Janey and Me, Happily

October, 2011

2011-10-19T21:41:00.000-07:00

One of those days usually means it's going to be one of those nights, too --- it's close to midnight, I'm wide awake. I'm coming off of a short battle with some bad meatloaf ... and when I say battle, I mean it was more like a war. If I never see meatloaf again, I'll be fine. I've slept A LOT the past few days, which means that I am way off of my normally sleep-deprived schedule and here I sit. It's dark, the television is on Leno - who I haven't seen in months, and spotify is playing a little of my girl, Sara Groves - but I honestly don't remember turning it on -which means it's been on for a while.

I'm looking through pictures of my Raleigh Man and my SJ - and trying to figure out how they are getting so big...

Raleigh will 18 months old tomorrow. 18 months old. I know that isn't old - but it just happened so quickly. I feel like he should still be a tiny little newborn, completely dependent upon me - but he isn't. He's anything but dependant. He's head-strong. He's a firecracker. He's hillarious - a joker, a comedian, a crowd pleaser, a flirt, a ladies man and fully aware of his unbelievable cute-ness. Amazed everyday, I am, at how wonderful he has made our lives - ALL of our lives. How on earth was I ever afraid of having a little boy ..for even a second? I'm immeasurably grateful for his presence in our lives - the constant comic relief from the every day madness, the sweet full face kisses, the little dimply grin, the wild morning hair, that contagious little laugh, the sound of that sweet voice, wild applause over the tiniest things - he's been 18 months of pure joy, no matter what I say in the moments of chasing him (because he never "walked" --- he's only ever ran --- or at least it feels that way), or the moments of convincing him that it's not okay to steal SJ's glasses, or when he's completely undressing himself and running through the house naked, or when he's being ALL boy... no matter what our day to day brings, he's definitely been 18 months of pure sweet, passy sucking, hair twirling joy. And I wouldn't trade one single second of it.

Here are a few of his favorite things to say:
GO DAWGS!
Singing Zaccheus... but only the "GET DOWN" part (he's heard that a few times)
Barney (I don't want to talk about it..)
"Ess-DAY" "Darruh Dane" "DAY-NEE" (SJ, Sarah Jane, Janey - always yelled, never spoken)
Apple Jew
"Help Me" (in the most pitiful voice you have ever heard)
simba (the cat)
Crack-toos (crackers)
Monk-me (monkey)
COWMOOOOOOOO (one word)
Old McDonald
The Itsy Spider (he knows all the hand motions!)
SHOES!

He's also really into playing chase, playing with cars/trucks/tractors/trains (anything with wheels), "feet-balls" (any kind of ball), hiding from me, and climbing on anything he can manage to climb on. :) He's a wonderful little mess.

As for SJ - I couldn't be any prouder of her... She's growing up way too fast and if I've ever wanted to stop the clock, it's now. She's SO much fun at this age! We recently got the chance to suprise her with a trip to see Taylor Swift (her favorite) and she LOVED IT! She was so suprised - and if she said thank you once, she must have said it twenty times. All day long, she couldn't believe that she was actually there!

Also - today I got this in the mail:

I don't mean to sound boastful when I say that I already knew she was all of those things, but I did - She embodies all of these things effortlessly. It's my constant prayer for her that she never loses them. I've said it for years on this blog - but she's taught me things I could have never learned anywhere else, and these 4 things only scratch the surface.

I've recently started a new bible study with a few of my good friends. At our last get together we were talking about prayers for your children and claiming scripture for them - this is my most recent prayer for SJ, that God would write this on her heart - and mine, too.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and don't lean on your own understanding. In all things acknowledge him, and he will lead your way." (Proverbs 3:5, 6)

She's somehow managed to make it to beings 7.5 years old with such a sweet, sweet spirit. My biggest fear for her is that it will somehow get broken - But, if she clings to this verse, then GOD WILL LEAD HER --- and I can't imagine anything much better than that.

April - September 2011

2011-09-15T07:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know - I've fallen off of the blog-wagon. But, I've just been so wrapped up in life that I didn't have the time or the desire to sit down and blog... But, since I've caught some flack about it, I decided that I do want to get a few things down before my children are grown! :)

Here's a brief re-cap of the last few months...

And, by "few months" --- I mean, since Easter.

Every year we host our Church Easter Egg Hunt - this year was no exception. We had a blast with the almost 100 people that came. SJ was most excited that KB got to come back "home" for the Egg Hunt, she realllly misses her! They were having so much fun & SJ and KB found the prize eggs!

Easter Morning:

Raleigh is usually pretty okay with everyone - but he just wasn't sure about the Easter Bunny. No tears, but he wouldn't take his eyes off of him!

This little boy is a MESS --- and the more of a mess he is, the more I love him --- in this picture, he had just bumped into the wall (he's a wee bit clumsy)... and as SOON as he got up, he started telling the wall "no, no, no, no" :)

As you can see... he wasn't hurt, and was completely fine mere seconds later.

and he thought the whole thing was just hillarious...

In May, Sarah Jane had her Spring Recital - Can I just say without sounding *too* braggy, braggy... My child is a GREAT dancer - she LOVES it and I couldn't be ANY happier with her dance school, her teachers, the recitals, or the costumes. Every year, they outdo themselves - and this year's recital was no exception.

We tried to take a picture of the Houston grandkids... but, the gnats were OFF THE CHAIN, and this was about all we could come up with. Still can't believe these babies are this big.

Raleigh's favorite shirt: (okay, really it's my favorite shirt that Raleigh wears...)

This Summer we took a trip to the beach..

WE ARE BEACH PEOPLE!

We stayed in Carillon Beach, and it was fantastic. 8 days of nothing but beach, pools, shopping malls, restaurants, and fun! But, while we were there we took a day and went into Panama City to take SJ to Gulf World. We told her that morning where we were going and that she was going to get to swim with Dolphins and she was BEYOND excited!! We went to dolphin shows and she got to take a class about them... and THEN she got to spend about 40 minutes in the water with them. They did tricks together, she got to swim with him, he splashed her, they gave high fives --- it was fantastic! Yesterday in school she had to write a book about the best vacation ever... and this was the one she picked. OVER DISNEY! :) I'm so glad that she got to do this, she STILL talks about it.

Just a few weeks ago, my sweet niece/bff/pretty much sister had a sweet baby boy, Carson.

I feel like I need to tell y'all that over the last few months I have seen a whole new side to Myki - she is one of the strongest people I have ever known. She's gone through an entire pregnancy, childbirth, and those hard newborn nights ALONE... her precious husband is in Aghanistan, and won't be home for a few more weeks. Also, during the last little bit of her pregnancy, she had Justin's little girl with her --- not only did she do all of this alone, she never complains... she just does it! Because she has to. I've gained a whole new appreciation for those that are left behind when soldiers deploy. She's amazing!

Here's SJ's first day of school picture...

SECOND GRADE PEOPLE!!! SECOND GRADE!

I know that I have said this every year... but when I look at these pictures, I can't believe that this is my SJ. She's almost up to my shoulders when she stands up straight. She really loves school, her new teacher, and all the kids in her class. She just recently informed us that she wants to go to college at YALE! ...or Harvard. ---and though that sounds out of reach, I am 100% confident that if that is what she wants, then she will do it.

Raleigh is still a Daddy's boy... he loves me, definitely... but he is OBSESSED with George. It's the cutest thing ever.

Every year there is a big field of flags by our Mall --- each one of these flags has a name tied to it... a soldier's name. People can purchase the flags in honor or in memory of a Soldier that they love. We always take the kids and show them the flags --- it's a great hands on way to remind them of how great of a country we live in.

They put these flags up every year in memory of September 11th... but my kids don't remember it. They weren't even here yet. I'm always baffled when I have to tell SJ about it, every year revealing a little more about the tragedy of that day and those that followed. It's a heartbreaking thing to watch your child figure out that there is that much evil in the world --- and even scarier to think that one day, I'll have to let her go live in it.

Here's Raleigh's NEW BIG BOY BED... that he hates. Just as much as he hated his crib. This child is going to be sleeping in our bed until he is 20...

And here's our latest picture - taken yesterday. :)

Hopefully I can come up with something witty or profound to blog about soon --- but until then, these pictures will have to do.

Have a great day!

You are one.

2011-05-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

The days last forever, but the years pass so quickly.

That's the quote that has resonated in my mind over and over again while I have been trying to write this post these last few weeks. I've been a little absent from the blog - because I have been so incredibly busy - but I wanted to make sure that I get these thoughts down somewhere. My son is one - one year old. and counting. I need more hours in my days!

Raleigh,

Sweet, Sweet baby. I can remember standing in your nursery with your Daddy when I was 8 months pregnant, trying to get your room JUST right. I had everything sorted, everything where it should be... I was obsessive about things being perfect for you. It's weird, see, because that isn't like me. I don't obsess over the house (which I am sure you will learn) or over little nit-picky things -- and I remember him asking me what was going on? I stopped what I was doing and I just crumbled into his arms because I was scared to death -- I didn't know anything about baby boys, or how I was going to handle you... or more importantly what you were going to think of me. So, I was trying to make everything that I knew anything about - perfect. And it was.

That fear never left me. The morning you were born I can remember praying for God help me, because I just didn't know what to expect.

But, when that nurse handed you to me, when I saw your sweet baby face - I literally thought that my heart was going to beat out of my chest - I loved you with a love that I didn't even know was possible.

Child of mine, you have changed me for the better. What an incredible blessing you are. You bring an unimaginable amount of joy to our family - I can't imagine life without you, YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of your first year:

In the hospital:

Right after we got home:

When you met GB:

Sleepy baby:

Your first trip to church:

one month old:

Three months old:

Bath time!

Six Months:

halloween:

9 months:

ONE!:

I'm so blessed to be your Mommy!

9 month pictures

2011-02-21T19:40:00.000-08:00

My little guy at (barely) 9 months old... These pics were taken on the eve of his 10 month birthday, so technically he was still 9 months old, right?

Raleigh is ALMOST walking... he stands alone for as long as he wants, but then he sits down before he takes off. I should be really excited, but I kinda don't want these last few baby days to be over. I'm tempted to pick him up every time he tries to stand. :)

He is STILL not sleeping through the night, or napping, but that will come with time -- and I don't know any 17 year olds that don't sleep through the night... besides, he doesn't have a grumpy disposition (ever!) so I'm not too concerned with it. Although, I would really like a full night of sleep. People told me that SJ wasn't normal for sleeping through the night in her first month of life... I thought they were crazy, but they were right.

He's SUCH a loving, fun child to be around. He loves to play games like patty cake, or peek a boo. He likes for you to crawl on the floor beside him and mock him.. he also likes for you to pretend to take his passy and try to put it in your mouth... and he thinks that burping is absolutely the funniest thing in world. Needless to say, he is all boy!

His favorite songs are "If You're Happy and You Know It", "The Wheels on the Bus", and "One Little Duck" --- and he also loves to "ride a little horsey down to town"

He's a whopping 25 pounds and is wearing 18 months clothes. He's in the 95+ percentile on both height and weight --- and he is the most inquisitive little guy on the planet!

Juicy!

2011-01-29T07:35:00.000-08:00

Raleigh's 9 months old and I haven't posted one ding-dang picture of his favorite thing in the world... or anything really, because like I said - he's 9 months old. He's all over the place. He's everywhere. He's up. He's down. He's crawling faster than the speed of light. He's putting everything in his mouth (along with his SIX teeth)... and I mean, everything. He's knocking stuff over. He's picking things up. He's saying about 15-20 words... his favorite of which is DADDY! and I'm pretty sure the other day he told me to "Stop"... oh yeah, my hands are FULL! But I wouldn't have it any other way, little boys are totally different from little girls --- and I love it! He's a whole new world of crazy chaos that I just can't get enough of!

I will post his nine month pics soon -- but until then, here are some really juicy pictures of our little fat-boy!

Eyelashes <3

Ohhhh, he's gonna hate me for this one someday but I just love this heiny!:

Splash!!

oh, this face:

Christmas Book Advent Calendar

2011-01-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

Back in November, I began my search for the perfect Advent Calendar.

There's nothing like counting down the days to Christmas with your little ones! When I was a kid, we always had the fun ones that were made of cardboard or paper and when you punched out the number, there was a piece of chocolate inside. With SJ, we had a felt one shaped like a Christmas tree with a wooden candy cane that you could place inside of each number... with 24 being the star. But, it still wasn't my favorite and I knew there had so be something better. SO, I set out on a search --- a google search, and I am so glad that I did! While I was searching through page after page of great ideas, I stumbled across this one and I KNEW it was perfect for us.

I had stumbled across http://www.babyccino.com/ before, but only once or twice - and ever since I ~~stole~~ found this idea over there, I have been a faithful follower!

Their idea is simple --

Find 24 Christmas Books

Wrap them in simple paper

Label them 1-24, alternating book sizes

Open and read one a day during the month of December until Christmas Eve.

Here is the picture that they have on their website:

And HERE is a link to their post, including some of the books that they used.

Since I am ~~cheap~~ a bargain shopper, I waited until after Christmas when all the books would be on clearance to start my book shopping. We'll have a blast with this in December of 2011.

Here are the books that we found:

I plan on wrapping these up and packing them away with all of our Christmas decorations. That way, they'll even be a suprise to me next year as we're opening them, b/c I know I won't remember which book is which. I will wrap them in brown wrapping paper - and I will add the labels next year. Also, I don't think that any advent calendar is comeplete without some kind of candy, I'll probaby tie a candy cane into my label bows.

I went with several different kinds of books b/c next year I will have to cater to an almost 2 year old and an 8 yr. old. (that sounds so weird!)

This one might be my favorite, I don't think that I have ever seen a more detailed pop-up book! It's the one in the picture that is titled The 12 Days of Christmas.

But the most special book in the whole bunch is this one:

When we cracked it open to read it this year on Christmas Eve, I smiled when I saw this:

So, before I wrap these up - I will be sure to write inside each and every one of these books the date, and who they were from (if someone hasn't already) - so that years from now, my kids will smile too.

If you want to make your family a book advent calendar (why wouldn't you?), there are TONS of places that still have Christmas Books on Clearance (I didn't pay more than $5 for any of these books) --- and several places online.

Happy Book Shopping!

Christmas 2010 {a picture post}

2011-01-02T20:25:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!!

2010-12-22T21:45:00.001-08:00

Sweet Sarah Jane

2010-12-16T19:34:00.000-08:00

this is a random, cheesy mom post - written late at night on the eve of my SJ's seventh birthday. The pictures aren't in order and all the words won't make sense to everyone - but they will to her. Seven years old, really?!

I've never been more scared in my life than I was on this day, 7 years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was nervous, anxious, and slightly out of my mind - I was in pain so overhwhelming that I didn't know if I was going to make it through or not. 26 hours in the hospital, and then a c-section and then you. Every emotion that I came to that hospital with left me when I saw your sweet face. Immediately, I knew my life would never be the same. You wrapped your tiny little fingers around your daddy's pinky and we both fell head over heels in love with you - our sweet Sarah Jane. You have changed us forever, for the better.

I can't believe that I just kissed my 6 year old goodnight for the last time!

These last SEVEN years with you have been more than I could have ever dreamed that they would be. You're the greatest adventure I've ever taken. I love you more than you know. ---and seven sounds so crazy to me. INSANE!

This year, I have watched you go from a very much loved only child, to a sweet big sister. I have to be honest - I was worried how you were going to re-act, especially since he was not the "sister" you had hoped and prayed daily for... but you were a rock star! In fact, you held him before any of us did and you have been smitten ever since! You were the first person to get a giggle out of him and you're still the only one to get a guaranteed laugh. He adores you just as much as you love him. I can't wait to watch you help him grow up - you're going to be such a great big sister!! You already are.

In addition to welcoming your new brother this year, we also said goodbye to your best friend. It's been the hardest thing I've ever done to watch your heart break over this. But, I can promise you that for every tear you've shed - I have matched it with 10. There's never been anything in my life that I ever witnessed like the love between you and her - and I know that there never will be. She'd be so proud of the young lady you're becoming - because it's so much like the lady that she was. Just like her, you're beautiful inside and out. Compassionate and giving, strong and loving - All of her greatest qualities live on in you.

Your little personality is a constant source of entertainment to me, you make me laugh every. single. day.

I can't believe that you will be seven years old tomorrow! It makes me so sad to know that those baby days are gone - I know it sounds so cliche' to say this, but time has flown by! I feel like I've blinked and here you are... seven years old and too big for snuggles!

I wanted to take a moment to remember all the things I love about my six year old, on the last day I'll ever be able to say I love you, my six year old SJ!:

your glasses, all 7 pair (hot pink, brown, green, blue, clear, light pink, and red)

Your Love for Taylor Swiph

Your willingness to still wear bows "for me"

How you sing ALL the time, and have no idea that you're doing it

Your fear of bugs, all bugs - any bug, even an ant!

How you know every. single. song. you hear - even if it's one you shouldn't know!

your crazy outfit combinations.

How you are so scared of the Ocean...

Unless you are with your Daddy.

Your make-up skillz.

Your crazy precious teeth that all decided to fall out this year.

Your shoe obsession

your silky hair

your free spirit

how you always try to tuck in your shirt, no matter what shirt you have on.

your eagerness to help. with everything.

your crazy faces!!

Berberham (Birmingham)

that you still love barbies

How you will sit in the bath-tub for an hour and make up the BEST songs..

♪ "they said that they'd take me to the dollar store, but they LIEDDDDDDDDDDD"♪

♪ "I am the butterfly, you are the big one, please don't crush me!"

how much you love the Disney Channel

you still think I'm cool.

The sweet pictures that you draw

How much you love to dance!

Your love for your friends

how great you are with Genna!

Your persistance and perseverance!

how you still love the simple things in life

Your smile

your contagious laugh

...and how you don't "like" to snuggle, but you will "for me"

You are the best thing that's ever happened to me - and I don't know what I would have ever done without you, or what I ever did before you. You're my little "too-dee-aye" and I love you to the moon and back... and back again, twice..no, three times --- all the way up to 1,437,899,235 times 11! I can't wait to see you in the morning - as a seven year old.

I hate Goodbyes.

2010-11-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

July 3rd, 2005:

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 17, scared, in a new place --- engaged to George, at a church that was unlike any that I had ever been to. The room was full of people that I didn't know, but somehow they all knew me. It was incredibly overwhelming. I was a lot more confident then, I guess. That Sunday at Westwood also happened to be the first Sunday of the Wakefield's (the new preacher and his family). I had no idea what a vital role they would come to play in our lives over these last 8 years. A few weeks ago, they announced they were moving (about 2 hours away)... so Greg can go after a dream that he's always had. Honestly, I'm happy for them --- and in lots of ways, I'm jealous! But I can't even think about them leaving without crying. Tonight our church held a going away party for them and we had a little "open mike" session. It was neat to hear people talk about them --- and I wanted to, because I have so much that I would like to say, but I'm a horrible speaker and I know I wouldn't have been able to get through it. SO, I decided to write it here.

Greg and Sandi,

I don't even know where to begin. Thank you so much for being a friend to us for all these years. I don't take those words lightly - you have been TRUE friends. Friends that I know, no matter what or when, you'd be there - not out of obligation, but out of love.

In a time where everyone in our lives was busy second-guessing our decision to tie the knot, you offered nothing but encouraging words and helpful suggestions. Neither of you ever tried to discourage us, not even once. On top of your loving kindness, Greg even did our pre-marriage counseling --- whether we were listening or not. As a young married girl, Sandi, you took me "under your wing" and you were my friend. You called me even if you were just running to the grocery store to see if I wanted to tag along --- and though I know that seemed insignificant to you, it was everything to me.

Four months later, when we found out Sarah Jane was on the way, you were some of the first people we told. 7 months later, you threw an awesome baby shower.

Sandi, I remember you calling to check on me at least once a week through that horrible pregnancy --- and even once holding the bathroom door shut for me at Ryan's while I puked my guts out. It's probably a little late, but thanks for that. :)

After SJ was born, I was having a hard time! --- I know all new moms go through that, but it's still hard. On a really glum day, I walked to the mailbox and was pleasantly suprised to find a letter with my name on it. Not just any letter though, a handmade letter from you (complete with little handmade purple flowers) --- and inside, it was full of encouraging, uplifting words. I read it standing in the driveway, and I cried all the way back to my door. I'm sure you don't even remember that, because that is just what you do, but it was exactly what I needed.

Greg, you were in the waiting room through the birth of both of our children - you'll never know what that means to us.

I can't even count how many meals the 4 of us have shared or conversations that lasted well past midnight -- laughs, tears, heartbreaks, joys. I treasure every. single. memory.

But, maybe, more than anything else - I have to say thank you for the constant faith that you both had in us, faith that you had from the very beginning that never waivered. It's no secret that George and I haven't had the perfect marriage --- but through it all, the WHOLE thing, the whole nasty mess --- the two of you never doubted us... even when it was ugly, really ugly.. I can still hear Greg saying "I know you guys will make it through this" and I can still see tears stream down Sandi's face when I decided to leave --- and I will never forget the outpouring of love from the two of you when we finally woke up and decided to take the steps to make it out of that incredibly dark place. Your marriage is an inspiration to ours - the example that you are is a blessing to us, and your friendship has been and will continue to be an incredible gift. To say "I'll miss you" is an understatement --- I really mean it when I say that I love you guys, for so many reasons.

You're, without question, two of the very best friends that we have ever had --- and from the very bottom of my heart, I wish you all the best of luck. If there have ever been two people that deserve all the happiness in the world - it is you.

All my love for all of you,

Jay

Sitting up!

2010-10-27T12:54:00.001-07:00

1 month?

2010-10-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

WOWZA! My last post was a month ago?? Sorry, people - I totally lost track of time. This has been an insanely crazy month -- I don't even know where to start!

I guess I will go with baby news first...

Raleigh was SIX MONTHS OLD yesterday! I honestly can't believe that half a year has passed since my little angel boy was born - He's an absolute joy and I don't know what I ever did without him in our lives. But even though he's the sweetest little pumpkin on the planet - he's still a handful! He's ALMOST mastered sitting up and he's going to take off crawling any day now! He's rolling in every direction and scooting around. Between those two modes of transportation, he doesn't have any trouble getting where he needs to go! He says Momma, Dada, HEY!!, and Whoa (just today). His face lights up at the very sight of Sarah Jane and she can make him laugh with no effort at all. We are completely done nursing (thank you sweet baby Jesus!) and he's handled it so incredibly well --- which, I had no doubt that he would. He's loving applesauce and green beans and we plan to add a few new things to his diet this week. He's totally outgrown almost all of his 6 mo. clothes and is now in 9 mo. and some 12 mo. -- which stinks, b/c all of his precious little Christmas outfits are a size 9 mo. I plan on at least getting a picture made in them before they're too small. Here's a pretty recent pic of my little chunky monkey:

In SJ news - she is LOVING the first grade. I am so amazed at how much she has learned already. She is reading anything that she can get her hands on and she is excelling at math. She's quite into fashion and she loves all things music (suprise, lol) --- Her artistic skills are really shining through and she has patience for small, tedious things... unlike me. :) She's already got her 7 yr. old (WOW!) birthday party all planned out... right down to the party favors (she HAS to have a plan) --- and she's already started on her Christmas list. Recently, she decided that she wanted to get her hair chopped off, so I rushed her right up to my fave hair-dresser and took care of that. I didn't know that when I did it, she was going to look 3 years older! Here's a pretty recent pic of my sweet SJ:

As for me and George - we've got TONS on our plate right now. A few months ago we started a Facebook Page for Click hoping that it would speed business up a little... well, little did we know, that it would completely jumpstart our business. Click has turned from a side project/hobby to a full time job! We're loving every minute of it, but we are still trying to find a balance. I spend most of my time after the kids are tucked in for the night glued to a photoshop screen and George makes budgets, plans gigs, keeps up with the calendar, etc (in addition to running the local running club here). It's definitely ROCKING! We also have a website and blog if you want to check those out.

_______________________________________________________

On a more personal level - this past month has been one that has shaken me to my very core. To be honest, I have started to write a post on here more times than I can count and I have deleted it every time.

In my short 25 years of life I've seen more death, pain, loss, and heartache than most people will ever see in their lifetime. When I was 8 years old - I lost my Grandfather, my Daddy, my Aunt, and my Grandmother within 6 mo. of one another. In high school, I lost a friend in a tragic car accident. Post high school, I lost a dear friend from high school at the hands of a drunk driver. This past Christmas, I watched helplessly as someone that I loved more than life suffered daily for months until she finally lost a battle with lymphoma. Death and I are not strangers to one another - not even close. But, I can say in all honestly that I've never been shaken like I was in this last month. A friend of mine went in for what should have been a routine procedure and never came home. I know that things like this happen all the time, I get that - I really do --- but, what I don't get is this: I believe in a God that can move mountains, a God that listens, a God that loves. Well, I did. Susan had people praying for her ALL NIGHT LONG --- and when I say people, I am talking hundreds of people, hundreds of wonderful "righteous" people -- and God pretty much slapped them all in the face. I still haven't recovered from it and I still desperately want some kind of explanation. I know I won't get one. I know "there's a bigger picture that I can't see." I'm the youngest of 7 preachers kids --- so I know, I know, I know. I have heard it all. I don't care. It sucks and I'm still angry about it.

There, that wasn't nearly as poetic as I would have liked it to be, but it's honest -- and it's where I am.

___________________________________________

In other news, we're trying to decide on a vehicle upgrade... and by upgrade, I mean more space... but I don't want a car with a 3rd row that i can't access easily. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

I guess that about sums up our life right now - Raleigh is growing, SJ is learning new things every day and George and I are so incredibly busy trying to find a balancing act!

Hopefully it won't be a month before my next update! 6 mo. picture of my Raleigh man coming soon!

2010-09-21T05:43:00.000-07:00

Raleigh,

Has it been five months already? Wow.

This month, you've really been letting that little personality out! You're FULL of faces, just like SJ was when she was your age. You have a contagious smile, and you show it to anyone that is looking --- I love how happy you are. You've started to give hugs and kisses... big, open mouth, eat-your-face wonderful kisses and whole body curled up hugs and you squeeze so hard that you have to make a "mmmmmmmmmmm" sound. I can't even tell you how much I love that sound!

You're still a tough sleeper, so tough... that we have just stuck you in our bed for the most part because I just don't have it in me to get up 20 times in one night. But rest assured, Son, you'll be moving out of there before your teenage days.

You've started taking a little cereal and you seem to like it. I'm not quite sure about giving you anything else yet... it will come soon enough.

I still can't leave the room if you are in it - you like to have me around, which is nice... but you also are into EVERYTHING! You're pushing up and trying to scoot... but mainly, you just roll anywhere you want to go. It's kind of the cutest thing ever, especially your little proud of yourself face that you make when you get where you were planning on going.

You love to snuggle with Daddy and he rocks you to sleep almost every night. Some people will say that is a bad habit to start... but, I completely disagree because I know that these days will pass all too quickly and you won't want to be rocked anymore. My heart breaks to think of it.

Your big sister adores you and caters to you constantly. You most definitely have her wrapped around your precious little finger. But that's okay, because you love her just as much. If she is around, you have your eyes GLUED to her and you are all smiles. I sure hope you two stay this way.

I can't even imagine my life without you in it, how I ever took a step without you in my life, I will never know. You, little man, are such an incredible blessing to this family and to my life. I'm grateful for you every day.

The joy that you bring is indescribable - and most definitely irreplacable.

I love you all the way to the moon and back, we all do.

Love, Mommy.

The Past Month

2010-09-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am SO behind on this blogging thing - it might have something to do with my little rolie-polie-olie! It's a full time job keeping up with him! ---and between him, and my actual job... plus my SJ's school/dance/girl scouts/homework and just life in general, the blog tends get neglected. Hopefully I'll get back in the swing of things soon! But, until then... here is a brief recap of the last Month of our lives!

Here is my Raleigh man on September 11th at the flag field:

It's always a neat experience to go stand in the middle of those flags! There's just something there that makes you proud to be an American. SJ had heard the story of 9/11 before, but that was it was just a story to her until yesterday. I couldn't seem to make her grasp the severity of the events of that day --- so, where did I turn? Why Youtube, of course! I pulled up several videos of the news reels from that day and we watched them for a while-- she was so stunned. Later that day, she said to me -- "This is a hard day for a lot of people, huh Mom?" I just said "Yes baby, it sure is". What a blessing it is to live in a county like the USA --- and I will NEVER forget it.

Last week, Raleigh was sitting in his bouncy chair playing with a few toys and watching a little Baby Einstein... or so I thought. I was working on pictures and had the music turned on from my computer... and I felt the little guy touch my leg! He turned over, slid out of his bouncer, and rolled across the floor to me! ---so, I felt like it was probably a good idea to introduce some new toys to him! He seemed to like them!:

Raleigh is also a VERY big fan of bath-time, but he is too big for his sink tub... and not big enough for the big bath yet:

A few weeks ago, we got to load up the kiddos and make the trek to Nashville, TN to see my family --- this was a great trip!! It was great for lots of reasons, but it was really a special trip because we were there for my sister's wedding!

Here is a picture of George and I at the rehearsal (I don't know why it's yellow...):

I got to be formally introduced to my niece's fiance' --- and I have to say, I'm diggin' him --- and my new great niece that comes with him!

Raleigh loved getting to spend time with his TN family --- I hate that we don't get to spend more time with them. I really feel like he is missing out on ALOT!! Here's Raleigh and Aunt LaDawn, and also him and his Memaw (my sweet momma):

This was at the rehearsal, but I just LOVE the look on my sister's face in this picture:
Sarah Jane was particularly excited to go to the wedding because she got to be the Flower Girl!
My Beautiful sister:

This is a picture of my WHOLE family (minus one brother and his family) -- I can't even tell you how much I love these guys:

Also, it's Football Season... so every Saturday we'll be tuning in to watch the GA Bulldawgs play football --- it seems easy, but it obviously is alot of work:

SJ has been loving the first grade! I can't believe how different 1st grade is from K! It's defnitely not a breeze! SJ has homework everyday... 2-3 pages, plus she is reading 3-4 AR books a week and taking 3-4 AR tests a week... plus spelling tests, math tests etc. So far... ALL 100's!! That's my girl. It also really helps that she has a FANTASTIC teacher --- her teacher is a HUGE blessing and we couldn't be any happier with her. It's like she was hand-picked by God for my SJ!

SJ is also taking Ballet and Tap this year 2 days a week - she is really loving it... and we are doing Girl Scouts again! Yep... she keeps us busy!

Speaking of busy... Click Photography has taken off recently, more than I could have ever imagined! It's such a blessing to be so busy--- and I am loving every minute of it! We've got pumpkin patch pictures coming up soon --- Here's Raleigh-bug's Pumpkin patch photo:

I think that about sums it up for us this last month --- we have a crazy-busy, absolutely wild and crazy, fun time and I wouldn't change a minute of it... well, maybe I would get Raleigh sleeping through the night, but other than that -- Life is good at the Houston house! :) Happy (almost) Fall, Y'all!

I need to get something off my chest...

2010-09-10T20:04:00.000-07:00

Literally - I need to get something off my chest! Maybe I am a terrible person, maybe I am a total freak... but I have a confession to make. I do not like breastfeeding. At. All. Whew - there I said it! It's out there in the blogosphere now... but, I'm serious. I feel horrible about it, like something in me isn't wired right! I want to think it's this beautiful, perfectly made by God act between a mother and child... but, really, I don't like it. What's wrong with me!? I mean... I've had a GREAT experience with nursing Raleigh - seriously, he's flawless when it comes to nursing (I wasn't nearly that lucky with SJ... I did the whole bloody nipple/screaming in pain thing with her). It's not that I don't love to hold him and feed him, I'm so content with him having a bottle and rocking him and singing You are my Sunshine over and over... and over and over. It's just not that "moving" of an experience for me as it is for most people that I know. But, I do it... I just feel like I do it for the wrong reasons. Well, I only have one reason really... the only reason I do it at all is because I can't justify spending money on formula when I have no technical problems with breastfeeding. I just want my body back!! It's MINE! I mean, I have heard the whole "it's the best thing for your baby" speech.... and I get it, but I also will never believe that formula is a bad thing for your baby either. SJ's living proof... and I'll argue you into the groud if you argue with me on that one. She's brilliant and you can count on ONE hand the number of times in her life she has been sick in her entire life (knock on wood). Anyway, I just needed to vent that... and now I feel better! Don't freak out, I'm not throwing in the nursing towel - yet! I'm just SOOOO over it that it's not even funny.

Also, when I am done nursing, I am going to find a doctor to give me an adipex prescription and a b12 shot! Seriously - I want this weight OFF and I want it off QUICKLY! I don't care about doing it the healthy way... I hate salad and I love Mountain Dew. I want to lose the weight so I can be Hot. I mean, if healthy comes as a side effect, great - but it's not my main motive. Seriously, have you people seen my hubby? He's stinkin' gorgeous and I don't feel like we match! I just want to feel comfortable walking beside him without people assuming I must be his sister. bleh. And, can I just add that I think cosmetic surgery is stupid, but when this weight comes off - I'm going to be looking into getting these outrageous stretch marks removed!

Now, please don't misinterpret what I'm saying as I hate myself and I want to pawn my kid off on a bottle --- that isn't it at all, I just don't get the breastfeeding hype and I want to be somewhat as good looking as I was when George met me (minus the fake blonde hair). I don't think that's crazy... and I don't think that I am anywhere close to the only Mom that has ever felt that way.

In closing, my opologies for a "rant" blog and tons of grammatical errors and typos.. stay tuned for a happy, upbeat blog post with baby pictures. :)

Thanks for humoring me long enough to read this.

4 months

2010-08-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

At 4 months, my little man is quite the character - his facial expressions are something else (as is his hair!). He loves to put all kinds of things in his mouth; toys, bottle, passies, my hair.. whatever he can grab hold of! I feel like he has some teeth that are going to bust through any day now! He loves to spend time playing with his floor gym and he is still very in love with his swing. He rolls anywhere he feels like rolling and pushes up on his arms - I have a feeling it won't be many more months until he is on the move really well. We're still not sleeping through the night, he wakes up 2-3 times a night.. hopefully, something will give on that soon. We start cereal this month, so I am sure that will help!

Here are a few picture of my little Raleigh-Bug at 4 months old:

family update!

2010-08-18T19:35:00.001-07:00

There's alot going on this week in our house! SJ is getting into the groove of first grade - so far, so good. I absolutely could not love her teacher any more. After the year that we had in Kindergarten, I know Miss Willis was sent straight from Heaven! She's an answer to SO many people's prayers and SJ loves her. This year, she'll being doing REAL work and have real tests... welcome to spelling tests and math homework.. but so far, we are on top of it. She is also starting back to dance this week - she missed 2 years in there so on Monday they put her in a remedial dance class... she was NOT thrilled with that. After class she told me that they danced to baby songs like "The Wuzzy Fuzzy Caterpillar" and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"... but today, she LOVED it. I happen to think that she is the cutest little ballerina on. the. planet.

Speaking of cutie-pa-tooties, My little Raleigh man is becoming a Rolie Polie! At a few days shy of four months old - he is rolling everywhere. Today, I laid him in the floor on his gym and walked to the kitchen for just a second... when I came back, this is how I found him:

Well, I guess it's time to baby proof the house! It's about to get REAL fun around here!

Like I said earlier...

2010-08-13T20:19:00.000-07:00

TIME FLIES!

They were right.

2010-08-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

Wow. Is that really my SJ? How did she get so big? I feel like I missed out on something. I feel like it was just last week that I was laughing at people telling me that time flies. I'm sorry I laughed, they were so right.

She was so excited that she had a hard time staying asleep last night - This morning she was up before I was (and Dressed!). We posed for pictures in the front yard and talked all the way to school. George and I walked her down the hallway and into her classroom - where she still wasn't too cool to give us goodbye hugs and kisses without us even having to ask for them. I made it all the way back to the car and even a little down the street before I lost it. I can't wait to see her this afternoon and hear ALL about it!

Sarah Jane,
I am so incredibly proud of you. I'm so sad that our Summer is over and I absolutely cannot believe that you are 6 (and a half) year old - but I just know that you are going to SHINE in the first grade. You're ready - as much as I want you to still be my little punkin', I know you're way past that - I'm so blessed to call you mine. When I grow up, I hope that I can be half of the person you are. You're the most giving, compassionate person I know and I can't wait to see what you add to the 1st grade and what it adds to you. I love you Janey-Lou, that's the first thing you know.
Mommy

Hilton Head Island

2010-08-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

We just got back from our family vacation on Hilton Head Island, SC. Typically, we would go to the Gulf, but I got scared of the Oil Spill and moved our trip to HHI about a month ago. I can't say which one I like better, because they are totally different, but I did have a great time!

This is going to be one of those posts that probably won't interest anyone except family - but i wanted to go ahead and get our vacay documented before I forgot anything!

We got to the Island on Saturday. It took us about an hour to unload our cars... it's hard work packing for a 3 month old! Once we finally got everything out, I headed to the grocery store with my MIL where we loaded up on food for the week. After unpacking and stocking up on food, we didn't have alot of time left in the day, but we did manage to get to Cold Stone Creamery for some GREAT Ice cream! Here's Raleigh in his carseat ready to get some Ice Cream (don't freak, I didn't actually give him ice cream...):

The Next day, we spent our day in Sea Pines. They have a great lighthouse that George wanted to check out. (I am petrified of heights!) I was so proud of myself for not only making it to the top, but having the guts to walk on the edge. Here we are at the top!:
George said that this is the golf course that he use to play when he played some golfing game on his Playstation, I don't know anything about it - but he was very impressed:
We spent LOTS of time on the beach. In HHI, the beach is alot different. People ride bikes on the beach, the tide goes in and out and the sand is alot harder, but it's perfect for Sandcastles. One of George and SJ's favorite things to do on the beach was to hunt for starfish and sand-dollars. They must have caught 10 starfish and who knows how many sand-dollars! They were giving them away. I've never seen anything like it, it was awesome!:
George thought the starfish were pretty cool (ha!)... he's going to love me for posting this here:

On Monday, some good friends drove over and stayed on the Island for a few days - It was SO good to see them!! Here is Dana when she met Raleigh:
The Girls had fun playing on the beach ... I didn't get any pictures, but at night we went out on the beach with flashlights. The original plan was to catch ghost crabs, but instead we caught tiny little fish! It was so fun!!
Dana happens to be a super talented photographer, so while they were there - we had some time to take some family pictures for each other.

I love this family picture of us - we've lived in our house for almost 5 years and I've not hung a single picture of our family up in our room yet - This is THE ONE I've been waiting for. Thanks SO much Dana!
I also drug SJ out on the beach to try to get her 6 year pictures, I am still trying to pick which one to go with... I'll do a 6 yr. post about them later.
While we were out on the beach, Raleigh got pretty sleepy, but SJ still wanted her picture made with him. This is what I got - I love this picture, it's definitely a keeper.
We spent wednesday shopping, going out to eat and hanging out on the beach. Thursday we had LOTS of fun at Lawson Stables in Sea Pines. Sarah Jane is an animal lover, so this was right up her ally.

She even got to ride on a pony!
Raleigh got to get in the pool for the first time on our vacation, George's camera battery was dead when we got to the pool - but I managed to snap a picture of him in his swimsuit before we headed down:

One day that we were there, they are all running together..., we went on a sunset dolphin cruise. George makes fun of me - but I LOVE dolphins. It's kind of sad, I love them like an 11 yr. old girl loves them... This was a BLAST to me. I didn't get any pictures of them because I was way too lost in the moment, but we must have seen 15 of them - it was GREAT!
My MIL even came with us on the boat. Here she is looking for dolphins with SJ:
We watched the BEAUTIFUL Sunset on the Marsh from the boat:
This is random, but one of the coolest things was this Delorian with the tag that read DATAONE.
June was kind enough to babysit the kiddos for George and I one night for us to go on a date night. We went to a restaurant called Truffles Cafe and it was FANTASTIC. If you're ever in HHI, I highly recomend it. Try the Parmesan Grouper! After dinner, George took me to frontrow seats at local Comedy Club. I'd never been to a comedy club, so I loved it. The guy was SO funny!
On our last night there, we went to Dinner at The Old Oyster Factory... I had read lots of great things about it, but I was still suprised at how good it was! I ordered the blackened swordfish and shrimp with a pineapple/mango salsa. It was SO good!
Here's my and my hunny leaving the restaurant, the Marshes in HHI are beautiful!

There are lots of things to do on Hilton Head, although just driving through there you would never know it. Everything is hidden by trees and all the buildings are painted the same color. I'm serious - they are ALL tan and brown, even Burger King and Wal-Mart. None of the Signs are more than 4 feet tall and there are no billboards. You can't see any of the businesses from the street. My only tip would be research what all there is to do in Hilton Head before you go or you will be lost when you get there. Hilton Head's Facebook Page was a HUGE help to me in palnning our vacation - as were the brochures that were available at the rental agency that we used.

We had a blast on our trip!!

In 11 days...

2010-07-30T16:15:00.000-07:00

In 11 days, my little guy has mastered rolling from his tummy to his back... and NOW, he rolls from his back to his tummy! It won't be long before he's all over the place. Time is flying too, too quickly!

What a Super Kid!

2010-07-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

Sarah Jane did her 3rd Superkidz triathlon this morning. She's a trooper! She woke up early, got everything ready and did a very good job. She fell off her bike and ran the entire run with a skinned,bleeding knee! That, my friends, is one tough kid! Her Daddy and I were so VERY proud of her! She finished 3rd out of the girls in her age group. Here's a video that George put together of our morning:

Summertime is here.

2010-07-20T18:55:00.001-07:00

Cake Mix Cookies

2010-07-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

So... maybe I am obsessed with all things cake lately, but can you blame me? From cake balls, to attempting a fondant cake, to my new favorite... CAKE COOKIES -I simply cannot get enough!

These are so incredibly simple and yummy that I just HAD to share the recipe!

Ingredients:

Cake Mix of your choice
1/2 cup butter (softened)
2 tsp veg. Oil
2 eggs
Mix-in of your choice

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.In a medium bowl, stir together the cake mix, butter, eggs and oil until smooth and well blended. Mix in the mix-in you chose. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
3.Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Yesterday when we made these, we chose a chocolate cake mix with chocolate chips as our mix-in. Before I baked them, I sprinkled them with a little bit of sugar.

Here are some other combos that I think would be yummy:
Lemon Cake Mix with Cranberries
Carrot Cake Mix with Raisins
Red Velvet Cake Mix with Pecans
Yellow Cake Mix with Cupcake Sprinkles
Strawberry Cake Mix with White Chocolate Morsels
Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Morsels

The Possibilities are endless!

Next time, I think I might make them cookie sandwiches by spreading THIS ICING between them - it's easy and it's my favorite!

So much for post-baby dieting, huh? At least nursing burns tons of calories!

______________________________________________________

On a totally different note, tonight SJ strolled through the living room in this lovely attire:

We literally laughed out loud! What are we going to do with this Diva?!

Has it really been 3 months already?

2010-07-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

Really?! THREE months? In my head that's quite a milestone, I mean - he's 1/4 of the way to being a year old!

He's so much fun - and he is such a calm and unbelievably happy baby boy. He still sleeps in our room at night. Just this last week though, he has moved from his Moses Basket to his cradle (he was too big for the MB!) - On a good night, we get a 7 hour streak of sleep, then he wakes up and then we get another 3 hours or so. Not bad, huh? And even though he hasn't actually slept in his bed yet other than a few naps here and there, He loves to lay in his bed and look at his mobile. He has so much fun trying to reach those trains!

As far as his weigh goes, Raleigh weighs in at a whopping SIXTEEN pounds! That is almost double his birth weight. He is still breastfeeding wonderfully, but over the past 2 weeks I have started to give him a 3-4 oz. formula bottle every other day. The doctor wants to me try him on cereal, but I don't think we're ready for that quite yet.

When SJ was his age, she weighed exactly the same thing that he does! Speaking of SJ, she is in LOVE with her brother still and she is such a big help. She never complains when I ask her to bring me things and she always wants to hold him (on the couch with blankets and pillows all around, she isn't actually allowed to carry him so don't freak out!) so I can get a few things done:

He absolutely loves George - and will just "talk" and "talk" to him when he gets home. I love all those little baby noises he makes - His face literally lights up when he see him:

Raleigh can now sit up in his bumbo seat, hit at the dangly things on his floor gym and make the lights go crazy on his kick and play bouncer. He still LOVES his passy and he is quite fond of satin blankets.

He likes to play what we call "the nose game" -- where you touch his nose and then your nose and say "Mommy's Nose, Raleigh's Nose" ... it gets a laugh every time. He loves to sing "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Jesus Loves Me." All of his 0-3 mo. clothes and shoes are too small and are in the process of being packed up -- and I love his clothes so that makes me sad!

Bathtime is a fun time at our house - it's like he is amazed by the water!

And just tonight, right after bath-time, we laid him on the floor for a little tummy time ...and he ROLLED OVER! I saw it coming and told George to grab the video camera, here's a video of my sweet little man rolling over:

And not to forget about SJ! --- Her Summer has been slammed with fun! We've gone to the beach, the movies tons of times, had sleep-over after sleep-over, spent lots of afternoons at the pool on the zip line, baked lots of yummy treats, and played lots of wii games - this week we're heading back to the beach and even participating in a triathlon, plus we've got a few play dates thrown in there. We're just trying to do everything we can before school starts back in less than a month! I can't believe she is going to be in the 1st grade. My, my, my... where DOES the time go?

(that's eye-liner, not paint...)

Dream ON

2010-07-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

I dream of one day having a clean house; complete with sparkling windows, neatly organized linens, and closets with all of our clothing organized by size, season and color.

I dream of one day being completely caught up on all my pictures; complete with scrapbooks made and albums shelved in order from then to now.

I dream of one day completely sticking to our budget; complete with eating every single meal at home and never stopping for ice cream, even if they are buy one get one free at Sonic.

I dream of one day cooking an entire meal from scratch; complete with homemade crust on my chicken pot pie and freshly peeled peaches in my cobbler.

I dream of all of the laundry being done and put away; complete with last season's and next season's stored properly in their places.

I dream of my children coming home everyday to warm cookies and milk; complete with icing and sprinkles and swirls of chocolate.

I dream of being the perfect Christian; complete with never judging people, absolute forgiveness, and constant praise.

I dream of a bubble bath; complete with jets, and candles, and music.

I dream of a perfectly manicured lawn; complete with beautiful potted flowering plants on our front porch and perfectly edged sidewalks.

I dream on having a great blog; complete with daily updates, a custom layout, and ways of witty writing.

I dream of an immaculately decorated home; complete with original paintings, lovely flower arrangements and beautiful hardwood floors.

I dream of getting ready to go somewhere; complete with a long relaxing shower, time to straighten and curl my hair, time to put on my make-up and decide what to wear.

I dream of a night alone with my husband.

I dream of a family vacation where everyone gets to do everything they've ever dreamed of; complete with dolphin swimming, shopping 'til you drop, or simply sleeping in every day.

I dream of being the perfect wife; complete with constant encouragement, laying out his clothes, and even an occasional footrub and pat on the back.

I dream of being organized; complete with things sorted in color coordinated tupperware boxes, shoes paired side by side, and yes... even labels.

I dream of always knowing just what to say; complete with answers to questions like Why do people have to die? How did that baby get in your tummy? or Why does God let people be homeless?

I dream of lemonade; complete with freshly squeezed lemons, ice and a fancy-schmancy glass.

I dream of a beautifully set dinner table for my made from scratch meal; complete with silverware in the correct places (knife and spoon on the right, fork on the left), matching placemats, and cloth napkins.

I do have some really nice dreams, don't I? But with Raleigh around, I don't get much sleep - so, most of these dreams aren't fulfilled.... yet. (yeah, right - like they ever will be!) --- BUT, we did make cookies from scratch today and played a few games on the wii. Our life is definitely crazy, but when I take a step back and look at the family that we've made and the life we live - reality is WAY better than my dreams could ever be.

...and for those of you who need it, here's your baby fix:

Happy Monday, Everybody!

4th of July 2010

2010-07-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

We spent our 4th of July weekend down at George's Dad's house close to Seaside - we love to go to the fireworks there every year.

I couldn't wait to post this video of SJ. She makes up songs in the backseat all the time. She just looks out the window, goes somewhere else in her mind, and sings at the top of her lungs --- I had to video this over my shoulder so she wouldn't see me and I came in at the very end of her VERY LONG SONG and I am pretty sure that she would be mad if she knew this was on here because she begged me to delete it BUT it's so funny and cute to me (and yes, I know that was a run-on sentence...).

So, without further delay, Here she is singing a Sarah Jane original called "You are the Butterfly":

And just to show you that she is not a complete looney tune, Here she is singing her favorite "Taylor Swiph" song this week (it changes week to week):

and while I'm posting videos, let me show you this video of the fireworks finale on Seaside - It is AMAZING:

We spent the weekend hanging out on the beach, the kids rode some of Grandaddy's boats, we ate the best tacos ever at Bud and Ally's Taco Bar while we shopped til we dropped, grilled out with some neighbors and watched the fireworks go off over an Oil Free Beach - it was definitely a fun weekend. In the hustle and bustle of it all, I didn't forget what the celebration was for - and all the sacrifices that were made. God has truly blessed America, in so many ways, and we are all so lucky to be a part of this nation.

could be the last time we'll see an oil free beach on the gulf for a while:
My boys:

My sweet "baby" girl:

Glossy, Glossy

2010-07-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already checked out The Mom-tage - you are missing out! Besides great deals, tips and advice - they also also do GREAT giveaways. This week, they are doing a giveaway for Glossy bands!

If you don't know what those are (I didn't either) - they've posted a video over there so you can check them out.

Loop the Lake

2010-06-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

This is what George and I were doing this weekend and we had a blast. You can see all the pictures from the race by visiting the client proofing section of our website, www.clickphotographybyjay.com!

A Fondant Cake

2010-06-25T16:07:00.000-07:00

There is definitely something in the water that my friends are drinking - and I guess I drank it too, because SO many people that I know have either just had a baby or are expecting a baby. I'm so serious, I know 8 pregnant people! and three people, besides me, that just had babies! It's so wonderful and exciting to know that Raleigh is going to have such a great group of people to grow up with.

Well, as with all babies... there are alot of baby showers going on around here! This weekend, we get to celebrate my friend, Heather's, new little man - Ethan! There are a group of 4 of us hosting her shower and I said I would make the cake - But I didn't want just any ole' cake... I wanted to make something special. Off to google I went - and I did a search for baby boy shower cakes... they were all fondant. I've seen stacked fondant cakes made before, but I had never attempted one on my own.

The only problem with fondant cakes - Fondant tastes TERRIBLE! I did a google search on what was in it, and there is no wonder that it tastes awful.. I knew that there had to be an alternative recipe. I came across a recipe for Marshmallow fondant and lots of reviews said that it was SO much better than the other stuff, so I decided to give it a shot. I made Blue and White fondant:

This is the recipe I used:

16 ounces white mini-marshmallows (don't buy the off brand!)
2 to 5 tablespoons water (it only took me 2)
2 pounds powdered sugar

1/2 cup Crisco shortening (I used the off brand)

Empty your marshmallows into a mixing bowl and add 2 tbsp. of water.
If you are making colored fondant, add your food coloring NOW
Microwave your marshmallows in 30 second intervals, stirring between each until they are smooth.
Pour 3/4 of your powdered sugar into the bowl with your marshmallows.
HEAVILY GREASE YOUR COUNTERTOPS! If you don't, you'll be sorry. (yes, that is the crisco..) Spread it around using your hands, then rub the crisco all over your hands. It's about to get sticky.
Dump your marshmallow and sugar mix onto the greased countertop:
Knead your fondant until all the sugar is gone and it has a play-doh texture. Add more crisco to your hands as needed. If it gets too dry, add water 1/2 TEASPOON at a time.
Roll your fondant into a ball and cover it with a generous amount of crisco, then DOUBLE seal it with saran wrap.

Store it in your fridge overnight.
Next, prepare the cake of your choice. I used Duncan Hines moist deluxe, because it's my favorite. For my cake, I used a 10", an 8", and a 6" pan and baked each size twice so I could have 3 two layer cakes.. Grease the bottom and sides of the pan:
Share your beaters and your bowl with your favorite little helper:

While your cakes are baking, prepare a buttercream icing - I used THIS RECIPE exactly how it is listed and it was enough to ice and decorate all three of my cakes -- and it is DELICIOUS. When your cakes are cooled, ICE them generously with this icing so your fondant will stick.

Pull the fondant out of the fridge. Unwrap it. Microwave it for 20 seconds. Use 1/2 of the ball and roll it onto your counter to about 1/8" thickness. For the 10" cake, I rolled it to a 17" in diameter circle (3" on each side, 10" across the top, and an inch just for fun):

When the fondant is how you want it, roll it up on your rolling pin loosely.
Set your cake up on something high, but that is smaller than your cake board. I used this handy dandy candle holder. Once Your cake is high, lift your rolling pin over your cake, loosen the fondant over the cake and let it drape. Push the fondant down onto your cake and trim off excess fondant. Repeat this step with all three cakes.
Now, the fun part - GET CREATIVE! I went with polka dots, but I have seen stripes, swirls, zig-zags, etc. Before you stick your fondant on your cake, use a little of your buttercream icing on the back as glue.
Here is my finished Product!

The great thing about Fondant Cake is it's hold time -the fondant acts as a sealer and will hold the moisture in the cake for up to 5 days! To store the cake, do not put it in the fridge, it will sweat. Store it under a box, or in a baker's box until it's time to serve.

I'm SO Happy!!!!

2010-06-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

Raleigh cried today! I mean, he REALLY cried! Tears... REAL tears! Out of BOTH of his eyes!

I know that it probably sounds crazy to you to hear me say that I am so so happy about that... but, let me explain. Since he was born, there hasn't been one time that he has cried without me looking at him and wondering if tears were going to come or not. I've had nightmares about it.

Mainly because the first year of SJ's life was a tearless, horrible nightmare when it came to anything realted to her eyes. When Sarah Jane was born, she had clogged tear ducts - that means, she could not cry tears. Instead, her eyes filled with gook... thick, green gook. My sweet little baby would wake up in the mornings with her eyes sealed shut. She would scream like she was in agonizing pain when i would try to wipe them with a wet cloth to get them open. She lived with big red circles around her eyes. It was so pitiful -- so, I took her to the doctor, like any first time Mommy would.

My pediatrician sent me to a local eye doctor (whose name I won't reveal here, but if you ask me in person... I will be HAPPY to give you his name b/c I would rather cut off my pinky toe than send him any business) - We'll call him Dr. D just for fun.... use your imagination on all the wonderful things it could stand for. Anyway, Dr. D told me he was going to do a probe surgery on her eyes... which is basically just what it sounds like. He was going to put her under anesthesia and probe into her tear duct and remove the blockage. Seemed harmless enough and I was a new Mommy, so I didn't know any better and doctors ALWAYS know best, right? WRONG!

I took my 4 month old baby to Phoebe and handed her over to the nurse... they took her away and I cried in the waiting room until they brought her back to me. We went back to see Dr. D a few weeks later and he said that her right eye was no longer blocked, but her left one was and he wanted to try it one more time. So when she was 6 months old, we did that surgery again.

He called me in the waiting room from the operating room to tell me that there was alot of scar tissue and he wasn't sure if it worked or not. Her little eye bled for the rest of the day.... and two weeks later, he confirmed what he told me after the surgery. It didn't work.

He then told me that he didn't have any other options... he was going to have to a DRN (I have no idea what that stands for, and he didn't tell me) --- but basically, he wanted to cut her face and make a tear duct for her.. leaving a scar on her face. He told me not to worry about the scar, it could be removed when she was a teenager... ????!!!!?? ummmm, no - at that point, I told him I would just deal with the clogged tear ducts.

Now, I know that this sounds like a petty problem to a lot of people, and maybe it is on the grand scale - well, it definitely is... but she was still my baby, and she was still in pain, and it killed me. I cried everyday, every time that she cried. It was heart breaking.

I very vividly remember standing in line at Hobby Lobby in front of a lady that had several leftover acne scars from her teenage years and she asked to see the baby... I knew what she was going to say. The response was ALWAYS the same... but I stepped out of the way anyway, only to hear her say what I knew was coming "Oh, What's wrong with her eye" (I mean,in retrospect... my baby had green bugers ALL OVER her little red chapped eye... I probably would have wondered too) ... but I snapped on that poor unexpecting lady. I just looked at her and said, "What's wrong with your face?" and then I turned around. She didn't say anything and neither did I. Years later, I still feel terrible about saying that to her. SO, unsuspecting Hobby Lobby shopper... if by chance you are reading this blog, I am SO SO sorry... it had been a long few months of people asking me what was wrong with my baby (that I thought was so totally and completely perfect)...but, still - shame on me for taking my frustrations out on you.

When I told my friends what Dr. D had said, one of them told me that their mom was a nurse in Dothan, AL --- so she called her for me. MUCH to my suprise there was a pediatric opthamology specialist there. I quickly called and set up an appt with him. He was great - and I will gladly send anyone who asks me about eye doctors to see Dr. Sugg in Dothan, AL. He's worth the drive, I promise!

Dr. Sugg told me that he had never heard of a DRN... and that doctors are not supposed to perform ANY surgeries on infant eyes until they were a YEAR OLD! I was more than a little ticked with Dr. D... I still am more than a little ticked.

Dr. Sugg waited until Sarah Jane was a year old and he tried the probing surgery again, but it still didn't work - too much damage from the first two surgeries. SO, he waited a month and he put tubes in her eyes... It's alot like putting tubes in your ears. He ran a small tube from her top tear duct to her bottom and through her nasal cavity.

She was supposed to leave the tubes in for 6 weeks, but 4 weeks into it Sarah Jane rubbed her eye and her little pinky got stuck behind the tube...

Dr. Sugg was out of town at a pediatric opthamology conference.. in Los Angeles! I called him on his cell phone and he told me he would catch the night flight and fly back to meet me at 5 a.m. at his office. He assured me that the removal surgery would be no big deal and that he was going to do it in his office and it would take no time -- but in the meantime, my SJ had a tube sticking out of her eye and putting pressure on her little nose bones.

SOOOO... I asked him if it wasn't a big deal, if I could do it myself. He seemed a little shocked, but he put me on speakerphone in the middle of the table and him and a group of his colleagues talked me through the tube removal.

It was something I never want to do again - Sarah Jane, George, and I all three cried... but when SJ cried, there were tears!! Our tears of fear and sadness were immediately tears of joy. It was a horrible, WONDERFUL day!

At the check up from that experience, Dr. Sugg did a test on Sarah Jane's eyes and told us that since she had so many surgeries and trauma to her eyes, her vision was severely impaired. Without her glasses, Sarah Jane sees comparable to how someone with good vision would see if they opened their eyes underwater.

So, at one year old - we put my baby in glasses, thick glasses. Thanks Dr. D.

Sarah Jane looks adorable in her glasses, but this year in school she has had a hard time with people picking on her --- 4-eyes, dork, nerd, so and so doesn't like you because you wear glasses.... ugh, kids can me SO mean! I don't know what to say to my 6 year old when she cries and begs me for contacts. I'm tempted to let her have them just to spare her the cruelty.

Anyway, I say ALLLL of that, to say that today was a WONDERFUL day here in the Houston home - Raleigh cried baby tears, and I cried Happy tears! Never thought I would be happy to see my baby cry, but I was!

Something I Really Needed.

2010-06-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

I got a huge awakening today - one that I really needed.

Lately, I've been hating myself. Well - not myself really, but moreso the way that I look. I hate the mirror. HATE it. I hate my hair and the fact that I haven't been able to color it in forever. I hate the stretch marks on my stomach. I hate my baby pooch. I hate my BOOBS! I hate my thighs. I hate the way my clothes fit. I hate the way my skin feels. and on and on and on and on... and it was even worse when I was pregnant. SO much worse.

Just today, I was seriously online looking at how much lipo/tummy tucks cost and trying to devise a plan on how we were going to come up with that much money... and I think that kind of stuff is so stupid, but I was desperate.

Well, Last night I stayed up late talking with some friends during a q&a session with the author of the book, Cold Tangerines , over at The Mom-Tage and they mentioned her blog and a blog post that she had written as a guest writer for their page. So, in my spare time today, I went back to read it.

...and I have been a MESS ever since. You can read the whole post for yourself HERE or HERE, but if you don't feel like clicking on the link - just to make sure you read it and get dosed with the same reality check that I did, I felt compelled to post it here.

"One day, when I was approximately sixteen months pregnant with Henry, I was emailing back and forth with my friend Kirsten in San Francisco. I was pregnant for the first time, and she for the second. She wanted me to send her a picture, and I told her I was destroying all the evidence of this season, and that no one wanted to see my pregnant self any more often than they had to.

She begged me to take pictures, even if I didn’t show them to anyone. She said that she understood how big and awful I felt. And then she said that there were probably women who saw my big pregnant belly, and walked fast to their cars, hoping to close the door before the tears started to fall.

And now I know something about that, having been both women. I know pregnancy is hard, and that, especially toward the end, it feels like your body’s been taken over entirely. I know that being a nursing mom feels pretty similar, and that you barely recognize yourself in the mirror, and you wonder if your stomach will ever go totally back to normal.

(Um, it won’t.)

(But for a while you’ll have totally lovely, absolutely magical cleavage. That’s something.)

And now I’ve cried in my car, walking away from a perfect pregnant belly, afraid that that will never be me again. After a miscarriage that was deeply painful both physically and emotionally, after a long season of slightly-unnerving medical follow-up and testing and big words, and now in the midst a season of longing that extends to the present, I know something I didn’t know that first time.

This is what I know now: You, pregnant mama-to-be, are nothing short of a walking miracle--heartburn, varicose veins, swollen ankles and all.

You, newborn mama, are right smack dab in the middle of one of life’s most precious and strange seasons—leaking breasts, poochy tummy, sleepless nights and all.

This doesn’t help, really, when you can’t sleep because your belly is so big, when the baby can’t sleep, when the milk doesn’t come, when the jeans don’t fit.

But this is my prayer for you: that just every once in a while, you have moments when everything stops, and you realize that you are blessed beyond measure, and that this season is faster than the blink of an eye.

Put your hands on your belly, and say thank you.

Smell your newborn’s perfect tiny head, and breathe in that smell so deeply that you will remember it every day of your life.

Blessings on you, and on the new life in your belly or in your arms.

-Shauna Niequist "

Um. Wow. All I could manage was wow... and tears, lots of them. All of that resonated with me SO LOUDLY, but This part stood out to me so, so, so much:

"But this is my prayer for you: that just every once in a while, you have moments when everything stops, and you realize that you are blessed beyond measure, and that this season is faster than the blink of an eye."

God answered her prayer, at least through me, today.

I made a promise to myself today that I would be thankful - that I would count these stretch marks and all the things that came with them as a blessing, as a reminder of the true gifts that came with them... and know that they are beautiful (for so many reasons), even if only in my eyes.

So, I'm a day late with this post..

2010-06-21T16:58:00.000-07:00

But, in my defense, I've got a newborn - so, um, yeah... that's my excuse.

Yesterday was a big day in the Houston House - It was father's day, and it was my Raleigh-bug's 2 month birthday!

Over the last month, Raleigh has grown A LOT! He has started to laugh out loud and he mimics alot of the faces that George makes (especially sticking out his tongue, almost on cue) - he likes to spend time on his floor gym and he LOVES his swing. He's really good at holding his head up and he can even push up for a second or 3. His 0-3 month clothes are beginning to get a little tight, but I'm still holding onto them because I just can't believe that he is getting that big yet! Most nights, he goes down around 10:00, wakes up around 3 and then again at 7. I don't think that's too shabby of a sleep routine (btw, I hate routines..) - but in this case, they're a good thing. He likes to sit in his bouncy chair and watch Chuggington with SJ in the mornings and when you sing Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes - you are guaranteed a smile, and maybe even a laugh if you do the motions. He still loves his passy and he is still doing great with nursing, although I feel like a cow sometimes (no joke, I can pump 6 oz. IN BETWEEN feeding him... it's a bit ridiculous!) - but I am grateful that he is doing so well, since it was exactly the opposite with SJ. --and speaking of SJ, she is still doing SO GREAT with Raleigh, she is the best helper I could ever imagine.

Raleigh, SJ and I spend our days hanging out at home, or at the pool, or at friends' houses... and we try to be home by the time George gets home. I guess after hanging out with Mom all day, they are both SUPER excited to see him when he gets home. Just the sound of his voice puts a HUGE smile on Raleigh's face. It's the sweetest thing.

For Father's Day this year, SJ and I picked out George some of his favorite sunglasses and we were going to take him to his favorite restaurant on Friday night (b/c SJ was out of town Sat/Sun)... but on the way there, we saw a sign for a Shane and Shane concert and so instead, we went to Chick-Fil-A (GASP!, I know... we're traitors!) and then back to the concert. We had a blast! On the actual "Father's Day"... George watched the Braves and slept on the couch all Day, which is Heaven to him.

I don't know exactly how to say thank you to a Man that loves my children the way that he does. I'm sure sunglasses, a concert and a trip through the CFA drive thru wasn't enough. My whole life, all I ever wanted to be was a Mom --- but sometimes, he makes me look bad. ...and I am totally okay with that. Sarah Jane adores him, Raleigh lights up at the mere sound of his voice - he's their Hero, and mine too. I couldn't ask for anyone better than he is - and as cheezy as it sounds, He really is amazing. Thank you, George, for what you do for our children and for who you are. Thank you for waking up early every day and working countless hours so that I can be home with our children in a beautiful home that you provide for us. Thank you for providing all of our needs and wants. Thank you for playing with our kids when I know you are exhausted. Thank you for going above and beyond when it comes to being a Daddy of a little girl. Thank you for holding my hand and calming me as only you can as they both were born. Thank you for making sure I get enough rest. Thank you for everything that I am forgetting to thank you for, You're a blessing to them and and to me.

I read this today, and I don't think that it could be any more fitting -

God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad

We Love You, George.

It's been a long, long week.

2010-06-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

I don't even know where to start with this post.

What an exhausting week this has been - emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally.

On Monday morning George went to work as usual - Raleigh and I were just getting our day started and SJ was still sleeping. I needed to take care of a few things so I went to lay the baby on his floor gym and when i felt a shooting pain in my back and it forced me to the ground, the baby fell about 4 inches or so onto his mat...and I was STUCK on the floor. There was a wooden chair close by, but every time I pulled on it, it started to fall and I could NOT bend to get up on my own - it was horrible! Picture that little old lady in that commercial saying "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up" and that was me... I called for SJ to get up and bring me my phone - she was SUCH a big help. I called George and he was completely stuck at work (and I don't think that he really believed that i couldn't get up...) so I sent SJ next door to get our neighbor, that just so happens to be an awesome nurse. She came over and helped me from the floor to the recliner and then gave me some pain meds... and I sat in the recliner until George got home about 2 hours later. Not fun!

When George got home, we made our way to the Doctor. When we got to the doctor, a few sweet friends met us there... one to watch Raleigh in the waiting room, and one to take SJ to lunch and to play. While we were in the waiting room, we got the call that we knew was coming--- but we didn't want to hear. Grandbubba was gone. Since Saturday morning we had been waiting, we knew it wouldn't be long. It was breath-taking.

But, we stayed at the doctor, there was nothing that we could do and I was in a wheelchair. They did x-rays on my back and from what they could tell ...I slipped a vertebrae. OUCH! The Doc told me to "stay off my feet"... which wasn't going to happen, so I asked for some pain meds just to get me through the week. He gave me some toridol and some darvacet and sent me hobbling on my way.

When we made it back to George's mom's house, funeral plans were already underway... flowers ordered for a blanket, funeral songs, what to wear, where to be at what time, times set, dates set, preachers picked, paul bearers, so on and so forth - and I couldn't help but lay on the couch and look at her empty room. She's been in a hursing home since january and I had no idea how to tell SJ that she wasn't coming home - at least not the home that SJ knows her in. I waited as long as I could to get SJ and bring her home --- all I could think about was how to tell a six year old that she is never going to see the person that she loves most in the world again?

To be honest, I don't remember how the words came out. I don't remember what we said. But, she handled it fairly well - she cried and cried, but we looked at old pictures, and we smelled GB's lotion, and we talked about all the wonderful things we thought she was doing in Heaven. Sarah Jane said to me, "I knew this day was coming, but I never wanted it to get here" - I think that sums up how we all felt. I lost my Dad and my Grandad when I was not much older than SJ... losing someone you love so much at that age is NOT an easy thing to go through, and we've got a long road ahead of us. I don't know that I have ever completely healed from losing them, I probably never will. Honestly, I don't know that anyone ever heals from it - I think you just learn how to deal.

Since we were all hanging out at George's mom's house - we noticed that there were no toiletries, paper towels, etc. in her house since she had been spending so much time at the nursing home - George volunteered to run to Publix to take care of that and to pick up my pain meds. As he was leaving the grocery store, he was pulling the cart up onto the curb and as he did that... he pulled off his toenail! SO, we called our friend that is a Podiatrist and he did an emergency last minute toe surgery on George's toe! ---and then he sent him hobbling on his way with some Ceflex and some Vicodin.

Between the two of us being injured and the emotional events of the day --- we were in a MESS.

The Visitation was the next night, the funeral was the next day - it's all a blur to me, it all went by so fast. GB looked beautiful, so peaceful - so pain free. She would have been pleased. The funeral home was beautiful, as beautiful as a place like that can be - the flowers were gorgeous, the music was perfect, the speakers told the story of her life perfectly and I wouldn't change a thing even if I could.

My back is alot better now, George's toe is on the mend - and SJ only cried once today. Life goes on, even after hers ended. In all my life, no one person (with the exception of my own mother) has taught me more about life and the way it should be. She was truly a blessing to everyone who knew her and I am a better person because of her.

I am thankful that God let her live long enough for Sarah Jane to remember her, and I am thankful that God let her live to meet Raleigh because she so desperately wanted to.

I still can't fully put into words what I would like to say about this woman that we all loved so much - but I will say that there will forever be a place in our heart that is empty without her in it, and we'll always smile at the thought of her. She's left fingerprints in our lives that will never be erased.

Plillipians 1:3 says "I thank my God every time I remember you" ---and we will remember her fondly and often. She truly was a treasure and we will miss her, always.

2010-06-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

I have spent a little while today looking through old photographs of GB... There are alot of them, but this one is my favorite... particularly the third one down.

If you know our family, you know how special she is. It's hard to say goodbye, this time we have left with her is so bittersweet.

Please say a prayer for us to be at peace over the next little while - and a prayer for God to make this easy for GB.

17 years is a long time.

2010-06-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

My Dad, Jimmy Dale Baugh, and Me in 1985

It's hard to believe that it's been 17 years since he's been gone.

It's hard to believe that it's been 17 years, because it still feels so much like yesterday.

More than anything, I wish my children could know him - he was a good man, and he would have loved them.

...and these are a few of my favorite things.

2010-06-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

his tiny baby fingers

his spikey baby hair
his cute baby mouth

2010-05-30T20:36:00.000-07:00

"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead". ~Robert G. Ingersoll

One Month!

2010-05-27T08:19:00.001-07:00

Here is my Raleigh-man at one month old.

This month has FLOWN by! Things were crazy around here for the last few weeks of school. Hopefully, now that Summertime is here, we can slow down and take it in more.

Here is a little bit about my little man's first month:

He weighed 8.14 when he was born. In his first week, he lost a pound. By the next week he had gained that pound back, plus 6 more ounces... and he now weighs 10.2.
He LOVES his pacifier. But not any pacifier... only THIS one. I tried to buy several to find one he would like, naturally he picks the most expensive one.
We had lots of help with meals from Nana in his first week and lots of help with meals from our church in the 2nd week. We also got to visit with Memaw during his third week and we were so sad to see her go.
During the first 2 weeks, he slept ALOT - but the old her gets, the more he is awake. I love to see his big blue eyes!
Like clockwork, he eats every three hours... and that isn't b/c he is on any mommy-enforced schedule. He just gets hungry about every 3 hours.
Speaking of eating, he nurses like a CHAMP. With Sarah Jane, nursing was so hard on me (complete with blisters, blood, the whole thing..). With Raleigh, I never flinched - he latched right on, I never blistered, and we have been Pain-free!! I didn't even know that was possible.
Sleeping at night has been somewhat of a challenge for us because Sarah Jane was such a good sleeper. Raleigh is not a BAD sleeper, he just doesn't sleep as much as Sarah Jane did. To date, our longest night sleep streak was 5 hours. We'll get there.
At one month, he outgrew all of his newborn size clothes, but most of his 0-3 mo. stuff is still way too big.
He likes to sleep on his boppy in between George and I. I know that most people say that's terrible - but I like him there and it works for us. When he wakes in the night, he likes to hold George's hand to get back to sleep.
He loves to be covered with a blanket, but he kicks out of swaddles, just like Sarah Jane did - no matter how tight you get it.
He hasn't lost ANY of his hair.
His feet are the same size as our friend, Beckett's, who is 3 months older than him.
He likes to be wrapped up in a blanket and rocked in the rocking chair.
In the car, he is great!
We took him on a trip to Alabama to go to a wedding and visit some friends and he did wonderful on the car-ride over.

I think that about covers it... at this age, there's just not much going on yet besides lots of sweet baby sounds and smells.

I can't wait for month 2 with Raleigh - at the beginning of month 2, he has already started smiling intentionally and has gotten a lot better control of his little hands. I love the age when they start interacting.

Here's Raleigh's Birth Announcement:

Hope everyone is doing well!

As Kindergarten Comes to an End...

2010-05-24T13:13:00.000-07:00

9 months ago, I walked my sweet baby girl down a long yellow hallway and Today she came back to me 7 inches taller, with a few less teeth, able to read, with a mind of her own, dreams about what-she'll-be-when, and all signs of baby... GONE.

I don't want to be "that" Mom that says I can't believe that she is so big. I can't believe that she is done with Kindergarten. I can't believe that she is this grown. But She IS, and I Can't! Where does the time go??

In the last year, I have watched my little girl grow SO much. All signs of my tiny little baby are long, long gone... and yes, there is definitely immense sadness that comes along with that knowledge. BUT there is joy too- because there are so many signs of the wonderful young lady that she is becoming, and I can't wait to be there for every minute of it.

When she came into my life 6 very short, wonderful, years ago, I never could have imagined the joy that she would bring with her. Everyday, she makes my heart smile in a way that no one ever has... or ever will.

In Kindergarten we had some really good times... her making my Sweet Mother's Day yellow handmade clay pot that I will keep FOREVER, her School Program where she had the opening lines, when I hosted her school Halloween Party - and the BIG hugs that came with it, listening to her sing "O, I love America... I do, I do" ♫, and my most recent favorite... While coloring with her Daddy she wrote a big "B" on his paper as his grade... when he looked disappointed, she told him that The "B" was for the BEST. :)

She's learned her ABC's and 123's, some valuable lessons on friendship, and a lot about life - and taught me so much in the process.

It's been hard to cut those apron strings and watch her grow this year. Nothing makes you want to slap a 5 year old kid until there is a bully in your baby's class --- and nothing humbles you like watching your baby write that bully a letter b/c she says "She is just a bully because she thinks no one will be her friend. But I want her to know that I will."

Sometimes, she has a tendancy to get on her friends nerves a tiny bit with how many hugs she gives... and even kisses (gasp!) - and while I don't fully understand that part of her, b/c I'm not very touchy --- it's a part of her I hope she never loses. Maybe the hugging and kissing could decrease a little, but not at the risk of losing the way she loves. She loves so completely, so fully, without fear or judgement... unconditionally. It's my favorite thing about her. My prayer is for her to never lose that ability... regardless of what life throws her way.

Daily, she makes me proud to be her Mother. It's a job that I am terribly unqualified for, and so incredibly blessed to have.

I'm proud of you, Sarah Jane... proud of your accomplishments this year and proud of who you are becoming. I hope you always dream big and wish for the stars - You're so beautiful, inside and out. I love you, that's the first thing you know. :)

It's About Time!

2010-05-23T19:36:00.000-07:00

I have a new Website!!

With the help of my hubby, we've come up with a new place for Click!

We're super excited about it and want you to be the first to see what we've been working on!

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT!

In the spirit of Mother's Day...

2010-05-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

A little over 6 years into this whole parenting thing, It's still so strange to me to think of myself as a "Mother" --- I don't have "Mom" hair or wear "Mom" jeans. I don't always do the right thing, like "Mothers" do. I fumble, I speak before I think ALOT, and I certainly don't find joy or self worth in cooking and cleaning - you know, like all those "Good Mothers" do. In short, I certainly don't fit the "Mommy Mold" --- you know the mold that I am talking about --- and you all know people that fit it, or well... at least I am sure that you know people that do a really good job of making you think that they fit it. If "fitting the mold" should be my goal... I'm probably falling a bit short. But, I'm not the only one. I know lots of Mommies that aren't "typical" Mommies - and I am so incredibly thankful for each and every one of them that God has put into my life, especially the ones that I am lucky enough to know in person, but also the ones that I keep up with in the blogosphere!

You can get to know a few of them HERE by becoming a member of this site. Also, while you are there, sign up for their Giveaway and be sure to take part in their book discussions.

Also, You can check out the brilliant minds behind this wonderful site Here and Here.

And maybe it is just me, but I think it's about time someone started working on a new mold..

Baby Grin

2010-05-07T17:49:00.000-07:00

Raleigh Houston, 17 Days Old.

The Day He Was Born

2010-05-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

4/20/2010 ... what a day! A wonderful, magnificent, magical day that I will never forget. But, if I for some reason start to miss a few details, I want to make sure to get it down while it is still so fresh in my mind. Here's Raleigh's Birth Story:

Sarah Jane, George, and I got to the hospital at 7:00 a.m. that Tuesday morning. It was a sunny day - probably about 85 degrees outside. We checked in with the receptionist and then took our seat in the waiting room. They called me back about 5 minutes later and made George and SJ wait in the waiting room while I got ready for the surgery.

When I got to the back, I changed into a "lovely" hospital gown, they hooked up my IV, strapped on the baby monitors, and then they let George and SJ come back to join me. Sarah Jane checked out all my new medical hardware... she watched his little heartbeat on the monitor, asked all about the fluids in the IV, and gave me about a million kisses. George spent alot of time texting people and tweeting (what else would anyone that knows George expect from him?) and helping me answer the million questions from SJ--- When 8:00 rolled around, George walked my Janey Girl into the waiting room to sit with her Nana.

Various nurses and etc. came in and out for the next hour checking on this and monitoring tha... and then, finally it was time!

Dr. Smurda came in at 9:15 and escorted me to the operating room. I gave George one last look, and went with the Doctor... I sat on the bed and leaned my head onto a nurse's shoulder while the anesthesiologist put a spinal tap into my back... before I even had a chance to lay down, the feeling was gone in both of my feet. When I finally got situated on the table, my blood pressure dropped significantly and I felt like I was going to throw up - since I was numb from my ribcage down, the sweet nurse just held a pan by my face and let me throw up what little bit I had in my stomach into the pan and then she wiped my face off. I do not want her job. - she also covered me with lots of warm blankets and rubbed my hair out of my face until George got there.

When he came in, I was so relieved. I was a little woozy, probably from the medication, so my conversation skills weren't quite up to par - but George was GREAT! He held my hand talked me through the whole thing.

At about 10:05, I saw George's face light up and heard the cries from my new little man on the other side of the blue screen. I got to see him when they held him over the curtain for me. I cried alligator tears! I heard all of them say things like, Wow - what a head full of hair, and Oh my- he is huge!... The nurses took George's camera and took lots of pictures there in the operating room for us... they moved the weigh table into my eyesight so I could see them clean him up. George got to hold him as soon as they were done. For a surgical birth, it really couldn't have gone any better.

They hung around for a few minutes, but then they had to go get him all ready... so George followed the nurses and Raleigh to the nursery. They had to roll him through the waiting room to get to the nursery --- where Sarah Jane was waiting very patiently and she finally got to see him for the first time. After the big introduction, They stood at the window and watched him bathe, weigh, get measured, dress, and etc. --

In the meantime, I was still on the operating table. 2 hours later.. Dr. Smurda was finally done sewing me back together. Apparently, there was a lot of scar tissue left from my first incision and he spent alot of time cleaning me up so this incision would heal better (and it has).

I finally made it to recovery around 12:00 - and by 12:20 I was out of there, thanks to my friend, Amy, that arranged for me to have 2 nurses that only worked on me and got me out of there as quickly as possible.

I was so relieved when I finally got to the 5th floor and saw my Janey Girl standing there waiting for me. The smile on her face was one I will never forget. She was so excited!

When I made it to my room, the transport nurse moved me from the surgery bed to my official hospital bed and then they let my family come in.

The first time I held Raleigh in my arms was a moment that I will never forget. He was perfect - so tiny, so sweet, so amazing. It was wonderful to share that moment with the people that I love most - my George and my Janey Girl. I never knew that anything was missing in our family before, but from that moment - I knew that he was exactly what we needed, and so did they.

3 long days later, we finally came home from the hospital.

He's a great baby - sleeps 4-5 hour streaks at night, he NEVER cries (unless it's bath time), he nurses like a professional, and has compeletely stolen my heart - as well as everyone else's (including SJ).

Also, It was a blessing to be able to have Kim Russell there to photograph this special day - she was there for all the things that I missed out on while I was in surgery and in recovery. I couldn't imagine these pictures possibly being any better than they are - she did an amazing job! Here is a video that I made of Raleigh's big day from a few of the pictures that Kim took that day:

Ignore my giganto face - they just pumped huge bags of IV fluids into my body

Full Circle

2010-04-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

George took this picture

George Raleigh Houston

April 20, 2010

8 pounds, 14 ounces

20 and 3/4 inches long

I never knew I was capable of this much love before him.

If you don't know Jack..

2010-04-13T13:49:00.000-07:00

If you don't know Jack, then let me introduce you. Jack is the newest addition to the Houston family.... he's a 3 week old Black Bear Hamster.

Sarah Jane has been saving every penny that she could get her hands on for months now. She's managed to pull together quite a bit. But, she is like her Daddy... she will NOT spend it. She kept looking and thinking and wishing and hoping, but couldn't find anything that she really had to have - until last Monday.

On our trip to the pet store, Sarah Jane decided that she wanted a hamster. She HAD to have it. When she volunteered her own money to pay for it, I knew that she was serious.

So, I did what any good Mom would do... I told her to ask her Dad! :) Well, George and Sarah Jane went back to the mall to check it out and look things over and after a lot of thought, George told Sarah Jane that he really thought that she should wait. We have 4 new baby kittens and he wanted us to find a home for them before we added any newbies to the crew. < /div>

Sarah Jane seemed to be okay with that, and after a few tears... we went to get some ice cream and all was well.

Well, everyday since then Sarah Jane has mentioned the hamster. She wants to go visit him. She worried about it sleeping at the mall. She was definitely smitten with the little guy.

SO... today, while Sarah Jane was at school - George and I decided to bite the bullet and go get him. When she got home from school, he was here waiting on her.

I told her to sit down on the couch and George while George brought him in:

She TOTALLY wasn't expecting it:

She was SO excited. This little grin right here is the best thing in the WORLD:

She was trying to make him come out:

She kept saying "Thank you, Daddy! Thank You, Daddy!" ....what am I, chopped liver?:

...and here he is... JACK!

...and if you are counting, that brings our total pet count to 8!

39 down, one to go!

2010-04-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

Here I am at 39 weeks!

That sounds so crazy to me. I can't believe that he will be here in a WEEK!

I'm a whirl-wind of emotions.

scared of the surgery

hoping he is healthy

trying to take in this last little bit with just my Janey Girl

nervous about coming home

wanting Sarah Jane to get excited

hoping I have everything ready

wanting it all to be just right

hoping he will nurse

hoping I can tolerate him nursing (just being honest...)

needing Sarah Jane to feel loved no less than she is

wondering if my shoes will fit afterwards

hoping for good pictures

excited about getting to see him, finally

nervous about the spinal tap

Did I say scared of the surgery?

Hoping I will love him like I love my SJ

praying that the doctor that I want will be there

hoping his coming home outfit will fit

and on ...and on... and on... and on.... and on

George keeps telling me to relax, but I am honestly more nervous than I have ever been in my life. I need prayers for my sanity. I'm serious.

Babies!

2010-04-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

Here are the newest members of our clan... well, at least Temporarily anyway. When they are big enough, we will find good homes for them. But for right now, they're lots of fun to play with and to snuggle.

Sarah Jane named them all:

Spring Break

2010-04-12T04:53:00.000-07:00

Sarah Jane and I were really looking forward to her Spring Break this year. It was our last week together, just the three of us and life as we know it.

Usually throughout the day I can get pretty tired. I'm 3cm. dilated and fully affaced and techinically I am supposed to be "off my feet"... but nothing was keeping me from her this week. Last Sunday, I said to myself that I was going to make it happen - and we made it happen together!

I'm sorry if I am about to bore you with the details of our week, but this post really isn't for anyone but me. Our life is about to get really crazy around here and I don't want to forget anything about the fun we had. From time to time, I come back here and read old posts and I go right back to those places in my mind - 20 years from now, I'll still go back to this past week with my Janey Girl.

After a quick trip to the doctor on Monday, we had a girly lunch date with some friends and walked through the Pet Store at the Mall. Sarah Jane is a money saver, unlike me, and she will save every penny that she has until she finds something that she can't live without. She has decided that she can't live without a hamster... Too bad her Daddy thinks that she can. We just had baby kittens around here, so George told her that we would re-assess this hamster situation when the kittens were big enough to get to new homes. She has not forgotten... she talks about this Hamster everyday (and has already named him Marcy).

Speaking of animal names... she has named the kittens too... Tom, Johnny, Shirley, and Hannah. LOL

On Tuesday we met George for lunch and then the two of us went to the movies and saw Miss Miley Cyrus' new movie, "The Last Song" --- and I have to say that in my opinion, she didn't really do a bad job with it... but then again, she didn't actually sing (other than one scene in the car) in it. Sarah Jane didn't mean to, but she held my hand the whole movie. That night, the fam went to Bruster's for Ice Cream. I really tried to take that in, knowing that we won't be able to go and do that again for a while and it's one of Sarah Jane's favorite things to do.

Wednesday, we met some girlfriends and their kiddos for lunch at BK and then headed to the Strawberry Patch to get our fill of Strawberries. Sarah Jane really enjoyed picking the strawberries... but not so much looking for them. There were lots of green ones still since it's the beginning of the season. After we got back from the strawberry patch, we went to putt putt with SJ's cousins that were in town... we had a fun night riding bumper boats, go karts, and playing Laser tag. Oh, and by "we" I mean the kids and George. :) But I had fun watching their little smiling faces.

Thursday we loaded up the car and headed to Macon where we had a fun little overnight trip to visit with Our Friends Dana, Emma, and Chloe. They had fun playing in the pool, dressing up, watching movies and coloring... while the Mommies had some much needed, for me anyway, girl time just talking about life!

Friday, we headed back to Albany and spent most of the day at home relaxing. That night, we went to Turtle Grove park downtown and out to dinner with friends. Sarah Jane decided at dinner that she was big enough to spend the night with Dee (who has been trying to talk her into it for years...) so she loaded up and rode home with them. I was fully expecting to have to pick her up... but, once again, she proved to me that she needs me a little less everyday these days. She had a blast at the Henderson's though and even got to show them her mad skills on the Wii by beating them at Sword Fighting.

Saturday, we had a family lunch at Chick-Fil-A before Sarah Jane and I headed off to get pedicures. Sarah Jane was super impressed with the pedicures and said that she had never had a "real, stick your feet in the hot water pedicure" before. She opted for bright blue nails and toes with a glitter overlay and then she had some fancy flowers painted on her big toes and thumbs... mercy. Later that day, George's brother's family came to town... the kiddos played and played and then we had a big dinner before they went home.

This morning, it's pretty quiet around here... I can't say that I like it, because I really don't. I miss her when she's gone. I love the independent person that she is becoming, but I miss the little girl that thought butterfly kisses were cool.

As this next stage in our lives rapidly approaches, I am not really sure what to expect or how much things are about to change. But I do know, that no matter what - I loved her first.

So here's to our little family of three... and new memories in the making for our soon to be family of four.

Grandbubba

2010-04-02T05:39:00.000-07:00

Happy 89th Birthday!

Just a little FYI

2010-03-26T04:58:00.000-07:00

*if you are a guy, you probably don't want to read this - catch me on the next one*

Just in case you ever wondered, it IS possible to split a stretch mark.

Here's how it happened to me.

A friend and I had taken a little trip to Americus to my favorite little monogram shop... after we dropped off our stuff, we decided to grab a little lunch. I was just finishing up my Honey Pecan Chicken Salad plate and Raleigh was starting to get pretty active - not that there is ever a time when he isn't... when all of a sudden, I felt a HUGE kick/punch/head-bunt or SOMETHING to the lower part of my abdomen. My eyes teared up, I had to catch my breath... and I made a beeline to the restroom because I just felt like something wasn't right.

Well, when I got to the restroom I stood there for a minute still trying to catch my breath and I noticed that I was still in some really bad pain in the spot where he had kicked me... so I just put my hand right there to see if I could take some pressure off of it. Much to my suprise, when I put my hand there it stung really bad! So I pulled my hand away only to find it bloody.

The skin that goes across where I had my c-section with Sarah Jane has very little, if any, give in it at all and I have developed some pretty disgusting stretch marks that go right through my scar. To give you a verbal visual - they're about an inch wide and 2 inches tall and they are purple. Yeah, nice - huh? The one on the far right is the one that Raleigh decided to kick open.

Thanks kid.

It took me a while to stop the bleeding, but I did and then I walked back out. I couldn't actually see the sore b/c it is on the under side of my stomach so, when we got to the car, I showed my friend what happened. She confirmed what I had suspected. After talking to her, we agreed that we just didn't think that it was normal for things like that to happen. So I called my doctor's office...

I got a nurse on the phone... and she informed me that things like that happen all the time and I just should put a bandage on it. I have to admit that I was shocked to hear that things like that happen all the time b/c I have never heard of it... but I thanked her, opologized for being a paranoid freak, and put a bandage on it when he got home.

Well, throughout the rest of the day - it bled on and off, oozed some clear liquid junk gross mess, and still really stung. It's in an awful place for a sore because no matter which way I lay, or sit, or turn, there is pressure on it making it impossible to seal. I know... waah, waah, waah, cry me a river, right? - but it really sucks!

If this pregnancy has been any indication to me of what this little guy is going to be like when he gets here, I am pretty sure that I am going to have my hands full!

****UPDATE****

After being uncomfortable all day and not being able to get the oozing under control, I called the on-call doctor - and got to speak with the midwife. She said that it wasn't impossible for babies to kick stretch marks open, but it certainly wasn't a normal thing and she wanted me to come in first thing the next morning. I left the doctor's office that morning with 3 sutures and a sealer over them --it has been fine, not comfortable, but fine, ever since. This baby better be some kind of football/soccer/karate whiz or I am going to be really shocked.

Baby Stuff

2010-03-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

A while back, I told you guys about a purchase that I wish I would have made and I wanted to share a few purchases that I think that we will be glad we did make. I may come to learn otherwise... but here are few things that I'm pretty excited about.

When SJ was a baby, I remember her spending hours in a thing that we called a "Johnny Jump Up." We hung it from our door frame in our kitchen and she would jump for what seemed like hours, although it probably wasn't that long. Well, this time around... apparently those are dangerous and they are really hard to find. SO, I opted for the Fisher Price Horse Jumparoo. I like the western feel to it and I hope that he enjoys it as much as SJ enjoyed the Johnny Jump Up:

I really had a hard time deciding on a carseat for some reason. I did tons of research, price comparisons, and safety checks... and this is the one that I decided on. It's made by Combi and it is the Shuttle 33 model. I went with this one for several reasons, but mainly for the Anti-Rebound Bar and the Side Impact Protection.

I also remember when SJ was a baby, we had to move the carseat base about a billion times from one car to the other. So, this time -- we just bought two bases! That solves that problem:

Also, to go along with the carseat, we purchased this stroller. When I got it, I didn't know much about it, other than it matched what he had already bought... but after we purchased it, I learned alot about it and I'm pretty excited. It only weighs 7 pounds, has a great tri-fold design (that's right, it folds three times and becomes really compact), plus it comes with a strap for easy management:

It's been a while since I had a baby around here, and there are alot of new things out there... I came across this and decided that we had to have it. I am not sure how necessary it will be since we also have a baby saucer... but, it just looked so cool that I couldn't resist. This is an "Around We Go Activity Station" made by Bright Starts. I didn't like walkers when SJ was a baby b/c I was always afraid that she was going to run into things and knock them over onto herself... but this concept is great! It's an activity station with an attached walker. It is designed to allow mobility, but only around the station. Once walking is mastered, the "around we go" part comes off and it then becomes a standard activity table. Pretty neat, huh?:

Last time I was in the hospital, I remember HATING having to wear the hospital gowns. They itch. They aren't modest (you have to untie them from around your neck and compleetly expose yourself just to nurse your baby).... and well, honestly they are just plain ugly. SO, this time... I am thinking ahead. I ordered a couple of these fancy schmancy nursing gowns to take with me. The pleat in the front opens up to allow easy nursing access without having to show the whole world your business (b/c nobody wants to see that!) and the knit fabric will be great for comfort. It took me a while to find them b/c I didn't really want to spend a whole lot of money on them... but, believe it or not - I found these little babies here and that price is about 75% cheaper than I have seen them anywhere else:

The infant carseat didn't last us very long with Sarah Jane. I can remember having a hard time deciding on a step 2 carseat for her and having to carry around her infant carrier until it put huge red marks on my arm... So, this time, I decided that we won't be doing that. As soon as I feel like Raleigh is getting too big for the carrier style carseat, we have this one ready for him to move right into. It was a very sweet gift from the very sweet people that George works for. Again, I did alot of research on the next step up carseat and couldn't find one with features that I liked better than this one. It's rated #1 across the board and it's called the Britax Marathon (ours in in cow-moo-flauge, but there are lots of prints and styles available). You can read one of many reviews on this carseat here.

I do plan on nursing Raleigh for a while... but I will also be doing alot of pumping. Sarah Jane has her little heart set on giving him bottles. Who am I to disappoint? :) When I started looking at bottles, I was so overwhelmed. There are SO many to choose from... silicone, latex, vent systems, nipple shapes, sizes... it was alot to take in, but I decided on these. They're called Dr. Brown's Natural Flow and you can read all about how they work HERE, but to give you the short version... they eliminate air bubbles to help with digestion, which for SJ would have been great!

George and I bunted heads a few times on diaper bag decisions.. but this is the one that we went with. I didn't want anything too girly, but I also didn't want anything too boyish (since I am not a boy and I will be the one carrying it most of the time). This bag is the OZZ style and is made by Kalencom. This is a non-glossy (but still wipeable) pattern called Star Burst and I love it! It came with a changing pad, a diaper case and a bottle carrier. It's not too big and bulky, but it's big enough to carry the things that I need:

AND last but not least and I am really excited about THIS GIRL RIGHT HERE!

Her name is Heather and she is going to be a huge lifesaver to me on the day of Raleigh's arrival! She's a photographer friend of mine that does a really good job and I can't wait to see what she puts together. I'm so relieved to know that I won't have to worry about people taking pictures and getting the right shot. Since I will be in recovery, I'll miss out on the bath/the family seeing him, etc.. I'm so thankful that she will be there to make it possible for me to see it all!

SJ's Mo-Mo

2010-03-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

Thinking back through the years about my Janey Girl, this picture is one that will be forever carved into my memory. It was taken at her very first birthday party. We had just sat down to open presents... SJ had ripped the paper off of a silver cup, several books, a game, a new doll, and a few other things... and then we opened this little guy. He was from a friend from church that had a daughter about a year older than SJ. He didn't think that a stuffed animal cow was anything special... in fact, he had picked him up earlier in the day while he was at the grocery store when he remembered that he had a birthday party to go to that afternoon. But, from the moment that Sarah Jane laid eyes on this cow, it was love at first sight.:

She carried it around with her all day. She slept with him that night. He joined us in her highchair the next day for meals... I knew then that he was something special. Through the years, "Mo-Mo" has become a very important part of our family. He calmed Sarah Jane through night terrors, he made countless boo-boo's all better. He's helped her watch the scary parts of Snow White. He's even spent the night with GB while she had chemo treatments. He's a miracle worker, for sure.
Over time, his stuffing has all fallen into his feet and Sarah Jane has managed to rub and chew his little eyes, nose and horns down to almost nothing -- but for some reason, I don't think that he really minds.
Honestly, I don't know how we would have made it through the last 6 years without Mo-Mo.
I guess since everyone knows how much SJ loves this little guy, they want to make sure that Raleigh doesn't go without. Here are just a FEW cow things that we have accumulated so far.
This one is HUGE... He's as tall as SJ and about 12" wider!
and our little Raleigh-man will definitely be riding in style in this carseat from George's boss:

We also have a cow blanket and 2 more stuffed cows... Let's hope he likes them as much as SJ does!

8 months!

2010-03-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

33 days to go:

So there we were...

SJ was at her first sleepover (which she made it through like a champ!) and George and I were doing a little shopping. Since the weather here goes from freezing to beach weather overnight... I needed to invest in a few more shirts to make it through the last month or so of this pregnancy considering that I only had one short sleeve shirt that I still fit into.

Since we don't have a plethora of shopping choices when it comes to maternity clothes, I just decided to head to Old Navy.

Although they did have my shirts... I wish that we had never went.

As we were standing there, getting our stuff scanned and pulling out the debit card so we could pay, The cashier just kept looking at me... I knew what was coming. I'm not a physchic or anything... I just tend to have a knack when it comes to spotting people that weren't raised right.

Here is how the conversation went:

Cashier: When are you due?

Me: 5 more weeks.

Cashier: (WIDE EYED) Oh, are you having twins?

Me: (not smiling) no. just one.

George: laughing almost uncontrollably

Cashier: well, you are close to your due date... that must be why you are so big.

Me: blank stare as I grab my things

George: shaking his head, trying to hide the laughter

Cashier: good luck

Seriously?! Seriously... what happened to "Thanks for shopping at Old Navy! Have a nice day!"

I've just never been one to make out of the way comments to prego people (ESPECIALLY if I didn't know them!)... so I just don't get the logic behind them.

Is it obvious that I am expecting? YES, duh! Is it anyone's obligation to point out the obvious?... um, NO. I just think that at some point in everyone's life people should be taught to keep their mouths shut on certain topics when in the presence of people that they don't know... pregnancies, politics, finances, etc. would fall into those categories.

_______________________________________________________

Now, with that said... I can give you a prego update!

Raleigh will be making his big debut in less than 5 weeks. That is so weird to me! This pregnancy really has flown by - I can't wait to meet him.

We're starting to get things together for a hospital bag, just in case he decides he wants to make his debut before the doctors say it's time.

Going into this delivery, I am a lot more prepared than I was last time. I've got my pedi/mani scheduled for 2 days before and my back massage scheduled for the week before. I've ordered robes to wear so I don't have to wear those itchy-tie-around-the-neck-have-to-get-naked-just-breastfeed-your-kid robes that they give you at the hospital to wear. I've got the baby book ready for the nurses to put his little foot prints in... and I even have a photographer booked for the big day!

Last time I had the c-sec, I spent a little longer than I wanted to spend in the recovery room... so this time, I made sure to have that taken care of too! My sweet neighbor just happens to be the head nurse of recovery... and she is off that day, so she is coming in and I will be her only patient - which, if everything goes well, should cut my time in recovery down to less than 30 minutes! That's a heck of a lot better than a few hours like it was last time!

My mom will be here the day before the big day and will be here for a while afterwards to help get things all settled in. I can't tell you how excited I am that she will be here! George took the whole week off after Raleigh is here to make sure that everything goes well -- and SJ is pumped!

Everything is coming together... and now we're just waiting!

A Purchase I Should Have Made:

2010-03-16T02:28:00.000-07:00

It's 5 a.m. - I've been tossing and turning for hours. The last time I looked at the clock, it said 3:48 and there's been no sleep since then..and it was pretty sporatic before then. My head is congested, my back hurts, and I just can't get comfortable no matter how I position my body pillow. I wish that I would have invested in one of These Babies months ago (but it seems pointless now, with so little time left):

SO, if you are early on in your pregnancy or if you know anyone that just found out that they are expecting and you just want to do something nice for them... I highly recomend one of these. They'll probably look at you like you are crazy for giving them such a huge pillow shaped like a fish hook - but trust me, they will thank you later! I am pretty sure that if I had just broke down and spent the $50 months ago, that I would be snug as a bug in a rug right about now... instead of awake, regretting my decision to be cheap.

The First Thing You Know -

2010-03-12T04:34:00.000-08:00

Sarah Jane,

The day you were born was undoubtedly the day I truly started living. You were so tiny, so perfect, so unbelievable to me. I remember bringing you home from the hospital all wrapped up in your little white blanket. I remember thinking how tiny you were when I would lay you on my shoulder and your little legs would stop at about where my elbows were. Now, when you lay your head on my shoulder, we both have a hard time trying to figure out where to put the rest of you - it's so unreal to me to watch you grow.

Over the last six years, you've been my one constant source of laughter, joy, and love.

Sometimes, it really does feel like yesterday to me that you were rubbing sweet potatoes in your hair in your high chair and singing the "Twintle Twintle little Tar" at the very top of your lungs. I can still vividly see that little one tooth, nose scrunched up, neck stuck out grin of yours and your baby hair standing straight up in every direction on the top of your head.

In my mind, you'll forever be frozen at 3 years old in a Princess Costume spinning around in circles in our living room.

I can almost feel your hands on both my cheeks and your forehead on mine and hear you say "I love you, that's the first thing you know..."

I've loved every minute of you, so far - and life with you only gets better. It's almost mind blowing to me how much of a little lady you are becoming... you're beginning to lose all those baby teeth. Your hair has thickened up significantly. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star somehow became a baby song... and the last time I heard you talk about princesses, you were asking your Daddy about battles involving Princess Leia. She's no Ariel, but I'll take what I can get.

This year, I have loved watching your little mind figure things out. Kindergarten has opened up a whole new world of possibilities to you. I love to listen to you read and figure out new words. I can't believe that you know more about Beethoven and Bach than I do. I've witnessed compassion and love in you that I would give anything to possess within myself. I love your giving spirit and your open mind - I hope you never ever lose them. I'm amazed at how much you have taught me.

I hope that you know with unwaivering certaintly how completely loved you are, not only by me - but by so many. Since the day you were born, you've been the brightest light in your Grandbubba's world. I'm so thankful for the loving bond that the two of you share. It's the most amazing thing that I have ever witnessed. Sooner than we'd like, she's going to lose a 3+ year battle with cancer and go home to Heaven to see her husband and her family - and although she won't be here anymore, I know that she won't ever be gone... because I see SO much of her in you.

Before you know it, you will have a new baby brother here to love. I have really enjoyed all of your help these last few months. You're so eager to get everything ready and to make sure that I am taken care of- and if that is any indication of how life will be after Raleigh's arrival, I know that you are going to be a wonderful big sister.

With all these big changes in your life coming at you so fast - I can't help but wonder how you are going to take them in. I know how resilient you are and I am confident that you will do beautifully.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow with you brings.

I love you, that's the first thing you know,

Mommy

Yes, I do consider these to be "blog worthy"

2010-03-09T06:23:00.000-08:00

It's never been a secret that pregnant chicks have cravings. For me, there was no exception.

In the beginning... it's a little bit of what tipped me off to the fact that I was, in fact, preggers. Well, that and the fact that I couldn't hold ANYTHING down... but we won't go there.

It started with wanting shrimp. Lots and Lots and Lots of shrimp. It was good for me that red Lobster was doing their all you can eat any way you want it deal while I was in this craving - I distinctly remember my friend, Amy, going with me to lunch one day and sitting with me while I ate Shrimp Scampi until I was pretty sure that I couldn't move anymore.

After that... if was Turkey Sandwiches.... Just plain Turkey and Mayo on white bread. George would bring it home to me about 3 times a week. I couldn't get enough...

Then - Peach Ice Cream! Breyer's, to be exact. In fact, that one isn't completely gone... we have some in our freezer at this very moment.

Also ... Banana Pudding. I don't even like bananas. But, I guess kiddo does b/c I can TEAR UP some banana pudding.

Then there is always the old classic stereotypical Ice craving. But, I don't want just any ice. Only the ice from Zaxby's will do... Somehow, SJ has been craving it too. George now brings home 2 glasses everyday when he comes home. :)

And lately... but not lastly... THESE little beauties have occupied ALL my thoughts:

They are called... CAKE BALLS!

Last weekend, some friends of ours came to town to visit for my shower and the marathon... My friend Whitney is pretty much the bomb. dot. com. in the kitchen...

Last time we were at their house, she made me a FABULOUS Red Velvet Cake (from scratch... I didn't even know that people actually did that...). It was so good that George, who doesn't even eat sweets, ate several (and I mean several) pieces.

Well, this past weekend when they were here, she brought these little pieces of heaven with her. Between the 9 of us that were here, we devoured them in no time. Once they were gone, I was very very sad. SO, I hit Whitney up for the recipe and got started on some of my own last night.

Click HERE to find out how to make them... apparently they are all the rage! Who knew?

After you click on that link.. click HERE and tell Whitney how awesome she is for sharing this recipe with me, so that I could share it with you.

Pregnant or not, you WILL crave these things after you have them. I'm serious.

Snickers Marathon 2010

2010-03-08T06:04:00.000-08:00

Every year Albany hosts the Snickers Marathon... This was George's 3rd time running this race.

Here are some pics from the 2010 Marathon:

The cool thing about a race in your hometown is you know where you are... which turn to make, how the roads are, etc. In George's case - he runs right past his Momma's house at mile 15. We always try to make it here to cheer him on - Sarah Jane decorates the street with sidewalk chalk and we wait and wait...

Here is Sarah Jane when she first spotted George:

There he is! :
It was FREEZING when the race started, but after a while it started to warm up - so, George did a quick Wardrobe change in his momma's driveway and then he was on his way. Sarah Jane likes to run with him to the corner:
Meanwhile, back at the finish line... our friend Robby was finishing up his first 1/2 marathon!:
When we left George's mom's house, we went down to the river to wait for George to cross. While we waited, we took a few pictures with this guy:

George made it across the finish line... SJ just had to join him:

Here's the fam after the big event... it blows my mind that George is holding Sarah Jane and smiling after running 26.2 miles. - but, he's a trooper:

Here is a pic of George and Robby at the finish line:

We had a great morning at the Albany Marathon. Next year, Raleigh will be running around everywhere - not sure how that's going to go, but either way - we can't wait!

I can't believe it!

2010-03-03T12:46:00.000-08:00

As soon as I can figure out how to hang the letters on the wall over his crib, I will be DONE in Raleigh's room! It feels so good to say that! Here are some pictures of the new nursery:

I got a huge package in the mail on Monday of this week - when I saw that it was from my Momma, I knew what it was. She has been working on my baby bedding for me -- I immediately opened it and started putting it all together. I LOVE it! She did a great job, it's even better than I imagined it would be:

After looking and looking (and looking some more) - I finally found a mobile that I liked from Pottery Barn. The trains are what I was looking for, and the light colors don't take too much away from the room. I was excited:
This is the outfit that our sweet little man will be coming home from the hospital in. After I got it, I just laid it in his crib - it won't be long until he is there in it's place:
Here are some cute little pillows that my Momma suprised me with:
Here is an upclose shot of the dustruffle:

Another suprise in the box was this blanket that my Momma made! I can't wait to wrap him up in it!:

Here is the chair that I painted and covered... I wish that I had taken a picture of the before. It wouldn't work at all - and I still don't think that it's perfect, but it is SO much better than it was!:

Here are the drapes:

Here is a lamp that I re-did:

George found these for Raleigh, he plans on painting them:

I had been looking for a security blanket for Raleigh for a while and everything that I found was just ridiculously expensive... so I got online and found this one. You can get one HERE:

Also, I saw some closet dividers at a little boutique here... but they were $35! I didn't really want to spend that, so I just made my own out of some paper plates that we had:

Here is an upclose shot of the letters above Raleigh's bed. I can't figure out how to hang them:

And here is the big picture (from the door):

(from the back corner):

(from the middle wall)

I still have to figure out those shelves and touch a few little things up, but for the most part - it is taken care of.

Now... we wait. Just over 6 weeks to go!

He'll be here before we know it.

Some Updates:

2010-02-23T06:38:00.000-08:00

32 Weeks Pregnant

It's crazy to me that in less than 8 weeks, he'll be here. Time really has just flown by. According to this handy dandy picture up there, he's quite the little man.

A few weeks ago, I failed my gestational diabetes test. BUT - only by 1 point, so it wasn't that drastic. Other than that, there are no major concerns besides the fact that the doctor has been a bit concerned by my weight gain... or should I say, lack of weight gain. In my first trimester, I lost 16 pounds from being so sick (I lost 15 with SJ). After I started to feel better, I gained 18 pounds back (putting me at 2 pounds above my original weight). Then I lost 5 pounds for no apparent reason (putting me at 3 below my original weight). At my last visit I had gained 7 pounds, putting me at 4 above my original weight and the doctor was happy that I seem to not be losing anymore. When I called George to tell him that I had gained 7 pounds, he was so happy. That is something that doesn't happen everyday :) --and according to my charts, Raleigh is weighing in at 4 pounds right now, so that is where the 4 pounds is from, I guess. From this point on, with me making a serious effort to not lose any weight at all, I should gain about 1-2 pounds a week, hopefully. If that is the case, that would put me at a whopping 20 pounds (roughly) over my original weight. That doesn't seem too bad, does it?

I get pretty tired in the afternoons and I have a hard time getting comfortable when I try to lay down, but overall I think I am doing pretty good. My feet still seem to be their normal size and since all my rings still fit, I guess my fingers haven't swollen much. My nails and my hair have been growing like crazy - but I don't really mind that. My typically oily skin has been clear as can be since the very beginning. Raleigh typically likes to hang out in my rib cage, which sometimes makes it difficult to breathe - but that is probably my only real complaint. I really miss being able to take a full breath.

I scheduled an exact date for my Cesarean (YAY!). Raleigh will be making his grand debut on Tuesday, April 20th. I couldn't be more thrilled -- but there is still a lot that we have to do before he gets here!

I have been making some major progress, though. Since I last did an update on the plans for his room - alot has been done.

All of his furniture is now painted and done and in his room (FINALLY!)
I ordered his hardware for his dresser/chest today and it should be here within the week. How cute are these?! :
I couldn't decide on anything for the longest time, but I finally found some paper to decoupage his wall letters with. It's black with tiny white polka dots... and I even monogrammed a lamp for his shelves with coordinating acrylic letters. I'll post pics when I am done with the letters (that I haven't started on yet...)
Finally stumbled across some cute baskets for his changing table today at my favorite store... TJ Maxx. Black baskets are NOT easy to find.
I was looking for a 3'x5' white shag rug for a while and ended up finding a great deal on one... and by great deal, I mean $6!!! I was pretty excited about it.

Also, in baby news --- I recently gave up my cushy job and became a stay at home Mommy. George and I talked it over and decided that was what would be best. I stayed home with SJ and I wouldn't trade that time with her for anything. SO, we pulled it together, paid off ALL of our bills (except our house) and made it happen. Plus, with what daycare costs and my job expenses we ended up saving alot of money in the end. SO, with the stress of my job gone and all this free time on my hands I have had plenty of time to try to get it together around here.

I recently cleaned out mine and Sarah Jane's closet and eliminated 8 garbage bags of clothes - between the two of us, we gave away 70+ pair of shoes. In doing this, I learned that we have WAY too much stuff. My goal for this new season in our lives is to cut back on things like that. Who knows how much money all that stuff was? It's pathetic, really. We prob. could have gone back to Disney World had we just never spent that money in the first place. ugh.

I guess that about covers our baby news. I am working on recovering a chair, refinishing a quilt rack, decoupaging some letters, finishing up a lampshade and painting a wall sign --- look for pics and another room update soon. We have several friends coming into town in 10 days for the Albany Marathon and my baby shower, so my goal is to be done with as much of it as I can by then. Hopefully not only will I be done with it, but I will get a post up by then too.

The last time I did this...

2010-02-14T06:03:00.000-08:00

I went in for my regular weekly OB appointment at about 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 16th. Everything was fine, nothing out of the ordinary. I was due on Christmas Day. George and I had talked it over and decided that we really didn't want to spend our first Christmas as a married couple in the hospital... so I mentioned that to Dr. Harnetty. I asked him if we could do something to make the baby come earlier, or do something to make the baby come after Christmas. Much to our suprise, he said ... well, what are you guys doing this afternoon around 4:00? I was still a little confused, but I guess George caught right on to what he was getting at b/c he responded, "Having a baby!"

I was NOT ready.

But, we went anyway. That afternoon, after a trip to Wal-Mart (ugh) to get a few last minute things, we were on our way.

By the time we got to the hospital and back into our room, it was around 4:30 or so. The nurse came in and got me all ready. Then another nurse came in to get my IV going. If you know me well, you know that I am NOT in any way, shape, form, or fashion a fan of needles. I've been known to pass out when they get close to me. I just hate them. Well, I hate them because of things like this:

The nurse took my arm and pricked and prodded for what seemed like forever. George (being the doll that he is) was holding my hand on the other side of the bed trying to distract me from the obvious with a little petty conversation... then I heard it. IT! Blood... gushing blood. George's face went pale and expressionless and the conversation stopped. When I looked over, there was blood everywhere. It was on the curtain, the chair, the floor. It was disgusting. I just looked at the nurse, and without me having to say anything, she said - "Let me go get someone else". I thought that was probably a good idea. SO she went on her way and sent in a new nurse and someone to clean up the bloody mess that she had made... The new nurse had the IV in and working in a flash. Where was she the first time!?

After that was over and done with and the medicines had started to work their magic, I tried to get a little rest - but with contractions and people coming in and out and visitors and everything else going on - rest was a little out of the question.

George and I talked for a while and he tried to watch the monitors ro judge when the contractions were coming, but he was getting tired. In the labor and delivery room at Phoebe there is no bed for visitors... so George spread himself out on the hardwood floor and tried the best he could to get some sleep --- while I tried the best I could to get some sleep too.

The nurses were in and out checking this and checking that -- and before we knew it, it was morning. Did you read that right? It was morning... and there was NO baby.

Around 5:00 a.m. they gave me my first epidural. I was so ready to be done with hurting. Well, to my suprise - the epidural only took on my right side. I could still feel everything on the left. After waiting for about an hour or so for it to "take" --- I asked the nurse to have the anesthesiologist (sp?) come back to see what we could do. He tried to explain to me that I would feel a little pressure and that every thing was fine... but when I lifted my left leg high in the air and explained to him that I knew the difference between pressure and pain, he seemed a bit more cooperative. SO, he gave me epi #2. There was about an hour of total relief, but then I started to be able to feel pain on my right side. Yeah, not fun. The new epi had only taken on my left side and my previous pain free right side, was really starting to feel it. It's about 9:00 a.m. now (I only remember that b/c everyone around me was eating and I couldn't!) - and I asked the nurse to once again, get the Epidural guy. When he came back in, I know that he thought I was crazy.. but when I showed him that my once dormant right leg was now fully mobile, he gave me YET ANOTHER ~~huge needle in my back~~ epidural. After about 45 minutes so, It seemed to FINALLY be working! Thank goodness - I could finally rest.

And that is exactly what I did. I woke up around lunchtime when George told me that he was about to go down the cafeteria and get some lunch with his friend, Matt. To my knowledge, that was the only time he left my side - and there were other people there so I was fine with it.

By the time he made it back, I was wide awake and getting pretty frustrated that there was no baby by this point. I was almost fully dilated and nothing was moving!

My sweet, sweet Doctor was there on and off the whole time, but I could tell at this point that he was ready for some progress.

Since nothing exciting was happening at this point, I told George to tell all the people in the waiting room to go on home for a while - it would be a few more hours at least.

Around 4:00 or so, the Doctor came back in and told me that Sarah Jane's heart rate was still and it was looking like we were going to have to do an emergency c-section. That was NOT what I wanted to hear after all that time, but my doctor was great. He assured me that everything would be fine and this baby would be here and healthy within the next 2 hours.

SO, George called who he needed to call and then we started getting ready. I don't remember much about the process of getting ready - but I do remember the big parts.

After getting me all prepped and moving me to an operating bed, I think I must have had a panic attack or something because I started shaking uncontrolably. They had to strap me to the bed like a physch patient to keep me from shaking off the bed. I don't remember how long it was before they calmed me down, but the next thing I do remember is being in the operating room. The doctor was there and a few nurses, and I was COLD. They put electric blankets on my arms with hot air blowing under them and then when I looked over there was George. He was all dressed in blue hospital gear and trying his best to talk me through it. Dr. Harnetty said that they were going to clean the surgical area and it would be over soon - George was telling me that I was a trooper, that he was so excited, that I could do it --- and then he said, I see your insides! I see the baby! ... George stood up and reached for Sarah Jane, she wrapped her little fingers around his and then they whisked her to the other side of the room to be cleaned up. I could hear her, but I couldn't see her. Dr. Harnetty and his team closed me up and I sent George to watch every move the nurses made --- because, yes, I am a physcho about hospitals and babies.

I went to the recovery room until I was able to move my legs...which was a VERY LONG TIME. By the time I made it back up to the room, our wednesday night church was over and there were LOTS of people there if that gives you any idea of a time line. When they handed Sarah Jane to me for the first time, it was the most amazing feeling - she was perfect -- even with a little cut on her forehead from the surgery :(.

We stayed in the hospital for 2 more days before we went home on the 19th. That was the first full night of sleep that I had gotten in 4 days and I definitely needed it.

After my surgery, I don't remember the exact day that I started to feel better. She was born on the 17th and by Christmas, I was on the floor passing out presents and crawling around.

I have to admit that this time, I am a little nervous - just because I don't really do needles and knives and all that stuff very well. However, I just saw a good friend go in for a scheduled C-section and she did GREAT. She definitely gives me hope that this will go smoothly.

I hope that my recovery goes as easy as it did last time, I know that the process of getting him here HAS to be. But, either way - the end result is worth it. I can't wait to meet this little guy.

Daddy Daughter Dance, 2010

2010-02-13T18:36:00.001-08:00

Today was the day Sarah Jane has been waiting for all year!

To my little princess, this day is better than Christmas. She's had her dress for months... hiding it in the back of her closet from her Daddy like it was her wedding dress. I've caught her in her room dancing in front of the mirror at least 20 times in the last month. All week she has been asking me HOW MANY DAYS!?

And finally... the time came!

Every year since Sarah Jane was 14 months old, George has taken her to the Daddy Daughter Dance. We make a really big deal of it around here - hair, nails, make-up, a new dress and shoes... the whole nine yards. It's such a special night.

George always wears his best suit and tie and Sarah Jane starts getting ready HOURS before the dance. He makes it a point to make sure that she gets flowers and they go to a nice dinner. He opens the door for her, tells her how beautiful she is, and always puts her first. At the end of the night, he kisses her on the porch --- and the very next morning we start making plans for next year.

George also makes it a point to tell her that when she is older, if a guy doesn't treat her exactly the way that he does, then he is not worth her time or effort. She just smiles and says "I know, Daddy" --- and I think that she really does. Whoever plans on one day winning the heart of my little girl, sure has some big shoes to fill. Her Daddy has definitely set the bar high.

Here are some pictures from this year's big night:

Let it SNOW!

2010-02-12T17:49:00.001-08:00

I was sitting in the parking lot of SJ's school on Thursday afternoon waiting for 2:50 to roll around so I could pick her up when my phone rang. From inside the school, a friend of mine that was at her child's program called me and said "JAY! You are not going to believe this!!" --Then she said... "School is cancelled tomorrow because it is going to SNOW!" I was pretty excited to hear that school was closed... but I totally wasn't buying into the whole snow thing.

Sarah Jane was a little disappointed that school was going to be out because she missed her Valentine's Day Party and her music class all for some "snow" that may or may not come.

You see, here in the south it doesn't snow! That's crazy talk. It doesn't even get truly cold...chilly maybe, but not COLD. I only own one jacket... and I only have it because it's cute, not because it's necessary. To the best of my memory, the last time it REALLY snowed in the South, I was 7. Yes... you read that right... SEVEN.

I remember that I was 7 because my Daddy was still alive and we lived in the parsonage on Ridgecrest Drive in Luverne, AL. It was really, really early (around 5 a.m.) and my Momma came into my room and woke me up to show me the snow because she was afraid that it wouldn't last all day. But, It snowed and snowed all day long that day... and I must have played in it for hours! I walked down the street to where a friend lived and built a snowman with her family, I made snow angels with my brothers, and we even talked my Mom into making SNOW CREAM. ---And until today - I hadn't thought about that snow in years.

SO, when they said snow here --- I laughed to myself and thought, yeah-- I'll believe it when I see it. And then there it was... around 10:00 this morning it started, but it wasn't sticking to the ground. A little piece of me was hoping that my skepticism would be disproved. I had lunch plans with some friends and their kids and while we were there, the snow started to pick up a little... but it STILL wasn't sticking. After lunch, we went for a play-date since it was just yucky out and while we were there --- It started STICKING! Immediately George called me and told me he was on his way home from work so he could play in the snow. SO, as soon as SJ got out of the dress up clothes that she was in and back into her regular clothes, we headed back to the house.

When we finally made it home (after riding behind car after car that acted like they had never driven on a wet road) George was waiting for us in the driveway. We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the day... the snow continued to stick to the ground and we enjoyed every minute of it!

Here are a few pictures from our fun day!

I hope that in years to come, SJ will look back on this day with the same fondness that I look back on my childhood snow day - I know that I will forever remember the look on her face, the sound of her laughing, and watching snowflakes fall onto her tongue.

I'm so thankful for this day - and so thankful for these memories.

TEETH!

2010-02-10T14:15:00.000-08:00

Sarah Jane has lost THREE teeth in the month of February!

...and two of those were lost today.

My New Pride and Joy

2010-02-06T17:21:00.001-08:00

A few months ago, I told y'all about our trip to see Adam and Dana. And I am pretty sure that i told you that while we were there we did a lot of fun things... made alot of new memories... ate yummy food (homemade fried pickles!)... watched our beautiful little girls play together... had long talks... cried... laughed...the usual things that happen when we get together--- but something else happened too... something I probably didn't tell you about. You see, Dana and I share a common love for taking pictures. This love started about the time our babies were born... and it just escalated from there. Well, when we went to visit them a few months back... I developed this thing called lens envy. I'm serious. It was bad... I soooooooo coveted Dana's 85mm fixed. BUT, since we have a little one on the way and we don't just have big chunks of expendable cash just to use at our disposal, I had to shelf my wants for a later date and make due with my old faithful. bleh.

SO for the next few months, I kept my lens envy quiet. I casually checked prices on this website and that website... I checked around for used ones... but didn't make a move. I knew my time was coming.

See, at our house... everything happens at once. Let me break it down for you:

SJ's birthday: 12/17
Jesus' birthday: 12/25
George's birthday: 12/30
My birthday: 1/4
Our Anniversary: 1/10

SO... when George asked the ever-so-awaited question... you know the one, "Honey, what do you want for your Christma-birth-aversary?" .... I didn't have to hesitate like I normally do. I knew the answer. I was ready.

And he followed through!... and also got me an AWESOME pair of boots, and even remembered that I wanted THESE (yeah, I posted that almost a year ago... and he remembered)!

I've had so much fun playing around with my new pride and joy - and I am happy to say that I can now be around Dana without coveting.

Here is a pic that I did this afternoon of my sweet friend, Becki's new baby boy:

You can click HERE to see more from this shoot... and if you have facebook, click HERE to "Be My Fan" and follow along as I try to figure out this new lens of mine.

Already?

2010-02-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

We have a celebrity crush?

Out of nowhere last night, Sarah Jane said to George...

SJ: Justin Russo is stronger than you.

George: WHAT?

SJ: Yeah, he is.

George: WHAT!?!

SJ: Yeah, I saw his arm humps and they're bigger than yours.

George: His arm humps???

SJ: Yeah, his muscles that make the humps on his arms. They're pretty big.

George: But I could still take him out.

SJ: Take him where?

George: I bet he has a glass jaw.

SJ: Huh?

George: I don't care how big his arm humps are, I bet he has a glass jaw and I can break it.

SJ: Ugh, DADDY!

George: and I can run faster.

SJ: Yeah, you probably can run faster.

George: Probably?

SJ: His arm humps are still bigger. I mean, yours are big, but his are just bigger.

George: But I could still break his jaw.

SJ: (reassuringly) Don't worry Daddy, I'm still your little girl.

George: You'll ALWAYS be my little girl.

I was doing everything I could to not laugh out loud, but in my head I was thinking... MY 6 year old is checking out the "Humps" on this guy's arms?!? Nice, huh?

It's funny, to me the resemblance between him and George... except his face (and age, obviously), there's really not much of a difference in their build. I kinda think that George should take it as a compliment.

I haven't mentioned it again and I dont plan on mentioning it either... this is the first time that she has ever mentioned anything like this --- and I am really not ready for her to mention it again.

But I do agree, George probably could break his jaw, and he can definitely run faster.

Welcome Home, Soldier!

2010-02-04T05:09:00.001-08:00

Roughly 9 months ago, my friend Ellen put her husband, Dr. Mark Benton, on a plane to Kuwait.

Alot can happen in 9 months -- Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day... School Programs, Birthdays, Award ceremonies, First days of school - not to mention kids growing!

But, last night - Mark came home.

So George, Sarah Jane and I stayed up way past SJ's bedtime and met some friends at the airport to welcome him home. On the way there, George and I did our best to explain to SJ the sacrifice that Mark and his family made. I found myself at a loss for words to adequately describe to my 6 year old the sacrifices and the importance of a Soldier, but I did the best I could.

It was a great experience to be there to watch him re-unite with his family after almost a year.

Here are a few pictures from the Welcome:

SJ and her friend, Emily waiting on Mark:

There he is!:

Mark's Daughter, Rachel:
...and then Gregory:
and his wife, Ellen:

There's really nothing like little girls and their Daddy:

Ellen and Mark:

Welcome HOME!:

SJ just signed up for Girl Scouts. Here she is with a few of her Girl Scout friends and Mark:

The Benton Family:

The "Welcoming Committee":

God Blessed America greatly when he filled it with men like Mark. Here in Albany, GA - we're glad he's home.

Love him!

2010-02-03T16:19:00.000-08:00

So, when the two of us got married, George gave me 2 rings for my left hand.

When we found out our family of two was going to be a family of three - He gave me a three stone diamond necklace.

And now that we know our family of Three is about to be a family of Four...

LOOKY HERE!

I love him for lots of reasons, but his thoughtfulness is definitely pretty high on the list!

It won't be like this for long

2010-02-02T05:22:00.001-08:00

Baby Nursery Planning

2010-01-30T05:02:00.001-08:00

It's no secret that I'm pretty clueless when it comes to boys... and all things related to baby boys. Needless to say, decorating Raleigh's room has been quite a challenge. I've gone back and forth on so many things for a while now, but I think that I have finally made up my mind.

Not long after we found out that Mr. Man was coming, we bought this bed:

Once we had the bed... the next step was finding bedding. I spent many hours shopping at several different fabric stores and came up empty handed. SO, where else was there to go but the internet for inspiration. I spent lots of time on Etsy and Ebay... but again, came up empty. I just couldn't force myself to love things that I hardly liked. George's Mom, who is pretty decorator savvy, really wanted me to go with something plaid or printed... and although I am sure it would have looked great, it's just not me. Everything in our house, with the exception of our kitchen curtains (which took me 3 years to finally decide to hang b/c I wasn't sure about them) is pretty much solid and neutral. That's a hard box to step out of, I guess. With Raleigh's bed being black, I didn't want anything too dark... and I didn't want anything too busy, so after much deliberation, here is what I came up with (all on my own, woo-hoo!):

The Bumper Pad will be made out of White Minkly Dot on the inside:

...and White Chenille on the outside:

The dust-ruffle will be a combination of both. It's going to sewn together in about 12" wide gathered, alternating stripes of each and trimmed with white fringe similar to this, but in the next size up:

His drapes will also be made like the dustruffle and trimmed in the ball fringe. They'll be 2 panels and they will be on a 2" black curtain rod and black wooden rings.

Also, we're going to toss a pillow in there made out of the same fabrics (and before you people panic, I know that infants can't sleep with pillows, it's just for looks and will probably sit in his rocking chair)

My Mom, being the super talented seamstress that she is, has been busy constructing this for me. I absolutely cannot wait to see it!

When it arrives, I'm going to take his white sheets and have his name (not initials) monogrammed on them in black.

My goal was for the bedding to be all one color, but for it not to be plain. Between the mix of the two textured fabrics and the ball fringe trim and the monogram on his sheets - I am hoping that when it all comes together, it won't be.

We painted the walls a color called Clear Blue Sky:

and we painted the rest of his furniture (a dresser/hutch, chest, nightstand, rocking chair, and changing table) Black like his bed.

....there are pictures (and the story of the whole ordeal) of his furniture HERE.

Once I decided on the walls, bed, bedding, and furniture... I was pretty stuck, but I knew that I needed something to hang on our blue walls.

When we decided on his name, we bought 3 of these 26" tall letters (GRH) to hang over his bed:

My plan, as of right now is to paint them white and decopauge them. We have a good friend here that just so happens to be the manager of the railroad... So I hit him up for a map of the tracks and said he'd get me one. I plan to paint these letters white and cut up the map and use it to decorate the letters for over his bed.

To go along with the train track map... I have come up with a few train related things for his walls. I shutter at the words "themed nursery"... but I guess the theme is trains. Little boys like trains, right?

George's grandfather was THE sign painter in Valdosta, GA until the day he died. Apparently, everyone who was anyone with a business sign... had it painted by Sikes Signs. Since Raleigh will share the name of his grandfather, I wanted to make sure that we incorporated his love for painiting into his room somehow... hopefully having an orginal sign in his room it will give us many opportunities to talk about "Red" with Raleigh. I was just having a little difficulty figuring out what kind of sign I wanted to have painted.

George has been busy lately opening the third Zaxby's here... and last week I got to go in and see a sneak peek. The owners here try to make the things on the wall applicable to their family and to the area... George was so excited when the decorator got there and hung a sign on the wall that said "George's Bike Shop" ...he had no idea that they had ordered it---he and I both loved it. When I saw it, a little light came on... Since I had my heart set on trains, I took the idea from that sign and ran with it.

Here is what I have come up with:

I have another SUPER talented friend, Kellie, that is going to paint a sign similar to this for Raleigh's room. Instead of Saint Anthony's, of course it will say "Raleigh" and it won't say USED BOOKS, but instead (in a much smaller lettering) it will say, established 2010.

I plan on hanging this over his changing table. Kellie is also going to paint three other pictures for me to hang over his dresser side by side... Three train cars (the "lead car", a middle car, and a caboose) in black and white to coordinate with the train that is on the sign.

Also, George's Grandfather made a black and white sign when George was a baby that hung in his nursery that read: In Training. George's Momma saved it and we are going to put it on his shelves. How special is that?

Also, for his shelves... I am probably going to make some train car silhouettes and frame them to fill in empty space. --- another decorator savvy friend of mine gave me that idea.

His rocking chair (that I got as a STEAL) for his room was covered in a TERRIBLE hunter green mess of a fabric... so, I bought some black and white (PLAID!) fabric to cover it with.... if I don't like it once it is on the chair, I will probably find a basic black and go with that - but I wanted to give the plaid a chance. No promises.

All that I need now for his room is a mobile... and I am at a loss on what to do there. I haven't seen anything that I really like and I have certainly not seen anything to match. I'm running out of time to find something to go there... I am going to keep looking, but as of right now, baby Raleigh might be without a mobile!

So there you have it... the nursery in the first stages. My goal is to have it all done by the Albany Marathon, which is March 6. That gives me a little over a month to pull it all together. I'm excited to see if it looks like the picture in my head when it is finished. Look for pictures!

So here we are..

2010-01-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

...We've got 80 days to days to go!

I wonder if my ribs are going to make it through this pregnancy in tact.

I wonder how I am going to be able to breathe then when it is already so difficult right now.

I wonder if sleep will even be a possibility by then.

I wonder if I will ever be able to eat Mexican again.

I wonder if it is humanly possible for my feet to swell more by the end of the day.

I wonder if it's possible to get stretch marks in your stretch marks.

I wonder if he is going to have hiccups this much outside of utero.

and last but not least

I wonder if we will have everything ready by then because right now, it seems next to impossible!

We're done with the furniture (for the most part, we still have to paint the changing table) ... BUT it's all still sitting in the sunroom waiting to be moved into the house. My sweet, talented momma is making the bedding and she'll ship it to us soon. There are still a few spots to be touched up on his walls. We have to get George's new exercise room (since he got booted out of his old one) all situated. We have to find a place to put all of these lovely toys that we have accumulated. I have to get the stuff together so my friend Kellie can paint the paintings for his walls, which I am SO excited about. ...and the list goes on and on and on. Literally... it's hanging on the fridge and right now it seems endless!

BUT, we are taking the night off tonight to go out to dinner and take Sarah Jane to the movies which I am very excited about. Doing things with just the three of us seems so special now - It won't be like this for very much longer, I'm just trying to take it in.

If we disappear, you'll know who to look for...

2010-01-26T09:28:00.000-08:00

So there we were... standing in Lowe's on a rainy Saturday, scratching our heads and arguing over paint colors. Once I won, which we both knew I would, we made our way to the paint counter to get the goods. We got a gallon of "Clear Blue Sky" to paint baby's walls and then we began to look for other things.

Clear blue sky:

To go with the paint, we would obviously need brushes, rollers, tape, putty for the nail holes, yadda yadda...

We found all of it.

Then... We found the darkest shade of black that they had in the store and ordered a gallon of that too... to paint Raleigh's furniture with.

As we were standing there getting the "black onyx" paint mixed, another man (named Donny) at the counter says to us ... "Are y'all painting today" --- being naturally sarcastic, like I am, I thought to myself... "Really, whatever gave you that Idea, Sherlock" --- but I held my tongue.

He then began to tell us a story about how his house burned to the ground 3 months ago and him and his wife were living in a hotel. He said that for work, he did odd and end paint jobs for misc. contractors here in town. He was there with one of these "contractors" so I had no reason to be a skeptic. He then made George an offer that George thought was too good to refuse... He asked us if we would let him paint the baby room for $40. For those of you that aren't up on your painter costs, that's insanely cheap. George asked him if he painted furniture too... and when he said yes, George agreed to let him do the job.

So... in the rain, we loaded all our paint goods into the back of the CRV and headed to pick up his wife from the hotel. He wanted her to help so he would be able to get done faster. Her name was Tracy. It was roughly 11:00 and she had obviously just woken up... she walked barefooted to our car with her shoes in hand and didn't say more than two words to us all the way to our house.

When we got home, he went right to work. He sent Tracy to the sunroom to begin stripping furniture and he started on the room. In the baby's room... he was FANTASTIC. He never even used the trim tape and he didn't mess up a thing.

It took him a little over an hour to finish the whole room and when he was done he walked out to the sunroom to help Tracy. About this time, I ran and grabbed us all some McDonalds and we sat at our kitchen table and had lunch. Over lunch, I learned that Donny and Tracy have 3 sons. Their oldest son manages a clothing store, their middle son works at a produce store and their youngest son is looking for a job. Their middle son is having a baby soon, a little boy --- so after lunch, while they were working on the furniture, I pulled out a box of baby boy clothes that I knew we wouldn't need and George walked out to the shop and found Sarah Jane's old pack and play. We let them have them both.

When they were done stripping the furniture and started to paint it... they realized that Lowe's had given us a lovely shade of purple paint. Which would not work... at all. SO George and Donny loaded up and went back to Lowe's for more paint. This time, Donny suggested that George get an oil based paint. So he did.

When they got back, they went right to painting. They must have painted for hours b/c it got pretty dark outside...

Since it was now beginning to be late afternoon, George was ready for them to be done and move on --- as were they. So, when they got done - George paid them, helped them load up their baby things, and then took them back to the motel.

When they left, it was dark and rainy... and from what I could see in those conditions... and in our sunroom light, they did a pretty decent job on the furniture too. .......Yeah, boy was I wrong. In the light of day... the furniture was terrible - and by terrible, I mean horrible! I cried for the better part of Sunday... and I know that sounds absolutely crazy (and in retrospect, it was) but at the time, it was a really big deal to me. I desperately want everything to be perfect when he gets here - and this furniture was FAR from perfect. So once I stopped crying and put my big girl panties on, we went back to plan A... which was to sand it down and spray it with an air compressor.

George spent the better part of a day sanding off the oil based mess that Donny and Tracy and left behind and then yesterday we did this:

Now, I know that may not be perfect... but at least the shelves are painted completely and there are no huge globs of dried dripping paint..

When George left Donny and Tracy at the hotel the other night, In parting... he said to them... "If you ever need anything, let me know"...

That was the wrong thing to say.

George now has a stalker. He's since tried to con Zaxby's into giving him money by saying that he did a job for George that he didn't get paid for and he also has been there asking to see George and telling them he needed money for rent. We gave him enough money to pay his rent and buy his meals for 5 days. Now, I just keep waiting for him to show up at our house looking for George. It's really scary. We definitely learned a lesson on this one.

I am ALL FOR helping people that need help - everyone that knows me would tell you that. BUT, that is the one and only time someone that we don't know comes into our home.

and I'm serious... if something happens to us, check with them first.