Jessalyn's 4th birthday!

This post is about 2 months late but here it is! Jessalyn's 4th birthday celebrations. Her birthday was October 9th.

Grandma came out from Colorado to come visit and spend some time with the birthday girl. The day before her birthday Grandma took Jess to her favorite place ever. The "dowwy mall" aka the dolly mall aka the mall with the American Girl store. Heaven on earth for this girly girl! It seems to be a birthday tradition to come here and get her something for every birthday. Her first birthday grandma took her and got her a bitty twin. This time grandma let her pick out any doll that she wanted. 

Before she picked one out she had to play with everything first. 

Jayven joined in on the fun. He enjoys the store right now. It won't be too long before he realizes it's a bunch of yucky girl stuff. 

Jess has had her on eye Isabelle. The girl of the year. She's a ballerina and she also comes with pink streaks in her hair. I think she made a great choice. Cuz I get to play with her too. Haha. And I'm also glad she picked that one because she will be gone by the end of the year. 

After the final decision we spent some time in the mall. We made all the usual stops. The Mickey store, the teddy bear store, the horsies, and the Lego store. 

The next day was the big day! She still had preschool to attend so she wore her birthday shirt and took cupcakes for all her buddies. 

While she was at preschool, grandma and I set up for her fancy birthday tea party.

When she got home it was time for an outfit change and special hairstyle. She couldn't stop looking at herself in the mirror.

The outfit was complete with fancy dress, gloves, purse and tiara of course.

Then it was picture time before the guests arrived.

Three of her preschool friends Holly, Ellie and Emmy were her party guests.

On the menu was princess crown shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pink strawberry chocolate chip cookies and pink lemonade "tea".

After tea, it was time for a dance party!

Even grandma and Jayven joined in on the dancing!

After the tea party we went to the make again. She got a special birthday song at the Disney store. 

Later that evening, the cousins and Uncle James and Aunt Heather came over for pizza and cake and presents.

Jess requested a pink strawberry cake.

She got lots of fun presents. Aunt Heather made some awesome clothes for her new doll Isabelle. 

And she ended the night wearing her new matching jammies. What a great and funfilledbirthday! 

Wagons and Bowling Balls

My first ever blog post! Jamie has had this blog now for our family for about 7 years and this is my first time ever posting anything. Blogger virgin no longer. Wow. I thought this was as good as time as any to get a lot off my chest and share some life experiance. I might even try more posts in the future. I know, you are on the edge of your seat. 

Well, I have held off posting about my weight loss the past couple months as to avoid annoying my facebook news feed with weekly weight loss updates. Sorry for this novel, but a lot of this is for those in the same weight loss wagon as me.

Many know that I have always struggled with my weight and yo-yo dieted since high school. Always having success then inevitably falling off the wagon like clock work. The past couple years I didn't just fall off the wagon, I fell off hard, while being run over multiple times by multiple candy bar filled wagons, then fell off a cliff into an ocean of liquid sugar and sank into the abyss of refined carbohydrates. 

A lot of my struggle has to do with my high level of stress since going back to school especially the last two years. I have had several conversations with a few classmates of mine about the unforgiving nature of school. Unfortunately, students who struggle never get a gold star for average grades that don't necessarily reflect the amount of time, stress, and never ending exhaustion put in because you suffer from a very high level of anxiety that affects your test taking/memorization skills with seemingly the same amount of studying as anyone else, most times more. It just adds a level of unnecessary stress. Oh well. Grades don't always reflect intelligence or knowledge, or the ability to be a successful Doctor or Chiropractor. That's another discussion on how many things the terrible educational system get wrong. So with all of that said, mix stress and a difficult anxiety with unforgiving Chiropractic college, and what you get is a 70+ pound weight gain. Or, about 5 average size bowling balls. Wowzers 

As I mentioned a few months ago it was my goal to start incorporating better meals and juicing. That worked well and I lost several pounds over several months. But, I decided if I was going to be any kind of doctor who focuses on wellness and proper health, I would have to look and live the part before I graduate so I would need a stronger jump start. That's why this time feels different and will be my motivation for staying on the wagon, and not falling off.

Now, food is good. Indescribably good sometimes. Especially sugar. That's my weakness. Blue Bell Krazy Kookie Dough ice cream. Curse you, you beautiful creation. Little Debbie, this pains me to say this but we need a separation of sorts. No, of course I don't want a divorce. Till death to us part. Chilled Pepsi on ice in a large insulated cup. Get out of my life. Wait wait just kidding I love you, but our relationship has to be more casual now. I will still be enjoying the above but like anything really, moderation is the key. It has to be.

Sugar is a drug. This is a scientific fact. It can drive a man insane - refer to paragraph above

In August I was praying daily for guidance on what I could do to achieve my weight loss goals. I have tried everything in the past. I had lost near 10 pounds already and I didn't want another long road diet during school. But at the same time, I was also at a point where I was dealing with my anxiety in a way that allowed me to focus like I haven't been able to before. I was working at Dr. Sheffers office on a Saturday bringing patients back as usual and then started explaining a diet called "ChiroThin" the doc provides in office to a patient that many previous patients have had a lot of success with and then it just kinda hit me. I was given my answer. I would need to suck it up and do something challenging in order to start getting truly healthy again. In September I started the diet and I have now lost 44 pounds overall. Or, just over 3 average size bowling balls.

Wow, no wonder I couldn't go up 3 flights of stairs without heavy breathing. Oops. I will now start and continue a maintenance period till the end of the year while trying to enjoy the holidays then go hard again in January and hope to lose a lot more.







My purpose for finally posting is to hopefully spread some motivation to those struggling to lose weight for whatever reason and the desire to lose it. Don't let the superficial opinions of others be your motivation or likewise, destroy your motivation. Do it for yourself for your own happiness, to live a long healthy life. I want to get there eventually. I don't want a heart attack at 50. Thats what scares me the most.  I don't want diabetes. I don't want to be a statistic. I want to see all of my children's big life events and achievements. I want to grow old with my wife.

Speaking of, I am blessed beyond belief to have a wife that has never uttered even a fraction of negativity regarding my weight. Always saying that she loves me and is attracted to me no matter what and that she supports me in my weight loss because she knows and understands my struggles but also my desire to be healthy.

For those who continually fall of the wagon, get back on! Just as I hope I find motivation to reach my ultimate goal next year and stay on the wagon forever, I hope and pray the same to those who need it. I couldn't even button the shirt pictured in the big-belly-McButter-pants "before" picture and now its a little big. So most importantly let your success be your continued motivation, as it has mine!


God Speed,

Jordan

Jayven is a walking boy!

Jayven is officially walking! He has been trying for about a week or two. Last week he took about 4 steps in a row until he fell.

He began standing up on his own and just standing by himself.

And today is the first day he has been walking back and forth for a while before he falls. Then he gets right back up and goes for it again! 

 

He is super excited about his new talent!

Royals game date night

We had a date night with James and Heather and the baby boys at the Royals game. We left the older kiddos with the babysitter. 

We had some really nice seats and we were lucky that it wasn't scorching hot.

Jayven looks a little worried because it was our first time trying a back carry with the moby but he really did like it and so did I.

Jayven had fun but he wanted to be on the go the whole time. He wanted to walk up and down the stairs the whole time.

We were sitting in front of a group of drunk people who were actually pretty entertaining. Jayven found them pretty interesting as well and they thought he was the cutest thing ever.

The two baby boys had lots of fun but the game was cut short for us because it started raining and the game was put on hold. We left early but at least we didn't have to fight to many crowds to get out of the parking lot

Random Happenings

My favorite time of year has rolled around! Consignment sales! I'm like a kid in a candy store when I get to go to a sale. I went to check out a few the other day and Jess got to join me. She had to take a picture by the balloons. We went sale hopping and the kids favorite part was getting to play with all the toys.

Jess spent some time with daddy a few days ago and she brought her and Jayven some bath toys from the dollar tree. She was so excited to give it to him.

Occasionally we go to the drive thru car wash and Jess likes to pretend she's not scared but starts freaking out as soon as it starts. So we unbuckle her seatbelt and she gets to sit up with us.

After the car wash we went to costco and Jess found this really cute blanket with a stuffed animal. She said "mommy, take a picture to me."  It was not fun trying to leave and telling her we weren't going to get it. 

She put this bandaid on her face and wanted me to take a picture of her. She's just like her mom. She always wants me to take pictures of her.

And sometimes she doesn't have to ask me to take pictures of her. I just want to because she's just so darn pretty!

This silly boy has some pretty serious facial expressions. He was getting frustrated because I mixed his goldfish with puffs. Whenever he got a puff out he would put it in his mouth and realize it wasn't a goldfish and would make a silly face then throw it off to the side. Now I know better not to mix them. Haha.

Sister laid out this blanket for her baby dolls and he kept trying to lay on it. 

And then she wanted to take a picture with Jayven and the tiny baby doll and said "We're a full family." But Jayven wasn't having it so I didn't get a picture with him in it on time.

Jess found the perfect goldfish! They are princess goldfish and they are pink! She was so super excited about them.

Preschool!

Jess started preschool last week! We are doing a preschool co-op with 9 other families in our ward including a neighbor. She goes two days a week for about 3 hours. We switch off houses each week so I will get a chance to teach all the kids.

This was her first day. All the kids were getting together to take pictures and she was too shy as usual.

She's always very shy in the beginning but warms up pretty fast and becomes a lot more outgoing. The good thing is she knows everyone so it's a lot easier for her to warm up and be social.

I always ask her what she learned and she always tells me "I don't want to talk about it." Not because she didn't have a good time. I know she did but she's just sassy like that.

Thanks to my dear friend Heidi for taking these pictures.

She is growing up too fast!!