Baby Berto

I’m putting this out into the public ether because I need your help.

The time is now. It is time for a change. It is time to get back to being more myself. I turn 30 this year, and it is time to reclaim my life. It’s time to change my life.

The journey

All my life I have been the “big kid.” It is my identity, both online and off. I’ve never been able to wear the cool style of clothes (I missed the whole “ironic T-shirt” trend. Not sure if that’s good or bad.), I always finished last in PE runs, I had to wear different shoes than my groomsmen at my wedding and I even almost got thrown off a recent flight. But I’ve embraced my size and have learned how to buy size 18 shoes and where to buy camo clothes for hunting.

But it’s always been an adjustment. There’s so much I can’t do in my life because of my size.

A new path

This was me back in 2000. It was my first year of college and right before I moved to Seattle.

Yeah, that's me on the beach in Hawaii. I was a freshman in college and got to go to class and workout/go to the beach. Glory days indeed.

I was 295 lbs then and was in the best shape of my life. That was 150 lbs ago. The path to get back to that place isn’t really clear. I do a lot that is unhealthy and the first step is cutting that out. That means no more daily trips to the drive through. No more sneaking cookies when I go grocery shopping. No more sugary coffee creamer. No more seconds.

It means more exercise and a 30-day sobriety kick.

From there it will be a lot of hiking, working in the yard and generally not being a lazy slob. It’s a new path for me. There’s tons of reasons why this is a good idea, starting with the reason behind this domain name.

The goal

The goal of all this? Well, in six months I turn 30. Six months to bust my ass and get in shape. So if I put a goal of 30 pounds out there, that seems reasonable. Five measly pounds per month. Maybe it’s not enough. I don’t know. I just know I want to hike a deer out of the woods next fall. Or, you know, climb my stairs without getting winded.

Offers to be my personal chef will be taken in the order they are submitted. And thank you for your support, expressed or implied.

Holiday Cheer

The holiday season was filled with joy and love with family and friends. Kylah was able to spend Christmas with close family, including her aunts: Eric’s 3 younger sisters from California, whose Christmas present was to fly up and meet their new niece! Kylah’s only Christmas present from mommy and daddy was her “1st Christmas” ornament. Many people asked me what we were getting her for Christmas, and my response was always “Diapers, of course!” Babies don’t really need anything besides love and attention. One of my coworkers told me the one thing she regretted about the way she raised her daughter: She should have spent more money on experiences and less money on “stuff,” because it’s the experiences your children have that have the most meaning. (Thanks, Tami:)

2010

In her short life thus far, Kylah has celebrated many firsts: Her first smile, her first laugh, her first roll-over, her first plane ride, her first vacation, her first Thanksgiving, her first Christmas and now her first new year. There will be many more firsts coming soon: sitting up, eating and crawling. Before we realize it, we are going to have to baby-proof the house! It’s difficult to comprehend how much has happened in the last year. I spent a majority of 2010 pregnant (and miserable) with baby Kylah until we were blessed by her healthy arrival in August. She has been the light of our lives and the center of our world from minute one. She has changed our perspectives and our priorities. She has made me a better person.

Welcome 2011

Another day and another year. Kylah will be walking and talking by next Christmas. Mommy will be continuing her weight-loss journey and hopes to complete a half-marathon in June. Daddy will be continue to be an awesome husband and playmate to baby Kylah. Chubbs will learn to share his toys with Kylah. We are hoping to take a family vacation to Mexico, it’s time to get Kylah a passport already!

2010 in Pictures

Yay, It’s Christmas time already! Guess what? It’s my FIRST Christmas with Mommy and Daddy and I’m so happy to be in the outside world. I heard that our doggy, Chubbs,  got to write the Christmas letter last year, now it’s my turn! At this time last year, I was just a twinkle in Mommy and Daddy’s eyes.

But I haven’t been around all year, I was a little “peanut” in Mommy’s tummy for nine whole months. Daddy and Mommy got to do all kinds of fun things before I arrived. Like camping! And Seahawk games! And fishing! And puking. Well, just Mommy did that. Sorry Mommy.

Right after Mommy and Daddy found out about me, Daddy started a new job. Now he gets to do public relations for companies like Microsoft, T-Mobile, HTC and other neat things. Mommy continued to work as an operating room nurse through morning sickness, back pain and being really pregnant (sorry Mommy). She worked up until 3 days before I was born, way to go mommy! Mommy got to stay home with me until I was 12 weeks old! Now she goes to work 3 days a week to fix people’s boo-boos.

Mommy and daddy thought they were ready for me. That’s where their friends came to help. My cousin Jamie and auntie Debbie made mommy take a shower. But she got lots of presents for it. Mommy and Daddy also got to take a shower with some of their good friends. Oh, Daddy says it’s not “take a shower,” but threw a shower. Yay!

I was born on August 21st. I was a healthy 8lbs, 5oz and a whole 20 1/2 inches long. Mommy and Daddy thought I would be big like Daddy and they only had two outfits that were small enough for me! Daddy drove me home and put me on the kitchen counter and just stared at me. I’m pretty sure we were thinking the same thing — “Now what?” Then he took me upstairs so I could lie on his tummy. So I peed on him. Hee hee! I got to meet so many people. But I really liked it when my grandmas held me. Grandma Kathy and Grandma Shanda were so happy to meet me!

I have had all kinds of neat adventures. I have a doggy that likes to give me kisses and protect my toys. Sometimes he’ll take one and chew on it to show how much he loves me. Yay! I got to pick out a pumpkin and I even got to help daddy cut down a Christmas tree. I also got to take my first plane ride. Daddy had to go talk to his geeky friends in Las Vegas and Mommy took me with to stay by the pool. I wanted to gamble, but mommy said I was a just little too young.  I hope I get to fly again soon. First class has all the free bottles I can drink!

A few weeks ago, I learned to roll over, that was so fun!  I like to sleep a lot (just like mommy) because I’m growing up so fast! I laugh a lot and smile all the time. Mommy and daddy are so silly when they make faces and sing to me!

2011 will be a busy year! I’ll be all grown up before you know it. Mommy and Daddy said they are taking me to Mexico. We are also going to go camping lots this summer! Well, I need to go have a bottle now. But remember, you can follow my adventures here. Mommy and Daddy put all kinds of pictures and fun stories there!

Lots of love,
Kylah Makana (oh, and Mommy and Daddy and the puppy too, hee hee!)

Exactly one year ago I sat down to write my first post on babyberto.com. It’s been 12 months and two weeks since Kelci and I found out that our lives had changed forever. And boy has it…

This has been an amazing year. Kelci and I have been blessed with an amazing little girl that is perfect in every way. She has made our lives infinitely better by being happy, calm, healthy and just generally amazing. There’s no feeling that can replace how I feel when I come home from work at night and am greeted by her one-dimpled smile.

I have a house full of family this holiday season. And that family is mine. I am super thankful for everything she has given me. Truly the best gift ever.

Kylah has a special note that she will post on Saturday, but for now, I want to share her little visit to see Santa Claus.

Kylah got to meet Santa Claus. He brought us an amazing little gift.