Coup D'Blog

Blogging...I blame Polaroid

2011-01-12T20:43:00.004-05:00

Well, it looks as if this blogging thing is becoming a dying art form. First the DoDo bird, then chivalry, and now blogging. Revision: chivalry, DoDo bird, then blogging. And in case you're wondering, the DoDo bird was an art form. It's excrement was Jackson Pollock's inspiration.

I can't imagine waiting a month or more for the response to a handwritten letter. Now Twitter will inform me of the mindless wanderings of a third string linebacker on my favorite football team, every 15 seconds, if he's that prolific with his tweets. Seriously, people actually "follow" third string linebackers. Something is fundamentally wrong with this picture. Instead of reading a book a smart person wrote, the masses have turned to the 140 character masterpieces of guys that read on a 5th grade level and chew horse roids like they're sticks of Juicy Fruit. Perhaps, (I was going to use "maybe" here but perhaps just sounds smarter) it's not a coincidence that Twitter's logo is feathered like Farrah Fawcett's bangs.

Back to School

2009-10-14T18:20:00.002-05:00

Lately, I've been considering a return to school, a la Rodney Dangerfield, but I don't plan on joining the dive team. It's always been a personal goal of mine to return for an MBA, but for both personal and financial reasons, I haven't felt ready for a return. That is, until recently.

It has been six years since I've graduated from Shepherd. In that span, I have assumed the personal roles of husband, homeowner and father, which are and will always be more important than any job title. Professionally, I have had the good fortune to fall into a career that I enjoy as a procurement officer. This position has given me the opportunity to interact with the gamut of internal staff, from bookkeepers to Superintendents. Also, I've been able to collaborate with every major department within the organization during the procurement process. As a function area of the finance department, procurement consists of two staff members, me, the supervisor and a purchasing specialist. This staffing situation, while sometimes challenging during peak seasons, has further afforded me the opportunity to oversee the procurement of most major purchasing categories. To name a few, office supplies, group health insurance, and financial advisory services. I've also been able to work on the development of a public/private partnership (PPP) that resulted in the construction of an elementary school and am currently working on another PPP for a county-wide transportation facility.

With this experience, I now feel equipped to attend B-school. The program I attend will need to be a part-time program, because of my aforementioned personal roles and the fact that quitting a good job in this economy would be very un-businesslike, in my opinion. I've looked into a few local schools, Shepherd and Shenandoah, along with a few nearby major universities. Of course the smaller, local schools are more affordable, but the larger institutions carry a little more clout and a larger network of both alumni and recruiters.

Which gets me to the question that probably every prospective MBA student has asked, "What is the return on my investment?" Which, I guess, is a great question to ask, and sounds very "MBAish". It is true that the job market in the U.S. is currently in the doldrums and the once very real prospect of stepping out of b-school and into a $100k position is unlikely. But is that the real reason to return to school? Certainly, I'd like to be able to earn a decent wage to support my family and retire comfortably, but I argue that the non-monetary rewards of advancing your education outweigh the monetary. One university that I've researched says their program is geared to prepare principled leaders for the world of practical affairs. And isn't that the point? Don't we need more of those?

Why am I writing this, you might ask? Simply practicing for the analytical writing assessment, which is a part of the GMAT exam. So, if I haven't bored you to death with this post, stay tuned...

It's Scary...

2009-05-23T19:20:00.002-05:00

I have recently been paying close attention to my oldest princess. When I look at her and look at Lauren, I can't believe how incredibly fast it goes by! It seems like I was just cradling her in my arms and laying her down in the crib. Now, she dresses herself, buckles herself, and so much more. I know that once you become a parent you are always a parent...until the day you die. In fact, I still rely on my mom for advice and help often. I know they will always need me in one way or another, but in a way I want them to stay little forever. I try and remind myself (even when I want to scream)that these moments are fleeting and I need to cherish every one. I see sooo much of myself in Layla that it's scary. She thinks like me, talks like me, reacts like me, loves like me. It's really put me in check on how I influence her. It's our similarities and more that I hope will bond us forever. I love my babies more than I could ever express. May I never take these blessings for granted...ever.

Ready For Spring

2009-04-09T14:56:00.002-05:00

Today we went to the park to fly kites and hunt eggs! Layla was beside herself with joy after filling up her bag. But she was most excited about Grandma Kate flying the kite with her! That's what she raved about all the way home "It was so nice of Grandma Kate to fly kites with me mama." So this is for you the bestest dang Grandma in the whole wide world.

Are Your Kidney's OK??

2009-03-12T20:51:00.003-05:00

This was our 3rd annual World Kidney Day and it was great! I posted last year about the community health screen we held at the hospital. Yet another success! Kidney disease is often silent until the latest stages, which is why early detection is soo key. So if you have risk factors get yourselves check out! The National Kidney Foundation is a wealth of information and the site is very user friendly. Maybe I'll see you all next year.

ps the baby's not a faker, she had yet another temp today at daycare 102.1. took her to the pediatrician.... just a virus so I must rescind that last blog entry. although she's had no more fever's again in my presence...hmmmm very interesting

Faker!!

2009-03-11T08:14:00.003-05:00

I was at work yesterday when I got the call..."Hi Lane this is Trena, (daycare director)" "Hi Trena is everything OK?" (they never call unless something is wrong) "Well Lauren has a temp that's just about 101 and we wanted to let you know" "Does that mean I need to come get her?" "Well yes it's a licensing regulation for anything above 101." "OK, let me see what I can do." So I was calling the available people I thought might be able to pick her up, but there was no luck. Josh was stuck at work. So I called everybody in my work directory that might come in and relieve me. No luck! I finally found someone to cover and I rushed over to get her. She was sound asleep, and felt only a little warm when I picked her up. They said she had been fussy and I can relate she woke me three times the previous night. They handed me her activity sheet temp was 100.9 so we said goodbye and headed home. On the way home (I grabbed Layla too) Layla was making her crack up! I mean gut-busting laughs. I'm thinkin' this kid isn't acting very sick. We get home, I check the temp. NO FEVER! and she's as content as can be. OK, maybe the fever broke. I check her temp about a hundred times the rest of the day.... NO FEVER! I was feeling frustrated to say the least. I had now just depleted what little paid leave I had earned back from maternity leave and left my BUSY unit for nothing. Oh well, better safe than sorry and if it gave me more time with my precious angel so be it. I ask you though, does this baby look sick?? I didn't think so either.

1st Haircut

2009-03-04T13:53:00.004-05:00

My little baby is almost 3 1/2 years 0ld and I have never cut her hair. Beautiful brown curls flow down her back, but get tangled every time I turn around. So, today we went together to the salon cut her hair for the first time. She was a little shy, but looked so adorable sitting there in the chair. She even got a little certificate with a lock of hair to keep. I am beside myself. It seems as though every time I turn around she's getting older. How do we stop time from slipping away? Before you know it she'll be starting kindergarten, then driving and off to college. If you have children cherish every moment, they grow up so fast.

Feelin' Productive!

2009-03-03T15:43:00.003-05:00

Lately I have been battling this annoying cold that zapped a good portion of my energy. But, I'm now on the tail end of it and picking up momentum. My husband and I have finally agreed to paint the interior of the house ourselves and it has motivated me to get some other projects done. Today I was feeling particularly ambitious and even added an ab workout to my list of chores. I hope I'm able to keep it up, but if not I'm sure I can always do some crack to pick myself back up.....hahaha, just kidding.

Little White Lies

2009-02-10T11:37:00.002-05:00

So the other night, while I was preoccupied with the baby, I noticed it was awfully quite downstairs. I called down to Layla and asked her what she was doing. "I'm looking at the computer." was her reply. However, when I came downstairs I found a barstool strategically placed near the kitchen counter, and a bowel out next to the now 2 remaining powdered donuts. When I called Layla into the room, the evidence was all around her mouth. A white powdered ring of guilt. She smiled at me and said, "what mom?" After questioning the accused, she confessed to the crime. My mom tells me that toddlers/pre-schoolers are good practice for teens. At this rate, I'm going to need a lot of it.

If There Were Only More Hours In The Day

2009-01-11T13:41:00.004-05:00

Lately, I've been feeling like I need more time in the day to accomplish what I need to accomplish. Things like, cleaning, cooking, changing diapers, laundry, grocery shopping, etc seem to take up a lot of my time!! Don't get me wrong I'm so grateful for a home to clean, food to cook, diapers to change, laundry to wash, and groceries to put away. But, I also want to lose myself in photography, the novel I'm reading, a long hot bath, an uninterrupted nap. By the time I finish what has to be done, I have no energy to do what I want to get done. I guess these are the blessings and burdens that come with being a wife and mother. And now I hear an angel calling so I must go. Oh well, tomorrow will be a little longer.....sigh.

Poser

2008-12-29T17:08:00.003-05:00

So my AWESOME husband bought me what I've been dying for.... a new camera. It's awesome with so may cool bells and whistles it's a little overwhelming. I am spending any free time I have now learning about it and photography! I really want to take a class so that I can establish some sort of baseline to work with. But, for now I'll have to settle for "Digital SLR Cameras For Dummies," the internet, and my owners manual. I guess now I will have to cave in to the kayak request. You have my blessing honey! Here's one of my first shots.

Remember She's Watching

2008-12-15T16:05:00.003-05:00

Today was beautiful like 65 degrees in the middle of December! So we decided to spend some much needed time outside. For her 3rd birthday, Layla got a Barbie Jeep. She loves it, but is still learning how to drive it. Anyway, after a frustrating ride down the street, we took it to the back yard. At this age Layla is really starting to do "pretend play." So she informed me that she needed gas and was going to the store (a tree in the yard). I laughed and told her to buckle up and she waved goodbye. She drove a few yards, stopped and got out to pump her gas. Then got back in to head to the store. As she was "parking" I heard her say "Whoa, you're not getting my spot lady!" then she got out and strutted up to "the store." I almost fell out. I guess I need to be more aware of what comes out of my mouth at all times. Dang that Pastor Tim.

I Need A Medic Alert Bracelett

2008-12-03T16:04:00.003-05:00

Ok, those of you who know me, know that I'm not always graceful and today was certainly not a graceful day. After feeling good about getting my hair trimmed, I was prancing around Martins picking up a few things for dinner when it happened. As I was strolling down the dairy isle, and as i approached the butter case, my foot slid out in front of me, causing me to fall into the butter and grip the side of the case to avoid going all the way down. Well all the way down I went. Ok, stay calm. There were only 3 other people in the isle and two had their backs turned. However, the one lady, who only saw me out of her peripheral vision, just had to say it "Are you OK?" Yes, I'm OK,-- but I would be even better if you would just pretend you didn't see that. Thankfully that was the last item on my list, so I could hurry out and be done. Be done? Not done falling!! I get home and as I am unloading the baby (in her car seat) I head into the garage only to trip up again. The car seat flies out of my arms, bounces off the lawnmower and lands (safely right side up) on the ground just as I am falling ( in what seems to be slow motion), down hard!!! I have now rolled my right ankle and am rolling around on the garage floor (forgive me Lord) using profanity about the searing pain in my foot. Now all I need is for my neighbors to pull into their driveway and see this action. Fortunately I managed to get up hobble into the house, check the baby ( who's eyes are the size of saucers) and nurse my foot and my pride. I am now done for the day! I should have never made fun of that old lady on TV....

Facebookin'

2008-11-25T10:31:00.002-05:00

Well, I must confess that I am addicted. When my sister Kara told me that my mom had a facebook page, I went to check it out. The problem is you can't check it out unless you join. Well that was my mistake. I joined and was almost instantly connected with a ton of friends (some I haven't seen or talked to in years) and became hooked. It's like a form of crack, I check it about 10 times a day to see if anyone's written on my wall, or to see who's online to chat with. I love it!! It's so easy to use and fun too. So for all of you who haven't tried it (KIRSTEN) please check it out. Yes I'm peer pressuring you ....all the cool kids are doing it, you will be so popular if you do.......

Pooptastrophe

2008-11-20T17:56:00.002-05:00

You forget how something so small can make something so massive. Today I took Layla to spend her b-day money from Pap Pap in Toys R Us. We get there and the baby's fussy. So the three of us squeeze into one of the child-sized changing rooms so I can nurse her. As I'm sitting there praying no one opens the door and sees my goods hangin' out, it happened. Red-faced and working hard, she rips one (Lauren) and a few seconds later another. Great now I will have to strip off her snuggly and all the layers and change her. I'm trying not to fall over Layla and the car seat on the floor and then I saw it. Poop city. The biggest poo ever. It was all the way through to her snuggly, but fortunately I had a change of clothes. However now how was she going to stay warm. I thought briefly of using a wipe and swiping off as much as possibly and wrapping her back up. (What, it was on the back no one would see) Then I realized that was a bad idea. So I changed her clothes and wrapped her up in the blanket as best I could. I tried to ignore the "I can't believe she doesn't have a coat or hat on that baby" looks but I know they were there. Oh well ya just gotta do what ya just gotta poo, I mean do.

Happy Halloween!!

2008-11-01T11:47:00.004-05:00

Last night we had "the Fam" over for our 3rd year of halloween at the Higdon house. It's such a blast eating pizza, handing out candy, trick or treating, and just hanging out. The best part is watching the enthusiasm of the little guys as they race up and down each driveway. Fall is my absolute favorite time of year and making memories is what it's all about. Here are a couple of pics to show how we've grown over the last year.

Daddy's Little Girl

2008-10-24T13:11:00.002-05:00

The other night my family and I were in the rec room watching TV when my husband asked Layla to get him a beer. She walked over to the fridge, grabbed him a beer then without being asked, grabbed the opener from the ping-pong table. She walked over to her Daddy, and handed him his treasure. He was beaming with pride. In fact, I think I even saw a tear in his eye. If ever we needed any affirmation that she is in fact, a "freakin' genius" there it was! Layla, you've set the expectation bar so high for your sister.

Our Girls

2008-10-19T15:48:00.002-05:00

The much anticipated arrival of our newest addition has finally come. She was born at 10:57pm on Thursday night and was all we'd hoped for. The delivery went pretty smoothly and we avoided a trip to NICU this time. We're all home now recovering nicely. Josh and I are beginning to learn how to manage 2. Layla is my super big helper and loves holding her sister.

If you're wondering where the name Lauren came from, we actually decided on it only just before she arrived....literally. It suits her well though. We are all lovin' life right now and Josh and I can't wait to see how alike or different these two girls will be. For more pics, check out www.grandmakate.smugmug.com.

Really, Really Ready!!

2008-09-21T08:27:00.002-05:00

OK, my last post confessed that I am not the model pregnant woman. In fact, there are only a few things about it that I do like, the best is the being over part. Yesterday my mom and sisters hosted a baby shower for me. This is a plus!! There is nothing better than being surrounded by women who know exactly what you're feeling. There also good at making you feel like you're not a whiny cry-baby for being uncomfortable. There also just good company.

Friday night, we had a little excitement. I was at work and a few hours after lunch, I started having contractions. Nothing painful, but frequent enough to make me wonder. After much encouragement from my co-workers, I ended up upstairs to get checked out. I peed in a cup and they put me on the monitor. Then the pain started. I was super uncomfortable and the nurse came back and said you are really dehydrated (apparently this can trigger contractions). So they put in an IV and pumped me full of fluid. I finally went home around 10 and have been in the loving care of my husband since. This experience I claim as bittersweet; too bad this isn't over and we're now lovin' on a new baby, but sweet because, I'm still not ready!! I didn't have a bag packed, the carseat hasn't been washed, and most importantly we still don't have a name. Oh well this is pushing me to get ready faster!!!

Ready To Be Done!!

2008-08-29T08:11:00.002-05:00

If you've visited my blog before, you've seen the ticker counting down the days until the arrival of our little one. I've decided that if you check it daily, it becomes really annoying. However, if you go several days without checking it, it's awesome. I have officially reached the miserable part of pregnancy. In the last few weeks, I have become increasingly more uncomfortable each day. Sleep, ha, how do you sleep when you have to change positions about 80 times a night. Or, you have to stop all liquids by about 7 so that you don't have to get up to pee. Or, you can't walk any distance without feeling like the baby is going to fall out. Now don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the wonderful gift of being able to carry a baby, but I wish Eve hadn't wrecked it for all of us. I also know the end result and how all that misery is forgotten when you look down at that little angel face. As I held my sister's baby for the first time, it all melted away. So I guess I shouldn't complain, but dang it feels good to vent.

The County Fair

2008-08-08T12:55:00.005-05:00

Last night my husband and I took our daughter to the county fair. It's always an interesting experience, however this year there was a little excitement thrown into the mix. As we were standing in line for a ride, we noticed some commotion over by the ferris wheel. There were instantly about 4 or 5 cops trying to diffuse the situation, but the perp (perp...so copish) just wouldn't relent. As they tried to remove him, he resisted. He was quickly tackled to the ground, but the fool wouldn't give up. So he got tased (did I spell that right?) AWESOME!! I felt like I was on an episode of "Cops." It was the highlight of the evening. The only thing that made my heart beat faster, was watching our little princess smile with delight as she rode the carnival rides. A'int she cute (sorry I think the fair had some effect on me).

Bye Bye Binky!!!

2008-08-05T08:18:00.002-05:00

So I have to admit, I feel bad that I let my daughter make it to 2 3/4 with a binky at bedtime. I wasn't too worried though, it fell out of her mouth about 2 seconds after she fell asleep. So any fears we had about orthodontic nightmares were not huge. Just for kicks though, a few nights ago I decided to see how she would react to bedtime with no bink. As we were getting ready for bed I asked her if she was a big girl and she said yes. Then I asked her if she thought binkies were for babies. The answer again yes......hmmm. I was getting a little braver, so I decided to go for it. I asked her if she was ready to give them up. The answer......again yes!!! WHAT? I thought for sure she was psychin' me out. But that night after our story and our prayer I said "ok, are you ready?" and she said "yep" I put them in the pocket of my bathrobe, kissed her, and walked out of the room. As I shut the door, I thought I would her a desperate cry for the bink, but nothing. The next morning, Daddy made a big deal about being such a big girl, and we haven't talked about it since. I am so proud of her. Yet another reminder that our little girl is growing up.

Man of My Dreams

2008-07-22T20:54:00.002-05:00

This past Sunday was our 6th wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe it's even been that long. Josh and I have been together since high school and though it's been rocky at times, I wouldn't trade this love for anything. He has been my rock and my support through some of the most difficult times of my life. I am truly blessed to have him for a husband and father for our children. He's handsome, intelligent, loving, caring, successful, supportive, and so much more. I only hope I make him as proud of me as I am of him. Thank you God for placing him in my life.

Here Today Gone Tomorrow

2008-06-29T19:47:00.002-05:00

My family just returned from our annual trip to Nags Head. It's something we look forward to for an entire year. My husband and I usually reserve a house in Oct. and then I start counting down in January. There's nothing better than sitting in the sand with the people you enjoy the most, doing absolutely nothing but having a great time. When we got home I asked my daughter what was her favorite part about the beach. Her response, the ocean, followed closely by "racing cars." I love everything about the beach, except leaving. If I could slow down time I would. A week just isn't long enough. So until next year I'll have to live on the memories.

Summer Fun

2008-06-12T08:28:00.003-05:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of hanging out with one of the cutest little boys you'll ever see. He's the son of one of my oldest and dearest friends. As he and Layla were swimming around in the pool, I looked at him and was taken back to my elementary years when his mother and I first met. They have the exact same eyes and I remembered hanging out as a 10 year-old with his mom making up dance routines to Paula Abdul and Madonna, trying to form our own baby-sitters club, and sleepovers. Ah to be young and carefree again.......these kids have no idea how good they have it.

It's A...........

2008-06-04T19:18:00.002-05:00

Well we went to the doctor today for the big ultrasound. I have to say I was really sort of confident about the sex. I remember when I was pregnant with our daughter, the first dream I had of the baby was that it was a girl. So I was pretty sure that my instincts were right about this one and walked into the ultrasound thinking I already knew what was coming. Wrong! We started the scan with the general measurements the doctor has to have to make sure everything is in order. Then we moved to the gender. Josh, who works down the street, came in just in time to find out he's going to have to pay for two weddings. I have to say there may have been a split second of shock immediately followed by elation. I guess I can throw those instincts out the window. Now we can really get excited about planning. Josh is relieved that the clothes shopping for this one will be minimal. And he's already talking about girls softball, but fearing punk boyfriends and PMS. Even though he'll be out numbered, there's nothing cuter than a Dad with his little girls.

Long Gone

2008-05-22T12:44:00.005-05:00

My sister and her family were home from the mission field for a few weeks and it was AWESOME. Our whole family felt so blessed to have them near us for the first time in about 19 months. So you can imagine how thrilled we were when their original departure date got moved back a few days. We said our goodbyes Tuesday night and drove away from my parents house with the image of my sister waving from the window. I was really proud of myself for holding it together in front of everyone. But, when we got home, my husband looked at me and said "Do you want to talk about it?" I immediately said "NO" but the tears were already rimming my eyes. We talked about what an inspiration their family is to us and how proud we are of them. I admitted I was terrible about emails and had been spoiled by being able to talk to or even go see them whenever I wanted. Josh was so reassuring. Last night as I was driving home from work, I looked at the clock and noticed that it was about the time they were to be boarding the plane. I called my mom, who had dropped them off and asked how it went. She said as they were on the way home my sister called and tearfully told her they'd been placed on standby. I wrote a while ago about being stuck in London for 6 hrs. But this was nothing compared to what my sister was facing. Imagine all the luggage, boxes, and 5 kids ready to travel halfway around the world only to be halted on the verge of their flight. My mother waited for the call last night asking her to come pick them up, but it never came. It seems as though God granted them their passage as we've not heard anything else from them. Please pray for their continued safe travel to their final destination in Cameroon. Checkout their website for updates and for my brother-in-law's moving tribute to my sister.

Wonderful Family

2008-05-14T20:40:00.002-05:00

I feel so blessed to be part of such an amazing family. This past Mother's Day we spent the entire afternoon together and it was wonderful. These people mean more to me than anything in the whole world. If it hadn't been for their love and guidance I don't know where I'd be today. Thank you family for being so awesome and for taking a chance on me. You're stuck with me for freakin' ever now.

ps not all of us are in the picture, but you can get an idea of how much love we have to go around.

Long Time No Write

2008-04-28T12:58:00.002-05:00

Well it's been quite a while since my last post. I have to admit I've been a little lazy about keeping up. The pregnancy is going very well although I must say it was rough for a while. I've been busy enjoying my sister's return home and have been getting in all the hugs and squeezes I can before they leave again. The weather finally feels spring-like (except for today) and I have unveiled the pasty-white legs in an attempt to pick up a little color before heading to the beach. I have also enjoyed a long stretch off from work however, it's flown by pretty fast. I have started the count-down to our family's annual beach vacation. We are now 53 days away and I am SUPER EXCITED!!!! Our whole family lives for this every year. Well that's about the exciting news I have for now. Sorry for the crappy post.

Are Your Kidney's OK??

2008-03-27T12:40:00.003-05:00

So March 13th was World Kidney Day. Being a renal nurse my fellow nurses and I decided we should definitely participate. Last year we did a traveling road show throughout our hospital, educating non-renal nurses on the care of our delicate patient population. This year we had more time to plan so we decided to do a community health screening open to the general public. Being the chairperson for our unit-based council, I was sort of elected to head things up. We started planning at the end of last summer and met monthly until the big day. None of us had ever done anything like this so we called on the advice and expertise of marketing, administration and many more. I was way stressed about the whole thing and woke up about 3 times the night before. We had no idea how many people were going to show up so we decided to limit the number we would screen to keep it manageable. The screening started at 8am but there was a lobby full of people by 7:15. We were mobbed throughout the morning but managed to handle it all. The day turned out to be a great success and we all breathed a sigh of relief. I think though someone else can be in charge next year.

Bump In The Night

2008-03-15T10:46:00.002-05:00

So one of the awesome things about pregnancy (sarcasm here) is that you are totally drooling asleep at 8:30pm and wake about every 2-3 hrs to pee. This morning about 2:15 I woke up to pee and just when I caught the edge of sleep I heard a noise. I didn't think anything of it at first, it sounded like the dog coming up the stairs. But then I realized both dogs were in the room with us....hmmm. Don't freak out, I told myself and tried desperately to fall back to sleep. Then I heard it again. Ok, wake up the man sleeping next to you and have him check it out. So after about the third "JOSH," he woke up. I explained what he heard and our protector went off to check it out. He gave the whole house the once-over and came back to the room. I felt a little better after that, but still wanted to be sure. I decided to go downstairs and let out our ferocious schnauzer to get the bad guys lurking outside. He had been out for a few minutes and just as I was calling him back in, he barked and someone/something made the scariest noise I'd ever heard. Josh came back upstairs, he'd been checking the basement again, said "close the door and get upstairs" I was frozen and shaking, I don't know if I've ever been so freaked out in my life. He grabbed his hunting rifle and I called the cops. A few minutes later the nice officer checked out everything outside, put our minds at ease and left. We were still feeling a little jittery, but able to get back to sleep. Now just so you don't think we were over-reacting, I will tell you that we have had problems with break-ins in the neighborhood and last year one of our neighbors was held up at gunpoint in her own driveway (just around the corner from us). I like to think of the town we live in as a little rough, so I don't think it hurts to be overly cautious. I hate being afraid in my own house.

It's Been A While

2008-03-09T19:46:00.003-05:00

Ok, so some time has passed since my last post. I have to say this pregnancy is taking a toll on me. I remember being tired with my first, but this is ridiculous. I have about zero energy and battle little waves of nausea all day. The weather's no help either. It's been a constant miserable grey, cold drizzle and if I don't see a stinkin' flower soon I might scream. My house, which I usually am very particular about, is in mild disarray. And every time I feel like every time the laundry's caught up, the friggin' hamper is full again. This is going to be a very busy week at work for me as Thursday is officially "World Kidney Day" and I have put a lot of time and energy into planning it. Please pray that my energy holds out and that I survive the week. Until I write again....

Good News!!

2008-02-17T09:38:00.002-05:00

So my husband and I decided it was time for another baby. If you read my mom's blog you already know WE'RE PREGNANT!!! I should be due sometime around mid-October. But don't worry, I'm not letting this interfere with my workouts.....I went to the gym yesterday morning and actually made it through the class without feeling like my arms and legs we're going to fall off. I was even feeling ambitious and added more weight to my bar. Um yeah, well my butt is burning today. But, no pain no gain right?

First Time For Everything

2008-02-11T14:02:00.000-05:00

My husband and I are in the middle of a few little home improvement projects, one of which is finishing our basement. After a long 12 hr shift at work, the only thing on my mind was a hot shower. I have this rule that I must wash the hospital cooties off of me as soon as I step in the door. I don't even touch my husband or daughter until I am germ free. Yesterday was a particularly yucky day at work and the shower was calling my name. I came home to find my loving husband and his father working away tirelessly on the basement. I was soo excited to see the progress as work was held up for weeks (football season). Anyway, I was just about to go back upstairs when Josh said "Oh, you're not gonna be able to shower yet the water's off." Deep breath! "Ok," I said, "for how long?" "Not too much longer" he promised and I headed upstairs to sit on a stool until I could get in. About a half hour later I almost fell of the stool when the water came on full blast in the kitchen. YES!!! Relief. I was seconds away from the steps when my mom calls. Ok I though I've waited this long, I might as well have a short conversation. While on the phone I hear a horrible sound coming from the basement. "What was that," she asked. "I don't know, I have to go," I said. I went downstairs to find a pipe had burst and my husband and his father mopping up the mess. "Well I guess we're not plumbers" my husband said and then I realized the shower was slipping further and further away. It was now going to be at least a couple of hours until I could get in. My heart sank, I was exhausted and I couldn't even sit on the couch. I lay on the floor at the foot of the steps when I had and idea. There was bottled water in the garage!!! What if I heat it up and use it. So I did. Yes I took 4 bottles of Aquifina poured them in to a pan and heated it up. I then carefully took it up to my bathroom and proceeded with a bird bath. I was cold, but clean and better yet could now put on my pajamas and slip into bed. I guess know I how my sister survives in Africa.

Update

2008-01-29T21:39:00.001-05:00

Well I thought I would update everyone on how I'm doing with my resolutions. I am...one for five. Tonight I decided to go to the gym. I am tired of feeling like a slug and I remembered how I felt when I was working out. So I went to Gold's and tried Body Pump for the first time. The result.... I can barely type this blog and I am seriously considering installing a chair lift for the stairs. My legs feel like jello and driving a clutch home was torture. I went ahead and took some ibuprofen a few minutes ago and my heating pad is warming up. I don't know if I will be able to move at all tomorrow, so if you're reading this go ahead and give me a call sometime after 10. If I don't answer I think it's safe to say you can go ahead and call the paramedics.

New Year's Resolutions

2008-01-03T21:40:00.000-05:00

It's become a tradition every New Year for people to make "promises" to change things in their lives that they're not happy with. My first thought about this year, was not to make any resolutions because I hate setting myself up for failure. It's like the moment I set these little "goals," something inside of me says NO. For example, let's say I wanna exercise more and lose weight. Is is just a coincidence that I suddenly crave quarterpounders from McDonalds??? Or, I say I'm going to have more patience then someone cuts me off on the highway. Are you kidding is it some sort of test? But despite this I am still making resolutions for this year so here they are... in random order

1. Exercise (stop laughing)
2. Be more productive
3. Finish home improvement projects
4. Spend more time at church
5. Save more money

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T21:03:00.000-05:00

It's nine o'clock on Christmas night and I'm sitting in bed exhausted, but content. Today was a day for family. We spent the morning opening gifts before traveling to my husband's family's for dinner and then over to my family's for a birthday. I absolutely LOVE Christmas, it's definitely my favorite holiday, but I always have a little sense of disappointment when it's all over. There's so much time and effort put into planning and preparation and then just like that, it's over. It was also sad to not have my oldest sister and her family here with us. I've been checking their photo site often for pictures and updates, but it's just not the same. I was really glad to see a couple of videos of the kids, it brings them a little closer to home. We all miss them terribly and hope Christmas was as happy in Africa as it was here. On the bright side we have something superfun to look forward too....the BEACH!!! Only about seven more months until we're sunning ourselves on the Outer Banks sand and only 364 more days until next Christmas!!

Country Christmas

2007-12-17T14:49:00.000-05:00

Some members of my family and I just returned from a little trip to Nashville TN. We had a great time!!! The weather was drizzly but warm enough to go without a coat. Although we were just there for the weekend,we tried to pack in as much fun as we possibly could. One of my favorite places we visited was the Opryland Hotel! It was sooo incredibly beautiful. They had it completely decorated for the holidays and the lights were awesome. Nashville is such a cool city to visit even if you're not a "country" music fan. There's so much music history in that town you'd need a year to see it all. Here's a picture of some of the lights at the hotel.

This Is Too Funny Not To Join In

2007-11-30T19:55:00.001-05:00

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1124028539

ps check out my mom and sisters too!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

When You Remember Why

2007-11-28T21:37:00.000-05:00

I've recently had some very emotional cases at work. Supporting patients and their families in desperate situations faced with major life-changing decisions...one of the hardest parts of being a nurse. I'd like to think that most people become nurses because they are filled with compassion and genuine concern for their fellow man. I know, however that's not always the case. I definitely can get wrapped up in the routine of things, but every so often you meet someone or witness something that brings it all home again. This is yet another time I see God working in me and through me. For instance, over the weekend I had a patient who became critically ill. This patient is one I've known my entire nursing career and who I have developed somewhat of a relationship with. She's as single mother of two, the older of whom has moved away from home. The younger was a sixteen-year-old boy who spends most of his days caring for his chronically ill mother. This young man has the weight of the world on his shoulders, but I've never heard him complain. He misses a lot of school because he has to help his mom to doctors appts, dialysis, cook, clean, etc. They have no family in the area only friends they can call on to lend support if they can. He spends his nights with her in the hospital, sleeps on the couch and takes care of her every need. On Sunday she became seriously ill and it looked as though things were grim. I took one look at her son's face and flashed back to my own past. I too had been in a similar situation at that age. I knew he was scared. His whole world was turning upside down, it looked like his mother was going to die and nothing would ever be the same. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged as tight as I could. He was so brave and shed only one tear. Fortunately they are believers and have a great church family who were very supportive. The waiting room was filled with praying friends and I'm happy to say, when I returned to work today I met good news. She had survived and looked like she would be Ok for the time being. I know God answered our prayers. He put me there for her and for her son so I could support them. I remembered then why I became nurse.

Good Friends

2007-11-23T16:56:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, one of my girlfriends came to visit. I've known Jessica since high school and we have been great friends ever since. This summer she had a beautiful baby boy and a few days ago she and her husband Marcus brought him over to our house so we could meet him for the first time. Sam is adorable, but what I think was even better was the happiness he brings both his mother and father. Jessica is a gorgeous gal, but she never looked prettier than when she was holding her son. I am so glad we get to share motherhood together. My other girlfriend Chrissy was here too. We have been friends since elementary school. How lucky am I to have such great friends.

My Baby's Not A Baby Anymore

2007-11-08T12:58:00.000-05:00

Two years ago today, our lives changed forever. God blessed us with the most precious gift anyone could ever ask for. Our little princess fills us with the most wonderful love you could ever imagine. Over the last two years we have watched her grow and she constantly amazes us. When I married my husband I never thought I could love anyone as much as I love him. But, when Layla came, I saw love in a whole new light. My mom always told me that the love and bond you have with your children is so incredible that even if they were murderers, it would never change how you felt about them. She was never more right about anything in her life. My heart swells with the love I have for my family and today every time I look at my little angel, I just want to squeeze her with all my might. Thank you God for this gift we celebrate today, my we be the parents You designed us to be. We love you baby happy, happy, happy birthday!!!!

Trick or Treat

2007-10-31T20:54:00.000-05:00

Well as I promised, here are the pictures from tonight's Halloween fun. We had such an awesome time!!! My sisters payed tribute to me by dressing as nurses and we accentuated their hair with some colorful spray. Little Gabby was a beautiful princess with the fastest time up and down each driveway. Trent, the farmer hung out in the stroller while his big sisters gathered his goods. Aysha was the cutest little devil you've ever seen while Layla made punks proud. The weather was perfect and we had a great time. The men stayed behind to hand out candy and discuss men things. All in all it was huge fun and I can't wait to do it all again next year.

Carving Pumpkins

2007-10-30T12:57:00.000-05:00

My husband was home with our daughter this weekend while I was stuck at work. He's an awesome Dad and took on the challenge of the pumpkin patch. Last night we carved our pumpkins and Layla was tooooo eager to help. It was so cute to watch her try so seriously to scoop out the seeds. I finally had to stand back and let her go at it. Here she is hard at work. ps we're both going to be 80's punk rockers for halloween. I promise to post more pictures after tomorrow night's fun....

Oh Canada....eh

2007-10-17T20:41:00.000-05:00

So my husband and I just came back from a trip to the beautiful city of Toronto. He was there for a business conference and I was there to tag along, sleep in a king-sized bed, eat really great food, shop, etc,etc,etc....We had a great time. Visiting the any city is usually a cool experience. You are surrounded by culture almost everywhere you turn and everything is within walking distance. We went to a comedy club, a hockey game, the CN Tower and ate at some of the finest restaurants. This trip was also the first time we've ever been away from our little girl. While it was nice to have some adult time, I don't think we could have driven any faster to get home to her. She stayed with Poppa and Grandma Kate and bossed around her teen-aged aunts and uncles. It was easy to relax and have a good time when you know your child is safe and loved.

We stopped at Niagra Falls on the way home, here are a couple of pics. The force of the water is incredible, definitely a cool thing to check out. The hotel we stayed in was called the Fairmont Royal York.....la tee daaa. Here's a pic of the lobby. Some pretty important people have stayed there, Bill Clinton, Queen Elizabeth, Tony Bennett.....and it's been open since 1929. Pretty cool. Anyway the drive was long and we're home now. I guess it's back to real life. I mean you can only take so much room service anyway...................eh.

Express Yourself

2007-10-13T13:33:00.000-05:00

So I have to say that my daughter is truly my guts. Recently she has started saying "aaaahhhh cccuuuutttteeee" when I pick out her clothes for the day. I love it!! She is so enthusiastic and reminds me of myself sooo much. I guess I'm gonna be in trouble though when she gets to be a little older and starts to care a little more about fashion. I was cleaning the other day and came across one of her old hats, and of course she wanted to play with it. The end result was this. Can you guess who dressed her for bed.........

OK OK OK

2007-10-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I've been catching some heat about the length of time between my posts. The truth is, is that I love posting pictures with my blog and I only just recently took some new ones. So I promise there is more to come and soon.

My husband and I are about to leave on a romantic getaway to the awesome city of Toronto. Ok, so it's not a romantic getaway, it really a business trip for him, but hey, I'm going. This conference is being held in a super ritzy hotel and my awesome parents are keeping Layla for us. So maybe it is a little romantic. Who knows maybe we'll come back with more than souvenirs....

ps still trying out new blogs so be patient.....kimberly heheheheheh

Can't Make Up My Mind

2007-09-30T20:49:00.000-05:00

Ok, so for the last couple of times you've visited my blog you've probably noticed some changes. I have found that I get bored with the templates and have been testing some new ones out. I've tried out several of the templates blogspot offers, but I just can't seem to settle. I'm not really too excited about any of the templates anyway. If anyone's got any ideas for how I can get creative let me know

Pee Pee on the Potty

2007-09-14T09:09:00.000-05:00

Now that Layla's about to turn 2, we have decided that it's time to start daunting task of potty training. She's definitely interested in going potty and has gotten into the habit of grabbing her little butt and saying poot (not poop poot). Yesterday she got up from her nap, sweat-soaked hair plastered to her head, and I asked her if she wanted to go potty. She answered with an enthusiastic YES and the result is this picture. I can't wait to embarrass her when she brings home a boyfriend......

"Are Your Kidney's OK?"

2007-09-10T13:11:00.001-05:00

Being a nurse is great. After 51/2 years of working in the hospital, I've picked up a thing or two. As I've posted before, I work on a Renal unit taking care of people with kidney failure. We see a lot of other patients, like those with heart failure, sepsis, pneumonia etc, but my real strength is the kidney stuff. Our unit hosted the first ever "World Kidney Day" at my hospital in March and recently some other staff and I had the opportunity to share our wealth of renal knowledge with some of our affiliates. I love teaching so this opportunity was perfect for me. Here's a picture of us getting ready to talk it up.

Sports Widow

2007-08-27T11:51:00.000-05:00

Every year about this time a change comes over the man of my house. My husband is transformed into a football-crazed sports maniac who lives for Sunday afternoons, Monday nights, and now (thank you NFL), Thursday nights. Ok maybe "crazed" is exaggerating a little, but he's definitely more than just the average fan. He's an AWESOME father and husband, but at 1:00 on Sunday afternoons the jersey goes on and he enters "ESPN zone" and I don't mean the restaurant. He's not the only one. He has a large group of friends that are just as wild about football as he is. They get together often to watch a game or call each other to talk smack about the other guys team. It's really funny to watch. For example, let's say the almighty Chargers are playing and the quarterback makes a mistake or someone fumbles the ball; the phone rings and Jeff calls to pour a little salt in the wound. You can be sure that when the Falcons are playing, Josh will be sure to call out their screw-ups. Their so cute they even have a fantasy league where they give away this trophy and a pot of money. Josh was the winner last year so now I get to look at this lovely thing until a new winner is crowned. My man swears he's the best though and this friggin' thing will be in our house for yet another year. I know the perfect place for it......the garage. hahahah. Just kidding were only a few more weeks away from finishing the man-lair in the basement. My husband is soo excited to have a place to recline back and watch his team on the big screen. Did I mention that big screen is already purchased and has replaced our computer on the desk in the den. I have to say it is pretty nice, flat screen HD. We watched a movie the other night and I swear you could count the pores on the actors face. Ah well, it will all be over in January and I'll have him all to myself. For now, I'll bring the beer and the snacks , sit beside him on the couch and shout with him at the TV. I love that man of mine.

Mothers & Daughters

2007-08-16T13:11:00.001-05:00

My awesome parents do foster care. That's how they acquired me and that's how they have acquired the two newest editions to our family. If you read my mom's blog, then you know the younger of the two sweeties has a few handicaps. Little guy is adorable and his big sis is so dear. We recently tried an outing together with everyone. If you read Poppa's blog then you will know it was a total disaster. If my almost two-year-old wasn't flippin' out then little guy was. At one point we were all strolling through the mall with little dude hanging upside down flailing and my daughter arching her back and kicking. You could feel the judgements being cast down on us by onlookers. However, we remained totally cool. After watching my mom with kids for years, I've learned a thing or two. She is totally calm and patient, loving, and warm. Even if she's ready to tear her hair out on the inside, she rarely shows it. Thank you Kate for teaching me what is truly important when it comes to children. Now that Layla is approaching the "terrible twos" I'll need all the help I can get.

Stuck in London

2007-08-08T19:54:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I said I would write a little more about my journey to France. Well, as you know Layla and I left on my wedding anniversary. The moment at the airport before Josh and I went our separate ways was bittersweet. I was excited about our adventure, sad about leaving him behind, and anxious about a trans-atlantic flight with a toddler. I guess I should tell you also, that to save a little dough, Layla boarded the plane as "infant-in-lap." Ok, you travel across the sea with a 28lb toddler in your lap. How excited was I when there was an empty seat next to me!!!! The song is true... Jesus does Love Me. My baby got to stretch out and sleep somewhat comfortably. However, that was not before our 3 hr delay on the plane before take off. Now I am not afraid to fly in the least bit. But, I have to say with the way the world is today, my attention was peaked when the captain came on to announce "ah, sorry folks, a warning light has just come on and we need to investigate." WHAT!! I'll say investigate it. Anyway to make it short, after a few broken promises of "it should just be 10-15 more minutes and we'll be on our way," we were. However, it suddenly occurred to me that my layover in London was only about 90 minutes. DANG! I was going to miss my connecting flight to Lyon. Ok, no biggie. I get off the plane in London only to find myself in a long line of people in my situation. I have to say though the Brits were great!! Traveling as a woman with a cuttie little girl also helps. I know my face must have been pitiful, because I was bumped to the front of the line YAHOOO! I knew I would just be on my merry way now. NO. The really polite British Airways guy said "alright, the what I can do is put you up in a hotel for the day and guarantee you a spot on the 8:30pm flight to Lyon. WHAT?????!!!!! There was no way. I begged and pleaded and put on my poutiest face and was given the other option to go on standby for a flight at 4pm. It was approx 9am London time, 3am our time and I was exhausted. Pull it together Lane. He handed me my itinerary and threw in some vouchers for food, and we started walking aimlessly through Heathrow. I prayed. I knew my family was going to be waiting for me in Lyon and I was in desperate need of a hug, so I called them. The moment my sister answered the phone, the flood gates opened. I did not want to be stuck in an airport for 6 hrs. The consolation came pouring through the phone. My mommy always knows just what to say to make it all better. After I hung up, I realized. Hey doofus, you are in London. London England!!! Snap out of it and make the most of it. So we did. Layla and I wandered through the many shops, had a bite to eat, and caught a nap curled up together on a bench. When 4p rolled around, we made it on standby and left worry behind us. We made it into Lyon, and even though the car seat was missing, I didn't care. My sister greeted me with the biggest smile and the warmest hug and everything else melted away. Even though the travel was rough, it was still so worth it. I will be taking Josh with me though from now on. Here's a couple of pics at the airport

More of France

2007-08-06T20:46:00.000-05:00

The view from a ski lift to the top of a mountain
More of Annecy
my sister Grace
Taking a rest in Lyon
The view from high above Lyon

Don't have much to say right now, but I promised to share more pics of France. Here they are....

C'est bon etre `a la maison

2007-08-03T20:22:00.000-05:00

Well it is good to be home. My daughter and I returned from France about a week ago. We had a great time. France is a beautiful country with lots and lots to see. My favorite place was a town called Annecy. Nestled at the base of the Alps on a glacial lake, this town is the epitome of European charisma. Tiny crooked streets wound through beautiful, centuries-old buildings. I am an absolute romantic and love European history and culture, so this was a real treat for me. If you're ever in France, make sure you check it out.
While the scenery was definitely great, spending time with my sister and her family was the best part of the trip. She found us these beautiful gites (sort of condo-like) located in the magnificent Alps. I savored every moment I had to hug, squeeze, talk, and make memories. They leave for Africa in October and it will probably be about 2 1/2 years before I get the chance to love on them again. I love you Kirsten and Steve and all my little dumplings. I miss you desperately.
I'll write more about our adventure later, but for now here is a picture of my dream town, and a few of my little sweeties.

Come Fly With Me

2007-07-14T20:52:00.000-05:00

So on Friday my daughter and I are leaving. We're headed over to France to visit my sister, husband, and kids. I am sooooo excited. My entire family is going over, I'm picturing something like National Lampoons European Vacation. Remember that movie?? Funny right? I can hardly wait. There is only one thing missing...my husband. Unfortunately he couldn't get away from work and to make matters worse, I leave on our 5th wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's been 5 years. Sometimes it feels like we're still in high school. I hate being away from him, my heart aches when we are apart. I guess I'll just have to carry his love with me across the sea. I love you Josh! Thank you for giving me the best 5 years of my life.

Good Friends, Good Times

2007-07-09T12:43:00.000-05:00

Last night we were invited over to our friend Jamie and Brooks' house for some outdoor fun. My girlfriend Chrissy and her husband and son were also there. I have known these girls since elementary school and have kept close with both of them. Last night the girls and I were sitting out on the patio when Chrissy said something like "It feels surreal, we used to talk about growing up and living close to eachother and having kids together. Now here we are." I knew exactly what she was talking about. Sitting there I remembered the three of us playing together as kids and then I look over. Our kids were playing together now. How blessed we are to be able to share our lives together. Who knows maybe my little princess will marry one of these two princes. I love you girls.

ps maybe when we're old (if we're alone) we'll turn into the Golden Girls. We'll move to Miami live and live together in a house I'll be Dorothy, Jamie's Blanche, and Chrissy's Sophia hahahahah

Good-bye Val

2007-07-08T15:22:00.000-05:00

Well I've worked as a nurse for about 5 years now and I have to say it's quite an experience. The patient population I care for is both complex and challenging. To care for these people you need a group of nurses who have the ability to critically think, anticipate needs, and work together as a team. There is no better group in my hospital than the ladies of renal. Each one of them is intelligent, compassionate, sensitive, and let's just say wonderful!! I enjoy working with each and every one of them. Unfortunately though, life takes us in different directions and we move on. One of the very BEST nurses I have ever met is leaving us to be closer to her family. Valerie was there when I started working on the unit and has been a wealth of knowledge and a wonderful spirit for all of us. We will miss her more that she'll ever know. We love you Val, remember your home is always with us on 2C.

Sun & Fun & Sandy Feet

2007-07-01T14:36:00.000-05:00

Every year our family makes the 6 hr trek to the glorious Outer Banks. We have sooooo much fun with the large group that we take each year. We rent a couple of houses and settle in for a week of enjoying each other's company. I absolutely love this time of year!!! This year was youngest cousin Scarlett's first time to the beach (out of her mother's womb). There's nothing cuter than this little sweetie in her watermelon bikini. Layla loved hangin' out with her little sidekick. There was only one thing missing...the Mckenzie clan. My sister Kirsten and her family are over in France and spent their last year at the beach with us in 06. We missed them very much!! Ah well, we still had a great time anyway. Only 357 more days until Nags Head 08!!!!

Hind Sight Is 20/20

2007-05-31T20:33:00.000-05:00

It's a cliche I know, but it really is. When I'm worried about life and the challenges it brings, I look back at where I've been. Then one thing that brings me the most comfort is knowing God is in control. Now, I know that He is in control and things work out according to His will but, I sometimes like to think I can have some input. However, ultimately He knows what is best even though we may not always agree. Like for example, when I was pregnant with our daughter, I said "Ok Lord, I don't care if it's a boy or a girl, just let it have dark hair and blue eyes." Well, He was listening! That's exactly what I got, a beautiful, healthy, dark-haired, blue-eyed baby girl. Awesome!! It doesn't always happen that way though. Next example, I'm in high school. I'm president of a marketing club, taking business classes, and preparing to be a huge ad exec in NY. Does that happen....no. I go in the total opposite direction and earn a nursing degree and devote my life to taking care of others. At times, I'm frustrated, confused, angry, scared and so much more but, then I look back. I see His hand moving in all of it. He carries me, guides me, loves me, comforts me and shows me where I need to be. When I finished nursing school, I had job offers for 3 different floors in my hospital. I was fully prepared to stay on GI and take care of all of the ulcers, GI Bleeds, pancreatitis', etc. I had been there for a year and a half. Did I stay there no. I went to work on a renal unit and started taking care of people with kidney failure. Little did I know He was preparing me to serve my sister. My little, beautiful, wonderful, innocent baby sister. Recently, she was diagnosed with kidney failure and will soon start dialysis. God has prepared my heart to love her even more. I don't know why she has to go through this, but I know He has never let me down and like my sister Kara says, he has plans for her. I know someday I will look back and again see His hand moving in this and again hind sight will be 20/20. For now I will "trust in Him with all my heart" and take every opportunity to squeeze my Grace. Grace......what a perfect name for her.........

Get Down and Get Funky

2007-05-21T20:53:00.000-05:00

Ok I must admit that I love "Dancing With the Stars." I can't help it, I just turn it on and I am instantly in a good mood. I love ballroom dancing, and only wish I could cha cha or rumba with the best of them. So I sit and watch and secretly visualize myself on TV. Well tonight, my husband and daughter were at the gym when I got home. I had the TV all to myself and was all into the action when they walked in the door. It was Apollo's turn and it was the freestyle. Well, Layla decided to do a little freestylin' of her own. I almost peed myself as I watched her try and imitate the head spin on the carpet. She was really into the music and breakin' it waaaayyyy down. I only wish I'd had a video camera on hand. Watch out America...

ps kara, brett dennen is awesome.

Girlfriends

2007-05-06T20:25:00.000-05:00

So I just came home from my first trip away without my husband or baby. Two of my oldest girlfriends and I drove to a town just outside of Pittsburg for a baby shower. It was about a 3 hr drive so we had ample time for "great" conversation. We laughed our butts off through the whole trip. It was sooooooo great spending time with the "girls." I have missed that so much. When you get busy with life weeks, months, or even years slip by without you even noticing. My girlfriend Jessica moved to PA and married her dream guy. We both just sort of got wrapped up in work, and husbands and such. When I saw her gorgeous pregnant self I was just overwhelmed. I can't wait to share mommiehood with her. I am looking forward to the next road trip to meet their little bundle of joy. I love you girls!!!!

Headed for trouble

2007-05-02T15:08:00.000-05:00

Well, it's already happened. Yesterday, I was emptying out the stack of crap that had collected on the front seat of the truck when I noticed something. My husband has been dropping our daughter off and picking her up from daycare on days when I work. Usually when he picks her up there is a note from the daycare telling us what Layla did that day. You know, when she ate, when she slept, when she pooped etc. They also throw in cute little things like, "Layla really enjoyed playing outside", (code for she threw a fit when she had to come in). However tucked in with "Layla really enjoys playing in the sandbox" was "Layla needs reminded not to hit or push" Gasp......! Ok so my little darling is now the bruiser on the playground. I immediately start picturing in my head, Layla pushing some cute little pony-tailed girl in a frilly dress off one of the ride-on toys and standing over her victoriously. I see her sitting at the table, smacking the little boy next to her, then jerking the box of crayons away. Who knew my quiet perfect little angel had it in her. I blame the Irish, it's in our blood.

I'm a little embarrased.....

2007-04-26T16:18:00.000-05:00

Ok, I really love to read. There is something about a good book that is just undeniably satisfying. Over the years I've read some pretty good ones. For awhile I was pretty into Oprah's Book Club selections, but college kept me pretty glued to textbooks. When I graduated, I was free to read again (whatever I wanted). A new kind of craze hit the nation, a children's book sparked a huge following and then the movies came. I have to admit, at first I made fun of my adult friends, who I found reading them passionately. Then I was challenged. Ok I did it, I read the first one and was a little captivated so I read the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, and finally last night the sixth. Yes, this 28 year old wife and mother was reading the sixth book of the ........Harry Potter series. I've said it, I am a Potterholic. I was on the last two chapters last night when at 12am my husband finally said please, please turn out the light. How could I. I was way to cozy to get out of bed and Harry was being attacked in a cave by a group of dead bodies. So like a 8 year old, I busted out the flashlight and carried on. Yes, it's sad I know and even though I gave it my best effort, my friggin' arms were too sore to hold the book and the flashlight any longer. I gave up, but I finished while my daughter napped today. At last, now if I can just hold out until July when the 7th and final book comes out. Did I mention I'm on the reserved list hehehe.

Working Out

2007-04-18T20:28:00.000-05:00

Well I just came home from the gym. I must say that initially after working out you feel pretty good. The endorphins are circulating in your brain, and there is a sense of satisfaction in not being a couch potato. Yes, I would say that right now I feel pretty good. Now, tomorrow is a different story. I am sure I will have soreness in places I didn't even know existed but, hey that's the way it's supposed to be. I just hope I can keep up the momentum. And one and two.........

Following the Leader

2007-04-13T20:58:00.000-05:00

So, here I am. My mommy says this blog site is friendlier to picture posting so here I go. My old site was on blogsource and uploading pics was a beast and since I can't resist sharing my adorable bambino with the world I moved.
We recently returned from a trip to San Diego; Layla's first trip to the zoo. We had a great time. She was pretty impressed with all there was to see. Monkeys, tigers, elephants, hippos, zebras, oh my. We got there just after it opened so we had a little room to spread out. Here she is struttin' her stuff past the gazelles. Swimmin' pools, movie stars......

Here are some other cool pics... This is not a headless monkey, it's actually a mother grooming her baby. awhhhhhh