Wednesday, April 23, 2008

It's a GIRL!!!


No, no, no, I'm not expecting so don't let your mind go to that place! I'm just so excited that Abby has hair long enough to put in bows!!!! This is a big event for me. I should finally stop getting the question, "how old is he?" John and I have discussed this and never thought it would irratate us for people to get our child's gender confused; but it did. I shouldn't let it because I rarely can tell if a baby is a little boy or girl. Which is why I often refer to them as, little one, baby or something similar. So to be able to put a bow in Abby's hair without the help of toothpaste is very exciting. Now we just have to figure out how to make her like it! Right now she trys to pull it out every time but usually if you can sneak it in her hair while she is focused on something else, it will stay for a good while!


I am also happy that I can finally post some pictures on here that give her a more girly look! I was starting to notice that all of her pictures on her were a bit ambiguous. She had on nuetral pajamas and blue t-shirts. So here are some pictures of my little girl!
You can see she wasn't really feeling it at first!!


Wednesday, April 9, 2008

10 Things you may not know about me!


But actually there are 12. And I'm sure I could keep going. I have recently seen myself with a more critical eye and discoverd all sorts of strange behaviors! Some of these you may already know and after learning the others you may realize I am not as awesome as you once thought…maybe I should not have posted this????

My Mom is SOOOO weird!!!


1. I tear off the first square of toilet paper in every public restroom. I cannot use it. It is a strange germ phobia/issue I have. I cannot help but think of the last person to use the restroom and that their germy hands touched that piece of tp. I can’t use it for toileting purposes now! It officially contains what I like to call, pee particles! And because of these pee particles floating around the restroom, I don’t like to leave my toothbrush out in the open. The pee particles also cause to me to freak out and throw out my gum if I accidentally blow a bubble or open my mouth in the bathroom.

2. I hate to wear earrings or suites. I am convinced I look like an 8 year old playing dress up in my mom’s clothes.

3. My profile is not my best feature. My chin is almost non-existent and so I do not like to be photographed from the side. However, I discovered that if I swallow, it pulls up my skin and gives me a well defined chin! I spent my entire wedding day swallowing and now anytime a camera is in view, I swallow!

4. I have a fear of parking decks, tunnels, and bridges. I don’t trust the structures and am convinced that they will collapse or I will get trapped in them. Maybe I have watched too many movies but I tend to feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest when I have to go through, in, or over.

5. Broadway is my dream job. I wish so badly that I could sing and it would be so fun to dance. So to be able to do all of that would be amazing! By myself, in my car, all alone, I am a Broadway star.

6. Holidays and special occasions are my favorite. I love to make a big deal out of anything worth celebrating. I could care less how commercialized an occasion has become because in my mind there is always a reason to have fun. My theory is that, regardless if we should, we don’t always show people how much we care so why not go all out on days set aside to do just that!

7. I can only talk on the phone using my left ear. My right ear just does not hear as well and I feel spastically uncoordinated trying to hold it on that side. Should I have my hearing checked?

8. I love people. I thrive on being social and surrounded by people. I hope that when Abby grows up my house is where all the kids want to be. Please do not ever feel like you are intruding on me. I have an open door policy and, if it were safer, would leave my door unlocked. I enjoy drop-ins and surprise visits.

9. One of my favorite things to do is go in to Abby’s room in the middle of the night and pick her up. I love to snuggle with her and feel her head nestled in the nape of my neck. John is always worried that I am going to wake her up but most of the time I am selfish and just don’t care! She’s just too sweet and innocent for words.

10. I am very prideful and stubborn. In my mind I can do everything. Nothing seems illogical or unreasonable. I don’t read instructions or directions and always think I can figure things out. I hate the word 'can’t’ because to me that says you are throwing your white flag up in surrender. I would rather fail a million times than have anyone else do it for me or tell me how.

11. I have the most massive crush on Patrick Dempsy. In fact, I am obsessed with Patrick Dempsy to the point of having to come clean with John. He knows that if Patrick ever knocks on our door, I'm sorry; I will have to leave John to be with him. He is on my 'List' and actually the only one on my list. When he smiles (yes I realize it is only on television) I melt and get goose bumps. Watching him in movies and on television makes me feel like a giddy school girl wondering how I can change my path in the hallway to run in to him!

12. You can almost always count on seeing me with my sunglasses on my face or acting as a headband. They are like a soft blanket that comforts me daily. I feel invisible when they are on my face and naked if they are not on my head. If I don't have a pair handy for any moments notice I panic and begin breathing rapidly. I will wear them when needed on bright, sunshiny days, when it is pouring down rain, even when I get out of the shower to hold my hair back as I put on my make-up.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Hip Hip Hooray!


Yes I realize I already posted today but this calls for another round! John was offered and then chose to accept a job!!! He is officially a real lawyer in a real firm in the very real city of Birmingham. I guess he is not technically a really lawyer just yet. He does still have to finish this little thing called school and take this silly little test called the Bar but other than that he's in. I know he is beside himself thrilled and I am just tickled pink! We were starting to get to that point where making jokes about his unemployed status was not funny anymore. They started to hit just a little too close to home, and it did not really feel like much of a laughing matter. It was all fun and games while he was in school and not expected to have one. In fact, his first year he was not allowed to have one by order of the school. But as time went on and school started coming closer to an end it became more of a punch in the gut than a joke - ha ha - not funny! I am so proud of John and knew he could do it. Once he got in for an interview there was no way anyone could pass him over.
So let the joking cease and the celebrating begin! The Lord is good and he will provide!

Monday, April 7, 2008

No Mo B-Mo??? Not AnyMo


When John first told me he was moving to Baltimore back in 2004 to cut grass for the Orioles, No Mo B-Mo was all I could think. I chanted it often, even made John a CD so cleverly titled No Mo B-Mo that consisted of sappy love songs hoping he wouldn't forget me. I should not be admitting this but I did not even know where Baltimore was; had no idea it was in the state of Maryland. (I've never considered Geography one of my strengths!) None the less, I never in a million years thought I would be saying, "I miss Baltimore!" And I do. A Lot!
While I spent the weekend lovingly acting as a single parent (blog to come soon on that), John enjoyed a weekend in the city I think of as ours, and I was jealous! I know we spent 6 months in Birmingham just after getting married, but I still consider Baltimore our first city, our first home, and an all around great place. Baltimore really brought John and I together as a family. Our relationship became deeper and more meaningful because we learned to depend solely on each other.
I also loved Baltimore for what it did to me. I grew up! I gained this confidence and independence I never knew I had or could have. I am the baby of my family and have a sister 11 years older than me and because of this I was always looked at as the one everyone needed to take care of. It is sweet and I am thankful for my nurturing family. But it was nice to grow in to my own, to have something of my own, and to feel like I could do things for myself.
And of course - I love Baltimore because that is where we started our family! Thanks to GBMC, we have a healthy, beautiful, baby girl! I definitely missed having my family and friends around during my pregnancy but am grateful that we had Abby in Baltimore. It gave us a chance to figure things out for ourselves. Sorry Abby! And Abby will be the cool kid in school who can say, well I was born in Maryland but have lived in Alabama for most of my life!


So here are a few of the things I miss most about Baltimore and my life there: (in no particular order)
  • Allison - we developed a relationship that I truly cherish - And Stuart and Bird of course!
  • All of our friends who really became like family. It was neat to spend holidays with our Baltimore family, and we taught them a thing or two about how to really celebrate a holiday focused on Jesus!
  • Walking everywhere - what a great way to start your day with a nice brisk walk to work!
  • Carma's Icelandic Yogurt - she will ship it anywhere you like on dry ice but I have a hard time justifying spending $100 for a $4 cup of yogurt!
  • Donna's caramel lattes
  • The Saturday morning Waverly Farmer's Market
  • The Row Houses and architecture- although we didn't know our neighbors as well as I thought we should have seeing as how we shared walls. I never did ask anyone for a cup of sugar!
  • Grilling out on our back porch and having people over all the time. Having Abby really helped us become the central location. Everyone just came to us!
  • Having an elaborate fireplace in your bedroom!
  • The enormous claw foot tub in our first apartment.
  • Feeling like everything you see and do is a new and grand adventure simply because you are in a different city.
I love Baltimore - and I love the people we left. I will forever look back and smile when I think of that wonderful time in our lives, Hun!

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Can you see me blushing?


My husband has now apparently become my agent and I am embarrassed! I do find it really sweet that he wanted to share this with everyone I just get self-conscious. He asked why I would start a journal on the world wide web if I didn't want anyone to read it. Good question. I think this all boils down to the fact that I have severely low self confidence.


Now on to a subject that I would greatly appreciate feedback. My 14 month old little baby is growing up! While I am super proud of having clearly a child prodigy, I am missing my little girl who depended on me for everything! The little bundle of joy who needed me to carry her, feed her, play for her as she adoringly watched. Most of these new found spurts of independence are amazing to watch and deepen my faith in God. She is truly a sponge soaking up everything. I love to sit and watch her as she studies your every move and the world around her. She surprises John and I daily with the new things she learns that we have never taught her. The other day I asked her to back up, not really expecting any reaction; however, she stopped what she was doing and carefully took several steps backwards! Just last night she was able to complete a two step request, go pick a flower and give it to Ma (her great-grandmother), to which she happily complied. Last week she began shaking her head up and down for yes and side to side for no. I didn't believe she understood 'yes' until I asked her tonight if she wanted more dinner and she quickly shook her and opened her mouth! I never doubted her understanding of 'no!'
However, in this past week, when Abby started shaking her head no, hitting me and then laughing hysterically, and shoving kids out of the way to get to her favorite toy, I began to worry. I should have assumed this would come sooner than later. Earlier in the year John and I were reprimanded by her Day Care because Abby was stealing other children's bottles and drinking them. We will not go in to the details of how she had the time to not only get to the bottles but also to keep them long enough to drink. Another story for another time! All of this to ask, is it bad to be thrilled, relieved, and happy to see your child grow and develop while at the same time miss and reminisce on the days of complete dependency? And, how do you discipline a one year old? Does she really know what she is doing? Is this just a developmental stage she is going through that I should be happy about? After all, it shows she is making decisions; determining her wants/needs/likes/dislikes. Regardless, we will continue to teach as best we know how, through example. I guess I should stop smacking John around and laughing hysterically!!!

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

What a Sucker!!!


Ok Laura - I did it and this is all for you! I'm not exactly sure why I am begining this blog because I am not witty, insightful, clever, or anything of the like. My grammer, syntax, and spelling are all pretty bad; I chose math for a reason! None the less, my dear friend Laura explained blogging to me in a way that made it seem worth while. As a resource for keeping in touch. And although I try, I am not the best at journaling or writing things down. I have the best of intentions but never seem to get around to it. And I figure that one day, my dear sweet Abby would like to know what when on in her life! (any maybe her parents'!) So for this, I am giving blogging a try. Here is my best attempt at documentation!

I guess I will explain my title in this first entry. I feel it is pretty self explanatory, My cup runneth over. We have all heard it a million times and as cliche as it sounds, my cup truly does run over. I am blessed. I have an amazing husband who loves the Lord as well as me and Abby. I have a beautiful baby girl who, at this point in her life, loves me unconditionally. She teaches me so much each day. I have a great relationship with my family and we enjoy each others company. And something that I feel extremely lucky to be able to say is that I have a great group of friends who serve as a support structure as well as a family to me. Don't get me wrong, my life is not all peaches and cream! We have our share of struggles but something I am learning daily is to be not only content with where I am now, but excited about it. I will never get this time back and I have realized it is silly to wish away this time just because I am looking forward to what is in our future. It is not easy and I struggle constantly with this idea. There are so many things I want and wish for and am looking forward to. But I need to be happy, content, and proactive. One of the things I have been wanting is documentation of our life so here is my first step in a new and improved proactive life!