My Little Treasure Box

Weeks 25-41

2008-04-19T13:49:00.001-04:00

I got big, flew to Rhode Island, worked with the band, waited, got bigger, waited more, started maternity leave, waited, and then...I was induced.

Weeks 22, 23, & 24

2007-07-29T18:33:00.000-04:00

Well, school is over, swim lessons are over, and it's almost time for school to start back! My little pouch is more like a cantaloupe now, but I'm feeling really great! He's kicking and moving, and giving me heartburn (but nothing a few Tums won't take care of)!

Weeks 20 & 21

2007-07-08T19:15:00.000-04:00

Wow, these weeks are really getting away from me! We had the medical ultrasound done, everything looks good, and they have confirmed that it is a boy! Justin got to feel him Sunday morning-it was really cool! Feeling good! Started 2 college classes in July...already can't wait to get them over with!

Week 19

2007-06-26T13:29:00.000-04:00

Baby and I taught swim lessons this week. He has really become active, and I have really started showing.

The Ultrasound

2007-06-16T21:31:00.001-04:00

We had a 3-D & 4-D ultrasound done this afternoon. At first, the baby was shy, and didn't want us to know the sex. But then....well, lets just say he decided to show everything!!!

Here's a picture with his foot in his mouth!

Weeks 17 & 18

2007-06-16T21:29:00.000-04:00

I was on vacation these two weeks. Feeling great, and the baby decided to make its presence known while we were watching Hairspray on Broadway in New York. Not sure if it was a good review or not, but a pretty cool place to first feel the movements!

Week 16

2007-06-01T22:02:00.001-04:00

Went to the dr. again...heartbeat 160 beats per minute...next time we get an ultrasound! YAY! In two weeks, we're going to have a 3 and 4 dimensional ultrasound done with all our family. Meanwhile, I'm leaving for 2 weeks of vacation. Will try to post pictures.

Week 15

2007-05-28T11:24:00.000-04:00

Last week of school! Yay!! Feeling great, can't wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl!

Week 14

2007-05-19T19:49:00.000-04:00

Feeling great! Still loving on the pimento cheese sandwiches! Heard the heartbeat again, though the midwife had to search for it (hiding on my right side at that point, apparently). Can't wait for school to be out and to go on vacation.

Week 13

2007-05-13T20:03:00.000-04:00

Feeling much better, much more normal! A little indigestion, and my thyroid is acting up, but all in all, much better!

Week 12

2007-05-13T20:02:00.000-04:00

We got to hear the heartbeat! This was the week of pimento cheese sandwiches, and feeling better!

Week 11

2007-05-01T22:22:00.000-04:00

This was the week for McDonalds! I craved double cheeseburgers all week! Feeling bits better now!

Week 10

2007-04-22T16:06:00.000-04:00

This week went by really quickly. I'm feeling better, and I can't wait to go to the doctor to hear the heartbeat!

Week 9

2007-04-18T20:37:00.000-04:00

We celebrated Easter this week, and Baby got some Easter gifts! I was on spring break, and lazed around, except for cleaning out closets and such! This is the best I have felt in several weeks. I even hiked up Kennesaw Mountain on Friday!

Week 8

2007-04-07T08:59:00.000-04:00

Went to the doctor's office this week for my first appointment! Got to see the baby on ultrasound, and saw the heartbeat!

Still feeling kinda icky...can't wait for the nausea to go away!!!!

BTW-Due Date is November 9th!

Week 7

2007-03-30T19:08:00.000-04:00

A little more nausea, a little more tired...that's about all I'm feeling this week. Still forgetful...but such a small price to pay!

Week 6

2007-03-25T17:59:00.000-04:00

We had a few firsts this week. Baby and I went to our first rock concert-Nickelback-it was a great concert! I didn't realize how many Nickelback songs that I knew!

I also had morning sickness for the first time. I drank two sips of milk, and the milk decided it needed some fresh air. :)

We drove to Augusta to meet J's family for lunch, and he got to tell them the news in person.

Week 5

2007-03-19T19:50:00.002-04:00

Really thirsty still, white and orange foods are my favorites! Mac & cheese, bread, potatoes, mozzarella cheese, and french fries!

Mom told the church, and everyone is excited. Pretty much everyone at school knows, also!

Week 4

2007-03-19T19:50:00.001-04:00

I'm excited to be pregnant, and I'm thirsty! I have to eat more often, but not really any more. Carbs taste good, chocolate doesn't!

Oh, yeah...and the pregnancy brain! I can't remember all kinds of things, and the funny part is that this started before I even knew I was pregnant! If this gets worse, it's going to be a LoOnNgG nine months!

How We Told the Parents

2007-03-19T19:46:00.000-04:00

I had gotten a new digital picture frame for Christmas, but hadn't used it (hoping for a time like this)! I put several pictures of the pregnancy tests on it, and directed our parents toward it when they got to our house for card night.

The night before, my MIL and I had talked during dinner about the names we had called our grandparents. She hated the name Granny, and J and I were teasing her that we would call her Granny. She said "Well, if you have a baby in three, no, in two years, you can call me Granny." We shook hands on it, as J and I were dying laughing. Needless to say, my MIL will be teased with Granny for a long time to come!

The First Day We Knew

2007-03-19T19:42:00.000-04:00

I woke up early, like 5 in the morning. I took a pregnancy test, and 2 pink lines showed up within seconds. I took two more, both digital, that said "Pregnant". I couldn't believe it! I carried one of them to J, and said "Good morning, Daddy!" He woke up, said "Really?" and I showed him the test. It was our little secret for a while, but we were bursting to tell our families.

My Best Shot Monday

2007-03-05T22:06:00.000-05:00

My sister's corsage.

Link to Picture This.

My Hubby will do ANYTHING to get out of work!

2007-03-03T16:52:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, my hubby went to play paintball with my sister's boyfriend. Yes, he's 18 and my hubby, well, he's 27. My hubby, being the all-out-I'm-gonna-win-no-matter-what-take-em-out
player that he is, attempted to slide into a bunker on his knees. The problem? The metal stake in the ground holding down the bunker. He sliced his knee open.

DSBF calls me and tells me that hubby hurt his knee and is going to the hospital. I ask to talk to the injured one, and discern that he is capable of talking and making jokes. I beat him to the hospital, and once he's there, I'm directed back to the ER room.

He's lying on a gurney, and they are taking bloody clothes off his leg. There was surprisingly little blood-for an 8 inch laceration with two inches of exposed kneecap and tendons.

30ish stitches.

Lots of pain medication.

So far, a week off work, and kitty litter cleaning, and dishes, and doing clothes, and trash duty, and....and....and....you get the picture.

Everything looks ok now, just got to give it time to heal.

If you don't like gore, DON'T scroll down...stitches picture ahead.

Look away now!

It's coming...

EWWWW....Last chance!

Growing up...

2007-02-19T22:50:00.000-05:00

When I was 10, my parents rocked my world. They asked me if I would like a brother or a sister. My first thought: adoption. All my friends parents had stopped having babies. When I was 11 years and 12 days old, my little sister was born. I was there, at the hospital, with a pink "I'm the big sister" shirt on.

I was always a wuss about riding roller coasters, or any fast ride-at least until I was in high school. So it was very convenient that I got to go on all the kiddy rides with my sister, even after I was too big/old to go on them.

In middle school, she was always the ice breaker, at dances when my parents chaperoned, in her cheerleading outfit at basketball games, and with my friends.

In high school, she loved to cheer for her sissy-marching in the band and cheerleading at basketball games.

In college, she charmed all my buddies into buying Girl Scout cookies, we sent her a birthday card signed by all my friends, and she decided she wanted to be a Ballerina with the Marching Southerners-and she still does!

She was a bridesmaid at my wedding, and probably should have been Maid of Honor. Sorry, Meg! We danced to "I hope you dance" until my husband cut in. To know how special that was, you need to understand that they have a love/hate relationship, i.e. they love to hate each other-the best picture from the wedding is the one where they are sticking their tongues out at each other!

Today, I cheer for her in the marching band, and when danceline performs at basketball games. I am a leader for her Girl Scout troop, and ride the roller coasters with her! I carry her to JSU basketball and football games, and encourage her in her desire to try out for the 'Rina's.

This weekend, I reflected on how, in the last 16 years, our lives have become entwined in a way that no one could have predicted when she was born. She keeps me young, and I hope I pave her way into this big, wide world.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give fate a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

Artist ~ Lee Ann Womack~

My Best Shot Monday

2007-02-19T15:23:00.000-05:00

At the marina at George T. Bagby State Park.

With the long weekend, my parents invited us to spend 2 nights at the state park in south Georgia. We did a short hike at the Indian Mounds, a 3 mile hike at Providence Canyon (the Grand Canyon of the South), and lots of card playing and fun!

And, I got to try out my new Lensbaby 2.0 and zoom lenses!

My submission for Picture This!

My Best Shot Monday

2007-02-10T20:52:00.000-05:00

See my Tabblo>

I Am From...

2007-02-06T21:03:00.000-05:00

I am from a small city in Georgia with a population of 336, fluctuating according to the deaths and births. It is a city where my parents and grandparents live, and where my great grandfather, great great grandfather, and great great great grandfather are all buried. I had relatives who fought in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and I am related to the infamous Pretty Boy Floyd (of whom my great aunts dachshund was named).

Growing up, I lived within a mile of all my mom's family. We spent Sundays at church, eating southern fried chicken, sweet potato souffle, and homemade ice cream. Then we saddled the horses and hooked up the wagons for a trail ride. We have family reunions every summer, Homecoming at church in August, family dinners at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and pretty dresses on Easter, after a visit from the Easter Bunny.

My grandfather greets everyone (including family) with an introduction to himself as "the chief pea-picker of , Georgia". My grandmother bakes a mean roast beef, and occasionally used a switch on me, but only when I deserved it. My mom's a teacher, and my best role model. My dad raised me as the son he never had-hiking, camping, canoeing, and working around the house. When my parents asked me (at age 10) how I would feel about a little brother or sister, I thought they were talking about adoption. My sister was born just after I turned 11, and so I became a sister.

Travel is a cornerstone in my family. My mother has been to all 50 states, I am one shy. Vacation means getting up early, seeing, doing, driving, packing and repacking, spending each night in a new bed.

Education was important, I went to First Baptist preschool, then the elementary school that my mom teaches at (and where I teach at now), but I was also pulled out of school for trips with my family.

I may not have been born into the lap of luxury, but I am rich with family and experiences.

My Best Shot Monday

2007-02-05T20:30:00.000-05:00

My Super Bowl Cake

To understand why this is my favorite shot, you have to understand that I don't cook. Well, hardly ever. This is a Sour Cream Pound Cake recipe from my grandmother, with green jello for the field, field goals made out of candles, and flags from toothpicks. I'm very proud of myself.

The Adventures of Laura and Louis

2007-01-30T19:20:00.000-05:00

The people have been too busy cleaning with that vacuum all day to pay attention to us. It's a scary loud machine, and we try to stay away. When the man person takes a break to empty the dirty water, the door is left open a crack. The wind blows the door open....whooOOOooOOOoo...and we creep to the door. We sniff the air...Brrr. It's cold out there. With tentative paws, we slip through the door and look at the great big dark world. Suddenly, the woman person crashes through the door. "Get. In. The. House." she orders. We scamper to obey, and decide never to do that again.

My Best Shot Monday

2007-01-29T17:00:00.000-05:00

Louis the ATTACK CAT!!!

Really, he's yawning...

My Best Shot Monday-Night at Home

2007-01-22T18:23:00.000-05:00

Sending Snow Dust

2007-01-16T20:34:00.000-05:00

When I was little, snow was something that happened every few years.

Then, in March, when I was 13 and my sister was two, Georgia got hit with a blizzard. Two to three foot drifts, which doesn't sound like much to you New Englanders, is a HUGE amount to a place that shuts down with an inch of snow on the roads.

No power for a week, and my family went into survival mode. Mom and Dad taking shifts manning the fireplace, no baths, no electricity, mattresses pulled into the living room, and food cooked in the fire or on a cook stove in the kitchen. I must say, we ate well, trying to eat the food before it spoiled. However, I got to play in snow as much as I wanted, digging tunnels, eating snow cream, making coke slushies, and pulling a two year old around in the snow. Then Mom had to go back to school, and all us TK's played baseball in the back of the school, heh-me and the guys, and I messed up my Guess jeans and sweatshirt (those were the bomb!).

Now, I haven't seen snow in years. And the kids I teach, they have never seen snow unless they went to another state. And we're studying winter/weather/arctic animals right now, and wouldn't that be great. And (last one I promise) I was sick for the long weekend, and need a day to .

Snow Dust------->Georgia

Mmmm...hot chocolate weather...

2006-11-18T20:54:00.000-05:00

Winter is finally here, and Christmas is around the corner. It's time for one of my favorite drinks, that sweet velvety concoction called hot chocolate. AND...I found a new way to make it...easy easy. Heat chocolate milk and a splash or two of french vanilla cream, and heat in the microwave. Yum....

Sniff, sniff.

2006-11-12T22:55:00.000-05:00

In August of 1998, I left home for college. I decided to go to JSU because of the Marching Southerners, and I left eager to prove myself in the college marching band world. I don't remember much about that first band camp, except that we were told (by our section leaders) that some of us would be cut. I called home, crying, had mom crying, scared out of my mind, upset because I was afraid I couldn't hack it. It turned out, no one got cut, and such was the beginning of my experience in the Marching Southerners.

While a Southerner, I grew up. I laughed, learned, and loved. I met friends for life, and I met my husband through a fellow Southerner. I learned that hard work can bring tremendous pride, and that being a Southerner is a title that I will carry with pride for the rest of my life.

This weekend, Southerners celebrated 50 years of pride and tradition. Alumni and current members performed at the halftime show.

Words cannot express the range of emotions that I felt Friday and Saturday, but perhaps this video can.

This Picture Captures My Hobbies Really Well

2006-10-17T20:46:00.000-04:00

Hmmm...You may be wondering...

2006-10-02T22:45:00.000-04:00

What the story behind the cats names are?

No, my hubby and I aren't big designer label people. Our first two kitties, Lex and Laura, came with their names. So when we decided to adopt a third cat, we ended up adopting one with no name. Hmmm...Needs to be a name that starts with L and is a designer. While paying for said kitty, husband suggests the name Lucifer. The shelter volunteer stops. in. her. tracks. and looks. at. my. husband. I see this sweet kitty's adoptions going up in flames (the flames of hell, maybe). I assure her that there is no way that I am going to name a cat, or anything, Lucifer. My mother-in-law comes up with Louis Vuitton, which of course my husband doesn't spell right when he carries Louis to the vet the first time (Louie). When I tell him how Louis is spelled, he says "You mean we have a French cat?" Nope, not a French cat, but one with a French name.
Hee hee hee.

Finally, Louis Pooey

2006-10-02T22:35:00.000-04:00

Meet Louis Vuitton.

Louis (sounds like Looey!) is our personality plus cat. He is charming, a purr monster, and loves to be petted, by anyone who comes into our house. There is one problem with him though-he's stupid. Very charmingly, lovingly, purringly stupid. He knocks his head up against the bathtub every morning. He chases the laser light. He tries to nip his human mommy and daddy. His crowning achievement, though, is his passion for jumping on to the windowsill above our front door. When he tries to get down, instead of jumping back to the bannister, he jumps down the eight feet to the hardwood floor. This isn't something that he has done once or twice, he does it at least weekly, sometimes daily, occasionally multiple times daily!! But we love him, anyways!

Peek-a-boo!

Lex is Next

2006-09-28T19:03:00.003-04:00

Meet Alexander Julian.

Lex is a sweetheart, a cuddlebunny, a lovebug. He will snuggle with you in bed, on the couch, or in the recliner. He loves for his head to be scratched. He loves to nap, and seems to spend all his free time in our bed. His favorite accessory is his blue softpaws. Ok, maybe they are my favorite accessory for him, but still. He will occasionally sneeze on you, but that is his worst habit!

RIP Lex He died of liver failure when Turkey was 3 weeks old.

Meet Laura

2006-09-27T19:54:00.000-04:00

Meet Laura Ashley.

Laura was born in the spring of 2003, and adopted in July 2003. She is one of our three lovely cats, and the sister of Lex, who I will spotlight tomorrow.

Laura has the most expressive eyes that I have ever seen on a cat. You can tell when she is curious, apprehensive, angry, or scared. She is very skittish and shy, though not as much as she was as a kitten. Now, she doesn't run when you walk by, and doesn't jump at every noise. She is my footstool when I'm sitting in my recliner. She loves for me to push off her and rock. She will be a lap cat for short amounts of time, on her terms.

Laura is most known for being a slut. See picture below. Need more explanation? Thought not.

Happy Birthday Hubby!

2006-09-12T21:14:00.000-04:00

Happy 27th birthday!

Update...

2006-09-09T14:31:00.000-04:00

With a little work, the hair is ok....

But we could use some help with the camera avoidance strategies!

AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

2006-09-08T16:34:00.000-04:00

I walk in. Stop in shock. Hubby's lovely long hair-buzzed. Looks like a military cut. Two days before he is best man in a wedding.

Did he:

Ask for my hairdressers number (who would do a good job, and cut his hair last time)?

Take a picture of himself when he liked his hair before?

Discuss the pros and cons of getting hair cut with me ahead of time?

Go to the barber I had suggested?

Think?

The answer to all of the previous questions?

NO.

And he wonders why I'm upset because he got a sucky haircut that will look terrible in pictures, and there's nothing he can do about it now?!?!?!?!

Time Flies

2006-09-06T20:16:00.000-04:00

As I was walking to class last night at JSU, I realized how fast time flies. When I first came on the campus as a freshman in 1998, the world was in front of me. I was single and not living at home for the first time in my life. I wanted to be in the Marching Southerners (check), become a teacher (check), and meet someone to spend the rest of my life with (check). When I started my masters, I had just bought a house, and was ready to go back to school. Now that I'm on my specialist degree, it seems routine. I don't feel that old. No kids, just a budget that wasn't ready to spend over $100 on books! However, I realized that the freshman coming onto campus this year, who are where I was 8 years ago, would have been in elementary school when I started at JSU. Whoa...

My New Life Philosophy

2006-09-02T14:04:00.000-04:00

Happy Times

2006-08-24T21:20:00.000-04:00

Me at the beach...

My First Blog

2006-08-20T14:43:00.000-04:00

Ok, so it's my first time...sort of, I have a thingee at xanga, that I've posted on twice, and a myspace and facebook that I use to make sure my 15 year old sis isn't getting in trouble, but I've never really blogged before. So, I guess I'm not a virgin anymore. Huh.

So, last weekend J and I went and visited his church, cuz it's been forever, and some friends are becoming missionaries to France-last chance to see them for long time :( -and ended up spending the day with his parents. Nice clean family time, going to the movies (saw Cars-great!!!!! except for the 2 times they said Hillbilly Hell-which ruined it for me as a teacher, can't show that one in class) went out-free food-Outback-wahoo! So we're sitting around their house, and my MIL is cleaning out stuff and foisting it on us. So we go home with.....2 oriental rugs, some old model cars, and some books....including....the 1972 paperback edition of The Joy of Sex, and More Joy. Also got some baby developmental books. Hmmmm...wonder if this was planned.

MIL-Hey, let's give them these books.
FIL-Yeah, if they read the sex books enough, maybe they'll have to read the baby books next!
MIL-Nothing else has worked to get us grandchildren...might as well try!

There's nothing like good, quality family time....with some dysfunctional built right in.