My Little Fall Flower

I finally had time to sit down and get a better shot of our trunk picture from last weekend. Now does her costume make sense? It was a quick idea that actually turned out to be cute... if I do say so myself.

Today I went to a workshop on managing disruptive and disturbing children. Personally, I think anyone who sets eyes on a child should attend this. It was GREAT!!! I went w/ a fellow teacher who is teaching the same program that I am at the elementary level. It felt good to be able to vent, share ideas and listen to her interpretation of Tennesseans. She recently moved here from PA. I had tears rolling down my face while trying to get us through rush hour on Briley Pkwy. ~ it was indeed an adventure.

I'm going to attempt to spend the weekend finishing a class from last semester that I didn't get to ~ I went into labor right around the time that our final project was to be turned in. Funny how those things work out sometimes, huh?

Apparently I should also take a look at the way I am trying to run my classroom ~ TONS of room for improvement in that area.

Have a great weekend bloggies. Out.

Whew!

Good golly Miss Molly!!!! Where in the world did the month of October go??? We have been so busy ~ here is a look into what has gone on...

My dear New Orleans family came to visit. They got a taste of the country. We went to the Nashville Zoo, the park, Kaleb drove the four wheeler (he's 2 1/2), Netta and I enjoyed In Her Shoes while the boys stayed w/ the kiddos and we had a grand ol' time just catching up and laughing... BTW Net, the ottoman still smells like lavendar ~ thanks K!

Hadlee had her first round of shots and last week we experienced her first viral rash. No other symptoms but I have a feeling that she'll be getting teeth soon. She's also beginning to sleep from 9:00pm to 4:00am ~ SUCH A BLESSING!!!

We also got to experience our first Halloween and Trunk-or-Treat at church. We won honorable mention in the trunk decoration contest ~ putting a cute baby in the decor always helps!!

I went back to work a few weeks ago. It's been both fantastic and not so much the best thing ever, BUT is there anyone who doesn't have "those" days???

I have forgotten birthdays, anniversaries, how to speek in complete sentences, important informaion, not-so-inportant informaion and various things of that nature. What I HAVE NOT forgotten is how precious life is, how blessed each moment, and that Wal-Mart is open 24/7.

I rekon that's 'bout it for now... that I can remember anyway. I have so many bloggable thoughts in a day and so little time to blog them.

OH! One more thing... I have a couple of new students. The dynamics of these three boys is incredibly interesting and usually quite amusing to see. It's a lot like SNL's best parody of Forrest Gump. Seriously funny stuff. One thing I REALLY have to work on though ~ my poker face...

If only...

Do you ever look back in a person's life and see the exact point where if only he'd had a positive role model, or a parent who knew the love of Christ, that his entire life could have turned out differently? It's heartbreaking to know that one person could have litterally made a world of difference, but that one person wasn' t there. I know I can't go back in time and change what happened, but I try each day to make a point to remember that this day can set a new course for his life.

If only...

It's so hard not to laugh...

Working with teenagers is definitely (a spelling word for this week!) amusing at times. For instance, today one student, we'll call him M, just HAD to communicate w/ another. It was of utmost importance but neither of them had the priviledge (not a spelling word, maybe we'll work on it next week) of talking. In order to get around not being able to talk, M decides he needs to blow his nose (at my desk ~ EWWW ~ I got the anti-bac wipes and germ-x out immediately!!!) and will pass a note to R while en route to the de-booger station. Of course, M isn't all that smooth in his deliverance so the note falls on the floor. My assistant asks for it, reads the contents and brings it to me... this is too good to NOT share.

"Dude. I'm toadaly hookin up with Rebekka this weekend."

After reading that I had to leave the room to laugh... Thank you God for only going through puberty once!!!

Workin' for a Livin'

Sooo tired. Sooo busy... I thought I understood what busyness was until I was a non-stay-at-home-mom. Forget an "Ah ha" moment, I'm having an "Ah ha" life.

Things are going well. Some days are better than others, some fantastic, others straight from Satan himself. One of my favorite lines in Anne of Green Gables is "Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet." That has become my mantra.

I have some humorous stories from the mouths of Junior High shcool children but they'll have to wait until I can type and hold my eyes open.

Just wanted to send a shout out to all my peeps in Blogland. Holla...

My firsts & lasts...

I've Been Tagged Again!
TL tagged me on this one.

First Memory ~ Momma being pregnant w/ Jonathan (I was 2, almost 3) and Daddy adding on to our house to make room for 4 children.. I fell down the steps onto concrete and when I cried for Mom Daddy had to take care of me b/c she was too pregnant to pick me up.
First Kiss ~ Brad Williams, the preacher's son... he was 6 and I was 5 AND his older brother was a witness ~ it was in the hallway on our way to Sunday school.
First Concert ~ Alabama at Stone Mtn., GA on the grass
First Love ~ Hmm, there was at least one new one every week... but I REALLY loved Murdock from the A Team, we even named a pet goat after him.
First Lust ~ Jody Booth, one of my sister's boyfriends, I couldn't even blink when he was around... I think I was 4 or 5.
First Thing I Think In The Morning ~ Isn't it B's turn to feed the baby?
First Book I Remember Loving ~ My Icky Picky Sister
First Pet ~ Shadow, a great dane that my brother and I used to ride on.
First Question I'll Ask In Heaven ~ Are you sure??? Where's Momma???
First Thing I Think Of When I Hear The Word Vacation ~ Beaches, Books and Seafood
First Best Friend ~ Lynette (my sis) and Elam (one the the many Jennifer's in my life).
Last Time I Dressed Up ~ Formal? Oct. 2 as a bride's maid in a wedding
Last Thing I Ate ~ Sugar Babies
Last CD I Bought ~ Sugarland
Last Time I Cried ~ Wednesday
Last Time I Told Someone I Loved Them ~ Earlier today to Hadlee and her daddy
Last Really Fun Thing I Did ~ Cookout at my sister's last night w/ the rest of the siblings & Spending the weekend w/ my N.O. family
Last Thing I Watched On TV ~ Titans v/s Bengals... let's not talk about it
Last Halloween Costume ~ I wore all green and went as a booger... I know, you're so jealous cuz you didn't think of that aren't you?
Last Concert I Attended ~ Kenny Chesney, Sept. 2004

I guess that's it... feel free to tag yourself. Toodles

Hey God, I get it...

So, I guess you were there w/ us yesterday... when I finally got "it", you know, the part about why you had to turn your back on your Son while he suffered. I never really understood it up til then. You see, Hadlee had to experience pain yesterday that will eventually turn into a good thing. She had her first round of immunizations ~ four shots. She screamed, she cried, she squirmed, she looked to me to make the pain go away and all I could do was sit in the corner, bite my lip and try not to cry or throw up. I had to look away, to turn my back, to leave her for just while during her time of suffering. When it was over her Gramma put her in my arms and after a whimper or two it was all ok. Well, it was ok for her, she went to sleep and woke up several hours later wanting food to eat. I don't guess it's really much different than your experience, huh? He suffered, He cried, He looked to you for release... and when it was all over You took Him in your arms and it has turned into a good thing... No, a perfect thing.

I get it now.

ZOE

Jon Owen (Hey, I laughed out loud last night in church when we sang, for the first time EVER, "You are the Song that I Sing." We needed a little Jerome W. in there a la you.)

(L to R Front) Beaner, DJG, TL, (Back) Jenni and Me at the mega early breakfast on Saturday morning. (I would link to everyone if I had a bit of extra time, but HAH is currently doing her yeddie cry ~ that's when she REALLY means business!)

I guess you all have heard most of the details already about who all met. The weekend was TRULY a blessing... worship was an incredible experience, Jeff and Mike were AWESOME, and the classes were good. To be completely honest, I along w/ some cohorts who shall remain nameless (but MAY be pictured above) skipped out on a class session or two and communed w/ each other ~ that was probably my favorite part, along w/ Mike's video!

Things I learned at ZOE...
1. When your yahoo map sux nuts and you are lost, call Jenni cuz she's mega prepared and can get you from Bell Meade to Woodmont Hills. Yeah, if you don't remember I'm the Middle TN girl and Jenni's from TX ~ really I'm an intelligent person, I promise!

2.If you happen to fall asleep in a class session and the older gentleman next to you taps you on the shoulder to make you wake up, the best remedy to the situation is ditching class and heading to Starbucks w/ a good pal (who shall also ramain namelss).

3. Sheryl Thomas can sing like no other woman I have ever heard in all of my life.

4. The interpreters made words come to life in their movements ~ truly beautiful!

5. When sitting at a red light beside someone who drives a new Tahoe and reside in Cullman, AL, squealing tires and racing is pretty fun... just watch out for blue lights.

6. How old were you when you learned what snail mail was? 'Cuz I was 25!

7. Jeff Walling could be Billy Crystal's voice double. His reinactment of Matthew was INCREDIBLE!!!

8. 728B, need I say more?

9. P.F. Changs and O'Charley's w/ friends = what I think the Lord meant when he gave us an exaple of communion.

10. I came away refreshed, full of hope, and wanting more... seriously, we have to wait a whole year for the next one????

FINALLY!!!

I feel as if I have been waiting for these for a million and fifty-three years, but it's only bee a few weeks. :) Hadlee's infant pictures are in... I can't believe how much she has changed in just a few short weeks. The time is going by so quickly!

Tonight I am off to the Zoe conference while Brandon and Hadlee go to my parents' for a home cooked meal and for our family computer guru to work his magic so Daddy and Dede can transfer old software onto their new Dell. I am so excited about the weekend and looking forward to some much needed refueling! Have a wonderful weekend my fellow bloggies. :)

Being Celine

Today I turned into Celine Dion circa 2000 right after she had her son... only I'm the spoof of Celine on SNL. For example, Monday night we started Hadlee on cereal hoping against hope that she'd sleep all night. She's not slept all night yet, but is sleeping longer and harder. Anywho, I was changing her diaper yesterday and Brandon and I had the following conversation, which is really FOR REAL...

M: Honey, have you seen the new poop?
B: Yeah, kind of looks like rice, mud, and mustard, right?
M: YES!! I can't believe you noticed. We're so proud of Daddy, aren't we Pooter?!!

I'm not kidding, it's so funny. Our conversations revolve around sleeping, eating and pooping. In your best French accent repeat after me. "It's all about the poop. You can see how the baby is doing. Look carefully at the poop. You may think I'm crazy, but look at poop!"

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On a side note, I think my poop noticing husband may be ready to kill me when he gets home. I am notorious for cramming as many clothes into the washer as is humanly possible. I figure, the less loads the better. Today I was doing a load and decided at the last minute to toss in a Land's End canvas tote to carry as a diaper bag instead of the mond-o bag that matches HAH's stroller and carseat. Apparently it was the icing on the cake. When I went to toss the clothes into the dryer I noticed a burning smell. The tote got hung in the top of the spinner thingy and tore the tub away from the frame of the washer. There are tiny bits of plastic all over the place and burn marks on the tote... dang it! I may wait for a day or two to fess up... maybe after I mow the yard or bake him a cake ~ he'd definitely know something was up then! Grrr, I HATE when I do stuff like that.

Weekend Weather

Click HERE for Nashville's weather forcast for the ZOE conference.

Just cuz' here is a pic of my little bit.

Hot for Teacher

I was a bridesmaid in my fried Krysta's wedding earlier this evening. The recessional song was "Hot for Teacher"...

Anybody remember Shelby's wedding colors in Steel Magnolias? I'm not sure whether I was in blush or bashful, but they were both present.

In many cases over the past week or so I have found that I have an ever growing annoyance w/ disorganization and people who take up precious moments of my time b/c of it. My step-mom and I are going to make business cards to hand out that read "Failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine."

I arranged 250 roses (both blush and bashful) into bouquets, boutineers, corsages and center pieces in one night. I had no idea I could do such a thing...

I have two more weeks to be at home w/ Hadlee (who we affectionately call Pooter Dooter, ya know, for short). Tomorrow will be spent recooping from this week, later is the ZOE conference and next week three of my favorite people in the world are coming to visit ~ my roommate from college, her husband and son. They are coming up from New Orleans to get away from things for a while and I CAN NOT wait to spend precious time w/ them.

Q & A

Claire tagged me so here goes... (until HAH's pap falls out of her mouth and she begins screaming, then I'll have to stop).

7 things I plan to do before I die:
Be debt free
Build a home
Get more than 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep
Have LASIK surgery
Finish school
See HAH and any following children grow up into faithful children of God
Go to Oprah's Favorite Things taping and come home w/ the mother load of free stuff

7 things I can do:
Sing completely random tidbits of songs... incorrectly
Quote movies (absolute fave "Steel Magnolias")
Play softball
Multitask
Make people laugh
Talk on the phone incessantly
Psychoanalyze to the gills

7 things I cannot do:
Sing Def Lepard songs correctly
Remember all the dance steps to Thriller
Name all 50 states or their capitals (I cheated on this in the 5th grade!)
Keep from commenting on horrendous fashion violations
Weedeat
Keep from correcting grammar mistakes
Stop kissing Hadlee's head

7 things that attract me to another person:
Eyes
Ears
Nose
Hair (all in the correct places!!)
Sense of humor
Smile
Laugh

7 celebrity crushes:
Micheal Vartan
Matthew McConohay (add spell to the "cannot" list)
Steve from Blues Clues
Regis Philbin
Matt Lauer
Phil Michelson (that left handed golfer guy)
Seriously, I have to come up w/ SEVEN???

7 things I say the most:
Holy Crap!
Shut up! (not telling someone that, but as an exciting type of exclamation)
Huh?
Bran!
Love ya, Bye.
Thank you
Yes maam / sir

7 bloggers I am tagging:
Had anyone NOT done this? Go ahead if you wish...

Looking, looking, looking...

We are almost positive that we've found the lot (2 acres) and also that we've found the house plans. Now all we have to do is buy and build!!! It'll be fun, stressful and a great learning experience. Put your seat belts on 'cuz we're going for a ride!!!!

HAH

Her personality is really beginning to show! This was a couple of Sundays ago when I had her in a very frilly outift ~ she may be a Libery Overall girl as opposed to a pearls & lace diva.

The picture on the right is from this afternoon when she was smiling and kind of laughing. I love it!!

This is "the freaks come out week" a.k.a. Fair Week. Tomorrow night Hadlee is staying w/ Abuelita & Papi for a couple of hours so B and I can get some greasy food and funnel cakes ~ Mmmm. We may even walk around and watch the pig races or tractor pull ~ YEEEEE HAW!!!

Mommy Mush

So, I've been thinking of slogans / t-shirt / bumper sticker sayings for new moms. Here are a few that I've come up w/...

*Spit up ~ the new fragrance from Baby.
*Got milk?
*Good vibrations ~ not just a song by the Beach Boys.
*Engorgement ~ every husbands' Freudian fantasy.
*Poop ~ what color is your baby's?
*Wipies ~ they clean it all.
*I tore all the way ~ what have you done today?
*Giving birth ~ it's the trump card for life.
*My baby smiles and then passes gas ~ what can yours do?
*Baby in carrier + diaper bag + two trips a day to anywhere = buff arms.
*Catheters ~ can't all have one?
*C-sections ~ we're a club all our own.
*Under eye circles ~ the new makeup trend.
*Mommy Olympics categories: Fastest shower time. Can you change a stinky diaper w/ 2 wipes or less? Who has the longest leg hair? Math skills: mulitply the number of ounces your baby eats by the number of diapers you change in a day and divide it by the amount per wipie...
*Sleep ~ who needs to function on 8 hours when you can do it in 3 1/2?
*Babies: Slippery when wet.

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I had Hadlee's newborn pictures taken a couple of weeks ago and yesterday I got to see the proofs, narrow the poses down and pick out which package we wanted in order to officially file for bankruptcy (seriously, $30 for 1 5x7, can you say highway robbery?). They will be back in two more weeks and I can't wait!!!

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My parent's met B, HAH and I at the house we were thinking of buying to get the "carpenter's eye" on things... Daddy's words were, "Stay away." We weren't planning on buying this one, we were more interested in the floor plan and the lot but the price had been reduced by several thousand dollars and so we were thinking more seriously about putting in a low ball offer and seeing what happened. So now were back to the original plan of waiting until next spring / summer to begin building. We're looking at lots and going through house plans imagining what we'd like to have and what all we can do on our own or contract out to people who owe Daddy favors in order to really save money. It's an interesting and fun process. My question for you is ~ what do you have that works really well and what did you think you wanted that has turned out to be less than great in your home?

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Ok, delirium has officially set in. Please add to the list of slogans. Peas out...

What to do, what to do...

If for some reason your 5 week old daughter is keeping you up b/c she refuses to sleep from, oh, say 12:11 - 2: 22 am, I highly suggest that you pick up a floor plan catalog and begin building your dream house. Also, blame the horrific sleeping habits over the past 3 nights on the full moon ~ and give it a good howl while you're at it.

If you want to check out the house that B and I are thinking of buying (or, in actuality having built and tweaking the floor plans) go to Coffee County Realty, click on "our agents," then Freda Jones, then her second page (or is it the third?) and the address is 0 Hunter's Landing ~ a 2 story brick traditional. Tell me what you think...

I'm now going to take the slumbering baby to her cradle and the next time she wakes up it's Brandon's turn to look at house plans!

P.S. What the heck is up w/ Blogger's new big ol' honkin' font? I can read this from Texas... that is where everything's bigger, right girls??? :)

P.P.S. I'M GOING TO ZOE!!! See you all in a few weeks ~ WOO HOO!!!

Forever changed...

My dear, sweet baby girl,

One month ago today you entered our lives after having been in our hearts and on our minds for years on end. One month ago today you changed my life forever. One month ago today, I experienced true unconditional love. One month ago today I looked into your precious eyes and knew that no matter what happens in this world your Daddy and I would always have each other, you, and the love of God.

We have learned so many things in the past 30 days... Your different cries and how to (hopefully) get them to subside, that you love to sleep on my chest, that you'll only take your passi when it's good for you ~ forget what we want!, that you love to go for evening walks and the bumpy road will not give you shaken baby syndrome!, that your cousin Halle thinks you're the best thing on earth next to strawberry milk, that you love to be in Gramma's arms, that Tylenol and Mylicon can fix almost any cry that we can't, and on and on...

It's so funny how much you have changed and grown in such a short amount of time. You went from hardly filling out preemie outfits to fully filling out newborn outfits literally in one day! Your beautiful smile is showing up more and more, your wrinkly little forehead less and less, but when it's there you are truly your father's child! People look at you and always comment on how beautiful you are, how pretty your skin is and how perfectly round your head... And I smile, say thank you, and think "Thank you God, for our precious gift."

There are some days that you love bath time and others when you absolutely hate it... Sunday mornings Daddy usually gets you ready so that I have time to put on makeup and not scare the entire congregation w/ the bags and dark circles under my eyes. He woke you up, gave you some breakfast, a bath and then brought you to our room... You were so mad!!! The look on your face was priceless ~ and I must say, you were truly your mother's child at that moment! I don't think you've ever looked more like me as you did right then. Daddy and I laughed until we cried, and of course I had to get a picture. :)

I can't even begin to tell you how much we all love you.. Me, Daddy, Gramma, Pawpaw Boo, Abuelita, Papi, your aunts, uncles, cousins, and the entire rest of our little world. We are so thankful to have you in our lives. You are a true blessing from above.

You have my heart and you always will. I love you Hadlee.

Always,
Momma

Randomness

I'm up w/ the baby in the second half of her "I love to be awake at 2:00 am." session. Basically, it's the only time I really have to sit down and write... who knows how coherent this will be???

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On Friday B and I met our realtor in a swanky neighborhood to look at houses. (BTW, did you know that lumber prices have gone up 33% since Katrina came roaring through?) While I absolutely love the idea and reality of looking for and building or buying our dream home, I couldn't help but feel more than a twinge of guilt. There are people nearby who have nothing, not even family members to cling to and we're here looking at homes that we don't even have the furniture to fill.

I don't know if it's feelings of guilt, inadequacy, or simply... I don't even know what. But in the back of my mind, while I was trying to place our existing furniture and doing what my carpenter's daughter's mind does best ~ adjusting and tweaking the floor plan and kitchen arrangements ~ all I could think about was how we could use our money to help others instead of buying a big home. Does that make any sense?

We are working to do things for Katrina survivors, but I still feel as if I should personally be doing more. I just don't know... any other bloggies out there with similar feelings?

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My time at home w/ Hadlee is flying by. I can't believe that she was born four weeks ago!!! There are so many moments with her that I want to freeze and put into a glass bottle so I can go back and experience them again and again... and yet others that I think, "Dear God, please let this pass quickly." Such as projectile spit up being in my hair and down my back, arms and legs ~ BUICK!!!

I still have five more weeks to stay at home with her. When I return to "work" (Who can really call it work (minus the " "'s when you have only one student and a full time aid?) HAH is going to stay w/ my step-mom (who is SOOO excited). I think it will be a wonderful experience and bonding time for the two of them and daddy (who has Mon - Wed off of work). It's so funny, b/c B and I talked about never being "one of those couples" who depends on their parents to take care of their children. We weren't planning on it. In fact, I had a place for her to go and when my parents found out they decided that they REALLY wanted Hadlee to stay with them (Have I told you they are THE busiest people on the face of the earth?). We weren't going to ask either of the grandmothers to watch her. Our feelings on the situation are that they put in their time raising us and have the God given right to say, "I have three hours on Thursday afternoon and I'd love to have one-on-one time w/ the baby." But when the gift horse is knocking on our door...

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I think it's about time to head back to bed. Our wonderful vibrating bassinet as done the trick once again... the real test is putting Hadlee into her cradle and seeing if she stays asleep. Lord, please let her stay asleep for at least three more hours!!!

Tomorrow we're taking a family day to head over to our old stomping grounds at Ethridge for a day of food, fellowship, and some mean games of Rook and Rummicube. It will be great!

You are getting veeerrry sleeeppppyyy...

Our first...

1. Family picture
2. Hadlee's first Sunday service
3. Family dinner out (at El Molcajete ~ YUMMY!!)
4. Daddy's first experience giving Hadlee a bath and getting her ready to go (it went really well!)
5. Memories together...

Ain't life together grand???

More Hadlee pics...

She's 3 1/2 weeks old and growing like a weed in a rain storm. Last week I tried to put one of her preemie outfits on her and it didn't fit anymore. I don't know when I've cried more tears. Sigh... the time really is flying.

Relief

I am putting together boxes of supplies, gift cards, and money to send to my New Orleans family who has been displaced to Hornbeck, LA. They are expecting around 250 people to join them and are trying to set up their organization (through their church) in order to continue to help those who are arriving even as you read this. If you are interested in helping touch these families and fellow Christians directly, please e-mail me through the blog and I'll send you mailing information.

Hope?

I received this e-mail last night from one of my best friends who lives in New Orleans:

Mae,

Just want to let you know we are all safe, but we are not sure of the conditions of our home. We are receiving bad reports, but still believing God.

Love ya,
Netta

Please continue praying for those who have lost so much. Keep believing...

Fun w/ the camera...

Ok, so Mommy is burping me and all I really want to do is finish eating and get some zzz's, but NO she has to have a picture... Well fine then. (Disclaimer: I do not have an unusually red right eye all of the time. I just have a tendency to stick my fingers in it and make it appear that way.)

Today we went to see Dr. B (HAH's Dr. B, not Mommy's Dr. B) and I gained 1 lb and 1 oz in 1 1/2 weeks!!! Now I'm in the 10th percentile instead of the 5th ~ Woo Hoo!!!

Also, today Mommy proved once again that she's lost her marbles. She thought she had a hair appointment this afternoon, but she got to the salon and they were closed. It's not until tomorrow... She thinks.

That's the news for now. Til next time. HAH and Momma.

P.S. Isn't my monkey face just the cutest lil thing??!?!?!! Now, if I could only pull my ears out for the full effect...

Lessons Learned

Well, I guess since I've been a mother for two entire weeks that I should enlighten the world on some things Brandon and I have learned about Hadlee...

1. If she isn't hungry, tired, or poopie and she's crying, then it must be a tummy ache.
2. When in doubt, use Mylicon!
3. Her grunts, facial expressions, sighs, snoring, and every other noise are precious.
4. If she's sleeping it doesn't matter how uncomfortable the position looks ~ just let her sleep.
5. The black tar my look gross, but at least it doesn't stink or fly across the room.
6. There isn't a more frightening feeling than not knowing what to do to make her feel better.
7. She loves to watch COPS and Kung Fu Chow movies.
8. The sily songs I make up almost always go to the tune of an Adam Sandler song.
9. When she looks into my eyes, my heart melts.
10. It's an exhausting job, but we wouldn't trade being parents for all the gifts in the world.

Hey baby...

You lookin' at me?

Simple Gifts

This morning after Hadlee's 6:00 feeding as I was laying her back down into her cradle and kissing her precious little baby head I looked over at her father who was sound asleep in our bed. The expressions on thier faces were identical at that particular moment (in case you don't know, Hadlee is an almost exact replica of her Daddy). The song "Simple Gifts" immediately popped into my head and the meaning of "Jesus Loves Me" suddenly had a new impact. Just thought I'd share that with you.

Hadlee

Here's our little snuggle bug ~ isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen??!?!?!!

She is resting peacefully right now in her bassinet, which is vibrating, a TRUE gift from above! I am feeling better each day, but still having blood pressure measurements that are off the charts. I have to take medicine for my bp until my post partumn checkup in a month and then we'll see what happens from there.

I am also working on putting the story of her birth to paper ~ mainly so that she'll be able to look back on it when she is my age and has questions about things. One thing I will try to do on a regular basis is to write down what is happening in our lives (blogging is great for many things!). I just want to know that if Brandon or I are not around for her when she gets curious about things, that she'll have our thoughts and feelings down to see her life from our perspective. Does that sound morbid, or just overly mushy & mommyish?

Ok, I'm tuckered and there is laundry waiting to head to Tide, Downey and Bounce land. Have a fabulous day. Thank you for all of the warm wishes. :)

And the winner is...

Beaner, I think... but Brandon & I got the ultimate gift!!!

Hadlee Anne was born on Sunday, August 14 at 10:32 a.m. She weighs 5 lbs. 13 oz. (not 8 lbs as I mistakenly reported before ~ it's the post~pardom stupids!!!) and is 18 3/4" long. Things for her are beautiful.

I have PIH (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension) and had to have a c-section. I'm slowly recovering, but enjoying the fact that I can't vacuum for at least two weeks! :) I'll post pictures of my tiny bundle in the next day or so. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. SHE'S HERE!!!! Thank you Lord! :)

What I am doing...

* Having contractions.
* Not getting very much sleep.
* Trying to do something constructive, fun and educational for my students.
* Trying to get everything ready for this baby to friggin' get here already.
* Trying to finish up school work for the semester.
* Trying not to complain... over and over again.


What I'm not doing...

* Having a baby today ~ Dang it.
* Focusing on one project and completing it.
* Cooking or cleaning.
* Getting much rest.


Where I wish I was right now...

* On the beach w/ my husband and daughter ~ who is in person, not in tummy.
* Sleeping.
* Eating.
* Getting a massage.


The doc's report for today...

* Dilation Factor ~ 1.
* Baby at ~ Minus 2.
* Completely opened (Um, I don't know what that means.).
* Doc's prediction ~ two more weeks and a possible c-section.

Funny quote of the day...

* From Dr. B to Brandon, "Now, don't wait t until you can see hair to put Mae Anne in the car..."

Random thought of the day...

* Why do yappy little dogs only bark at 4:47 a.m.?

Our bags are packed, we're ready to go...

It's official. Dr. B said to keep our hospital bags packed and in the Expedition. AND ~ I've started dilating!!! Right now, I'm all the way to 1, but still, it's further that zero!!!!

I figured that now is as good a time as any (can't tell I'm southern from that phrase, can you?) to begin the "Place Your Bets" game. So my blog friends, I am inviting you to guess the day, time, weight and length of Miss Hadlee Anne Hale. If you want you may also guess the amount of time I'll be in labor, but I will warn you that I refuse to acknowledge any of that. :)

We've got 19 days until the due date. Ready, set, guess!

Boggle Anyone?

Since I was hired to teach a new class one whole day before school began, I feel as if I am perpetually behind. What I am doing is a completely new program so I have to develop the curriculum as I go based on my students' test scores, abilities, and state standards. On top of that, my maternity leave begins in 3 weeks (yes, that's one whole day before the due date) and I have to prepare for the time that I'll be out as well. Good grief! Who said being a teacher was an easy job??!?!?! At least I can wear flip-flops! :)

We have every last thing for Hadlee that we can think of... except for the whole knowing how to be parents thing, which I'm sure will kick in either about the time she leaves for college or calls and needs us to sign a release form for the latest COPS episode. Take your pick.

Classes are almost over for this semester at SCU. Thank goodness! I have put very little effort into the whole grad school deal and my grades will probably reflect it... B's are acceptable every once in a while. Just try your hardest to convince expectant mothers to stay away from grad school and the world will be a place where we can all get along. (Insert random Jon Lennon moment here"Imagine all the people living for today... You may say I'm a dreamer, but I am not the only one. I hope someday you will join us, and the world will live as one...")

Brandon is back w/ my nightly craving ~ Mad Cows and Fruity Pebbles (Yes, I know they are actually called Brown Cows, but I couldn't remember that when I was trying to explain what I wanted and the term Mad Cow just stuck.) Mmmmmm. Sugar and chocolate the only thing that could make me happier at this moment would be to not be pregnant any more. At least I've got the Mad Cows! :)

So, I got this job...

and it pays about 3 times more than I've ever made in my life. Plus, right now I only have one student, an assistant and a special ed teacher in the room to help move things along. Yep, I'm getting paid to basically socialize a "troubled teen" and get him back on his merry little way. I get to model and teach restaurant etiquette and then we get to take a field trip to O'Charleys as a test ~ it's all about the hands on learning here people! Seriously, it's for real. AND, I don't even have to worry about the half days that I'll miss due to dr. appointments... cuz they're cool like that. AND I can even wear flip flops to work, no kiddin'.

Ok, now I must finish a paper on counseling couples dealing with infertility. It only has to be five pages... under normal circumstances I could probably spill out about 50, but I'm so tired and consumed w/ this whole "job" thing that it's taking me longer to get the paper done. Once that's finished (by tonight) I have 3 more papers to do by Friday night (including watching three 3 hour classes, not so much fun) and I'll be finished w/ another graduate class. Woo~hoo!!!

We're going shopping this weekend for the last of the Hadlee things (until she gets here, anyway). Target makes me happy and getting things for our daughter just makes me down right ecstatic!!!

26 more days.

Thank you all SOOOOO MUCH for the advice about the baby stuff. I felt much better after reading it ~ and I have a list which always calms my nerves. Ya'll are great ~ blugs! :)

Questions, questions, questions...

Hi, this is Mae Anne in semi-panic mode. The following are things that I have no idea about and I'm asking you b/c my sister isn't answering her phone... when I feel the need to know something I need the info immediately or I get all stressed out and the end result is a tension headache ~ one of which I can now feel coming on starting in my upper shoulder blades. Not fun. Please inform the uninformed ASAP...

1. How many bottles do we need? I mean we have 6 and if I end up successfully breast feeding it will make a difference in the # needed, right? At the moment, I need worse case scenario figures, please.

2. What do I need to take to the hospital for Hadlee? If we'll be there for 2 days do I need three outfits for her (day 1, day 2 and a coming home outfit)? Should I just take gowns and matching blankets? What about diapers and wipes and various things of that nature?

3. How many pacifiers are needed? We have 3. I figured we should at least have 7 ~ one for every day... but that's just my harebrained idea.

4. When do we need to get the high chair? Obviously she isn't going to need it the first few weeks, but roughly at what age is a baby big enough to sit in the thing?

5. Is a play yard really a necessary item? (And what's w/ not calling them play pens anymore, did someone end up in jail b/c he or she was in one as a baby?) We have a bassinet (sp?) and her crib ~ is the play yard needed too?

6. How many sheets do I need for the crib and bassinet? I have 2 bassinet sheets and one for the crib.

7. Is it better to have a bouncy seat or a swing? One is obviously larger and bulkier than the other, but what I need is what gets the job done... enough time for a shower where all of the shampoo and conditioner are rinsed out and I get to dry off and put on clean clothes.

8. What about burp cloths? I think we have around 10, but that doesn't sound like nearly enough. Don't babies spew after or during every feeding?

9. How do I give her a bath if I can't bathe her until her belly button falls off and when does that happen?

10. Am I an unfit mother if I do something wrong, don't have enough burp cloths, mis-match her outfit and blanket, or run our of clean bottles?????!??!?!!!

AAARRRGGGHH. Stressing over all of this and more at the moment. Answer if you can. Laugh if you must, but please tell me that it will all be ok.

29 days and counting vigorously.

Seeking Mommy Advice

I came home from church this afternoon w/ roughly three loads of laundry to do for Hadlee! The last and largest shower was held by the church ladies (not to be confused w/ the Chruch Lady from SNL) and the smocked dresses and cutsie little things are just delicious. I do, however, need your advice on the blanket deal. How many blankets (receiving, fleece, thermal, afghans, etc.) does one child really need? I'm not asking this in a sarcastic manner, but I REALLY would like to have a ball park figure. I haven't counted exactly the number we have, but I'm quite sure that it's over 10 and less than 20. Other than having lots of warmth and providing great fort and tent building materials, are they really that vital to a baby's existence?

Also (Men, I do here by apologized if you read the following paragraph ~ feel free to skip to the end of this post from this point), I asked my doctor about nursing things and she recommended a certain brand of pump, but not bottles or various assunderies (I don't know if assunderies is really the correct word to use here, but I felt like using it. I mean, how often do you get to use the word "assunderies"?). If you have recently breast fed and used a pump (cuz, they kind of go hand in hand, correct?) would you kindly give a thumbs up for the brand? Did you rent it from the hospital or shell out the $319 for it at Motherhood Maternity?

Ok, I think that's about it for the questions for tonight. I'm sure that many more will pop into my head, probably about bathroom break #3 at roughly 4:37a.m. I'll update things then...

Happy (Manic) Monday

ZOE Conference

Who's going?

Dis and Anti

Yesterday, for the first time in my life, the elders at church made a public announcement that someone was being disfellowshipped from our assembly. In reality, she did this herself (left her husband and family and made a new one in a different place w/ no communication or replies to the concern, inquiries and prayers from the elders) and the church just kind of followed suit. It was sad and shocking and done w/ love (I know that sounds odd, but it really was) all at the same time.

I'm not sure that this would have taken place before our gospel meeting in June. The man who was brought in for the meeting does the International Gospel Hour ~ I can't remember his name for the life of me (googled it, he's Winford Claiborne). Anyway, one of the parts of his discipline subject was on when a person should be disfellowshipped publicly. At the time I thought, "This is going to stir the pot a good bit." And it did, but it was in discussions and questions, not "Lets go get so-and-so, put a red A on their chest and let the entire world know that we follow the Good Book's rules on telling people where they went wrong and turning away from those who have turned from God." (Obviously, there are some who would do that and think it's the right thing to do, but that wasn't what happened, Thank God!)

It's sad that things like this happen. I'm so glad that I am not in a elder's position and have to make decisions like these. When the announcement was made, the congregation was asked to pray for the family affected and to especially pray for the wife and to tell her, if she was seen, that she is loved and wanted and prayed for.

Now for the "anti" deal. I have a friend who has an interest who is an anti (a.k.a. non-institutional). Now, I hadn't ever heard of the anti movement until a couple of years ago and what I understood of it was "Oh, yeah, they don't have kitchens or social functions at the church building." (Brandon and I visited one such congregation where two Amish men had just been baptized and in turn disfellowshipped from their families ~ it was an interesting experience to say the least.) Ok, what-ever floats their boat, at least they aren't doing the one cup deal! No biggy, just a different perspective. My friend, however, had heard other things that were much more negative from a person who has a very poor attitude about everything that goes against what he feels is right. Naturally, she was a bit hesitant about diving more into the "interest" b/c of the negative spin on all of this. She called me for advice about all of this and we googled the anti deal and were both quite surprised at how NOT hell, fire, damnation it all sounded.

So much religious stuff going on in my head. So many brain cells being asked to function. Odd I guess. Tell me your insights to these matters if you wish. I hope that what I wrote doesn't sound negative or legalistic or anti anti, but just my view of such matters from my own perspective. Does that make sense?

I'm going to take a break and then hit the books some more. Only one more month of classes and then I'm taking off until January. I am looking VERY forward to that break time and to spending lots of time w/ our daughter... just 36 more days! :)

I've got a pretty busy week ahead. Visiting friends on Short Mountain, in Lawrenceburg, a doc's visit in Spring Hill and a couple of days in Huntsville; plus 3 classes, a paper, a pedicure and a baby shower. What are the chances of those classes and paper getting done?!?!???!!

VBS ~ yes!

Nothing like singing "Three Wondering Jews" and "Booster, Booster be a Booster" to really take a gal back to the good ol' days. Plus, tonight was homemade ice cream and cobbler night ~ MMmmmm, mmmmm good! :)

Tomorrow begins the weekly trips to see Dr. Bullard. Not exciting to step on that scale at all ~ in fact, it's just down right mean of them to make me get on the thing.

B grilled the squash tonight, but I'd already had the afore mentioned ice cream and cobbler, so I'll take his word that it was good. Thank you for the recipes!

Tomorrow I am also going to turn in another teaching application (this time for the city schools, not the county). One of my friends called today and said that they wanted me to come for an interview. This is a 7 th grade position ~ reading and history I think. My personal opinion is "Whatever will be, will be." I'm a great teacher, rather compassionate and very NOT mainstream, but ya know, I'm just ready to not be pregnant any more. That's my passion for the time being. :)

Must head off to try to get at least an hour and a half of sleep at a time between all of those potty breaks and 10 minute roll over sessions (and I'm not talking cell phone minutes here people!). Nighty, night.

Thank you God for...

Not making me into an elephant, as they are pregnant for two l-o-n-g years.

I need your cookbooks!!!

Here's the major malfunction...

We have wonderful neighbors who have a wonderful garden and they are great at sharing it's fabulous produce. Today's produce is squash. I love squash, but all I know to do w/ it is fry it. B asked if I could make a casserole BUT I can't find a squash casserole recipe to save my life!!! Help if you can, please! :)

Thanks a bajillion ~ Mae.

P.S. 44 days and counting.

What I like...

White Karo syrup on my french toast.
PB and Grape J w/ Nacho Cheese Doritos on White Bread (Don't knock it till ya try it!).
Having a clean house.
Going into Hadlee's room and touching everything.
Sitting in the garage talking to B while he works on random things such as the 4 wheeler winch.
Ironing.
Diet Sun~drop.
My husband's cooking... anything, esp. if it's grilled.
Living w/in 20 minutes of almost every family member.
Seeing most all of the family members on a regular basis.
Feeling HAH move around in my tummy and watching it look all lopsided and alien-ish.
Counting down the days until she's here and I can hold her, squeeze her, and call her mine!
Laughing at my husband.
Laughing in general.
AC ~ thank you Lord!
Getting gifts for HAH in the mail, or at a shower, or b/c something is one sale that she couldn't possibly do w/out.
Not working outside of the home.
Having a dog who guards nothing but her food and toys.
Nieces and a nephew.
HGTV.
Looking at house plans and thinking about what we'd like to have in our next home.
Life.
Blessings.
Love.
Smiles.
Compliments.
Blogging.

Now, how 'bout you?

49 Days & Counting...

Seven weeks from today is Hadlee's due date. Last week at my doc's appointment I asked if there was a chance of my due date being moved up since she's measuring on the large side. Nope, apparently if the date is getting moved, it will be further away in order for her lungs to have more time to develop... my balloon of hope was quickly deflated! After next week's appointment I'll be in the office every week until Little Bit gets here ~ frightening and exciting all at the same time!!!

Brandon and I went to Mass on Sunday to celebrate the Christening of his cousin, Johanna. It was my first Catholic experience and I must say it was very interesting and confusing (not to mention the work out from sitting, standing and kneeling so much!) all at once. I was very engrossed in what was happening, the replies of the congregation back to the priest, the children running around, the lack of dress on many women, the absence of Bibles of any sort, the repetitiveness of having the same service each week for a year... basically the whole kit and kaboodle. I was going to participate in communion if B's family did (which they didn't) UNTIL this one particular moment... a lady, probably in her mid 50's sitting two rows ahead of us stuck her thumb up her nose, examined it's contents and then decided they were worthy of ingestion. She did this not once, but TWICE!!! Oh, holy Mary mother of Jesus these people drink after each other!!!!!!!!!!! Buick maguick!!! There was no way on the face of this green earth that I was going to drink from the same cup that she did (and really, what's the point of wiping the rim when it's just spreading germs around more than once?!) . I almost had a come-apart at that time ~ it was BAD! I was trying to figure out a way of avoiding the cup part (and at the same time was incredibly appreciative that we don't do the whole one cup deal!) when my mom-in-law said, "It's ok for us to just sit and observe at this point." Thank you Lord!

That was what really stuck w/ me from my first Mass experience. Johanna was Christened in the fountain ~ not sprinkled, but immersed butt naked up to her neck into a fountain that people then put their hands into and touched to their faces ~ hello babies pee in there! It was really neat, but bogger lady ruined a good bit of it... not to mention my anal-retentive-germ-o-phoebe-ness kicking into high gear. If I'd had my anti-bac wipes with me I'd've been handing them out right behind the alter boys! :)

Yesterday we had a wonderful Fourth celebration which included a cook out at my sister's house w/ all the siblings, nieces, nephew and friends, lots of fireworks, a few burnt hands and my husband catching on fire (just a small one though ~ it left a dime sized hole in his $4 Old Navy flag tee). All in a day's work...

Now I'm working on more school stuff and trying to actually get caught up. Last week I just thought about getting there, this week I'm actually doing it ~ shocking I'm sure...

It's 2:22 somewhere...

Well, here actually. I had a hard time falling asleep and when I finally got to the really good sleep part Sassafrass woke me up. So, I've been reading new blogs since then. Haven't done that in quite a while. Isn't it funny how we get into a routine even in blogland?

I've had some pretty deep thoughts on life issues lately, but hesitate to post them given the fact that there are eyes reading this that I haven't spoken to on said issues and should probably do so before posting them in order to be as un-offensive as possible. How's that for a run-on?

Something that has really bothered me since moving back home is the rumor mill here. Holy crap!!! I had forgotten how mixed up, tied up, tangled up in rumors this place was. That is one area that I am trying desperately to stay out of... Satan's been pulling me lately, but I hope that I've resisted the pulling. Daddy always taught us that we are much better off not getting involved in the drama and politics that go on here. Now I really understand what he meant! Knowing that Hadlee will have to be taught the same thing, I figured that practicing and modeling such behavior would be better than preaching on it and being a hypocrite! Do any of you struggle w/ similar issues?

Well, I think I feel sleep coming on... must get up in a few hours for water aerobics ~ sadly, it kicked my booty on Monday, but then again I AM eight months preggars! :) Hope you are sleeping tightly.

As is par...

Hi. My name is Mae Anne and I'm a procrastinator.

Once again, I have projects due for school and I can think of nothing better to do than laundry, cleaning, blogging, watching TV, and talking to anyone or anything that will listen in order to avert myself from finishing (or beginning) anything. Seriously, I should do better. I'll put myself in time out as soon as I finish this...

In the name of research, I'll ask your opinions. So, what is your opinion on the following:
1. Heterosexism / Homophobia / Christianity in the marriage and family therapy room.
2 Developing a community based project or program... what would it be, how would it work, would you like to develop said project for me?, etc.
3. Venn Diagrams ~ I hate the little suckers.

In other news...

I have such a busy week ahead and it doesn't look as if things will slow down any time soon. I'm trying to get as far ahead w/ school things as possible so just in case I get a call saying "Congratulations, you are hired as a real teacher and I need you to report to work in the morning." I'll have a bit less to stress over. (I heard through the grape vine that I would be getting a call soon, but the grape vine has been known to break down or go bad from time to time so I will count on absolutely no such of a thing.) I have 3 classes, 1 paper and a test to get in this week. Plus a day of shopping w/ the mom-in-law, a doc's appointment (on Tuesday we'll be into week #32!), 3 water aerobics classes, and a pedicure.

Boy life is just rough I tell ya! :)

Now I'll get right on that paper... as soon as I get in my 9 hours of sleep.

Just one question...

What ever happened to the Diet Coke guy?

SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING?

A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear
A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.
A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years.
Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.
Butterflies taste with their feet.
Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10.
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
If the population of China walked past you, in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.
It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.
Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite..
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right.
The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.
The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).
There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
There are more chickens than people in the world.
There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous
There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious."
There's no Betty Rubble in the Flintstones Chewables Vitamins.
Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself.
.............Now you know everything!!!

P.S. Does anyone else love that these are listed alphabetically??!?!?!

Halle, Shelby, Jared & gummies... can't beat it! :) 

Perpetual state of stuffiness

Ah, to just be able to breathe without sounding like a 600 lb. asmatic... 'twould be a dream come true. I sound so horrible, I even frighten myself! We've got 9 weeks and 1 day to go ~ hopefully less if these squats live up to their reputation. Maybe then I'll be able to breathe normally again...

Is it just me, or has this month flown by? I can't believe that July is almost here. It's just crazy. This will be the first summer in YEARS that I'll not be able to go to the beach... sadness. We may end up heading down in October when Hadlee is big enough to travel; just to hear that soothing sound and get our toes in the sand and water. OR, maybe the beach will move a few hundred miles inland ~ that would be so much more convenient!

The baby's crib, mattress and bedding came over the weekend. It is so exciting to go in there to look and touch everything. A bit sobering knowing that B and I will be responsible for the person who will soon rest her precious head in there. Ok, panic attackish feelings coming on. Must stop thinking of such things.

Nuttin' else to report on. My life is great, but not so exciting to read about. Happy Monday blog family.

Anticipation

Tomorrow is the interview day for a teaching position. Currently there are only four positions open in Pre K-5th and they are interviewing candidates from 8:00 - 3:00 with interviews lasting for 15 minutes max. That's a lot of people looking for a job! I'm not really excited about the prospect of having a full time job, especially w/ HAH's due date only 69 days away.... I don't know. I've prayed about it and my thinking is that what ever happens is meant to be and I'll just sit back and say thank you! :)

Brandon is getting back into a traveling routine. Since we've moved he hasn't been asked to go anywhere until this week. Yesterday he was in Atlanta and today through Friday he'll be in Charlotte, NC. Blah.

On a much more exciting note... HAH's crib and mattress will be delivered b/t 12:00 and 4:00 Friday afternoon. I am SUPER EXCITED!! I can not wait to see how things are going to look and getting this special space ready for such a special child. Her bedding and dresser will be here in a couple more weeks. When it's all here and put together I'll post pictures for all to goo and ooh over.

Saturday we are hosting a cook out in honor of all the father's in our family ~ well the immediate family anyway. Looking forward to having everyone over and celebrating being Daddies and having families and all that warm, fuzzy stuff.

My energy level begins to decline greatly at noon and I have to clean the vanities in our bathrooms and try to make sense of the gifts in HAH's room ~ currently it looks like a disaster zone. Then I need to catch up on yet another class, and head off to church for another night of our gospel meeting. It's on marriage, families and the home this year... right up my ally!

They Dance in the Kitchen

Throughout my childhood, my parents always held hands, kissed, and danced (yep, you read that correctly, they danced!). With four children in the house, they knew how to keep the romance alive in their marriage. Although he had to over come his wife's death, Daddy found another woman with whom he could dance in the kitchen, with only the music of voices and sounds of nature as their melody... and I am so thankful that he was given such a wonderful gift; not once, but twice in his life.

Today is Gary Lynn "Butch" McCullough's 50th birthday. For half a century he has brought smiles and laughs from those around him. He can play hard ball with the best of them, but Daddy is a softie at heart and it is shown in the way he treats everyone he comes into contact with, but especially his family.

He has shown my siblings and I how to live, love and laugh. But more importantly, how to be a child of God and admit our imperfections (if only when absolutely necessary!). His influence in my life is very evident ~ besides that fact that I am his spitting image (minus the bald head and full beard and mustache).

I love you Daddy and I am so grateful to have you in my life.

Always,
Your Baby Girl

Nuttin' much...

Thankfully, there isn't all that much going on right now. Things are sailing smoothly along. At my doctor's appointment Tuesday, Dr. B said that HAH is measuring "larger than 29 weeks," which is fine. Brandon and I were both a bit above average... he was 7.13 and I was 8.1 (and two weeks late ~ have mercy!) so she should be right in that area. Then again, they told my sister that her youngest one would be between 8 and 9 lbs. and she was 7.4, so I'm not really putting all my stock into measuring by feeling the ol' tummy.

I've finished all of the thank you cards from the baby showers. Now all I have to do is buy stamps and send them all on their merry way. Of course, this is the point at which I stopped w/ thank yous for wedding gifts. I don't know why, but I'll make sure these get mailed w/ in the next 75 days or so...

Next Thursday I have two interviews w/ 5 principals (of which I know 4, it's so nice to be back home!) for a teaching position for next fall (which actually starts in late July ~ this whole year around thing sure cuts into a gal's summer!). I don't know how this will end. Just getting invited to interview is a good thing; it's the aftermath if the interview goes well that will stress me out a bit... ok, a big... huge... gigantic bit, but a bit no less. I have never thought about putting my children into someone else's hands on a daily basis. SO, I'll not think about it now and all will be well! Just call me Scah-lutt.

That's the oh-so-exciting news for now. I'll have a child in a little over 10 weeks ~ YAH HOO!!!

Let the freak show begin...

It's nearing... the second weekend of June in Manchester means the hippy, free-lovin, take a puff of the cheeba and share a round w/ the tent next to ya, crowd is gathering for the annual "music and arts festival" called Bonnaroo. Lord help us!

In past years, the traffic wait to get to the gate has been up to 8 hours on the interstate in both directions. Surprisingly, only three people have died during this; not surprisingly, they were results of overdoses.

For most Manchester residents, we love it as much as native New Orleans inhabitants love Mardi Gras... that's not a lot if you're keeping a tally. It does bring a large amount of $$$ into the area. How much, I'm not sure, but they'll announce a guesstimate on the news Sunday evening as the last station-wagonniers and hitch-hikers are heading out of town.

Brandon and I were returning some duplicate baby gifts to Wal-Mart (have I mentioned that we're registered at Target??!!) and witnessed numerous 'Roonies setting up tents in the parking lot. I can't imagine how that would be a good night's sleep, especially since the gates don't open for two more days.

Our life for the next six days will revolve around catching glimpses of people who's parents probably enjoyed Woodstock a bit too much and avoiding town as much as possible. It will be interesting, shocking, surprising and some fun all in one, but boy howdy are we ready for it to be over with! :)

Chocolate Sanity

I'm not at all used to being at someone else's beck and call. This week, since I've been keeping Lyla (13 months) my little world has been turned upside down. She's a wonderful child, incredibly easy to take care of, I'm just not used to it. When the mid afternoon stretch gets here (right when she starts to get tired and ready for her afternoon nap) I have to take a sanity break. This means taking a time out on the couch with a tall cup o' milk and a swiss miss. Mmmm. She's waking up. If I don't make eye-contact she may just fall back to sleep!

Chocolate anyone?

Just a couple things...

Lila, the one year old I am taking care of for a while, is preoccupied so I thought I'd take a minute to ask for your prayers.

1. My great-aunt (Ain't Arlene as we call her) has been diagnosed w/ lung and brain cancer. She's a smoker and the lung cancer, while difficult to find, tends to spread quickly. It completely covers one lung, half of the other, and enough of her brain to be incredibly serious and inoperable. The specialists at Erlanger in Chattanooga have said she may have as little as 2 months and as long as 5 years.

2. My step-mom's sister, Debbie, had a stroke a couple weeks ago. She has lost 1/4 of her brain functioning. It's the reasoning, sequencing, mature part which may or may not be compensated for w/ proper therapy. Dede is taking care of her (plus their mother and aunt, who has epilepsy) and really needs to take it easy. Dede was recently diagnosed w/ fibromyalgia (sp?) and the more stress she has, the worse she feels.

Just a few things we could really use your prayers on. Other than that all is well. Hadlee is growing at the speed of light and taking up more than her fair share of tummy space! :) We absolutely LOVE being at home and are taking full advantage of seeing family on a near daily basis. Lila isn't so preoccupied anymore and I think it's nearly her morning nap time... ahh, nap time...

Happy Blog-iversary... My Dog is Grounded

Today marks the beginning, one year ago, that I began traveling down the bloggin' road. It has brought nothing but encouragement, friends, prayers, laughs, and little touches of Christ via technology. What a sweet treat!

... Now, about my dog. She is SO grounded. Yesterday I took her to the vet for her vaccinations and a flea and tick treatment (ticks are awful this year!). She does good job of traveling after she is in the vehicle, it's the whole getting in the vehicle part that scares her to death. (Can you see where this is going?) Well, all went well with the visit, weighing, seeing my sis-in-law, etc. We were leaving and Karen (the sis-in-law) had walked us to the car to help me get Sass back inside. Karen was at her head and I was assisting at the hind quarters. We try a couple of times to lift her to no avail (really, I was just there to talk, not do all that much lifting). The third time's a charm, right? Not in the Hale family. Sass slipped her head down, managed to get out of her BODY HARNESS and bolted. That's one stubborn dog with no harness in the smallish town of Tullahoma running rampant while three completely embarrassed and frustrated women tried to bribe her w/ treats, dead animals, and a threat to end her life (I was the only one doing that part, though). For 30 MINUTES we chased and tried to coax her back towards the clinic ~ we ran through yards (saw a couple smoking some crack and ran a bit faster) across streets, in front of traffic (luckily the speed limit in town is only 20 mph) and finally headed back to the clinic. Sass followed and was eventually contained. So now she's grounded for 3 days (no attention, no walks, and no treats) and I have to find a HUGE thank you gift for Karen, Amy (the vet) and yankee girl who answers the phones. Any suggestions?

Must head off to the New Union area. I'm yard sale-ing (I can't spell that) today and keeping a one year old... something tells me it's not going to be the best combination of duties. Bye now.

And we're back...

I can't express enough how fantastic it feels to be back home. It's been four years since I've lived here and six years for B (plus his 4 1/2 years of college at Evansville). It took about two trips to his parents' house (5 whole miles down the road) to decide that there are few jobs that can feel right enough in the heart and right enough in the wallet to compensate for leaving Coffee County. Homecoming is so sweet, I can't even begin to imagine what's in store for THE homecoming!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers over the past week. Ma Penny lived a long life (89) and was tired and ready to get to her eternal resting place.

The rental house is slowly becoming home-like. It doesn't smell like us yet, but I'll take care of that w/ some B&B Works wall flowers and candles! We have decided to stay here (in the rental) save up a good chunk of cabbage and try to find some land to build on. Forget North Carolina, forget Atlanta, forget GE if we have to; it's all about being w/ family!

We are officially into the last trimester. I'm officially ready to not be pregnant anymore and stay swollen no matter what precautions I take (CC, how in the world did you do this for so long??!?!) I've always wanted to have four children, that want is quickly changing to a lower number! :) I guess we'll take what precious gifts we're given. I've come to the realization that it's not really my decision to make anyway. Whatever God sees fits is what we'll take.

Break time is over, must unpack some more and head over to my parents to set up for a yard sale for this weekend.

When it rains...

It pours.

Today, Mattie Jane Tenpenny, or Ma Penny to many of us, passed away. Hadlee would have been her tenth great-great-grandchild.

Stuff 'n Things... n' Procrastination 'n Prayers

Today I left my last Ladies Bible Study class and lunch and gabbing session as a true Lawrenceburgan. Sadness.

Today I am supposed to pack, I'm blogging instead.

Today my great-grandmother (Ma Penny) had a heart attack and was life-lighted (or is it life-flighted? we say it so fast I actually have no idea) to a Nashville hospital (we assume it's Saint Thomas, but do not know for certain ~ Daddy has a large lack of details disease). We have been asked not to flood the hospital w/ visitors (all together there are roughly 75 - 80 children - great-great-grandchildren), but to pray. So please join us in that.

Today I bought a graduation gift for a sweet friend who will be in Nashville at DLU next fall.

Today they put a "SOLD" sign in my front yard.

Monday evening we met the people who will inhabit my precious home in a couple of weeks. My only comment is "I'm sorry house and nice neighbors." Next time we sell a home, I'll screen the buyers in a much more proficient manner. Goodbye nice walls, white carpet, and pretty yard. (Yes, I am being judgmental and I could be wrong, but I just don't think so...)

Today I need a nap and don't have time to take one.

Tomorrow is the last day we have to pack.

Yesterday I (along w/ my step-mom and a friend) scrubbed our rental house from top to bottom to get ready for us to live in.

Today I am exhausted from expending all of that energy.

Today I am a week behind on my classes. Next week I'll have to catch up and unpack at the same time.

Today I have 97 more days until HAH's due date.

Today I could use some laughter.

Funny Forwards

YOU KNOW YOU GREW UP IN THE 80's or early 90's IF-

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word "PSYCHE ".
2. You watched the Pound Puppies.
3. You can sing the rap to the "Fresh Prince of Bel-air " ...and
can do the "Carlton".
4. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly
sexy.
5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to
start a club of your own.
6. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.
7. You know that "WOAH " comes from Joey on Blossom
8. Two words: Hammer Pants
9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock."
10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars... and
"spokey-dokes" or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect.
11. You can sing the entire theme song to "DuckTales " (Woo ooh!)
12. When it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to
watch cartoons.
13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
14. You saw the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles " on the big
screen..and still know the turtles names.
15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer
class at school.
16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your
shirt in a knot on the side.
17. You played the game "MASH " (Mansion, Apartment, Shelter,
House)
18. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of
it.
19. L.A. Gear....need I say more?
20. You wanted to change your name to "JEM " in Kindergarten.
(She's truly outrageous.)
21. You remember reading "Tales of a fourth grade nothing " and all
the Ramona books.
22. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF "
23. You wanted to be a Goonie.
24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us... head-to-toe)
25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his
nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
27. You took lunch boxes to school... and traded Garbage Pail Kids
in the schoolyard.
28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
29. You still get the urge to say "NOT " after every sentence.
30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.
31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.
32. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook
up.
33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because
you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes (and like #24, probably in
neon colors, too).
35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know
you are, but what am I?"
36. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up! "
37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline
skates.
38. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
42. You remember Popples.
43. "Don't worry, be happy "
44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top
Reeboks.
45. You wore socks scrunched down (and sometimes still do...
getting yelled at by "younger hip" members of the family)
46. "Miss MARY MACK MACK MACK, all dressed in BLACK BLACK BLACK "
47. You remember boom boxes.. and walking around with one on your
shoulder like you were all that.
48. You remember watching both "Gremlins " movies.
49. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!"
50. You remember watching "Rainbow Bright" and "My Little Pony
Tales"
51. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
52. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
53. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool... and
don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB".
54. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on
"Saved By the Bell", the ORIGINAL class.
55. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
56. You just sang those words to yourself.
57.You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
58. homemade Levi shorts.. (the shorter the better)
59. You remember when mullets were cool!
60. You had a mullet!
61. You still sing "We are the World "
62. You tight rolled your jeans.
63. You owned a bannana clip.
64. You remember "Where's the Beef?"
65. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' about
Willis?"
66. You had big hair and you knew how to use it.
67. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head,
aren't you!!!

Decisions... not that they are all that important or life altering, they're just more fun at the moment.

I'm having a problem deciding on which baby bedding I like the most. Other than seeing it in person, this is as close to touching, feeling and smelling as I can get w/out putting any $$$ into the purchase. Tell me what you think "Coronation" or "Pocketful of Posies." (Click here, then check out children's, then baby bedding, and girl's bedding.)

Yesterday was so much fun. The Ladies Bible Class held a shower for me. The whole "I'm going to be a mother in a short while" thing is beginning to really kick in. There is pink frilly stuff everywhere and I LOVE IT!!!!

I need to whip up some lunch for Brandon, pack up some boxes and dive into the oh so interesting world of Marriage and Family Development. Woo~hoo!

Oh yeah. B was officially offered the North Carolina job yesterday. There is much to ponder, look at, think and pray over, and several more options in the GE job search to look into as well (one of which would probably allow us to stay in Manchester). Please keep us in your prayers over these decisions (the not-so-fun, life-altering ones).

Dreams

Last night Brandon told me of a news story where a local couple had to deliver their child in the car en route to the hospital. Apparently this bothered me some what on a sub-conscious level, as I dreamed the following.

It was a hot Tennessee summer evening. Brandon and I were hosting a BBQ for some friends and family members. He and the others are outside chit-chatting away and I'm in the hallway cramping and feeling a bit out-of-sorts. I sit down on the guest bed, (which if you know me, sitting on a made bed is definitely an unpardonable sin) reach down and deliver a baby boy... a boy? A BOY??!??!! It's a BOY??? What happened to my sweet little girl? What in the world am I going to do w/ a boy? I'm not prepared for a boy! AARRGH!!!! In walks my sister and niece all excited about me delivering a baby and not having a mess of any kind to clean up. I hand Lynette the baby and run out to get Brandon. He gets all perturbed b/c I interrupted his conversation (if you know him at all, you know he just doesn't get perturbed at anything). I"m crying hysterically over delivering A BOY and he could care less. He has guests to entertain and I had sat down on the bed for crying out loud! My sister calls the doctor who appears at the house and says "Congratulations on your son. What are you going to name him?" I let out a blood curdling scream and the dream pans to a beautiful sunset.

That's what I call messed up! For the love... I can't handle too many more of these. I'll be a nervous wreck by the time we reach the hospital (an hour and a half drive from the house in Manchester ~ let's think about that at a later date!). Just thought I'd share that little tid bit. Not much else to blog about. Getting boxes packed and working on summer school.

By the way, the next time I decide to have a child while in grad school please remind me of the pocket protector wearing professor from Nebraska and I'll definitely change my mind! Holy Moses, how in the world am I supposed to "think scientifically, academically, and critically about marriage and family development" when I can't even decide what to fix for supper?!!!

Life is in the details, not the parachute.

More than just about any other saying, I firmly believe that life is definitely in the details. I love details about absolutely everything. I mean EVERYTHING! (Unless it's my grandmother describing what she ate for supper three nights ago for the fifth time in one phone conversation, then I'm not so appreciative of them.) The good thing about seeing, knowing and understanding the details is that there is little room to be un-prepared for any (detail) given situation. I am SO INTO DETAILS, that I asked my ob/gyn for a c-section so that I could be fully prepared and know exactly when HAH is coming into the world ~ she laughed and said "Umm, no!" If you are around many men you probably know that most of them could give a flitter about details. One such man is my husband, bless his heart.

Unfortunately, men run the course of our life right now. Every person who is higher in the GE food chain and has a remote in-site to our future, just isn't too detail oriented. What we do know is this: Brandon has a job through the end of September and probably will continue w/ the company after that date. As of now, his boss has his eye on two very different places. One is the North Carolina job (we would probably live in South Carolina ~ one of the guys B works w/ said it's much less expensive, just as nice as Asheville, and only 30 minutes away) and the other is right outside of Atlanta. The girl who has rather strong opinions and hates, detests, can not stand curvy roads, hills, or mountains, just isn't all that excited about living in a very curvy, hilly, mountainy area (when the interstate speed limit is 50 b/c of natural terrain I tend to have panic attacks). This job would be wonderful for B's career and we are told we'd be there for at least 5 years (Holy crap ~ Hadlee will be in Kindergarten in 5 years ~ someone give me a paper bag and tell me to breathe ~ not easy to think about!!!) My brain is having a hard time thinking now, I'll try to continue... The Atlanta job would be more of a lateral slide in the career area. BUT, as we all know, it's not located in the mountains and if you go 50 on any road you will shortly meet your maker. Nascar's got nuttin' on Atlanta highways! Also, Atlanta is only 3 hours from home and we know people there, while NC / SC is 5 - 6 hours depending on who is doing the driving and we know no one in that area. Both are in a different time zone ~ I'll not go into how much that messes w/ my mind right now. We probably won't know until June or even later when or where we'll be moving east. If you'll remember, HAH will be here in August... at least, that's what we're counting on.

If you read paragraph one, you will notice that I'm BIG on details. In paragraph two, there is a large lack of them. Yep, it's not really my kind of thing, but if I have learned anything at all in life, it's that all things will work out in the end (if I knew exactly which "things" these were and when exactly they would "work out" I'd be much more at ease, but ya know how that goes). I seriously think God was bored and needed to laugh so He decided Brandon and I should have to manage our lives in a different manner. He better be getting some good guffaws in is all I have to say about that!

Boxes are slowly being packed and moved to storage in Manchester. Leaving is sad, but being there is going to be so much fun (once the boxes are un-packed)! We are going to miss our church here dearly. (Speaking of church, they are giving us two showers and one going-away party next week ~ FUN!!!) But since my doc's office is only half an hour away I'm going to try to make the appointments on days that social activities are happening and just make myself at home w/ my retired friends.

Changes, details, imagining having a 5 year old... it's a bit much for now, but that's what's going on. Stability seems to have disappeared. God is providing us w/ a parachute. It's not necessarily cute, nor does it match my purse and shoes, but it is a parachute none the less. All we can do is trust in Him, jump, and enjoy the ride down. (If only I knew when the ride was going to be and where we would land...)