My Life as an "H"

Update

2008-07-21T18:25:00.002-06:00

So, I had a whole post all written out a few days after I wrote the last post...but the computer ate it. I was so mad, that I just gave up. Then, when I went to re-write it..all the stuff I wrote was sort of unimportant. Then, just when I had some really good things to share, the bottom fell out..and it's taken me this long to claw my way out again.

Anyway, my news WAS that I was pregnant. Finally. We had been TTC for 6 months, and I was getting really anxious. Unfortunately, at 7 weeks, I lost the baby. I can't say it was unexpected though. I just never really felt "right" from the beginning. It was hard to pinpoint what felt different. Then, looking back, I almost knew I was going to have a m/c. Weird, right? Last time I was pg, and this time too, one of my first symptoms is my nose gets stuffed up. Unfortunately for me, it stays that way the whole pregnancy. Well, with this past pregnancy, a few days before I had the m/c, by nose just felt better. It was really my first sign. Weird, but true!

I'm ok though. I'm definitely sad, but I know it just wasn't meant to be. It will happen. I know it CAN happen...it's just a matter of it being right.

Moving on...

My baby turns 2 (TWO??!!) next Tuesday. I cannot believe it. My big baby!!! Everyone asks me if the time has flown by, or not. It's weird. It's like, I can't believe he can possibly be 2 already. That time has FLOWN by...but on the flip side, I feel like we have had him forever. I can't really remember life before him. We were going to have a party for him, but have decided against it. He's two. He's not going to know, and it will turn out to just be a party for us and our friends. Once he knows what is going on, he can definitely have a birthday party. But before then, we'll just celebrate with family. I almost like it better that way.

All my other news is pretty boring. We have been travelling a lot to various weddings, visiting family, etc. We are headed out this week to Florida to visit family. I'm really excited for the beach, and hopefully E likes it too. Also, it will be really nice to get away from all that is going on here. Have a real vacation.

I'll definitely try to post once I get back!!

I can finally breathe.....

2008-05-29T08:48:00.006-06:00

WHOOOOOSH...... (that was mean taking and letting out a huge breath.) A sigh of relief. I can finally breathe. I feel like I have been holding my breath for 3 or so months. My brother, who I love dearly, has finally gone and gotten himself hitched. I mentioned in a previous post that I made all the programs for the wedding. It's over. Thank god. I made programs, place cards, thank you notes (two sets!), table numbers, chair signs (soo cute. I will post a picture soon!), shower invitations, bachelorette party invitations.... I am spent.

I worried about getting all that stuff done. E was supposed to be a ring bearer (he's not even two yet...gah!!). He was pretty miserable all weekend. He is getting 4 (FOUR!) teeth. His eye teeth...and his hands were in his poor sore mouth constantly. Poor E. He is shy. He isn't used to people in his face...and here we were, with 80 some people wanting to hold him, talk to him, play with him, take his picture....and he was tired..and his teeth hurt. It wasn't a good day for the poor ring bearer. But, we made it through.

This post is really all over the place. I am just so glad that they wedding is over. I am glad that the trip is over. We loved Key West...but I would never go back with a child. It didn't really think it was THAT kid friendly. I would probably go back, just never with kids. Kevin and I drank...a lot...of fruity drinks. My stomach still hurts. But, I got to wear pretty dresses, and fun shoes, and lay at the pool, and get my nails done.

Then, we finally got back into town...and we had to leave again. For another wedding. Thank god I had nothing to do with this one. Ethan's tired of weddings. He's tired of going out of town. He just wants to sleep in his crib and go to the pool! We have another wedding at the end of June. We aren't bringing E. (Thank god!). We have another wedding on September. We are bringing E (yikes!).

Because of all these weddings, we don't get to have a family vacation this year. While it's fun to go to all these weddings. See people that I don't see often..it's not the same as having a family vacation.

TTC is still going. It was promising last month when I was 10 days late. 10 days! I know!! But, suddenly AF showed up....in full force. On to this month. I'll let you know.

I'm tired. I just want to sleep.

I tried to post a picture, but blogger kept putting it on the top of the post. I don't want it on the top!!! Maybe next time....

My son

2008-04-25T08:05:00.002-06:00

There are some days I look at my son in awe and think, I created him. My husband and I created him. I cannot believe that there was a time before him! I cannot imagine my life without him, and don't want to imagine my life without him.

Since we have been TTC again, I catch myself looking at my son and thinking about his future siblings. Will they look like him? Will they be easygoing like him? Will they be the total opposite of him? Will there be more boys? Or maybe girls? Will they get along?

I love this child more than I ever imagined. When I look at him sleeping, or when he comes to give me a huge hug and kiss my eyes well up. Everyone always says that you cannot imagine the love for your children, and I agree. You cannot fathom that. It's a love that is immediate, but it also grows. Every day it grows more and more.

My neighbors just had a baby boy on Wed. I haven't been over to see him yet, but it has made me think of Ethan a lot. I just feel like I "know" how she is feeling right now. I don't "know" but I can guess that she is feeling exhausted, but totally exhilarated. I imagine her, like me, trying to figure out his cries, figure out a routine, figure out him.

I really didn't know it would be this hard to TTC another child. I was on BC with Ethan, and it just happened, and we dealt with it. We honestly thought that it would be sooo easy the second time. How could it not be? But, it's not. It is now going on 5 months. 5 months!! I know, to many of you, that is not long at all. I understand that. But to me, it feels like forever. I want another baby. I have the baby fever...bad. Really, I'm just dying to know what this next baby will be like. Will it be a boy or girl? Will it be like it's big brother? Time will tell.....

But...I love my son.

Crazy times....

2008-03-17T08:30:00.002-06:00

Things have been so so so freaking crazy. I feel like I haven't had a minute to just relax at home for so long!

I'll try to summarize. Well, I mentioned in a previous post that I made invitations for my SIL shower...they went out, and were loved by all. (I promise to post pics soon!) Well, that blessing can also be a curse! My future SIL loved them so much, she begged me to make her programs as well. So, while I love that she liked them so much, they really took up a lot of time to make....anyway, I felt like I couldn't say No to her. Her family is being so horrible throughout this entire wedding planning process, that I really didn't want to stress her out even more. (Her family is an entire other post....) So I said yes, thinking "how hard can a program be?" Well, apparently, pretty hard. She doesn't want just any program...she wants these http://www.custom-programs.com/fanprogram.htm programs. So, I have to cut each individual fan blade. Do you know how freaking time consuming that is going to be? But, I really want to do it right, since she really wants it. So....fan programs...here I come!

I went out of town last weekend for my BFF's wedding in Texas. I drove. By myself. For 9 hours. I'm exhausted and I missed my boys. I especially missed the baby boy. I hate leaving him...as much as I like the break...I hate leaving him.

DH leaves on Wednesday to go out of town for my brothers bachelor party. He doesn't get back until Sat. Sunday is Easter!!

Next Friday, I leave to go to my future SIL shower...and don't get back until Monday too. My future SIL's sister, the MOH, is really hard to deal with. Again, it's that whole family thing. Basically, she is really driving me nuts with this whole shower planning stuff. I'm ready for that to be over.

Silver lining....April is blissfully uneventful....so far!

Ethan went in last week to the ENT to have his ears checked out. The ENT basically said he needed tubes put in, like, yesterday. He really wanted to get them in as soon as possible, but Ethan's ears were too infected to put the tubes in. So, he is on a course of antibiotics, and is going next Wednesday to get them in. I know it's a pretty routine surgery...but, my BABY is getting surgery!!! The ENT said he had something like 10 minutes free to he would schedule him for Wed. Apparently, the surgery only takes like 5 minutes. I really need this doctor to take his time and do it right!!!!! Not just do it. You know? I'm not worried about it. I know it will help...but I can't help but have a nagging feeling that my child is having surgery. Pray that everything goes as smoothly as it should!

hmmm...what else? It's so hard to catch up when it's been so long!

this and that...

2008-02-01T09:28:00.000-06:00

So, I know I am a bad blogger. It's ok. I have come to terms with it. Have you guys???

Normally I say that not much has been going on...but really, I have been crazy busy. Work is kicking my butt. I still don't like my job, but since it is tax season (I work in Accounting), we are super busy. As much as I hate work, I love overtime!

Also, during this super busy time, I took on a separate project. Why? I don't know... My brother is getting married in May, and we are throwing my future SIL a bridal shower. For some reason, I offered to make the invitations. Little did I know, I would have to make like 75 of them. And I didn't decide to just print something out...I am cutting and gluing paper, attaching ribbon, using vellum....soooo cute, but really time consuming too. Plus, I found out that she wants me to put a little insert in some of the invitations inviting those girls to the bachelorette party...so I have to make those to match the invitations. And then, I decided it would be cute to make matching Thank You notes to give to my SIL to use after the shower. I haven't even started on those, because they don't have to be done until March, but having the task on my list is a little daunting. Once I get a picture, I will post it for you guys. I am proud on how they have turned out....so far!

I took Ethan for his 18 month appointment yesterday. Good news and bad news. Good news is, that he seems to be developing right on schedule. A litle behind in speech, but not enough to be alarmed. It seems that boys develop verbal skills a little slower than girls. However, he did fail his hearing screen. The pedi. didn't seem overly concerned, he thinks it is just because there is fluid in his ears...but we have to go back in 6 weeks to see if the fluid is gone. If it isn't gone, they we have to take him to an ENT and possibly get tubes put in his ears. I just hate the waiting game of 6 weeks. I would rather take him and get the tubes put it (if, in fact he needs them) so his ears can clear up and he can start hearing better, which in turn will help him start talking more. I hate the thought of having to put him under in order to put the tubes in...but I just want him to feel better.

March is going to be crazy for us. The first weekend in March, I have a bridal shower to go to, the second weekend, DH will be out of town at my brothers bachelor party, the third weekend, I will be out of town at my friends wedding, and the last weekend, I will also be out of town for another shower.....lots of trips, but also...lots of money on travel expenses. Good think I am getting overtime!!! April slows down a little, but then May comes!! May is when my brother is getting married, and they are getting married in Key West. I am so excited to get away with my whole family for a few days, and going to Key West is a HUGE bonus!!!

So, I guess I need to get back to work. Back to the grindstone!! blahhhhh......

Annnddd...I'm back.....

2008-01-02T09:08:00.001-06:00

To work, that is.

Say it with me folks....booooooooooooo!!

I am so sad to be back at work. I just had almost two weeks...two glorious weeks....at home...with my baby...and daytime TV!!!....but mostly with my baby!

I am soo ready to be a SAHM. And to think it is just a year or so off, makes me very excited.

I think I mentioned in a previous post that we are officially TTC #2. Scary thought, but exciting nonetheless. I just hate the idea of TTC. I really want #2...but I hate trying, and waiting, and wondering..... I really know I have no room to complain. Some of you ladies have been doing it for years....but let me tell you...I am all about instant gratification. And if I could have the gestation period of a dog.....I'd be all over it. Yes, I just tried to say I wanted to be like a dog. Hmmm...weird. But, dogs have the gestation period of like 8 weeks! SOOO much better than 40!

So anyway, we have started. This month we decided to try something new. We have a boy and love him to death...and this is probably going to sound sooo lame...but we had the hardest time picking out a boy name. Seriously, we didn't really truly decide until 2 days before he was born...and I don't "love" it. I LOVE him...and his name because it is his....but...hopefully you know what I mean! Anyway, we have had our girls name picked out since before we got married. So, we want to use it!!! So, we decided for just this month, to try the Shettles method. For you who might not know..it is supposedly a method where you can choose the sex of your baby based on when you ovulate. So, we tried..and I am not feeling very optimistic....but, we'll see. We decided to just try this month. If it doesn't work...we'll just get back to regular TTC. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!!

Booo....I don't want to be at work!!!

Christmas was good....busy...but good. Ladies...I got Tupperware. Yes...I said it. And let me just say, I am soooo excited about it!! New Tupperware. Clean Tupperware!!! Ohh..now I must make lots of food, so I have leftovers!!!

More on my Christmas in the next post....but for now....I must get back to work.

BOOOOOOO!!!!!

Christmas is coming...the goose is getting fat!

2007-12-10T16:43:00.000-06:00

OK, so maybe the goose isn't getting fat, but guess who is!!! This girl!! Seriously. So, I decided all I want for Christmas is a membership to the gym. Seriously, it's the gift that keeps giving! They just built a new YMCA close by, so that is my first choice. We'll see!!

So....Christmas is coming! I took last Wednesday off work and did ALL of my Christmas shopping. There are still a few things here and there that I need to pick up, but for the most part...done and wrapped!

Initially we were going to get Ethan too much stuff. I mean, he is 16 months old. He's not going to remember much of it, he's not going to really "unwrap" the presents. BUT...I got to Toys R Us and just couldn't help myself. Really, I didn't go overboard, but I bought him some new stuff. I am SO excited! I really want to give it to him TODAY!! He really really needs some new toys to play with too. Can't wait!!

Hmm...what else has been going on since the last time I posted? It's been like over a month (I know, I know!!!). Kevin and I decided we are really going to start TTC next month. The last two months we haven't been TTC, but we have been "not preventing." Really, we haven't been trying to hard. We are both so exhausted, and the holidays are coming, money is tight (when isn't it though!?), and I feel fat! Not a good recipe for wanting to do the deed!

The writers strike is making me sad. I love watching TV. I actually love watching reality TV, but some of the new shows look sooo stupid. The Hills is done tonight for the season (so sad!!) and most of the other good ones are almost done too. I really really miss The Office too. (Seriously...how sad is my life that I am talking about TV shows not being on??!!) Ah well.

I will try to update more and post some pictures this month. Seriously, I promise!!

Everyone have a safe and happy holiday season. Enjoy the new babies, pregnancies, jobs, etc!

Oh! PS.....

2007-10-22T09:08:00.000-06:00

PS...I meant to say it on my previous post! If anyone has Nicki's e-mail address, will you send it to me? She went private with no warning!! I miss seeing Brody's smiling face!!

e-mail address: smarchant5@hotmail.com

Thanks!

no title.....

2007-10-22T08:56:00.000-06:00

I'm such a bad blogger...seriously, I say it every time I post..but I really am. I religiously check every one else's blog...and I get kind of mad when other people don't update as often as I think you should...but I don't do the same! I guess I just feel like my life is so boring, that no one really wants to read about my mundane day to day crap!

I could post about how much I hate my job...but that's boring! If I hated it that much, I should really try to find a new job....but I have such a sweet deal here, I can't imagine going back to 9-5 or whatever. Just as a background, since I had Ethan I worked out a schedule at work where I come into the office M-F 8-12 and then I work from home for the rest of the afternoon. It's perfect for me! I get to pick up Ethan so he isn't at daycare all day, I get to run errands, and do work from home...it's perfect...so I stick with it...and hate the job....

DH is good. Since it is starting to get cooler out, he isn't golfing as much. I don't know about you guys..but my DH is seriously a golf fanatic. I'm not joking. If he isn't actually golfing, he is at the driving range, or chipping, or practicing his swing, or cleaning his clubs, or reading golf digest, or watching golf on TV. Seriously. He is "that guy." The one who is standing there talking to people and swinging his arms like he has a golf club in them..even when he doesn't. Anyway, since it is starting to get cooler out, he isn't actually going out golfing much. I love that he has a passion, but I really hate the amount of time he spends with it. I like weekends because I get a little break. I get someone else to change Ethan's diapers, and play with him, and help me out....I need it. And when he is gone all day golfing...I don't get that break. So, yeah..cooler weather is nice. Selfishly!!

Ethan is good too. He is walking all the time now. I LOVE it. He is so busy all the time and is starting to look and act like a little boy. I mean, I miss my "baby" so much...but I love how independent he is becoming and how much his personality is developing. We are in for some good times! I can tell!

DH and I have started thinking about when we are going to TTC #2. We are leaning towards December or January of this year. I am so excited! We probably would have started sooner (like 4 months ago)...but my brother is getting married in May, and I can't risk missing it. I missed my other brothers wedding with Ethan was born, and it was horrible. I was sad...so I don't want to risk it again...so we are planning #2 around it this time...cross your fingers for us! I can't wait for another little one! I want it here NOW!

5 things post...

2007-09-07T14:07:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I am going to jump in and play!

You guys really don't know much about me, so this should be easy. I will try to make it at least interesting...

1. I, like Trish, took a pregnancy test before the actual pregnancy test. Let me give a quick background. I was on birth control. Every time I was between pack, when I should have been getting my period, I didn't. So I thought..hmm...weird. So I bought a pregnancy test, just to rule it out. I didn't want to freak my husband out, so I just decided to take it and see what it said. It was positive. I freaked out. Not that we didn't want kids, because we did. We just weren't trying yet. So, I freaked out silently for about 4 days, and slowly started making little comments to my hubby to get him used to the idea. Finally he told me that I should take a test, just to rule it out. So I took one with him, and made him look, and freaked out again right beside him. I have never told him that I took a test before the one I took with him....

2. I have moved every year (with the exception of this year) since I graduated high school. Whether it was moving states, or moving between college and home, I moved every year. I have lived in Virgina, Tennessee, and Austin, TX during this time. Not many places, but a lot of moves. Needless to say, I am a professional mover and packer.

3. This one I have never told anyone. I don't LOVE my son's name. I LOVE my son, but not his name. I like the name Ethan, but it was my husbands pick. We finally had it narrowed down to 2 names. We just couldn't decide. I didn't love either of them. Since Kevin felt so strongly about Ethan, I decided to use it and I got to pick his middle name, Ryan. So, I love my son, think his name is Ok, but can't imagine him with an different name. I also love the name because it is his. Does that make sense?

4. When Kevin and I were seriously dating, before we got engaged, I was living in Virginia, and he was living in Tennessee. I was getting really tired of only seeing him for a weekend every 4 weeks or so. One weekend, I was going to visit, and I decided that I was going to break up with him at the end of the weekend. It was just too hard. He was about to go to grad school. He was either going to go to Virginia Tech, which would have been closer to me, but still would only see him on weekends, or University of Texas, Austin. Which, unless I moved there, I would never see him. We are both Catholic, him more strict than I...so I knew we wouldn't live together before we got married. Anyway, there were too many decisions going on, and I just wanted out. So, I went to visit, and Kevin ended up proposing that weekend! And I accepted, and we got married the next year. But I have never told him that I was going to break up with him that weekend. I'm glad I didn't!

5. hmm...this is hard. I am a huge pizza snob. I have to try tons a pizza before I find one that I like...and I refuse to eat chain pizza...unless it is a last resort, and I am starving. I am not a big fan of pizza sauce...so a good pizza depends on the sauce...and I don't like pizza from chain's sauce.

Ok..that was dumb...but I was stretching for something!!

I will post a real post soon, I promise! I just wanted to play and had just enough time for this post!

I'm Back!!

2007-08-09T08:12:00.000-06:00

Ok, I am back...and you all didn't have to leave me comments commenting on how long it has been since I updated. Aren't you proud??!!!

Our Florida beach trip was fun. Any trip to the beach is fun for me! I have to say though, going to the beach with a child is a totally different experience than going with adults. Ethan liked the beach (Thank God!!) and had fun. At first when we put him in the sand, he just sat there. He definitely played with his toys, but he didn't move around much. I, of course, wanted to sit in the sun and get a tan, read my book, and just relax. No luck. I had Ethan under the umbrella (ella, ella, eh, eh....) and he wanted to be near me...which was in the sun. So I either had to sit in the shade (no tan!) or he had to sit in the sun (sunburn!!). Also, he was standing next to me just grinding sand into my leg. I thought he was going to sand the skin right off me! Didn't feel good on the little sunburn that I got! Plus, he didn't enjoy me wiping sand out of his ears, eyes, nose, legs, diaper, etc. But overall..fun! I'll post pictures soon.

Also, E has turned 1!!! Can you believe it? I can't. We had a little party for him and it was fun. I think at one point he got a little overwhelmed. He was busy eating his cake (yum!) and everyone was standing around watching him. He was laughing one second and then sobbing the next...seriously...one second. Of course, all he wanted was to be held...by me....but he had chocolate cake and bright green frosting all over himself!! We managed though...and I put him upstairs in his crib and he relaxed for awhile and came back downstairs happy! We didn't get any pictures though. My neighbor is a photographer and took pictures for us all day. I don't have them yet, but as soon as I get them back from him, I will post some!!!

So...my newest drama. My best friend is getting married in October. I am in the wedding with 3 other girls. Her maid of honor is her cousin. Anyway, my BF has decided to forgo a bachelorette party and instead have a spa weekend. I am up for that...sounds good! Now, let me preface this with, as you know..I am married and have a baby. All the other bridesmaids are married and only one other one lives out of town. So, two out of town, two in town. The bachelorette weekend is fine....no problems...but I decide to send all the other BM's an e-mail to see what we were going to plan for a shower, etc. Well, I get an email back from the MOH saying the shower is already planned and it is the weekend before the bachelorette weekend. So, I get irritated. In my experience, all the BM's plan something together, or at least find a weekend where most of them can attend. I cannot drive 6 hours each way, two weekends in a row. I don't want to leave Ethan like that, and it just kind of sucks. Then, I get an email today from the other BM who lives in town with my BF. She is planning a couples shower for the weekend after the bachelorette weekend. This is crazy! Must be nice for the people who live in town to attend these, have a say in them, etc. I want to do something nice for my BF...but I just can't travel like that. Can't afford the gas, much less leave my family like that. I am sooo trying not to be selfish here...but I think I might sound it a little bit. It's just that my BF was my MOH and she did so much nice stuff for me, I want to return the favor....but I just can't. Plus, I think it is kind of rude for the other two BM's to plan stuff without even talking to the BM's who live out of town....I just don't know.

Am I being crazy? Am I being selfish?

oh man!

2007-07-12T09:22:00.001-06:00

Holy crap. I cannot believe it has really been a month since I posted. I told you guys that I am terrible at this game. In my defense though, things have been kinda busy. DH and I just got back from a wedding in Colorado. It was a place I had never been before..Estes Park. It was GORGEOUS. Now, I'm not really a mountain girl. I am more of a beach girl...but this place was gorgeous. However, that altitude stuff really messes with you! I knew it might, so I made sure to drink lots of water because I knew I was going to be drinking lots of cocktails! So I was fine in that sense (however, what they say is true, you don't have to drink as much to feel the effects!!) Anyway, it did effect me differently. Apparently, one of the side effects is sleeplessness. That is what happened to me. From Thursday night-Saturday night I had a total of 12 hours of sleep. It was terrible. I just couldn't sleep. And if I was sleeping, it was bad sleep. Tossing, turning, etc. Oh well.

Also, let me say girls...my husband is CHEAP. Seriously cheap. I was excited about this trip. I thought it would be a nice weekend away for Kevin and I. He was in the wedding, so I knew he would be busy, but I thought we would have some "quality time" together (if you know what I mean!!). We left Ethan at home with my mom, so I thought it would be nice and relaxing. **Insert buzzer noise here...** Not so much. Kevin decided that we should offer two of his friends to share the hotel with us. To save on cost..... Nice. Real nice. So my romantic, relaxing weekend turned into sharing a hotel room with 3 boys. Three sweating, farting, etc. boys. Gross! I couldn't wait to get home! Plus, I missed the heck out of Ethan. So good to go home and see him again!

We are leaving next week to go to Florida to visit my BIL. Kevin's g-mas 85th birthday is coming up and she wanted to celebrate with everyone. So, she rented a house and the family is all headed to Florida for the week. Kevin and I are only going Sat. -Wed. but it will be so nice to get away for awhile. At least there we will have our own room!!! PLUS..it will be Ethans first trip to the beach! YAY! I cannot wait for him to play in the sand and waves. So fun! I hope he loves it as much as I do.

Anyway, that is it for now. I will try to post when I get back from the beach. I will have pictures too. PLUS...Ethan turns 1 on the 29th. Can you believe it??!! I'll tell you all about that too!

CRAP!

2007-06-12T10:33:00.000-06:00

Ok...so I totally had this huge post typed out. Then, I was looking to spell check it (you can never spell check too much!) I think I pressed something funky, because I totally lost my post! So mad! Anyway, this post won't be nearly as long, or nearly as witty (I am sure you are so bummed!) but I will try to post what I remember!

***************
First off, I just want to say Congrats! to Kristen and Audrey on their new babies. I love reading about new babies. It brings me back to my first days with Ethan. It is so exciting, tiring, and just plain wonderful. I cherish those memories and I am sure all you new mommies will too. I am super jealous of all of you! Makes me seriously want another child...uh oh!

Also, just wanted to update on my BIL. He is doing so so much better. We are really proud of him. He still has a lot of pain in his arms and hands. Like, serious pain. The doctors say that it is due to swelling. They think he will probably wake up one morning and the pain will have disappeared. That seems to weird to me. I cannot imagine having such serious pain in my arms that I beg the doctors to cut them off (which he has done) and then wake up one day and it be gone. I pray that day comes soon. Other than that pain, he is feeling better. He desperately wants to get back to normal, which I view as a good sign. They say that people with injuries like that tend to rely on pain medicine for quite a while. He tries every day to go longer and longer without his pain medicine, so that, to me, sounds promising.

Things are starting to get crazy here. We are travelling almost every weekend starting this weekend until the end of July. Most are just weekend trips, but there are a few that are a little longer. I love doing it, but I just wonder how Ethan will handle it. Hopefully he will hang in there!

In the post that I just lost, I had my "ode to cheese." I LOVE cheese. I talk about it because I have decided I really want to eat better. Cheese is so bad for me, but I love it so much. How do I give up something I love so much. I don't think I can. My point to this is....I really want to eat better. I really HAVE to eat better...I just need to figure out how.

sooo much better

2007-05-31T14:28:00.000-06:00

Thanks, ladies for all your prayers and well wishes. My BIL has been discharged from the hospital and is doing sooo much better. He is slowly feeling better, but we are so thankful! It was scary there for awhile, but things couldn't have turned out better (except if it hadn't happened at all!)

Anyway, on to better things!

I have been looking at my calendar for this summer, and we are soo busy! I am looking forward to it, but my wallet isn't so much! We have so many weddings to attend, and things going on. I am so excited because one of them is a trip to the beach. I LOVE the beach. I can't get enough, so anytime an opportunity for a trip comes up, I am so excited.

Ethan turns 1 on July 29. This is so crazy to me. I cannot believe that in 50 something days, my baby is going to be 1. Everyone says it, but time sure does fly. I can't believe at this time last year he wasn't here yet (I was ready for him to be.....but he wasn't!). We also moved into our new house 2 weeks before I had him.....that was crazy. Now, I just need to figure out what I am going to do for his birthday. My brothers and SIL's want ideas on what to get him for his birthday. We always go in on something for each other. Keeps cost down, and we end up getting something we really want rather than just a gift certificate somewhere. Anyway, they want me to figure out something, but I can't. Those of you with older babies...what is something I will probably want for Ethan that is kind of expensive, but doesn't take up a lot of room? Any ideas, anyone??!!!!

I'm back!...but have a big time prayer request....

2007-05-30T07:30:00.000-06:00

So finally, I am back. I wish I could say things have been boring, but they really haven't. Things have been crazy, and really are only going to get crazier.

I'll just jump right in to it.

Last weekend, we went to my brother and sister-in-law's house for Memorial Day weekend. It was so fun. My other brother and his fiancee were meeting us there too. My brothers and I are all one year apart. While we were growing up...not so fun...but now...super fun!! Anyway, we just hung out on Friday evening waiting for everyone to get there. It was about a 6 hour drive for us and 6.5 for my other brother. On Saturday, all the guys got up to go golfing and the girls went to the pool with Ethan. It was Ethan's first time in the pool and he loved it. Then we went home and went to a minor league baseball game. That was just ok.....
On Sunday, we all got up early and we had rented a pontoon boat for the morning. Then we decided we would just hang out at the house and relax, grill out, etc.
After dinner, we all got into a very heated match of CatchPhrase. While we were playing, Kevin's phone rang once and then buzzed indicating he had a message. He really didn't think anything of it, and we just kept playing. After a few drinks, etc. we decided to call it a night...it was about 1:30 am. This is where things go downhill.....

Kevin checked his phone and there were like 6 missed calls from his sister and one text message. The text message says "Call me please! Jonathan has had an accident...call me asap" Jonathan is Kevin's little brother. He lives in Florida and Kevin's sister is living there for the summer. Kevin calls back and we find out this....

Kevin's brother dove off a pier into what he thought was deep water...it actuality, it was only 3 feet of water. He jumped headfirst and ended up breaking his neck. He almost drowned in the water, but one of his friends noticed something was wrong and got out there to help him pretty quickly. At this point, Jonathan was paralyzed from the neck down. There was an EMT nearby who was able to help them get him out of the water. He was eventually life flighted to a city about 2 hours away. By this time, he was starting to get feeling back into his arms...which was good news. Kevin's sister was freaking out because she couldn't get in touch with anyone. Kevin and I weren't answering, and Kevin's parents had their phones off. Jonathan had surgery the next day to repair his spine. For some reason, where the spinal cord was pinched, rendering him paralyzed, started to swell and that relieved the pressure. The doctor was able to get in there and fix his spine before there was much permanent damage.

Good news...he is going to be fine. He will be able to walk, but he might always have trouble with his arms and hands. The thing that is hard is that Jonathan is an architect. He needs his hands, but the pain might dull as time goes one. I know this post is probably all over the place, but it is hard to give a condensed version of a really, really long story. But please....pray that Jonathan makes a full recovery. He really needs it. He is only 25 and I know he is having a really hard time dealing.

Other than that...things have been good for us. We are busy, but healthy. I will try to post more often!!!! Thanks, ladies!

Really, really bad....

2007-05-01T07:38:00.000-06:00

I have come to the realization that I am a bad blogger. A really bad blogger. I read everyone's blog pretty much daily. And get so excited when someone has updated, but when it comes time for me to think about it, I draw a blank. It's too much pressure, people. To come up with something interesting to say. Something witty to say. And I just can't.

A little late, but Kevin and I had a good weekend this weekend. It was the first time in awhile that we actually hung out with each other and had a good time. It's sad that we don't usually hang out with each other on weekends really. He is busy doing house stuff, and I usually am too, but it is different kinds of house stuff. But not this weekend!

On Friday night we had some friends over for dinner. It was really fun. Last weekend while Kevin was away our neighborhood had a neighborhood-wide yard sale. I really didn't have the much stuff to sell, but I scavenged around and found some stuff. Surprisingly, most of the stuff was Kevin's. (In my defense, he is the biggest pack rat and never gets rid of anything...so I just took the opportunity of him being away, and sold some of his crap....) Anyway, I wasn't going to tell him what I sold, but he had this fajita pan that he loved. It spend days "seasoning" the pan just right...but we never use it. It takes up so much room and we have fajitas like 3 times a year. So, I sold it. I didn't expect to have to admit to it right away, but of course he decides that we should serve our friends fajitas. Ooops! I guess he wasn't really that mad!

On Saturday we got up super early. I live in Nashville and every year we host the Country Music Marathon and Half-Marathon. Kevin's sister and a couple of my friends were running the half-marathon this year so we got up super early and trekked downtown to cheer them on. Of course, all the streets around downtown were being closed down and blocked off for the runners, so we got there at like 7:00. We were at about mile 10 so it took awhile for the runners to even make it to us....but we waited, and waited and searched the crowd of 40,000 runners for 2 people. At least the weather was nice! And surprisingly, we saw them!

After the race on Saturday, we decided it was such as nice day (it really was!) we should go to the zoo. Nashville does not have a super huge, super cool zoo, but it was a zoo nonetheless. It was overall a pretty fun day. Of course, we saw Kevin's parents downtown and they invited us over for dinner....again...and Kevin said yes....again. I have mentioned this before, but Kevin's parents live about 10-15 minutes away. Way too close for me. Anyway, they want to get together....all the time. I like them, but I feel that I hardly see Kevin during the week (we both work full-time) and by the time he gets home Ethan is going to bed in like an hour...that I want weekends to be "us" time. But Kevin finds it incredibly hard to say "No" to anything his parents ask. It is actually a sore subject for us. He won't admit he can't say "No." Anyway, they invited us over for dinner, Kevin says Yes (without consulting me) and I get mad. I had already planned dinner, thawed meat, etc. I couldn't keep in the fridge for another day. It would go bad....so I got mad. So he decides that the best solution is to invite them to our house. Totally not what I had in mind. Anyway....so we had dinner with them on Saturday.

Sunday we got up, went to church and then to the lake. Snoop loves the lake and Kevin brought his fishing rod. We just hung out there and had a few beers and relaxed. It was fun!

Oh yeah, on Saturday night we watched Borat. If you haven't seen it....I wouldn't recommend it. It was bad. Really bad. And wrong on soooo many levels. Just thought I would warn!!

It's about time

2007-04-20T09:36:00.000-06:00

Ok, seriously. It was about time to add a new post. I know. But to what? That is the question. I know everyone write about how the sometimes don't have anything to write about. But really, this time I don't. Not really that much going on.

Work: I really don't like my job. Wait, that's a lie. I like my job, but I dislike a lot of people that I work with. My manager, for one. I am not sure what her deal is. I was here already when she started. I have seriously never been at a job where the person I am working for has made me feel stupid. Until now. I just feel like she thinks I am stupid. The way she talks to me, the way she looks at me when I talk. It all adds up to this feeling. I have never felt this way before. I have always felt competent and sure. So basically, this stinks.

Home: My husband left today to go to Florida for a bachelor party. I really don't mind the whole bachelor party thing. I want him to have fun, really, I do. I just wish that once, I could get away. I don't know. I love Ethan. I love taking care of him. It's just that I get him at 12:00 every afternoon and am with him for the rest of the day. I feed him, change him, he climbs on me, wipes his nose on me, etc. Don't get me wrong, I love it. But when Kevin gets home, sometimes I just want a break. I just want to sit down without something climbing on me. I want to watch a show on TV without keeping one eye on the baby...but Kevin's "tired." He's been working all day, etc. And then, I really look forward to the weekends so that I can have a break. Run to the grocery, etc. But when Kevin goes away for a weekend, it is all me. All the time. I really have this profound respect for single parents. I don't know how they do it!

Really, I think the main thing is that I am jealous. I want to go to the beach. I want to hang out with my friends. Go swimming, go out to dinner, etc. I want to do it too. What I wouldn't give for a beach vacation!

Anyway, I'll suck it up. I love my time with Ethan. I cherish it. I love that when Kevin DOES go away, I can pull Ethan into the bed with me and we can just snuggle.

So, for a post with nothing to say, I guess I did find something!

PS....does anyone have Audrey's e-mail? I didn't know she was going to invite only! Also, LP, I need your blogger website address!

A bunch of random stories about E

2007-04-04T08:39:00.000-06:00

So my son, Ethan, just turned 8 months old. For the longest time he was kinda crawling, kinda not. It was nice. He was still in the phase where he would pretty much stay where we put him. We thought about baby proofing in the back of our minds, knew we had to do it, but really not yet. Well....those days are over. Long over. It seemed like just overnight he became a crawler. And boy, is he a crawler. He's fast! So just when we got used to the idea that he is mobile now, he decides to go and pick up a new skill. I have to say...my baby is a genius. He's so advanced. (He actually probably isn't....but I can still think that, right??) Anyway...he's a cruiser. He is pulling up to standing on everything. He does not want to be stationary anymore...and boy, is it wearing me out. I think he is wearing out the dog too!!

Our poor dog....2 yr old yellow lab named Snoop. Poor Snoop. His life used to be so carefree...so easy...until E came along. Now I know he and E are going to be best friends....they already kinda are. Poor Snoop is so patient with him. Just the other day I walked over to see Ethan chewing on Snoop's tail. Snoop just looked at me like "what's going on??!" Now that E can crawl, he is crawling towards his toys to get them. But does E want his toys? The toys we have spent money on?? No, of course not. That would be too safe. Too easy. Less stress for Mom. No, he wants Snoops toys. And not just any of Snoops toys. He wants Snoop's half chewed, super nasty, rawhide bones. So gross. So, Snoop is so patient with him. Ethan will crawl to Snoop's bone and pick it up. Snoop will go over there, take it from him (gently) and move it across the room. Ethan will then change directions and go for it again. Snoop will pick it up before E gets to it, and move it again. The game goes on and on until E gets really frustrated and starts crying. So funny.

Just the other day I had Ethan in the high chair eating some graham crackers. I was doing dishes and heard E just giggling. (the best sound in the world...) Anyway, just giggling. I look over and see Ethan leaning over the side of his high chair and Snoop is licking the graham cracker in his hand. It was so cute, and so funny.

Anyway, there really isn't a point for this post. Just some updates on E. He is growing so fast and I can hardly believe he is #1, mobile and #2, 8 months old. Where the heck does the time go??

On a side note.....Yeah, Lady Vols!!!

I am not a huge women's basketball fan, but you gotta cheer for your alma mater....right? So here it is.....University of Tennessee, Knoxville Women's Basketball team are now National Champions!! YES!

So if my post isn't long enough, I am going to put in some pictures of Ethan. We had some taken a few weeks ago, and I think they look good!

Oh, The Bachelor

2007-04-03T08:09:00.000-06:00

I love this time of year. Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, sun is shining, and a new season of The Bachelor has started. I know what some of you may be thinking....BUT....I am not ashamed. I am not embarrassed. I love reality TV. It is my guilty pleasure. I like some of the more reputable ones, Amazing Race, Survivor, etc. But, my all time favorite is definitely the Bachelor.

I don't really watch it for the guy. Mind you, this new guy is HOT...but that's not why I tune in every week. That's not why I can barely contain my excitement on Monday evenings. I feel unyeilding love for the drama. I LOVE how girls cry because they get sent home in the first episode and they had a "connection" with the Bachelor. They thought he was the one. That, to me, is entertainment. Also, I cannot tell you how much I enjoy watching this. And the first episode isn't even the best. There are so many women on the first episode that it is hard to keep track. I love the next few weeks. The women slowly get narrowed down. The Bachelor forms "connections" with several women, and kisses several more. The women become catty, fights ensue. I LOVE IT!

I think I might sound a little vicous there. Let me clear something up. I am not "dogging" my fellow ladies. I don't like to see women hurt, embarrassed, etc. in real life. But when you throw yourselves at a man you just met, on national television, and compete with 25 other women for him....my pity and compassion goes right out the window. Have you never seen previous episodes? Do you really not know what is coming?

I could go on for hours, pages, days, about this topic, so I am going to stop here. BUT....come on. Who doesn't love The Bachelor? I know I will be glued to my television at 9:30/8:30 central on Monday nights for the next several weeks. You'll know where to find me......

Let the games begin!!!!

Made the switch too!!

2007-03-23T09:55:00.000-06:00

Ok, ladies. I too made the switch. Stupid Nest. I really got irritated looking for recently updated blogs and finding all that crazy wedding planning stuff. I didn't really care that Emily needs to find a caterer, or that Katie just got engaged and has so much to do (but her wedding is in 2009), etc. Not so much. Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know I made the switch...even though I really don't know if anyone reads my blog!!