Facts about Olivia at ELEVEN months!

The past month has just flown by and now we are nearing Olivia's first birthday which is making me a little sad! Its so neat to see her growing and developing but at the same time letting go of the "baby" in her is hard.

She is now standing on her own for short periods of time and has taken a first step! Not walking consistently though. She is making attempts at more words like baby, and dat, and dis! Her favorite thing to do is crawl over to the book box and completely empty it! She had two feet in it yesterday and the books were just flying behind her! She also enjoys doing this with dog's toy basket. She is a little bit harder to discipline than her brother and just keeps going back!!! She absolutely loves the remote and my cell phone and is sneaky about getting them both!

Olivia has become quite clingy to me in the past month or so and won't go to many people unless I sneak away and she is distracted. Even so, she will not cry long and adapts easilly to whatever, just not real willing to leave me. She is now eating all kinds of table food for example, lunch meat and cheese, cut up grilled cheese sandwiches, cooked carrots, peas, rice, loves rice chex cereal for snack time, green beans, cut up zucchini, squash, baked sweet potato, munches on cinnemon rasin bagels at breakfast and will generally have apple sauce or bannanas and strawberries shortly afterward. Its SO nice not to have to always bring food along everywhere we go. I can usually mush up what I have for her if we are at a restraunt. She is slowly weaning from nursing and drinking milk and juice from a disposable sippy cup several times a day. We are down to just about three times a day, if that, I try for just twice and not very long at that.

She is finally in 6-12 and 12 month clothing, although pants still hang on her. If they are elastic I roll them on so they will stay up! She is wearing a size two in diapers and shoes. Her hair finally stays in alligator clip bows but still not long enough for actual pigtails. She loves her bed. Sometimes she cries when I lay her down but by the time I walk out of the room and shut the door she lays down. She has developed a liking for baby dolls and carries a small one around that our friend Priscilla, from Bright Horizons got her last week.

She likes to put her face in the water at bath time, I don't know if she is attempting bubbles or what! She got a little top heavy out of her suction cup seat last night and took a dive. Ty was way more freaked out than she was. He was balling and kept asking, is my baby okay??? She was under for maybe two seconds, I was right there to fish her out. He is so protective of her, which is surprising to me at his young age. He was sick, and missed school today but she went to give me more time with Ty at the doctor's. Our friend Sandy met me at my car to get her and take her in and Ty went nuts after she shut the door and left, saying, "she take my baby!!!" She still LOVES her brother and squeals in laughter at him all the time. Its neat to see your children love on each other. Ty softly kisses her on her head when she is asleep.

I can't believe that before long I will be posting her one year old facts along with pics of her first cake, etc...... I can still vividly remember reading a pregnancy test and being pregnant with her and it just doesn't seem like it was a year ago that I was anticipating her arrival. She is SO beautiful to me and has such a sweet disposition. I never could have imagined what it was like to love a little girl so much. I already worry about her growing up and the people she will encounter and things that she will experience. I pray over her every night that God constantly watch over her and protect her and for her to wake up healthy every morning.

She is so curious and smiley and I wish all of you could experience her in the way that we have over the past ELEVEN :( months.............

Happy Fall

Fall is here, for today anyway! Its cool and rainy and not quite the day for the pumpkin patch that I had planned. We are going to try again for tomorrow. These are some pictures taken on Saturday. I just love this time of year, the smells, the colors, the food, and the weather! We had Trent all weekend long and were able to spend time with two of his uncles from the metroplex area who were here for volleyball games and suberbans! Olivia went to her first birthday party for a friend, Jade who turned one last week! Dad and Ty got some time together and went to see, "In The Wild." He can't stop talking about it.

I also was treated to a movie last Tuesday by Meme, "Facing The Giants." If you don't see another movie this year, see this one. Its obviously low budget, and there is nobody you have heard of in it, but its a wonderful story about a football team that decides to get their priorities straight and focus on God. This of course is why there is not much publicity on it and you probably have not heard much about it. You know how the world works, don't want to offend anybody, unless they are Christian! Anyone seen veggie tales on regular t.v. lately? That is all I have to say about that.

This coming week is pretty uneventful for us. I will be missing my 10 year reunion at ACU b/c my husband will not be around and I will have my two small children, not up for doing it alone! I am a little sad about that, mostly because I was looking forward to going to The Shed and The Beehive with Holly. I guess we could do that any time though.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week and is enjoying this day off if you have it!

Positive Things that happened in the past week

Well after my last two posts hosting a bit of the negative side, I decided to focus on the positive for my Thursday Thirteen:


1. This is a picture taken from our Girls Night Out last Friday evening. Top row, Calli, Me. Bottom row, Jen, Sara, and Suzanne. We met at LaDiosa-such a neat place. Great food and atmosphere, I think we have decided that its going to be "our" place. We are going to have monthly meetings and I can't wait for October 20th!!! These pics can also be seen on Sara and Jen's blogs.

2. One day earlier, I was able to attend for the first time, my class's evening women's study that is every other Thursday. We are studying God's purpose for our lives. There were so many people there and many of whom I have not been able to spend a lot of time with so I was thrilled to have the opportunity and hear God speaking through their words.

3. Saturday morning Ty, Olivia, and I joined Meme to watch our neice Hannah play in a volleyball tournament that was not real far from where we live. I saw some people from our church there and had a nice visit and we also went to one of my favorite burger joints for lunch afterward with several other family members along with some people from their town. It was a beautiful fall day and we had a great time.

4. Church Sunday- Trent and I taught last quarter which was neat in a lot of ways, but we really missed our class. We were able to go together Sunday, which we don't get to do a whole lot now b/c he is gone for tournaments so much- in fact he will be this week.

5. Finally got my little girl's room organized and re-arranged with her "new" dresser in place. It looks so cute, I will have to post pics if I ever get around to taking any.

6. Tuesday night Trent and I took on the task and put Ty's new train table together! Well, we have not put together all the buildings and bridge yet, but the table is there and he is THOROUGHLY enjoying it! Thanks Pop and Cita :)

7. Got my freezer, again- new to us, cleaned out and put almost all of our things in. I just have to go pick up things I am storing at my sister-in-law's and Sara's house and then we are good to go!

8. The kids both got flu shots Tuesday, probably not a "positive" thing to them, but hopefully it will be in the long run and neither of them will end up contracting the flu. On a side note, Olivia still has an ear infection in her left ear, getting better but still there. This is why she cried so much Sunday and Monday :( But the positive spin- she is on a baby version of the "Z" pak and already doing better!

9. I slept GREAT the past two nights and its looking like I just had a quick bout with allergies instead of a sinus infection!

10. Got my car washed Tuesday while kids were sleeping after their doctor's appt. I just love a CLEAN CAR!

11. Today is my friend Courtney's birthday but we celebrated at school yesterday with coffee and doughnuts at our early morning staff meeting, well all day we ate really! Mmmmmm.....

12. My sweet mother-in-law met me at school yesterday with my favorite drink in hand as we were making our way out to the car. Such a nice surprise at the end of the day. Have I mentioned that I have the best mother-in-law in the whole entire world???? She is also having us out to her house for dinner tonight which she has started doing on a weekly basis. Its so nice getting together with Trent's side of the family and Ty LOVES playing with his cousins!!!

13. My friend Suzanne was a real blessing to me this week. She is pictured above. I will not go all into why except that she is just a wonderful friend. I met Suzanne the week after Trent and I started dating. She was a good friend of his from college and still is. We hit it off instantly and she has been my friend too ever since. Another one of the many blesesings of having Trent. She is a great listener but will tell you how it is and I appreciate these things about her so much. Plus she is a ton of fun to be with. Whenever we would come back here to visit, before we lived here and she did, we would meet up with all of Trent's friends he grew up with and most of the time Suzanne and I were the only two girls, except for when Sara could make it, also pictured above. Sara is married to our friend Brad and Jen (also pictured above) is married to our friend Jon, two of the boys Trent grew up with. The other girl, Cali, I have had the blessing of getting to know through Sara. They went to pharmacy school together and we are all great friends now.

I really could go way beyond thirteen in counting my blessings this week but I will stop there. Its really neat to go back and do that, especially after you think you have had a hard day! Hope everyone has a great end to the week!

13.

I made it, Thanks God

Well, it was poker night last night so my wish did not come true. However Olivia finally fell asleep and Ty and I took a bath and he slept in my bed with me so it got a little better. Leave it to my sweet little man to put a smile on my face. He is SO precious! God worked in his sweet little words and laugh to remind me that its not all about me. I feel so selfish sometimes and I hate that I do. Of course with one down and one left up it made it a ton easier. Thank you God for giving Olivia a peace to finally rest, she never napped yesterday. She slept until 7 this morning and apprears to be much better. Well I am off to refuel with some caramel truffle coffee, with my fun pumpkin creamer and Tylenol daytime sinus. Thanks for your encouragement and prayers girls............you really have no idea how much that means to me. Also, I would LOVE to see the video Jen. I will be calling you at some point.

It is SO Monday!

Nothing horrible, just one of those days. The dust blew in last week and I am reaping its "benefits" today. I guess I am a little late considering most people were sick last week and over the weekend. That's just a little harder than usual b/c of course all you moms out there know that does not effect whether or not you go to work or how you do your work does it?! I was up almost the entire night with Olivia last night, still not sure why. She was diagnosed with an ear infection in her left ear a week and a half ago but has been on antibiotics since. She was not hot, pulling on her ears or anything. She did have a dirty diaper but all she wants to do is nurse, and I am wanting to WEAN HER!!!! We have an appt. at 1:45 tomorrow, not a fun time with two little kids but that was the best they could do with notice at 3 this afternoon. Also had school today, which went great, but I am all the more tired this evening none the less.

I am really wanting to wean Olivia for a few reasons, the biggest being I have to have not been nursing for a month for lasic eye surgery, which I am hoping to do at the end of November. Its funny how the less you make the more your insurance costs and the more it does not include!!! Another perk of working for a small Christian school as a coach! We will not have vision or dental come January so we are getting everything done while we can and already had our last cleaning last week. Not that its the last forever but probably longer than every 6 months. I know I am a freak, but I love going to the dentist! Well back to lasic, I also have a major dry eye problem which can be a real bad thing if it still exists the time of surgery. I will get my new glasses Wednesday, and be saying goodbye to my contacts forever. This will help in the two rinses I have to do a day, as well as drops five times a day and fish oil (eeewhhh!!) caplets twice a day. I am already having a hard time finding time to drink enough water and eat with keeping house and tending to my ten month old and little boy who takes like 30 trips to the potty a day!!

Olivia has cried almost non stop since we have been home and Ty has been playing with all of his fun battery operated toys that make noise and I have a major headache. I received my new Southern Living a few days ago and put Olivia in the swing with some cheri-o's to get a quick look at it. I am SO wishing that the gumbo with cream and shrimp along with the toasted coconut pecan chocolate chunk pie would appear on my doorstep for dinner tonight. As I type there is a sippy cup in my face with a loud voice saying, "MORE JUICE PLEASE??" This is also as Olivia is pawing at my side STILL crying. If your reading this remotely close to the time I am typing, please say a prayer for my sanity. Trent is at the course with the kids and should be home by 7:30, will I make it until then? How tired will he be since he has been gone since 6 A.M.??? I can't wait for the time change!!!!!!!!!!!

Pop & Cita Visit

My parents came for a visit Sunday through Tuesday, the days Trent was gone for a tournament for the girls in OK. City. As you can see we enjoyed our time together doing fun things like going to the park to feed the ducks and out to Legacy Park for a picnic and playtime. That place is amazing! I need to post pics of just it! Ty also made out with a new train table from Pop, Cita, and great Aunt Mimi! We went to look at a used one today but the lady wanted as much as a new one that was on sale at Toys R Us, so we opted for the new. Poor Trent will be putting that together this week!

The weather has been so nice here so we did some fun fall like things like a trip out to Idalou for the Apple Orchard yesterday. We ate lunch there and looked at the trees. A fun novelty in a smaller town. I think Cita enjoyed it the most! She brought both kids some fun Halloween surprises, little books and a ghost treat bag for Ty. They will be coming back for treat night at our church at the end of next month.

I was so excited to finally have someone along to get some errands done, like Target for some baskets I had wanted since early August, only to find they are no longer there. My other venture was some good looking fake gourds, also not found at Hobby Lobby, my other place I wanted to go. Isn't that always the way, you finally get the time and money and it just doesn't work out! I had all these plans to get things done while they were here to watch the kids and none of them happened. No painted kitchen chairs, no hutch picked up to go on top of Liv's, new to us, dresser, no armoire taken back to the friend who loaned it to us, no box returned to Oriental Trading, for major false advertising on the size of the wreath I ordered, no house work got done either. But a fun time was had by all and I was given the gift of being able to return to bed for an hour and a half this morning after feeding Liv. Man did I need that! There is just never enough time. No Floydada pumpkin patch, the fair is next week but they can't come for that, but mom did make a late night trip to Wal-mart with me and we are stocked up on groceries for the rest of the month, and I was able to finish making some baby gifts for friends. I miss them already and its always a tearful goodbye. Trent is now home and Ty was showing off all his goods from his grandparents and already asking when they are coming back. A fun time was had by all. We missed school monday in order to enjoy them to the fullest and I am so glad we did. Now its back to routine tomorrow. I have two prayer requests for any of you reading. My friend Courtney, whom I teach with. Her dad was in a motorcycle accident last week and broke his neck, shin bone, and wrist. He had surgery this past weekend and is recovering here in town. They are from a smaller town in the area and her mother is staying with her until he is able to return home which should be in a few weeks. His name is James and I am sure he would appreciate your prayers. Also, for Holly who is almost 12 weeks pregnant and due in April!!!! I was more than thrilled to get the news! She had a Dr.'s appt. today and heard the heartbeat! Please pray for a healthy pregnancy and smooth delivery of a healthy baby! That is all for now, hope everyone is having a great week :)

Olivia Lane Is Ten Months Today :)

Well here is something nice about September 11th, Olivia turned ten months today! I can't believe it, two more months and the big ONE! Just crazy how time is flying. Here is a typical moment of her holding on to the coffee table but I don't know how to post movies of her walking around it while holding on. She is now 2'10-3/4 inches tall. She waves bye bye a lot and says "b" as she is doing it. I don't know if its specific or not but she also makes a "m" sound when she is crying and I go in to get her. She loves playing "peek-a-boo" with her brother and laughs out loud at him often. His face makes her smile. She holds a grudge when Daddy gets on to her, and even gives him the pouty lip after smiling at others when he tries to make nice! She throws her head down on the ground and lets out a noise when she is in trouble for things like getting in the dog's water and food, which she LOVES to do! It seems she might be our dramatic one! She is in constant motion except when nursing or sleeping. She prefers to stand than sit and has the sweetest old lady gummy smile when she scrunches up that little face as she makes snorty noises! She cracks us up!

Time Marches On

Well we had our first day of school yesterday. I took pictures with my old fashioned camera. It seems like those are the only ones that ever actually get developed! It could not have gone better. I was up late the night before getting our lunches and bags ready and was giddy with excitement. Ty had a ball in his class! His teachers are WONDERFUL. They are both new this year. His teacher goes to another church in town and has two teenage children. She is SO enthusiastic and her incredible faith is just obvious. I am thrilled to have her. We have been SO incredibly blessed all three years Ty has been in school to not just have nice and good teachers, but very passionate and dedicated ones! I am also so glad that Olivia is in my good friend Sandy's class that loves her like she is hers! My little class is just precious and they all were good and using their manners on the first day!!!! They are only three!!!!! I will have to take pictures next week.

Trent was able to come get Ty for a little while today and took him up to work. He got to meet basketball players and play a little ball! He was telling me all about the big tall guys, one apparently named Josh. He had a ball. While he was off with Dad, Liv took her nap and I was all over the house like flight of the bumble bee! I broke a sweat and had to turn the air up! Its amazing how much you can get done in an hour and a half if you are not interuppted! I got to mop my kitchen floor. I never thought I would phrase it like that before, I do not enjoy house work but I sure enjoy the satisfaction when its done! Do you ever notice when you get down to the gritty like that you see more than you do in your every day living and wonder how could you live in such filfth!?! I got a lot of laundry done and dusted as well. A rather productive day after being gone everyday this week. My house is by no means clean but I am off to a good start and there is stil tommorrow!

My little Livvy is just a growing! She is almost ten months, on the 11th. She is now holding on to objects and walking, like around the coffee table, couch, etc. My coffee table by the way has now become a train table. I am not down with that but there is just no other place at the moment. I need to go garage-saling and find an old gently used table for my train loving boy. He freaks out when she starts coming already telling her, "No ma'am!" After a few thumps on the hand she has learned to look and not touch. She sure loves to look though! She is eating some table food now, although still no teeth. She can do diced ham, black-eyed peas, peas, cheese bites, french fries, crackers, and still eats a lot of mushy things like oatmeal, mac n'cheese, and all the veggies I make her mixed with rice cereal. Not sure what she weighs now but if its not much its not due to her diet! She eats four gerber bowls a day with either fruit or veggies and still nurses 4-6 times a day! She is finally in her age of clothes although pants are still big on the waist.

Well the rest of my day is going to be spent on organization! I can't wait to get hers and my closet done! She will be down for her afternoon nap soon and Ty will be up any minute so its on to the next thing!

More Pics from Home

Well here are more pictures from our last visit

to the metroplex as promised. This first one is of Cale Davis (Amy and Brian's little boy)and Liv. I think she is showin a little shoulder to catch his eye! I know she looks a little boyish and is RARELY seen without a bow, but she had been in the pool earlier, bathed, and just gotten up from a nap so it just didn't happen!

Here is Ty with Cita doing their morning ritual, thus the pajamas with sandals. He loves to help her water plants and I let him help me at home as well.

I don't know why I can only write at the bottom of these pictures! This blogger thing frustrates me at times! Well here we are, ebony and ivory! Every morning after mommy had her coffee we took advantage of the pool until lunch time. It was 106 every day we were there so it was not just real refreshing but better than not being in the water! Ty did not like his trunks clinging to him in the water so we went for the little swimmer, actually there were a few times he just went skinny dipping because the little swimmer held a lot of water, not from him. After five days in the sun, you would never know it! Our little boy is so fair skinned! At least he did not get burned! Of course I coated him in water babies so there was not much of a chance. Trent calls these my "fly girl" glasses. I however love them b/c of the coverage and I like to pretend I am Katie Holmes.

We forgot little girl's swimsuit, so she just went topless with a little swimmer on. She loved the car float and enjoyed the water just the same!

Old roomies together again with all the childrens. Lil Amy is so so so SO special to me. Amy and I lived together just one year before I got married. It was such a great time of my life and we became pretty close during that year. I admire this girl fo so many reasons. She is just a beautiful person. We actually talk often and see each other pretty often too. Our husbands share the same obsession and compliment each other well in a partnership. Brian does a lot of business out here and always makes time for a round or two. They also play together every year in a tournament in East Texas and even won it a couple years ago. We had to forego our tradition of staying in a B and B in Jefferson and stay in a regular old hotel now that we both have nursing babies but we are hoping to again this next year. We have a raincheck for the one from last year which could be another whole post in itself, hilarious. They always make it out for a game in the fall too and we cannot wait for their next visit! Thanks for making the drive out to see us lil davies.

We had such enjoyable time in the short four days we were there. Of course there is never enough time to do everything we want to but there is always next time! Now it is back to the grind. My hours of 6:30 to 10:30 every day, school starting, Trent gone again, and only me to rush Ty to the bathroom which is every time I nurse and many many times in between! I should not complain, I am glad he is potty trained. It just brings other things with it! He wears a pull up at night and I don't let him have a drink after 8 O'clock, however he still manages to leak through the pull up and his clothes and it was at 4 A.M. this morning. Not wanting to change the bed at that time I brought him in with us, mistake. He is not easy to sleep with! Trent left at his usual 6 for workouts and Ty was up for the day shortly after that. Joy! The baby however goes from 8:30 to 8 in the morning! Got the bed changed and the same thing happened at naptime today, that only lasted one hour. I am exhausted!

Quick prayer reqest, Trent went to the back doctor last week and learned that he has fluid leaking from a sack under a disk in his back. He has been active in sports since he was a child. He played flag football and sand volley ball in addition to golf up until just a couple of years ago and they think it happened somewhere during that time. He had an MRI last night and we will get the results Thursday to determine whether surgery will be needed. He is on pain killers and steroids now and will be getting a cortizone shot to be able to play in the club championship this weekend. I am worried about that. This could really effect his future and his dreams for that matter.

Okay, its only 80 here today and we are off in the double seated wagon to the park to feed the ducks. Man I am getting excited about fall and cannot wait for the fair and to decorate!

Thirteen cheap guilty pleasures

1. Wal-mart's Great Value Low Fat, No Sugar Added, Butter Pecan Ice Cream- SO YUMMY!

2. Wal-mart's Equate Body Moisturizing Wash, I seriously like it better than Bath and Body

3. Wal-mart's Clothing brand, GEORGE- especially kids clothes. Very classic and cute but still about the price of Old Navy or something. I actually think a lot of their stuff is cuter than more expensive items!

4. Jergen's Body Glow Lotion

5. Dustees jewelry and purses (Our version of Sam Moon)

6. Suave Color Protecting Shampoo and Conditioner, Finishing Spray and leave in Conditioner

7. A vanilla cream Diet Coke at Sonic, about two to three times a week......yes I am back on them but at least not every day now, I see it as a treat for after school :)

They are under a dollar from 2-4 for Happy Hour.

8. I almost always leave with a few items from the Dollar bins at Target. They make great teacher's gifts and secret sister gift and are usually seasonal!

9. Rembrandt Whitening Strips, $20

10. Color T-shirts at Academy. Usually can find them for under $5

11. MMmmmmmm....Fried Cream Corn at Chicken Express and a sweet tea to go along with it.

12. Harold's Sidewalk Sale or Midnight Madness. I got several shirts two weeks ago for $12.99 a piece!

13. Hitting the clearance rack at Bannana Republic

Am I right side up or upside down......is this real

or AM I DREAMING.......................
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND BABY!
Okay, so I was at home for a week and late Friday was already dreading the drive back by myself with two kids the next day when.............my husband walks in the door of my parents house! He flew in and surprised me with tickets to Dave for Saturday night as an anniversary celebration! We hit six years on the 12th and ate sushi that night but you have to understand that Dave Matthews is a special thing to us and been a part of us since we started dating. We have gone to a concert together every year since I have known Trent with the exception of last year when I was pregnant with Olivia- first time in 9 years! Even Ty got to hear him from the womb! It was at Starplex and was incredible as always even despite the heat. Brought back so many memories. Harry and LeeAnn went for their anniversary as well and we got to visit with them a lot before the concert started. I also ran into one of my old college roomates and friend, Mandy! What are the odds in a crowd of so many people??!! What an incredible night. I was in heaven. What an amazing man I married. So thoughtful. So romantic. I would only leave him for Dave. Totally kidding. It was so funny watching people there. You had the college kids yelling ______ Yeah! And the old fogies swaying a little and nodding their heads. We got to smell a lot of weed.........Great people watching. All in all it was a WONDERFUL night. We came back to my parents and went for a late night swim and slept in the next day- sort of. ...... and I did not have to drive back by myself! I am still singing crash-one of my favorites. No Satellite, also a favorite or Two Step but ya know there is just not enough time for him to play them all. He played "our song" (crazy) once a couple of years ago, the time I mentioned when pregnant. I am still smiling.

One Last Trip

Having a blast at home. We got to to to my favorite lunch spot, BooBoo's and then down the way to Jumping Party Place. The kids had a blast and so did we. These are my highschool gal pals. Heather, little girl Rachel and newbie Jessica, Linnea, little boy Drake and newbie Parker, and my sis Holly. Heather and I also got to take in a dream bar and decaf Capp at Corner Baker and do lots of catching up and Holly and I took in a movie, You Me and Dupree. I am having a ball. Today I spent the majority of the day in the pool and visited with my Grandpa and aunt Linda. Ty LOVES "PawPaw" and was in his lap the entire time he was here while Olivia played at his feet with a tractor. More pics to follow.......

I got my One Step Ahead catelog in the mail yesterday, I don't know why I started receiving it. I guess I got on a list somehow. Anyhooo..... some of the items in there just make me laugh. So many in fact I decided to devote my Thursdsay Thirteen to them! I hope I have not offended anyone out there who might be reading and have purchased one of these items. I not saying they are bad, just sort of made me laugh. Some more than others.

Okay this one not so much because or the item but the description of the item:

1. My Brest Friend Breastfeeding Travel Pillow

This nursing pillow is preferred by lactation experts...because it helps new moms breastfeed more comfortably and successfully. It elevates baby into the perfect position so she can latch on easily, which helps eliminate nipple soreness. The patented back support keeps mom comfortable and helps relieve neck and shoulder strain. Adjusts to fit all waists, and (even Dad's) stays firmly in place. A secure way for dad to feed baby, too. With handy pocket and machine washable cover. Traveling? Our inflatable travel pillow lets mom and baby nurse just as comfortably... anywhere! One Step Ahead® Exclusive!

I am concerned if a Dad is nursing.

2. The Bumper Bonnet. Seriously? There are elbow and knee pads also available for the over-protective parent.

3. The Leash and Harness. Again............seriously?

4 Good Gravy! How heavy would this thing be with an actual kid in it? Why is he pushing the kid in a stroller while wearing this ridiculous thing?

5. Meet The Fockers!

6. What a lazy stinkin kid!

7. Ha! Poor Dog! The hands in the front are a little off.

8. Okay, I mix formula for added calories in Olivia's rice cereal. Its really not that hard, put two scoops in and poor in water. You are not supposed to use it over three days, this is A LOT of formula even for a baby who is drinking it on a regular basis, not real fresh either!

9. Naughty-SeatKids can't outsmart this "Time Out" seat! It makes sure naughty little ones observe their time out, even when you leave the room. The ingenious cushion has a clever weight sensor inside — if your child gets up, it sounds an alarm! Ensures time out is taken seriously. For kids 35 lbs. and up. Requires one 9-volt battery (included).

If you leave the room is the naughty seat really effective anyway?

10. "Time Out" Yellow Lab Make time outs easier — for you to enforce and your child to endure! This plush puppy offers naughty little ones a measure of comfort during necessary time outs. He's soft and cuddly, with a timer that lets kids count down the minutes while they ponder their behavior. 10"H. Imported. Styles may vary

I thought time out was not supposed to be easy. What is the point if it is?

11. C'mon Lady, $50 for a bath seat? Where do you put this thing after the bath? A rolled up towel is free!

12. HELLO! Discipline your kid!

13. Scary that the kid is in the kitchen to begin with and able to play with the knobs. Where is the parent? How do you cook over this sheild?

Pulling Weeds

Well my last post does not show up so I don't know that this one will but we'll give it a shot. I had some time this afternoon while the rest of my family slept, to work out in my front flower beds. I needed to pull a lot of weeds and trim some bushes. I think this type of work is very therapeutic on many many levels. Lots of time to think with no interruptions. God talked to me during this time and I saw many parallels to the way he 'weeds' us in our everyday life. You can apply these in many ways and take from it whatever you want. Here are some of my observations:

Something has to happen to make the weeds easier to pull, like a good rainfall or moistening the ground with a hose.

At first its a little overwhelming because there are SO many of them!

Its almost impossible to get every last one in one sitting so you go for the ones that stand out and 'show' the most.

Your going to get dirty when pulling them, even if you have gloves on. Its not the most 'comfortable' thing. Its hot when the sun is shining on you. It kills your back even if you sit to do it!

You have to make sure to get them at the root and not just pull off what shows or they will just come back, and even bigger than before!

They seem to be more plentiful near the 'good' plants, taking their water and trying to overpower them.

Its SO satisfying when you get a big one by the stalk and yank it out by the root and then see the soft dirt all fluffed up in its place.

Even though some are pretty and have flowers on them, you don't necessarily want them in your flower bed.

There are all kinds of nasty slugs deep under the surface that you don't even know are there until you start digging.

Although its hard work, the flower bed is SO much nicer to look at when they are gone and you are finished, well you think your finished............

Its a continuous process, they will keep popping up, even if you try to prevent them with weed killer, spreading blackout fabric and mulch. It just nature for them to do so. Its just better if you watch often and get them when you first see them and they are small, or it becomes quite a task and your back to being overwhelmed.

Happy 25th Anniversary!!!!

Today is Trent's parent's 25th wedding anniversary, their SILVER! We had a celebration last Friday night so that his aunt and uncle, who are taking the family picture and here from Tucson, could be included in the festivities! We ate at one of their favorite mexican food restraunts and enjoyed fellowship and cake! I am posting this because their marriage has been such an example to Trent and I. I know I have written before how much I respect this couple but they really are just amazing. They treat each other with so much love and respect and some fun humor thrown in there! They share their spiritual challenges with us along with what they have learned along the way. They keep us accountable in a way that they don't mean to or even know probably. I hope that our children can say the same about us someday. Trent's Dad took him on as well in marrying Kay Ellen and has made him much of the man that he is today. Thank God for G! For many reasons really, but especially for the father he is to Trent and the father-in-law he is to me. Kay Ellen has also been an exceptional mother and mother-in-law and set quite an example herself. What a loving, caring, giving woman. She is absolutely beautiful inside and out. We hope you have another wonderful 25 years together and feel so blessed to celebrate your marriage with you. We love you Meme and G! Happy Anniversary.

Ty and Noah in Dress Up Mode

This is a fun pic of Ty, in his new underwear obviously, and Noah Galbraith from last Tuesday. They were playing dress up. Ty is running around in his underwear b/c at that point we were still in bootcamp. By his outfit you would think it were Halloween or something! He has moved on to clothes since, I promise I am not that W.T.

These boys have played together since they were born. I need to post a pic of their little siblings who are only a week a part!

THIRTEEN HAPPENINGS FROM THIS PAST WEEK

1.
Trent hit a hole in one at L.R. on #7 last Thursday! The first in his career!

2.
Friday night we got to take Grandmother to Ransom for dinner and then visited at her house and the kids played with the fun vintage toys!

3.
Ty is wearing UNDERWEAR! Had no accidents yesterday and just one today.

4.
Olivia has an ear infection in her left ear and fluid in the right one.

5.
Olivia is now almost 14lbs! She is FINALLY GAINING! Also finally in 6-9 clothes.

6.
Packed up Ty and Olivia's outgrown clothes and put them in the attic until hopefully we are able to adopt a child that will wear them!

7.
Packed up maternity clothes also to attic until a family member or friend takes them for good :( :(

8.
Ty is speaking in sentences now! Well occasionally anyway!

9.
Trent's new jeep went in the shop yesterday, looks like it needs a new engine :(

10.
Got to eat that cookie with my Carmel Macchiato that Trent brought me this morning :) We will be having to buy a new pot :(

11.
FINALLY exchanged some shorts at Old Navy for the right size, meant to the past four months!

12.
Denise had a birthday Sunday! We celebrated Tuesday over Kool-Aid as our children played together! SO glad to have celebrated another year ofmy sweet friend.

13.
Ty can now ride his Harley Davidson Big Wheel! Except can't reach the pedal when he turns the wheel, but can go in a straight line!

Is there a coffee delivery service out there???

Wow, I rely way too much on coffee. I woke up this morning to the wondeful smell, staggering into the kitchen I could not wait to have a cup with the new iced oatmeal cookies I purchased on my grocery trip to Walmart last night. The lid was on so tight I had to get a gripper out to loosen it to be able to pour from the carafe. I broke the lid!!! Just the top part, not the part to actually open to pour!!!! Here I am swishing around the FULL pot and smelling the coffee with no way to get it open!!! That was two and a half hours ago and after nursing Olivia to sleep, I am dragging BAD!!! I have heard there is a hormone that is released while nursing that makes the mother sleepy, I am especially feeling that today and I have SO much to do!!!!

I have laundry to finish and more baby food to make not to mention our third day of potty training boot camp! Yesterday, just one accident while he was playing!!! I think it just snuck up on him. Today he is actually wearing shorts over his cool underwear. He only has two pair left so I REALLY need to get on my laundry. I am such a creature of habit and routine, this coffee thing is really throwing me off.... can you tell???? I went ahead and ate the cookie and would leave to get a cup of coffee somewhere but I am trying to stay consistent with Ty here to get the potty down. He is doing so good and started telling us before yesterday. We went through this about six months ago and he did great but so many people told me he was really young to be doing that and that I should just hold off and not push it so I laid off. I should have just stuck with it b/c when we started this time he was not so thrilled about getting on for some reason and he did not want to tell us before. The other day he ran to his closet and shut the door to do his business twice!!! We have made great strides since then. I think we are almost there :)


I just had to write to vent and to get some possible sympathy. My entire house is filled with the aroma of coffee and I am still real sad about it. I broke it so badly that I think we are going to have to get a new pot :(

Stole this from Larissa since I missed the Thursday Thirteen :)

13 People

I have lived with....

1. Mom

2. Dad
3. Holly (highschool friend, freshman and senior at ACU)

4. Amy S. (soph at ACU, 2 years post college)

5. Jodi Jane (junior/senior at ACU)

6. Mandy Ruth (junior/senior at ACU)

7. Heather Lee (junior/senior at ACU)

8. Shalawn (senior at ACU)
9. Amy D (post college)

10. Trent (husband)

11. Gary (father-in-law)

12. Kay Ellen (mother-in-law)

13.Ty (son)

How did you meet number 10?
At Prestoncrest Church of Christ in Dallas Texas, in the singles grouop on a Wednesday night.

What would you do if you hadn't met number 1?
I would have been adopted I guess.

What would you do if number 2 and number 6 dated?
Be very disturbed.

Have you seen number 4 cry?
Yes, out of sadness and happiness.

Is number 13 ugly?
I do not think so, I am his mother!

Is number 1 cute?
Very, and pretty funny too.

Tell something about number 11.
I respect him more than he will ever know. Very disciplined in every sense of the word. SOOOO glad he is Trent's dad- because of that he (Trent) is a wonderful husband.

How do you know number 8?
We met at ACU through Julie Cromling. They were from the same hometown and Julie was on our hall (3rd Floor Nelson rocked)

What would you do if number 6 confessed they liked you?
Well I would let her know I was hetrosexual and I would confront her with what I think about homosexuality, which is I don't think that God likes it because of many things he gives us in the Bible.

Tell a fact about number 9.
HUGE republican with a love for George Bush Senior and all time favorite, Bing Crosby.

One of the most fun genuine people I know.

Who is number 4 going out with?
Well I hope nobody since she is married and pregnant with her third child!

What does number 5 do for a living?
She was an English teacher but now is a stay-at-home mom working on her masters.

What do you think about number 3?
I love her. She is an incredibly Godly woman who will tell you how it is. She is the female version of my husband. She is my sister

Where does number 7 live?
Colleyville, last I heard

Would you ever live with number 13?
I do right now! How would I or he make it otherwise??? He is the first joy of my life!

What do you like about number 12?
Best mother-in-law anyone could ever have! Very thoughtful and giving. Beautiful inside and out. A wonderful Meme to my children.

Favorite memory about number 2?
When I was about four years old on Christmas Eve, he held me up on his shoulders with the binaculars looking for Santa's sleigh. We stood out in the drive way for pretty good while before he talked me into getting in bed so he would stop by our house.

Do you love number 2?

Yes, real BIG ;)

What is the most interesting place YOU have ever been?

Did anyone see the Miss Universe pageant last night? I only saw about the last ten minutes sparatically b/c we were flipping back and forth from the new show Fallen-which was sort of wierd actually. But anyways, I caught the questions for each of the top ten contestants and Miss Puerto Rico asked Miss USA what her greatest fault was. She said," I have a habit of wearing my heart on my sleeve and just seem to care to much about people and want to help them." Hmmm sounds like an attribute to me! Her most interesting place she had ever visited was Lake Tahoe because that is where she went sky diving with her friend that happened to be in the audience. How sad. These are supposed to be role models for girls? I know I am probably actually jealous b/c the girls are so pretty on the outside and secretly wish I looked like that in a bikini but I was just sickened by it.

Got me thinking though............what is the most interesting place I have ever been? I have been to a lot of historical sights but I met my man in Savannah GA last year for a long weekend and we did five different types of tours. I would have to say that is the most interesting place I have been. I loved it there and could easily live there. I love the history, scenery, art, people, and the food is to die for! We got to go to The Lady & Sons, Paula Deen's restraunt- I use her book often. We also met her sons and visited with them by accident b/c I had to sit being in my third trimester with Liv. Tell me about the most interesting place you have ever been and why..........

Thirteen Blessings from this past week:

1. Suzanne had a smooth delivery of a healthy baby boy- Jonathan Ryder.

2. He was not as big as they thought he might be, only 7lbs. 12oz.

3. Amy is off of bedrest and able to have a normal pregnancy!

4. My brother-in-law Shanon, found a job working for LCU!

5. My sister-in-law Tina, also found a part time job at a orthodontics office that

will be flexible with her family!

6. Suzanne's and Larissa's grandfather is doing better and has been moved into a nursing home. His sweet wife moved in with him!

7. Em is able to go straight to Invitro and not having to do artificial insemenation again! The sucess rate for invitro is much higher and possibility of having multiples! They are hoping for twins!

8. Trent's job and the fact that it is allowing us to have a wonderful summer together as a family! This also allows him to play a lot of golf and be in many tournaments, which he has always wanted to do.

9. Our health as a family.

10. We received two huge boxes of "hand-me-down" clothes from Aunt Tina which will have Ty set for the rest of summer and all next year! Everything looks just like new b/c they take such good care of their things and they are special to us because our sweet cousins wore them before!

11. Also received a huge bag of clothes for Liv, also all precious and in good shape from Aunt Em. We will be taking good care of them as well and be returning them for when theirs arrive!

12. Grandfather fell this week but went to the doctor and checked out okay. He is such a precious man and the most humble human being I have ever knowen. He is a HUGE blessing and example in my life.

13. All of our family and friends who are so special to us.

Can I just brag on my son for a little while? Of course I can, this is MY blog!!!! :) He just amazes me more and more each day! I have said this before but, he is at the most challenging AND the most loveble age all at the same time right now! Weird right? He is such a sweet little man! I have not started pressing manners yet, however for about the past six months he has been using please and thankyou along with his yes' and nos' when he wants or doesn't want something. I guess he has just heard us and caught on, and at the appropriate time. He also says bless you and thank you when you bless him. This may seem like normal stuff for a two and a half year old to a lot of you, but I did not hear a lot of that in my class at school last year so its pretty neat for me to hear him using manners without being asked to. The only thing I have pressed is ma'am and sir along with his yes's and no's. The other thing that makes this music to my ears is that Ty has had a speech delay since he had tubes in his ears a year ago May. They took out fluid the consistency of jello so the poor little guy was not hearing during a crucial speech development time. He is just now putting three words together, not really true sentences yet.
Today we took a nap after church. He of course woke up after about an hour and a half and cuddled me while rubbing my back and head. He comes up and tells me he loves me just out of the blue with a kiss daily. He loves to sit by me and lean on me and holds my hand a lot. He instigates all this! I guess he gets it from his Daddy b/c I was never the touchy feely kind of girl... of course all that has changed with this little guy. I attack him with kisses and hugs all the time and he occassionally after a while of it says Mommy stop! He has heard a lot of the same songs for some time now at church and school and usually does the motions and just says a few of the words. I taught him, "You are my Sunshine... My only Sunshine..." this past week and he starts it ALL the time and is singing all the words along with me! His little voice is so sweet, and I know I am being ridiculous here, but it almost makes me emotional each and every time!!! It is just such huge strides from where he was.
He loves to pick out what shirt he is going to wear, but its almost always a blue one. He doesn't mind red so much but goes nuts for the blue. He is LOVING choo choo's and his absolute favorite thing in the world is Thomas the Tank Engine. Probably like most little boys his age. He has to have the four that he owns with him at ALL times. He even sleeps with them. I don't allow them in the tub or in the car for outings but other than that, always in his little hands.
He is super sweet to lil sis and give her kisses on the head all the time for no other reason than the fact that he loves her. He wants to hold her alot and is always entertaining her, especially if he hears her cry...... he runs right over and immediately starts trying to make her smile. Its great in the car when I can't be back there. Just all around a neat little guy..........of course I may be a little biast.
This past weekend was great, lots of time with my parents who left Saturday. They brought back dog among other things that I purchased while at home. Mom and I worked in my backyard and she helped me A LOT with kids and plants and all kinds of things really. Today was especially good b/c we got to go to church. Trent and his Dad are in the Stampede tournament out at L.R. and were one shot out of first as of yesterday. I have been dying to know how they are doing!!!!
I also got to talk to my friend Amy whom I have not gotten to in a while and it just made me miss her all the more. Thank goodness for blogs now! Amy and I were roomates our sophomore year of college and for two years after college. She has seen me through some of my hardest times and just has a feeling of home to me. I told her today, but I am so jealous of the girls she gets to be with now at the best times of our lives.... being married with a family and at church together. It wasn't just real long after she and her husband moved back that we moved out this way so we have not been able to be a big part of each other's lives since. She is at home on bedrest b/c of having contractions after having a stitch put in to stop them. She is also on a medication that makes her very awake and jittery. Say a prayer right now for her that she will get through this and that there will be no more contractions. He family is gone to give her some rest as well but as all us mothers know, even when you need it you miss them! I also got a surprise call from my friend Linnea today! What a fun day! We did not have much time to visit because we both have nursing babies but at least we got what we did. I am not worthy of such special people in my life. I am SO SO SO SO SO SO VERY blessed to have all of my friends and thank you for taking the time to know and care what is going on in my life and even let me brag on my boy a little. He is home!!! YEA!!!

Yada Yada Yada

I always was leary of taking digital pictures b/c of computers not always being reliable and the fact that we rarely take them to be developed. Well I am now super sad b/c my fourth pictures were lost. The card did a freeze thing that I won't take the time to write about but I had some priceless ones of Ty with a firecracker, the whole group in awe of the fireworks and Liv in the pool. Oh well. ...

To finish my recap from home, it was absolutely wonderful and probably the best time I have had there. Have you ever felt a memory being made and become emotional in the moment? I did that a lot while I was there. It was really hard to leave to come back to Brown Town. I had lots of fun at Gardenridge the day before we left and helped mom start to paint her laundry room. We are in the process of updating their house. Mom and I stayed up the night before talking and crying and it just all went by too fast. I thought that staying longer would give me time to do all that I had wanted to but of course it was not and I did not even do half of what I wanted to. It is so hard to spend some good quality time with family and see all of my friends too. It really is just impossible. The majority of the people I grew up with are still in that area and a lot of the people I went to college with ended up there as well. Then there are also all the friends from Prestoncrest from after college, singles group, and then our first two years of marriage. Can you believe in August we will be celebrating six years?? After today I know exactly what I am getting Trent for our anniversary, a massage!

My mother and father-in-law got me a gift certificae for a fifty minute massage for my birthday this past year. I was just now able to use it since Trent was traveling up until May and then we were out of town on and off. It was the absolute best massage I have ever had. Of course I have just had like four or five but this lady was awesome. I did not know before going but she is the parent of one of our students at Bright Horizons this past year. I have had lower back problems since I gave birth to Olivia and she confirmed it was sciatica due to a hip out of place as well as one of my ribs!!! She did some pressure releifs along with moving my hip around and I felt instant relief!!!! She said it was temporary and that having a baby just changes your body more and more with the more pregnancies you have. I wish I could have had it right before bed time but ten O'clock worked just as well and it was a great start to the day. I have had to drink water ever since and she suggested a sea salt bath to draw out of all the toxins. She was concerned about me nursing with all of that in my system but so far there has been no reaction to Liv so I guess the water is working.

We have been a one car family for the past two weeks because my husband sold his little honda to his friend Harry and drove it to him while in Dallas. I am so nervous about doing that with a friend but they were both cool with it. Even worse, he has bought his next one from my brother-in-law who has only had it himself for a week! The two of them have twin personalities and have the idea that everything they own is for sale for the right price. Being the planner, no change, never even bought a lottery ticket low risk person that I am, I have a hard time with it. We now have two SUV's, a suberban and a jeep grand cherokee. You are probably thinking not so smart in a time of high gas but Trent hardly puts any miles on a car and me for that matter with living in such a smaller town. I only fill up every two weeks and that will probably be the same for Trent now too since his office is not just a mile away anymore but oh no.... now like five miles!!!! I love that about this town, everything is no more than 15 minutes away! Its so easy all across the board. It will be nice to get in and out of, the new car I mean, with two car seats, stroller and golf clubs in back.

This weekend will be eventful. Jon and Jenn King had their little girl Elise and we will be taking them dinner and visiting with them tomorrow night!!!! I also have a baby shower lunch for a friend of our family Laura Hampton out at LCC, always fun. The biggest party is for Grandmother (Trent's) which is a surprise out at my in-laws celebrating her 85th! She is going to be floored! Well I hope not literally.

Thursday Thirteen for OLIVIA LANE

1. Gaining ounces

2. Army crawling all over the place

3. so tickelish she belly laughs outloud!

4. Still in 3-6 month clothes but some 6-9 one pieces

5. Eating all vegetables and fruits along with rice cereal still, nurses before after and in between

6. Loving Cheri-O's, and Fazoli's garlic bread sticks!

7. Now drinking juice and water from a handled sippy cup! so wierd to see b/c she is so tiny!

8. Still teething but still no teeth

9. Become quite clingy to her mamma

10. Grabs for EVERYTHING

11. Loves jewelry

12. Sleeps from 9:30 P.M.- 8:00 A.M. every night

13. Starting to wave, or at least lift her hand up for bye bye! Too cute.

Family Fun

Well fun was had by all out at the Trinity Park in Ft.Worth. Ty is REALLY into 'choo-choo s right now. He was more than thrilled to get to ride the train and made sound effects all the way. We had a picnic first and then took the train ride.



The time went by too fast as always. The trip to Marshall was somewhat a bust but we really enjoyed our time with Brian, Amy, and Cale. Olivia developed some allergies before we went and I made the mistake of giving her Infant's Tylenol Cold Plus. It had the adverse effect on her and she was up 24 hours straight and screamed her head off for three of them while we were at Amy's parents house in Tyler! The minute I stopped giving it to her and it was out of her system she was fine, other than a little bit of a runny nose in the mornings. Well this will be a quick post and I will give more details later. We are back to a very busy time here at home.