Out on a Limb

In Her Words- 2

2011-06-13T10:08:00.000-05:00

In the morning while I get ready for work Kate and Brother Boy play in our room, usually on the bed. The other day as I put my makeup on I saw in the mirror that Kate had leaned down and put her head on Alex's chest. Then I heard her say; "Brother Boy, I can hear your heart burping".

Out of the mouths of babes!

5

2011-06-03T09:53:00.001-05:00

It's been 5 years since we tied the knot. In a way I feel like it was just yesterday that we said "I do" but it also seems like I've known you for my whole life. In 5 years we've lived in 4 different homes and two different states, had two kids, met new friends, lost people we loved, experienced professional challenges, found our church family, grew deeper in our relationship with God, and laughed and loved through all of it! I love you as my husband but more than that I love you as the father of my children. I remember when a cute young couple lived next door to us when I was growing up and telling my mom how much fun I thought it would be to always have a friend to live with you. Now I am lucky enough to experience that first hand- and it is fun! Thanks for letting me be myself and for loving every part of me (even the part that folds the laundry and doesn't put it away).

Honeymoon 2006

Here's to many more!

Before I forget...

2011-05-25T16:33:00.001-05:00

Kate,

This is because I know one day you will be grown and your little teenage hormones will take over and I want to remember this moment There is not a single day that goes by right now when you don't say, "Mommy, you are my best friend I ever met." I hope you will always feel this way. I think deep down you will. I already cringe when I think about those years where we may butt heads because I will want what's best for you and you may not understand that but for now I will savor these unbelievably precious moments. Because my mom is my best friend and always has been, I have great hope for our relationship. Because I can already see how big your heart is and how sweet your spirit is I know we will always be friends. Of course, being your mom is my first job I hope you will always hold me in as high regard as you do right now. Your my best friend I ever met too little bitty. Your three year old wisdom is remarkable and there is no one else on earth I'd rather hang out with!

You think pretty highly of your daddy too by the way. Yesterday in the car you asked me if Spiderman was a bad guy. I told you that no, he was a good guy even though he looks a little scary. I said, "he's a super hero". You replied quickly, "like daddy". Yes, daddy is a super hero isn't he?

I love you very much little friend!

Mommy

Tub Time

2011-04-18T09:51:00.000-05:00

Brudda Boy, you sure do love your bath. When I pour water over your head you start kicking your legs like crazy and laughing hysterically. It is one of my favorite times of the day. I hope you aren't mad at me one day for posting these tub pictures. That little chubby body is so dang cute!

Kate's Bubble Birthday Party- The Pictures

2011-04-13T11:03:00.001-05:00

Kate is 3!!!

A table fit for a princess!

Bubble cupcakes made by Mae Mae

Make A Wish!

Minnie Pearl didn't want me to cut that tag off. I finally convinced her she could see better without it.

Our sweet family and so many good friends came to celebrate Kate turning three!

Best Buds: Annie, Kate and Lanier

Mr. Bob, Mrs. Ouise, and Charlotte
Mr. Stephen, Mrs. Natalie and Emory

Lanier (better known around our house as Banier)

A few of Alex's future girlfriends and their mama's (Emory not pictured)

Mrs. Jessica who deserves a post all her own.

Lila's not too sure about sharing her Daddy with Brudda Boy

Aunt Lulu and Lila Girl

Sweet Mrs. Deanie somehow ended up on present detail. She helped Kate open all her gifts.

Such a fun day!

Nana and Brudda Boy- check out those thighs!

All tuckered out!

Weekend Camera Phone Recap

2011-04-11T12:45:00.000-05:00

Brudda Boy helping out with the laundry

Even princesses have to do the dishes.

Brudda Boy

2011-04-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

Baptism 2.20.2011

That's the name you go by around our house. Daddy is a little worried that it might stick. I'm sad that it probably won't. I didn't want to go another day without getting your mug on the blog. Little man, you have got me so unbelievably wrapped around your finger right now that I don't know if I'll ever get undone. I mean, I.AM.OBSESSED. Don't get me wrong, I adore Sister Girl but this is a whole new kinda love. I'm sure it has something to do with you being my second baby. I'm so much more relaxed with you and I'm also trying hard to soak up every moment with you in this stage. I certainly know how fast it goes. You are so easy. You really might be the most laid back, chilled out little guy I have ever known. There are days that will go by that I don't hear you really get cranky and cry. You have a gummy little smile that could melt me. You are tipping the scales at 18 lbs. which seems quite remarkable. Each thigh easily makes up for 5 of those pounds. Your sister is your biggest fan. She adores you and I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual. Sometimes we tell her to back up and give you some space but I'm pretty sure you like her there. You have discovered her hair and like to pull it. She laughs when you do and I'm certain that will change with time. I still see little boy things and have to remind myself that I will get to have those things. I was so shocked that you were a boy, I think I am still getting used to it. I am certain that you are just the one I wanted though and just the one I was supposed to get.

In Her Words...

2011-04-06T09:47:00.002-05:00

Patty cake, patty cake, baker's man;
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Roll it and pat it and BREAK IT IN THE KNEE;
Put it in the oven for baby and me!

3

2011-04-05T10:25:00.000-05:00

Dear Kate,
You are three.years.old. I know it sounds cliche to talk about how lightening fast the last three years have flown by but it is true. When I told you that I didn't want you to have a birthday because I wanted you to always stay my baby you said, "but mommy I NEED to be three". You are funny little girl. Your vocabulary is amazing and sometimes I feel like I am having a conversation with a teenager. You are dramatic and girly in every sense of the word. This birthday meant lots of dress up clothes and princess things and you couldn't have been happier. If I could stop time I think I just might. Not that I don't want to see what the future has in store for you but because in this moment you tell me often that "we are the best of friends" and all the time say, "Mommy, I love you soo much". You love your brother more than anything in this world and have been so sweet to him. Sometimes, I can't even remember that he hasn't always been here. You never missed a beat when we brought him home and you have been a big help! I love the way he looks at you. You make him smile like no one else can. He is your 'Brudda Boy'! You are sassy for sure and certainly know how to negotiate. I told you this morning you might could be a lawyer and you said "that's a good idea". You test me more than anyone but when you snuggle up next to me on the sofa there is no where else on earth I would rather be. So, Happy Birthday my three year old child. I am so proud to be your mommy. You are certainly one of my two finest accomplishments!

Bubble Birthday pictures to come...

"Teeny Tiny Baby"

2010-05-17T15:55:00.000-05:00

Yesterday while Kate was banging on my rapidly growing belly I told her that we have to be gentle with the baby. We don't want to hurt it (or me for that matter). In her best baby talk voice (she seriously talks like she is 35 and all things smaller than her are itty bitty)she got down right next to my stomach and said, "I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean to. You are just a teeny tiny baby". And then she kissed it.

Let's just hope she feels the same way once it's here...

In case you haven't heard...

2010-04-01T11:46:00.001-05:00

Coming October 2010!!

The Pictures

2009-11-21T17:08:00.001-06:00

Here are those pictures I promised several nights ago. I've only got a few minutes while Elmo baby sits. These are just random shots from the last few weeks. I have loved every moment of life with Kate but must admit 18-19 months has been my favorite so far. She's repeating almost everything we say and really starting to talk on her own. She's pretty funny too and knows how to make us laugh. She's adjusted to the new house better than expected and seems to be doing fine in her new school. Kids are so much braver than we are!Enjoy the pics and hopefully I'll be back soon.

It's been a while...

2009-11-16T17:48:00.000-06:00

Sorry. No excuses really other than life. Well, actually I do have some excuses. Crazy busy at work, new house, new daycare, football season, travel, etc. I guess that explains my absence from blog world. I heard the blog was "inactive" which sent me into panic mode. I just wanted to update and say pictures to come. I am posting pictures of Kate tonight (in a minute so I don't burn the dinner that is on the stove) and will post the renovation pics on Monday. They are pretty amazing. We just have to get all the "junk" out of the way so everyone can see our progress. Be back soon.

Pickles and Ice Cream

2009-08-20T09:44:00.001-05:00

No, I'm not pregnant!! Kate had two firsts over the weekend while we were visiting Bebe and Poppy. I gave her one of those miniature dill pickles just to see what she would do with it and she loved it. I didn't get a picture of that. Her Bebe gave her the ice cream cone and as you can see, she loved it too! When was the last time you experienced that much glee over something as simple as an ice cream cone? I know I had as much fun watching her as she had eating it. I did have to strip her down to get out of GG's house without destroying anything. It was a mess but well worth it!! Hope everyone has a great Thursday.

You mean I get to eat this??

It's kind of cold but I think I like it!

Now I'm getting the hang of it.

Yeah- this is good stuff!!! More please!

It's Official...

2009-08-04T09:54:00.000-05:00

We're moving!! It's actually been official for about a month now but of course I'm just now getting to it. It's been a whirlwind but we really do feel like we've found our dream house. Peyton is convinced that this is our "Forever House" but being the gypsy that I am, forever seems like a long time. My friends are calling it my "Big Girl House" so I like that. The house was built in 1964ish and needs some love that we are more than willing to give it. Love is expensive!! We are completely gutting the kitchen and opening it up into the den. We've created a laundry room and a foyer and cut a pass through from the dining room into the den. I'm posting some before pictures that might make you think we've lost our minds but we have an excellent draftsman and contractor and they both assure us we have done the right thing!! I'll post more pictures as we move along. We have everything framed and are waiting on a permit to get the electrical work done. Then comes sheetrock and that will really make it all come together. Of course there will be new appliances, floors, ceilings, cabinets, etc., etc., etc., so we have our work cut out for us. It's been fun though.

In Kate news. The baby is a toddler. She is 16 months and busy, busy, busy. She is all over the place and quite full of herself but she's hilarious. My Dad asked me to tell him something funny she did recently so I told him about me finding her on the bathroom floor with a mouth full of Tums. I'm sure she thought they were delicious. I have no idea how she got the top off. She's talking up a storm and dances her little heart out. She certainly has opinions about things though and it is usually her way or the highway. Girls are sassy aren't they? I have absolutely no idea where she gets it... Ha!! She's saying too many words to list but one of my favorites is "bee". A bee is any type of insect or small dark colored object including a freckle on my arm. She is still very much obsessed with dogs but has now developed a little interest in cats as well. She is keeping us very entertained and on our toes. Life is good!

Hope everyone in blog world is doing well. Most of you have probably given up on me. Life is busy, isn't it!! I'll do my best to update about the house.

Oh, and one more...

Check out those thighs!!!

Third Year's A Charm

2009-06-16T10:13:00.000-05:00

This post is a little late but I'm sure most of you are coming to expect that these days. I am the Queen of Procrastination! Two weeks ago, on June 3, Peyton and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary!! What a whirlwind 3 years it has been. We have lived in 3 different houses in two different states, each had a couple of different jobs and most important of all- had a baby!!
That was us on the day we went to get our marriage license. This is where we were for our anniversary this year:

And this is where we ate:

And don't worry, we did not forget about Kate. Along with her very first SEASIDE tee-shirt she got this:

Have I mentioned she is obsessed with "DAWGS". Needless to say, this book has been a hit. I highly recommend it. She has begged us to read it with her a million times since we brought it home. We missed her while we were gone but it was really nice to get away and reconnect! Of course, Seaside is the perfect escape. It is so unique and beautiful that even as frequent beach goers we can justify a vacation here. I highly recommend it too!

Sorry there are no pictures of Kate this post. I have some new ones on my other camera and will post soon. She's as dramatic as ever and still having little melt downs when things don't go her way. She melted onto the kitchen floor the other day and didn't like the feel of that so moved over to the rug in front of the sink so she could have her tantrum on a soft surface. All we can do is laugh at our little drama queen! We are having to teach her that "uh, oh" is reserved for actual accidents and not when you throw your food on the floor on purpose. It's pretty cute to hear though and I must admit, it helps her get away with it just a bit. Hope everyone is having a great week- I know we are looking forward to Father's Day at the Beach!! Take care!

Baby Steps

2009-05-31T17:05:00.000-05:00

I really don't have a good explanation for my blog hiatus. I wish I could say that our computer crashed or we've been travelling Europe for the past few months but it isn't anything as disastrous or glamorous as either of those things. We've just been busy with life!! Kate is really busy. She took her first few steps about a week after her birthday and she's been on the go ever since. At 14 months she is really moving and has this walking thing figured out. Even though we stay on our feet moving after her, I was relieved when she figured it all out. She was getting really frustrated right before she took those first few steps and now seems much happier.

Because it is entirely too overwhelming to try to recap the last four months I will just do a boring stats post and promise to be a better blogger from now on. Kate is hilarious and has so much personality. She's definitely got opinions about things and is not afraid to let us know them. She is talking up a storm and we have noticed that quite frequently she sounds just like we have a pet parakeet. That's mostly when she is saying "more, more, more" which is pretty much anytime she sees something that she wants or thinks is hers. We hear it A LOT!

Kate says "DAWG and BAWL" constantly. She just reminded me that she also says "uh, oh". She can point to her nose, mouth, ears, eyes, hair and tummy. She does a hilarious version of "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider". She still LOVES music and dances. Her newest dance move is turning in circles over and over again which usually results in a dizzy fall to the floor. She says "bye-bye" and waves. We just got back from the grocery store where she waved to every single person we passed. I mean everyone. People get a big kick out of it. I wonder if she is running for mayor. She's got my vote!

We just got back from the beach and the child will have absolutely nothing to do with the pool or the sand. I mean she won't go near it. She clings to us for dear life when we get close to either. We are going to have to work on it. I don't know what happened to our beach baby from last summer. I think it will just take some time. She's going to have to get used to it since we spend every weekend there these days. She loves being on the beach as long as she's on her mat and we are close by. I guess that's a start.

In adult news, Peyton and I will celebrate our third anniversary Wednesday!! Hooray!! He actually surprised me with a trip to Seaside so we are headed there for a long weekend on Friday. I can't wait. We'll miss Kate, but it will be so nice to get away just the two of us for a change.

I hope everyone in blog world is doing well and having as much fun as we are. Everyday gets better and better. I promise to do a better job posting this summer as things slow down a bit. More to come soon!

Super Crawl Sunday

2009-02-01T15:55:00.000-06:00

It is official- we have a crawler!! She is not playing around anymore and is really on the go. She's pretty fast too which makes me nervous. Every now and then she will stop and look back at me with that toothy little grin like "try and catch me mama"! I know that life as we know it is over but I must say it was getting hard to watch her get so frustrated not being able to get anywhere. She seems quite pleased with herself now and is exploring the whole house. I am going to have to make sure I keep my floors clean or her little knees are going to give me away! There's really nothing cuter than a smiling baby headed straight to you on all fours. Things are just getting better and better around here.

It's been a long week. I am recovering from the worst sore throat of my life which turned out to be mono. I'm sure I picked it up working at the clinic (not kissing any patients mind you) but hopefully I am through the worst of it. I had it once before in college and I don't feel as tired this time around so I'm hoping it isn't as bad. I've had a quiet weekend while Peyton attended wedding festivities for a friend. Today has been beautiful though so Kate and I got out for a stroll and to the grocery store.

Tonight's the super bowl. May the best team win I guess. I can safely say that I could care less. Last year was a little interesting because we like the Giants but the teams this year just don't do it for me. And let's be honest, are the commercials every really that good?? We did pick up some 3D glasses at the grocery store for something that is going to happen at half time so maybe that will be worth watching. We'll see! Hope everyone has had a relaxing weekend. We are just gearing up for another action packed week around here. Hope everyone has a good one!

Better Late than Never

2009-01-13T11:00:00.000-06:00

Well, I guess it's better late than never to wish everyone Happy Holidays!! It's been forever since I posted and I have no idea what has been going on but we have surely been busy. Of course, work eats up most of our time these days and Kate gets all the rest. The holidays were as wonderful as expected and we had so much fun in Decatur with my family. Seeing Kate and cousin Liza interacting together was the best part. These girls are sure to be best of friends. Kate certainly had a HUGE Christmas. The girl racked up!! It's nice to be settling back into a normal routine and gearing up for Mardi Gras. Kate turned 9 months old on January 2 and this is my favorite age so far. She is hilarious! She now has four teeth and those top ones are big. She'll bite you if you aren't careful and it hurts. She really wants to crawl but just can't quite figure it out. I think it is only a matter of days before she is off and won't life get interesting then? She "talks" all the time and has started associating certain things with certain sounds. Mostly she knows the dog as "D" and says it every time she sees one. She's eating much better but still prefers table food to baby food. Who can blame her? She had her checkup yesterday and weighed in at a whopping 22 lbs and 28 3/4 inches long. She's a chunk but it's adorable!! I really can't imagine it getting any better than this but I know it will. So fun!!

In adult news, work has been crazy. Starting a new doctor's office has it's challenges but I genuinely love what I am doing and the people I am working with so it makes it all worth it. It is so nice to wake up and not dread going to work. I miss Kate during the day but she loves daycare and her teacher and seems so happy there so I just trust that I am doing the right thing. I have started a new Sunday School based on the themes from "The Shack". It is wonderful. Last week we talked about Grace. Wow, is that powerful. Grace is an amazing thing (hence the song I guess) and almost hard to comprehend. I don't feel like I deserve how much God loves me but it sure is comforting to know that He does even when I mess up. That class last week was like this huge breath of fresh air. It really helped me prepare for another work week. I feel so blessed to have found this amazing church family that has already offered so much to all of us. It will be so fun to watch Kate grow up there. We have finally planned the NYC trip that we have wanted to go on forever. My mom, aunt and I will be heading to the Big Apple in March and I can't wait. My mom and aunt haven't been since they were teenagers so it will be so much fun to see the city with them. I hope it doesn't turn into the three stooges take Manhattan but you never know. We are really excited! I guess that's about all I have time for now. My New Year's resolution was to be more organized and take more time to do the things I care about (like blogging) so hopefully I will do a better job. I am really so impressed by all you super hero working moms out there who can juggle it all and keep your blogs up to date. Hats off to you. Hope everyone has a great week and enjoys this refreshing sort of winter weather.

2008-12-03T21:17:00.000-06:00

Peyton informed me today that he had sent the blog link to some of our friends. I had no idea he even knew what the blog link was let alone would send it out. It made me realize that I have not posted in FOREVER and probably needed to update since it has been over a month. To my 3 or 4 followers, I apologize for the slacking. I have a good excuse though- the emergency clinic I am managing opened November 10 and we have been so busy. My work days have been long and time with the family is precious. I have no new pictures but will try to come up with something to add to this post. We did manage to take the Christmas card picture this weekend but I can't post that or it will ruin the surprise for those getting cards. They are cute though and our little model is quite the subject. The girl knows what a camera is and just lights up when we take her picture. I'm sure it has something to do with her wondering why on earth mom and dad are talking crazy and acting like idiots behind that little silver thing. The things you do to get your child to smile for the camera!

In other baby news, Kate is really sitting up great. It is so nice to be able to plop her down on the floor and have her entertain herself with all her little toys. She's rolling over too. She now goes from her back to her stomach at night and sleeps so good. She doesn't always remember how to get from her stomach to her back which alarms her a bit but she's getting there. I truly believe babies are just meant to sleep on their tummies. Don't call child protective services on me just yet, I can assure Kate has spent every night of her short life on her back and has only started sleeping on her belly now that she can get there herself. She just seems to sleep so much sounder and it must be more comfortable for her. I'm just glad we have reached that point.

We are headed to Natchitoches, LA (where Steel Magnolias was filmed)this weekend to see A LOT of Peyton's family that we adore. Kate will get to meet her amazing cousins from Dallas and I can't wait for that. We are especially close to them from our time in Houston and it is hard to believe Kate hasn't met them yet. This will be a really special trip for all of this. December is shaping up to be busy as always but I have this new excitement for Christmas that I haven't had in a really long time. I have always loved Christmas but this year it will be so much fun with Kate and Liza. I don't expect Kate to get it but just having little ones around for Christmas again makes it something to really look forward to. Hopefully, I will have some time to post over the next few weeks but I hope everyone enjoys this Holiday season and holds their friends and families especially close. We are so blessed and have so much to be thankful for and this is such a great time to stop and remind ourselves of that. Happy Holidays!

The Big Day

2008-11-04T14:23:00.000-06:00

VOTE TODAY!!!
and then
PRAY TODAY!!!

I am fairly certain that God is not interested or involved in politics but we can pray that no matter what the outcome of today, our national and local leaders will always use Him to guide them. I have been nervous about this election and feel like it is the most important one of my lifetime. I feel very calm today though knowing that God is in control and He will always keep us safe.

Let's all pray that people will exercise their right to vote and be thankful that we have these freedoms. Let's pray that these candidates will use Him to guide their decision making. Let's pray that they will always turn to Him as they enter into this long journey getting our country back on track. Let's pray for their families and their children as they are so involved in this as well. Let's turn it all over to God and know that he is in control and will ALWAYS do what is in our best interest because he loves us so much!

Happy Halloween!!

2008-10-31T09:51:00.000-05:00

From our little chick!

October has been busy, busy, busy! It has been beautiful though and full of fun. Since we were in Texas for the last several Falls I forgot how wonderful this time of year is. We didn't usually cool off in Houston until January so getting to see the leaves change and feel the crisp Fall air has been invigorating. This time of year ALWAYS makes me think of Auburn and brings back such fun memories of my years there. It was such a beautiful place in the Fall and I miss it.

October was a great month. I turned 29, started a job, Bebe came to visit, Jenson (Peyton's childhood friend)came safely home from Iraq for a few days, we went to the pumpkin patch, watched good (and bad) football, had wonderful fellowship at church supper club, heard some great sermons, went to a carnival, wore our winter coats for a few days, ate homemade lasagna- twice,painted our den and dining room, saw Kate's first tooth, got her first pair of shoes,and had some always good family time! Of course, that is in no particular order!

Hard to believe we are now headed for Thanksgiving and Christmas will be right around the corner. Our chick continues to be a happy, easy baby and she is growing so much these days. She has gotten very "busy" and always wants to be bouncing or moving. She weighs in at 17lb., 11ounces and measured 27 1/2 inches long. She is still right on track and considered long and lean which I love.

This has been a fun month in so many ways and we are looking forward to enjoying the fall with our sweet girl. I'm sure crawling is right around the corner so we are cherishing this time that we can snuggle and cuddle with her without her wanting to be on the go. I'm sure life will be very different once she's on the move. I hear it's a great work out program for moms though so I'm looking forward to that.

Hope everyone has a HAPPY HALLOWEEN and a day of fun and family!

29 Years and 6 months

2008-10-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

Those were the big milestones we celebrated around here last week. Obviously, I am the one celebrating the big 2-9 while Kate reached her half year mark. Hard to believe it's been 6 months since she was born. Since the first 3 are a total blur it really doesn't seem like it's been that long. She's pretty funny these days and has quite a personality. Dinner time has become fairly unpleasant for all involved. She has started doing that raspberry noise with her mouth every time the spoon hits her lips and I swear the tiniest drop of banana touched her tongue the other day and the child started gagging. Such a drama queen! I'm about to just hand her a chicken nugget or something and let her go to town. I think she'd like it a whole lot better than baby food. I end up wearing more of the food than she eats so I think we would all be happier.

I discovered Kate's first tooth Sunday morning. I knew it was coming!! I put my finger on her gum like I have been doing every morning for the past 2 months and there it was- just barely breaking through. I'm hoping to have a fully exposed pearly white by the end of the week. I'll try to get pictures but that pesky little tongue is always getting in the way. The tooth doesn't seem to be bothering her and she is still sleeping great at night.

In adult related news, I have officially gone back to work. I'm just training right now but in a few short weeks I will be the office manager for a minor emergency clinic here in Mobile. I'm sure those of you who know me are wondering how in the world I am qualified for this position. I'm not sure I know the answer to that but they took a leap of faith and we are all starting this new venture together. Everyone involved has been wonderful. I'm starting to get the distinct feeling that they actually want me to be in charge which is a bit scary but exciting at the same time. Getting out of the door in the morning with everything ready for the day is half the battle so the rest of my day should be a piece of cake!

I can't believe people have found the blog and are reading it. I just read my comments from the last post and I promise my face turned red. I'm sitting here all alone at my computer and my face turned red as a beet thinking that people are actually interested in what I have to say. It is so fun to reconnect with people out there in blog world and I have loved having a glimpse into people's lives and getting to "meet" all of their precious children. If I can give a little bit of fun in return for all the fun I've had blogging than I am thrilled!

Bebe is coming on Friday!!!! We can't wait to see her and have her to ourselves for 4whole days. Hope everyone has a great week!

This by the way, is what I discovered Sunday morning. Peyton said she was awake and playing on the floor and as he played the guitar she got really still and just fell asleep. You gotta love these precious Daddy/Daughter moments. I know I do!

Identity Crisis

2008-09-19T13:28:00.000-05:00

I've had a slight identity crisis this week. No reason to be alarmed, it just occurred to me after hearing about my husband's day at work that all I had to contribute to the conversation was "That's nice, you won't believe the color of Kate's poop". (A strange shade of green in case you are wondering). It was with that statement that I realized being a mom has taken over my life. Don't get me wrong, I'm okay with it for the most part and it isn't like I have bought my first pair of mom jeans or anything, I just needed a little adult activity. It came as a trip to Dillards... Whohoooo!!! Don't worry hubby, I only bought a lipstick (but I did get the free bonus!!). I also had a kids free lunch with one of my dearest college friends and we tried really hard not to talk too much about our little ones. I certainly don't want to give the impression that being a mom isn't the most important thing in the world to me because it is but I used to talk to doctors all day about neurotransmitters and neuropathy among other things so every now and then I just need to have a little time to myself that doesn't involve slobber, spit up or poop. I need to feel intelligent again.

In mommy related news, we are headed back to the beach this week to meet cousin Thomas for the first time. Peyton's cousins live in Dallas and we don't get to see them too often so we are looking forward to it. Hopefully, this fall like weather hasn't turned the pool to ice and Kate will get to swim. Hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll report back next week.

The above photo, by the way, was taken on my honeymoon. Can't you just tell how calm and relaxed (and sunburned) I was. Life was good. Life is still good... just different!!

Birthdays, Hurricanes, and Baby Teeth (well, almost)

2008-09-16T10:15:00.001-05:00

We spent another beautiful weekend at the beach. Aunt Lulu turned 29 so we all went to celebrate. I was a little nervous about having Kate there with all the young folks but she did great. She continues to be a happy, easy baby. I am more convinced than ever that the teeth are coming. I'm not sure why I feel that way (maybe it is my first experience with mother's intuition). The drool is absolutely constant and she must be gnawing on something at all times. She even seems just the tiniest bit irritated but only so much that I would notice. Who knows?? The storm surge caused the waves to be huge. Peyton took some pictures because he had never seen them quite so large. Too bad we don't surf! We spent most of the time at the pool and although the water was cooler than it had been before, Kate still enjoyed being in her seahorse. She just likes to be in the center of the action. I guess she comes by that naturally! We talked to our friends in Houston several times over the weekend. They were still without power as of yesterday. We should all continue to pray for everyone in Galveston and Houston who are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. We felt relieved to not be in Houston for the storm but we love it there and called it home for many years. It hit very close to home to see the news coverage and know the areas that they were talking about. The people of Houston are very resilient though and should bounce back quickly. Hopefully, they are getting as much support as they gave victims of Hurricane Katrina. Well, we're off to another week around here and still searching for a job. Hope everyone has a great week!

Happy Birthday Aunt Lulu!!

Water Baby

2008-09-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

We had the best time at the beach last weekend. The swimming pool is finally complete and we are so excited. We love being on the beach but it is really hard to haul all that baby stuff down there and then turn around and come up 20 minutes later if Kate isn't feeling it. At the pool we are steps away from the condo and it helps that we can put her in the water. Peyton and I blew up (that sounds bad doesn't it) the Silly Seahorse Sunshade float and I crossed my fingers that Kate would like the water. She loved it! She was very content in the Seahorse most of the time but even happier with her Daddy holding her. I was a little nervous she would get too much sun but she did just fine. She looks a little concerned in some of these photos but I can assure you she was very happy. She would just sit back and put her arms up and chill!! I wish they made these floats in adult sizes. We can't wait to get her back in the pool next weekend! I think she's going to be a swimmer- 2024 Olympics here we come. Move over Michael Phelps!!

I did it!!

2008-08-29T10:56:00.000-05:00

I have been trying to figure out for weeks how to make my blog look more fun and thanks to Ana Moore's blog I have figured it out. It was so much fun to play around and even though it's nothing too fancy just yet, I felt like a real web designer! There is a great website that gives you step by step instructions on how to change your page. The website is sjhblogdesign.blogspot.com. It tells you everything you need to know and it's free.

We are preparing for Gustav around here and hoping that it won't be too bad. Hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend!

Long and Lean!!

2008-08-22T16:53:00.000-05:00

That's what the doctor says about Kate. Maybe she'll be able to wear those "long and lean" jeans at the Gap one day. I certainly could never get myself into them. We went for Kate's 4 month checkup today ( a little behind schedule) and she weighs 16 pounds,3 ounces and is 26 inches long. Hooray! Our little bug is growing, growing, growing!! I thought I would post some pictures of the last couple of weeks before I lose track. Hard to believe that almost 5 months have passed with our little girl here. Everyone always told me you don't remember life before your kids and it is so true. I can't believe there was ever a time without her. She's just the one I wanted! As her Bebe says: "Kate, you are my eyeballs. I couldn't live without you!" We love you eyeballs!!

Happy Birthday Cousin Liza!!

2008-08-22T14:46:00.000-05:00

Okay, this one is a bit belated but as my favorite birthday card reads: "This is the land of procrastination and I am the Queen". Cousin Liza's birthday was actually August 8 and we were there to celebrate! I couldn't miss the chance to honor this precious little baby girl who has brought so much joy to our lives over the last year. Liza started school a few weeks ago and her teachers told Jill she is "strong willed". I think that is a nice way of saying she's a mess! She just has spunk and I like a girl with a little spunk. She is tall and skinny like her mama and keeps everyone on their toes. I can't wait to watch Kate and Liza grow up together. They are going to be the best of friends. Will is worried about when they are both 16 but I think they may be trouble LONG before that! I'm pretty sure Liza is going to be able to get away with a lot with those big blue eyes and that precious smile. Happy Birthday Liza Lou!! We love you very much and can't wait to share many more birthdays with you!!

Food Glorious Food!!

2008-08-22T14:39:00.000-05:00

Kate is eating solid food and she loves it! It took a little while for her to get used it but now she knows when I strap her in the chair in the morning good things are headed her way. She still makes this really strange face with the first bite but quickly realizes that she likes it. So far we have had cereal, apple sauce, squash, and bananas. Squash doesn't seem to be as big a hit but who can blame her. I like fruit better too! It helps fill her little belly up and she is so happy after a meal. It's so hard to believe she is big enough for solid food. It will be pizza and tacos before we know it! We'll give her some vegetables too, don't worry.

Time Flies...

2008-08-22T14:28:00.000-05:00

Wow! We have been so busy and have had so many fun things going on around here lately that it has been forever since I posted. I have a lot of catching up to do. My apologies for the 3 or 4 people that read the blog!! I guess I should back up and talk about our fun week in Decatur. As I near the inevitable return to work, I thought we better make one more long trip to see Bebe, Poppy, Pop and Frannie and all our other fam in Decatur. We had so much fun celebrating Liza's first birthday and experiencing a lot of firsts of our own. Kate is really developing a little personality and loves to smile and laugh (especially with her Bebe). She is really easy most of the time and is happy just knowing she's a part of the action. We are headed for her 4 month checkup today even though she will be 5 months old in a week. There are shots in her near future and that makes me very sad. Hopefully, I can control the tears (mine not hers) this time. Here are some pictures from Decatur and some of the firsts: swing, doll, etc.

The Raggedy Ann doll is from cousin Lyssie who has one and thought Baby Kate needed one too! She loves it- maybe it reminds her of me with all that red hair!

Sleeping Like a Baby

2008-07-23T12:55:00.000-05:00

We are getting a lot more sleep around here these days!! I completely forgot what 8 hours of good sleep will do for you. Kate is sleeping close to 12 hours which makes everyone very happy (including her)! She really sacks out at the end of the day so I wanted to include some pictures. There are so many good ones of her in her crib but I never want the flash from the camera to wake her up so we may have to keep those in our memories. She has become quite the diva while she sleeps. She usually has both arms folded behind her head like she is doing some serious thinking while she sleeps. By the looks of that little round tummy and chunky monkey thighs she is doing some serious growing! Sweet dreams baby girl!!

Back to the Beach

2008-07-23T12:45:00.000-05:00

We had the most wonderful beach weekend! For the first time it was just our little family at the condo. Peyton and I felt like we were on a real family vacation. It's been a long time since we've had a getaway and Kate couldn't have been better. She loves the beach! Friday night we had so much fun cooking dinner, drinking wine and listening to music. Peyton and Kate even had their first dance! That was a special moment for me- she is officially a Daddy's girl. She slept for several hours on the beach Saturday but Sunday was just too hot. She made it for a little while but we decided to call it a day pretty early. Kate has had her first real laugh attack. She got so tickled on Saturday while I was talking to her and just couldn't quit giggling. It was priceless. She is "talking" up a storm now and keeps us quite entertained. We have really entered into such a fun time with her. I know there will be a lot more fun in our future!Thanks to GG (Great Granny) Kate has a precious new pink bathing suit. This one is a tankini and she loves to pull up the ruffle to show us her belly. Maybe she's ready for a bikini. Her daddy says she may never have one of those!!

Splish Splash

2008-07-17T16:09:00.000-05:00

Kate is taking a bath!! Bath time has really become such a fun part of our day. When we first brought Kate home and tried to bath her on the sponge she absolutely hated it. I can imagine it was pretty cold and who wants to be naked on the kitchen counter getting water poured all over you. We started rushing through bath time just to get finished with it before she had a major melt down and usually during that time Peyton was no where to be found. Once we were able to move Kate to the bath tub things starting getting better and Kate really started to enjoy bath time. Peyton came back around and has really taken over this time with baby. I love to watch the two of them interact during bath time or just take a break for a few minutes. Since the lady at the grocery store told me I need to be pouring water over her face at bath time so she will be a good swimmer (don't you just love all the unsolicited advice you get when you have a baby) Peyton has made sure Kate gets at least one face full of water each bath. She just holds her breath and usually giggles when it's over. We are bound to have a little fish by next summer! I love seeing Kate wrapped up in her towel after her bath all squeaky clean and relaxed. Her favorite thing in the world is to have her hair brushed so she knows that is coming next! I snapped these pictures of Kate in the tub and just had to jot down some thoughts about this fun and special time in our day.

Beach Baby

2008-07-16T16:49:00.000-05:00

We are so lucky to live very close to the beach. We get to go almost every weekend since Peyton's parents have a condo in Perdido Key. Kate was about 6 weeks old on her first beach trip and she absolutely loved it. We really enjoy the great family time we have while we are there. A few weeks ago we were fortunate enough to get to spend an entire week with my family at Rosemary Beach. Thanks to Bebe and Poppy; Kate, Peyton, me, Will, Jill, Liza, GG (Great Granny) and the Ashwander clan all had two great condos and had so much fun together.The weather was perfect all week. Of course, long gone are the days of grabbing a beach chair and cooler and heading down to the beach for the day. I got so tickled at all the baby gear Jill and I hauled down to the beach each day I had my mom take a picture. Since the men were on the golf course, it was up to us to handle all our gear. Jill and I had very different objectives for our day at the beach. I wanted to make sure Kate would take her nap on the beach (she almost always falls asleep the minute we hit the sand: I even changed her noise maker to ocean waves since she found it so relaxing) and Jill needed to make sure she had enough toys to keep Liza occupied and happy on the beach. Here we are with all our stuff:

I realized after my mom took the picture that I didn't even have the baby. Obviously, I would have to take two trips. Needless to say the trip would not have been nearly as relaxing as it was without all the help from Bebe, Poppy, Will, Jill, GG, Barbara and Brother, Charlie and Ashley, and Bill and Caroline. Peyton and I were really able to relax and enjoy ourselves. After being with Liza and realizing how much energy an 11 month has we better relax now. Our beach trip next summer is going to be VERY different. In fact, Will and Jill were so exhausted they booked a vacation from their vacation. Next time they are going to Mexico: WITHOUT THE BABY! Here are some more pictures from our fun trip. Thanks Bebe and Poppy for making it all possible!

Back to Church

2008-07-13T17:57:00.000-05:00

We finally made it to church. Except for Mother's Day we haven't been to church since Kate was born. We love our church and have missed being able to go but I wasn't quite ready to leave Kate in the nursery and you never know how a baby is going to handle sitting in one place for an hour. Of course, just as I suspected she was a perfect angel. Kate was just about to drift off to sleep when the organ blared and her eyes got as big as saucers. Thank goodness it didn't scare her to the point of tears. Kate will be baptized in about a month and we are really looking forward to that. We are so in awe that God has given us this perfect, beautiful, healthy baby girl to take care of while we are here on earth. We want her to grow up in the church just as we did so she can come to know how much He loves her. I pray often that He will give us the wisdom and patience to guide her down the correct path in life.

On another note, we had a wonderful dinner with Nonie, Ben, Annie and Aunt Lulu last night. If only we had recorded our attempt to have dinner all together about 6 weeks ago when the babies took turns screaming their heads off. This time, both girls just sat quiet and content. Annie has changed so much and it really makes me excited to think about what good friends our girls will be and how fun it will be to watch them grow up together. We picked up all our wedding presents from Peyton's parents house today (yes, we got married 2 years ago and they were still there). It was so much fun to open everything and it brought back such great memories of that happy time! Our dining room now looks like a china store so I have lots of work cut out for me figuring out where it is all going to go. That's a job for tomorrow. I hear Kate and Peyton having a conversation in the kitchen so I think I'll go join them. What a nice ending to a wonderful weekend!

Hallelujah!!

2008-07-12T13:34:00.001-05:00

Kate slept through the night!! It only took 3 months, 1 week and two days... but who's counting. Of course, I know that she could wake up every hour tonight but at least we know it is possible for her to get 8 straight hours of sleep. Peyton thought I should feel very rested today as well but I woke up all night long waiting for her to wake up. My mom says I will do that for a long time. She slept from 10:00 to 5:37 and went back to sleep from 6:00 to 8:30. She's gotten great about waking up in her crib and just spending some time looking up at her mobile and talking/singing to herself. Peyton got her up to play but she probably would have stayed happy there for at least another 30 minutes.Since most people know how much I love my sleep these last few months have been hard to say the least. I knew if we hung in there she could do it. Next step- an earlier bed time.
On a similar note, I made it through my first movie last night without falling asleep. It was Rendition. The movie was just okay but it must have held my attention enough because I didn't conk out on the couch like I usually do. Maybe now Peyton will let me put some of my girlie movies back on Netflix. He was getting pretty tired of me insisting on watching something and then falling asleep. Elizabeth: The Golden Age was his final straw and it has been manly movies ever since.

Tonight Nonie and Ben are coming over with Annie! Annie is exactly one month older than Kate so it will be fun to see them together.

2008-07-11T15:20:00.001-05:00

Making Up for Lost Time

2008-07-11T14:32:00.000-05:00

I feel like I have so much to say about all that has taken place over the last three weeks. I'm sure that a lot of it has been lost since my brain doesn't function as well as it used to. Interrupted sleep will do that to you. Since there is no way for me to go back and document every moment I think I'll just post some of my favorite pictures of the last few months and then be up to date for the most part. Our first family outing to Bivona was a big day for everyone (especially me- I'd been cooped up inside for 2 weeks). Kate loved it and despite the angle of her head seemed very comfortable and really enjoyed herself. Kate loves her daddy and already has him wrapped around her precious tiny finger.

Getting Started

2008-07-11T14:09:00.001-05:00

After months of stalking other people's blogs I've decided to start my own. Three months ago, Peyton and I welcomed beautiful Katherine Isabelle (Kate) into the world and since I am terrible at writing things down in a journal or her baby book but do love to snap pictures of her, I thought this would be the best way to keep up with everything. Peyton and I have been married for two great years and were so excited when baby made three on April 2, 2008. Kate came kicking and screaming (literally) into the world at 1:50 weighing 7 lbs., 12 oz. and she was 21 1/2 inches long. The nurses told us she had quite a temper and was very vocal about being out in the world. Being a feisty red head myself, I was thrilled to hear my little girl had some spunk! Speaking of hair: Wow, Kate has a full head of it. We were shocked to see all of that brown hair and I am still trying to figure out what to do with it. Since my own hair has taken over most of my life it is only fitting that my child's would do the same. I will never forget the way that Kate would look at me when the nurses would bring her in at night to nurse. She had the sweetest, most innocent look on her face and her eyes were open so wide. She was so patient with me as I learned how to feed her and just looked up at me as if to say "It's okay Mama, I'm new at this too so we can learn together". She took to it great and has been a good little eater ever since. At three months, we have turned such a corner- that probably explains why I have a chance for the first time since she was born to sit and write some of this down. She sleeps really well- FINALLY and is very content most of the time. She has started really "talking" to us and Daddy loves to have "conversations" with his little monkey. She drools more than any baby I have ever known and I think she is seriously trying to fit both fists into her mouth at one time. She's a precious girl and our lives have been forever changed for the best! I will try to keep this blog up to date with all of her changes and adventures! We love you Kater Tot!!