So after much thought and debate over a new blog site name for our family adventures, I have finally come up with a new blog title and site. I have taken the suggestion of a friend from church who really waned me to rename our children to correspond with the Dukes of Hazzard show. Even though I would chuckle at the thought each time, I have finally taken her suggestion...
The new blog will be titled: Adventures of Daisy and Bo Duke.
So go ahead and click on over and check out our new adventures as we quickly approach life as a family of 4 instead of 3 with much excitement!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
A Lot to Learn
This week was supposed to be kind of a down week but has turned out to be quite busy just in different ways. One of the great joys of being a mother are the incredibly hilarious things that your children say. This week has been no exception especially with more and more talk about baby Elijah coming.
So I decided one day this week that SG and I would venture over to Target and allow her to pick out something for baby Elijah. All of this with my intentions of making her feel more of the expectation and preparation process, also maybe to ease his arrival come later this year. My initial thought was for her to pick out an outfit since she loves being such a fashionista, but I quickly had to change our plans upon realizing that Target's selection of newborn boy clothes was, to put it politely, pathetic!
My direction of interest for her then turned to a lovie for baby Elijah. She now sleeps with 3 lovies (a blanket, "shakey" bunny, and Knuffle bunny). She promptly found a little puppy dog that has a shaker in it and she said, "I can have shakey bunny and he can have shakey doggy!" As a mommy I was quickly relieved thinking that she was getting the concept that over the next few months not everything was going to be for her.
Well, my thoughts were quickly shattered when we got in the car and she asked if she could sleep with Elijah's shakey doggy until he got here and then she would share it. Oh, well...
The other item that she has been literally begging to purchase since finding out she was going to be a big sister was a pack of pacifiers. I really don't know where this obsession began but it has cracked me up. Me, being the planner that I am, have been stocking-up on diapers and wipes when they are on sale and I have coupons. So we frequent baby aisles often and EVERY time she asks if we can buy the baby a pacifier. Now mind you SG has not had a pacifier since she was 18 months old and doesn't even remember having one, except when we tell her about it.
So as we perused the pacifiers, she chose ones that were pink at first of course since that is all she has known. Then I kindly re-directed her towards the blues and greens. Since we have been studying our letters (capital and lower case) this summer she quickly recognize one that had a "little" d and a heart on it and asked, "Does this say 'I love daddy'?" I was shocked she was putting together her context clues to put this together. It made Mommy proud that what we have been doing each day is paying off!
Needless to say we picked out the "I love daddy" pacifiers and "adorable" ones. She was so excited about the pacifiers.
Since we couldn't find any clothes at Target, later that day SG told me, "I am going to my room to find some clothes for Elijah." I can't say I really expected what came from this, but she came back to me with this concerned look on her face.
I asked her what was wrong and she promptly said, "I can't find a skirt that is too small for me that Elijah could wear." Trying to be sensitive to her feelings but rolling with laughter inside, I gently explained to her that boys don't wear skirts. she just looked up at me with those beautiful blue eyes and compassionate look on her face, "Oh" was all she said.
I can't even begin to explain all of the hilarious and creative ideas she has come up with this week. But one thing I can say is that based on the events of this week, including getting some baby time with one of our friend's baby boy who is a little over 2 months old, she is going to be a huge help to Mommy and Daddy and a big sister full of love!
On another note...be on the lookout soon for our blog address to be changing. I will post a link on this site to our new site once I get it set-up. We just don't feel that the title of this blog fits us anymore since we are growing beyond 3 now.
Happy Thursday!
So I decided one day this week that SG and I would venture over to Target and allow her to pick out something for baby Elijah. All of this with my intentions of making her feel more of the expectation and preparation process, also maybe to ease his arrival come later this year. My initial thought was for her to pick out an outfit since she loves being such a fashionista, but I quickly had to change our plans upon realizing that Target's selection of newborn boy clothes was, to put it politely, pathetic!
My direction of interest for her then turned to a lovie for baby Elijah. She now sleeps with 3 lovies (a blanket, "shakey" bunny, and Knuffle bunny). She promptly found a little puppy dog that has a shaker in it and she said, "I can have shakey bunny and he can have shakey doggy!" As a mommy I was quickly relieved thinking that she was getting the concept that over the next few months not everything was going to be for her.
Well, my thoughts were quickly shattered when we got in the car and she asked if she could sleep with Elijah's shakey doggy until he got here and then she would share it. Oh, well...
The other item that she has been literally begging to purchase since finding out she was going to be a big sister was a pack of pacifiers. I really don't know where this obsession began but it has cracked me up. Me, being the planner that I am, have been stocking-up on diapers and wipes when they are on sale and I have coupons. So we frequent baby aisles often and EVERY time she asks if we can buy the baby a pacifier. Now mind you SG has not had a pacifier since she was 18 months old and doesn't even remember having one, except when we tell her about it.
So as we perused the pacifiers, she chose ones that were pink at first of course since that is all she has known. Then I kindly re-directed her towards the blues and greens. Since we have been studying our letters (capital and lower case) this summer she quickly recognize one that had a "little" d and a heart on it and asked, "Does this say 'I love daddy'?" I was shocked she was putting together her context clues to put this together. It made Mommy proud that what we have been doing each day is paying off!
Needless to say we picked out the "I love daddy" pacifiers and "adorable" ones. She was so excited about the pacifiers.
Since we couldn't find any clothes at Target, later that day SG told me, "I am going to my room to find some clothes for Elijah." I can't say I really expected what came from this, but she came back to me with this concerned look on her face.
I asked her what was wrong and she promptly said, "I can't find a skirt that is too small for me that Elijah could wear." Trying to be sensitive to her feelings but rolling with laughter inside, I gently explained to her that boys don't wear skirts. she just looked up at me with those beautiful blue eyes and compassionate look on her face, "Oh" was all she said.
I can't even begin to explain all of the hilarious and creative ideas she has come up with this week. But one thing I can say is that based on the events of this week, including getting some baby time with one of our friend's baby boy who is a little over 2 months old, she is going to be a huge help to Mommy and Daddy and a big sister full of love!
On another note...be on the lookout soon for our blog address to be changing. I will post a link on this site to our new site once I get it set-up. We just don't feel that the title of this blog fits us anymore since we are growing beyond 3 now.
Happy Thursday!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
A Mover and Shaker
Today was our big day...We found out today whether SG was going to have a little brother or sister. Each of us had our own guesses (after all we had a 50/50 chance). SG had said about 2 weeks ago that we didn't need to go to see Mommy's doctor because she already knew that it was a girl and even if it wasn't, "It's o.k. because it can change into a girl." (We don't have a clue where she got this idea in her little 3 year old mind.)
Myself and Josh both had a strong pull towards it being a boy, neither of us for the same reasoning. Being a mommy I knew things were different this go around than the first but I just couldn't really explain it. Josh just "had a feeling", but I quickly reminded him that he had the same feelings when we found out that we were having SG.
So after a wonderful breakfast with our amazing accompanist from church and Mommy consuming the liquid amount prescribed by the ultrasound tech (might I add that it made me quite uncomfortable considering this baby loves to kick my bladder...and we now have proof!), we trucked over to the doctor's office. We even picked Josh up despite him work literally less than a football fields length from the doctor's office, which is also located in the hospital where our little bit will be delivered.
Following games of horsey and serenading the entire OB/GYN waiting room (thank you SG) we were called back. SG eagerly handed our DVD to our ultrasound tech and promptly asked her, "Is it a girl?" The tech said she didn't know but we were about to find out. So as we are going back, this turned out to be a time of 'Out of the mouth of Babes' because SG said very loudly in the room, "Mommy you're showing your panties."
Josh quickly responded with, "Well, you shows yours everyday so at least she waits until she is in the doctor's office." I about died.
Then SG continued, "Mommy, she's (the tech) is getting jelly all over you. You might want to say stop." Again...out of the mouth of babes!
So only after about 5 minutes of measuring various body parts our little bit decided to reveal itself to us...IT'S A BOY! Or as we will be calling him...it is Elijah Christopher Duke. He is looking very healthy weighing in at a guesstimation of 12 ounces. He is a mover and shaker, for he had the tech going all over my abdomen. Yet he is a little camera shy because he refused to give us a frontal view of his face even after trying for several minutes. However, he did "stand" directly on my bladder during the last, oh, 10 minutes of the viewing. So now I know that I am not just imagining things.
We will have a 2nd ultrasound in about 2 months to see if we can finally get him to show his face, but overall we were very pleased with all of the images we got today.
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY ELIJAH!
Myself and Josh both had a strong pull towards it being a boy, neither of us for the same reasoning. Being a mommy I knew things were different this go around than the first but I just couldn't really explain it. Josh just "had a feeling", but I quickly reminded him that he had the same feelings when we found out that we were having SG.
So after a wonderful breakfast with our amazing accompanist from church and Mommy consuming the liquid amount prescribed by the ultrasound tech (might I add that it made me quite uncomfortable considering this baby loves to kick my bladder...and we now have proof!), we trucked over to the doctor's office. We even picked Josh up despite him work literally less than a football fields length from the doctor's office, which is also located in the hospital where our little bit will be delivered.
Following games of horsey and serenading the entire OB/GYN waiting room (thank you SG) we were called back. SG eagerly handed our DVD to our ultrasound tech and promptly asked her, "Is it a girl?" The tech said she didn't know but we were about to find out. So as we are going back, this turned out to be a time of 'Out of the mouth of Babes' because SG said very loudly in the room, "Mommy you're showing your panties."
Josh quickly responded with, "Well, you shows yours everyday so at least she waits until she is in the doctor's office." I about died.
Then SG continued, "Mommy, she's (the tech) is getting jelly all over you. You might want to say stop." Again...out of the mouth of babes!
So only after about 5 minutes of measuring various body parts our little bit decided to reveal itself to us...IT'S A BOY! Or as we will be calling him...it is Elijah Christopher Duke. He is looking very healthy weighing in at a guesstimation of 12 ounces. He is a mover and shaker, for he had the tech going all over my abdomen. Yet he is a little camera shy because he refused to give us a frontal view of his face even after trying for several minutes. However, he did "stand" directly on my bladder during the last, oh, 10 minutes of the viewing. So now I know that I am not just imagining things.
We will have a 2nd ultrasound in about 2 months to see if we can finally get him to show his face, but overall we were very pleased with all of the images we got today.
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY ELIJAH!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Deep in the Hundred Acre Woods
Monday we took SG to her first movie theatre experience. We went to see the new Winnie the Pooh movie. Josh and I knew that we wanted to take her but finding the time was the big question of all. So at lunch we made a last minute call to go to the last matinee of the day.
We didn't tell SG where we were going to keep the suspision alive. All we told her was that we needed to clean up and take a nap so we would be well rested for our surprise. Well, do to a very eventful weekend with Ama and Papa making a drop-in visit, SG was still in recovery mode; so, needless to say the 2 hours I had allotted for nap was not enough.
So Mommy did what any mommy would do for a child's first experience, I woke her up with much enthusiasm in my voice and stared at the beautiful blue eyes of a still exhausted 3 year old. After much persuasion, she arose from her comfortable slumber.
And we were off...to the movies.
Upon arriving she was mesmerized by the concession stand at first, but who isn't. For still at the ripe age of 28,I look at all the choices of the concession stand like they have changed from the last time I was there. (Which generally they never do.)Josh ordered us a popcorn to share with EXTRA butter (that is an understatement after we got home and realized the grease stains on our clothes from just holding the bag...thanks DAWN for being a great grease releaser).
As the previews started, SG kept asking, "Where's Pooh?" However, she was quite intriguied by the previews for the new Chipmunk movie (thank you Janice) and the re-release of the Lion King. Mommy showed her age when I got so excited about the new Muppet movie coming out and SG looked up at me with this blank stare as if to say, "Why are you so excited about that? I've never heard of such craziness in my life." Oh, well. Guess I will have to go to that one solo. :)
About 2/3 of the way through the movie, after examining where the movie was being projected from, playing musical chairs with Mommy and Daddy, and eating at least 8 cups full of popcorn, SG look up at Mommy and said, "Can we go home?" I thought,'Are you serious?' But I soon realized that at home when she has even watched the 5 minute Little People movies that she generally looses interest quickly and goes to play in her room...or would rather go read books.(except for the Cinderella movie) I will count my blessings for now.
Overall, she loved her first movie experience. She was recapping the entire movie with her stuffed Tigger, Pooh and Eeyore this morning in bed with Josh. She even said that maybe Tigger could find that "Backsoon" if he drank some of her Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothiethat I had made them for breakfast. I just stood there and laughed...
I know this will not be her last movie going experience, but I do hope that it was a memorable one for the time being.
We didn't tell SG where we were going to keep the suspision alive. All we told her was that we needed to clean up and take a nap so we would be well rested for our surprise. Well, do to a very eventful weekend with Ama and Papa making a drop-in visit, SG was still in recovery mode; so, needless to say the 2 hours I had allotted for nap was not enough.
So Mommy did what any mommy would do for a child's first experience, I woke her up with much enthusiasm in my voice and stared at the beautiful blue eyes of a still exhausted 3 year old. After much persuasion, she arose from her comfortable slumber.
And we were off...to the movies.
Upon arriving she was mesmerized by the concession stand at first, but who isn't. For still at the ripe age of 28,I look at all the choices of the concession stand like they have changed from the last time I was there. (Which generally they never do.)Josh ordered us a popcorn to share with EXTRA butter (that is an understatement after we got home and realized the grease stains on our clothes from just holding the bag...thanks DAWN for being a great grease releaser).
As the previews started, SG kept asking, "Where's Pooh?" However, she was quite intriguied by the previews for the new Chipmunk movie (thank you Janice) and the re-release of the Lion King. Mommy showed her age when I got so excited about the new Muppet movie coming out and SG looked up at me with this blank stare as if to say, "Why are you so excited about that? I've never heard of such craziness in my life." Oh, well. Guess I will have to go to that one solo. :)
About 2/3 of the way through the movie, after examining where the movie was being projected from, playing musical chairs with Mommy and Daddy, and eating at least 8 cups full of popcorn, SG look up at Mommy and said, "Can we go home?" I thought,'Are you serious?' But I soon realized that at home when she has even watched the 5 minute Little People movies that she generally looses interest quickly and goes to play in her room...or would rather go read books.(except for the Cinderella movie) I will count my blessings for now.
Overall, she loved her first movie experience. She was recapping the entire movie with her stuffed Tigger, Pooh and Eeyore this morning in bed with Josh. She even said that maybe Tigger could find that "Backsoon" if he drank some of her Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothiethat I had made them for breakfast. I just stood there and laughed...
I know this will not be her last movie going experience, but I do hope that it was a memorable one for the time being.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Life is...
The last few months of our lives have truly been an adventure. We have experienced more in the last 3 months than I have in a long time. So to break it down a little for some of our long distant readers I will do so by the month...
MARCH
* On Josh's 31st birthday, we found out the sell of our house had fallen through, only 1 1/2 weeks from closing, due to the falling through of our buyers house sale.
* Praise the Lord! Only one week later our buyers house went back under contract and a new closing date was set.
* One week after all these events, we got the exciting news that Samantha Grace was going to be a BIG SISTER! The amount of excitement cannot be adequately explained, especially to our readers who know how much we have prayed for this baby.
APRIL
* Only 1 week before we were to close on the house that we thought we were going to be purchasing, some uncontrollable circumstances from the seller, Josh and I decided to let this home go and go back out to the searching field.
* The Lord opened so many doors for us to look and we found and locked down our current home in Trinity, AL. It has moved us out a little more in the country but still in the neighborhood community. We love it! Our town feels like Mayberry. (No joke!)
* One week after finding our new home, my favorite sister-in-law gave birth to precious Hadley Elise 7 weeks early! She is beautiful and doing awesome!
* In the same week that we found our house, we survived the dramatic tornado adventure.
MAY
* Sadly only a week after we welcomed Hadley into the world, we sad goodbye to SG's great-grandfather.
* A few weeks later, we closed on our new home (we had to wait for the construction to be completed). We are loving every minute!
* Unfortunately, the day we closed on our home we said goodbye to precious Aunt Libby. We miss her sweet disposition everyday!
JUNE
* This month we have been very busy...hosting guests...My mom came and visited for a week shortly followed by Mimi and Bobo.
* Just a few days after hosting our guests, the 3 of us went to Atlanta to Reach the Nations in Atlanta. Wow! What an amazing mission experience! Some pictures to come in a later post.
* Mommy and Daddy also visited the dermatologist since Ama's recent surgery to remove skin cancer. Mommy had to return for some minor basal cell removal recently. So thankful that I went when I did. Recovery is good practice for when little bit arrives for SG since I cannot lift her for 2 weeks.
I know this is a lot to share. I am 15 weeks along in pregnancy. Little bit is due to arrive around December 5 unless s/he decides to make an early arrival like SG did.
Hope this update finds you and your family doing well! Would love to hear from you!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
The House that Built Me
Personal thoughts from Mommy:
I don't know if any of my readers are familiar with the song by Miranda Lambert called "The House that Built Me" but basically the whole idea behind the song is that the person is journeying back to the house where she grew up as a child. I have, for some reason that I am now understanding, been drawn to this song for the past few weeks.
The last few weeks have been quite an emotional journey for us. As I previously posted, we sold our home in Montgomery. After the realization of this fact finally hit home, I for some reason began thinking a lot about the home I lived in as a child in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Note: To my mommy and daddy you might want to grab a Kleenex.)
This home meant a lot to me...Just like the song says (paraphrased) the people that now occupy that home will never know what happened in each room, but I do. I remember where I was for each special event. I remember very vividly trying on my mother's wedding dress, sliding down our dual staircases with my brother in sleeping bags to see who was the fastest, and I remember sitting on those back stairs numerous times to "just think about it" after crossing the line. I remember where the piano sat and I spent many a hours practicing various instruments with music leaned on the piano. I remember making chocolate covered cherries with my precious Ama and drying homemade noodles with my strong, yet gentle Papa on the large kitchen island. This was and still is "The House that Built Me".
I believe that the reason so many of the memories are flooding into my mind at this time is because Daddy and I have recently purchased our second home (since being married) and are getting ready to pretty much re-do 80% of the home cosmetically. I commented last night that I have never bought so much paint and supplies as we did at one time! But the main thing that I think about are the amazing memories that SG will have of this home. What will she be writing 20 years from now about the house that built her.
I also believe that another reason that I think about our home in Knoxville is because my immediate family is facing some big medical trials right now. About 2 weeks ago my Mommy was diagnosed with Melanoma found in the shoulder area of one of her arms. Knowing that this can be pretty common, I have to admit that I pretty much shrugged it off at first. However, her surgery to remove the rest of the cancer from that area and further, if necessary, was Monday. I have to admit that the reality of it began to set in around 2:00 PM (at which time she was undergoing surgery). Then when I got the report from her that the area in which they removed measured 6 inches long by 3 inches wide...I got worried. So a flood of memories began to flow because I wasn't expecting it to be this much of a removal. I honestly thought that it was "contained" in the small area where the original biopsy was performed. So the house that built me now was transported from the physical home in Knoxville into the spiritual home of God.
I knew right then that God had destined me to be studying the first book of James this week, not only for that reason, but for many circumstances combined. For in James, and I leave you with this, it states
I don't know if any of my readers are familiar with the song by Miranda Lambert called "The House that Built Me" but basically the whole idea behind the song is that the person is journeying back to the house where she grew up as a child. I have, for some reason that I am now understanding, been drawn to this song for the past few weeks.
The last few weeks have been quite an emotional journey for us. As I previously posted, we sold our home in Montgomery. After the realization of this fact finally hit home, I for some reason began thinking a lot about the home I lived in as a child in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Note: To my mommy and daddy you might want to grab a Kleenex.)
This home meant a lot to me...Just like the song says (paraphrased) the people that now occupy that home will never know what happened in each room, but I do. I remember where I was for each special event. I remember very vividly trying on my mother's wedding dress, sliding down our dual staircases with my brother in sleeping bags to see who was the fastest, and I remember sitting on those back stairs numerous times to "just think about it" after crossing the line. I remember where the piano sat and I spent many a hours practicing various instruments with music leaned on the piano. I remember making chocolate covered cherries with my precious Ama and drying homemade noodles with my strong, yet gentle Papa on the large kitchen island. This was and still is "The House that Built Me".
I believe that the reason so many of the memories are flooding into my mind at this time is because Daddy and I have recently purchased our second home (since being married) and are getting ready to pretty much re-do 80% of the home cosmetically. I commented last night that I have never bought so much paint and supplies as we did at one time! But the main thing that I think about are the amazing memories that SG will have of this home. What will she be writing 20 years from now about the house that built her.
I also believe that another reason that I think about our home in Knoxville is because my immediate family is facing some big medical trials right now. About 2 weeks ago my Mommy was diagnosed with Melanoma found in the shoulder area of one of her arms. Knowing that this can be pretty common, I have to admit that I pretty much shrugged it off at first. However, her surgery to remove the rest of the cancer from that area and further, if necessary, was Monday. I have to admit that the reality of it began to set in around 2:00 PM (at which time she was undergoing surgery). Then when I got the report from her that the area in which they removed measured 6 inches long by 3 inches wide...I got worried. So a flood of memories began to flow because I wasn't expecting it to be this much of a removal. I honestly thought that it was "contained" in the small area where the original biopsy was performed. So the house that built me now was transported from the physical home in Knoxville into the spiritual home of God.
I knew right then that God had destined me to be studying the first book of James this week, not only for that reason, but for many circumstances combined. For in James, and I leave you with this, it states
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything...Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:2-4,12
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Our God is So Good
Just a short little update on our family...
We are all doing great! We are thoroughly enjoying getting to know our new home. It feels like we have been here forever...everyone is like family at Westmeade and in Decatur for that matter.
As many of you know, our biggest prayer request during our transition was for our home in Montgomery to sell. Well, despite having 15 listings with the same floor plan and around the same price range, God again showed up and showed off because we have officially sold our home in Montgomery. Might I add that there had not been a home sold in our neighborhood since November and there is new construction going on right now in our neighborhood. God is so good...all the time!
This is a bitter sweet time for Daddy and Mommy because this was the first home that we purchased. And as many of you know, several monumental memories were made in that home. Thankfully Mimi has placed the memories of this home in all of our future homes with the pen and ink drawing she made of our home a few years ago. THANK YOU!
We covet your prayers as we discern where our new home in Decatur will be soon. We just thank all of our prayer warriors again for earnestly praying for God to send us a buyer.
I leave you now with a few pictures of things we have been up to lately in our new home and while visiting family in Tennessee.
We are all doing great! We are thoroughly enjoying getting to know our new home. It feels like we have been here forever...everyone is like family at Westmeade and in Decatur for that matter.
As many of you know, our biggest prayer request during our transition was for our home in Montgomery to sell. Well, despite having 15 listings with the same floor plan and around the same price range, God again showed up and showed off because we have officially sold our home in Montgomery. Might I add that there had not been a home sold in our neighborhood since November and there is new construction going on right now in our neighborhood. God is so good...all the time!
This is a bitter sweet time for Daddy and Mommy because this was the first home that we purchased. And as many of you know, several monumental memories were made in that home. Thankfully Mimi has placed the memories of this home in all of our future homes with the pen and ink drawing she made of our home a few years ago. THANK YOU!
We covet your prayers as we discern where our new home in Decatur will be soon. We just thank all of our prayer warriors again for earnestly praying for God to send us a buyer.
I leave you now with a few pictures of things we have been up to lately in our new home and while visiting family in Tennessee.
We took SG to see Cinderella with Mimi and Bobo at a local high school in Franklin, TN. She loved it to say the least!
We went camping at Mount Sano in Huntsville, AL. This was SG's first camping experience!
Daddy and SG at one of the overlooks on our hike in Mount Sano! Best hiking buddies!
This is one of Mommy's favorites. SG wanted to play airplane during our hike, so we did. Mommy will cherish this forever!
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