Sunday, December 14, 2008

God REALLY cares about lights!

If you didn't read my last post, read it first and then come back to this one!

If you are still here, then you've read the last post and you saw that God answered my shallow but heartfelt prayer about Christmas lights. Well, he wasn't through yet....
I went to church tonight for a Christmas program and when I came home I noticed we had several new light additions in the front yard! Scotty said that right after I had left for church, there was a knock on the front door. It was our friend Chris Woodruff and his 5 year old son CJ. CJ handed Scotty 6 boxes of lights and said, "We brought these over for you to use because we don't need them." Y'all, I am so glad I wasn't here because I would have scared that little boy to death with how much I cried!!! It was so simple and they probably thought it wasn't that big of a deal. They probably thought they were just bringing lights and didn't realize they were bringing a message of hope and encouragment from our Savior to 2 weary people. I don't think I'll ever look at our Christmas lights the same again!

Friday, December 12, 2008

God cares about lights

So the economy is bad......I guess we all know that by now! I'm sure that everyone is feeling the effects of it, and some more than others. Scotty has had a really tough year with business. He sells advertising to local clients for Comcast. Although these are the times when people need to advertise the most, it is when they want to advertise the least. Everyone is holding their pocketbooks very tightly and very closed! So it has been an uphill battle all year. I'd like to say that I haven't struggled with all the cost cutting at all, but let's face it....I like buying cute new clothes for my kids! I like being able to get highlights! I like buying new decorations for Christmas! I love to decorate and see SO many thing I'd like to do in our new house! I like to cook really fun meals! I like a lot of things that I just simply can't afford to do right now. Some days I'm ok with it. Some days I'm very stressed about it. Some days I'm downright angry about it. And some days I just feel sorry for myself. I think that as the economy has gotten worse, I've had a lot more thankful days and a lot less pity-party days. There are too many people that are truly suffering for me to feel bad about having kids in second hand clothes and having dull brown hair.



Anyhow...



As we pulled out our Christmas decorations this year, we were sad to see that almost everything we used to light our old house won't work here. We LOVE to decorate for Christmas, so this was a real bummer. We put up our wreaths and some lighted garland around the door. We both agreed that with all of the huge bushes in the front, some net lights would be great. But, not in the budget. I realize it may sound shallow, but it was just kind of a downer. I think it just kind of represented how our whole year has felt. I was pulling out of the driveway last week telling God I was ok with it, but was there any way we could get some lights for the bushes? A super sale somewhere? Someone who didn't want theirs? I'd take anything!



Fast forward to this past Tuesday...



My birthday club group met to celebrate my birthday and Christmas. We all brought a gift from our house that we didn't want anymore to play "dirty Santa".....can you see where I'm going with this? Yes, I picked the box that my friend Courtney had brought, full of Christmas decor and 4 boxes of NET LIGHTS FOR THE BUSHES!!!!



Can you believe that???? God cares about lights! More specifically, God cares that I cared about lights. I'm still absorbing it, and I love it!



I am so grateful for this small but very significant reminder that God will supply for all of our needs. He even supplies for some of our frivolous wants. So when the paycheck isn't matching our budget book, I remind myself that it will by ok, because we serve the God of light(s)!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Open to the Public again...for now!

I'm opening up the blog again after being "invitation only" for a while. Sorry to make you guys sign in every time! What a pain! There are crazies among us though......crazies who have absolutely no idea who you are but feel the need to read and comment on your blog! Keep an eye out!

I took Jack in today for his 4 month check up. He is such a great baby! So sweet! I can't believe he is 4 months already! He is 19 pounds (the cute nurse made a goof last time when she said 21!), and 27 inches long! He is so big! I am waiting on the high back booster I bought for Molly to arrive so I can put Jack in a carseat and get rid of the carrier. His feet literally hang out of the end of it, his head reaches the top, and let's face it, I don't have the muscles to carry him! He got a clean bill of health, but there is one little issue...his head! The little man likes one side better than the other, and apparently I need to get him to give both sides equal attention or he will need to see an orthopedist and get some x-rays of his skull. I'm having visions of Jack in one of those helmets....oh good grief! We will do what we can to work that one out!


I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is all geared up for Christmas! We put our tree up over the weekend and Molly hasn't been able to stay away since. She wakes up every morning and from every nap saying, "ornaments? lights?" So far we've had 2 casualties...a red ball and a Georgia Bulldog ("football doggie", as Molly calls him). She LOVES it! It's so fun to watch her excitement and remember what Christmas was like as a kid!


Here are a few pics of the kiddos...


Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Thankful

Scotty and I just went to lunch and part of our discussion was about what a tough year it has been. Scotty is in sales, so this down economy has really taken a toll on his business. We were saying that we have things to be thankful for, but it seems like the stress of getting from a to b has outweighed our thankfulness. We have had a tough year business wise, we sold and bought a house and moved, and we had another baby. A lot to be stressed about! But I'm inspired by my friend Heather (thanks Heathie!) to take a minute and actually write down what I'm thankful for. So here it goes...

I'm thankful...
  • for a husband that loves me and loves our family so well
  • for having our needs met in tough times
  • for my parents...don't know what we'd do without them
  • for my children
  • for my friends
  • for a Savior who loves me
  • for a new church home
  • for our health
  • for cars that are paid for
  • for food on the table
  • for freedom

There is more, but there's a start! I hope that everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 17, 2008

What's left is now gone...

...of my mind, that is. I took Jack to the doctor today and he has an ear infection. I always miss those! He has no voice at all, so you don't really know he is crying unless you happen to look his direction and see his face all squished up. It is so sad! He is on Amoxicillin, which makes me a little nervous because Molly is allergic to penicillin (breaks out in hives) and I'm a little concerned he could be too. So they said to "watch him". Don'tcha just love that? Then there's Molly. I honestly don't know how she feels. It's hard to tell the difference between what is just not feeling well and what is just yanking mommy's chain. She was pretty spoiled with constant attention all week, and the after effects aren't pretty. Last week she got a lot of attention when she woke up crying, laid on the sofa, laid limp on mommy, etc. So I think she figures, "hey! I'll just keep doing that, and I'll throw in some extra whining for good measure!" She is definitely not her normal self and doesn't have her normal energy. But part of that could be from the fact that she is now chewing up her food and then spitting it out instead of swallowing it. The pediatrician said it's probably psychological from being sick. All I know is that I was literally in tears by the end of the day when she handed me another mouthful of chewed up food. Anyone have any good "here's what my child did after the stomach flu" stories that will make me feel better, or at least prove to me that this too shall pass? Linda E. said I will look back on this and laugh......will I be in a straight jacket in a padded cell?

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Update on the sickies

Well, after a visit to the doctor (the day after the virus hit), a call to Children's (the night she refused to drink and hadn't had a wet diaper in 10 hours), and a visit to urgent care (the day she refused to drink and hadn't had a wet diaper in 15 hours), I think we might be on the mend! Molly is down a pound, which doesn't sound like much but that is like a toothpick being down a pound. She is starting to drink again and is picking at food. She is also sleeping a lot, still recovering. It seems that Scotty and Jack have managed to stay in the clear, although I can't say the same for my poor mom!!! She got this dreaded virus yesterday and is so sick! I feel so bad, especially since she got it while helping us! Ugh! If you read my sister-in-laws blog (linked on mine) then you may have seen her most recent post about playing "What's that Smell?" Having a 2 year old with a stomach virus has given us lots of opportunities to play that game! She has made "deposits" in some shape or form in my car, on the sofa, on the living room floor, in her bed, in the bathtub, etc. I have done about 10 loads of laundry since Wed. It's been a real treat. I'm off to the doctor's again tomorrow with Jack. He has had a cold for almost 3 weeks, and it has picked up steam to a nasty little cough and he has almost lost his little voice. The least they could do is give me my own parking space there. I think I've paid for it!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

My poor Molly....

She got the bug from you know where that I got....please pray for her! It has been horrible! I got 1 hour of sleep last night and am not fully back to myself from my bout with it, so I am hanging in there by a thread. Please pray that she will recover quickly....tomorrow would be great!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Psychos on the prowl.....look out for sugar!

So my mom just called to tell me that someone named "sugar" had posted a not so nice comment on my blog about my Obama hatred! "Sugar" posted a rather lenghty diatribe about how I'm stupid and she/he isn't because I think Obama is a horrible choice for president. So as a result, I am now only having my blog open to people that have been invited to read it! In the meantime...you guys look out! There are some psychos in the blogger world!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

24 hours? I don't think so...

I have the 24 hour flu. It's been 36 hours. It has outstayed it's welcome. Actually, it was about as welcome as a visit from the Jehovah's Witnesses. I'm ready to be done...

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Halloween

My sister in law and I were talking about Halloween today, and about how it's with mixed emotion that we approach it these days. I had a blast as a kid on Halloween, but it seems it was a lot less "evil" back then. As my sister in law said, she has a friend that has a neighbor with a cross in the front yard with "666" on it as decoration.....what???? Seems cute pumpkins, scarecrows, and friendly ghosts have been replaced with the gruesome and sacreligious (did I spell that right?). And if it's not gruesome or satanic, then it's just flat out slutty! Grown women and teenaged girls seem to particularly enjoy this aspect! I was in the grocery store the other day and saw a group of cute little teenaged girls with cute little teenaged guys. The guys were in legitimate costumes....the girls? They were dressed in costumes better suited for a late night Cinemax special! I can't help but wonder if their parents saw them leave the house dressed like prostitutes, but I digress...

Anyhow, I still think Halloween has an element of innocent magic to it. Dressing up and seeing all of your friends dressed up, getting candy, carving pumpkins....it's just fun! Here are my favorite pumpkins of all...
Jack-3 months
Molly- 2 years old

*My favorite Halloween moment while putting Molly down for a nap:

Me: "night night Molly"

Molly: "night night punkin"

How many times have I called her pumpkin? I love it!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

The Elmo Cake





If you are on facebook (and I'm pretty sure that anyone reading my blog...all 3 or 4 of you....are on facebook too!) then you saw my comment about the Elmo cake. The gist of it was that if I ever talk about making an Elmo cake again, remind me to just go to Publix. Anyhow, here it is! A $13 Elmo cake pan and 3 batches of icing later! The 3 batches of icing is because I made 1 batch and did the eyes, nose, and mouth. Then I tried to make red. I ended up with a really bright hot pink. So I tried again, and ended up with an orange-ish-brown. Not pretty. So I tried again and ended up with a weird shade of purple. And this is all using $14 Wilton food coloring, not just cheap Betty Crocker stuff. My mom, who used to cater weddings, told me that the only way I'd get a true red is to use a powder that they sell at cake stores (when was the last time you saw a cake store?). There is only ONE that I know of, and it's in Tucker, and my dad was so sweet to go yesterday and buy some for me, which they brought over this morning an hour before the party so we could finish Elmo! So as I said, next time I get this idea, tell me to call Publix!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Molly!!!!

October 27

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Back to Life, back to reality...

Do you remember that song? That is what I keep thinking about as I sit here, back to normal life. We had a wonderful week at the beach! We were in a beautiful house that sat right on the beach. Every window you looked out of had an amazing ocean view. The only thing between us and the ocean was the heated pool......sigh. What a life! Last year at the beach, Molly was hard to keep out of the ocean. Since she has grown up some now and is scared of her own shadow, I figured there was no WAY she would really be into the beach. WRONG! Scotty took her down the day we got there to see the water, only to return about 10 minutes later because she had literally just run straight into the water (in her clothes!)! She LOVED it! Couldn't get enough, as evidenced by this picture....

The water was freezing, but she didn't care! Meanwhile, Jack did a lot of this....
He was the BEST baby ever!

Last year on this trip, Molly started really walking. This year, Jack started really sleeping though the night!! He had been doing 8 hours, but he went to 12, sleeping from 7:30-7:30! Yea!!!! And I loved getting up to feed him in the morning, because I got to sit in a chair in the main room and watch this...

I'm usually ready to come home after a week away, but not this year! It was really hard to come home! Here are a few more pics, just for fun...

Molly in the pool
Emily and Evie, too cute!


Tyler and Kari with baby Ty

Sweet Ella with baby Ty

Dad with Scotty and Jack

Mom and Dad with all the grandkids...yes, Molly is screaming bloody murder!!!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Leaving for the beach!

We are going on our annual family trip to Hilton head tomorrow morning! Yea!!! Every year we go with my parents and brother's family to celebrate my mom's birthday. This year we are man-to-man.....6 adults and 6 kids! I can not wait to get there and enjoy that ocean view! I'm sure I'll have plenty of cute beach pics to update with when we get back. Have a good week!

Friday, October 3, 2008

And the gift goes on...

Molly woke up a few days ago from her nap with a 103 fever, out of nowhere! I ended up taking her to the doctor, and she had a double ear infection. That night, she woke up throwing up with 104.1 fever...I was freaking out! Luckily, the antibiotic worked quickly and she is back to normal now. Then a day or so after that, Scotty started to not feel well. Very congested, achy, tired, no appetite. Who knows! But now he feels better. So today I wake up feeling achy and chilled, with a vicious headache. Thought I just slept weird, but now I have 101.4 fever! So apparently, the gift is going on....please Lord, protect my sweet Jack! He just had his shots today. I have never seen him cry so hard!! Ugh! But my big guy did great, and he is indeed a big guy.....8 weeks old and 15 pounds, 8 ounces!!!! He has gained 7 pounds in 8 weeks! He is also 24 1/2 inches long....grew almost 3 inches! I love it! Feels good to know your baby is thriving.
Anyone else not feeling well? How long did it take to go away for you? I hate a fever....

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Monkey see, monkey do

I keep my breast pump on the floor in Jack's room. The tubing is attached, but the bottles and "horns" are not. So I go in to get him up this morning and while I am changing his diaper, I turn around to find Molly on the floor with her shirt pulled up, "pumping" with the tube stuck in her bellybutton! She cracks me up! Had to share!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

All Smiles and deep thoughts

My little buddy Jack is 8 weeks old now! He is smiling a lot more, which I just love! I especially love it because I'm the one he smiles at the most! I've tried to get him to smile for Scotty, but he just doesn't do it. But when I walk in to get him up from a nap....oh my goodness! He is big smiles and all kinds of happy noises, which just MELTS me! There is just something about a baby boy! He has me smiling a lot these days too because he has started to sleep through the night! He's been going about 8 hours the past couple of nights (with me going in to put his pacifier in around 4 am) and I'm hoping it's a pattern he will stick with!
Here he is all dressed up for his Bulldogs last week when they played Alabama (and I use the term "played" loosely....poor UGA!)



Jack before the games....GoooooooDawgs!

Jack after the game.....bummer!


It's kind of hitting me that unless the Lord plans otherwise, this is my LAST baby! My mother is just convinced that I'm going to end up with a surprise #3 (or #4....Hi Emmie!), but this will really probably be my last. There are a lot of little "lasts" that come with it that I'm already encountering....last time I'm up at 2am nursing a baby (I'm actually a little sad!), last time I use those teeny diapers, last time we need 0-3 month clothes (he is already into 3-6 month stuff!), last time I'll use the car carrier.....not really anything monumental, but for some reason it's a little sad all the same. I'm more aware of how fast it goes now that Molly is almost 2, which I just can't believe! Wasn't she my little baby just yesterday? I guess with the world kind of going crazy right now, with the stock market crashing, banks collapsing, a historic presidential election, and a massive gas shortage (if you live in Atl., you know what I mean!), I've gotten a little more sentimental about my kids. They won't be babies for long, and what kind of world am I raising them in? It seems like things are nosediving a lot faster than when I was growing up. We all hear the horror stories, but there has been a subtle shift in public attitude towards things that unnerves me. More people, believers and non-believers, are seemingly "lukewarm" to the things that used to be generally accepted as abominable. I know that some will argue that more tolerance is a good thing. "Love the sinner, hate the sin"........but are people really hating the sin anymore? Or is it too hard for people to define sin, since what was black and white has now been painted different shades of gray? Even churches have fallen prey, preaching pop-psychology and watered down truth so as not to offend. It terrifies me to think of raising my precious girl and boy in such relativism, and it challenges me to make sure I don't get sucked in.

Wow, how did I get here from talking about Jack smiling? : )

I'll end on what I thought was funny.....

Dressing Molly this morning was like wrestling a greased pig. I finally got fed up and held her up to my face and said, "Molly, that is enough! You need to cooperate or go to time out! I'm going to put your clothes on now. Say, "cooperate"!" Molly looked at me and dutifully said, "Koala bear!"......I love her interpretation!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

You may want to skip this one

You may want to skip this one, because I really don't have anything interesting to blog about at all, but I feel guilty for leaving up the same one for so long. I'm half brain dead from waking up at crazy hours of the night for 6 weeks now, but here's what is going through my brain as I sit here:
  • I had birthday club last night and we ate outside, which was glorious! It was really cool out, and it got me so excited about the fall! Sunny days, cool nights, long sleeves and jackets, fires, hot tea....I love it!

  • My friend Christy is potty training her son while 25 weeks pregnant with number 3. Did I mention she has a very strong willed son? It's not smooth sailing to say the least, and I really feel for her because I was JUST pregnant and it takes so little to push you over the edge! (and I call opening the bathroom door to find your son has dropped a poo on the floor, which is now smeared everywhere, more than a "little"!)

  • My friend Heather is trying something new and fairly intense for the sake of good health, and I'm really proud of her. Can't wait to see the results!

  • My mom and I went to the outlets today to buy new shoes for Molly. Did you know that having your feet measured is like having your toenails pulled out? I didn't either. But Molly made it clear to everyone within a 5 mile radius that the 2 are equally painful.

  • My friend Gretchen talked me off the ledge today as I called her literally in tears over my daughters performance at the shoe store. She puts on the same performance rather frequently in public. Or if anyone talks to her. Or touches her. Or breathes at her. You get the picture.

  • Why do mom's feel so guilty for their children's behavior?

  • My son is huge. He will be 7 weeks old soon and weighs about 14 pounds. Seriously.

  • I put both of my children down today for naps at 1:30, and it is 4:30 and they are just waking up. It might be the best day of my life. Oops, nope. Forgot about the shoe store thing. Definitely not the best day!

  • Who in the world will the next president be? I normally don't discuss politics in mixed company, but this is my blog, and dear Lord please don't let it be Obama! The man won't even say the freakin pledge of allegiance!

  • My friends are going to the beach this weekend without me. I'll be home nursing a baby. I'm bummed.
  • "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!"

Well, if you have hung around this long, you must be as bored and half brain dead as I am! Molly is up now.....time to make the donuts....



Saturday, September 6, 2008

Old Friends

I got to see some friends today that I haven't seen in a while. Our friend Marcy was down from Michigan for a couple of days, so some of us got together with the kids to see her. We all originally met each other as single women at North Point Community Church. It's fun to look back to those days (when we all wondered if, when, and to whom we would get married) and to see each other now, all married with our kids. The only person missing from this picture is Jack, who was asleep the whole time! By the way, I took him to the doctor yesterday to check out his raging case of baby acne and they weighed him........ 12 1/2 pounds! At 5 weeks! I just put him in 3-6 month pjs! He is just a big dude!
On a totally different "mommy" note, I have reached the point after having a baby where I feel like all I want is a day off. I'm weary. The kids have really been great, but the busyness and the late nights and the interrupted sleep are getting to me. I have found myself near tears on several occasions for no good reason other than I am just TIRED! Well, I'm tired and I hate my hair. And I don't have any clothes that fit. And I'm afraid Jack might get lost in the folds of my stomach. And I have my postpartem check next week, which my husband is a little more excited about than I am. Lord give me strength.....and maybe a big glass of wine!

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Precious Story...get a Kleenex!

I got this in an email today from my mom. It is about an experience that Beth Moore had. I love Beth Moore and can just hear her telling it! I had to post it here, because it moved my heart so deeply! Get a tissue...if you are anything like me, you will need it! I know it's long, but it's worth it!

April 20, 2005, at the Airport in Knoxville , waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I'd had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say this because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you. You could end up doing some things you never would have doneotherwise. Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons not the least of which is your ego. I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones. The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy, gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man. I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I'd just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered that he was dead. So this man in the airport... an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere? There I sat; trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned about a thin slice of humanity served up on a wheelchair only a few seats from me. All the while, my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for him. Let's admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man. I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I've learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be embarrassing. I immediately began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind. 'Oh, no, God, please, no.' I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, 'Don't make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I'll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don't make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!' There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, 'Please don't make me witness to this man. Not now. I'll do it on the plane.' Then I heard it...'I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair.' The words were so clear, my heart leap into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No-brainier. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, 'God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man.I'm on this Lord. I'm your girl! You've never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man'. Again as clearly as I've ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. 'That is not what I said, Beth. I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair.' I looked up at God and quipped, 'I don't have a hairbrush. It's in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?' God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God's word:'I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works.' (2 Timothy 3:17) I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies. I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, 'Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?' He looked back at me and said, 'What did you say?' 'May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?' To which he responded in volume ten, 'Little lady, if you expect me to hear you, you're going to have to talk louder than that.' At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out , 'SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?' At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Long Locks. Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, 'If you really want to.' Are you kidding? Of course I didn't want to. But God didn't seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words,'Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don't have a hairbrush.' 'I have one in my bag,' he responded. I went around to the back of that wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger's old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man's hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don't do many things well, but must admit I've had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls. Like I'd done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull. A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man's hair. Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair. I know this sounds so strange, but I've never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I - for that few minutes -felt a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while. The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God's. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant's. I slipped the brush back in the bag and went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knees and said, 'Sir, do you know my Jesus?' He said, 'Yes, I do' Well, that figures, I thought. He explained, 'I've known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn't marry me until I got to know the Savior.' He said, 'You see, the problem is, I haven't seen my bride in months. I've had open-heart surgery,and she's been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself,what a mess I must be for my bride.' Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we're completely unaware of the significance. This, on the otherhand, was one of those rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known. It was a God moment, and I'll never forget it. Our time came to board, and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I'd acted earlier and would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft. I still had a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, 'That old man's sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do that?' I said, 'Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!' And we got to share. I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted, you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under awave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need! I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one had I missed along the way . . all because I didn't want people to think I was strange. God didn't send me to that old man. He sent that old man to me.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Life with New Baby

I really don't have anything new to report here, but I felt like I needed to put a new blog up because it's been a while!
Life right now is pretty much a rotation of eating, sleeping, changing diapers, and entertaining Molly. Jack is really doing great. He is such a sweet baby! I don't know if it's a boy thing, a second born thing, or just his personality, but if all babies were as sweet and easy as he is, I might consider doing the pregnancy thing again!
Molly is hanging in there. She has her days, but I guess we all do. She adores Jack. Every morning she runs to the top of the stairs to look down on him in the pack and play and says, "Hi baby!", waving furiously. She likes to give him kisses, count his fingers and toes, and point out his eyes, nose, and mouth. Poor guy...he will have to get used to it I suppose! The other day I took him to the grocery store and Scotty said she wandered around saying, "Where go baby? Where go Jack?" Too cute!
I took my first outing alone with them yesterday. We went to the grocery store. It had poured rain (praise God!), so all the carts were wet. I knew there was no way I could navigate them both into the store to put them in a dry cart, so I pulled out the double stroller. Molly threw a total fit, stiff legging me so I couldn't get her in. After a lot of sweat and struggle, I got her in, much to her complete dismay! As I was pushing them in with her screaming, a lady drove by and rolled down her window to say, "I remember those days!" I thought it was pretty funny. Thank goodness for free balloons at Publix customer service! That did the trick, and I succesfully grocery shopped with 2 kids! I was so proud of myself!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

My buddies

I had an all too short visit today from my best friends from high school, Elizabeth and Sarah. Sarah and her family just moved back to the south after several years in Philly. They live in Franklin, TN now, and Elizabeth and her family recently moved to Newnan. I haven't seen Elizabeth in about a year and a half, and I don't think I've seen Sarah since she was in my wedding! The greatest thing about friends like this is that it doesn't matter how much time has passed. It always seems like it was just yesterday that we talked or saw each other. They were here for a few hours and then had to go, and I was kind of depressed the rest of the day because I miss them so much! I loved the visit, but it was like having a little bite of something wonderful and then someone taking the plate away! It's funny, because we are all so different, yet we compliment each other well. I love Sarah for her bold individuality and lack of filter...you never really know what she might say! She has such a tender heart though and such deep thoughts in her head. She makes me think about the world outside of my bubble. She also makes me laugh really hard! I love Elizabeth for her sensitive spirit and crazy fun side. She is really smart and very intuitive. She can be serious one minute, having a deep spiritual conversation, and then pulling a practical joke and laughing hysterically the next. When you put Sarah and Elizabeth together, it can always get a little scary because you never really know what they might end up doing (or what they might drag you into doing with them!)! I really miss them, and I'm so grateful that after all these years we are still friends.




Thursday, August 14, 2008

My sweet girl is back!

We are almost at the end of our first week "on our own", and Molly is doing great! I think she is really happy to have our routine back. It's so much fun to have Nana and Papa here, and to have daddy home from work, but when it's all said and done she is like her mommy....she likes the predictability of her routine! I appreciate everyone's comments on the matter. It is so nice to hear from moms who have been there!

Monday, August 11, 2008

What a guy! What a gal...

Jack is 10 days old today! Hard to believe that he has been here such a short time. It already seems like we've had him forever! He is such a sweet baby! I had heard big babies are good sleepers and eaters, and he is both. I am so thankful for how easy he has been thus far.

His sister is another story....

She has just not been herself for sure. She is extremely fussy and whiny every day. She is very sweet to him, and always goes to the pack n play to wave to him and say, "Hi baby!". Other than that, the only time she notices him is when I'm nursing. Then she says, "Eating!" She seems so unaffected, but her behavior definitely suggests otherwise. I keep wondering, is it ALL new baby? Are those eye teeth moving? Are the terrible 2's rearing their ugly head? Is it a combination of it all? I don't know, but everything has turned into a battle. She cries at least once during every activity of the day, even ones that she likes. She just isn't pleasant to be around right now, and that breaks my heart. I'm stuck between feeling like I need to be hard on her with discipline (she is doing EVERYTHING that she knows she isn't supposed to) and cutting her slack because she might be overwhelmed. She refuses to eat anything other than her favorite snack foods, which today I decided she wasn't going to have without eating something else first. Am I picking an uneccesary battle? I would love any advice you experienced moms have with this one!

Friday, August 1, 2008

Jackson Scott MacDonald!

Our big boy arrived today at 10:49, 8 pounds 12 ounces and 22 inches long! You should see all the broken blood vessels on my neck and face! He spent a little time in the transitional nursery, but has joined us in our room now.





Monday, July 28, 2008

No changes!

I had my appointment this morning, and nothing new! Everything is the same as last week, which really surprised me! So unless anything changes, this Friday is the day! The one thing that would be nice about Friday is my doctor would deliver. He delivered Molly, and it was such a good experience. Scotty and I have both been hopeful that he would deliver this baby as well. So I'm going to take the next 3 days to try to rest, enjoy Molly, eat my Java Chip ice cream, and enjoy some moments with Scotty before we officially become a family of 4!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Getting ready for new baby!

I pulled out the carseat for baby #2 this past week. I figure I better get serious about preparing for this! I went to put the base in the car, and came back to find Molly kicked back and chillin! (She is watching a Baby Einstein video, in case you wonder why she looks like she is in a trance!) I don't know if she is really getting it or not, but the past couple of days she has run into the nursery and climbed up on the side of the crib saying, "Baby!" Of course, after patting my belly for months saying, "baby", she has also started patting her belly and saying, "bye bye baby!" when I change her clothes, so who knows what she really understands!
I have my LAST dr. appt. tomorrow morning at 9:30, so I should know the final game plan then. I'll update afterwards.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Wish I had more to offer...

I've been asked by several people for an update...I wish I had one! I'm still here, 100% preggo! I have some really hard, low contractions every once in a while, but nothing regular. I have officially gotten the "pregnancy bloat" look too, which my face and legs are bearing the brunt of. I am SO READY for this baby to be born!!!! It's funny though, I thought tonight (as I sat and watched "Discovering Shapes" for the millionth time with Molly) about what it would be like if I went into labor tonight and had the baby tomorrow. It was a little bit of a wake-up call that my days with a predictable schedule are quickly coming to a close! My days with just Molly are quickly coming to a close. My time with Scotty after we put Molly to bed is quickly coming to a close. A lot of "closings"! It made me think that I probably need to value this time more instead of wishing it away. My body is desperate to be released from the aches and pains of pregnancy, but I need to remember to have my head and heart geared up for the challenges of bringing home a new baby. Speaking of which, I have stumbled accross a fabulous little devotional type book called "The Bathtub is Overflowing, but I Feel Drained!" by Lysa Terkeurst. It is a book about overcoming "Mommy Stress". It has been so refreshing! It's little real-life blurbs from this lady's life followed with a few verses to look up that pertain to whatever her experience taught her. I love this woman because of her very real style....like when she tells the story of having a really stressful morning and driving thru to pick up biscuits and tea. Her daughter, in charge of holding the tea, spilled all of it when the mom ran through a pothole. The daughter, of course, promptly told her that it was not her fault, and the mom says, "shut up and eat your damn biscuit!" Of course the story is about feeling like the worst mom in the world! I can relate to this woman! So, if you are in the market for an easy little devotional type book, this is a great one!
If I don't have the baby in the next 3 days, I have my LAST appt. on Monday. I'll update then...keep your fingers crossed!

Monday, July 21, 2008

The latest...

*I was thinking today that I need to add a disclaimer to this info. I keep posting! I post these updates knowing that 1) All of my readers, to my knowledge, are women and 2) As women, you have asked me for this info.! If by any chance there is a man reading, stop here....you won't be interested in what is to come!

Had my 37 week appt. today....last week I was 2cm, 50%, today I am 3cm, 70%! The day before I went into labor with Molly I was 3cm, 80%, so I'm wondering if I'm getting into "the zone" that my body says,"ok! Time to go!" I guess only time will tell!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Surviving 4


You will notice that there is a new addition to "Places I Visit". I am outing my sister-in-law! She is currently a closet blogger, but her stuff is just too good not to share! We are encouraging her to use her writing talent to write a book or try to contribute to a magazine. I hope you enjoy getting a glimpse of her life with 4!

Monday, July 14, 2008

The latest!

Went to my appt. today, and I am 2 cm dilated, 50% effaced! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Baby is at a -1 station, so it's good and low! My dr. said that the ultrasounds he got said the baby was 7 pounds last week, so he will induce on Aug. 1 if I haven't delivered by then. 2 weeks from Friday (or sooner)! Wow! I can't believe it!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

We are in position!

I had my ultrasound today and am thrilled to report that baby is head down! Hallelujah! It is pretty amazing to see an ultrasound at this point. Since I was high risk with Molly, I literally had 25 ultrasounds, but 30 weeks was as late as we went. I'll be 36 weeks on Saturday, and it was wild to see the baby at this point! You could only really see a part at a time because it's so big! It was difficult for the technician to get measurements because this little one NEVER stopped moving! She estimated that the baby weighs between 6 1/2-7 pounds at this point, and guessed that if I were to go 40 weeks it would weigh between 8 1/2-9 pounds. It is, of course, all a guess. I was so glad to hear that, because I feel pretty confident I can push that out! She said she had another girl before me who was 37 weeks with a baby measuring 9 pounds!!!! Yikes!! I'll see my doctor on Monday and we'll talk about it then, but she also guessed he would induce a week early (if I go that long!) to avoid the 9 pound range. It will be so interesting to finally meet this little one! Only 2-3 weeks or so to go!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

A Story and Some Randomness

This blog is totally just a random "story" blog. It has nothing to do with anything....enjoy!


So here is my girl with her first set of pigtails, compliments of her Nana (my mom)! I got a chuckle from this picture because she looks, as a friend of mine once said, "like she's got a little spit and vinegar in her"! Boy does she! (must get it from her daddy.... ha!)


My parents came over last night to spend the 4th with us. They spent the night since we were all headed to my brother's for breakfast and swimming this morning. Around 1am, we were all awakened by a blood curdling scream from Molly's room. Scotty and I both jumped out of bed (a first for him...he NEVER hears anything in the night!) and ran down the hall. Molly was sitting up in her crib absolutely hysterical. I grabbed her up and she stopped screaming immediately. I would have thought she was still asleep, but she was clinging to me so tightly I knew she wasn't. Scotty was searching for any clues....throw up, blood, fever, a poisonous creature of some sort....but found nothing. She clung to me, and then once she realized daddy was in the room, she wanted him. He rocked her for a long time, and I was sure she was asleep when out of nowhere she says in a whisper, "a fish". We were both trying not to laugh, and a few minutes later she says, "fie, sick, senen, ate, nie, ten" (translated five, six, seven...you get the picture). So best we can tell, our child was awakened in the middle of the night by a terrifying dream about a counting fish! One of those moments where you ache with love for your child because they are so innocent and vulnerable, and you are the only one who will bring them the sense of love and security they need....especially from counting fish!


To continue my randomness, here is a picture of me from a few days ago....

If you look at my picture from 2 weeks ago, you can easily tell how much this baby has dropped! I'm going Thursday for an ultrasound. My doctor wants to check on baby's size (he thinks it might be "larger than average") and position (he thinks it might be breech). Meanwhile, I had so many contractions yesterday that I really thought I might be going into labor. We are praying for at least 2 more weeks "in the oven"!

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Happy Belated Anniversary to Me! Happy Early 4th of July to You!

I am a little behind in writing about this, but we celebrated anniversary #6 last Sunday on June 22! I'm not exactly a party animal at this point in pregnancy, so we just had a low key evening at Stoney River.....yum! This past year has been a tough one, with all the adjustments that having a child, buying and selling a home, getting pregnant with another child, and a hard economy on a salesman can bring! We have definitely felt the strain and stress of life in our marriage! I feel like we are coming out of it in a better place....a place where our marriage seems a little deeper and a little stronger. I love this man with all of my heart. He is the most perfect match for me that could exist. And as he says, I am the most "perfect, imperfect person for him in the world." I am so proud of the man he is and continues to become, and I'm thrilled to celebrate another year with him! I can honestly say that I love him more than ever before!


On another note, here is Molly dressed in her 4th of July dress for church today! Her Meme (Scotty's mom), who works at the Mart in children's wear (how lucky is that?) gave it to her!

Happy 4th of July!


Friday, June 20, 2008

33 weeks and counting

This is my baby belly at 33 weeks. If I were really gutsy, I'd post an exposed belly picture, but no one really needs to (or really wants to!) see that! (Who hates the word belly? Heather? Sorry about that!) I pulled out a picture from my pregnancy with Molly, and this is as big as I was at 39 weeks with her! I ask my doctor every visit if he thinks this baby is as big as it looks and feels! He said it feels "bigger than average", and he will probably do an ultrasound at 36 weeks to see just how big we're talking. While I'm a little frightened about pushing out a big baby, I'm a little more frightened that it might NOT be a big baby and all that tummy is just ME! Yikes!!!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Lesson in patience???

***special note of thanks to HH and CS for their GREAT advice on my last blog!!!! I appreciate it more than you know!!!**

So apparently I'm being taught a lesson in patience, something I have basically NONE of! I renewed my agreement with AT&T and upgraded my phone 7 days ago. Got my new phone, and it was awful...sounded like the person on the other end was in a tin can. So I called, they called it defective and sent me a return label for the 1st one and mailed me another one. Well, the 2nd wasn't any better, so it must just be a BAD phone. So I called back and said thanks but no thanks, I just needed to get a totally different phone. They said fine, you send us the 2 we sent you and we'll send you a new one. I asked what I was to do in the meantime with no phone. They said, duh, we don't know, we'll ask....so a manager says the easiest thing to do is to go to an AT&T store where they will happily take my phones and give me a loaner phone while I wait for my next phone to ship. No problem! So I left this morning at 10am for the store they told me to go to. After waiting for 30 minutes (with Molly in the stroller), the guys says, "we are a franchise. You need to go to a corporate store." WHY did they send me there then???? "They don't know which stores are corporate." Are you KIDDING me??? So fine, I leave (after telling him how dumb I think this is, of course!) and go to the corporate store he tells me to go to. They say, "We can take the phones back, but we don't do loaner phones anymore." Again, are you KIDDING ME???? WHY do the people at customer service NOT know these things???? He is absolutely no help at all, so I ask him to get customer service on the line for me. After 45 minutes (again, Molly in the stroller!), I get connected with a WONDERFUL woman named Heather who is 6 1/2 months pregnant and understands that I can not take anymore!!! So now, I have the phone I want being shipped to me overnight, and I can just send the other 2 back. WHY was this so hard????????? I literally thought I was going to break down and cry in that store! A lesson in patience maybe? I don't know. As a side note, Molly was ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!!! She sat like a champ in the car and in the stroller for all that time with hardly any fuss! I am so so so grateful that of all days, she had the patience of Job! Thank you Lord!
On a totally different note, I haven't included any pics in a while, so here are some that I just uploaded to the computer.
Molly loves to get in Scotty's car when he gets home from work!
Scotty giving Madelyn, Carleton, and Molly a bath at the mountain house. So fun!
Saw this mother and her baby in my backyard yesterday during breakfast. So sweet!
Molly is absolutely in love with her crayons! New favorite thing to do!

Saturday, June 7, 2008

It's HOT!

I know I'm stating the obvious, but I just have to throw that out there, because at 31 weeks of pregnancy, I don't know that I can stand one more day of 90+ temperatures. I promise that for every degree it goes above 80, my body is multiplying it times 2! I just want to sit in the pool in the shade all day long with a cold glass of lemonade! My precious husband volunteered to help my dad in the yard today. They worked their tails off in this 95 degree heat from 9:30 this morning until 4:00 in the afternoon.......and I'm complaining???
Onto another thought, I'd love to hear from all you moms out there about how you handled going from 1 to 2. I've noticed that my anxiety level is kind of high lately in general, enough so that I talked to my dr. about it at my last appointment, just in case he thought I might need some "chill pills"! He attributed it to the fact that as a veteran parent, I know what is coming my way, and that it is hard. I think he is more right than I would have guessed! I'm nervous about a lot of things, and of course being pregnant all of my emotions are heightened anyways. But I'm nervous most about these things:
  • The effect a newborn has on marriage
  • How is Molly going to take this?
  • The effect a newborn has on LIFE.

I am just starting to feel like I have some freedom to my life. Molly is at the stage where it is easier to take her somewhere and let her just play, so I feel like I can really visit with my friends (something I can't get enough of!!!!). I am pretty free to go wherever I need to go, and only have 1 naptime to get home for (which I need myself, so that works out well!). I feel really nervous that I'm about to completely lose my life again, before I even really feel I have it back. I realize that sounds a little selfish, but I know that anyone who is a mom would understand. Any advice???? Did y'all feel this way too????

Monday, June 2, 2008

Weekend Away!

Scotty and I took a MUCH needed vacation this weekend to our favorite bed and breakfast in Hamilton, GA. It's 8 miles down the road from Callaway Gardens. The owners are more like family than friends, and they serve the best breakfast you've ever had!!! We basically did a whole lot of nothing. We slept a lot, sat on the front porch a lot, and ate a lot! The most ambitious thing we did was to see the new Indiana Jones movie (which, incidentally, we hated!). It was a great trip, and a really great reminder that I am more than just mommy. It actually took me a day to adjust to that! It felt strange not having my little peanut around, and I felt a little lost not being in mommy mode. It is really interesting to see how easy it is to forget what just being in "wife" mode is all about. I almost felt awkward at first, sitting there with nothing but time on our hands and each other to pay attention to. But that passed, and it was a GREAT time to talk and bond with Scotty. We talked about our different thoughts and feelings about life, new baby coming, us, etc. I came home with a renewed desire to pay more attention to my husband and to keep a check on balancing mommy mode with wife mode. I only have about 9 1/2 weeks left until I'm thrown back into new baby mode, so I have to make the most of it!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Pray for this precious family

I posted a blog a little bit ago about my Sweet Emmie, which was inspired by reading the story of Audrey Caroline, http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/. I still check in on that blog occasionally, and today read that they lost their precious nephew Luke last night. He was born March 18, and his mother went in to check on him last night and he wasn't breathing. The paramedics were unable to do anything. It's a terrible, awful event no matter what, but given the circumstances this family has just been through, it's even worse. It's one of those things where you can't help but say, "WHY God???" I am just moved to tears for them. Please take a second and pray for Luke's family (who, incidentally, live in Georgia). I know they are in shock and disbelief.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Manna from heaven

My mom and I were at Chick-Fil-A today for lunch, and on our way out, I found a $10.00 bill in the parking lot! This is exciting in an of itself, but it is even more amazing considering I just found a $100 bill while walking down the street with Molly 2 weeks ago! Yes, a $100 bill! I asked a few neighbors if they had lost any money, and one said it was probably lost by a yard crew worker since they frequently get paid in cash. Can you believe that? I mean, if I find a quarter I get excited! Manna from heaven! (am I spelling manna right???) I know a lot of us are feeling the pinch of our financial times right now, particularly those of us who have husbands in sales. We have REALLY been feeling it, which can be pretty distressing with a new house, bigger mortgage and bills, and another baby on the way. But then the Lord drops cash right in front of my face! Thank you for your provisions (and sense of humor!) Lord!



On a totally random note, does anyone have a good way to keep your kid's white clothes WHITE? I spray and wash spots as soon as we get the clothes off, but I've got 2 new white shirts of Molly's that I just pulled out of the wash that are ruined.....HELP! I'd love to know what you do!

Molly in her once white shirt

Monday, May 19, 2008

Maternity Clothes

I've decided that someone out there needs to get smart and make maternity clothes that are created equal! There needs to be a store where you can shop for clothes based on how many babies you have had. First time mommies, here are all the cute little smalls for you, with a few mediums for your third trimester. Second time mommies, here are all the mediums with a lot of larges for that final trimester. There are a even a few extra-larges for the very VERY end. Third time plus mommies, here are the larges for the first trimester, extra-larges for the second, and a whole stock room of muu muus and tents for the third. Even though my first pregnancy wasn't full term, my body is acting as if I went down to the last second of it. I'm 28 weeks, and officially in the extra large shirts. My large shirts from last time don't cover the giant belly anymore. It's a little humiliating. I just really want to meet the person who wears the smalls!!!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Expectations

I have to say that Mother's Day this year was one of those games played with expectations...the kind where you lose! Don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible or anything. It just wasn't what I expected. For one, I don't have a child old enough to understand it, so no cute poems or decorated flower pots. No "I love you mommy", or "Happy Mother's Day", because she can't say those things yet. In fact, poor thing had a fever (which I found out the next day was due to an ear infection) and hadn't slept well in days. My sweet husband, normally so great at surprises on days like that, just didn't have anything up his sleeve this year. No plans or gifts. It was one of those days where you didn't really think you had any expectations, but it turned out that you did, because you find yourself disappointed. Then I read a friend's blog, and she made a point that really hit home with me. The brunches, flowers, gifts, etc. are all nice, but is there really any way to thank a mom for the daily sacrifices she makes for her children? I long to feel the importance of my job sometimes. I KNOW it's important, but I don't always feel the value of it. That is where expectations come in. To expect one day to validate the daily toil of motherhood doesn't make sense. When I let the expectations and resulting disappointment go, I actually had a really nice day of rest and relaxation, 2 things I desperately needed! And the value of my job was validated at 1:30 in the morning, when my sweet child was sick and crying and mommy was the one who heard and woke up, and went in to provide comfort. So in the end, Mother's Day gave me exactly what I needed...validation that being mommy is a sweet and precious thing to be.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Sweet Emmie

A sweet friend (thanks c!) sent me a link to a blog about Audrey Caroline, a baby girl that was born, lived 2 hours, and then went to heaven. She was the 4th daughter to her parents. The particular blog she sent was about the mom going to the cemetary to visit. She ended with words about the lonliness of losing your child, and how it's unlike anything anyone can imagine unless you have experienced it. I absolutely bawled my eyes out! She is so right, and I felt like I found a kindred spirit in reading her words. Loss and death are certainly a detour from the light and happy fare we like to enjoy, but there is something so deeply therpeutic about crying those tears and reading those vulnerable words. She said she will forever bear the mark of a woman who has lost a child....so will I. She also said she knew that there were many others, although we don't usually know who they are. So true! I remember in the days early after losing Emmie, I thought about how it would be if everyone wore a sign around their neck describing what they are going through. "I just lost my baby", "I just got a divorce", "I just lost my job".....the list of course could go on and on. It just made me think about how we bump into people all the time with wounded hearts, but we aren't really a society that wants to talk about it. Anyhow, I've been thinking about my sweet Emmie since I read that blog, and I just wanted to acknowledge her today! I wonder where she is in heaven, and what she is doing. I wonder if God tells her how many tears I cry for her and how much we all miss her. I wonder if she feels her mommy's love for her there. I wonder if she knows she has a sister, and if she has insight into what the next one will be. I wonder who she has met, and what friends and family she is with. I wonder what it will be like when I get there, and she is waiting for me....thank God for heaven! I miss you sweet girl!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Alright....Tag, I'm it!

This is for hheaton and cstargel!!!

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Let's see.....I was 25, single, living in Dunwoody with Becca and Misti, and wondering if I would ever get married!!!! I was also teaching first grade at Bethesda Elem. in Gwinnett.

5 Things on my to-do List:
1. Clean our toilets and vacuum
2. Take a Zantac
3. Take a nap when Molly does
4. Have some QT with God
5. Work on my grandmother's 90th b-day scrapbook that I haven't touched yet

5 Snacks I enjoy:
1. chocolate
2. Cheetos
3. Nuts
4. South Beach snack bars
5. cheese

5 Places I've Lived:
1. Suwanee, GA
2. Alpharetta, GA
3. Dunwoody, GA
4. Auburn, Al
5. Stone Mountain, GA

5 Bad Habits:
1. procrastination!!!!!!
2. eating like crap
3. wasting time on dumb stuff instead of resting or doing something meaningful
4. short temper
5. critical

5 Places I've worked:
1. State Bridge Crossing Elem.
2. Bethesda Elem.
3. Veritas Homeschooling group
4. Honey Baked Ham
5. Camp Highland crafts director

5 Things I'd do if I was a billionare:
1. Build new houses for me, my brother's family, and my parents (I guess my inlaws too...)
2. Buy a beach house for family and friends to use
3. Buy a lake/mountain house and boat for the family to enjoy
4. Invest wisely
5. Give to all the organizations that I wish I could give lots to now!

Monday, May 5, 2008

Baby Names????

Anyone have any suggestions for a girl's name that would be good with MacDonald and kind of go with Molly? I am at a dead end on girl's names! I think we are pretty settled on Jackson Scott (called Jack) if it's a boy. We came up with that years ago, and now it seems every boy on the planet is named Jack, but we still like it! As a side note, I had my FIRST dream last night about the sex of the baby....it was a boy! Of course, I dreamt that Emmie was a boy several times, and that didn't pan out, so who knows! But I am open for any girl name suggestions!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Bon Jovi is AWESOME!!!!

We went to see Bon Jovi/Daughtry in concert last night with my brother and sister-in-law. It was a Christmas gift...............AND IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had the BEST time!!!! It was really cool to see Chris Daughtry there, seeing as how I am an American Idol fan. But Bon Jovi....there just are no words! That man has more energy than anyone I have ever seen! He was basically aerobic the whole show, while singing! It was amazing! I have to say that my highlights were "Bad Medicine", "You Give Love A Bad Name", and "Living on a Prayer". I got my giant self up out of that chair and was dancing and singing like I was in high school again! The cute girls sitting next to us said I was making them nervous...how funny! I guess seeing a big ol pregnant gal bouncing around is an unsettling sight, but I had the time of my life! I started thinking about the concerts I have been to, and here is the list I can think of:
  • Huey Lewis and the News
  • U2 Joshua Tree
  • Garth Brooks
  • Love and Rockets (I know....scary!)
  • Wynona (sp?) Judd and Clint Black (at Auburn)
  • Backstreet Boys
  • N*SYNC (one of my favorites!!!)
  • The Temptations
  • Neil Diamond (loved it!)
  • Yanni (free tickets)
  • Justin Timberlake
  • Bon Jovi

And of course I've done the Christian circuit too, with Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Mercy Me, The Gaithers, Sandy Patti, Carmen, Michael Card...I think that is all.

How random is that list? I think there are more that I am not even thinking of! Out of all of them, Bon Jovi and N*SYNC are tied for the 2 most amazing, entertaining concerts I've ever been to! So if you have a chance to go....DO IT!

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

You know you are pregnant when...

I'm 26 weeks pregnant, and I feel like with my attitude, it might as well be 36 weeks. I am going through a "bitter pregnant woman" phase this week. It's from things like this:
  • getting winded going up the stairs, regardless of how many there are
  • getting California-wild-fire type indigestion from eating ANYTHING!!!
  • waking up to roll over in bed, because it is such an ordeal I can't stay asleep and heave myself over
  • wanting to cry with love of my child one minute and wanting to lock her in her room until she is 30 the next
  • having to tell my husband to SLOW DOWN everywhere we go, because I can't keep up!
  • having a filthy house that still isn't all unpacked after 5 weeks because I just don't have the energy (and quite frankly can't bring myself to care all that much)
  • having people constantly ask me if I'm having twins or go into shock when I tell them I still have 3 more months to go
  • having people tell me over and over again about how "two are SO much harder than one!" (I get it people! Thanks for the encouragement!)

The list goes on and on, but you get the point! Is it possible to have PMS still while you are pregnant, because I'm quite sure that is what I have! On a positive note, this bitter pregnant woman is dragging herself to see Bon Jovi tonight!!!! Can't wait!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Scotty's acting career....part 2



Here is Scotty in his latest commercial....he is getting quite a career!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Growing up

My sweet little girl is growing up so fast! Lately it seems like whenever I'm away from her for a few hours, she grows a few inches! I've been laying awake at night the past few nights thinking about how different it will be with baby #2 here. It really makes me so sad to think about it! I know every mom with more than one understands, and I know that all would say it will be fine. I know it will be, but I could just cry when I think my one on one time with Molly is coming to an end! (I'm teary right now just thinking about it......darn pregnancy hormones!!!) Anyhow, this is a sweet picture I took of her this morning before we went to the outlets to buy new shoes.

Such a big girl!!!!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Happy 90th Grandma!

My sweet grandma turned 90 on Friday! We had a little shin-dig for her at her church on Saturday. My mom and aunt put together a really nice party. They had pictures of grandma through the years, pictures of my grandpa (who we miss!), beautiful flowers, food, and music. She had almost 100 guests show up, including her 9 (+1 on the way) great-grandchildren. It was a lot of fun! She is a really wonderful lady who looks and acts much younger than her 90 years. She is so active and fun to talk to and be with. She has such a great faith in the Lord too. We are so happy that we are blessed to have her with us!
As a side note, I got many "wow! That baby will be here any day now huh?" and "have they checked for twins?" As you can see in the picture, I've most definitely "blossomed"!!!! But no, I am not having twins, and I went to the dr. today and I actually only measure a week ahead! Baby measured a week ahead at my last 2 ultrasounds (my only 2 ultrasounds), so maybe it will be an August 2 baby instead of August 9th??? Who knows.....

Monday, March 31, 2008

What a Day...

It has been one of those days. After 3 days of high fever, Molly is finally back to normal, only not so normal! I know pretty much anyone reading this has kids and knows EXACTLY what I'm talking about! She has taken cranky to a new level! I feel like I've gotten a glimpse of what it will be like to live with a hormonal teenager one day. It's funny though, after a huge, throw-myself-on-the-floor fit, she walks over and puckers up for a kiss, and I can't resist it. I've forgiven her! 5 minutes later, we run the whole routine again. I am exhausted! The drama of a little girl. I had to stop and ask, Lord, am I like that??? Am I an overdramatic child that pushes and kicks and screams and then comes running back, all kisses and smiles? Thank goodness His patience exceeds mine!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Easter


Here is a pic of cute Molly in her Easter dress given to her by her MeeMee (Scotty's mom). She was so funny when I put it on her....she immediately looked down and then very happily said, "A bunny!" This is the best picture I could get, since the child will not be still long enough to get any other pictures! We have a family picture, but my face looks so unbelievably fat and round that I couldn't bring myself to post it. Sorry.....vanity!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

We did it!

We are officially moved! What an incredibly stressful week it has been, but it is over and we are in our new house! I am pretty sure we are NEVER moving again! (Doesn't everyone say that after they move?) We are so excited to be in our new home. It was so fun to go to church this morning and drive back to our new home together. Happy Easter everyone! Pictures to come soon...

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Disaster Zone!

That is what my house is right now. It is nothing short of a complete disaster. I know, I know, I can't expect it to be anything other than that with everything we own being put into boxes. We are moving in 6 days, and I break into a sweat when I think about how in the WORLD we are going to get everything all done! A positive is that all the clutter makes me that much more anxious to get our new house clean and settled as quickly as possible!

Speaking of complete disasters, I encountered one the other day very unexpectedly! My mom was here with Molly for the morning and we put Molly down for a "Nanna nap" (the comatose, 3 1/2 hour nap she usually takes after being with Nanna because Nanna has a lot of energy and gets Molly good and worn out!). She got very quiet, and we assumed she was asleep. An hour and a half later, she made it clear she was NOT asleep! She had actually somehow pulled a bouquet of dried flowers out of a container that hangs on her wall and mutilated them! When I opened the door, they were in her hair, stuck to her clothes, in her mouth (she was going, "blah! blah!"), all over the floor, and ALL over her crib! Have you ever tried to get crushed dried flowers out of things? Not pretty. The picture really doesn't do it justice, but it gives a small idea...

Monday, February 25, 2008

A little something to make me smile!


With all of the stress of this home buying/selling chaos, I found something to make me smile! For the bargain price of $1, I got this bunny ears at Target for Molly. She thinks it is the funniest thing to have me put them on her head, and then hold her up to see herself in the mirror. I love it!!!! With the teeth of hers, she really does look a little like Bugs! That was $1 well spent!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Hormones

Still don't know what exactly is going to happen with the house. I can tell you this though...they could bottle pregnancy hormones and sell them on the black market! Powerful things, those crazy hormones! I will reiterate the fact that they are not helping in this complete mayhem of selling our house. What's funny is, usually pregnancy just makes me cry more. Not this time! I just feel every emotion multiplied times 100! Church on Sunday, singing a great song with the choir......I'm not just moved, but bawling like a little girl! Have an inspection done on our siding today with the buyer and his $%^& real estate agent here.....I'm not just irritated, but I'm yelling so loudly that Scotty tells me to pipe down before I wake up Molly! Maybe I'm having a boy, and the extra testosterone is wreaking havoc on my system! All I know is that I could probably join a streetfighing gang right now and they would have nothing on me!

Monday, February 18, 2008

We MIGHT be moving....

Well, my last post showed a picture of the beautiful new house we are all set to buy. Just had the inspection and are all set for closing. The only problem is that the people with a contract on this house have become the most difficult buyers in real estate history. I am so completely and totally fed up with them and all of the absurd things that they are asking, I am ready to lose that beautiful new house and tell them.......well, I won't write what I'd like to tell them! To my faithful 3 or 4 readers, will you pray for us to have guidance and peace through this heinous process? My raging pregnancy hormones are definitely not contributing to the "peace" factor! I was up at 4am thinking about this and how angry they make me! Pray for us!

Monday, February 11, 2008

We are moving!



This is a picture of the home that we officially have a contract on as of today! We finally got an offer on our house and signed a contract on Friday, which means we spent ALL day on Saturday house hunting. We looked at 10 different homes, and this was our easy 1st choice. So it looks like we will be moving on March 21 to Aberdeen (for those of you who are familiar with the area)! It's a terrible market to sell in, but the Lord has blessed us as buyers! Now all I have to do is pack, find movers, call all the utilities, change our address, and did I mention packing? It will be a fun February and March!

Friday, February 1, 2008

15 month check up



Molly had her 15 month check up today! She is 33 inches tall.....almost 3 feet tall!!!! She weighs a whopping 22 pounds and 12 ounces, putting her in the 98% for height and the 46% for weight! She is my tall & skinny girl! I cut off her mullet a few days ago (again), and I can't believe how much more grown up she looks. She is going to be asking for the keys to the car before I know it!

This picture is a new favorite, because not only did she unroll all of the toilet paper left on the roll (which she hasn't done in months!), she also tore it all into tiny pieces. It was one of those, "Molly is so quiet.....what is she doing?" moments. I need to learn to move a little more quickly in those moments!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Check it out!

I know some of you have seen Scotty in a couple of commercials now, but this is his first as a paid actor (the others were favors!)! This was shot at our house last week. I had hoped that they would leave all the info. on the "For Sale" sign....good exposure! But he photoshopped it out! Anyhow, I hope you guys get a kick out of it, and if you live anywhere near Jim Ellis Volkswagon, you will probably see this on cable some day soon!

Monday, January 21, 2008

The heartbeat

I went today to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. I'm a little over 11 weeks pregnant. This appointment always makes me so nervous! They never found Emmie's and I had to have an ultrasound to confirm everything was fine. Molly's they found right away, but I was a little over 12 weeks when they checked. This one he had to search for a little, just long enough that my heart started to race........and then there it was! Unbelievable. There are few sounds as awesome to me as the sound of that little heartbeat. It's a complete miracle. To imagine that they can hear the beating heart of a tiny baby the size of a plum is miraculous. And the baby is so low! Leaves me wondering why the top of my belly is getting so fat if the baby is all the way down at the bottom! Anyhow, I guess it's for real......I really am pregnant! Praise God for the precious sound of that heartbeat.