Breanna Bear

 How could I not love this face!

 She never stop stealing our hearts!

 One of the happiest days in our lives! The day we became a family FOREVER!

 She started out so small and amazing, most days she still is!

I can't believe she is 1 year old! She is changing and learning so fast. Walking, Talking, laughing and crying. Man it has gone by so fast! I am so excited to watch her grow this next year. So much will still change!

Wow talk about a crazy 8 months

So now that life has changed again and we are expecting our baby girl in August, I have really had to stop trying to plan anything! The only thing I can plan or try to is our cleaning schedule and Breanna's schedule. Between Mike starting school- which I am so happy he is doing and I know it will be worth it; and Breanna turning ONE and starting so many new things and phases, to now a baby. Can i just say I still am in somewhat denial! I often look at my belly and rub my belly to feel its real. I love it when she moves and flops and kicks, It never fails to make me smile. Even when I am in bed trying to sleep. 

So now I am going to start blogging for REAL as much as possible. There is so much going on and I am really bad at writing a Journal so here is my thoughts.

Life has been NUTS to say the least! But I have o say first off that I am so grateful that we are all HEALTHY! Since moving to Texas we have had to adjust to a different life style. Less money more bills and Trying to make it to a place we can call home for now.

When we first got here I was very depressed and Homesick for Japan. I loved our life there and our friends, even though most of them had moved. I wanted my life back, my schedule, my energy! I felt so blah for about 2 months and all I wanted to do was SLEEP! So every time Breanna went to bed so did I. I am just grateful she is a good sleeper. Then in about March I met some friends and slowly started socializing and hanging out. can I say that makes a HUGE difference! So now life is good.

Most of you know about Breanna's Head condition, that was scary at first then now just a pain to keep it on her head. She has to go in every 2 weeks to check the fitting of her Cranial helmet and make sure its doing it job. Can I say she HATES it! At first she was a champ then she figured out how to undo the dang thing and now wont leave it alone. I have pictures of it but I cant find my camera cord. I am calling tomorrow to see if they can make the Velcro stronger so that its harder to take off.
She is doing great though. She has taken 3 steps and loves playing and reading books. I often am amazed at how smart she is. Today she said BALL after She picked up her Ball. So now she says
"Mama, dada, Ball, All done, More, HI and NO" By the way No was NO Mama. Isn't that great!
I love her so much and cant imagine life without her.

Found my new Favorite cookies!

Okay so I am the type of person that if I am going to make a life change it has to be worth it. Mike and eat great food and feel good at the end of the day.... Then to add to it I found a great Recipe for " The Ultimate Vegan Oatmeal raisin cookie". Now Mike LOVES oatmeal raisin cookies so I had to get this right! HMMMM I DID! Ohhhhhhh I just want to make these and keep them in the fridge. But I wont!
Mine where Fatter but AMAZING!
Our Favorite Dessert that I dont feel one once guilty for is..........
Banana Blizzards! Can You say OHHHHHHHH FREAKIN YEAH!
We have even just done Banana and cherrys.. again YUMM.
Tomorrow We are eating.........
Chipotle basil corn chowder...... with a yummy salad on the side. Perfect for another rainy day.

Day 4

Some people think I am crazy for eating like a Vegan. So here is why i am doing it. We have been eating alot better in the past 2 years but I am done being on the fence and just trying to eat healthy. I wan to be healthy inside and out. Healthy to me means- feeling good in my skin, the desire to eat great food and not have to count the calories or feel guilty! A glow that you see in others that you have in yourself. Healthy to me is happiness in a way.
I love eating Banana blizzards and not feeling guilty, and Mexican tortilla Pie and so many other great foods that I feel good after, during and even get excited about cooking it.
So here s what we had for dinner last night......... Mexican tortilla pie!

I cant say enough how amazing it was! Ohhhh How I wish I could upload the pictures but Blogger is being dumb and not uploading them!
Tell me how you are and what you think about the work Healthy?

Vegan

So over the past 1.5 years we have drastically changed our eating habits. We went from eating MEAT just about everyday and sometimes a few times a day to....... 1 time a week or if I can help it none. Mike is still getting there I am doing better but I have given myself a 30 day Challenge. Complete Vegan 30 days! Today was day one. I have done really well. No dairy, No candy, NO MEAT, No crap!

I love looking at Vegan blogs and just being amazing at how good the food taste! I am excited about having a VEGAN Thanksgiving! HMMMMM cant wait! So today I ate yummy organic Crispy rice cereal with Almond milk, which I prefer rice Milk. Then For lunch.............
I ate it without the chesse!
http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2006/10/sweet-potato-black-bean-enchiladas.html

Then I took a nice long sunday nap, and ate a wonderful Japenese Apple for a snack. Now I am going to figure out what to make for the Three of us, Ed Thomas, Mike and I for dinner. But I know that this is what is for dessert!Apple Strawberry Vegan Breakfast Crisp....... OHHHHHH SO GREAT! We have been eating it for dessert and I think someone just ate it all day. One of the guys.... I am thinking BOTH!This is dinner easy Spaghetti with kidney beans, crushed tomatoes and sauce! So good!

Learning how to breathe

Lately I have been so much happier and well balanced even on my Period. I feel so much more at peace with things, even though there is still ALOT going on I just feel at ease. I know that heavenly father will take care of things and some how we will understand his will.
Last Wend. we found out that Breanna was denied command sponsership, which simply means she cant stay for more then 90 days and we dont get paided extra for her to be here and we only gets Tricare standard which mean that the insurance doesnt pay 100% of the bill. So we have a few options and in the next 1-2 weeks we should find out what is going to happen. All I know is that it will all work out!
Excepting myself in the mirror has been very difficult since I was 13 and hormones kicked in. I was always the pudgy big boobed teen, and very low self esteem. I even remember thinking about killing myself when I was 14 to just have to stop thinking I was fat and stupid. Luckily I didnt and moved on and somehow made it to 31! How is it that we think that when we are in our teen years that we feel like life will never move on or be any better. Now looking back I wish I would of just held my head up high and said " screw you I am me and thats ok", but hey now I am me and thats great. Today we went to the base beach at the lake and took pictures of Breanna's first time at the beach, in those pictures I dont great but I love the happiness in my eyes and that even though I still have 50+ pounds to go that Breanna has a mommy that loves her. I could look at the pictures like I have done for so long and said " delete them, I am fat no way is she seeing me like this later in life!" I am glad I can just say Ohh well At least I am in the picture and not the one taking the picture. Memories last till they are forgotten and mothers love a lasts forever.
Check http://breannarose.shutterfly.com/pictures/303 to see what I mean.

Budget

The word BUDGET sometime can mean "0 you are not managing our money right", I want a budget; "or umm where the hell did all our money go". Well in our case its where the hell did our money go! We haven't bounced or gone negative but man it gets close. So tonight I sat down and did a budget its a least a rough draft. What budget forms do you use? What has worked for you guys? So help me out what do you do?