Heading into the fall...

I have been away from the blog for a bit travelling and visiting friends and family.. well I should just say family. :-)  Piper and I made our first road trip to Quantico, VA to visit my best girlfriends Linda and Teri.  It was so great to see them and have Piper meet her aunts. :-)  She has an aunt Linda (my close friend) and Auntie Linda (my mom's close friend) which neither are actually her aunts... let's see how long she is confused before she figures all this out. :-)  We had an awesome time, and Piper LOVED spending time with her 3 1/2 year old twins... she cut her first tooth while we were there and the other bottom one a week or so later.  They are so cute, but the first time that she bit down on my finger I realized I need to now keep all my fingers out of her mouth.  OUCH!!  We stayed with Grandma and Grandpa on our way there and way back and really didn't want to come home!  Petey was being boarded, so I had to get back.  He is coming with me next time to see if Molly remembers him and if he can hang out too.  We hope to get back in January.

Since I have been back, I have started the life change with my eating.  I emptied the pantry of anything processed and probably 85% of anything with high fructose corn syrup.  I was using Weight Watchers, but realize that I can calorie count and use a ton of websites that offer awesome resources for free.  So far, Jillian Michaels' suggestion of http://www.calorieking.com/ has been the best.  It is the most complete food calorie resource I have ever found.  I use that to supplement the Lose It! app on my iPhone which is free.  It is an amazing app, and I always have it with me to keep my tracking when I am on the road.  I bought a food scale, so I am able to accurately know what I am eating.  I have already lost 4 pounds and I really feel awesome.  I had a fog over me, and I don't feel that anymore.  I drank some caffiene today, but I didn't even need it.  I have more patience with Piper.  It's awesome really.  I am already sold on whole food eating.  I just keep fruit and nuts around the house.  I am in love with raw almonds. :-)  I am also enjoying cooking and trying to make things taste good on few calories.  The challenge has been fun.  I made baked pears tonight for dessert and topped it with a vanilla yogurt.. it was yummy and I was mega full after dinner.  Things are going well.

Shane is doing well in Afghanistan as far as I can tell.  He is getting packages at lightening speed... in less than a week when sent Priority mail.  We have been impressed with that so far.. and nothing has been broken.  He FINALLY got his room to himself, so we can talk on cam now without him feeling weird or having to be quiet.  I think he feels like he can breathe now.  Time to find him some wall decor.

Piper and I are headed to High Rock Lake with the in laws for Thanksgiving and are really looking forward to it!  I look forward to posting pictures of her first real food... we will be doing sweet potatoes! :-)  She has an appointment tomorrow to check her head size to make sure that it hasn't grown off the curve.  I am hoping for the best!