In 7 Weeks, I have Lost ...

8.8 pounds at Weight Watchers! I have now met my first weight target of 8 pounds (5% of my weight).

Last week, I lost, 2.8 pounds, which was very exciting! My parents started trying it out on Monday so that helped out tremendously (I have not been to my work out classes at all this week either).

I highly recommend Weight Watchers (I have heard online is good as well). The 3 month journal is the most helpful tool, along with the points calculator. When I started Weight Watchers I was 8 pounds overweight (which makes a big difference for shorter people), and right now I am still 10 pound away from my ultimate weight. When I joined Weight Watchers, I was just sick of eating terribly. Weight Watchers is really the only weight loss plan I know of that you can actually go out to eat and not feel bad about your eating choices. As of now, I pay $11 a week since we are in transition, but they have good 3 months passes that are better deals for the long haul.

Just to motivate you even more, here is how you figure out how many points you can have in a day:

1. What do you weight? Enter the first two digits of your weight in pounds for example, if you weigh 175 (WW book says), enter 17.

2. Are you: female?.....2. males you get 8 points here

3. How old are you:

17-26-you get 4 points
27-37- you get 3 points
38-47 you get 2 points
48-58 you get 1 points
over 58-you get 0 points

4. How tall are you

Under 5"1..................0 points
5"1-5"10......................1 points
Over 5 "10....................2 points

5. Do you spend most of the day

Sitting down.................0 points
Occasionally sitting, but mainly standing................2 points (MOMS)

6. Nursing Moms?

solely breastfeeding.......10 points
Supplementing breastfeeding with some solid foods are formula..............5 Points

(I have also talked to a leader that said if you are pregnant you can still write your points down and act like you are solely breastfeeding as far as points go).

What I ate on Friday and had a perfect points day (going to Fuddruckers and all!)

Breakfast
Fiber One Chocolate Bar....2 points

Fiber One yogurt....0 points

Red velvet cake Weight Watchers bar *you can only get at Weight Watchers meeting 1 point

Lunch:
Chicken salad sandwhich.....Light Bread 1 point, chicken salad from Garners 2 points
Bag of chips......3 points

Grapes not a half cup so....0 points

Dinner:
Fuddruckers 1/3 Cheeseburger with no mayo......9 points (looked up online and everything!)

Weight Watchers Brownie (find in the store) 2 points

Total 20 points

I also discovered this week with my parents that Ruby Tuesday Crab Cakes are only 6 points. Also, Weight Watchers chocolate chip cookies are great and they are only 1 point in the bread section (Thanks Sandi!). The key, I believe, is planning out what you are going to eat.

Have any other advice on good low point food choices, I would love to hear from you!

Picture of Our First Day at David Baptist Church!

Thursday's Tip: Recommendations for Three Year Olds

For School:

The Book for March that they are doing every week at his school is, Big Red Barn (Brown).

A game they work on is Hi Ho Cherry-O. We got to this game recently to work on at home.

Also got worksheets entitled Preschool Scholar at Walmart. He is doing so great circling object, but is still have a hard time writing letters. He wants to write out his name so badly, and he gets easily frustrated that he cannot do it, so I did also get him Scribble and Write by Leap Frog. I really would not be pushing him to do this at all, but he loves to go through worksheets and really has a strong desire to write at least the letter J.

I would love to hear any advice on how I can help him draw letters!

He is doing great though on knowing what letter most words start with. He got 10 in a row the other day in a workbook, and I got all emotional thinking about how far he is has come. God gets all the glory!

For Spiritual Life:

Ordered Day By Day: One Year Devotional For Young Children by Betty Free (Ashley J recommended).

Update on Us:

• We are doing great, just extremely busy! I am in Columbia for Jackson's speech that he has on Thursday morning for just one night (Wednesday night). I think someone is going to look at the house on Saturday, so keep praying!
• Our first day at David Baptist was great. Everyone was so welcoming. I think it was surreal for Charlie and I that he is the pastor of this wonderful church!
• Jackson loved his class and his teacher. He learning a Bible Verse (Do not be afraid Acts 27), and then she made an phenomenal craft with a toilet paper role and had the Bible verse taped on it and they made it into a door handle. Anytime I see a great craft for little ones, I am blown away because I have a hard time with arts & crafts. He is doing really well with all the changes which is a huge answer to prayer, but he is not sleeping a whole lot. It seems like every night we have been in Spartanburg he has not really gotten down till 11:00 at night. This of course is making us more tired, so please pray that he starts sleeping more!
  

Thanks again for all your prayers!

Movie Monday: Jackson , Our Little Golfer

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Jackson loves golf even though we have not really exposed him to it that much. He will watch golf for long periods of time with my dad. He wanted golf clubs for Christmas, and he has really enjoyed playing with them. Recently, he put his ball up on a rocket blaster and made it his tee so he could hit line drives. He also uses rackets that we have to act as a golf club, and my dad says he has perfect form. Crazy! Lastly, he likes to sleep with his golf club. Have I mentioned that there is absolutely no difference in him and my dad?

Hopefully tomorrow I will have a post up about how things are going with us (things are going really great). Jackson is very excited that it is going to snow tomorrow. We are even under a winter storm warning here in Spartanburg.

Pray for My Babies and Their Ears!

February has been ear infection month at the Wallace household.

Let me break it down quickly:

• On February 3rd Abigail was diagnosed with an ear infection and given antibiotics (amoxicillin)
• 12 days later, Jackson is diagnosed with an ear infection and given antibiotics (amoxicillin)
  
• The day before Jackson got on medicine, Abigail climbed herself up on Jackson's bed and started sucking one of his pacifiers.
  
• Last Friday, I took Abigail to the Ped. After Hour clinic here in Spartanburg (we moved up Firday...spent the week boxing up closets) and she was diagnosed with yet another ear infection (last Saturday she was checked for her last ear infection and she was all clear).
  

Right now, please pray that Jackson does not get back Abigail's ear infection! I know if I do not pray right when I hear a request, I forget to pray. This month there has only been four days where I have not had to give one of my babies antibiotics.

She coughed a lot the last few days and has been really congested. She is on Omnicef now, and will not be contagious by Sunday. Praise God she has stopped coughing! Thank you for your prayers... they just keep on giving it back to each other!

Fun Friday: Some Really Amazing Pictures

As you can see, not just any ordinary camera took these pictures. I got a professional camera! I have been drooling for one for years and if anyone knows me or reads this blog at all you know how crazy I am about pictures. I just got the basic professional camera from Canon (Rebel XS 1000). The Best Buy guy said since I was a little overwhelmed with the lens to just get the basic one (it was on sale of course), and then in a a couple of years you can get a better lens for my Canon (many different ones will fit...although they are pretty expensive). This is my 30th birthday present from Charlie and my Christmas present (my 30th birthday is this September)...God is so good to always provide us with what we need and more! I have such a huge passion for taking pictures.

I am still learning about all the different settings and so if you have any advice on how to take the best pictures possible for this camera or professional pictures in general please let me know (Charlie took the last picture).

Thursday's Tip: Piggly Wiggly Deal Tomorrow

Use 10 greenbax this weekend starting tomorrow, Feb 26th and get $15 worth of free groceries!

We will be stopping by tomorrow for sure.

Also, FYI: Thursday nights kids eat free at Fudruckers with the purchase of an adult meal.

Wednesday's Word: Better Than Life

"Because Your lovingkindness is better than Life, My lips will praise You." Psalm 63:3


A challenge from the book I am now reading (15 pages a day M-Friday), Idols of the Heart, Fitzpatrick challenges us to live a life where His lovingkindness is better than anything in our life.

Is His Lovingkindness better than

• Our children being obedient?
• A new camera?
• A new computer?
  
• Having an easy day?
  

Is His lovingkindness better than life to us?

"The good news is that the Holy Spirit can illumine your heart and cause you to grow in your esteem of Christ and disdain for the charms of the world."

Pray to the Holy Spirit for help. He will help you! His power is made perfect in your weakness.

"Our heart consists of our mind (thoughts, judgments, etc), affections (longings, desires, feelings), and our will (chooses and determines actions)."

"We can't accomplish this heart change on our own. We need His power to teach incline, and direct our hearts to Him."

Click here to see what Charlie is talking about this Sunday!

February 2010 Pictures

Tuesday's Tip: Fiber for Your Babies is so Important!

Jackson sees a GI doctor every 3 months.

Do you know that your little one needs 10-15 grams of dietary fiber a day?

If you do not know how much your baby is getting I would definitely start figuring out how much your baby has a day so he or she does not end up having to see a GI doctor every 3 months...ha!


Even babies as young as 14 months old need fiber!

Some recommendations:

Any Fiber One products (even for Abigail).

I enjoy:

• Fiber One chewy bars Chocolate or Peanut Butter Bar
• Fiber One yogurt (I like strawberry)

I am trying this week

• Fiber One pop tarts
• Fiber One cereal (caramel)
• We are also trying Benefiber in drinks this week and every serving has 3 grams of fiber

Natural Fiber

• Raisin Bran Cereal- 7 grams
  
• Grits- 5 grams
• Baked Beans-3.5 grams
• Whole-Wheat bread-2 grams
• Graham crackers -3 grams
• Black-eyed Peas- 8 grams
• Baked Potato (small)- 4 grams
• Applesauce 3- grams
• Strawberries 1 cup- 3-4 grams

Jackson still has to be on Miralax (which has no fiber, but just brings water to his stomach...whatever that means) until I know without a doubt that he is having at least 10 grams of fiber a day. He starts off his day which a nutri-grain bar which does have 2 grams, but it is hard to get 10 grams in. Love to hear any advice on how to get more fiber in him!

Adults, we are supposed to have 20-35 grams of fiber a day. I really enjoy Fiber One products because they are filling, are low on the Weight Watcher's points scale, and they get my fiber in for the day.

Remember that cheese, bananas, and peanut butter can contribute to constipation. Of course, Jackson loves all three of these foods...ha!

Movie Monday: Jackson and Abigail Playing with the Rocket

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

For Christmas Jackson wanted: golf clubs, a rocket, and a Captain Feathersword book. The rocket, my parents got in a specialty toy shop in Greenville. As you can see, we have had a great time with the rocket!

Thursday's Tip: Sesame Street Hip Hip Hooray for School!

Currently, Jackson loves learning!

I saw this workbook at CVS "Hip Hip Hooray for School" for 3 years old and up. It is perfect for Jackson right now and has 160 pages of worksheets. The first page works on the "m" sound and you say the name of each picture and circle the objects whose names begin the "m" sound.

We do about 2 or 3 worksheets a day (if it was up to him we would do a lot more). I know a lot of other moms who teach there kids at home have letter days. For example, Monday would be "m" day. They practice writing the letter "m" and finding objects around the house all day that start with the "m" sound. Have you tried this? Do you find this helpful?

We are also learning how to write letters (he does not get frustrated anymore when he cannot hold his crayon correctly).

Other suggestions from friends to do once your toddler turns 3 are:

• Handwriting without tears
• Brain Quest Worksheets
• Visiting Learning Express Toys. I recently got Jackson a matching memory game there.
  

I cannot believe that my baby boy is about to be three and half, and growing up so quickly!

What are some things you like to do with your three year olds at home that help them learn?

Our First Ever Snowman!

When we first went out early in the morning, we did not think we were going to be able to make the snowman because the snow was so fine. Soon, once the sun started melting the snow some, Charlie was able to get the snow to pack. It was so exciting to make our first ever snowman!

Snowpalooza 2010!

I still cannot believe we had 8.6 inches of snow when two days before it happened they were not even calling for snow. This was the 5th most snow Columbia has ever seen, and it has been since the 1970's since they have seen this much snow. It was so much fun to play with, and went away as quickly as it came (we did lose power for 2 hours though). Jackson was beyond excited about it, however, Abigail did not know what to think. It was so beautiful!

Video of Charlie and the Kids Playing in the Snow in the Beginning of the 8.6 inches We Got!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Revelation 19:6-9

"I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of many waters and the sound a mighty peals of thunder saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready? And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. And he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invitied to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God."
Revelation 19:6-9

This is how Love to Eat, Hate to Eat (Fitzpatrick) ended. I am so glad I finished this book. So far, new goal for this year of reading 15 pages a day (Monday-Friday) has been such a huge blessing for me. Next book is my last Fitzpatrick book for a while, Idols of the Heart.

Another goal for this year is also going well, loosing the last 10-15 pounds from Abigail. Fourth week on Weight Watchers and I have lost 5.2 pounds! Feel free to ask any questions about Weight Watchers here.

Things are pretty crazy this week. We now have a "for sale" sign in our yard. If anyone is interested in a one story, 1400 sq house, with garage and fence, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, email me at emilywallace80@hotmail.com (house is in West Columbia, zoned for White Knoll).

Also, I found out today that it is going to take 4-6 weeks for us to be completely covered health insurance wise, so pray that nothing major happens in these weeks for us!

But I know God is in control of all of these things and he will work them out for our good and His glory.

Believe it or not, none of these issues are really "stressing" me. However, what is bothering me right now is that we have noticed that Abigail is not regressing with her speech, but not really progressing either. Today, I had another speech therapist friend look at her top lip frenulum, and she said it was really really tight up there, and this has been really bothering Charlie and I a lot recently. I was able to talk to our doctor today and she has referred us to go see Dr. Anna Bouknight soon for Abigail. We know she is going to have to have it clipped, so might as well do it now so she will never remember it, and to make sure it does not affect her speech. It was just last March we had Jackson's double frenulum surgery, and I cannot believe we might be doing it again this March. Just pray for the doctors to have wisdom in what is best for my baby girl in the long run. She is getting in all her molars right now as well, so that could also affect her speech as well. Unfortunately, these frenulum issues are hereditary.

Some Big News from the Wallace house

No, I am not pregnant!

The Lord has called Charlie to be the pastor of a church in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. It is bitter sweet because we love First Baptist, but it is also very exciting because we know this is where God has called us. It was amazing to see God work last Sunday morning in so many different ways. God gets all the glory!

The church runs about 180-200 people in their Sunday morning worship service. Also, Kings Mountain is only 50 minutes away from my parents house in Spartanburg. Kings Mountain is 10 minutes away from Gastonia, Shelby, etc.

Our last day at First Baptist will be February 21st.

Please continue to pray our family as well as our family at First Baptist. We have so many wonderful friends who we have been through a lot with, and we will miss everyone like crazy. I cannot believe we have already been at First Baptist two and half years. Time flies.

Also pray for our house to sell, we have never had to sell a house before because we have always been in apartment, or a parsonage. So pray we have wisdom.

Feel free to email me with any questions at emilywallace80@hotmail.com or leave questions in the comment section here. We are very excited and cannot wait to see what all God is going to do!

My Baby Girl is So Much Fun, But

Do no take a perfectly good Popsicle away from her when there is still one bite left. In her defense, she did have an ear infection in this picture but I did not know it.

Piggly Wiggly's Huge Deals this Month!

Starting 2/3 through the month of February: Get 1 Greenbax for every coupon you use up to 10 per visit

Then:

Hold onto them until Greenbax days the last three days of month (Feb. 26th – 28th), and get $15 off any purchase when you use 10 Greenbax. You can use 10 Greenbax per transaction those 3 days!

Read more about it here at Southern Savers.

So, today, after I dropped Jackson off at school, I stopped by Piggly Wiggly and used 2 coupons so now I have 6 greenbax. I plan on using more coupons before Febuary 23 and getting $15 in free groceries Feb. 26th-28th. Piggly Wiggly's prices are usually abnormally high but not this month. Be sure to check Southern Savers daily for updates.

Also, pray for my baby girl. She has an ear infection. It is only her second, and only the second time she has had to be on antibiotics (last April was the last time we filled a prescription for her...I am so thankful!). Jackson has a light cough, so pray he does not get an infection. Charlie is getting over his sinus infection that he got this week, so I am definietly feeling like "doctor" mom this week. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers!

New Books We Are Working on

Jackson is still going to Oak Grove Elementary School on Thursday mornings at 7:45 am for speech (one hour sessions). He has done really well in January and is speaking in 4 or 5 word sentences now. He is saying so much in speech his teacher says she is having a hard time writing it all down. She said last time he was like, "Look, that is a diamond shape." I am so thankful! This time last year he was hardly saying anything. Now, he is almost non-stop talking...if I will not listen, he will talk to himself.

Every month they try to work on one specific book every therapy session. The books they are now working on for February are Emma Kate by Patrica Polacco, and The Three Bears by Paul Galdone. I got both of these books off half.com for under $5. I will not pay more than $5 (this includes shipping) for any book or dvd I buy for them, because we are at the stage where books get eaten by our little goat, Abigail. I am so excited about these new books!

I still do school time daily with the kids since they are not going to Preschool. I have started strapping Abigail down in her seat during this time as well and doing activities with her (we are trying for her not to use her pacifier during the day).

Here is our current 'school' schedule at home:

Mondays: Car and block day (he works on copying what I build)
Tuesdays: Bubble day
Wednesday: Puzzle day
Thursday: Animal day
Friday: Art day
Saturday: practice ball (putting, soccer, etc).

At the end of "school" time (they are both strapped down) they get a Popsicle as a treat. This kills some time and is good exercise for their mouths.

With Jackson, we are working on obeying Mommy the first time I ask him to do something. This requires me really meaning what I say, and getting down on his level, making eye contact, and speaking in a calm but stern voice. If he does an action that deliberately hurts his sister, or harms himself (i.e. running out in the middle of the street), he gets a spanking with the "rod." (wooden spoon).

Proverbs 13:24, "He who spares the rod, hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." Proverbs 22:15, "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him."

Ultimately, my primary goal for my children is to know Jesus. Jesus' death and resurrection is their only hope. My goal for my children is to teach them to strive to live a life where their goal is to die to themselves and depend on God.

How we live this out in their little lives may look like this: when my kids are sick, we lay hands on whoever is sick and pray in Jesus name that He will heal them. When mommy struggles with something, I pray out loud to the Holy Spirit that He will give me strength to overcome whatever I am struggling with. When Jackson is obsessing over what PJ's he is going to wear at night, and who got the certain PJ's for him, if it is us, I say, "Mommy and Daddy got them. Daddy works very hard so we can have money to have PJ's. But ultimately, Jesus graciously gave us our money and everything we have." God is completely in control (it might not be our plan but it is His plan, everything that happens to us that we have no control over). Also we sing such songs as, "Yes, Jesus loves me" and read stories daily all about Jesus from Read Aloud Bible Stories.

I have really been thinking a lot recently about parenting goals and how to practically live them out. One of my friends recently experienced an extreme family tragedy. There really were no words that I could say to comfort her. However, the Holy Spirit gave me words for her through a song. I texted her and said, "Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and His righteousness". He is the only reason we can get out the bed the next day, he is our ONLY HOPE. We can keep our eyes fixed on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. The Holy Spirit will give you the strength (that you do not think you havr) to set your hearts and your thoughts on Jesus. Our only hope is His blood and His righteousness. That is my "sermon" for today...ha!