Happy Honeymooners

Rory's Birthday Party

2011-12-19T08:01:00.000-06:00

Rory's 3rd birthday party was a LOT of fun. I did a cookies and milk theme and it seemed to be a big hit. Instead of doing it at our house, we did the party at the church where Rory goes to MDO. It worked out really well and since it was a beautiful day, the kids even got to play on the playground a bit.

We had chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies, as well as Oreo cookie cake balls and Kissie pies (as well as a meat and cheese tray and goldfish too).

These are the cartons of milk that all the kiddos got to take home. I made them on photoshop, had them printed and then cut them out and assembled them. I admit that I saw them online somewhere in the past few months, but instead of ordering them, I figured that i could do them on my computer and save a little $$. They did turn out really cute. I did little "to go" boxes for the kids to put their decorated sugar cookies and a carton of "milk" in to take home.

Rory's first friend to show up. L is SO cute and she has twin sisters that are 5 months old. Love her and SO glad that she and Rory are friends.

The cookie decorating station. I had done a gazillion sugar cookies, iced them in royal icing and let the kids decorate them with edible markers. It was a big hit and it was a lot less messy than doing sprinkles and stuff.

The birthday girl and her giant cookie cake. She was SO excited that everyone was singing to her. I still can't believe she is 3.

All of the little kids helped Rory open up her presents. She was so good and LOVED having help going through all the presents.

We were cleaning up after the party and these 3 were running around acting a fool. They have the best time together, I hope that they are friends for a long time. It helps that I LOVE their Mommies and we have become good friends too. haha!

Well, that is it for the 3rd Birthday Party, it was a great party and we are so thankful for all of our friends and family that made the trek to Birmingham to be there for Rory's big day.

3

2011-12-13T11:08:00.000-06:00

I know I have been a slacker lately, but the month of November was consumed with sickness. Rory had a cold, gave it to me, I developed bronchitis (which lasted 3 weeks) and I gave it to Kevin (who is still battling it actually) and then mine developed into an upper resp. infection and then Rory got an upper resp infection as well. Goodbye November, good riddance!

I will post some pis soon...in the mean time, my sweet tiny baby, turned 3 yesterday. 3...as in a big girl...so, in light of that, my annual letter for her birthday.

Rory,

Yesterday you turned 3. You are officially a big girl. Daddy and I both took off work yesterday to stay home with you and told you that we would do whatever you wanted to do, the whole day was up to you. You asked for a ride on the carousel at the mall, and to go to lots of toy stores. So, that is exactly what we did. As I sat you up on the reindeer on the carousel at the mall, and buckled the belt around you as you hung onto the brass pole with white knuckles, I was suddenly struck by the sight of your little hands. The last vestiges of baby and toddler could barely be seen. Long gone are the little rolls of fat at your wrist, but for the longest time, you still had the dimples on your knuckles. Yesterday, I noticed, that they too were on borrowed time. Your hands are beginning to look like a little girls. I admit, a part of my heart was sad. My days of snuggling you up, and your little toddler roundness melting into me are numbered. It has gone so quickly, much faster than I could have anticipated.

You are a wonder my sweet girl. You are all girliness and sass rolled into one. You have such a big heart, and can't stand for anyone to be upset. Your best friend A, at your birthday party on Saturday, was really upset when they got there, and you kept trying to hug her and tell her that it was OK and that you loved her. My heart swelled with pride as you asked all your friends at your party to help you open your presents with you, not caring for a moment that they were "yours."

We had lunch at Johnny Rockets yesterday and when they found out it was your birthday, they brought you a dish of ice cream with chocolate syrup and whipped cream and then they all sang you 'Happy Birthday'. As they sang to you, you got timid all of a sudden and smiled that sweet smile of yours and ducked your head down. Sitting there, with my arm around you, I could feel your back vibrating as you giggled that little girl giggle that I love so much and then it happened, after they were done singing, you lifted your head up, with a huge smile on your face and said, "Thank you everyone." I could have died, right there! Oh, my sweet, sweet baby girl, my heart leaps with love and pride!

All day, you would say, "I am 3 years old, now I can ...." I want you to always know that, regardless of age, you can do whatever you set your mind to. Last night, after you fell asleep, I went back into your room, as has long been a habit, and prayed over you again. I thanked God that 3 years ago, in a hospital room in Birmingham, AL, we were blessed with the gift of you. We never could have known, your Daddy and I, sitting in the hospital room the night after you were born what you had in store for us. I remember sitting there, Daddy holding you all snuggled up in his arms and we just looked at you, totally in awe of this tiny baby, that knit us together so perfectly.

Last night, as I knelt on the floor next to your bed, I brushed a curl off of your cheek. I love to look at you when you are asleep, I can catch glimpses of that tiny baby, all wrapped up in a blanket. I studied your little nose, and the way that your eyelashes rested on your little pink cheeks. I ran my finger across your sweet little hand and reached down and patted your little round toddler bottom. Carefully, I scooped you up, careful not to wake you and snuggled you in my arms close to my chest. For a minute, I sat there and rocked back and forth and just breathed you in. Oh, these moments Rory, I don't ever want to forget them. I sat there for a minute or two, just looking at you, and in my mind, thanking God for the blessing that you are to us. I asked God to help us remember in those moments when you are so stubborn and hard headed that those traits, although difficult for us now, will come in handy when you are older and are battling for Christ. I asked God to help you retain your sweet spirit and compassion for other people, but to help us to teach you to recognize people who might take advantage of you. I sat there and rocked you and tried to drink in every last second of you, on the day that you turned 3.

I don't know how long I sat there, but as I began to lay you back down, you opened your eyes and said, "Hi, Mommy, I love you." I said "I love you too, tiny girl", and kissed your soft, curly haired head, and you drifted back off to sleep. I hope that you know how much those 3 little words mean my sweet baby. I love you, to the moon and back, always will. Can't wait to see what 3 brings you Rory, God Bless you my sweet, tiny girl.

All my love,
Mommy

AWESOME Chicken-n-Dumplins

2011-11-10T12:16:00.002-06:00

I saw somewhere that you could use canned biscuits for dumplings in Chicken-n-Dumplings. I have been fighting a major cold lately and a good batch of C&D sounded perfect, so I tried it last night. It is AWESOME! This is by far the easiest and fastest recipe of chicken and dumplings I have ever made and they are REALLY good. Here is my recipe:

1 lb of chicken
1 tbsp of Salt
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 can of cream of celery soup
1 onion chopped. (I bought the prechopped onion in the little container at Pulix...I HATE chopping onion)
1 can of plain canned biscuits
1 box of chicken stock (I don't remember the ounces, but it is not the little can, but the box kind, you know what I mean?)

Boil chicken in water with the salt and then prepare however you prefer. We like ours cut in small chunks. Combine the soups, onion and chicken stock in a dutch oven or pot with a lid and bring to a boil. Once it is boiling, flatten out the biscuts and cut them into strips. I cut each biscuit into 4 strips and then cut those in half so that my dumplings are short and easier to eat. Add the dumplings one at a time to the boiling soup. Don't be alarmed when they puff up and float to the top! Once they have all been added, reduce to a simmer and cover them. Let them cook for at least 20 minutes. The dumplings will get not puffy and become dumpling-ie (not a word...whatever) and it is really delicious. Let me know if you try it. I am telling you, REALLY easy, and REALLY good!

Halloween

2011-11-05T12:00:00.003-05:00

We trick or treat with our babysitter and her family in their neighboorhood. This year, S was a devil and D was a vampire. If you asked Rory what they were, she would tell you "Nanna is a fairy and D is a bampire, but he just drinks red juice, he won't really bite." We got a few pics when it was still day light. Thankfully.

Here, Rory is not so sure about D. She is giving him the shifty eye in the pic. The next two are not the greatest pics, but I think that her expression is funny, so I included it. Once she got used to him in the costume, it didn't bother her, but at first...she wasn't so sure.

See what I mean? We were cracking up at her looking at D like "Alright buddy, I am not so sure about you!"

This is Kev's boss and our sitter's Dad. He is pretty crazy about Rory and since Kevin was working and it wound up being on a day that he had off, he went trick or treating with us. As the evening wore on, he wound up carrying Rory on his shoulders part of the way since she didn't want to ride in the stroller, but didn't want to walk either.

My little Jessie, always on the move. I made her costume from a shirt and jeans that I picked up at the consignment sale for her school for $5 total. I split the inseams of the jeans, cut out a chaps-like shape and sewed it into the inseam and then added felt fringe and made loops on the pants at the top to hold her belt. I took a boy's button down shirt and painted it to look like a western shirt. She looked pretty cute and it was a CHEAP costume. I think I had $10 in it total counting the cow print fabric that I made the chaps out of. Kevin bought her a real western belt with her name on it at the Fiddlers Convention in Athens. I didn't figure it in to the price of the costume since she can for sure wear it again.

She is trying to pose like Nanna was. Oh goodness Rory... I am not ready for the sassy teenager poses yet!

Now, the actual Trick or Treating. I didn't realize that she was flipping us off until I uploaded this picture to the blog. Haha! Funny!

Two of S's friends came over to ToT with us. Rory was excited that there was another cowgirl. She made sure that teenage cowgirl knew that "there is only one pink Jessie."

Rory and Nanna. I took a bag to dump her candy in every few houses since I knew that the bucket would get heavy and I knew that she would be leaving candy Hansel and Gretl style on our trail.

The first house after I had emptied the bucket, she told the person that was handing out candy "Thank you, but that is not near enough...my bucket is still empty." We laughed and I assured her that there were more houses to fill up her bucket.

See...shoulder ride...told ya! It was a life saver. Bless her heart. I brought her sneakers with us in case she got tired of clomping around in boots, but she wouldn't take them off even though she told me that her feet were "super tired." I had the stroller for her to ride in, and she did some, but once Mr. G offered to let her ride on his shoulders, the stroller was quickly forgotten.

Flying. She was high up, Mr. G is about 6'4"

We got back to their house and Rory was really disappointed that we were done. She said we could go eat 5 candies and then we can go again. She had a blast and it was nice for her to have some other people to ToT with. My little Jessie really russelled up some good candy. ;)

School Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Patch

2011-11-05T06:14:00.000-05:00

So, I know that I mentioned that Rory is going to MDO 2 days a week from 9-1. This has been SUCH a great thing for her. She LOVES it and her teachers are just great. Last week, they went to the pumpkin patch on Tuesday and then had a Halloween parade and party on Thursday. I am combining both events into one post since they are both school.

These pics are WAAAY out of order, but for whatever reason, blogger won't let me rearrange them, so whatever.

After the kiddos got their pumpkins from the patch (aka the lawn of a local church that had been inundated with pumpkins), we tried to get a pic of them all together. The Mamarazzi were all waiting, but of course, a bunch of 2 and barely 3 year olds were not that cooperative.

They made these shirts and were all supposed to wear them to the patch. M (on the end) is a 5 day a weeker so she was coming back to the pumpkin patch the next day with the MWF group, so she didn't wear hers. They were made from their hand prints and were really cute. I couldn't find a 3 pack of shirts in Rory's size, so hers looked kinda like a dress. Whatever, it was cute and she loves wearing it around the house.The little dark haired boy next to Rory is who she says that she is going to marry. Oh brother...here we go!

This is before the patch. We were all waiting in the sanctuary of the church and "Farmer Ben" came in to read a story about Halloween and pumpkins. Here are a few of the kiddos. Rory's 'Bes Fwend' A.L. is the little girl in the shorts with the big brown and orange hair bow. She and Rory hit it off the first day and have been pretty inseparable since then.

Farmer Ben

Snack time, before picking their pumpkins. Rory and A.L. again. Told ya, they are joined at the hip and from what their teachers tell us, they are quite the gruesome twosome.

Back out to the patch. Rory was really confused about why there wasn't a hayride or any slides or play equipment available.

"I got one!"

OK, so now the Halloween parade. Rory was a "pink Jessie" from Toy Story for Halloween. I made her costume and it was really cute (as you will see tomorrow in the Halloween post) but I knew that it would get filthy and since I made the fringe on the chaps out of felt, I knew that it would not wash that great, so I whipped up this little outfit for her school Halloween day and also, to wear to our nephew's Bday party at the playground on Saturday. She was happy with it and could have cared less which one she wore, as long as she got to wear the pink boots.

The Spiderman with the mask on is Rory's self determined future spouse.You notice that they are standing together.

Well, that is it for today. Tune in tomorrow for the final pumpkin related post...Halloween!

Tate Farms

2011-11-03T07:39:00.000-05:00

Get ready for a "Pumpkin-A-Palooza" for the next 3 posts. Today, it is all about Tate Farms. A few weekends ago, my Uncle Mark was in from Florida to visit. We decided that we (Kevin, Mom, Tim, Mark, Linda and Charlie) would take Rory to the pumpkin patch. My Mom and I took her last year, but Tim and the rest of the crew had never been. It was a bit warm that day, but we had a great time!

Riding the tire swing horse. Last year, she wouldn't touch these with a 10 foot pole. This year...bring it on horsie!

Rory was riding on this thing with the other kids and none of them could figure out how to make it go around so my Mom jumped on. Rory thought it was hilarious, the other kids...well they thought it was weird. Way to go Lovie!

The stereotypical pumpkin house picture. Did I mention it was slightly warm?

The corn cribs. Rory loves the idea of the corn crib, she likes jumping in and out, she is a daredevil. However, as soon as a piece of corn got in her shoe...forget it, she was outta there! She can not stand things getting in her shoe. Our trips to the beach from the summer proved that too...one piece of sand and we had a melt down on our hands.

Picking out her tiny pumpkin. She specifically requested a 'tiny pumpkin' and went through quite a few before finding her perfect one. She would pick one up, look at it, and throw it over her shoulder "Nope, this is not it" and go to the next one.

On the way out of the patch, Hollywood was wearing Lovie's glasses (because her great Mommy left hers in the car) and she sat on the pumpkin and said "Take my picture right here" and so I did.

There are more pics than this, I guess I forgot to upload them all. Oh well, I am at work and can't do it right now. Maybe later...or maybe not!

Stay tuned for rounds 2 and 3 on pumpkins in the next 2 days. I really do promise this time, I am scheduling them to post...for real!

Blog Slacker

2011-10-19T10:35:00.003-05:00

I have been slacking on the ole blog because I said in my last post that my next post would be more beach pics and quite frankly, I haven't had the patience to sit down and watermark them (which I try to do with any pic that shows R's face). Well, I will post them eventually, but for now, here is just a random post.

First, a few "Roryisms"

She got a Snow White dress up dress the other night from Target. I let her put it on before her bath, while we were unloading groceries. She comes prancing in the kitchen:
R: Mommy, I am Snow White, have you seen the Second Drawers?
L: Second Drawers?....Do you mean Seven Dwarfs?
R: That is what I said "Second Drawers"
L: No, I haven't seen them.

At Emma's skating birthday party, Rory put on a pair of toddler skates (you know, the ones that go over the shoes). She was having a blast! It was time to go, so I told her we needed to leave
L: Rory, the party is over, lets go give them back the skates
R: No, I am not ready yet...I am weel-wee good at this skating.
L: You are really good at it, but it is time to go
R: But I like it...I put my skates on and I say 'WOOOOOO' (high pitched squeel)

She is MAJOR into pretending. Lately, she talks about getting married, all the time. Kevin is SO not thrilled about the shift in conversation.
R: When I grow big, I am going to wear my marry dress and marry Daddy.
L: You can't marry Daddy, I am already married to him.
R: But I love him, I want to marry him.
L: He loves you too, but you will have to find your own boy to marry.
R: One day, I will find my boy that God has for me and we will be married.
L: Yes, that is true
Kev: Stop talking about this Rory, you can't date until you are 35.
R: I am almost 3
K: We know.

After measuring her waist and ankle for some pants that I made her, she wanted to measure me.
R: Let me see your foot Mommy
(Hold up my foot)
R: Hmm...16. Let me measure your leg
(she uses the measuring tape to my knee)
R: Just what I thought...30-10. Let me measure your bottom.
(she runs behind me)
R: Wow Mommy...60-2-11....Wow, that is big.
L: Thanks for the vote of confidence Rory
R: Sure Mommy, no prob-um
----------
Other news. Thanksgiving and Christmas are fast approaching. Wow, like really fast. I have got to get on the party planning for Rory's Birthday, and fast! I have the theme and location, but I haven't taken pics for the invites or done anything of the planning variety...gotta get on that.

Rory wants to be a pink Jessie (aka Cowgirl) for Halloween. I bought cheapo jeans at a consignment sale because she doesn't own jeans, and wont for as long as I can hold off on them, and am attaching cow print to them to make chaps. I also bought at the consignment sale a white button down boys shirt and I painted it similar to Jessies' from Toy story. I am not sure I like the shirt because it is SO stiff from the paint on the shoulders, so she may wind up in an appliqued shirt with it, we will see. So far, so good. Her pink boots and hat will be super cute with it.

We contemplated taking Rory to see the Rockettes Christmas show in Nashville this year...then we found out that it is $80/person for all 3 of us. I don't think that I can stomach paying $80 for Rory to have a seat, when she is going to be in our laps anyway, besides the fact that I think that $80 per person for both Kev and I is a bit steep too! Unless we can find discount tickets...not happening. YouTube, here we come!

Glad that it is cooling off outside. Rory has a lot of cute fall clothes that I am excited for her to wear...bring it on Mother Nature! Rory is bringing all these Fall themed things home from school and I am LOVING it! They are going to the pumpkin patch later this month and we had to send 3 T-Shirts to school for projects over the Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays. Can't wait to see what my little Monet comes up with!

Speaking of school...Rory is LOVING IT! As in, begs every day to go. She has made a lot of friends and when asked who her friends are, she names off a bunch of girls. I asked her if she had any friends that are boys...she said "No, boys are gwoss." Kevin started clapping. Her teachers did say that she plays on the playground with all the boys, jumping off stuff and climbing and stuff...doesn't surprise me. Thrilled with her preschool and THRILLED that she is loving it!

The Beach

2011-09-29T08:55:00.000-05:00

Ok, so here is the first of 2 beach posts. I will do the other one with the pics that I made on the beach, hopefully, tomorrow.

This is the first morning that we were there and the water was still really choppy from the Tropical Storm that had just passed through. The weather the whole time that we were down there was beautiful, no rain, barely any clouds. Just perfect.

My Mom and Tim went with us and it was SO nice to have another set of eyes to watch Rory on the beach. Luckily, this year, she wasn't as interested in the ocean and didn't bolt towards the water at every chance that she got.

Rory and Gee, walking and looking for seagulls or as Rory calls them "little fellas." She kept chasing them saying, "here litta fellas...Rory won't hurt ya"

Rory and Daddy playing in the sand. She LOVED the sand and loved even more wrecking any structure that we made out of it.

This guy and his family were staying in our condo and he was out on the beach every morning fishing. He caught about 25 catfish (I had no idea that catfish were in the ocean) that he kept throwing back (or maybe 1 catfish 25 times?) and then all of a sudden, he started calling in our direction saying that he thought that he had a small shark and asking if Kev or Tim could help him pull it in.

We all went running in his direction and needless to say, it was not a shark, but a 30lb Redfish. It was HUGE. Clearly, he didn't throw this one back! Mom and I both made the comment that we felt terrible for the fish when it was laying on the beach dying. I know, I am a wussie, whatever...

We also went to Tacky Jacks one night. Due to the time that we were down there, there was NO ONE there so we got great tables and immediate seating in the restaurants. I snapped this pic of my tanned baby while we were waiting on our food.

No beach trip is complete without a pic of a beach sunset. If you look close, you will see a crane standing on the beach. We think that he had a nest somewhere around our condo because he/she was out every morning and every evening while we were there. Mr. Crane was clearly used to people too because he would get really close to us if we were sitting on the beach.

If I had taken the time to edit this, you could see him better. Oh well!

One morning, Rory got up and said that she wanted to go to the beach and build sand castles before her breakfast. So we put some clothes on and headed on down. It was a bit cool in the mornings since the storms had brought a bit of cool air with them.

My girl was really happy to be getting in some beach time, even before breakfast!

Look at those tiny feet!

Rory and her "diggers" which is what she called the shovels. She sat on the beach this morning for probably 35 minutes, in the same spot, and just played. It was lovely.

WE also went to the Zoo and on a Dolphin cruise. The Zoo there is very small but really, lovely. You can buy a $2.00 cup of food and then feed the animals as you go along (well some of them at least). It is very kid friendly and Rory LOVED it. We got there not too long after it opened and the animals were very active and knew what the cup of food looked like, so we got to feed a lot of them.
These are deer and reindeer. They had found this space in the fence where they could fit their noses. They were so sweet and gentle!

This fella was hungry I think. He didn't roar, but we did get him on video 'talking' or whatever you would like to call it. It made your chest rattle. Glad he was behind a fence.

More feeding deer.

One of the few pics from the Dolphin cruise. We did a Groupon for a glass bottom dolphin cruise before we left. Rory was not a fan of the boat at first, but she kinda warmed up to it. We didn't see many dolphins, again mostly because of the storms, the water was a bit churned up and not as clear and calm as it usually is. We did see some, but just didn't get really close. No matter though, we had a great time!

More beach baby photos. She had 2 swim suits and wore them both most every day since one was generally always wet. Somehow, I only got pics of her in 1 of them, and it is the same one as last year. Oh, well.

We spent a lot of time in the indoor and outdoor pools too. It took Rory a good day to get used to the puddle jumper, but once she did...look out! She had no interest in letting anyone hold her. Of course, we stuck right by her, she is much more confident in her abilities than we are.

After a few days in Orange Beach, Mom and Tim went home and Kev, Rory and I drove to Fairhope to meet Kevin's family for the weekend at The Grand, just to round out our week long holiday. After a week with 4 adults, Rory was thrilled to see her cousins.

The kiddos spent a lot of time at the pools and we even drove back to Gulf Shores on Saturday so that the boys could go to the zoo too since they had not ever been. Our 2nd trip to the zoo was in the late morning, early afternoon (probably around 11ish) and the animals were not interested as much in food since they had already been fed and really wanted to take naps in the sun. The Zoo doesn't take long, maybe an hour, so we had lunch at LuLu's and then headed back to The Grand, for more swimming.

Dark, horrible pic! But I wanted to remember Rory and Brock laying on the bed after swimming, watching Blues Clues while we waited for room service pizza to show up.

Crazy monkey boy Brock.

BeBe and all her 'Grands.

Our last night on vacation. We sat on the balcony and watched the sun set over the water again.

When you are at the beach and witness this fire on the water at sunset, you can't help but be amazed at the wonders of God's creation! There is nothing like witnessing it with the 2 people that you love the most. It was a spectacular vacation!

MIA

2011-09-28T13:22:00.002-05:00

I haven't forgotten about beach pics, as promised. I have been SUPER busy both at work and home. They are coming, I promise!

First Day

2011-09-13T21:40:00.000-05:00

I mentioned yesterday that Rory was starting 2 day per week MDO this week. She was SO excited this morning, I had trouble getting pictures. I got a few at home, but once we got there, forget it...she was too excited to be bothered. She met one of her classmates in the lobby, and they immediately hit it off. The school provides the kids with the same bag. Each class has it's own design...Rory's class was crayons, so when I spotted another crayon, I pointed Rory their way, and she and her new buddy were fast friends.

My big girl, getting excited to be going to big girl school!

I am hoping to take a picture with this bunny on the last day of school too, I know my big girl will look like such a baby compared to her end of the year picture.

I have quite a few of these...very nice Rory!

Little Miss Independant wanted to hold her lunch bag. I have yet to get it embroidered...whatever, maybe this weekend.

At school. I was hoping for this cute, in front of the school pic...not so much. She was so excited and just kept running around. Oh well, this is our story, our first day experience and she was SO excited, and I am thrilled that the pics reflect that!

She cried a bit when we left, but other than that, she did really well!

She was glad that Kevin was there to pick her up, but she had a good time. I asked her if she wanted to go back and she said 'Yes, but not today'

She refused a nap after school and then promptly fell asleep on the couch at 7:15. I changed her to jammies, and tucked her into bed without waking her. My sweet big girl!

Some posts on the beach are coming soon!

10 on Monday

2011-09-12T14:32:00.000-05:00

This is a just a quickie post. I am going to do a post (or 2) on our beach vacation this week. For now, here is a 10 on Monday.

We just got back from a week at the beach. We stayed 4.5 days at a condo in Orange Beach and 2.5 days in Fairhope at The Grand Resort and Spa.
Rory packed her beach bag today and told her Daddy that she is going to the beach. He told her no, that we would have to go another time. She told him very firmly "I am asking you 1 more time, take me to the beach!" Not much of a questions huh?
Because of the tropical storm that passed through the beach the previous weekend, there were TONS of shells on the beach...we brought home probably 60 or so...not kidding!
Rory starts preschool tomorrow. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. She is pretty excited too!
This past Friday was my Dad's birthday. Loved spending it at the beach. I don't know why, but I feel so much closer to heaven at the beach..is that weird?
I am back at work today...BOO!
I am going to the grocery store tonight to get stuff for Rory's lunch...do you know how hard it is to find a lunch box for a toddler? They are all HUGE, I finally found 2...I got one of them and I am going to order the other one next week. Never hurts to have a spare.
We have had major regression on the potty training front. Hopefully she will pick it back up soon!
I am having trouble thinking of 10...apparently my brain is still at the beach.
Yeah...read #9.

Monday...Monday!

2011-08-29T09:05:00.001-05:00

The weather has been SO pretty this weekend. We have had a good time playing and enjoying being outside without nearly having a heat stroke. I have a few pics to post, nothing major.

I got a call from the MDO program that we have had R on the wait list for this past Wednesday and they had a spot open for the 2 day a week program. I am not going to post where she is going, for security purposes but I am SO excited! I know that R is going to LOVE it!

I came home and told her and she got so excited about getting to make new friends. We have orientation tonight and she has meet the teacher tomorrow. She is going to LOVE it!

This next pic has all kinds of issues, but it is so "Rory" right now. She is sassy!
Yesterday, before church, we were ready a few mins early so I told her that I wanted to take a picture of her in her dress. This was my 3rd Easter dress and I had yet to really get a good pic of her in it. I did get a few good ones, but this is BY FAR my favorite picture. Anyone who knew my Dad, should recognize this look (minus the finger in the mouth)

Here we go, this one is better!

Well, that is all for now! Hope that you guys have a good week!

The Potty Training Post

2011-08-23T21:13:00.000-05:00

Ok, so this post is a long time in the making, and it may not help anyone, but whatever, I figured I would write it any way.

Prior to the actual potty training, I:

stocked up on M&Ms
Got a bunch of cheapo potty prizes for Rory to pick from when she went potty
Got lots of cute toddler panties
I also put an old shower curtain liner over the couch with a quilt over it
Made sure that we had lots of clean towels
The froggy potty was in the middle of the living room in the middle of a few layers of beach towel
Had a lot of high water content snacks and of course her regular 50/50 water/juice

(ignore my streaky mirror, this was taken the night before potty training bootcamp, the flash makes it look really bad!)

We talked up potty training all week. Every time I would change her diaper, I would make a big deal about there only being a few diapers left. On Thursday and Friday we counted down until her diapers were going to be all gone. I told her (a lot) what a big girl she is and how little babies wear diapers, but now she is a big girl so she was going to get to wear big girl panties beginning Saturday.

We also bought a new toilet seat for the hall bathroom. We were going to buy one anyway, but I found (at Home Depot) a toilet seat that has a toddler sized seat that flips down and stores in the lid. It is awesome by the way!
DAY 1
Saturday Rory got up and we took her diaper off and put her in big girl undies. I told her that when she needed to go potty, to tell me. Then I gave her orange juice instead of milk for breakfast. For the rest of the morning, I sat her on the Froggy Potty about every 15 minutes and had her sit there until she asked to get up. When she got up, I would reset the kitchen timer for 15 minutes. This seems extreme I know, but I had to get her to go once on there so that we could make a big deal of it and she could get the 1st prize. We had a lot of "HOLD IT! RUN RUN RUN..." moments, but finally, she peed. I made a big deal of it, let her choose which M&M she wanted and pick out a prize. (Of course I took a pic...that's right, I took a pic of her sitting next to a potty with pee in it)

After she went the first time, it seemed to register with her that she needed to go in the potty. She did really well the rest of the day, we did have accidents, but she was trying, which was all that counts.
DAY 2
I had prepared myself for regression on Day 2. It didn't prepare me though. The morning of Day 2 was horrible. You would have thought that it was the 1st and she had never heard of a potty. This lasted for about a couple of hours or so and then she picked it up.
The rest of the day went pretty well. She had some accidents, but nothing major and she decided that she didn't like the Froggy Potty and would rather use the big potty. Fine with me! I hated cleaning it out anyway! We kept it in the living room anyway, just in case she wanted to use it, or she was near it and couldn't hold it to get to the big potty. For the most part though, she went to the hall bathroom.

DAY 3
Day 3 was pretty good. We even took a little trip to Target in big girl panties. I figured that it was some place that R was comfortable, they have tile floors and we know where the bathrooms are. I stressed the fact that if she went in her undies that we would have to come home, so she needed to let me know if she needed to go. She did and we hurried to the bathroom and she went. She was so glad to finally get out of the house, I think that me saying that if she went in her pants we would have to go home, was a bit of motivation. We kept the trip short, and she got to pick a prize for not going at Target, so that was good too.

She does have a bit of fear in public restrooms on the giant seats with the open fronts. I remedy that by me sitting on the potty, all the way towards the back (I am fully clothed, sounds gross...whatever) and she sits between my legs at the front. Sounds gross, but it works and she doesn't feel like she is going to fall in since she can hold on to my legs and her back is against me. For a week or 2 if we went some where, I put the Froggy Potty in the car and we did have to use it once or twice, but now just reminding her not to go in her pants and to tell me so that we don't have to go home has worked.

I did put her in a pull up at bedtime, some theories say not to put them in a pull up at all, but I did and still continue to. She doesn't have night time control yet, and I don't stress over that. Night time control will come with time. Poop was a bit more challenging and we still struggle a bit with it.

That is it...if there is something that I have forgotten, let me know and I will fill you in.

Friday Quickee - Conversations with Rory

2011-08-12T13:15:00.000-05:00

This will be a quick one, but she has been SUPER funny lately!

In the car on the way to eat with some friends of ours. I called Kevin to tell him that we were going to O'Charleys (Hello, kids eat free!).
R: We are not going to O'Charley's, we are going to Ruby Tuesdays.
L: We are going to O'Charley's Rory, maybe we will go to Ruby Tuesdays another time
R: I am not going to O'Charleys
L: Okay
R: Wets go to Nellie Friday's
(***get it, RUBY and NELLIE...our dogs!)

We are trying to get her to go Poop in the potty...it is our last hang up that she isn't really consistent with. For whatever reason, this is her thought process on Pooping.
R: Mommy, those fishies are hungry
L: What fishies Rory?
R: Those fishies in the Ow-Shun
L:O, OK.
R: I have to Poop in the potty to feed the fishies, they are so hungry
L: Rory, do you need to go potty
R: Yes, let's hurry!
-----She goes, and hops off the potty
R: YAY! Mommy, those fish are so happy...they aren't hungry anymore!
L: Super!
(This is totally gross, but if it gets her to go, I don't care what she calls it and we have since aquired a new "Code Phrase"...I need to go 'Feed the Fish' has a whole new meaning)

Rory has gotten 2 of the Llama Llama books, they are SO cute, if you have toddlers, RUN and get them.
Rory knows all of LLama Llama Red Pajama and 'reads' it to her self all of the time!
I was fussing at her the other day and she busts out with this one:
R: Mommy, you listen to me...you stop all this Llama Drama and be patient for your Mama
(I almost lost it by the way...hard to scold her when she is being super cute)

After getting out of the tub the other night, she is following me into her room, all wrapped in her towel. I turn around when I get to the bed and she is not there.
L: Rory...where are you?
---Silence
L: Rory, come here please
---Silence
L: RORY
R: (from far away) Rory is not here right now
L: Where is Rory and who is that talking?
R: This is Princess Belle, call me sweetly pweese
L: Princess Belle, where are you, come here please
-Rory tip toes in
R: Oh dear, I seemed to have gotten wost (lost), and I am naked...oh my

R drops juice sippy and a little spills out
R: Uh Oh, well that was unfort-nat (unfortunate)

Rory talks to Baby James

2011-08-10T21:34:00.000-05:00

My cousin Caroline had her baby today. Welcome sweet boy! J@mes Edw@rd Klingler arrived weighing a hefty 8lbs, 5oz and was 19" long. He is a cutie and Rory is excited to see him. She told me tonight that she wanted to talk to him, so I recorded this on my phone for her. I have no idea why it is sideways!

Wordless Friday

2011-07-29T09:23:00.002-05:00

Quick Update

2011-07-25T09:39:00.002-05:00

We are still around. I have a lot of posts floating around in my head, but this one will likely be short. I have taken a little break from the ole' blog for a few reasons. First of all, I just needed a break and since it is within my power to impose such "breakness" I decided to do so. Secondly, I spend most of my time at home, reminding Rory to go potty. Haha!

Here is a quick 5 for you to give you a quick update on what has been happening in our house lately.

1. We did 3 day potty training over July 4th weekend. I didn't buy the book, but read a lot online about how to do it and read what other Moms had said about it. I wound up using a hybrid of a bunch of different methods and also just going with what I felt would work best for Rory. It was rough, but it worked. Rory still has accidents, but luckily, she is pretty good with it. I bought a bunch of prizes for her to get to pick from, this was one of them...

I swore I would not buy this licensed, character crap...but it got her excited to go potty, so I did it...once. She gets really mad if I tell her that it is a night gown and suggest that she wear it to bed. Like REALLY mad! To her, it is a dress...only a dress...no sleeping involved. I will do a detailed post on Potty Training, and how I did it, soon. (sorry for the fuzzyness, excited toddler+camera phone = blurry pics)

2. Rory is crazy talkative...like comes out with stuff at the craziest times. The other night, we were in Decatur for a Memorial Svc and my cousin Caroline's baby shower, and Mom and I were trying to get her to go to sleep. She is laying in the bed, just chatting away and all the sudden, she sits up and says "Mommy, I am medium done with this sleeping." Mom and I about lost it.

3. Kevin and I had been looking at bike trailers for a while, but wow...they are expensive. We were at Target about 3 weeks ago (one of our tester trips after Potty Training where we knew where the bathroom was and if she had an accident, not that big of a deal) and found a Schwinn trailer on clearance for a steal. It converts to a jogging stroller too. It is awesome and Rory LOVES it...it is quite a work out!

Of course, Gymbo and Baby Meredith and the juice sippy had to go too. Look at her little beat up toddler legs, bless her heart.

4. We are gearing up for our trip to the beach in September. Rory asks every day if we are going to the beach today. Sweet girl...she has no concept of tomorrow, let alone September.

5. I have started looking at stuff and trying to get ideas for stuff for Rory's 3rd Birthday Party in December. I have it narrowed down to 2-3 themes to choose from. I know that my years of getting pick a cutsie theme are numbered and before long, she will be in full on 'licensed character theme' parties. So I am enjoying it while I can.

For Dad

2011-06-30T00:00:00.015-05:00

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made from what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you

I have been changed for good.

This is the best recording I could find of it. Ignore the video...just go with the words. I think that it is so appropriate that it is from Wicked...

Dad,

I can't believe that it has been 4 years. This has been the strangest journey. One I didn't think that I had it in me to make when we began 4 years ago. Every moment, of every day, I love you so much.

All my love,

Fritz.

Conversations with Rory

2011-06-28T12:01:00.000-05:00

Here are few from lately.

On our way home from church 2 Sundays ago
L: Rory, did you have a good time at church?
R: Yes, I did
L: What did you learn in Sunday School?
R: God made pizza
L: He did? What else?
R: AND CHEESEBURGERS!!!!
---
Same day, at the table, during lunch.
R: Daddy, what is God doing?
K: I don't know, what is God doing Rory?
R: He is outside mowing the grass.
K: (to me) I think that we need to take her to church more she thinks that God is the Pizza man who mows our yard.
---
In discssing her new big girl bed
L: Rory, I love your new big girl bed, are you going to sleep in it tonight?
R: No I am not. I am too little, I am just a little tiny baby.
L: You are a big girl, in your own big girl bed. It is going to be so fun!
R: No Mommy, I want the stripes back on my bed. (that would be the slats...aka the other side of the crib).
---
Yesterday at nap time.
L: Rory it is time to take a nap.
R: No, it is not, I am not taking a nap.
L: Yes, you are, let's go get in your bed.
R: (while getting in her bed) I am not tired Mommy, I am just really grumpy.
L: Well, taking a nap will solve that too.
---
L: Rory, lets clean up a little bit, take all your books and put them back on the bookshelf in your room please.
R: (looking at me like I am crazy) Seriously, Mommy that is a lot of books.
---
Yesterday while sitting on the couch watching Sleeping Beauty.
R: Mommy, that is Sleeping Beauty
L: Yes, Rory, it is.
R: Sleeping Beauty is very pretty, like me.
L: Yes, she is very pretty, just like you. Do you know Sleeping Beauty's name?
R: Yes...I do
L: Well, what is it?
R: A-Rory, see just like me, we are the same
---
Overheard while I was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher.
R: Nellie, come here
(few seconds later, more loudly)
R: Nellie, come here...just be still...this won't hurt a bit.
(I knew this might not be good...I inch to the edge of the kitchen to look around the corner - Nellie is sitting looking at Rory and Rory has the handle to her broom in her hand)
Rory bops Nellie on the head
R: Abra Dabra-you are Nellie the frog.
(perplexed look)
R: Nellie you are a funny looking frog...lets try Ruby...
---
Last weeks lesson at church was on Noah. She came home with the little worksheet that they had done on Noah...complete with illustrations showing Noah with a full white beard and robes.
L: Rory, who is this on your worksheet from church?
R: That is Ga-Noah-e-o, he rode in a boat
(Clearly, she is confusing the pronunciation of Noah with Gnomeo from Gnomeo and Juliet)
L: That is Noah, God told him to build an ark. Do you remember who else was on the ark with Noah?
R: ....(thinking)....Mommy and Daddy aminals and his wife Juliet.
L: Rory, I don't think his wife's name was Juliet, wrong story.

Some pics

2011-06-16T22:25:00.000-05:00

(I haven't edited any of these, it is too late for me to trudge through them now, so you are getting them Sooc, flaws and all-be warned!) As I mentioned in my post earlier today, Little Miss climbed out of her crib instead of taking her nap. Truthfully, we are lucky that she has slept in a crib and not climbed out and she is 2.5. Sooo...today, when I got home, I converted her crib to a toddler bed. After a quick trip to Target to get a pool noodle to keep her from rolling out, we are 2 hours into her first night in her big girl bed.

Hopefully, all will go well. She was pretty excited to be in her big girl bed.

I got the bin of my old dance costumes out the other weekend, They were a BIG hit. Now if we can just get her potty trained, we can enroll her and she can get her OWN costumes.

We played in the pool the weekend between the 2 weeks of sickness. So cute!

That is all for tonight. Goodnight everyone!

Breaking News

2011-06-16T10:53:00.000-05:00

News Flash...Guess who climbed out of the crib during her nap today? Yep...little Miss Sassy Britches! This should get interesting!

10 on Tuesday

2011-06-14T16:25:00.000-05:00

We are still alive, it has been a wild few weeks, but hopefully everything is getting back to normal and I can begin blogging more again.

Rory had a fever virus for a week. SHe was pitiful and it concluded with a wicked awesome rash...not fun, but short lived thank goodness.
The week AFTER the fever virus. We wound up in the ER because Rory had a UTI. If you haven't ever had to hold your 2 year old down for them to put a catheter in, you aren't missing anything....trust me.
I had a great birthday! I am officially 31...crazy! I got a new washer and dryer... You know you are old when a washer and dryer is an appropriate bday present!
Rory is full on in the 2 year old attitute at the moment.
I asked R what she learned at church on Sunday and she said "God made pizza."
We have been doing some minor home improvement projects around the Humphrey house, more to come this weekend.
Tinkerbell brought Rory a pouch of pixie dust in exhange for her pacies...PLEASE let this one stick! So far, so good.
I need a vacation! We are SLAMMED at work!
Having trouble getting 10.
I haven't taken any pics in a week or two. That is the longest that R has gone with no pics being taken! Poor kid...right?

Thoughts

2011-05-20T07:48:00.000-05:00

I have heard a lot of reporting this week of people who think that the Rapture is going to occur tomorrow, 5/21/2011. This coupled with the things that Pres Ob@ma has said about Israel, have really made me begin to think. This may cost me some readers, but that is OK, this is what has been laid on my heart to share, and I am going to do it.

We live in a fallen world. No doubts about that. The wages of war and corruption surround us. I am the first to admit that I don't keep and obey what God has instructed us in the Bible nearly as well as I should. I do however, know that we have a loving and gracious God. No matter our ways, no matter our sins, we are forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ. What an amazing gift we have been given. Even in times when I feel that all hope is lost, as long as the sun rises and sets, as long as the seas have depth and the winds have breath, all is not lost. As it says in Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me", there is always a way.

Sometimes, it is very difficult for me to listen to the news or the radio or sometimes even being out in public. There is so much heart ache and grief and people desperately looking for answers to their problems. I admit, sometimes I find myself looking too. The real answer is not to be found in money, or time or any other modern day solution, the answer is the same as it always has been. Christ. One man, 100% human, 100% God, 100% the answer.

I admit that I am not nearly as forthcoming in sharing my faith as I should be. But today that changes. I don't know if the end of days is tomorrow or far past my lifetime. I do, however, know that I want to see all of you there. God is good people, he will help you, protect you and keep you, but you have to be willing to ask him into your heart, and you have to be willing to allow him to change you.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.”
⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know^[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14: 1-7)

God is good, all the time. If you haven't asked him to be your Saviour, you should.

Conversations with Rory

2011-05-18T21:41:00.005-05:00

(Sorry for the quality...it is a cell phone pic!)

Rory was sorting coins into a change purse.

L: Rory, what are you putting in the coin purse?

R: Pennies and Pickles

L: Do you mean Pennies and Nickles?

R: That is what I said Mommy, 'Pennies and Pickles

Tonight while snuggling on the couch preparing for bed

R: Dohn stan, Dohn stan, Dohn stan so cwowse to me

(I didn't know that she knew any 80s Police songs-this is all Kevin's influence, I am 100% sure)

Rory was sitting in the floor of our bedroom with a crayon and piece of paper.

L: Rory, what are you doing?

R: Nofin...just finkin of some new ideas

To Nellie (our yellow lab) when Nellie came up and licked Rory's cheek

R: Nellie, your mouth smells very cue-lar (peculiar)

At bedtime Friday night.

R: Mommy, you want to put me in my bed?

L: Sure, are you ready to go get in your bed?

R: I am ready

L: Ok, lets go

-put her in the bed, covered her up and turned her music on. It was a different CD than usually plays at night

R: Mommy, somefin is not right wif that music...Rory's music says 'Bum, Bum..laaaaaaaa...dee"

-I put her usual CD back in

R: Fanks Mommy, that is much better, now I can cwose my eyes and have supa sweet dreams

L: Ok, night night, sweet dreams Rory I will see you in the morning

R: Mommy I can't tell you good night because I am supa sleeping, cwose the door pwease

Rory walks into the living room, naked...

L: Rory, where are your clothes and diaper

R: They were dirty, you need to wash the wan-dree

L: I think that we need to put some clothes back on Rory

R: Mommy..(turns around with her back to me) dis is my boodie and it is naked

Also, she names all horses "Lauren (Wahr-ren)" and all bunny rabbits are named "Kevin" Don't ask me, I have no idea why.

2011-05-17T20:50:00.000-05:00

I love this baby more than I could ever have imagined. My sweet baby.

Mother's Day - 24 hours of payment for 8,760 hours of work.

2011-05-09T12:24:00.001-05:00

Mother’s Day. Who knew that a made up holiday would mean so much to me. I know I have posted before on my feelings of the day, but alas, here I go again. I can only speak in reference to being a working Mom, although, I am in no way diminishing being a stay at home Mom. Being a Mom is hard…period.

Clearly, I love my little Rorybee! I wouldn’t take anything for her, and I love being her Mom, but wow…is it hard! Some days, I wonder what it would be like to actually own my body again. From the moment that I got pregnant with her, she has owned me…hook line and sinker. I thought that it might end when she was born, but nope. I am her security blanket, her band-aid for bruised knees and bruised feelings, bed when she is feeling cuddly, ladder when she wants to get to something, jungle gym when she wants to be froggy (although some days I feel more like a speed bump as she flies past me), pillow for her sleepy head, vending machine for the never ending requests (Mommy, juice/milk/fruit snacks/cheese/macaroni-n-cheese/grapes/yogurt…please) and recreational director. Sometimes after getting home from work, after I have helped 465 people get through a situation that 9 times out of 10 they profess that they knew they shouldn’t have gotten into, and being inundated with the endless requests, I admit I sometimes want to scream.

Some days walking into the alternate universe where Buzz Lightyear and Woody are plotting evil schemes from in between the couch cushions overlooking a sea of mismatched puzzle flashcards, all the while, there is a naked Barbie Woodstock being thrown in front of the play kitchen in which the playfood is reproducing faster than a gaggle of bunny rabbits, makes me want to run screaming out the door. Then, here she comes, barreling towards me, giggling…”Mooommmy….I missed you sooooo much!!!!” and I shut out the wasteland of toys and juice cups, scoop her up and inhale the smell of her…most days a mix of grape juice, peanut butter and J0hnson and J0hnson No More Tangles, knowing that this diapered toddler in my arms is growing faster than I care to think about. We have limited time left where she will still fit, all squishy warm and wiggling in my arms. There will be a day when those little dimpled, toddler hands won’t leave peanut butter and jelly remnants in my hair when she hugs me. One day, the explosion in our living room won’t be of Disn*y toys and sippy cups, but of teenagers and attitudes. One day, my sweet tiny girl is going to be abducted by teenage angst and leave me with a teenage girl…Lord help us all when that day comes.

I admit it though, I am beat! I try to spend a good solid, 2 hours, just she and I, playing and doing what she wants to do. I try to soak in all the love and fun that she can throw at me. I try to ignore the mass chaos that has become my house since I left for work and just enjoy her. We play and splash at bath time, we brush her teeth and hair. She giggles as I lay her on the bed in her room and act shocked when I unwrap her blue hooded towel and find her little naked self, and wrap her back up with a feigned rush. I relish the smell of that baby lotion as I put it on her little toddler legs, and sweet little toddler hands. She always asks for a little more and insists on putting it on my cheeks because, as she says, ‘Dat means love.’ I slip her into her footie pajamas, dreading the day when she has out grown them. We go and get her some milk and we snuggle on the couch, just the 2 of us, until it is time to say her prayers, which she has started saying completely on her own, and then I take her and put her in her bed. I always tell her the same thing, “goonight, sweet dreams, I love you, see you in the morning” and it never fails, as I push play on her CD player and close her door, I hear her little voice, “I love you too Mommy…see you in the morning.” I have to fight the urge to go and scoop her up and do it all again, just to hear her say it again.

As I turn to go back in the living room, ripe with love and sweetness, I am brought back to reality, the living room. 68 puzzle flash cards scattered in the floor (how do I know that there are 68? Because I put them all back together every night), 2 empty juice cups, 3 ‘snuggling’ quilts tossed haphazardly all over the furniture and floors, the contents of the Disn*y store sprinkled all over the living room, dining room and kitchen, 3 empty baskets and the playfood that is supposed to be in them, empty water glasses and coke bottles from the sitter, her brother and Kevin, a sink full of dirty dishes, and a dishwasher full of clean dishes. I walk to the laundry room and get the clothes out of dryer, to the love seat they go, open the washing machine…great…sour clothes…yeah, forgot that I wanted to do ‘1 last load’ before bed at 11 last night. Dang…turn those back on, with a little extra oxyclean, and start on cleaning up the debris from the bomb that went off in the living room. Fold the clothes, unload the dishwasher, reload the dishwasher, put the clothes away, put the (2nd time washed) wet clothes in the dryer, put another load in to wash, wipe down the counters, pick up the little bits of paper crayon wrapper that I didn’t notice before because of the explosion of toys that was covering them, let the dogs out to go to the bathroom.

By now it is 10:30…I still need a shower and to get some stuff together for work tomorrow. Kevin usually gets home about 11, and he calls me when he turns on the street so that I can come and unlock the door, so that the dogs don’t bark, and wake up Rory. Jump in the shower, jump out, thrown on a T-Shirt and boxer shorts, fix the sheets on the bed and sit down, and wait for Kevin to call. Look around the bedroom…crap…clothes still in the washer, go and get those, put them in the dryer…clothes from the dryer…on the bed, to fold and put away. Kevin calls, go and unlock the door. Get a glass of water to put on my night stand, turn off Rory’s light (if Kev hasn’t already), put the clean clothes away, plug in my cell phone, turn on the alarm and get in bed. Kevin usually joins me in the next minute or two.

“How was your day?” he says.
“Good, how was yours?” I reply.
“Good, I am really tired.” He replies.

About this time, Rory stirs, I hear her on the monitor…I go in and check on her and find her standing in the crib…all the hair on one side of her head is sticking up. This is one of those times when she just needed Mommy…I scoop her up, tell her that I love her and that she has to go back to sleep . She says “OK” and I put her back down and cover her up. As I walk out of the room, I hear her little voice again “Night Night Mommy…sweet dreams.” “Sweet dreams sugar-plum…see you in the morning”

I walk back into the bedroom. Kevin is playing on the laptop. I am pretty sure that he has no idea the condition of the house or the mass chaos that was left in the wake of the toddler and 2 teenagers that spend 5 hours of their day at our house, and who I think bring the soda bottles, chip bags and trash from their neighbors to our house with them. He has no idea what it looked like when I got home, but that is OK. I am asleep in like 2 minutes and the next thing I know, the alarm is going off at 5:30 and I hear Rory in her bed calling me to come and get her up.

It is a vicious cycle…but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. All of this to say…as Mothers we have earned 1 day out of 365 and fellas, give your wives a break…24 hours isn’t too much to ask!!!! It may be some stupid, Hallmark created holiday to you, but to us, it is nice to feel like we are appreciated. Happy Mother's Day to all my Mommy buddies, and an extra shout out to my Mom...thanks for not killing me...or Dad.

Still here!

2011-05-03T21:12:00.002-05:00

We are still here! We have been busy anyway, and then the tornadoes came through last week. It was stressful to say the least! Kevin's parents live in Tuscaloosa county, Kevin's grandmother, Hubbard, lives in Pleasant Grove, my family lives in N. Alabama, just north of Cullman and Tim was travelling from Jackson, MS through Tuscaloosa and was (literally) 10-15 mins in front of the Tuscaloosa tornado.

We all made it through fine, but it is heart wrenching the devastation that is surrounding us down here. Since Tim came to our house, instead of going home, on Wednesday because of the tornadoes, and N. Alabama was out of power, Mom, Sarah Grace and Victoria came down here and spent Thursday, Friday and part of Saturday with us. It was wonderful having them here, but bittersweet knowing that they were here because of the terrible devastation in the cities that hold such special places in our hearts.

To top it off, they have put the Police on 12 hour shifts, until further notice. Kevin is working 7pm to 7am. It pretty much stinks! Considering I have to leave here at 6:30, to be at work on time, it means that I have to take Rory with me to work, and meet Kevin in the parking lot, and he brings her back with him. Not to mention, it means that we get to spend NO time together! We have dinner, Kevin rushes to put his clothes on, and he leaves by 6. NO FUN!!!! Hopefully, that will end soon. We are just thankful that we still have each other and a home to come back to.

I am including my new favorite picture, just because....well...just because!

Conversations with Rory

2011-04-19T11:40:00.000-05:00

At the dinner table

Me: Rory, please don't hold your fork above your head, you are going to drop your food in your hair.
Rory: (Does it anyway)
Me: Rory, last warning, do not put your food in the air like that. I will take the fork away if you continue to do this.
Rory: Mommy...I not can help it...sometime Rory isa fwazy (crazy) baby

Kevin: (Calling to Rory in the other room) Rory, come here please
.....NOTHING.....
K: Rory, what are you doing? Come here please
.....NOTHING....
K: (louder this time) Rory!
Rory sticks her head out her door
R: Justa second Daddy...I almost done...gimme 3 minutes

Last night, Rory was sticking her hands in my water glass...after being told not to do it for about the 3rd time and being redirected to something else only to come back and do it again.
M: Rory, do not put your hands in my water glass. That is gross, if you do it again, I am going to spank your hand.
R: Yes...I will (puts her hand in the water glass again)
(I spank her hand)
R: Mommy, you not tell me no...I forgive you.
M: I appreciate your generosity...but I didn't do anything wrong, you are the one that put your hand in the glass after I told you not to.
R: I fink I need to stand in the corner
M: OK...go ahead.

Rory comes in the living room, dragging a trash bag of clothes that I have set asside to donate to Hannah Home. We have discussed this bag of clothing at length since she helped me clean out her drawers and we discussed how she was too big for the clothes and were are going to donate them to Hannah Home.
M: Rory, what are you doing?
R: We gonna give these clothes for the donuts
Apparently 'donate' and 'donut' were too close in similarity.

In the car, after Gymboree a few weeks ago
M: Rory, you look tired, did you have fun at Gymboree?
R: Yes..I did...I am az-zosted, I need a nap

There are more, I just can't think of them right now. Happy Tuesday!

Spring Cleaning Survey

2011-04-13T11:49:00.000-05:00

I found this in an email in my archived folder at work...I thought it would be fun to post and pass around. Some of the questions were kinda random...but it is funny none the less. Let me know if you do it on your blog so that I can read your nerosis as well!

Shower Curtain - When not in use- open, or closed? CLOSED!!!!
Toilet paper – flap on top, or bottom? Flap on top-roll needs to turn counterclockwise
Sweeping – everyday, once or twice a week, once in a blue moon or don’t own a broom? I’d say once or twice a week.
Vacuum - , once or twice a week, once in a blue moon or only when company comes? We vacuum at least once a week, we should do it more, but Rory is TERRIFIED of the vacuum cleaner, so we have to do it when she isn’t there, or is outside and distracted.
Least favorite chore: UNLOADING THE DISHWASHER
Household chore you don’t mind doing: Ironing or polishing silver (I LOVE to polish silver...weird I know!)
How often do you change the air filter in your house? 1-2 times per month.
Dishwasher: Load as you go or do it all at once? I like to load as I go, but as much as I hate unloading…sometimes it is all at once because I haven’t unloaded it yet.
Silverware in the dishwasher – each type all together or mixed up and sorted when it is put away? I try to put each type together, but it isn’t a big deal if it isn’t.
Ironing – starch or no starch? STARCH STARCH STARCH! I even starch and press my jeans…although Kevin hates his jeans pressed, so it is just mine.
Medicine cabinet – neatly organized or mass confusion? I try to keep it neatly organized, even to the point that all medicines are labeled with the label maker with the proper dosage for the intended user and blister pack pills are in clear (empty baby food) plastic containers with a label on the front , so that I can easily tell what is in it and how much is left. Kevin on the other hand…doesn’t mind mass confusion.
Fitted sheets – folded neatly in proportion to the flat sheet, folded good enough or not folded at all? I’d say folded neatly in proportion to the flat sheet. I can’t stand wrinkled sheets (hence why I starch and iron flat sheets and pillowcases) so all our sheets are folded neat and tidy.
Sheets – how often do you change them? Once a week…every week.
Towels – do you reuse towels? Yep, I will use one 2-3 times before washing it, as long as it is folded and hung up in between uses. I always got a clean one growing up (sorry Mom) but once I got to college and had to do my own laundry...I started using them a few times before washing.
Underwear and socks – folded and paired or just shoved in a drawer? Folded and paired. Kevin says that he never had folded underwear until he met me…I didn’t know that there was an alternative.
Ceiling fan – on or off when you are sleeping? ON – I like my bedroom to be chilly when I am sleeping. Mostly because I like the weight of the down comforter on me and they keep you pretty toasty. Kevin could do without the fan.
Curtains – Open all the time, closed all the time or open during the day/closed at night? I like them open during daylight, closed at night, Kevin likes them closed all the time.
Oven Light – on while cooking or only turned on to look and then turned back off? On if there is something in the oven (this was a weird question – never really thought about it)
Glasses – Organized by type or haphazardly placed in the cabinet? Organized by type and alternating up and down so that use the space efficiently.
Label Maker – Do you own one and if so, do you use it? Yep..I have 2 actually. I use them A LOT!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

March - picture catch up

2011-04-11T21:44:00.000-05:00

OK. So, still a bad blogger. Consider this the catch up post. My Uncle Hobie and Uncle Freddie came up to visit about a month ago. They had never met Rory and I had not seen Uncle Hobie since the summer I was pregnant with Rory and hadn't seen Uncle Freddie since my Dad's funeral. I REALLY enjoyed seeing them and I was very glad that Rory got to meet them!

I was waiting to post pics until I could figure out Lightroom, but I haven't had a chance to play with it, so these are all SOOC. I made Rory 2 of these little tops. They are reversible so she gets a lot of wear out of them. They are cute with most anything, including her cowgirl boots, which you will see, from the next few pics, were her shoe of choice for a while!

Sidewalk chalk and a toddler...stereotypical springtime activity.

Pink tricycle, pink cowgirl boots and princess helmet...she is ready to go. We are still working on how to actually pedal...but we are getting there!

It is hard to believe that she is actually big enough to ride this tricycle. She got it for her 1st birthday and couldn't even come close to getting her feet on the pedals.

She told me she was "watchin for Boos-eye and Woody.

See that little thing in her hand. You and I might call it a tire pressure gauge. If you ask Rory what it is, she will point it at your face, close one eye, squint and tell you to "say Cheese-burga." Apparently, having a Policeman for a Dad has made her an aficionado of spy cams and stealthy electronics,

You have heard of the naked chef? Well introducing the naked, turtle tambourine playing chef.

I mentioned that I was working on a bubble suit for her and would take a picture when I got done. These are HORRIBLE. I was in a hurry and didn't look at the pics until like a week later. I didn't realize that the camera was focusing on the cabinets behind her until I actually uploaded them. Oh well, you get the point, It is cute and bright and spring-like and it looks SUPER cute on her.

After church 2 weeks ago. She was such a good girl during church, by the time that we got home, she was pretty tired of obeying and was not the slightest bit interested in taking pics. This is the best that I could get.

Telling Nellie, who was peeking out the window, to go lay down and behave.

She is such a goofball.

Back in Decatur the next weekend. She and Sarah Grace played the piano. She LOVES the piano, and will beg anyone to play for her. Sarah loves to play and is phenomenal, so it works out well.

She fell asleep like this on Kevin, I thought it was cute, so I took a picture.

Another one of my smocking projects, made for a friend of ours little girl.

1 toddler + 1 box of packing peanuts - 1 Mommy who was starting dinner = big mess. She doesn't look the slightest bit remorseful does she? Good thing that she is cute! After all, she had a good time playing and it was an easy (albeit time consuming) clean up. No lasting damage!

I was refinishing and repainting a table for the living room (another post) and to keep Rory busy I gave her an empty Tang container filled with water, cheapo paint brush and let her loose in the back yard to "paint the fence." It occupied her time for a good 45 minutes, possibly longer, She thought it was the greatest thing ever.

When she wasn't painting the fence, she was chasing Nellie. Both of them were in hog heaven.

Classic Rory look.

OK, so you are caught up on the month of March except for mine and Kev's anniversary, but I will cover those on another day.

Whew! See ya later.

10 on Wednesday

2011-03-30T10:22:00.001-05:00

I have been taking a little blog break. Since it is the end of the month, I figured I would do a little 10 on Tuesday..on Wednesday.

My cousin Eric got married this last weekend. He and his (now) wife, Laura Leigh, are honeymooning in Jamaica as we speak...lucky people!
Kevin and I have been married 5 years, as of Friday. He got me a 12(ish) Carat blue topaz ring that is surrounded by diamonds. It is beautiful! I got him a painting of him and Holy (his grandfather) fishing. He was surprised, but pleased (I think) ( I will try to get a good pic of it)
I am also getting a new wedding band. We picked it out on Friday and I am just waiting for it to be done. The diamonds used in it are the ones out of my Mom's ring that my Dad gave her for their 10th anniversary. Pretty special.
We have hit a sleeping stumbling block in the last week. Rory is really trying to throw us off...Mommy is winning, hopefully!
It has been rainy and yucky for the past 4-5 days. Where is all that beautiful spring weather?
I have been compiling my list of honey-dos for the Spring...watch out Kev!
I saw a little girl with the cutest pair of shoes on the other day. I have been trying to find them on the internet and can't. I wanted to ask her Mother where she got them, and the brand, but she was talking on the phone at the time. GRRR!
We really need to do a cleaning out of the toys for Rory. She has WAAAY too many!
R's latest obsession...Tinkerbell...great!
I can't think of 10.

I will try to be better about blogging in April!

Checking in and more Conversations with Rory.

2011-03-16T08:16:00.001-05:00

Not a whole lot to report. We enjoyed the lovely weather this weekend and Rory and I played outside a good bit. Sunday, Rory and I went to the ballpark to watch Davis's practice. Rory ran around the ball park and played in the dirt...she had a great time!

Davis wanted to pull Rory in the wagon back home, and of course Brock had to ride as well.

See those sunglasses Rory is wearing? The dollar isle at Target had a whole bunch of kid's sunglasses. Rory picked these out and LOVES them. The Easter Bunny might have picked up another pair as well ;).

This was a conversation that we had last night after R's bath, while trying to get her clothes on.

R: Where is Daddy?
L: He is in the Living Room, waiting for you.
R: Daddy is in the Wiving Woom, putting away the gwo-cer-wa-wer-wees. (groceries, for those that couldn't understand 'Southern Toddler lingo)
L: He is? Well, I think that the groceries go in the kitchen
R: Daddy has ta put them fridge-da-mater.

The other weekend, while we were in Decatur, Rory comes walking out of Mom and Tim's office with pens in her hand...
R: Mommy, we don't write on Gee's wall...noooo, that is not very nice
L: Rory did you write on Gee's wall (I am about to have a heart attack at this point)
R: Nooo...that is naughty, pens are for de paper
(PS. I checked, didn't see any, but whew, that gave me a scare)

At Davis's ball practice on Sunday...after hearing the coach tell one of the players to 'Run through the bag' at first base after getting a hit Rory yelled the next 3 players, loudly and repeatedly, no matter what they were doing to "Run fru da hag."

Happy Birthday

2011-03-14T15:12:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday Cody-man!

Love
Lauren, Kevin, and Rory

5 on Friday

2011-03-11T12:00:00.000-06:00

A good ole Five on Friday...

We don't have any out of town plans for this weekend! YAY!!!! I am looking forward to spending time with my little Fam-of-3.
I have been smocking again lately. I am almost done with a bubble suit for Rory. I will take pics when I am done of it on her.
I have an order for 40 monogrammed napkins...this is going to take a while.
We are in the throes of 'Operation no-Pacie.' I HATE taking it from her, I really wanted to let her drop it on her own, but alas...not happening. At almost 2.5, it is time. Plus, I am tired of telling her to take it out to talk.
Kevin and I got engaged 6 years ago today. Wow...we will be married 5 years at the end of this month. Hard to believe!

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!

Conversations with Rory

2011-03-03T16:28:00.001-06:00

A few snippets from the last week or two.

Getting in car
R: I get in the car and we go shopping
L: Well, OK, where do you want to go shopping?
R: Want to go to Target and get Daddy some Hunna-pants
L: Well alright then.
------
R: Mommy, did you make a mess in your room?
L: No, I didn't make a mess in my room. Rory, did you make a mess in your room?
R: No...that's not nice to make a big mess with your books in the floor.
L: You are correct, but if you didn't make a mess in your room with the books, who did?
R: Nellie
L: Are you sure you didn't do it?
R: Rory made the mess, Nellie likes to read the books.
------
L: Rory, it is time to get your bath, lets go get your clothes off.
R: OK...Mommy you get this diapa off-a-me..(struggling with the diaper, trying to pull them down like underwear)
L: Here let me help you...
R: Fanks (thanks) Mommy...I gotta show Daddy Rory's nudie boodie. (runs naked into the living room)
------
R: Hey Cap'n Mommy
L: Hey Cap'n Rory
R: Ahoy my heart-please
L: Ahoy me hardies to you too Rory
R: Mommy...I am a pie-wrap (pirate) from Nebba-Nebba hand (Never Never Land)

Picture-a-palooza

2011-03-01T20:33:00.000-06:00

I have been a terrible blogger...I know. It has been a wild month! First we went to Gatlinburg for 4 days, we had a BLAST and then when we got home, Kevin got sick. It lasted about a week and about the time that he got over it, I got sick and then I got a kickin' case of hives...yuck! Somewhere in there, we took care of Rory and Sarah and Victoria turned 16. Whew! You are all caught up!

Now, onto the pics...
I got some plain wood birdhouses and gave them base coats and then turned Rory loose with the paints to decorate until her hearts content. She had a great time and it was a great activity to do in this lovely weather!

Our first activity in Gatlinburg was the Ripley's Aquarium. Rory was not a fan, at first, but she warmed up to it.

It was flippin' cold!!!!

Rory, Tiana, Sully, Buzz, Woody, Bullseye, Nemo and Louis sat in the window seat in the mornings and "looked for the bears." This little corner area was great for Rory to play in! We stayed at the Westgate Resort and Spa and had a wonderful time! It was great! They even had an indoor water park that we spent about 3 hours at one day.

At The Peddlar...celebrating Kevin's Birthday. This is a Gatlinburg tradition for Kev and I.

We got her these boots and hat...she is obsessed with them. I don't think that she took them off for a week after we got home!

All real cowgirls use cell phones...

2011-02-10T09:32:00.001-06:00

Update on our 4 day trip to Gatlinburg coming soon.

Ten on "It is Tuesday somewhere"

2011-01-31T09:28:00.001-06:00

Just a quick update, a la bullet points!

Hives showed back up last week. YUCK, miserable!
We are going to Gatlinburg for a long weekend, it can't come soon enough!
I have a serious case of the 'Mondays'
Considering taking the twin bed out of Rory's room for a while until it is time for her to be in it all the time. We had it in there when she was little bitty so that we would have a place to lay down for middle of the night feedings or if we needed to. It is nice having it in there, but I think Rory would rather have the play space.
There is a 4x6 pink tent in the middle of my living room. It was a Christmas gift from my Aunt Linda. Rory LOVES it. We will probably leave it there for a few more days, and then take it down for a while but for now, she is loving it.
Rory asked to listen to Belle in the car on Saturday. I didn't want to listen to the CD, so I told her that I didn't know where it was. She pointed at the radio in the dash and said "Mommy you push 123 on the car and we listen to Belle" I guess she has the CD player figured out, great.
We LOVED the lovely weather this weekend. We opened up windows in the house and let it air out. It was heavenly!
Yesterday, we went grocery shopping and I let Rory take her little metal shopping cart and shop too. Kevin pushed the big buggy and I wrangled Rory, apologized to other shoppers for her Kamikaze steering and snuck items from her basket, back to the shelves. She enjoyed it and we had a good time.
The song of the week is...Sesame Street. She doesn't watch Sesame Street, but we have a CD with a bunch of songs on it. She gallops around the house singing "Sunny Day..sleepin da cwowds away..ah ma may to where the air is street, tell me how da get to sesame street."
Life with a toddler...always an adventure....keep them coming!

Picture-a-palooza

2011-01-19T21:19:00.001-06:00

I haven't posted pics of Miss Bee in a while, so I figured I would post a few.

A day at the park with Mommy and Daddy. Those piggie tails kill me!

Little girl, big bow, monogrammed shirt, english sandals...does it get any more southern than that?

Rory likes to "dip" her food. I had given her a little cup of sour creme to dip her cheese quesedilla in. I turned around, and she had put it all over her face, hair and hands. She said "Mommy, I love dis wo-shin (lotion)."

We went outside to play and she insisted on taking 'Baby Meredith' in the stroller. She pushed it out to the middle of the drive way, turned around and said "Mommy, you take my pic-tah like dis." So...I did. She had quite a few more poses for me too.

My big girl. She looks so big in the picture.

She is so goofy sometimes. She must get that from Kevin's side of the family.

For Bugger

2011-01-18T13:32:00.002-06:00

From my very favorite book...Little Women.

"My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother."

Conversations with Rory

2011-01-13T13:06:00.000-06:00

A snippet of conversation from last night.

R: I wanna go for a ride
M: Ok, where do you want to go?
R: Mommy...I hafta follow my haaahhhht.
M: Well Ok Rory...how does your heart feel about Panera Bread?
R: Ok.

Never a dull moment with a 2 year old.

Ten on Tuesday--Wednesday

2011-01-12T12:51:00.000-06:00

Our office was closed because of ice on Monday. Kevin left for work at 1:30 on Sunday and didn't get home until 12:00 noon on Monday. He was stuck at the precinct because the next shift couldn't get in. We had about 2 inches of solid ice down here.
I REALLY wish that we could have gotten some of the snow that all my home-towners got!
I am thinking about getting off of facebook. I might suspend my membership for a while and see how it goes.
Rory had her 2 year check up on Friday. Dr. Malone gave her an antibiotic for the remaining congestion in her chest that we have been fighting for 3 weeks. Unfortunately Augmentin is making my happy girl, really grumpy and she is not resting very well.
We are starting to lay the groundwork for the potty training with Miss Bee.
I am ready to be home with my girlie.
We went back to Gymboree on Saturday after not going for almost a month and Rory was SO excited to see everyone and get to play!
My lower back is killing me. SWEET!
I want to take Rory to Disney World. I know that she is too little right now, but I still really want to take her. Is that bad?
Kevin's bday is coming up...I have an idea of what to get him, but he won't tell me anything that he really wants.

Belle

2011-01-06T08:35:00.001-06:00

While in line at Walgreens last night, Rory was singing the opening song from Beauty and the Beast. She does the intro and then skips to her favorite part, in the middle (sorry, for the cell phone video quality). I have included her version and then the youtube of the actual song too.

Happy Thursday "Litta Peep-a"

Conversations with Rory

2011-01-05T14:27:00.001-06:00

Rory has been quite the chatterbox lately. Here is a sampling of our conversations.

At Target
R: Mommy wears hunna-pants
M: Yes Rory, I wear underpants
R: Daddy wears hunna-pants
M: Yes Rory, Daddy wears underpants
R: Rory wears a diaper
M: Yes Rory, you wear a diaper, but if you start going potty like a big girl, you can wear big girl underpants too.
R: (to the lady passing us in the aisle-very loudly) HEY LADY...you wear hunna-pants?

At night, after dinner and before bath, I let her run around in only big girl underwear until bath time. I had gotten her undressed and she was sitting on the bed while I went to get 2-3 pairs of underwear for her to choose from. I am walking back towards her bed and she is sitting with her legs underneath her, facing the opposite way.
M: Rory (she looks at me over her shoulder)
R: (in her softest, most prim and proper voice) Ohh, pardon me Mommy.

Playing with her play kitchen
R: Here Mommy, you cut this happle
M: Ok, hand me the apple and the knife and I will cut it.
(Rory hands me the knife and I lay it on my leg so that I can grab the handle)
R: Oh no Mommy, knifes cut food, not people
M: Rory, I am not cutting myself, I am turning it around so that I can cut the apple
R: If you not be nice, Rory put the knife away Mommy.
M: Yes ma'am
(At least I know that my message is sinking in)

Kev, Rory and I are in our bed, we are trying to get Rory to take a nap. Kevin is asking me something (can't remember what)
R: Daddy, you close your mouth now
K: Ok, I am sorry Rory.
(a few minutes later)
R: Mommy, I not takin a nap, lets go shoppin'

After putting her play clothes on, to go outside to play
M: Rory do you want your blue english sandals or your pink tennis shoes (converse high tops)
R: Pink Tennie-Boots

In the car on the way to somewhere
R: We don't bite people
M: No, Rory, we don't bite people
R: Noo, biting is not nice.
M: You are correct, it is not nice to bite.
R: We don't hit
M: No, Rory, we don't hit
R: Noo, hit is not sweet
M: You are correct, hitting is not sweet
R: We don't scweem woud
M: No, Rory, we don't scream loudly
R: We don't poot
M: Let's not talk about pooting Rory
R: Poot has-a big smwell

In the car (again)
R: Where is my pacie
M: You don't need a pacie, Rory, you are a big girl
R: I'm a big girl, I not need a pacie
M: You are right, you ARE a big girl, you don't need a pacie
R: Baby wear a diaper
M: Yes, babies wear diapers
R: Rory wear a diaper. Rory a baby, Rory needa pacie
(Crap...just outsmarted by a 2 year old)

Girls' Weekend

2011-01-02T21:22:00.000-06:00

Sarah and Victoria came down on Thursday, since I was off on Friday, and spent the weekend with us. We shopped, shopped and shopped some more. We also had a great time laughing, doing mani/pedis playing with Rory.
I didn't take a lot of pics because we were so busy enjoying each other's company, but I will post what I do have.

Merry Christmas, Snow and Sleepy baby.

2010-12-27T21:20:00.000-06:00

Get ready...this is going to be a LOT of pictures. Rory's main present from Santa this year was her kitchen. Her stocking was full of play food, big girl underwear, and tissues (which she is currently obsessed with).

Kev trying to let her wake up enough to see her presents from the Man-in-Red

The look on her face is funny..."Where the heck did THAT come from?"

It didn't take her long to figure out the whole opening presents thing.

Someone found that the kitchen was already stocked with play food.

A "Roll-da-pen"

Thanks Aunt Jenni, Uncle Chris, Davis and Brock for the apron set!

Daddy was a good sport.

We played in the snow twice. The first time, it was really wet, and slushie, so the bottom of her overalls got soaked. She had a good time though, that is all that matters.

Unlike last year, when she would look at her mittens on her hands and cry...this year she was OBSESSED with them. She kept asking for her mipmens...pretty cute!

Snow, round two. It was that good, powder snow.

We broke out the tricycle and let her ride it in the snow. She thought that was pretty neat.

Rory liked looking at the snow flakes on the ground.

This one is for Lovie and Gee...this is tonight, she took her baby to bed with her and when I went in to check on her, she had cuddled up to her in the corner. Now, if we can just get her to name the baby doll...baby steps I guess.

Kevin got me a Pandora bracelet with 7 slides. Rory and I got him a Lambskin leather jacket. It was a great Christmas for all of us! We are so blessed!

Christmas

2010-12-27T11:30:00.001-06:00

I haven't forgotten about the ole' blog. I will be back with pics of Christmas and snow soon. I have been busy enjoying my family and friends and cooking, cooking, cooking with Rory!

Christmas Card Out takes.

2010-12-22T21:40:00.000-06:00

So, I mailed Christmas cards today. They turned out pretty cute! Here are few of the out takes.

"The Constipate"

I actually really did like this one, I just decided that I wanted one where you could see her face.

"Mommy...you take a pit-ture? Cheeeeese-buguh"

There are a lot of variations on this look. A LOT.

Sometimes getting her to behave long enough for a good picture is a bit like nailing Jello to a tree. Difficult at best!

Again, I liked this one but wanted one of her face...smiling if possible.

Again...I have no idea what she was doing. Charades? Stinky diaper? Who knows.

Christmas Miracle

2010-12-22T08:49:00.001-06:00

Many of you might remember Kellie Parker from highschool. She and her husband, Dustin, have a beautiful baby girl named Ella. Through a series of events over the past 6-8 months, they have found themselves in Children's hospital with their infant daughter, Ella, getting a bone marrow transplant.

Ella has done really well with the process up until the past 36 hours and now, well it is not so great! Please, go to Ella's website and read the back story and then say a prayer, or 20, for this sweet family. This is such a scary time for Kellie and Dustin and I know that they treasure every prayer uttered for their sweet Ella.

Dear God,
Hold Ella in the palm of your hand. Station your angels at the four corners of her room and spread their healing wings of protection over her. Lord, hold Dustin and Kellie close to you and give them comfort and peace in such a scary and frightening time. Lord, heal little Ella's liver and help all of her numbers respond to normal levels.
Amen.

FRIDAY!!!!

2010-12-17T10:09:00.000-06:00

YAY! It is Friday. This week has been WILD!

Rory came down with the Flu on Sunday afternoon. We took her to the 'doc-in-a-box' on Sunday night and she tested positive for Flu type B. One prescription of Tamiflu for her, 1 each for Kevin and I and we were on our way.
I finally created and ordered our Christmas Cards last night. I had intentions of taking R's picture on Sunday and ordering them Sunday night, but...see #1. I will get them mailed to you guys as soon as they come in!
Our sitter's little brother came down with the flu on Monday so she has not kept Rory all week. Rory misses 'Nanna' like crazy however, she has gotten to spend time with Bebe (Kev's Mom) and Gee (Tim) this week, so all 3 of them are happy about that.
There is not much more pitiful than a baby with the flu. She felt HORRIBLE, and I felt terrible that she was sick on her birthday.
Christmas is coming up. I only have some books left to buy for my nieces and nephews on my Mom's side, and then I am DONE (except stocking stuffers for Kev)
We are almost in 2011. Whew, that was fast!
No Gymboree this week, I haven't told Rory yet.
I am hoping to get Rory to the mall to see Santa this weekend. We will see, we might just skip it this year!
Coming up with 10 is difficult today.
Rory is all about our 'Smiss-miss tree' and takes it upon herself to arrange and rearrange the ornaments on the bottom half. Sometimes, some of her toys even make it on to the tree. Most of the time, she clumps them all into one small space, I distribute them back out, but they always wind up clumped up again. I have given up.

Stream of Consciousness

2010-12-14T09:06:00.003-06:00

Rory,

I have taken a day or 2 to really absorb your little self and think about your 2nd birthday. I cannot believe that you are two. You are so very precious to your Daddy and me. I know that I have said it before, but you are such a blessing, more than I can ever express to you in words. The whole day of your birthday, Daddy and I would look at each other and say "at this time two years ago we were....".
I can still remember every detail of that day. I remember that right after you were born, you let out the biggest cry and Daddy and I looked at each other with our eyes as big as saucers. Here you were, all 6 pounds, 1 ounce of you...and you were TICKED! They took you over to clean you off and I told Daddy to go with you. You were not happy with the scrubbing and being messed with. That is until they wrapped your little squirmy body up and took you over to the sink to wash your hair. You immediately got quiet, tilted your head back and completely relaxed and just soaked in a little spa time...we still laugh about that. I remember when they gave you to me, you were whimpering a bit, but you looked up at me and immediately got quiet. Daddy and I just stared at you and loved on you and prayed over you and thanked God for the gift that you were.

Never in our wildest dreams could we have imagined how wonderful our lives had become. In an instant, there you were, and our whole lives had changed. I remember that we had planned to send you to the nursery at nights, so that we could get some sleep. Once you were born though, we just couldn't do it, we kept you with us the whole time, we just wanted to look at you and hear you grunt, even if it meant that we didn't get any sleep.

My precious tiny girl, you are my most impossible dreams come true. I never could have fathomed how rich our life would become with you in it. You, Rory Meredith, made us a family. You never cease to amaze me. I could watch you all day long. You are so sweet and precocious and undeniably smart. I have loved being your Mommy and watching you grow and discover. Recently, you and I have been having little conversations. You are so perceptive and nurturing, even at only 2. You get so upset when you think that someone is unhappy. I don't think that I will ever tire of those chubby little arms around my neck or the little kisses with your sweet little bowed up mouth.

I still find myself sneaking into your bedroom after you have fallen asleep and staring at you. I still find myself praying over your bed and thanking God for every second, of every hour, of every day that he has blessed us with. I still find myself placing my hand on your back and feeling that steady rise and fall of your breath as you slumber. I still find myself scooping your sleeping body out of your crib and cuddling you close to my heart just so that I can look at you. I still find myself whispering in your little ear that I love you and I am so proud to be your Mommy and praying over you. I still find myself sitting on the twin bed in your room and rocking, back and forth...back and forth, and just absorbing my time with you, all snuggled up warm, in my arms. I still find myself, amazed at you.

Again, this year, I looked around at your birthday party and marveled at the number of people who were sitting there celebrating with us. You have such a wonderful group of people around you, and we have such wonderful friends and family. Those people sitting in our house this past Saturday were there, not because they had to be, but because they wanted to be. They all love us; you, Daddy and I; and that is what it is all about my darling girl. Love...and lots of it.

Rory, always know that Daddy and I love you and we will support you in whatever you do. Always know that we will do everything within our power to give you the tools to help you grow, learn and flourish. I can't wait to embark on our 3rd year together...just do me a favor and slow down on this growing thing...Mommy's heart can't take it all so fast!
All my love,
Mommy

2

2010-12-12T14:06:00.001-06:00

It is official, we have a 2 year old. The party was A LOT of fun. I don't have editing sofware on the new laptop, so these are not that great, but you get the point.

Instead of doing just plain old cupcakes, and since ice cream was a little crazy in the middle of the winter. I decided to make cupcakes in ice cream cones and then ice them to look like ice cream. They turned out really cute, and were pretty good.

Chocolate covered pretzel sticks and the dum-dum and gumdrop trees.

The tablescape. I decided to instead of doing 'favors', we would do a little sweet bar, and let the kiddos take stuff home with them. It worked pretty well and seemed to be a big hit with the kiddos.

The marshmellow and peppermint topairy. These turned out REALLY cute, and really weren't that hard, just a bit time cosuming!

Kev wanted her to have a donut cake from a homemade donut shop in our town. It turned out cute and was incredibly good!

Rory's apron.

Before everyone got there and the party got started really well. Sarah Grace and Victoria were there, and went to Gymboree with her that morning. Once everyone got there, they (along with Charlie) hung out in the kitchen...you know, they are cool teenagers now. Although, I hear that they were sad the whole way home because they missed us and wanted to stay (I did too...for the record, I don't care if they are 15...they are still MY girls.)

The McClanahans. Aubrey was so cute and had such a good time playing.

The 2 year old. She did really well with everyone in her house. She had just woken up from a nap and I went and got her dressed and when we came out of her room, she was a bit over whelmed, she warmed up pretty quick though and had a good time.

Rory, Mia and Maci...and Woody. She didn't know what to do with the candle, Mia and Maci blew it out for her.

PRESENT TIME!!!!!

Look at Brock and Rory. They were sitting there and just put their arms around each other. It was pretty cute. They really do love each other. When Brock got there, I was getting Rory dressed, he was looking all over the house for her. He is so protective of her.

Aubrey and Maci, partaking in a 'spot of tea'.

The girls and their tea pots and Belle. (Thanks Candi, Wes and Aubrey...she took her to bed and is currently napping with her.)

Trying on her dress up garb from Jason, Stacey and Brook.

To think that this day, 2 years ago, we were 20 minutes from meeting Rory. Now, here we are, 2 years later and we just can't believe what a joy she is.

Happy Birthday, my sweet girl, happy birthday.

2010-12-10T10:40:00.002-06:00

4 days - 10 on Wednesday

2010-12-08T09:21:00.001-06:00

In 4 days, I will have a 2 year old. Whew...wow!
I am reading George Bush's Decision Points. So far, it is very interesting and I really like it. It is really interesting insight into the mind of the President. The thing I like the best, is that it really shows his spiritual heart and how he really tried to stay true to what he knew was right.
Christmas plans are shaping up. My Dad's family is coming down the Sunday after Christmas to spend the day with us and we are going to exchange gifts with them and have the 'ole traditional pasta Sunday dinner. I am really excited. It is going to be fun for them to get to experience Rory in her element, comfortable, at home.
Rory's party is shaping up for Saturday. I have NO idea how many people are coming, so if you are reading this, and are planning to be there, please let me know!
Rory is going to have some special visitors for Gymboree on Saturday. Tim is taking her and Sarah Grace and Victoria are going to do Gymboree with her. The goal is to WEAR HER OUT, so that she will sleep and then be in a good mood for her party.
I have been contemplating getting my PhD...don't know what in, or when I will have the time to do it, but have been thinking about it non the less.
Frustrated on the career front, maybe that explains #6.
I sure do miss my Allison. After seeing her and DJ for the wedding, it drove it home even more. Check out her photographer's blog for a sneak peak at the wedding pics. Their engagement photos are also on the blog too, a post or 2 previous.
We have been serenaded with "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Fun to Ride, HEY!" over and over and over again this week. It is pretty cute though.
Every night, right before I take Rory to put her in the bed, I ask her if she wants to say her prayers. She will put her little hands together and I usually say them and then she chimes in with an Amen at the end. Last night, I decided that I would ask her to say them, not knowing if she would actually do it. Sometimes, I wonder if she is really retaining any of this stuff that I am throwing at her. They sounded like this: "Now I lay me, down-a sleep, pway the Loahd, soul a keep, angels gar me, bwess Mommy, Daddy, Rory, AAAAmen." Not bad, pretty close to the real thing. I guess that constant reciting them, every night, has sunk in. (PS: On a side note, it was so cute, I wanted to squeeze her until her eye balls popped out...just for the record)

T Minus 6 Days

2010-12-06T10:35:00.000-06:00

Ok, so we had both an uneventful, and eventful weekend, depending on your vantage point. Thursday and Friday, I had some type of stomach issue going on. It was awful, I took a half day off work on Friday and slept while the babysitter entertained Rory.

Saturday night, 11:30p, Rory is fussing in her crib. Kevin goes and gets her and brings her to the living room. I tried to take her from him, she refuses and then proceeds to puke all over Kevin, NOW she wants Mommy, I take her, she pukes all over me. It was pittiful, she kept crying and saying "I OK, I OK, I be aw-write" "Mommy got-chu." SHe and I 'slept' on the couch the rest of the night ('slept' being a very loose interpretation of what I was doing.) Yesterday, Rory acted fine, but had a bit of a fever and rash on her tummy. Thankfully, no more puking. I think the fever broke last night, but we still have a bit of a rash and her appetitie isn't 100% yet.

Fear not, potential party goers, our house is disinfected and will be stomach-bug-germ free for the party this weekend.

On a lighter, and funny, note. On Friday, I was unloading the dishwasher and trying to keep Rory out of the way so I kept asking her where her juice was so that she would go look for it, thereby keeping her away from the dishwasher. Here is the conversation:

Me: Rory, where is your juice?
R: Let's go find it
Me: Ok, you go look and see
(Rory runs off)

*1 minute later - she is back

Me: Rory, where is your juice?
R: I don't know.
Me: Go find it please.
R: I go find it.
(Rory runs off)

*1 minute later - back again

Me: Rory, where is your juice?
R: (With a look like I am an idiot for even asking)
Mommy, I don't know...you stop talkabout it.

Happy Birthday - Cell Phone Video

2010-12-02T17:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday tuuu yuuuuu....

(Pardon the quality, it is a cell phone video, in a moving car)

Let the count down begin

2010-12-01T10:09:00.000-06:00

OK, so I am having invitation issues, so they are going to be a little later arriving this year than last year, BUT...we are having the party on 12/11 at 2:00p, so if you came last year...we hope to see you again this year!

In 12 days, my baby will be 2. Wow...I can hardly believe it! Life with her just can't get any better!

I want you to know

2010-11-24T10:00:00.001-06:00

I started this list a while ago, and on the eve of Thanksgiving, I thought now was an appropriate time to post it. I have thought a lot about what I want to teach Rory and what I want her to know, so I started making a list. This sort of thing, comes with the parent territory I think. It is a difficult balance of being over protective, and sheltering her too much, and being protective enough, only letting her test her wings enough for the lesson.

I want you to know:

You were loved before you were even a thought
What it feels like to get your heart broken
What it feels like to find that perfect someone
Not everyone is your friend
How to be a best friend to someone else
No matter how hard you try, you can’t please everyone
If someone is truly your friend, they won’t abandon you for someone or something else
There is no substitute for hard work
You should never be afraid to love someone
How to stand up for yourself and not be a door mat
Where you come from and where you are going
‘Smart’ is something that you have to work hard to be
What it feels like to struggle to accomplish something and how it feels to finally complete your task
That that little voice inside of you shouldn’t be ignored.
Never outsmart your own common sense
God loves you, even more than Daddy and I do
You are worth it
You can do anything that you put your mind to
Life isn’t easy, but it is worth living
How to pray with out ceasing
When you hit the bottom, hit your knees and look up
It is OK to ask for help
You are your own worst critic
It doesn’t matter what anyone says behind your back
Never neglect your friends and family for some guy
Live your life with integrity
There are people out there who do not have your best interest at heart.
Never be afraid to rid your life of toxic relationships, toxic situations, toxic attitudes and toxic people
Abuse doesn’t have to be physical
How difficult it is to see a good friend in a bad situation
The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ
God created you with 2 ears and 1 mouth so that you will listen twice as much as you talk
It is OK to cry
Daddy and I will always be there for you
To put in the hard work now, to reap the rewards later
The feeling of waking up at 3:00am and peeking under the Christmas tree to see what Santa brought you and then going back and laying in the bed so excited, that you can’t fall back asleep
How to love someone or something enough to let it go
What it feels like to be overwhelmed with happiness
The weight of a college degree in your hand, a result of endless nights and days of hard work
How to change your own tire, even in 2" heels
You are my greatest accomplishment.

This makes me sick!

2010-11-19T09:50:00.000-06:00

Seriously, if these idiot parents actually get to the point of having this precious baby, he should be taken away, at birth!

IDIOT PARENTS VOTING ON THE FATE OF THEIR UNBORN CHILD

Seriously, there are people who struggle to have their own children, or who are waiting desperately for someone to pick them so that they can be a parent to an adopted baby, and there are these idiots.

I am going to be sick!

New Orleans

2010-11-17T22:58:00.002-06:00

We spent 3 days in New Orleans for the wedding of my best friend Allison. It was A LOT of fun! These pics are a bit out of order, but you get the idea.

This is the sign for the "Faulkner House" It is the building that William Faulkner wrote his first novel. It was located right around the corner from our hotel.

Jackson Square.

Rory after a LONG car ride.

We were trying to convince her to throw her penny in the fountain...she was not so sure it was a good idea. She did finally do it...just took a few minutes to convince her.

The statue of Andrew Jackson in Jackson Square.

One of the many courtyards. There were SO many that were beautiful.

Rory at the rehearsal dinner. I didn't get a lot of her that night because it was SO crowded.

Since I was in the wedding, I didn't get any pics of the ceremony. It was lovely though. After the ceremony, everyone did a 2nd line through the French Quarter (8 blocks down, 8 blocks back) while the space was flipped to the reception. It was a wonderful time. Allison looked beautiful. Rory slept through the ceremony and a part of the reception.

Family picture.

Someone was a bit nosy.

"Huh??"

Mr. and Mrs. Hampton

Rory and Aunt Allison.

One of Emeril's restaurants.

Brad and Angelin@'s house. Our carriage driver said that he sees Brad occasionally, but he hasn't ever run into her.

The 2nd night that we were there, we got to stay in the owner's suite. It had a corner wrap around balcony that overlooked Bourbon Street. It was AWESOME!

Behind the Church on Jackson Square, looking at Pirate Alley.

More Jackson Square and the Church.

Pirate Alley

Rory and Daddy, getting ready to leave to come home.

I might have to do another N.O. post, but I am pretty wiped out. It was a lot of fun, we enjoyed getting away for the weekend and Rory was so good.

Happy Halloween

2010-11-03T21:35:00.000-05:00

Better late than never right??

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Shutterfly Christmas Cards!

2010-10-28T07:48:00.003-05:00

OK, so yesterday, I found a link that said that if you have a blog and blog about Shutterfly Christmas cards, you can get 50 FREE! Ok, I am game! With Rory’s Birthday right before Christmas, not having to pay for Christmas cards, sounds great!

Soo…I log on and start browsing through them. Holy cow! These aren’t ya’ Mama’s photo Christmas cards! I LOVE this one. I really like that they are not just the rectangle photo card, but an actual folded card. I have one picked out for our Christmas card, but I am not showing you…yet! Now, I just have to get a good picture. Yeah...OK, so not so easy.

They also have Christmas Party invites and, this is super cool, GIFT TAGS. How sad is that? I get pumped about not having to fill out all those stupid tags…From: The Humphreys, From: Lauren Kevin and Rory, From: Kevin Lauren and Rory, From: Rory and her financial backers. Seriously, I think I might order some of these!

OK, so if you want to get your OWN free 50 Christmas cards click HERE and follow the directions. I did! That was the easy part...now picking the card and getting just the right photo...Oh, good grief...well, maybe by Valentine's Day I will have it all done.

Lions and Tigers and Pumpkins...Oh My!

2010-10-27T08:57:00.001-05:00

Get ready...there are a lot of pictures in this one! Kevin and I took Rory to the pumpkin patch and then when we were in Decatur the other weekend, Mom and I took her to Tate Farms. These are all Tate Farms pictures, I forgot that I had not put the other ones on the blog, I will have to do that later.

The Corn Crib...a BIG hit. "Mommy make-a-mess" she thought it was a lot of fun!

Last Monday, Kev's Mom and Dad (BeBe and PoP if you ask Rory) wanted to take Rory to the Birmingham Zoo. We all met at Cheesecake Factory for lunch and then went over to check it out.

"Mommy, did you see that Sea Lion?"

Rory and Kev checking out the monkeys.

I felt bad for this guy. He just sat there like this for a long time, looking around. His friend was in the cave, sleeping.

Difficult to see, but 2 bald eagles with their nest.

Kevin says "War Eagle"

Sea Otters. They are my favorite...they are so cute!

This is Rory, sacked out at the Birmingham Southern Football game. She was wiped out by the time that we got to the game. We walked around campus for a while and then went to the game. After walking around campus and then playing in the bounce house, before the game started, she was exhausted. She was asleep before the 1st quarter was even half over. (These are out of order, obviously!)

These are our pumpkins this year. I decorated ours, and then gave Rory the paint pens, and let her decorate hers. She had fun and they look so cute sitting outside!

Rory's Pumpkin

Our Pumpkin.

When we were in Decatur (the same weekend that we took Rory to Tate Farms), Mom pulled out the scarecrow metal thingies to put in their pumpkin so that Rory could help put it together. Clearly, she was more interested in climbing on the table. I forgot to upload a pic of the finished product. Sorry!

Well, that is it for now...Happy Halloween week!

10 On Tuesday - A day early

2010-10-25T14:44:00.001-05:00

Rory, Mom, Tim and I all went to the Birmingham-Southern homecoming game on Saturday. We had a good time and it was SO good to be back on the Hilltop again.
I just turned Rory's car seat from Rear to Forward facing. We are extended rear facing folks. We waited until the last possible minute to turn her, but considering when I weighed her yesterday and she was at the rear facing maximum, I figured the time had come.
I admit that I feel a bit guilty that I had to turn her around. I wish that we could have rear faced for another year or so. I know that she is SO much safer rear facing...am I a bad parent by turning her? UPDATE: I just realized that I turned her early...the weight limit is 33lbs, not 30...now the question is, do I turn her back rear facing or just leave her forward?
Halloween is this weekend and I can't WAIT to dress Miss Priss up. She is going to be SO CUTE!
It is almost November, CRAZY! Where has this year gone?
I really want to do some rearranging in my living room. Kevin is resistant...we will see how long it takes me to convince him.
Santa delivered Rory's kitchen for us to hold for him until Christmas. Santa, if you are reading this, I am having trouble not putting it together and bringing it into the house...just for the record.
Brock's birthday party is Saturday morning. He is turning 5 tomorrow. I can hardly believe it.
I am really missing my Dad these days. Being at 'Southern this past weekend made me miss him even more. As we would walk parts of the campus, I would have memories of being in that spot with him. I just miss him.
I made Rory a shirt that she wore this past weekend to the game. It said "BSC class of 2031." I got A LOT of complements on it. It was really cute. I will try to get pics up soon!

Your Prayers Needed - A Family in Need!

2010-10-22T09:28:00.000-05:00

An excerpt from their website:

"On Tuesday, October 12, 2010, Wynter and Maddox were involved in a horrible automobile crash on Highway 280 in Chelsea, AL. The event stalled traffic in both directions for hours on Highway 280. Wynter was airlifted to the E.R. at U.A.B., while Maddux was rushed to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.

Wynter suffered several fractured cervical vertebrae at the base of the skull, a broken clavicle and other severe trauma. She was placed into NICU with a halo brace screwed into skull and remains there as a patient. She underwent surgery to fuse the vertebrae of her neck in order to prevent spinal cord injury.

Maddox turned 1 year old just a few days before the accident and remains as a patient in Children’s Hospital in Birmingham with broken legs, broken wrists and difficulty breathing. He has been placed in a full body cast and is expected to begin his long period of recovery soon."

This is a family here in the Birmingham area. Wynter (the Mother) and Maddux (who turned 1 on 10/09) are still in pretty bad shape. HERE is the website, go and look at the pictures of this family, and the horrible wreck. It is clear that God's hand was on them.

"And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. -Psalms 37:4"

22 Months - 10 on Tuesday

2010-10-12T08:49:00.001-05:00

I am apologizing in advance, these pics are going to be terrible quality. I forgot to email them to myself here at work, so I copied and pasted them from the W@lgreens photo site and put the (c) on in paint here at work...it will have to do.

22 Months...as in almost 2 years old. I can't believe it! What a joy she has been, especially recently.

We took her to the pumpkin patch this weekend and she had a blast (except for the horse, NOT a fan). We really enjoyed watching her too! I will try to get some of those pics up this week.

At 22 Months:

1. Knows her ABCs, and recognizes a lot of the letters

2. Will spell her name for you, even if you don't ask her too. ("R-O-R-Y dat spwels Rory")

3. Will count things up to 20. If there are more than 20, she just starts back over at 1.

4. Is obsessed with Belle from Beauty and the Beast, 'My Zowski' aka (Mike Wasowski) from Monsters, Inc.

5. Knows her right from her left

6. Is carrying on little mini conversations, like this one we had on Saturday (while I changed her diaper):

R: I need my pacie
L: You don't need a pacie, Rory
R: I don needa pacie, Ima big girl
L: Yes, you are a big girl
R: I need my brush and cone
(I had put them behind the wipes box when I laid her down, to attempt to hide them from her since I don't let her play with her sterling silver brush and comb)
L: I don't know where your brush and comb are.
R: I know day are, Mommy.
L: You do?
R: Day right in hind my wipees (sits up, moves the wipes, gets the brush and comb)
R: I foun um Mommy
L: Yes, Rory, you found them...how exciting.
R: It Uh-mazin (Amazing)

7. Refers to herself, and other people, as her nicknames. "Hey Shugga Pwume" (Hey Sugar Plum), "Rory a Tiny-Guurl" (I still call her Tiny Girl), "I a Doll-Baby" (what Mom and Tim call her), "Hey Punkin Bwef" (Pumpkin Breath...don't ask me, ask Kevin)

8. Still takes her blanket, whom she calls 'Sweet Pea', and at least one other object to bed. Sometimes, she takes a book to bed, and will open it up to one of the pages and lay her head on it and go to sleep. When I go in to turn off her lamp before I go to bed, I have to sneak it out from under her. Lately, it has been her Belle doll, and Goofy.

9. Sings Ring around the Roses and wants you to get in the floor and "Fall down" so that she can laugh at you.

10. Says her whole name, and it is too cute, "Rory Meh-dif Humfee." Good thing her first name is not that hard, Meredith and Humphrey are going to take some practice!

Well, that is it for the 22 month post.

Rory,

Today, you are 22 months. It is so strange, 22 months seems, in some respects, like such a long time and at the same time, not that long at all. Daddy and I were talking last night, about what a big girl you are and what a funny little personality you have. It doesn't seem that long ago, that you were still a tiny, tiny baby. At night, when I get you out of the tub and wrap you up in your towel and sing 'Buntin,' I try to sing as slow as possible, since I know that this is the ONLY time of the day, that you will let me cuddle you up like a little baby. You are growing so fast, and are such a clever girl. Daddy and I couldn't me more proud of you if we tried.

The other night, before I went to bed, I went in to turn off your lamp, just like usual. I stopped by your crib and brushed the hair from your eyes and laid my hand on your gently rising back and I thanked God for every little thing about you. I stood there and prayed over you. I prayed that Daddy and I will be good examples of Christ for you, I prayed that He will place a hedge of protection around you and keep you safe and healthy, I prayed that He will show your Daddy and I how to parent you so that you will be a strong, noble, child of God, I prayed that he will hold you in the palm of His hand. I thanked him for the gift that you are. We prayed many a night together that we would be given a chance to be parents. Daddy and I both thank Him every night for the gift of you.

Rory, I want you to know something. I have wanted to be a mother since even before I can remember. I used to play with my dolls and would try with all my might to imagine what it would feel like to have a little girl of my very own. Never, in my most persistent wishes, could I have imagined what you would be like. You are the most splendid thing I have ever known, and I thank God for every second that we spend together. I can't wait to see what God has in store for you my sweet girl.

You will always be my Baby Rory, my sweet Tiny Girl.

All my Love,

Mommy

10 on Tuesday - of sorts

2010-10-05T10:10:00.005-05:00

Our computer is broken, it won't stay on, just gives us the "blue screen of death." I am taking it to my Bro-in-Law today so that he can, hopefully, fix it. Thank God that I backed all the important stuff up on the external hard drive about 3 weeks ago. So...no pics today, just a little update on the House-O-Humphrey.

Mom and Tim came down this weekend and watched Rory so that Kevin and I could clean out the garage. Whew...I am still sore!
Preparing for New Orleans in November for my Bestie Allison's wedding in November, Thanksgiving, Rory's 2nd birthday and Christmas in December. This next weekend is our only free weekend for the next 6, then we have a 1 week break and don't have another break in weekend plans until after Christmas. I am glad though, I wouldn't have it any other way! We are loved so well, that is why we are so busy.
I had a bit of a health scare in September. I was still having hives and so I went to a dermatologist at the Kirklin Clinic and he ran all sorts of scary tests (Lupus, C@ncer, Leukemi@, tumor markers, etc). The Lupus test came back borderline, so I had more lab work done. Praise God, those tests all came out fine.
Rory has started to recognize both her emotions, and those of others, and feelings recently. In the last few days we have heard the following phrases about 499 time

"I not skehd" (I'm not scared)
"Belle is sad" (Belle, as in her Beauty and the Beast doll)
"Daddy/Mommy not sad" (We tell her we are sad when she acts up)
"I ky-ing" (I'm crying...you know, that no tears, fake cry)
"Rory isa happy gurl"
"Rory isa big gurl"
"Wanna take a nap" or more commonly, "Wanna go-da bed"

Rory has also gotten into coloring lately. She calls it "Culla Culla." To say that she is obsessed is an understatement. Rory knows her basic shapes (circle, square, oval, triangle, heart) and her basic colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, pink) and she will drive you crazy with requests for you to "Culla Culla" a red square or a "geen" circle. She tries so hard to draw them herself.
The Rory Bee is really starting to take off. It is a lot of fun and I have enjoyed making stuff for other people, and of course Rory too!
Rory is getting a Kitchen and a TON of accessories for Christmas. Santa is going a little crazy finding stuff to go in it. Good thing Santa has all those elves...this stuff might be getting expensive...you know, if he actually had to PAY for it.
I am in the final stages of narrowing the party theme down for Rory's Birthday. I can't believe that my tiny baby is almost 2. It didn't think that it was possible, but the 2nd year went by faster than the first.
We started looking into preschool and Mother's Day Out programs. Wow, a lot of choices and A LOT of good programs. Rory is going to love it. She LOVES Gymboree (to the point that she asks to "Go-da Gymbo-wee" and sings the songs constantly, so I know that she will just love being with other kiddos and doing fun stuff.
It has been beautiful out lately. I think that I am going to take Rory to the park on Saturday and let her play. She always enjoys being outside and I enjoy watching her explore and discover God's creation.

Well, that is it for now, hopefully, I will be back with new pics soon! Hope everyone has a great week and enjoys this wonderful, Fall weather!

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right - Eph 6:1

2010-09-28T21:22:00.001-05:00

"Someone" was super busy before church on Sunday, but I did manage to snap one picture of her that wasn't blurry or with her eyes half closed.

(PS: Don't forget to check out the latest Rory Bee creations below!!!!)

The Rory Bee

2010-09-28T10:39:00.003-05:00

I just got 2 of these 3 images from a customer that I did 3 outfits for. Included all 3 (even though you have already seen 1 of them) since they all kinda go together. Enjoy!

Calling all former Band Geeks!

2010-09-22T13:23:00.001-05:00

Ok, so Sarah Grace and Victoria are selling fruit again this year for band. You can purchase online HERE you just need to pick your fruit and then choose the student. Both girls are listed in the drop down, it doesn't matter which one, just pick one. Orders have to be turned in on October 1, so get your order ready. When the fruit comes in, I can either bring it to you, or if you are in the Decatur area, you can get it from them directly!

Any help would be much appreciated. I remember dreading selling my 25 boxes, God bless Kitty, she has to somehow move 50. PLEASE help them out!

Thanks guys...and...GOOOO BEARS!

21 Months...

2010-09-13T23:22:00.001-05:00

We had a little tea party in Rory's room tonight and I snapped a few photos (I know they are dark..I don't have the energy to edit them tonight).

This is also the official 21 month post. I can't believe that she is already 21 months old! She is SO much fun and is constantly amazing me with how smart she is. She is making whole sentences, and I mean...complete sentences, not baby talk.
I took her outside to try to get a few shots. Instead I got these:

She kept pointing at the moon in the sky and saying "Goodnight Moon, Goodnight red balloon" and then she would say..."Mama...where is that cow?" Too funny.

When she wasn't doing this, she was doing her best not to cooperate...but hey...Rory at 21 months...this is it...BUSY!

21 months...where has my tiny baby gone? She has been replaced by Captain Sassy Pants...good thing that she is cute.

Pictures

2010-09-12T08:24:00.001-05:00

First an update from the specialist I saw on Friday regarding my hives. They drew 10 vials of blood and sent them off for a bunch of tests...all for really bad things (Lupus, tumors, Hep B, Hep C...not good stuff). Please say your prayers that everything comes back fine. I am pretty frightened.

It's been a while since I put any pics on the ole' blog, so here we go. I haven't taken a whole lot of pictures this past month, but I will show ya what I have taken.

This is the only picture I actually managed to take at the Decatur-Austin game. You might not be able to tell from this picture, but we were the only "Austins" on the Decatur side. Austin was visitor this year, so we sat on the Decatur side so that we could see the band. We enjoyed it! The whole way to Decatur, Rory and I worked on "GOOO BEARS". Subsequently, every time the crowd cheered, Rory would Yell "Go Bears." Haha...She was cute though.

Rory will get the camera and say "Take my Picta" and then she does this. Cute right?

Kevin found these jammies at Target. Rory was obsessed. They are her first pair of big girl jammies. She wore them to bed last night. She says that "Mimee Mouse on my jammies." She was hamming it up for the camera, as you can see.

Now some of the stuff that I have been working on for the Rory Bee.

MIA

2010-09-07T12:44:00.000-05:00

I know, I have been terrible at blogging lately, but we have had a lot going on. Here is a brief update

I still have hives, clear during the day, they pop up every night between 6:30 and 8:30
I have been tested for all the scary stuff - after the longest week of my life - all tests came back normal. THANK GOD!
I am exhausted - Rory is not...enough said.
I go to another specialist this Friday. Hopefully, he can be of further assistance with these stinking hives. 10 weeks is TOO LONG!

I will try to get some pics and fun stuff up here this week! Thanks to all of you who have hung in there! I will be back soon!

Long Time, No Blog

2010-08-27T11:36:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot going on and honestly, I just haven't felt like blogging lately. I will be back with normal occurances soon, but in the mean time, you will just have to deal with me dropping in and out from time to time.

How about a little "Five on Friday" action?

Rory and I are going to Decatur this weekend
We are going to the Austin vs Decatur game tonight. Can I just say that I HATE that this is the 1st game of the season. We always had Hunstville High for the first game and A-D game was always the last game of the regular season. I don't know who decided to change it, but it STINKS!
Rory is carrying on conversations now, including fussing at us when she doesn't get her way.
I have been doing a lot of sewing and embroidery lately. If you need anything, or know of someone who does, you just let me know!
TGIF!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

2010-08-21T00:03:00.001-05:00

Happy 12th Birthday Britney! I hope that your day is fabulous!

Long time, no pictures.

2010-08-10T19:10:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I posted pictures so I thought that I would post 2 that I took this past weekend. I had this outfit made and had grand plans for pictures for it, I haven't gotten them done yet, but maybe soon. In the mean time, here are some shots from the backyard.

That's it, Happy Tuesday!

5 on Friday

2010-07-30T08:36:00.000-05:00

Not a whole lot going on this week so I thought I would throw a "5 on Friday" out there.

Our babysitter has been out of town for 2 weeks. Last week my MiL kept Rory and this week Tim has kept her. Rory has really enjoyed the Grands, but WOW is she rotten now!
I am pretty sure that the surface of the sun is cooler than it is outside.
We joined Gymboree today. I think we will try it for a month. Rory really liked it last week so I am sure that it will become a regular thing for us. It is good for her to be around other kiddos.
We are SLAMMED at work. I am SO glad that today is Friday.
I am TIRED! I can't come up with a #5. I will try to get some pics up this weekend!

C is for Cookie

2010-07-22T22:24:00.001-05:00

I am pretty sure that she enjoyed the cookie..Getting it off the cup later was an adventure to say the least.

I set out to try to get a picture of the new outfit that I did for Rory. Turns out, that is MUCH easier said than done. Rory had other plans. Mainly standing in her chair.

She isn't supposed to stand in the chair. She turned around and said "Hey Mommy. Sit down."

A girl and her first Vera Br@dley. It is a beautiful thing.

Juice Break.

Repost

2010-07-21T09:11:00.001-05:00

I know that I have already posted this picture, but it is Wednesday, I miss my sweet girl and I want to see it again.

Friends

2010-07-19T14:06:00.002-05:00

WARNING - EMOTIONAL RAMBLING AHEAD!

I have been thinking a lot lately about friends and how important they are, and how thankful I am for the ones that I have in my life. It is amazing to me that God knows what we need and he always places people in our lives to suit those needs. I truely do have a great group of friends around me.

Friday night, Mandy and Jason (and their girls) came over for dinner (we went high health and ordered pizza) and Mandy and I played on my embroidery machine and the Daddies supervised the girls and hung out together. When Mandy and I met, back in 2002, I never could have dreamed what we would each go through in our lives and how important our friendship would become. Sure, there are times that we don't physically talk for a while, but we always seem to pick right back up where we left off and I know that if I need something, she is just a phone call away, and vice versa.

Of course, who could forget Allison. We met our freshman year, when we got paired together as room mates. We IMMEDIATELY hit it off. Other people would complain about their roomies but we didn't have those issues, we just got along. Allison has moved all over the place but we are still besties to this day. Interestingly, we are total opposites when it comes to most things (Politics mainly), and we tend to "agree to disagree" but it is never a hostile or heated conversation. Allison is truely one of my dearest friends and probably one of the people, besides Mandy, that know me the best.

I am not going to take the time to outline every single one of my friends, that would be a LOOONG post and that is not what you are here for, right? I just wanted to do a post on friendship in general. I have found out over the past few years, especially after my Dad died, who really is a friend and who was just sticking around for the wrong reasons.

Right after Nonie and Dad died, I would get calls and cards and everyone wanted to know how I was holding up. I would answer my usual "OK, some days are better than others, but over all, I am doing all right." After a few months, all those people who were concerned and calling to check on me, started slowly dwindling. Not that it was a big surprise, or a bad thing, just a fact. Clearly, as I am aware, not everyone was effected by their deaths like I was, for obvious reasons. This is where it gets interesting though; and where your true friends really become obvious. On top of dealing with all the "firsts" - we were trying to start a family and going through treatments to try to get pregnant. It was a stressful, and highly emotional, time for us. I noticed that there was a consistent half-dozen or so friends who would check on me/us. Just a little "How ya doin'" email here and a "No need to call me back, just wanted you to know that I was thinking about you" voicemail there. It was reassuring and a little disturbing too. I was amazed that there were people who I would have bet high sums of money on, that they would call, who didn't and people who I never thought would care enough to follow up that did.

This is the time when some of my High School friends, who I hadn't seen or spoken to in a while, popped back up. You know who you are ladies! Although we only see each other on the kid's birthdays or in passing, it meant so much, and still does, that they cared enough to check on me and support me. Whether it be through a blog comment or an email or even just a kind hug at a kid's event, it was so reassuring. I was floored when, the day of Rory's party, in the frigid rain, they drove down with their young kiddos to be a part of Rory's big day. I remember looking around our house on that day, and thinking, "This is it, this is what it is all about, all our wonderful friends, all together to celebrate a life and such a momentous occassion, not only in Rory's life, but ours too." Our house, that day, was full to the seams with love and happiness. I can't think of anyone else I would have rather shared that day with than that house full of people. As we looked around, we saw all of our friends, laughing and embracing and just loving us and our little family of three. It was a magical day, and not just for Rory!

You know, they say that when the going gets rough, that is when you find out who your true friends are. I couldn't agree more. 2007 was a HORRIBLE year, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, but it was a blessing too. It became readily apparent, who was hanging around for their own benefit, and who truely cared about Kevin, Rory and I. That is a hard wake up call though. It is difficult to know that you have put time and effort into a friendship or maintaing a relationship and in the end, you were the only one that cared about the frienship. That is a hard pill to swallow, especially on top of all the other life altering events that we were going through. After having come through it though, I am thrilled to have a group of people around us, who love and support us, and who would do anything for us and of whom we feel the same. I can't ever repay you guys (you know who you are) for what you have given me, for what you have given my family. Sticking with someone through such dark and heavy times isn't easy, but you guys weathered the storm. Again, I can't thank you enough...you guys are amazing, truly amazing! Thank you for thinking of us, praying for us and most of all for being there for us when we needed you.

19 Months

2010-07-12T21:18:00.003-05:00

19 Months...I can hardly believe it! She is SO much fun. She is talking in sentences. Including telling me the other day..."Hey GurFend" (hey girlfriend) and if I am on the phone she will say "Mommy gimme dat phone" or she will bring the phone to me and say "I talka Daddy" meaning that she wants me to call him at work so she can talk to him. She is a trip...we are really in for it, I tell ya this one is a motor mouth...I wonder where she gets that from?

The pics this month are not really portrait quality...but they are just Rory. So excuse the quality, enjoy the sweet baby. (I haven't edited these besides adding the watermark, so the color isn't the greatest...sorry in advance)

Excuse the solar flare in the background...this look is 100% Rory...she is so happy and look at those little girl legs...where are my baby's chunky thighs going?

I know, it isn't of her face, but she will throw the ball for Nellie until you make her stop. She yells "Gid-id Nellie, Gid-id" and Nellie comes running! I had to capture it, and how can I resist those curls?

Do you see that place on her forehead? Yeah, she hit her self in the middle of the forehead with a box at Target. She didn't cry or anything, but it broke the skin a bit. She asks for "meh-sin" for her head about 100 times a day. She thinks it is hilarious to get the antibacterial foam stuff on her head. She just giggles.

This is my favorite...I just love that little face and that little pouty mouth. Well that is it for the 19 month update. Hope you guys enjoyed!

The Rory Bee Custom Monogramming and Embroidery

2010-07-10T07:33:00.002-05:00

Light on words, heavy on pics! Loving my new machine, I have had a lot of fun making stuff for people. There is also a really cute dress that I did for Rory with a frog on it, but I didn't get a picture of it. I will try to do that today and add it when I get a chance. Enjoy!

Also, check out my etsy store over there...------> It is slim right now, but I am about to beef it up a bit.

MIA - HIVES - IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEK!

2010-07-06T11:16:00.004-05:00

I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I woke up last Monday with a raging case of the hives. It has been a LONG 9 days! I will be back with the long story later, but lets just say that I am on day 9, 2nd round of Prednisone, have had 3 shots and I still have them. I have an appointment with an allergist today, wish me luck. I am pretty frustrated (and itchy)! Please keep me in your prayers, I am about to go bonkers!

UPDATE:
Allergist changed my medicine routine. Still on Prednisone (8 more days), taking Zyrtec twice a day, along with Zantac twice a day and also a RX antihistimine. Still have the hives, still about to go crazy out of my mind! They are giving me 2 weeks of this RX combo and then we start testing for auto-immune diseases. Please you guys, say your prayers that this is nothing major and that this all gets cleared and taken care of. I am sorta worried right now. Ok, a lot worried!

3 Years

2010-06-30T14:53:00.002-05:00

Today marks the 3 year anniversary of my Dad’s death. I can’t believe that it has already been 3 years. In a way it seems like it has been ages but yet it still feels like it was yesterday as well.

It is a weird feeling, this thing called grief. I certainly don’t grieve the same way that I did 3 years ago, the whole process having kind of evolved into a entirely different way of coping. I still miss his voice, and I still am broken hearted that I can’t pick up the phone and fill him in on the latest crazy antic of his precious granddaughter or just hear his voice. I know that he would be beaming with pride over her and I know that he would show her off to everyone that he came in contact with. Those two really would have been quite the pair!

We are so lucky though that we have the wonderful family that we do have around us and there is no short supply of tales and anecdotes to be told on his behalf. I tell Rory all about her Papa every chance that I get and I have to laugh at her sometimes when I see that same “you talkin’ to me?” expression that he used to give me. She is just pure joy and I know that he had to have a hand in picking her just for us. She is 100% perfect and exactly what I envision he would have picked if he had the opportunity.

As the time has passed, I have found that I can sometimes feel him with me and I do dream of him occasionally, which always makes me feel good. Sometimes when it is just Rory and I in the car on the way to Decatur, I could swear that if I look over at the passenger seat fast enough, I am going to catch a glimpse of him sitting there, drumming his fingers on the arm rest to the drum beat of the music. Sometimes I even talk to him while it is quiet or when I have had a really rough day and just need to be loved on. I know that he isn’t here, or at least the logical portion of me does. However, I know that the best parts of him will never leave, the parts of him that live forever in my heart, in my mind, in my actions and in my life.

Dad,
I miss you so much that it hurts sometimes. I know that you are loving it in heaven, on golf courses that put Pebble Beach to shame! I thank you for your life, and for working so hard to create a legacy that I am proud to carry on. What a huge responsibility you have left me in your wake, to continue the good deeds you began. You were my fiercest defender and my harshest critic, but more importantly my best friend and confidant. I don’t know of anyone who loved more completely or more selflessly than you and I can only hope and pray that I show even a fraction of the same to those around me. I love you so much and am so thankful for the years that we were together. You will always be my first love and my hero.
Love, Fritz

To hold you over...First piggies and 18 Months.

2010-06-24T20:42:00.000-05:00

It has been a full month thus far. Between sickness (Rory-ear infection and Me-laryingitis), wedding, dance recital, my birthday and our beach trip, we haven't been home on a Friday or Saturday night in 4 weeks. I am REALLY looking forward to just relaxing this weekend!

Here are some pics to tie you over!

First, this is a major milestone...her first piggie tales.

THe next 2 pics are terrible, and out of focus, but she was sick and not in the mood for pics. They are the official 18 months pics and as such, this is what her 18 month birthday was...a little sick and on the move.

Long time, no post!

2010-06-24T14:26:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the delay in posting, I will be back soon! I have a pretty good case of Laryngitis and have not been 100% for a few days. I will be back soon!

You know you are a Mom when & Out of the Mouths of Mom's

2010-06-17T10:20:00.000-05:00

I thought that this might be fun! Feel free to add more in the comments. I recorded the first 10 that came to my head, but I am sure you all have plenty others.

You open your purse to retrieve your check card and find an apple juice box.
You reach in to grab your wallet and a pacie finds it's way into your hand.
There is an extra box of wipes under the back seat of your car "Just in case"
The thought of snot and poop doesn't scare you anymore.
You got into bed at 10:30p and are proud of yourself because you got into be "early"
You let your toddler walk around the house in 2 different shoes because it is "keeping her quiet"
You actually think to yourself, as you potty alone, "Wow, it is kinda boring in here when I don't have to try to keep the baby out of everything."
You refer to the bathroom as a "potty" even asking your husband "do you need to potty before we leave?" Sorry honey!
You have ever rearranged furniture in the living room, knowing that it won't stop the toddler from getting into trouble, but might slow her down enough that your tired self might get an extra second or 2 to catch her.
You are getting ready to leave the house with Hubby and Crazy toddler when you realize that you have gotten everyone ready and they look refreshed and put together however, you still have your pajamas on and haven't even thought about getting yourself ready.

Also, in the past 24 hours, these are some of the things that have come out of my mouth:

"Rory please stop licking the wall"
"I don't think Nellie likes it when you put your finger in her nose"
"Oh, thank you for picking your nose and wiping it on my bare leg, next time lets put our boogers in a Kleenex"
"Please stop touching your hiney, I can't get your diaper on with your hands down there"
"Lets keep the Polynesian Sauce on our chicken and not use it as hair gel"
"No Ma'am, we do not poke our fingers in people's eyes"
"No Ma'am, we do not poke our fingers in the dogs' eyes"
"Ruby doesn't like it when you hit her in the head with your juice cup"
"Rory why is your croc in the potty?"
"Rory where is your diaper?"

Hope everyone is having a good week!

10 on Tuesday

2010-06-15T10:48:00.001-05:00

Short on time so I thought that ToT would be appropriate.

Rory has an ear infection. She has run a fever off and on all weekend while we were in Decatur for Sarah and Victoria's recital. She seems to be doing better today!
Took her yesterday for her "18 Month - Well Child visit" that was actually a "18 Month - Why is my baby running a fever and grumpy like Godzilla visit." No shots for Miss Bee yesterday, we are delaying her 18 month booster to 2 years. No biggie! We did get her weighed, she was 25lbs 2 oz and almost 34 inches long.
Contemplating going private with the ole blog. I have had some issues lately with lifting of some info from the blog for malicious purposes. I have to keep my family safe! I have taken some security measures on the blog, if they work, we will stay public, if not, I will let you all know in plenty of time so that I can send you invites to the private blog.
Coming up on the 3rd anniversaries of my Dad and Nonie's deaths. I can't believe that it has been 3 years already. I know that they both would be proud of Kev and I and so proud of Miss Bee.
I have been playing with my embroidery machine a little bit lately, I will post some pics soon of some things that I have made for people.
I forgot to do a 17 month post for Rory, oops! I took pics of her on her 18 month birthday, but she looks like she doesn't feel good (mostly because she didn't) but I will get them up as soon as I can.
My cousin Emily is getting married this weekend and Rory is a flower girl. I will try to post some pics of that next week after we get home. R and I (and the dogs) are going up on Thursday after work and Kev is coming up on Friday to join us. God HELP ME with Rory and the 2 crazy pups in the car with me on the way to Decatur, this could get interesting.
My Uncle Mark (Dad's brother) is coming up this weekend too. We haven't seen him in a year, I am excited for Rory to get to see him and I know that he is excited to see her too.
Running out of thing for 10 on Tuesday
The girls did a great job at their recital, they are so grown up. I just love watching them dance. Speaking of, I have started looking around for dance studios in the 'Ham for Rory. I know I still have a good year and a half before she can even start, but whatever!

Beach Pics

2010-06-10T21:49:00.000-05:00

Heavy on the pics, light on the words!
Rory was obsessed with Aunt Jenni's glasses. (Or Aunt Ninny as Rory says)

Rory sat in Davis' lap and let him read to her for a long time. She kept reaching up and patting his face and saying "Awwww, sweet"

We had to watch her like a hawk, she kept running towards the ocean and we had to chase after her.

The last night that we were there, we took Rory out to the beach and took pictures. Here are a few.

I couldn't decide if I liked the color or black and white better so I included both.

The Big 3-0

2010-06-08T08:37:00.002-05:00

I don't feel 30.

MIA

2010-06-06T20:24:00.001-05:00

We just got back from a week at the beach. I should be back this week with updates!

10 on Tuesday

2010-05-25T21:04:00.001-05:00

We are going to the beach. I can't wait!
I had lunch with Mandy and Maci today. I love those girls (and Emma) so much. I can't believe that Maci is almost five and Emma is going to be in fourth grade. CRAZY! I remember when Mandy and I met and Emma was like Rory's age. Crazy!
Have I mentioned lately how much I love my hubby? No? Well I do. I don't think that I could have found anyone more perfect for me. We truly are a great team! I know very few men who would love being at home with a baby as much as he does.
I am almost 30...as in like just over 2 weeks.
My house is a disaster...oh well!
My Father in Law fixed our TV last night! We have been watching a 19" TV for a week and it is SO nice to have our big kid TV back.
We have been playing in the back yard a lot! A whole lot!
Sarah Grace and Victoria are going into the 10 grade...I think that I am going to be sick! Where did my babies go? It is so surreal to see them with MY baby...They are so funny. It is so interesting to see and hear them going through high school and remember what it was like to be there...it don't feel like it was that long ago!
I had a great conversation with Allison last week. She and DJ are enjoying DC but boy do I miss her! I miss our weekly lunch dates. We always have the greatest conversation, even though we couldn't be more different on a lot of issues, but she is truly one of my dearest friends.
If I didn't mention it already..I'm ready for the beach!

Update

2010-05-22T23:25:00.004-05:00

Last weekend, Rory and I were in Decatur for Dash's Birthday and to take some pictures for Kitty. While we were there, Mom got my little table and chairs out of the attic and said that we could bring them back home with me. That was not before Rory had herself a little tea party with her baby doll.

"Here ya go baby...have a scone, just leave my pacie alone"

Sometimes Rory's inner Italian comes out "fugedda bout it"

We spent about an hour this morning playing outside.

Get ready, she is about to make a break for it. We are working on throwing the tennis ball for Nellie, but she really just wants to run around with them in her hands.

That is all for today I guess. Have a great weekend!