kiddie update

Nathan has learn how to pull up :) and he will crawl when he wants to..but he still prefers to roll to get to things he wants. His walker is his bff! All I have to say it watch out for the toesies :)

Abby is so loving preschool. She is learning about Apples and trusting God. and Sharing. :) LOVE IT!! She is so excited about school she wishes she could go every day.

Preschool

Preschool is starting and Abby is all geared up! She even knows what she is going to take for lunch.

Yogurt
Pretzels
PBJ
Juice Box

1. She picked out her Book bag.
2. She has her school clothes.
3. She has her school shoes.
4. She got her hair cut.
   

I think she is more excited about school than we are - she gets up every morning around 6am to tell us that she is ready to go to school.

What are you feeding those kids?!?!

So out shopping people love to stop and ask me. " What are you feeding that boy" - My response now is Cornbread Collards and Mashed Potatoes. One lady even said - "REALLY" haha!
Seriously. no I do not feed my kids that. Except the potatoes part - Nate does like mashed potatoes when we are having them for dinner.
Same goes for miss Abby, we were at the playground the other day - and I was talking to another mom, she told me that her child was 4 and I said oh... Abby is 2 3/4... Her Jaw about hit the floor. Only because Abby was like 6 inches taller than her daughter.
Oh well I guess my kids just grow fast. But it is funny to see peoples reactions when you tell them that your 8 month old just Loves Pintos Cornbread and Collards!

An Experience

Riding Marta is an experience - ALWAYS - but I love it. and am thankful that Atlanta has this service available to us.


I had always used the tokens for marta. Now they have these ingenuous breeze cards that allow you to reload. Much easier to use than digging around for marta tokens.

Downtown was hopping! As usual. Tons of vendors selling things. Yummy smelling food out of street cars. and want to talk about BUSY!! The pace of life downtown is nothing compared to having a two year old and a 8 month old. Whew.





I had my interview for the Early Childhood Education Program at Georgia State University.

His Needs Her Needs For Parents keeping the Romance Alive : Harley, William F

Subjects :

• Marriage
• Parenting
• Child Rearing
• Love

I recommend this book to anyone who has kids. It gives great insight on relationships with kids. This book gets a two thumbs up from me.

1.And Then there were three :

Are children a threat to your marriage?

My advice to parents is simple, If you want to be good parents you need to care for each other first.

What is at stake?
Parents should do what ever it takes to love each other for their children's sake.

Prioritize Love
Children suffer when their parents divorce. and they thrive when mom and dad make their care for each other a top priority.

Give love Time
Your children learn from the way that you care or do not care for each other.

• Marriage

Part 1 Romantic Relationships 101
2 Whats Love Got to do with it?

Why Romance matters?

a romantic relationship consists of two people in love who meet each others emotional needs for intimacy.

What is love

• romantic love -is a feeling that couples can experience for life
  
• caring love

The Love bank
there's a love bank inside each of us that keeps an emotional record of how people treat us.

what goes up can also come down
when the feeling of love is lost you'll also lose the instinct to make each other feel happy.

Emotional needs
failure to meet each others emotional needs is no shortcut- its a path to disaster.

3 Just between you and me

Intimate emotional needs

Wired for romance
when it comes to marriage a romantic relationship is just about everything.

Intimate conversation
since intimate conversation can be intense and enjoyable its easy to fall in love if you conversation is with someone of the opposite sex.

Recreational companionship
if you are spending most of your enjoyable time away from one another then you are not in a romantic relationship.

Intimate Affection

Sexual fulfillment
if either of you withholds sex from the other you'll find yourselves very frustrated.

Shortcuts don't work!
most couples strive for efficiency especially after children arrive. and romance is often the victim.

4 Love Takes Time

Too many couples simply let their romantic relationships slip away. mistakenly thinking that it is impossible to keep the romance alive after marriage.

Just in Time

Policy of Undivided Attention
Give your spouse your undivided attention a minimum of 15 hours a week using the time to meet his or her needs.

Try: babysitting partners

Try: taking a walk every evening with your spouse - great way to spend time together and get exercise.

Try: to create a weekly babysitting night so that you and your spouse can reconnect on a date.

Where will I find time?
*put it on the calendar*
remember the most important gift you can give your children is the gift of your love for each other.

5 Love Bankruptcy
when love busters break the bank

love busters if left unchecked will be the greatest source of your unhappiness.

What are love busters?

• selfish demands

Demands do not build up cooperation, they build up resentment.

• disrespectful judgments
  

when we impose our opinions on spouses we imply that they have poor judgment.

• angry outburst

when anger wins love always looses.

• dishonesty

honesty is like a flu-shot. It may give you a short sharp pain but it keeps you healthier in the long run.

• annoying habits

• independent behavior

Love busters are double trouble. They make love bank withdrawals and prevent love bank deposits.

Join the Club

Joining the 26ers club isn't so bad, Enjoying my BUSY life right now. I did take a moment to reflect on the past and had a good laugh. Enjoy!

Top 20 of the 80's that still make me giggle:

1. Sqeeze its or HUGS - those things were just plain sugar water


2. Super Nintendo...Power Pad...Duck Hunt - just blow real hard on the cartridge like 4-5 times and jiggle it and it will work .
   


3. Misbehaving in the store-! no mom I do not have to go to the bathroom.


4. Cell phones - can we say payphone!


5. Psyche!


6. Can we do the "Carlton" or sing the song to Fresh Prince of Belair.


7. Girls : Babysitters Club - did you have your own ?


8. Hammer Time - or Pants - wide leg pants with the dance ! cant touch this - nah nah nah!


9. Oregon Trail day on the Apple Computers - then we got Mac computers - YAY - color !


10. L.A. Gear... need I say more


11. You ever wore fluorescent clothing.


12. You have ever wondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf?


13. Slap bracelets


14. loved She-ra


15. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes


16. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates


17. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By the Bell ", the ORIGINAL class.


18. Homemade Levi shorts. (the shorter the better)


19. You tight rolled your jeans.


20. You had big hair and you knew how to use it.

Pound for Pound Challenge: Loose Nationally - Feed Locally

The Kroger Co. Family of Stores, General Mills, NBC’s hit TV Show “The Biggest Loser” and other key sponsors are partnering to donate up to $1,080,000 to Feeding America this year.

Here’s how you can help:

• Visit www.pfpchallenge.com/Kroger to make your pledge to lose weight and to get more information and to find tools to change your life for the better. It is free, easy and only takes a minute to make a change that can help you and help the hungry in your local community.

• Through June 30, 2010, for every pound you pledge to lose, the Pound For Pound Challenge will donate 14¢ to Feeding America® — enough to deliver one pound of groceries to a local food bank!

This is a good opportunity to help the community and get healthy all at the same time. Great opportunity to get involved in the community.

Lots of Land = Lots of Work

When the trees came down last August, the logger men took every single blade of grass from our yard with them.
Then I had a brilliant idea... I went to bible group and prayed for rain. God heard my prayer and he listened and we have recieved our fair share. This would have been a great thing if we would have had grass on our yard, however- haha - can we just say our yard quickly turned into a mudslide. It taught us how to create barriers and breaks for the water. Jon is not an engineer - but I think he could be with his smarts.
So now that the rain has stopped - we put out grass seed in the spring. It came up, was looking okay but a little sparse. We put more seed out - it came up - however our yard is still showing more dirt than grass. My idea about planting grass seed: you feed more to the birds than really gets planted in the dirt : which is fine if you like feeding the birds and having grass in other places of your yard than you expect. ie : the flower garden!

Making Babyfood

Essentials:
Blender or Large Food Processor

Green Beans and Corn

1 can of green beans
1 can of whole kernel corn
opt. 1 can of red. fat cream of mushroom soup ( nice to take to family get togethers )
* can always put crushed up ritz crackers on top*

cook corn and green beans on high until tender - season - do not drain- put into food processor and blend.

Carrots and Apples


1 can of sliced carrots
1 single serve container of cinamon applesauce

cook on high for 5 minutes - do not drain - put carrots and applesauce in processor and blend.

Sweet Potatoes and Pears


1 #2 can of Sweet Potatoes
1 #2 can of light syrup Pears


Cook Sweet potatoes for about 5 Minutes on high. Drain Pears and add to processor. Process Pears. Drain Sweet Potatoes and Add to Pears. Process.


Bananas

Cut Bananas in Chunks and Add 1/2 tsp lemon juice for every banana. blend in the processor.

Peaches
#2 can in light syrup

add to blender - great over vanilla yogurt.

Roast beef with carrots and potatoes

serve to the whole family - save out some for baby and put it in the processor- you will probably need to add some stock or water to it for it to be the right consistency.

Put Roast in Crock pot with 3-4 diced potatoes and 1 bag of baby carrots season and cover with water. - oh yeah turn the crock pot on -

Chicken with rice and tomatoes

again serve to the whole family and save out some for baby and put it in the processor- you will probably need to add some stock

1 whole chicken
1-2 cups rice ( thin/chunky)
1 onion
2 cans diced tomatoes
opt. red. fat cream of mushroom soup ( creamy )

boil chicken/cook in crock pot - debone -
cook rice in stock ( 1 cup dry rice = 2 cups liquid) ( 2cups dry rice = 4 cups liquid)
After rice is done cooking add chicken rice and tomatoes and onions back to original pot - cook for at least an hour - covered - on low. The longer it cooks the better.

Gifted to Lead : Nancy Beach

This is my new favorite book so I thought that would share some highlights with you.






Chapter 1 God Didn't make a Mistake

"I want my life to be different from others"...

"I will somehow make a difference in this world"...

"I will I will I will"...

as a woman with a leadership gift I got the message loud and clear.

God did not make a mistake when he made you. when the gifts were handed out in heaven they were evenly distributed and the angels did not say uh oh! Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 that the holy spirit distributes gifts just as desired. Every gift you have came from the loving father, whom crafted you in your mothers womb. He delights in who you are becoming. You are no accident. Your dreams come from your Creator along with your instincts to lead and your passion to make a difference in this world.

~Nancy Beach

Chapter 2 : Welcome to the Boys Club

• The Freight of Being Iconic- Henry Gates Louis Jr.

-as a woman in a leadership role finding yourself in the minority.

On every leadership team Ive served on over the years I have always felt like the experiment, the exeception, the only one who sometimes wore a skirt and who didn't belong in the boys club.

• Character First
  

Above all else what would count most in my efforts to lead and relate effectively , is my character

1. honest
   
2. trustworthy
   
3. ethical

who a person is will ultimately determine if their brains talents competencies energy effort deal making ability and opportunities will succeed.

• Humility : seeing yourself with sober eyes

Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet talk your way to the top... don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. ( Phil 2:3MSG)

think about the story when Soloman asked God for the gift of Wisdom ( 1 Kings 3:7-9)

Soloman saw himself as a child and in desperate need of the guiding hand of the father.

when we see ourselves accurately in that light , humility is a natural result.

• Self Confidence

there is a fine line between Confidence and being humble. A balance must be found between boldness grace assertiveness and collaboration strength and vulnerability.

• Humor

be willing to laugh at yourself - your burdens will be lighter

• Integrity

Book- Integrity: Henry Cloud

reminds us, that every leader leaves behind a kind of wake just like a boat. The question is what kind of wake or legacy are you leaving behind?

Are you becoming more like Jesus in this lifetime?

No highly developed leadership skill or natural talents make up for a lack of integrity.

Chapter 3 : Doing the Work

Work Hard and Earn Respect

I never want the fact that I am a woman to be the focal point of my work.

Take this one to the Bank: (Matt 25:23)

the servant who buried rather than investing was rewarded - Jesus said to him - " well done good and faithful servant" You have been faithful with few thing now I will put you in charge of many things.

Be true to your own Leadership Style

Leadership styles are not defined by gender

Be wise when working with men

In the Early Church Paul instructed Timothy :

Treat younger men as brothers older women as mothers and younger women as sisters with absolute purity. ( 1Tim 5 1-2)

enjoy working relationships and celebrate the perspective each one brings to the team.

Chapter 4 : Running with the Big Boys

• Navigating the "Man World"
  

Navigating the Man world is doable and ultimately can be deeply rewarding.

Leading up : a guide

1. Be a Student to your Boss
2. Learn to Initiate and Engage in Difficult Conversation

the only way I know how to get through a relational breakdown is to be willing to engage in difficult conversation.

All of us can get better at working through conflict and none of us will be able to avoid it altogether.

Chapter 5 : then we had kids
one size does not fit all - women have many options available to them, married to have children, to choose to be a single mother outside of marriage. One size does not fit all.

There is NO ONE RIGHT WAY to navigate life as a woman.

( for example Ester, Deborah, and Priscilla in the old testament)

If we confine our way of thinking to aone plan that every woman , we limit the possibilites of each person on this earth.

Good Enough Mothers

PMS ( perfect mom syndrome)

1. is always there
2. looks great and so does her perfect house
3. never looses her patience
4. never misses a field trip or an opportunity to be a room mom
5. serves nutritious home cooked meals
   
6. if she works outside the home - still does all the above flawlessly
7. and of course the perfect mother has perfect children.

What ever I am doing whoever I am its never enough.

If you are a mom I urge you to listen to the quiet voice of the spirit and allow our God to help you design your own path for motherhood.

Remember:
Every family is unique and every situation is different.

What we Model matters : our fundamental Identity is not as mothers and fathers.

Chapter 6: Finding your Voice

communicating effectively is not an option it is a absolutely essential.

Essential Tools for Everyday Communication

1. attentive listening
2. perceptive questions ( Luke 10: 25-37) on asking Jesus about Eternal life + the response
3. teachable moments
4. talking back

Listen to your life : the best communicators practice the art of paying attention to their lives.

Listening to God :

The Apostle Paul write to the church of Corinth, " ( Luke 10: 25-37) When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.

Without your voice your community will not shine brightly or be as healthy as it can be.

Chapter 7 : An Open Letter to a Male Leader

women leaders offer a perspective , a voice and entire world of experience that is essential for both men and women to experience.

the decisions you have on women in leadership will have a ripple effect for generations to come.

Chapter 8 Leaning into your tribe

do not be a lone ranger in life- when the storm blows you will desperatly need the reinforcement of other women that you know well.

travel agent to the rescue / EAST COAST

places to go on the east coast :

please comment if you have a favorite place you have been on the East Coast. The East coast is a lot of fun. Here are some of my favorites. I personally have not ever been to Myrtle Beach or Pawleys Island but looks like a lot of fun. Have any questions just ask - I will try to get back to you as soon as possible. Tell me about your east coast trips, any favorite places to eat or stay.

1. Myrtle Beach
One stop shop for the whole family

http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/


2. Pawleys Island

• couples retreat

http://www.townofpawleysisland.com/


3. Isle of Palm

• everything is in walking distance - FUN FUN FUN!

• 30 minutes away from Charleston
  
• USS Yorktown
  
• Culture fun for the whole family

favorite resturants:
Banana Cabana Sea Biscuit Cafe Coconut Joe's One-Eyed Parrot($$$) Barefoot Bistro
Hotel : where we stayed
http://www.seasideinniop.com/

http://www.iop.net/

4. Hilton Head -

• Golf
  
• Beach
  
• Pool
  
• Tennis
  
• Drinks
  
• Food
  

Some of our favorite eating places are Sea Shack(seafood) Hudsons (seafood-on the water) Salty Dog Cafe Giuseppi's Pizza & Pasta‎ San Miguel's Mexican-Marina - Best Margaritas #1 on the island LWOODS - a little of everything :) Scott's Fish Market Restaurant Parrott Cove Grill & Bar best she crab soup and steamed oysters!

hotel: this is where we stay
http://hhibeachandtennis.com/

*shelter cove* free nightly concerts - many of the resturants listed above are in shelter cove :)

http://www.hiltonheadisland.org/

getting back to nature

Abby had her first upset stomach, bless her heart, it hurt her feelings more that she could not make it to the potty. We were coming home from the lake and she had to go... I asked Jon to pull over by some trees and a big open field. We got everything taken care of and before we could get her clothes back on - she was OFF! running through that big open field with nothing on but her shoes. I wish that I had gotten a picture of it just for her baby book. The only thing in front of her were hay bales and wide open spaces. Maybe that is what every two year old needs, to run naked through a pasture. It was priceless.

Water Glasses

Abby has a new word! Water Glasses! we are going to the Hilton Head Island and she is hooked! I was trying to get Abby to tell Jon about going to HH and she said, Happy Head Island. I like her name for our vacation spot :) . She has decided that she has to have water glasses ( goggles ) for the beach. She has a choice of Mermaid or Princess, she told me that she wanted mermaid. She is our water girl. SO cute!

Popcorn

Abby simply loves popcorn. She calls it "copcorn." She and I have it as an afternoon snack everyday. Well - my little miss Abby - loves to play with the popcorn seeds. I really did not think too much about this because I thought she was doing a good job sorting. She would put her leftover seeds in her cup and get another cup and move them back and forth.
Well - the other day I put Abby up on the potty - which by the way is going TERRIFIC! We are so proud of her. Back to the story, she told me she had to blow her nose. I gave her a tissue and nothing came out. Then she stuck her finger up there - like every kid does, I said Abby - " get your fingers out of your nose" then she blew real hard and out flew a popcorn seed.
O my! so I started asking her if she had put any other popcorn seeds up there and she told me yes. But there wasn't any. It is funny,

Two Year Olds

When you want them to say no - they say yes- and when you want them to say yes - they say no.

So we had the long conversation about not putting things up our nose and how it can hurt our nose and give us a boo boo. Err - for body exploration! Cant we just breath through our skin?
On the bright side at least she is not putting popcorn seeds up Nathan's nose.

right round

I had started to have an dull pain in my ear on wednesday night. I thought okay I will try a home remedy. So when I got home I put some peroxide in both of my ears- Maw maw says don't do that - I was just thinking maybe it would help. So I GOOGLED it of course, 1part white vinegar to 1part rubbing alcohol and starting washing my ear out. The pain was errr getting worse. When I would wash it out it would get better - but now I was getting nauseated and dizzy. Oh fun! Felt like my eyes were going round and round - you know like that song right round(KEI$HA) and I really did feel like I was going to go down down. Kinda felt like I was walking sideways all day. Then I went to the Dr. and he gave me medicine. Plain and simple Ear infections stink! Abby says I have a Boo Boo in my ear and that she wants cotton in her ears like mommy. Nathan doesn't know any better - but he just sit in his jumperoo or rolls around the floor and looks at me and smiles that smile. Kids are cute like that, and they make you forget all about the bad things that you are going through.

Halfway Point

Abby is 2 1/2. If anyone would have told me how much she would learn this year I might not have believed them. In December she was saying 1-3 word sentences - now she having 10 minute long conversations. Abby has definite likes and dislikes. Some of her favorites are :

( this is how Abby pronounces these things)

• Dora, Cailuu, Elmo, Gabba Gabba, Wiggles, and Zaboo ( Zooboomafoo)
  

• Grapes, Peas, Caneelope, Watermelon, Strawberries, Dintosaur ticken Nuggets, Cheese, and ogurt

• Gray Ground, Fwimmin Pool, friends, chalk, bubbles, color crayons, doh doh and paint.

Nathan is 6 months - wow- how time has flown by. He is sleeping through the night. Eating table food. Some of his favorites are :

• Pears applesauce sweet potatoes carrots peas and yogurt rice cereal and oatmeal. - He is a fan of Banana Pudding - He is a man :)

Some of his favorites are his movie brainy baby, it is classical music paired with stimulating pictures - he loves this and watches it every morning after breakfast. He also likes Yo Gabba Gabba, and Wiggles, he likes to jump around to the music.

All Girl

little miss Abby found the lip gloss! there was apple strawberry banana and grape. She wanted me to put her in front of the mirror so she could see how to put it on. This was adorable.

She would get a little on her lips look at herself and pucker her lips out like she was going to kiss herself in the mirror. TOO CUTE!

The Yard : Finally Coming Back Together

Last year, we had 5 acres of pine trees cut down by loggers. They took 22 tractor truck loads of pine trees from our yard. WOW!! We are two months away from it being the 1 year anniversary. I sure am proud that we have gotten our yard back to looking normal. When the loggers took all of the trees they also took all of our grass and left us with 3 HUMUNGUS debris piles. Im talking 2 that were 20 ft by 10ft another one that was about 50ft by 15ft. That is being generous. Now there is only 1 debris pile left and it is pretty small. We could not have cleaned up our yard with out the wonderful help from our generous family. Thank you SO SO VERY MUCH!!! You all are so AWESOME!!! A special woot woot to Bill, Diana, Tommy, Michael, Travis, R.W. and of course my loving and hardworkin' husband Jon.

ME: on a Diet

I am SO Lovin Dr. Oz

I needed to shed a couple of pounds from my pregnancy and Dr. Oz book You: on a Diet is helping. I checked the book out at the library, and just so I did not miss anything I rented the dvd.

I have started eating better and exercising at least 30 minutes a day. Chasing after 2 kids is definitely exercise - but I have devoted 30 minutes of my day to exercise - and just me time.

most valuable tool I have learned about loosing weight:

1. keep your menu the same every day- that way my daily calories are the same.
2. write down everything I put in my mouth.
3. diet without exercise is pointless.
   
4. Eating small meals - really does work as long as they are made up of whole foods. ie fruits and veggies. and no bigger than 1/2 cup.
5. drink 48-64 ozs of water a day
   

My Menu Plan:

Breakfast :
1. Banana
Coffee
or
2.Lowfat yogurt
coffee
or
3.Apple
coffee


Snack
Benefiber

Lunch
Celery +Carrots
Water

Snack
Water+popcorn

Dinner
1.Chicken & Mushrooms
Over Linguine
Spinach Salad
or
2.Pork
Tenderloin
Mashed Potatoes
Steamed Asparagus
or
3.Baked Ziti
Steamed Zucchini
Dinner Rolls

:ME:

Inspired by Miranda Lambert... The House that Built Me

I was Born in Snellville Georgia and that is where I lived in a two story house for the first 16 years of my life.

My life was pretty storybook until I was about 5, or so it seemed to me. A few bumps a long the way - my sister and I managed to cope and survive clinging on to one and other. We spent most of our time outside.

16 came and I moved - I did the best I could! I was finding myself and I wanted better for myself.

The house I grew up in truly changed me-it built me into a better person.

Now, I am married to a wonderful man, have two adorable kids. I am enjoying life more than ever. I am almost grateful for some of the hardship I went through growing up because on some level I can relate to other people. It made me strong, and it showed me what I really want out of life.

Jon and I are celebrating our 3rd Anniversary this week! YAY! we have been together 5 years now. Wow time fly's when you're having fun. When I was working at Lowes Home Improvement I had my nose to the grindstone, I was working and going to school. I really was not interested in finding someone to date. God had another plan for me. Jon and I met for coffee at Borders one day after work and we started dating after that. Now we have a beautiful family and finally I will be completing school this year. I have to laugh at things sometimes - because I had all of this planned out and everytime I went back to school - we had a baby on the way. Just when you think that you are in control of your life, God has a funny was of letting you know - he is the Creator- and he is always in control.

Boogers Mommy

this weekend we went to chattanooga to see my cousin chris in :Jack in the Beanstalk:. Before the show had started Abby was dancing around and being silly. Then she did it... yup... stuck her finger up her nose. I tried to get her attention, and it worked she looked right at me and said, "BOOGERS BOOGERS BOOGERS MOMMY!!" all I could do was laugh. There was nothing else to do but laugh.

Summer Camp

Abby is going to summer day camp! She is super excited and so are we. I still cannot believe that she is old enough to go and learn about things away from me. She is growing up so fast. She is so excited - she keeps telling us " camp... camp...CAMP!!!"

poop is not playdoh!

okay, I guess this is part of potty training-but I do not like it - not one bit! Yesterday at nap time Abby decided to take her pull up off and take the poop out- if you are thinking disgusting - yes! Very disgusting!
We had a long talk during bath time and said that we do not play with our poop - that poo poo goes in the potty.
Meanwhile mommy got to clean the sheets and the carpet and bleach all the toys. Yuck! but I guess it is all part of the learning process.
She did tell me that, "poop is nasty and no more play with nasty poop." - Hopefully this is true-comming from a two year olds mouth.

bathtub for two pleeze

so yesterday I was giving Nathan a bath in his baby tub - and all was well... Or so I thought... Abby was in the other room...The other bathroom. She wanted to get a bath at the same time as her brother.
She had her pitcher in her hand and was getting water out of the toilet and filling the bathtub up ! I came in with Nathan to see what she was up to-and laughed! She said to me " Bath Time Mommy" and I said,"it sure is, bath time".
So we bleached the bathtub and then had a bubble bath- but it was hilarious to see her with the pitcher - very carefully taking water from the toilet to the tub.

County Water

Here we are tackling that goal list again, the men from Gwinnett County came out today and set our meter. Woohoo! We will run pipe this weekend from the meter to the house. YAY! No more blue bath tubs and toilets. And no more buying bottled water. One more thing checked off.

Jon using the trencher to cut the ditch for the water pipe.
Laying the pipe in the ground

Jon soldering the pieces to fit the meter
Abby playing in the empty swimmy pool - and blowing the dandie - lions
We sure thought they were dandy! Abby loves them!

let the toilet training begin

Post will be comming later - funny stories and things I have learned from this experience. Abby has told us, " No more diapers" and we have told her, that means going tee tee and poo poo in the potty! We will see. I will spare you the pictures - but will definately keep you updated on the progress.

Day One : started at 7:30
1. Big girl Panties and Breakfast -
7:45 - uh oh - clean up time -
8:00 regroup and head outside with the toddler potty!
8:30 Juice Box
9:00 Tee Tee on Potty! :) YAY! = M&M
9:30 Juice Box
10 :00 Tee Tee on Pottty! YAY = M&M
10:30 offered drink - but didnt want it
11:00 Tee Tee on Potty! YAY = M&M
11:30 Lunch Time -
12:15 Tee Tee on Potty
1:00 Tee Tee on potty - getting tired for nap - so we put on training pants..
2:00 Diaper + Nap-time
5:00 Playtime
6:00 Dinner with Milk
6:15 Tee Tee on Potty - YAY= M&M
7:30 Tee Tee on Potty - YAY= M&M
8:00 Bedtime+ Diaper
Day one = success! I am super proud of Miss Abby.

House Before and After

So.. We are tackling our 2010 Goal List. We painted the house. Woohoo. Here is a Before and After pic.

Before :

After :

Huge Change, After the loggers left - we decided that they left us with a clean slate and that we wanted to change a couple of things. More updates comming soon.

-- News Flash --

So if you have not heard... da da dun.. I am going back to school. We are very excited to announce I will being starting the fall cohort of the bachelor degree program in Teacher Education at the Newton Campus of GPC, I will be attending Georgia State University.

Abby is Reading

Yesterday she lined up Mr. Potato Head and and "Bob Bob" on the couch and told them it was time for a storrrrry. - not misspelled that is how she says it. It was adorable. She had them lined up like she was teaching them how to read. She was even using her pointer finger to go over the words. The little things do make a difference. She read her sesame street book to them that has a sing a long cd player.

Abby is going to Preschool

Abby is growing up so fast. When people say it is only a blink and then they are all grown up it is the truth. Sign ups for preschool are next week. Abby I hope will enjoy going to school and getting to play with other kids that are her age.

We have chosen a christian preschool that came highly recommended. ( I think that is why they do sign ups in February for September ) WoW!

We cannot wait to see how she grows this year - we will keep you updated with pictures and blogs and maybe some video blogging :)

Peace and Quiet - 2 months old already

okay so still adjusting I would say. I needed to go to the store today to get some things- well we made it through the store but then Nathan woke up and was hungry and needed to be changed. Well we got that taken care of then Abby started screaming. I needed to go to Sams to get formula, - I could see very plainly that this was not going to happen - at least not today. God knew very well what he was doing when he made man and woman to work together to create children. God also knew that it took both of them to raise that child. I really do not understand how single parents do it.?! Daddy was able to go to Sams and get the formula that mr. Nathan needed. Thank goodness, and we were able to take a car ride, a long one because as long as the car is moving the kids are happy. :) Nathan went to sleep and so did Abby. - That ment ROLL ON, we took a nice long car ride and we all enjoyed the umm peace and quiet, for a little while at least.
Nathan will be two months old this week, WOW- can you believe it! he is growing up so fast. David asked me today - Paula how long before nathan starts talking? His cousins are so excited to have someone new to play with.
Abby still loves being a big sister, she loves rocking the baby ( in the baby carrier ) sometimes a little to rough- but she still loves her brother. :) She got to go to IHOP today just her and mommy and daddy and cousin michael. We were celebrating michael's 18th birthday. She was so excited because she got to eat "cake cakes" for breakfast.
Mom and Dad are doing good, a little sleep deprivation but that is to be expected. Nathan is starting to sleep a little longer through the night, he will sleep from 1 till 5 or 6 now WOOHOO! I am becomming a fan of Jimmy Kimmel and World News Now. Jon loves playing with Nathan and hearing him coo.. He is smiling already-mostly does that for Jon and will roll over when we put him on his tummy. He loves his swing and being held and music.

2010 Goals

Well every year Jon and I do this - Make Goals for the upcomming year - our Resolution-

1. County Water



2. Gravel and Pave the driveway



3. Shrubs and trees in the front Yard



4. re-seed in the spring



5. Paint the interior of the house



6. Paint the exterior of the house



7. Get the tree debris gone

Whew.. That is a lot!! It will be a miracle if it all gets done. But we aim high, and hopefully it will all get done. We are really excited about 2010, God blessed us with a healthy handsome baby boy in 2009.

Abby had a terrific year in 2009, she has entered into toddler land and is learning about EVERYTHING. Sometimes I would like it if life would slow down just a little. Miss Abby is a beautiful little girl and we are so thankful for what we have been blessed with.