mom's the word

Rainforest Cafe

2009-06-18T20:29:00.005-04:00

We stopped in Nashville on our way back at the Rainforest Cafe. We haven't been there since having children so it was a lot more exciting. Emily absolutely loved it and is still talking about it 2 weeks later!

John, Jen, and Baby John

2009-06-18T20:17:00.003-04:00

We visited with my friend, Jennifer and her family. We hadn't met her little boy before and fell in love with him right away!

Don and Billie

2009-06-18T20:08:00.003-04:00

Don and Billie are dear friends of ours. They knew Nick as he was growing up and they were my neighbors/landlords during my single years in Memphis. We absolutely adore them!

I do not know how we didn't get any pictures of Don!!

Uncle Mike and Grandma Debra

2009-06-18T19:53:00.005-04:00

Uncle Mike and Grandma Debra were so happy to see us and we were so happy to see them on our Memphis trip.

This was Uncle Mike's first time to meet Jacob.

Grandma Debra also got some love from Jacob!

Zoo

2009-06-12T21:57:00.004-04:00

We also went to the Memphis Zoo with Nick's mom, Kim, her kids, and her sister. It was late in the day and hot. Emily got very cranky at the end.

Peabody

2009-06-12T20:52:00.005-04:00

We took a long overdue trip to Memphis last week. We thought it would be a lot different traveling with 2 children, but it was quite easy -- this time. We hadn't been back to visit since September 2007. I was soooo happy to visit with dear friends.

We also did some touristy stuff. We visited the Peabody Hotel to see the duck march at 5pm. My friend Kim brought her kids and sister. The twins are the same age as Emily and the baby is about the same age as Jacob.

just around the house

2009-06-12T20:35:00.008-04:00

I am so far behind; I'm not even going to try to catch up. I'm just going to start from here.

I've been making Jacob's baby food. It's NOT cake batter he's licking off of the spatula, but avocado. It's his favorite

He also enjoys (ok, we enjoy) his mohawk!

Jacob has learned to crawl forward, go from crawling to sitting, pull up, and cruise in the last 2 weeks. He has not figured out how to sit down, yet. He mostly just falls over.

Tractor Show

2008-09-20T18:17:00.003-04:00

Tractor pull

A corny pool

Udder-ly proud

We had a tractor show in the next town over and thought it would just be something to do. It was actually better than that. E just LOVED all of the tractors. The weather was just beautiful, too! It wasn't even that hot! She got to pedal a little tractor, "swim" in a pool of corn, and milk a cow. It was just a typical day in out-in-the-country-ville.

For me??

2008-09-12T17:17:00.004-04:00

We had a monthly teacher luncheon today. When I walked in it was actually a surprise baby shower!! For Me! I cannot believe it was a secret. You know me and secrets. I can usually smell surprises a month away. I was completely clueless. I think the amazing decorations, effort, and overall surprise (mixed with some crazy hormones) made me cry. One of my contacts even came out! E was with me and kept talking about how scary it was. I think the yelling of "Surprise" and my crying caught her a little off guard. Now she laughs about the surprise at baby J's party. Everyone was sooo generous. Even teachers I hardly knew gave me great, practical gifts. I got a lot of clothes -- cute ones--mostly Carters! A couple of bibs (we didn't have ANY). A new diaper bag (I was being frugal and had refrained from getting a new one!). Two really soft nice blankets. A generous Target gift card and Wal-Mart card. Diapers -- in my favorite brand! And some more odds and ends. I think I will start washing some bedding and newborn clothes this weekend. The director took pics and will send me some next week, but here's the stuff that I got! Less than 5 weeks to go!

2008-08-24T12:48:00.002-04:00

So we knew Em had a sinus infection almost a week ago, right? But we were managing. It was actually looking better. We've been home every weekend for the last 2 months except for church on Sundays. So today I thought since the weather is cooler, let's go to the zoo!

We get 20 minutes away from the zoo and Em starts whining. I keep reminding her to use words because I can't help her if I don't know what's bugging her. Could be a toy that fell, a book that she wants, tired of riding in the car (ha!), etc. She finally starts talking about the back of her head but she's pointing to her throat. I automatically think strep. I check her forehead for fever and it's fine. I give her a sip of N's water and she's ok. for 2 minutes. Then she starts really crying so I tell N he needs to pull over something is really wrong. Before he was even able to get off of the interstate we knew we needed a whole bathroom if not a shower for our precious puke covered Emily. Of course she's seriously laughing and saying "I'm a mess!" I was ok, until she started clapping her hands in it. ewwww. You should have seen the sight we were. N tackled the carseat and I took her butt naked into the gas station bathroom holding only her, a clean change of clothes and a package of wipes. There were no towels in the bathroom only a dryer. So I wipe down the sink with a baby wipe and then stand her up in it and use the only soap in there -- dawn dish detergent to try to clean her up. I use her clean shorts to dry her and figure she can just wear the clean tshirt and panties. 15 minutes later you should have seen the line outside that women's bathroom. I could hear the giggles from the women standing outside listening to me and Em in there. By the time we walked out there were probably 5 women waiting to get in. hilarious, but what are you gonna do?? Em is in bright spirits at this point, N has the carseat somewhat usable and it's now time for us to assess the situation. The crazy daddy says, let's go to the zoo! Overprotective mommy says, no let's go to the dr. Thankfully N didn't argue with me. I realize kids get sick from stuff, but she had already been dealing with the congestion issue and I thought at the least I'd get an antibiotic for the sinus infection -- what's the harm? I don't think that the throw up is related to the congestion. So I'm thinking stomach bug and sinus infection. I know the dr. can't do much for the stomach bug, but at least again I'd get an antibiotic for the sinus infection! So off we go in our very smelly car. N did buy a cherry tree freshener at the gas station, but it didn't help. The dr thinks I'm crazy that we didn't go to the zoo. He checks her throat, nose and ears and says she has a sinus infection. Brilliant! I should have gone to med school! I ask about a stomach bug, thinking he would at least have her lay back and feel her tummy, but no. He says it's just part of the congestion. I'm not convinced. He says, go back to the zoo. I laugh -- thinking he's joking. At the least why would I take my puke smelling child who probably was still feeling a little sore on the inside from puking in the first place to walk around a hot zoo and eat McDonald's for lunch an hour away from our home. He assures me that if I had 4 kids I would think nothing of it. I don't think we'll have 4 kids. But he does give her a prescrip for an antibiotic for the sinus infection and a prescription for the congestion. When we get home, Em starts crying that she has to go potty, weird -- why cry. SO I tell her to go potty. She gets halfway down the hall and then comes to tell me that her bottom is "growling". Ugghhhhh. There's runny poo everywhere!! Again, the kid laughs thinking it's funny that her bottom growls. At least she has a sense of humor about it all. This time I'm at home so I'm able to clean her up before she decides it's fun to clap her hands in it (unlike the puke!!). So here we are at least for another day or two at home watching for this "non-stomach bug" to run its course.

Possum Part 2

2008-08-05T22:10:00.002-04:00

It got in the trashcan again. The trashcan had a few inches of water collected at the bottom. It couldn't get out. Three days later it still lies motionless. If it's resurrected in the morning, I'll let you know.

I'm smellin' coffee...

2008-07-26T21:10:00.003-04:00

As we become more creative to find things to do around the house on the weekends,(instead of wasting gas money and going out to eat too much!)N has to take full credit for this idea. It was Daddy and Em coffee time. Seriously, they sat like this at the table for 30 minutes. No food, no toys. Just some interesting conversation (mostly about the Backyardigans and two of her friends she saw yesterday at a playdate) and their "coffee." Of course hers was mostly milk with a little sugar and a splash of coffee for color.

Country Gal

2008-07-17T18:54:00.000-04:00

A little over a week ago I heard a noise in the living room. It was getting louder and louder. I thought it sounded like it was coming from the fireplace. I'm looking all over when I finally see it sticking its head out from the ceiling next to the fireplace. If I wasn't so terrified I should have gotten my camera. Instead all I can do is scream "Snake!" and stand on the couch. The only snakes I have seen have had double paned glass between me and them. Really I should count myself fortunate because we live in the woods and I probably should have seen more in the 2 years we've been here. My visiting mother in law wants to hold it with a broom while I go get a knife. ewww. Instead she calls N who is too far away to do anything to help and I call my dad the vet who is only about 10 minutes away. He hears the terror in my voice and actually leaves his office and comes to help. Of course 3 minutes before he gets to the house, the snake goes back up into the attic. ewww. But he's able to make me feel better by making sure it's not coming back through. So far we haven't seen or heard it yet. So imagine my surprise when I'm sitting on the couch at 1 am this morning (thank you acid indigestion) and I hear a noise. It's different this time, but coming from the same wall. Out here we don't have garages, we have what's called a carport. It is on the other side of that wall. I wake grouchy N up and ask him to just come listen. Of course he thinks it's my imagination, but begrudgingly humors me anyway. We sit in silence on the couch for a few minutes and then he hears it. It kind of startles him too. He goes to the back of the house and picks a weapon of his choice, loads it, and then heads outside in his underwear. He comes back in laughing. There's a possum stuck in the bottom of our metal trash can in the carport. Of course with him there I'm not freaking out, but I ask him why he didn't just shoot it. He said too messy with the gun he picked. So being in my right mind this time I at least grab the camera and ask him to go let the possum out so I don't have to deal with it while getting into my car in the morning if it's still stuck. So I'm now a country gal since I've seen my first snake and possum up close. I guess in some parts some might think I let 2 gourmet dinners get away.

Dress Up Day

2008-07-14T20:52:00.000-04:00

Gma D comes to visit

2008-07-14T20:46:00.000-04:00

N's mom came to visit over the summer holiday. She enjoyed fireworks and Carowinds with us. While we didn't take any pics of us at Carowinds, here is one of Em and her gma in the car on the way. They look excited!

July 4th

2008-07-14T20:37:00.001-04:00

We went to Red, White, and Boom at a local park. Em loved the fireworks, N loved Aaron Tippin, and I loved the ice cream!

Em enjoyed the sparklers!

Some of my family came over to cook out with us!

Painting

2008-07-14T19:57:00.000-04:00

We finally found out we're having a boy! So here's big sister Em helping to paint baby J's new room blue.

Flour Pot

2008-07-14T19:48:00.000-04:00

While making yummy meatball calzones from a recipe from a co-worker, I realized I had some extra bread dough left over. I thought Em would have a great time making her own bread with it, so I gave it to her. It was so sticky, I had to give her some flour to help. She realy enjoyed it and called me to the table a little while later to look at her "flour" pot. This was a fun first flour experience. So much messier than play doh.

Through the eyes of a stranger

2008-03-28T20:58:00.000-04:00

The last couple of nights have been so pretty we've gone walking together instead of me using the treadmill (which has been a blessing by the way!). Just when l think this little town has lost its charm, it charms me again. Last night we went through the old mill houses. It was amazing the variety of animals (chickens, roosters, rabbits, etc) and yard crap we saw. Some people have rundown mobile homes next to their houses packed full of stuff just for storage (kinda redneck, but a great idea!). While some of those houses looked to be uninhabitable the great part is next door some families took their rundown mill houses and put up fresh siding and pretty metal roofs, totally cleaned up their yards, planted beautiful gardens, and even had the white picket fences. As we walked through what was left of the mill, N was just intrigued by what it once held. And of course every little rock, cat, and yard angel amazed E. Tonight we went a little further into the mill houses and found a great little park. Yes, it's small, but it's fairly well taken care of. It has a few swings and a nice slide, a few grown up swings (N and I liked that!), and picnic shelter complete with barbeque. I know all of the people who were kind enough to wave at us from their front porch rocking chairs probably wondered who we were and where we came from since we must be strangers to this well established neighborhood, but nonetheless, they with their sweet southern charm were kind enough to say "Hey!"

Elf Yourself

2007-12-04T23:07:00.001-05:00

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1170564130

The "Big Girl Nite Nite Bed"

2007-10-21T21:46:00.001-04:00

September 29. She's been getting out of her crib for a few months. But she's always held on carefully and never just fallen. Until now -- now she is a dare devil. She is climbing on top of the rail and trying to stand up and jump down. Crazy. So it's time. Time for a bed. I was fine with that. I knew there may be a few sleepless nights but it would work out. This is what kids do. They go from crib to bed. If everybody else can do it, we can too. Until I saw N disassembling E's crib. I realized she would never again be small enough for it. Just part of her growing up. It was still emotional for me. I confess to just a few silent tears. Now the hard part. Will she stay in the toddler bed??? Yes! Seriously. It's been weeks now and she has yet to get out of it. Even when she wakes up after her afternoon nap. She stays on her bed until I come in the room. So now she goes to sleep in her "Big Girl Nite Nite Bed."

BBQ Fest

2007-09-20T23:49:00.000-04:00

There was this little bitty bbq festival in the little town we live in this past weekend. We were just hanging out at the house, so I thought we should go and see what it's about. We were there for about 15 minutes. They had rides - 3 of them. Em did all 3 and then we were all ready to go. The great part was they were free! She really liked the swings with her Daddy.

Bubbles

2007-09-20T23:30:00.000-04:00

Now that Em goes to school, she has to go to bed really early on "school nights." By early, I mean 7pm! This may sound "normal" to many families. But not ours. Em has always stayed up late and slept late. She's been a 12-14 hour a night sleeper since she was a tiny baby. Not anymore. Now since she is used to this new bed time and new wake time, she's decided to be consistent with it. Even on Saturdays. If we are out and about or she's up past 8 even on a Friday or Saturday night, it's a toddler-lack-of-sleep meltdown! I miss her flexibility. Oh well. There are so many good things about her going to school, I guess it all just balances out.
So anyway, about her going to bed so early -- As soon as Em is finished eating she says bubbles. Even if N and I aren't finished. She will continue to say bubbles until we are finished and N takes her to the bath. She even knows that bed comes right after bath and she doesn't even mind. I think her bath is her favorite part of the day. N still gives her baths. It's really sweet, and it's the only time N sees her - dinner and bath. He uses up a whole bottle of baby shampoo a week just so she can have those bubbles every night. Totally worth the $3 a week!

Road Trip!

2007-09-06T12:39:00.000-04:00

We went to visit friends and Nick's mom in Memphis this past weekend. It was a really fast, short trip. But it was fun!

The fair was in town and we saw lots of fun things!

Em played the duck game with her Grandma Debra and got a Dora!

Em rode the merry go round with her dad and then Grandma. It's definitely her favorite ride!

This is at last year's fair. What a difference a year makes!

uh, yah, I couldn't do it

2007-09-06T12:05:00.000-04:00

The bulletin boards were finished. The walls were decorated. The student's names were on the cubbies and tables. Lesson plans had been started. I thought I was ready.

I bought Em a lunch box, 2 thermoses (one for hot and one for cold), 2 ice packs, fun snack and lunch foods, and a really nice nap mat. I thought she was ready.

Turns out that neither of us were.

By the fourth day in a row, Em had had it and I was tired of the crying (hers and mine). It too much for both of us. I didn't want to quit, but I couldn't stay and commit to the time. The administrator was completely understanding. I wanted us to be there but only 3 days a week half days. She offered me a different position. I'm a substitute. The great part is I really do get to be there 3 days a week half days. Turns out they always need a sub there for something! Em loves it now. She doesn't cry. She's better behaved at home -- not as tired or bratty acting. We're home in time for lunch and nap. It's perfect!!

Finger Painting

2007-08-17T07:52:00.000-04:00

This was Em's first time finger painting! She really got into it! I was afraid she wouldn't like getting her hands dirty, but she didn't mind. She was a neat painter, though. I imagined paint everywhere, but she did a great job!

Unfortunately, art time did not stop at fingerpainting today. Em decided she would make her first creation on the wall. Why is it that kids like to color on the wall? Of course I did swat her hand for it and had her "wipe it up" with a wet rag. Only once she went down for a nap did I snap this pic and use my amazing magic eraser!!

Museum Day

2007-08-17T07:40:00.001-04:00

There's a great children's museum about an hour away from our house. This was our third time there. Em just has a great time playing in the kitchen area, dentist chair, grocery store, farm, fire truck, car, and all of the other activities. I had fun just watching her! Maybe one of these times N will get to go!

Hip Hop with Oprah

2007-08-17T07:29:00.000-04:00

Em and I were watching a re-run of hip hop day with Oprah. I think Em's working on some new moves!

Work

2007-08-13T13:57:00.001-04:00

So many mixed emotions. Today I sat in my first teacher's meeting in 2 years. I was excited thinking about decorating a classroom...preparing for parent/teacher orientation...laminating visuals...lesson plans...art activities...becoming friends with these fellow teachers sitting around me. It was a little hard being new. Every school has different polcies and procedures. I was starting from the ground up. These people don't know what to expect from me. I rightfully held back any ideas and the other half of 100 questions I had not wanting to sound stupid. It was okay though. None of that bothered me. I was excited to be in a classroom again.

But all of a sudden it hit me like a ton of bricks. There's this little person two rooms away from me with a complete stranger for the last 2 hours. Every thought but that one disappeared. It was all I could think about. I was so mad at myself for the tears that I could not hold back. In 6 years (That's 216 days of PMS, 1 break-up, 1 engagement, 1 wedding planning, 1 house building, 2 years of trying to conceive, 1 round of fertility drugs, 5 very frustrating students, and other emotional life events - not ONE time at ALL did my last administrator EVER see me cry EVER!) Why is it that this little 34 inch person can do this to me? I still wanted to be excited and focus, but I couldn't. My head filled with doubts. Is this what's best for us? I always wanted to be a stay at home mom. Was I ready to give it up? She's not even 2, yet. When I first thought about finding something part time, I thought preschool would be perfect. You know, a couple of hours a couple of days a week. We'd be home for lunch and nap. And have a few days a week at home with our normal schedule. Turns out that I may have made a mistake. I teach preschool. Em will be in the daycare. Daycare kids - daycare workers. This is not what I wanted for my child and it's something that I can control. The admin consoled me by telling me that I'd be paid until 2 on teacher meeting days, 3 days a month. This tidbit did not console me. We don't have much money, but the bills get paid - on time even - with N's salary. I seriously just thought this would be something cute to do. Now I wonder why I want to babysit 10, 3 year olds that don't belong to me, when I could be at the park with my precious child that I'm now paying somebody else to care for. On the way home I wondered if these are legitimate reasons and if I was just being dramatic in my usual form. I shouldn't be doing this. I don't have to do this. Why am I doing this?

I found the answer behind my flimsy excuses. I should be pregnant again. I should be at home this year with 2 babies. Too busy to think of anything else other than N and Em and little Jake. Days full of chasing a toddler away from climbing on the kitchen table and changing itty bitty newborn diapers. That was the plan. MY plan. N's plan. Unfortuantely, not GOD's plan. So here I sit. Bored enough to go get a job. or am I?

Oregon

2007-08-11T00:45:00.000-04:00

It was a great week. We've been back home for over a week now, but Em is still getting back on her sleep schedule. I kind of enjoy her sleeping until 10, but it's hard to go anywhere when we can't get out of the house before 11! That week was so busy -- in such a good way. The plane ride was hard. Em refused to sit still and be quiet on our laps. But it was only 2 days of traveling and 6 days of vacationing. N's parents were so great to us! We all enjoyed visiting with them and playing on all of the land and the creek, too. Everywhere Em went she was excited about the rocks. I guess Oregon is very rocky? This is N and Em watching "Papa" on the tractor. They were really waiting for their turn to ride! Em started calling her Grandpa "Papa" which was a new thing. We didn't tell her to call him that. She totally came up with that on her own. It was cute!

I guess we all enjoyed the tractor rides! Nick and I are actually sitting in the bucket!

Em got quite a kick out of the horses and even got to ride one! She didn't like leaving Mommy and Daddy behind, though. So "Papa" had to turn back. Em's Grandma took us to see the big

cats, and she got Em her own "tat-tat," (also known as a kitty cat).

We saw some HUGE trees in CA! Em enjoyed looking at all of the posted information around the forest. It was actually much cooler this close to the coast. But not as cool as the beach...

This was actually Em's first time to play at a real beach AND her first time to see the Pacific Ocean! It was only my second time to see the Pacific Ocean. Sooo cold for July!

The creek was fun. It was cold, too! N enjoyed the rope swing He was definitely in his element. You know -- nature and all. Em didn't mind the cold water. Turns out, I was the baby.

We took a river/dinner cruise. It was an hour ride to the place to eat and about an hour back. The boat went fast at times and sprayed us all with water. Em didn't like the first 5 minutes of the ride, but loved every minute after! I guess it took some getting used to. We all were very wet. Poor N sat on the edge and got the worst of it, though. We saw bald eagles and their very large nests on our adventure. We also saw deer. At the place we were eating there was a deer letting people get very close to it. Some of the kids were even feeding it bread. Em's Papa took her to get a closer look -- but not too close!! We sat at the dinner table with another family. They had one child who was probably around 11 years old. Turns out that they all enjoyed Em's company. N and I got to enjoy our meal while Em was entertained by them. But as the dinner grew longer, the beer flowed free-er, and those adults got LOUDER. The man and his son were making the stupidest faces and roaring at Em and she would roar right back at them with glee! That should explain 2 of the pics. I did get a little wary and removed Em from the table when the lady tried to share her food with Em off of her fork. Call me crazy. But it was all GREAT fun!