Lifestyle Changes.

My baby boy was born on September 12th, 2009. He is the best thing to ever happen to me! But along with being all so wonderful, he also left behind a lot of baby weight on his momma. I gained 41 lbs. throughout my pregnancy. At my 6 week checkup after having Ryder, I had lost 22 lbs. 19 lbs to go! (to my pre-pregnancy weight.)

The most success I have had in losing my baby weight was last summer when I did the HCG diet. I lost another 15 lbs. 4 lbs. to go! As soon as the HCG diet ended, my weight came back with a vengence! (A lot of women I've talked to had the same thing happen to them with the HCG diet.) *Insert Sad Face Here* ...26 lbs to go.

Throughout the past year my weight refuses to budge. It is a CONSTANT source of misery for me! I miss my old self! The energy I had, the way my clothes fit! Everything.

In May, I had to have an emergency appendectomy, (removal of the appendix.) Reguardless of the size of the appendix, (about the size of your pinky), you'd think you'd lose a pound or two with this surgery, right? Yeah. I gained another 11 lbs. Gag. 37 lbs. to go.

Let me just tell you, the honesty you are experiencing right now is hard for me. I have always had "weight issues", and have obviously spent the past nearly two years in denial over the fact that I've lost control of my body. But its time for a new day, a new dawning in the weight department of my life. I had a physical with my primary care physician on Wednesday, discussed all of my feelings about what has become of my post-baby body, and have set up a Weight Loss Plan! I'm nervous, excited, scared, hopeful, apprehensive, and most of all READY for what is to come. My blog is going to serve as a bit of a Weight Loss Journey journal over the next 6 months. What a perfect way to vent my frustrations/achievements along the way! As the ticker below shows, zero lbs. lost, but as of Tuesday, July 26th, My weight loss journey begins! Check back to see that number climb, as the number on the scale goes down, and most importantly, Wish Me Luck!!! ;)

0 lbs. lost, 37 lbs. to go!

The Big Day.

Our Wedding Day [-5.1.11-]

What an amazing day it was! I love how everything turned out, all the details were perfect! We missed any and all rain that the day had planned for us, and we were surrounded by many of our wonderful family and friends. After being together for nearly 3 years, we finally made it official. :) I hope you all enjoy a little bit of the story, told by the bride.

The Ceremony Collage.

Talia was our beautiful little flower girl. She is our one and only niece. She is seven-years old, full of energy, and loves to dance (LIKE HER AUNTIE ALEX!!), and she did a beautiful job! ...Then there's Ryder, who had to fight (as you can see) his grandma's all the way down the aisle. What's funny is once he got to the front, he THRIVED in the spotlight; and when it came time for him to bring the ring pillow up, he threw it at his daddy and got a laugh from the whole crowd. :)

We also included a sand ceremony which is a symbolic ceremony from Kyle's catholic faith. (Unity Candle is a similar thing if you've ever heard of that.) But basically, we had two separate colors of sand that we poured into one vase. Symbolizing 'Two becoming One'.


This is our Jones side, Kyle's wonderful family. I love the picture of him and his sisters!

Like the majority of the population, my parents are divorced, so there's two family collages for me; One with my dad's side, including his fiance Danielle and her kids.

This is my mom's side, including her husband Kent, and all of my wonderful cousins and my grandparents.

I had to throw in a couple of 'detail' collages. :)

Our cake was beautiful. I took a picture of what I wanted to Marnie Jeppsen, and she matched it exactly. She did my flowers as well, she's the best! And the rest of the details were my own flare. ;)

How can you NOT post a big "Ryder" collage when he is this dang handsome!! Our photographer, Alana Lange, got a ton of amazing shots of him! (and the rest of the wedding of course.)

And Last, a collage of me and my wonderful new husband Kyle Jones! He is truely an amazing man, a wonderful father, and my best friend!