just want to jump up and down with joy. Thank you both for the happiness you bring to my life.

Happy Birthday Sissy!

My beautitul Mother in

law had a birthday today. I hope it was wonderful. We wish we could be there to celebrate. We love and miss you! Nick, Jodie, and Maddy

Terrible Twos!

Okay Sissy I am copying your blog so here it goes:

1. Two names you go by: Jodie and Jo

2. Two things you are wearing right now: My wedding ring (which I love because it's not just your ordinary wedding set, it has sapphires in it too.) And a necklace my mom gave me that has a hear with a baby in it. She gave it to me after I gave birth to my son. The box said "You grew in my heart!" I love it so much. These are two things I almost never take off.

3. Two things you want in a relationship: First and foremost I want Faithfulness and then of course Love. I believe that when you are married you need to only have intimacy with one person. You have to be able to trust that you are their one and only. You should only share the intimate part of yourself with your other half. I believe that makes you closer and makes things more special. And Love, well how can you be in a relationship their either doesn't already have or is working toward love? You need to genuinely care about someone for a relationship to work. I could go on about this but hey that's another blog.

4. Two of your favorite things to do: Well that's easy! Scrapbook, of course, it is the best stress reliever for me. Hang out with family and friends.

5. Two things you want very badly at the moment: To be pregnant with a healthy baby and to build my savings account back up.

6. Two pets you had/have: Anakin (my adorable yorkie) and Chloe (my beautiful long haired white cat).

7. Two people who will fill this out first: Well the only two people that read my blog and have a blog are Sissy(who I got this from) and Aunt Sandi. So maybe Aunt Sandi will do one too.

8. Two things you did last night: I did a few scrapbook pages and watched The Little Rascals with my family.

9. Two people that live in your house: Nick (my husband) and Maddy (my step-daughter).

10. Two people you talked to last: My husband and my neighbor, Tangela!

11. Two things you are doing tomorrow: Making brownies and going to a scrapbook thing. It will be my first one to scrapbook with other people. I am kind of excited we will see how it goes. I will let you know!!

12. Two longest car rides: From Pennsylvania to Florida. That was went we left my dad. We left on April 5th and got there on April 14th (the day before my 9th birthday). Then from Florida to Texas. We went to visit my in laws when they moved out there. We also went to Six Flags out there. The ride was about 12 hours.

13. Name 2 of your favorite holidays: Thanksgiving (for the food and gathering of people) and Christmas (for the decorations and everyone seems happier). Wasn't that almost a given?

14. Two favorite beverages: It's funny because I always say lemonade, but I hardly ever drink it. But I do love it when it is just the right blend of sweet and sour. My second would be French Vanilla hot chocolate. I love that stuff. I can't get enough of it!!

Okay so I did it. I hope it doesn't bore you too much. I don't have that interesting of a life it seems. But I enjoy it nonetheless. Happy blogging!!

Thank you for my award!!

So my mother in law, Sissy, gave me the Nice Matters award!! I have been meaning to thank her for it and am just now getting to it. How wonderful to receive an award! I haven't received an award since I was in High school. Sissy~ The kind things you wrote about me touched my heart. If you hadn't already been awarded I would give you one also, no not to return the favor, but because not many people get along with their in laws. I mean really, they don't. And lucky for me we have formed somewhat of a bond haven't we? So maybe it's because we both adore my husband or that we both LOVE scrap booking(I am so happy that I introduced you!!!) but either way I am thankful for it. It's funny thinking back on when Nick and I were dating; I actually liked coming over to your house for the family gatherings. Not many can say that of their in laws. I thank God that I have you and Randey as my in laws. I couldn't think of any other couple that I would like to share that with. Trust me, I've had some boyfriends' parents that were just a tad loopy. So thank you for my award, I will cherish it always.