Success!

I weighed in tonight at Weight Watchers after week one of being back into points, measuring foods, and planning meals. I had a pretty good week, but was not sure what the scale would show. My breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks during the week went pretty well. The tough part was not eating more than one brownie when I baked for work. After eating one small brownie, I checked the points and was shocked!! I will think twice about eating a brownie again! Another challenging moment was going out to dinner. My big problem was that Tripp and I went out without a plan. We wound up at Olive Garden where I made some decent decisions. I did learn that I will definitely plan what I will order before going to a restaurant.

Through all of the temptations and challenges, I got on the scale tonight and ..... I lost 1.8 pounds!! Here's to week 2.....

Returning to old habits

I now understand why people say that it is common to gain a few pounds when you find love. I never thought it would happen to us, but unfortunately it has. Tripp and I have decided to go back to eating healthy and exercising as we used to.....

                     

After lots of conversations about starting to exercise again, Tripp and I came up with an exercise plan! We really wanted to come up with a plan to workout together, well at the same time so that we could encourage each other. We thought about exercising after getting off of work, but realized that it is very hard for us to fit in exercise, cooking dinner, before getting to bed at a decent hour. We then talked about getting up early before work. This idea sounded AWFUL to me since I am not a morning person by any means. But knowing that it would be the best time for us, I agreed to the plan. We made an exercise chart with our schedule of which days would be cardio workouts and which days would be strength training. It hangs on the refrigerator to be looked at each time we enter the kitchen. And so with a schedule and plan we began our 5:30 am workouts last Monday.  We have really enjoyed working out together and knowing that we were starting something to improve our health and waistlines. And I have to say, I am liking being up and productive in the mornings!!

    

About six years ago, I began Weight Watchers and lost about 20 pounds in only about 5 months! After becoming a lifetime member, I have successfully kept the weight off (and even have lost more) since. Weight Watchers has become part of me. Even though I may not measure out my food or journal each day, the points and other Weight Watchers tips are always in my head. After not attending a meeting in eleven months, I returned yesterday. I am ready to get back to healthier eating and holding myself accountable for all that I eat. Here's to a smaller waistline...and arms...and thighs....well you know what I mean!

Uncle Tripp and Aunt Katie

Tripp and I were so excited to meet our first niece, Emmaline, this week. Emmaline and Quincey drove from Ft. Worth to Houston Tuesday afternoon to stay with us Tuesday night before leaving Wednesday for Mentone, AL. 

We had a great evening meeting Emmaline and visiting with Quincey. Emmaline is a cutie pie with a head full of hair and long fingers. Uncle Tripp and Aunt Katie loved holding her and talking to her. We can't wait to see her again!!

                                                                    

Year One = Accomplished!

This year has been a great year for Tripp and I. It has been a year of me moving to Houston, starting a new job, wedding showers, parties, our wedding, moving, exploring Houston, making new friends, and much more. Starting a new job is always exciting and also difficult. I started my job at a small school for children with language and learning differences in June 2009. When I started, I quickly realized how much I had to learn. I won't lie, the first few months were very rough. Poor Tripp had to console me a few times as I shed tears from feeling overwhelmed and putting pressure on myself to just know what to do in a job that takes a lot of time to get used to. Once October/November arrived, my comfort with my job increased and I was beginning to enjoy my job. 

My last day of work for the school year was Monday. Over the last few days, I have really been thinking about all I have learned this year. Here are a few of the big things I will always remember:

1. You have to laugh! It is normally pretty easy to do in my job. Four and five year olds come up with some funny comments and questions.

2. You can't be too hard on yourself. I had to give myself room to learn. I had to not expect that  I would jump in and know how to do my job. I had to remind myself that it would take time to adjust.

3. I have the greatest co-workers!! I would not have made it through year one without the help, support, and listening ears of so many. Thank you girls :)

4. I have a greater respect for parents of children with language and learning differences. With each family I work with, I become more amazed at how strong they all are. I hope when I am a parent, I can have half of the strength, perseverance, dedication, and love that these parents have for their special children.

5. I will miss my first Katie's Kangaroos group. Thanks for all you taught me this year.

                                                                          

I am excited to start year two!!

Moving on Up

We thought we had our move all planned. We scheduled the movers, set-up a time to pick up our new keys, had AT & T scheduled to set-up Internet and cable, and had a delivery scheduled for our new television stand. Well, our plans were slightly changed....

Just two days before our move, I received a voicemail from the moving company. The gentleman on the message said that they had quoted us the wrong price and that they would not be able to do our move on the day we scheduled due to a schedule conflict. I was furious!! I immediately jumped on the phone to secure a differnt moving company for our move. We had AT & T and furniture delivery planned around an early morning move. But, when you cal

l a moving company two days before your move you take what you can get--a move between 11 am and 4 pm. I tried to reschedule our AT & T appointment without success. So we were left with the possibility of all parties being at the new apartment at once.

The day before our move, we were supposed to pick up our new keys between 5-6 pm. We had also planned to bring some items to the apartment such as wall hangings and china that we did not want the movers to move that night. Tripp received a phone call on Friday around 1 pm from our new apartment complex letting us know that we may not be able to pick up our keys when scheduled. They had not been able to get the carpets as clean as they wanted so they needed to replace the carpeting in our apartment. They were not sure when they would be finished. We were happy that we were getting new carpet, but were not excited about another possible kink in the plans. We received another call around 4 pm letting us know that the carpet was installed and our plans were still on. Whew!!

Tripp and I went to get our new keys once we were off of work and then went to grab a quick bite to eat. While in the restaurant, a torrential downpour occurred! The rain was coming down so hard and so fast that the streets started holding water. After dinner, we ran to the car and headed back to the apartment assuming that we were done for the night. We finished up some packing, watched some television, and relaxed while the rain continued. At about 10 pm the rain let up and we decided to make a run to the new apartment. 

Saturday, moving day, arrived and we were up early. We made one more trip to the new apartment, stopped to grab some kalaches, and then waited for the movers. The movers called and said that they would not get to us until about 2 pm. I left Tripp and headed to the new apartment to meet the AT & T representative for 1 pm. The movers arrived around 2 pm, got the the new apartment around 3:30 pm, and were finished by 5 pm. While the movers were there, the AT & T guy was working, and the furniture was deleivered!! It was a little crazy ! 

By 5:15 pm, Tripp and I were left tired and with lots to unpack. We spent the rest of the evening and most of Sunday unpacking and getting organized. We love our new apartment and are glad the chaos of a move is over :)

Here are some pictures of our new place:

Laura A. Milazzo, Attorney at Law

                                                                        

Well, we have added another lawyer to the family. A moment that my sister, Laura, has been dreaming of and longing for manifested on May 12, 2010 when she walked across the stage in an all so flattering cap and gown and graduated from Loyola University Law School. We are all so pround of her accomplishments, her dedication, and the sacrifice it took to earn her law degree.

Now with her degree in hand, she begins preparing for the Bar exam, takes the Bar in July, and begins her new job in August. We are so proud of you and are excited for you as you start this journey!

Double Blessings

These last few months have been so busy for us!! They have been filled with moving, lots of work, and a few wonderful blessings!!

Our first blessing was a beautiful addition to the Griffith family. Quincey and Blake had their precious baby girl, Emmaline Gardiner Rhoades, on Thursday, April 29, 2010. Tripp and I spent the day with our cell phones near us while at work receiving text messages from Tripp's parents letting us know how Quincey and Blake were doing at the hospital. We were so thrilled to receive a text letting us know that Emmaline arrived at 2:44 pm weighing 8 pounds 3 ounces. Uncle Tripp and Aunt Katie are so excited for our first niece!!!

Our second blessing occurred the next day on Friday, April 30, 2010 at MD Anderson. My parents had come to Houston for my dad's last appointment for his treatment at MD Anderson. He underwent several scans and tests to find out that Friday that he is CANCER FREE!! All of the scans and tests showed that there was no cancerous activity! We are all so excited and are so proud of my dad for going through a tough 6 months of treatment.

                                                              

We are so blessed with strong families, supportive friends, and most of all a loving God!!!