Driving Mrs. Daisy and Her Sidekick

Over the weekend I drove my mom down to Atlanta so we could attend a bridal shower for Mayo and Leslie. We took Cecilia along with us so Brent could have a guy's weekend. It was a very quick trip and what felt like 4 days in a car but we had a really good time.

We got into Atlanta with just a few hours to spare before the shower. We let Cecilia stretch her legs and play before we headed to the shower. Mayo and Leslie were once again showered with lots of fabulous gifts and we got to meet many of their friends from Atlanta. Cecilia was a charmer and waved at everyone and showed off some of her new tricks. And of course no trip to

Atlanta is worth wild without a lot of shopping! Sunday morning we got up and hit a few stores before heading to the mall. We typically hit the same stores each time we are in Atlanta and we will dearly miss the shopping after Mayo and Leslie are married and no longer live in Atlanta. Hopefully Santa Fe has good shopping.

I was able to find my Easter outfit along with some other things and I'm just now realizing we didn't buy Cecilia a single thing! Wow that never happens! I was on a mission to buy a few items so I guess I was too focused on my list to really shop for her.

We had a few minutes to kill before we headed to lunch so we went to the kiddie play area in the middle of the mall. Guess who hit the ground running and didn't turn back? She crawled all over that place and had the best time watching all the older kids, other than the one who poked her in the eye. I hated to be that mom who got huffy with a kid I didn't know but I was ticked. He apologized and his ever so concerned parents really gave him talkin' to. NOT! He was also the kid running around with his hands making guns telling other kids he was going to shoot them. Nice.

Luckily that did not damper her fun and she smiled and laughed the rest of the time. She even crawled through a tunnel as if she has done it a million times! I was so proud of her for just wondering off from me (of course I did have an eye on her the whole time) and having a good time. Look at her go! When we got home I literally died! I was barely able to hold my eyes open long enough to see to get into bed. I'm still in the recovery process but it will take longer than usually because I'm heading out for business trip on Thursday and it will be more long hours in a car in a short amount of time. AWESOME!

This Time It Was Intentional

Friday was crazy hair day in Cecilia's class for those who had hair. I sent her to school looking like this...

Everyone thought it was hilarious and naturally Brent got all the credit since he sent her to school the last time looking like this! I never get any credit!

Things I Missed

Sorry this post is pretty boring and is for documentation only.

So I knew I would miss several key things that have happened this month. My head was clearly elsewhere the other day!

You now have 2 teeth! Maybe by the time you are 5 you will have 6! I kid and know they will come in soon enough but it feels like all the other babies your age have a mouth full. Luckily, it doesn't slow you down eating. Everyone is always amazed at how well you eat food with only 2 teeth!

You have for sure added Nanny to your list of words. You will say her name randomly but never to her face.

You are imitating things that we do such as animal sounds and are pretty darn cute doing it! We have just started working on that here lately. And school has taught you a few new tricks as well. I think they work with you all a lot and it shows at home.

You have become a big helper and will help me hang your clothes up by handing me the hangers. You even like to help pick up your things. Most of the time you drag them right back out as if it is a game but at least you know where they go.

Now that your tubes are in you are a COMPLETELY different baby! It is amazing the change in you! You will now play by yourself and are in such a good mood all day! I had no idea it was going to make you feel this much better!

You love to sing and sing a lot in the car! You've even added a few dance moves when singing. We are going to have all kinds of fun when you are older having jam sessions in the car! This is a trait I am happy to say you got from me! :)

In the mornings, you love to sit on the bathroom counter and play in my makeup bag while I finish getting ready. You like playing with all of it but you always seek out the eyelash curler.

At night you have started playing with my hair when I rock you to sleep. I have always rubbed your head when I rocked you to sleep so I'm assuming this is where you go it. You will have your eyes completely closed and seek out my hair. Surprisingly you are very gentle and only pull once in awhile. Its my new favorite thing you do!

I really think that is it. If not, I apologize now for not documenting your life very well. It's the price you pay for having a scattered mother right now!

He Asked...She Said Yes!

On Saturday, I, along with 6 other family friends, hosted a wedding shower for my brother and Leslie.


It was held at my parent's church and we had quite the little turn out for a Saturday afternoon.

They were showered with tons of gifts and those much loved gift cards. The kitchen gadgets and cookware seemed to be the best gifts in Mayo's eyes. A trait we share that comes from our Granny and Dad.

Showers always make the wedding seem so real and April 16th will be here before we all know it!

Then this poor kid will have to live with my brother FOREVER!!! :) Just kidding! You know I love ya bub!

And Then We Celebrated

By noon, we decided that we better head to the hospital. We still weren't 100% sure this was the real thing.

We were surprised when the nurse walked in around 2 pm and announced "we're having a baby today!" Daddy and I looked at each other in disbelief. You were finally coming and we were finally going to meet you!


In 4 short hours you were here screaming and in my arms. We couldn't have been happier in that very moment!


Until today came.



Today, we celebrated you, Gee!


There was cake...

friends and family...

gifts...

and 'Happy birthday' shouted every few minutes.

Today you rocked your birthday .

Even if there were a few tears shed, it was your party and you had the right!

I've worn out memory lane in the past month. It's amazing that I can still remember what I was feeling the day you were born and what was going through my head as I laid in the delivery room. I still remember looking in your eyes for the first time and realizing I was made to be a mom. You made a dream a reality.

I feel like a year is a short time for you to go from a tiny baby to this toddler that now lives in your room. You are becoming such a big girl learning to stand completely on your own and learning to walk. You eat what we eat and still LOVE food. We feel like you eat all day long!

According to the scales the other day, you weigh 21 lbs and 14 oz and are about 30 inches long. Since your weight has slacked off a bit you are still in some 12 month clothes and wearing size 4 diaper.

You jabber all the time and are starting to pick up words and mimicking us. You can high five, blow kisses (without the hand gesture), give hugs when asked and have perfect timing on throwing a fit! You are funny and you know your funny! If you can get a laugh out of us then you will continue to keep us laughing.

I'm so overwhelmed with all the events today I can't remember everything. The important thing to know is, we love you with all our hearts and over this past year we have had a blast watching you grow!

This is definitely a love I never imagined but one I would have hated to miss!

Happy 1st Birthday Gee!

The Story Continues...

At this point, I knew I was in labor. My pains had continued all night and I woke up feeling the same. They still weren't bad enough to keep me from doing laundry and light housework but they were enough for me to stop every now and then to catch my breath.

Momoi and Aunt Jac had both called that morning just to check in and I told them that we could have a baby sooner than planned. We were all very casual about it becuase I didn't seem to be in as much pain as everyone said I would be.

I made Daddy start timing them just so we could see if we were getting close. He was scheduled to work and I didn't want him to stay home if I wasn't in labor but then we didn't want him going and me go into full labor.

Timing is everything with these kinds of things.

Birthday Eve

At about this time last year, I had declared I was just too tired to stay up any longer. I had done a few things around the house anticipating your arrival the following Monday (I was scheduled to be induced 03-22-10) and all the family coming in over the weekend. But by 9 pm I couldn't do anymore. I was so tired despite my 2 hour after work nap and my belly was feeling pretty tight.

I decided to take a shower before bed to try to relax, hoping it would be just the thing to put me in a deep sleep. We had a lot to do over the next 2 days and I needed to be at my best.

Over the course of the night, I kept waking up with minor pains. They were enough for me to barely open my eyes to see what time it was but not enough to declare anything serious.

At about 2 am, I woke your dad up and told him I was pretty sure you were coming sooner than excepted. I also told him that our house was still not up to par for our guests and I was pretty sure we may not have time to do the full scrub down I had planned for the next day. He asked what he could do to make me feel better about the house. I sweetly told him I would love for the house to get vacuumed. So at 2 in the morning, your daddy got out of bed and vacuumed the whole house! I did my part by getting up and applying makeup and making myself look presentable in case you came during the night. I made sure to lay very still the rest of the night so I wouldn't mess up my makeup or hair.

We both went back to sleep wondering if you would really come or if it was just a false alarm.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Almost a year to the date, we were back on the 2nd floor of the hospital. This time Cecilia was the one getting checked in and putting on the hospital gown. She was the one getting checked by the nurses and prepped for surgery.


This morning she got much needed tubes put in her ears.

She was a trooper! We were once again blessed with wonderful nurses who were so sweet and kind to our little patient. They all talked about how good and well behaved she was. She even did great in recovery and was the only baby that morning who didn't cry after waking up. Actually she didn't cry much at all.

I held up well myself and kept it together. It helped that we knew the anesthesiologist. He just so happened to be a guy from our church who is wonderful with little ones! It was a HUGE relief to know he would be back there with her.

On our way home, she sang and talked as if nothing had happened.

When we got home, it was a little different story. Although she didn't seem to feel bad, the medicine was still in her a bit so we laid around for awhile and watched a little basketball.

Then that got old and we were back to playing, laughing, and crawling around.

She has only taken a few cat naps so I'm bettin' it will be an early night for us!

Daddy Just Doesn't Get It

When I walked in to get Cecilia this afternoon I found her head looking a little something like this...


I told her nice bedhead and her teacher politely informed me she came to school looking that way. Umm, Daddy must not have found it necessary to run a brush through her hair before heading out.

After a phone conversation with Brent, I learned that he thought her hair looked cool. He thought the big curl sticking up off her head was cute.


Daddy just doesn't get that the bedhead look is not ok for little girls. He still has so much to learn!

A Living Nightmare

Brent and I have been experiencing what our version of hell would be like...lack of sleep and waking up feeling like you have been run over by a semi hauling a load of cement blocks.


For a little over a week Cecilia has been in our bed. I know, I know, not a great decision but we were desperate to get some sleep. The first couple of nights she started out in her bed but woke up around 2:30 screaming her head off. The rest of the time she just wouldn't sleep in her bed.


I could have made a pallet in her floor like I usually do but then I still wouldn't sleep and I would then wake up feeling like I'd been run over by a semi hauling a load of elephants.


After a week of being headbutted, smacked in the face, kicked in the arm and waken up in the middle of the night to 'Babe can you get her? She is on my side.' I couldn't stand it any longer...she had to go.


I wish I could say things are better but she is still waking up in the middle of the night. I know she doesn't feel well but I'm not sure I can handle another week of only functioning at 25% especially with our busy weekend coming up. My dad could even tell something was up the other day when he passed me on the road on our way to work. I had no idea my bags were that noticeable.

It's A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

Not really. It rained most of the day yesterday and has been overcast and cold today but that didn't stop us from having a fun filled weekend.


I started my day Saturday with a little me time relaxing under some artificial sun rays. Casper was calling me out so I had to do something about it. Plus we are a month and a half away from my brother's wedding and I'm pretty sure the guests don't want to be blinded my whiteness.


I then headed to my mother ship, Target, to grab a few things we needed. Brent had to work so he met me there to switch off Cecilia.


She was dead asleep when they walked in so I attempted to push a full buggy one handed and pack a baby who seemed to weigh about 100 lbs! I had to think fast before my arm detached from my body. Being armed with only a cart cover, I made a pallet in the buggy.



She didn't seem to mind! She slept for about 15 minutes like that. Now I know our cart cover has another purpose in life!


I had several more errands to run and luckily it had stopped raining long enough for me to get them done. Cecilia was in a terrific mood and laughed and charmed everyone we saw. She has come into the almost flirtatious stage where she will just ham it up for people and show off all her tricks. Two girls at our local bakery almost came home with us. I assured them though that after 10 minutes and they would be running out the front door.


I topped our day off with almost burning the house down. No biggie. Just turned on the wrong burner and left Cecilia's snack cup on the stove.



It's all in a days work.


Today I helped my mom host a baby shower for a good high school friend of mine. Her baby girl is due in May and I'm really excited for her.


In true fashion, I had appointed my dad photographer so I have no pictures on my camera. It turned out really cute and my mom did a really good job with the decorations. We had an "ABC" theme using bright pinks, blues, greens and purples. The mama to be walked away with TONS of cute gifts! She asked if it made me what to have another and I quickly responded 'uh no!' The one drama queen I've got now is enough!


My body feels like it just ran a marathon. I'm pretty sure added with the grey hair I found means I'm getting old.

I'm Too Young for This

I found a grey hair this afternoon. I caught a glimpse of myself in the rear view mirror and there sticking out as if to say "Look at me! Look at me!" was a grey hair.

I went into survival mode and tried to pull it out. It didn't work. I tried 3 more times, all unsuccessful at getting rid of this thing growing outside my head.


I'm not ready for grey hair.


I used to make fun of my dad's grey hair and he would always respond 'you put them there.' He wears them proudly as if they're battle scars. As if each hair represents a time when I decided I knew more than he or decided to be a 16 year old drama queen.


When I got home I plucked the little booger so now 10 more will grow back in its place. I will be putting a call into my hairdresser ASAP.

A Bomb Went Off

A bomb went off in my house leaving laundry, toys and other random items strode about. It happened some time late last week and I can do nothing but stare at the disaster. Brent says its not that bad which really means its that bad because our levels of tidiness are no where near one another.

Cecilia seems to like the new look and feels it is her duty in life to add her touch...

At this point I could careless about the mess. Since Cecilia, my housework is at the bottom of my priorties. I will always choose playing with her over housework. Its not that important and at some point I will get to it but with a busy month ahead I don't see it happenin' anytime soon.

I mean which would you choose...housework or this?

So please no surprise drop-ins. The surprise might be on you!