Kim and Mikey Got Married

One Sentence Journal: 1/26/12

2012-01-27T04:19:00.000-08:00

I felt helpless tonight as I watched Joycie have another seizure.

(I will post full details later).

One Sentence Journal: 1/22/12

2012-01-23T05:56:00.001-08:00

When Joycie saw me at church, she ran down the aisle shouting "Hi,
Mama, Love you, Mama"....I guess she had missed me.

One Word Journal: 1/21/2012

2012-01-23T05:54:00.001-08:00

After the ladies retreat ended, I enjoyed heartfelt conversation with
several ladies and was amazed at how much we all had in common.

One Sentence Journal: Singing in the Morning

2012-01-20T08:41:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, I read an article in Good Housekeeping, where the Mom keeps
a one sentence journal. Each day she writes a sentence about
something that happened to the family that day. Sometimes it is a
memory she want to capture, a funny story, or a simple description of
the activites of the day. I was inspired by the idea...as life is
racing full speed ahead.....Joycie is constantly changing, learning,
growing, there are things I want to remember years from now. But I
would rather spend my precious spare time playing tea party with her
than blogging. And by the time she is tucked away at night, the great
post I was going to compose gets lost in my sleep seeking brain....and
thus those moments slip away. I think for this stage of my life, a
one sentence journal is a great idea. I still plan on writing lengthy
posts, but you will be seeing more "snapshots" of life for the time
being.

With all that being said, here is today's one sentence.

Each morning, I sing "This is the Day" while I dress Joycie but today
was different - today Joycie sang the song to me, it may have come out
"Dis is da day...Dis is da day", but is was more beautiful than any
song I have ever heard.

22 Months

2012-01-13T19:59:00.001-08:00

Joycie,

You are now 22 months old. You are weighing 28 pounds, are 44 inches tall, and wear 2T and 3T clothing.

Just like last month, your vocabulary continues to expand. When I pick you up from daycare, you tell me “Mama, I go home”. You are also expressing your wants/needs in more sentence like statements “I want moo (milk”, “Juice please”, etc.

You continue to love music – last weekend you sang and sang as Lacey and London strummed their guitars. If the radio is on in the car, you dance and clap your hands.

We are working on potty training – and have some minor successes. You now tell us when your diaper needs to be changed, and a few times you let us know before you went. We will work more on this when you move up to the 2 year old classroom in March.

You are very loving and helpful. Your teachers tell us that you are always helping the smaller kids in your class take off their jackets, put away their toys, or hug them when they get upset.

You are also showing a more daredevil personality. Earlier this week, Daddy and I turned our backs for just a minute and we found you on top of the ktichen table.

You certainly keep us on our toes, Joycie! And we love every minute of the adventure!

Love,

Mama & Daddy

Embracing My Camera

2012-01-05T04:34:00.001-08:00

Right after Joycie was born, M gifted me with a shiny, new DSLR – it was a hybrid push present/ Mother’s Day Gift. I was beyond excited as I dreamed of all the gorgeous, professional looking photos I would take. I vowed to learn all I could about photography so that I could capture all of Joycie’s special moments.

And while I have taken literally thousands of photos in the past 2 year, my knowledge of photography and my camera has not advance beyond the basics. I figured that I was just too busy – and we have an amazing photographer that we use for professional shots – so I did not pursue the issue.

But then my friend, Kevin started this this amazing blog that showcases a daily photo of his life. His beautiful work inspired me to dust off my camera, revive my interest, and starting shooting again.

For now, my goal is to simply take a photo every day. I need to get comfortable with my camera. I am also going to head to the library to find a book on digital photography – in the hopes that I can learn how my camera actually works beyond the auto setting.

I’ll wrap up this post with my first photo of 2012.

Dear Joycie: Your 2nd Christmas

2011-12-26T13:25:00.001-08:00

Dear Joycie:

Your 2nd Christmas began early on Sunday morning. We went into your room at 7:45 to find you smiling and eager to start the day. We lifted you out of bed and you headed straight into the living room:

Once there, you found the kitchen set that Mama and Daddy had bought for you. Daddy had been up until 1:30 a.m. putting the kitchen together, so we were happy to see how much you enjoyed it.

Since we were suppose to eat breakfast at Aunt Lane’s at 8:00 a.m., we loaded up the rest of your gifts so that you could unwrap them at her house.

You were very diligent in unwrapping the gifts, taking one piece of paper off at a time. Then you would laugh at what was inside. But after just 2 gifts, you were more interested in playing with Lacey and London’s gifts rather than opening your own.

After breakfast, we went to church and then to Nana’s for lunch and more gifts.

You took silly pics with Lacey and London, ate a good lunch, and then unwrapped more gifts.

By the time we were done at Nana Becki’s, you were worn out. We put you into your car seat, and headed to Nana Nancy’s. You slept for quite a while in Granny’s arms.

When you finally woke up, there were more gifts to unwrap. You received two more babies, and a rocking horse that sings….

You were all smiles as you played with your gifts. And made sure to give thank you kisses to everyone.

We loved watching you on this special day! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

Love,

Mama & Daddy

21 Months

2011-12-20T04:07:00.001-08:00

Dear Joycie,

As the Christmas season began, you turned 21 months old. Mama thought it would be fun to snap pictures of you through out the day of December 5th. The first photo is how we find you each morning – all balled up, socks and covers long since gone….

And a peaceful expression on your face. It warms our hearts to see you like this – we swear you are almost angelic.

Here are your stats for this month:

You are 44 inches long and weigh 28 pounds.
You are wearing 2T in tops, and have moved up to 24 months in bottoms. .
You are now wearing size 7 shoes.
After nearly a year (or more) in size 3 diapers, we have finally move up to size 4 diapers.

Your vocabulary is growing at a rapid pace.This month you learned to say the names of all of your classmates at daycare, each of your teacher, and a handful of the other students. You are asking for help “Hep me, peas” is your go to phrase.

Another big milestone this month is that you went potty by yourself for the first time. Daddy and I plan to focus on potty training after the holidays as you seem quite interested in getting rid of diapers. In fact, last week at school, you took off your pants and wet diaper on the playground because you were tired of wearing them.

I think it is safe to say we may be seeing the signs of the “terrible twos”. No is one of your favorite words – and we are having to use lots of time outs when you fail to follow the instructions we give you. Thankfully, you are quick to learn from your mistakes – and one time out a day has you back on track.

You enjoy doing things by yourself – like dressing, brushing your teeth, and getting your cup/snacks out of the cabinet.

Daddy and I try to allow you to do things by yourself. But sometimes, we come back to find things like the picture above. Somehow while brushing your teeth, you managed to unroll an entire roll of toilet paper. All we could do was laugh.

You are mesmerized by the lights and ornaments on the Christmas tree. But want NOTHING to do with Santa. You had a part in the children’s Christmas play at church….and danced/sang to every song.

Some of the other parents said that you were even more behaved than the older kids. We had to agree – you continue to be a pretty laid back, mild mannered little girl….but there is enough spunk to keep us on our toes.

We can’t wait to see what the new year brings with you, Joycie!

Love,

Mama & Daddy

#Resound11: Theme Song

2011-12-06T10:29:00.001-08:00

If your life was a television show, what would its theme song be? What
music would be cued at the start of the show or when you entered a
scene?

Think about this past year. Is there a song that you've heard that has
really struck a chord, one that has spoken to you? Maybe there's a
song that goes along with your one word for 2011. Maybe there is a
song that you've heard that instantly cheers you up or makes you think
of a special moment that happened this year?

Easy, my theme song would "My Next 30 Years" by Tim McGraw.

"I think I'll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it's time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years"

I will turn 30 in 2012 and I eagerly look forward to it as I spent
most of 2011 learnig to appreciate where I am in life!

"Hey my next thirty years I'm gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I've done
Maybe now I've conquered all my adolescent fears
And I'll do it better in my next thirty years"

2011 was really the first year that I did not look back with regrets -
over decisions, choices, life circumstances. I embraced what I had
done in the last 29 years, how it had molded me into the woman I am to
day, and I vowed to live life even better in the years to come.

What would your theme song be? All of the prompts for #resound11 can
be found at http://www.resound.jaemie.com.

#Resound11

2011-12-06T10:24:00.001-08:00

I am a few days late to the party for #resound 11….but I figured
better late than never. I am going to briefly catch up from the first
4 prompts in this post, and then start playing along daily. I hope
you will join me.

Prompt for Dec 1 – One Word.

What is the one word that you would use to describe your 2011? Why
does that word sum up your year?

When I read this prompt, the first word that came to mind was
"growing". I think that it is very insightful that I chose a verb as
my word – as 2011 was a year of doing. I grew in terms of work –
taking on more responsibilities and project. I grew in my relationship
with Mikey – learning how to work thru some dark and difficult times.
I grew personally by branching out to teach aerobics and lead a
running group. I grew as a mother – learning how to set boundaries for
Joycie while allowing her the space she needs to explore her world.
And lastly, but most importantly, I am growing in my faith. As 2011
winds to a close, I am spending more time in God's Holy Word, in
prayer, and am preparing to start my first fast.

Prompt for Dec 2: Vices

Did you slip into any old habits that you wish you hadn't? Did you
gain any new habits that you wish you would've walked away from? Did
you discover the evils of Nutella?

One word …. Chocolate! After 7 months of dedicated 5K training and
cleaning eating, I embrace the summer season with a huge slice of
chocolate cake. Then it was ice cream sundaes with hot fudge syrup,
chocolate bars as my afternoon pick me up. While chocolate is
delicious and something I do not intend to completely eliminate from
my life…I can say that 2011 saw a HUGE jump in the amount of candy I
consumed. Hopefully 2012 will see a dramatic reduction.

Prompt for Dec 3: Virtues

What good have you done in 2011? Where do you really shine? What have
you done that makes you proud of yourself?
One of the things I am proudest of this year, is that I stepped up and
offered to teach an aerobics class at my church. The class started
with just my sister-in-law and I, but has grown into a group of 9
women, and has given birth to a weekly running group. Moreover, the
group became a way for the younger women of our church to fellowship
together – we have had girl's days out, movie nights, and weekly
breakfasts together where we just chat about our lives, and enjoy just
being girls (not wives, Mamas, aunts, etc…).

Prompt for Dec 4: Superpower

Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able
to leap tall buildings in a single bound…we know you've got one. What
is your 2011 superpower?

For those of you doing the initial what the what… stop. Think about it
for a moment: what have you learned that you can do better than anyone
you know this year? What can you do that no one else can? Don't be
shy!
This prompt gave me a lot of difficulty. I tend to think of myself as
just average – nothing special, nothing extraordinary. But then I
realized that I am special – after all God says that I am wonderful
and fearless made. I thought about the "gifts" that I have been told I
have, and I began to see a theme – I am a great listener!

Whether the hubby needs to vent about work related stress, my
sister-in-law needs to talk about her son's struggles at school, or a
co-worker needs to just talk, I am always eager to listen.

In This Family....

2011-11-29T05:19:00.001-08:00

In this family, we love with our whole hearts
And tiny kisses from pink lips
And snuggles in Mama and Daddy's bed in the wee hours of the morning.

In this family, we fight with great passion
For each other
For our beliefs
And sometimes over silly things that don't matter.

In this family, we say we are sorry
Sometimes with tears
Sometimes with mumbled words
And sometimes with a simple touch.

In this family, we play tea party
And dress up
And "zombie attack" (with Daddy though – as Mama documents with the camera)

We sing silly songs
Dance in circles until we are dizzy
And laugh – loud and often.

In this family, there is a Daddy who works hard to take care of his "girls"
A Mama who prays over her husband and daughter,
And a little girl who is the sunshine in her parents world.

In this family, we are blessed with the love of Jesus
And His grace – which is often needed in abundance.

In this family, we are flawed.
Daddy can be moody,
Mama can be a nag
And the daughter, well – all I can say is "Terrible Twos"

But at the end of it all, in this family, we would not change a thing.

20 Months

2011-11-23T04:06:00.001-08:00

Dear Joycie,

Time has gotten away from me and your 20 months letter is nearly 3 weeks late. I am sorry, sweetheart. However, it has been a busy time in our lives. Between work, school, and church activities, Mama has had little time for blogging. But better late than never, so let’s get started with your stats:

You are 42 inches long and weigh 27 pounds.
Your clothing sizes have changed yet again. You are wearing 2T in tops, and have moved up to 24 months in bottoms. The 24 months are still too big in the waist, but fit you properly in length.
You are now wearing size 7 shoes.
After nearly a year (or more) in size 3 diapers, we have finally move up to size 4 diapers.

Your vocabulary is continuing to expand – you are starting to use more 2 or 3 word sentences to express yourself. Your favorite expressions are:

I want cup.
I go ouside (I go outside).
We go to kurch (We go to church)
Peas (Please) Mama.

This month you have fallen in love with the movie Rio. You could watch the movie over and over again. While Daddy and I do not let you do that, we do allow you to watch it some in the evenings, and we love to hear you sing “Rio, Rio” with the movie and dance to the music.

You are starting to show signs that potty training may be in our future. You often tell me “I go pee-pee” or “I go boo boo” when you are wet or have a dirty diaper. You have done this without prompting from Daddy or I.

You are still trying to assert your independence and strong will, and sometimes with shout “No Mama, No Dada.” But general, a stern voice gets your attention, and you follow our requests without much fuss.

Joycie – You are such a delight to us. We continued to be amazed at how quickly you are growing, learning and changing. And even more amazed at how much we are changing with you.

Love,

Mama & Daddy

Bigger Picture Moments: Praising Him For the Rain

2011-10-13T07:40:00.001-07:00

I shuffle quietly in my kitchen, preparing the morning coffee, running thru my to-do list, when the sounds of raindrops against the window catches my attention.

It is still dark outside, but I can faintly see the mud puddles already forming in the drive. And I smile. Normally, rain upsets me – I associate it with dreary, sunless weather, bad hair (curls + rain = FRIZZ), and mud tracked throughout the house (19 month olds love to jump in puddles….).

But today, I smile at the rain and offer a prayer of thanks. It has been dry here for months. Historically, we’ve been in a drought for years, and the rain has long been prayed for, longed for, and wanted.

___________________________________________________________________

I hear a sound from my daughter’s room, so I pull away from my musings and walk down the hall to check on her. She is sleeping peacefully, a faint smile tugging her tiny lips upwards at the corners. Her content expression reveals no indication that she is anything other than a happy, healthy 19 month old.

However, in the last 2 weeks she’s had several “episodes” – times where she seems to tense her whole body up, lose the ability to stand, and for awhile afterwards operates in a fog. A trip to the emergency room and CT scan revealed no explanation for the behavior. So now we began the testing, the consultations with physicians and specialists.

The fear, the uncertain, the vast unknown swells inside me…..leaving me cold, shaking, and feeling as though I am standing in the midst of a monsoon. And yet, I have never felt the presence of the Father more. A calm, reassurance that my child is ultimately His child and that she is resting in His hands. He speaks soothing words to my heart, telling me that whatever the doctors may find, He already knows and is in control of.

So as the rain comes down, I smile and I offer praise to Him.

Wordless Wednesday: The Difference in A Year

2011-10-12T04:11:00.001-07:00

September 2010

October 2011

19 Months

2011-10-11T09:24:00.001-07:00

Dear Joycie,

Last Wednesday, you turned 19 months old. This month has brought lots of new accomplishments and a few challenges, which we will talk about in a second, but first for memory’s sake, here are your stats:

You are 41 inches long and weigh 26 pounds.
Clothing sizes are still all over the map for you. Your pants range from 12 months to 24 months, and your shirts are now 18 months (in tunic length) to 2T (because your arms are so long)
You are now wearing size 6 shoes – apparently, your feet have hit a growth spurt.
You now have 12 teeth.
You are still in size 3 diapers….and I am thinking you are going to be in those sizes for quite some time

Now on to the accomplishments. In the past month, you’ve expanded your vocabulary to include “Quiet”, “Lay down”, “Daddy/Mama gone'”, and “Mine, mine, mine”. You are now able to undress yourself and have mastered the art of putting on your shirt, pants and shoes are still tricky.

You continue to adore your cousins and were so excited when you Lacey and London had sleep overs with you. 99% of the time, you play very well with them, but there are times where you do not want to share….and sometimes you take the toys they are playing with.

I think it is safe to say that you’ve started experiencing the “Terrible Twos” (ahead of schedule) as there are days where nothing we do makes you happy, you refuse to follow directions, respond to every question with a loud “No!”, and if you are disciplined become a shrieking, crying, fit-throwing little girl. We have to remind ourselves that you are trying to learn your boundaries, and we try to respond with patience and grace. Thankfully, your bouts of temper are short lived, and within mere minutes are smiling, happy girl returns.

This month has been a bit scary for Mama and Daddy. In recent days, you have started experiencing “seizure like episodes” – so you are going to seeing a neurologist soon. We have to admit that Mama and Daddy are worried, but we know that God’s is fully in control and taking care of you.

You have been a joy to us since the day you were born and we just know that God has fantastic plans for you. You already show a huge love for Jesus – dancing to worship music, wanting Mama to read to you from your picture Bible, and bowing your head so sweetly during pray. We pray that we can continue to foster that love in you, and that Jesus will use you in a mighty way!

We are so grateful to be your parents! We love you sooooo much!

~Mama and Daddy

Dress Like a Girl Challenge: Rock Fall In Summer Temps

2011-10-10T04:19:00.001-07:00

For me fall is college football, pumpkin flavored everything, burnt orange and golden leaves dancing across my yard, bonfires on Saturday nights, and of course, fun fall fashion.

This week, I thought I would share with you my fall fashion staples. These are the non-fleece items that I use to Rock Fall, and stay warm and toasty.

My work dress codes requires slacks or skirts, so by Friday at 5 p.m., I am longing for denim. Enter the skinny jeans. Specifically, these skinny jeans from Old Navy.

Skinny jeans give me more versatility in my fall wardrobe. I can pair them with a cute pair of ballet flats and tunic length sweater on the sunny days, or tuck them into tall boots on the rainy fall afternoons.

On my top half, I like to start with a lightweight long-sleeve tee.

The Mossimo line at Target offers a wide variety of colors.

I love to finish off my look with a cardigan or fitted jacket.

Source: This Next

What are your favorite fall wardrobe items? Is there a scarf you love, a pair of boots, or a stylish sweater? Wear it, snap a pic, and share it with us in the Dress Like a Girl Challenge.

Dress Like a Girl {October Challenge}

2011-10-05T04:24:00.001-07:00

I have been feeling it for weeks – a hint in the early morning air, a chilly breeze in the evening as the sun slips lower in the sky – fall was coming. And last week, much to my personal delight, it arrived!

As the temperatures dipped into the low 40’s, my first instinct was to bundled up, so I dug out sweatshirts, long-sleeve t’s, and even a flannel shirt or two. My husband laughed at me one evening when we headed to a friend’s cookout wearing this ensemble….

That would be a pair of knit gloves and ear warmers I stole from my 7 year old niece and my hubby’s fleece jacket. M (that’s my hubby) was laughing that I was bundling up at a mere 52 degrees, but his laughter did prompt me to evaluate the style factor of the look and it rated a big…

Why is it that my default for fall weather is always fleece? I have a closet full of many more stylish options for fall dressing. Melissa agrees and came up with the wonderful October Dress Like a Girl Challenge.

This month we want you to dress for fall in a non-fleece way. Whether that’s wearing gorgeous scarves, drool-worthy boots, or a fabulous pea coat, we want you to be warm and stylish!

We will be sharing some ideas with you over the next few weeks. If you are a gal living somewhere where fall mornings are frigid and the afternoons are sweltering, come back next week here next week for some tips on how to rock fall clothing without overheating.

Alright ladies, hit those closets and show me how you Rock Fall without Fleece!

Dress Like a Girl { September Challenge Link Up}

2011-09-27T03:38:00.001-07:00

Wow, the end of September is upon us and October looms on the horizon. Did you complete the September Challenge ?

I used the challenge as catalyst to remove my husband oversized tee’s and old boxers from my pajama drawers and replacing them with comfy, feminine, girly things.

My first purchase a silky gown found on the clearance rack at my local Wal-mart. It was a mere $7.00. The first night I wore it, hubby commented on how “soft” it was, and kept touching me all night. :-)

Since I sometimes get cold with bare legs, I also purchased a pair of pajama bottoms and cute sleeping tank.

These two items together only cost m $10.00 – again, a big hooray for the clearance rack. While I bought new items to wear, the challenge is not about running out to stores to replace what you have. Perhaps you have a pair of long forgotten girly pj’s or a smokin hot nighty for the early days of wedded bliss. Dig them out, put them on, and celebrate being a girl.

Now it's your turn! Share a picture, or a story...tell us how you did!

Grab our button, and link up your September challenge post!

Copy and paste Code

Don't blog? Don't have time for a whole post? You can just add your photo to my Dress Like a Girl Flickr Pool or tag/post it to my Facebook Wall! We'll be featuring one person (and their blog!) next week when we announce the October challenge!

Please Remember:

- Please link to your post or photo on Flickr not your main blog

- If you post please include our button or a link back to this post

- Try to visit who linked before you and tell them how cute they are!

18 Months

2011-09-26T04:23:00.001-07:00

Dear Joycie,

You are now 18 months old….nearly 19 months old as Mama took a little to long to get around to posting this. But better late than never. Here are your stats for this months:

You are 40 inches long and weigh 24 pounds.
Clothing sizes are all over the map for you. Since you are long and lean, you can wear anything from 12 months to 24 months. For example, on Sunday you wore a dress that was size 6-12 months. Today you have on a 24 month top and 12 month shorts.
You are now wearing size 5 shoes and should be in size 6 by the end of the year.
You have 10 and a half teeth. There is another tooth on the bottom that is attempting to come in – we can see it but it has yet to break the skin.
You are still in size 3 diapers….and I am thinking you are going to be in those sizes for quite some time.

Your vocabulary continues to grow. This month you’ve learned to say “Sit down"’, “Come on”, “Up”, and “Hold Me”.

You are learning the names of the various people in our life – both friends, family and schoolmates. You still love music and dancing. Whenever you get frustrated, I often turn on your kids music cd and the tears stop immediately.

This month we have started weaning you off of your “pap”. We went from having it all evening, to just a bed time, to only in the car, to not at all for the last few days. You are still finding a few stray paps here or there (I wonder how many we bought over the last 18 months), but we are usual able to take them without incident.

You are starting to assert your independence – wanting to pick out your own shoes, dress yourself, or climb into your own car seat. We are both proud and dismayed by this – as it is a reminder that you are growing up.

We love you to the moon and back!

~Mama and Daddy

Five Minute Friday: Joy

2011-09-16T06:19:00.001-07:00

Today I'm linking up to Lisa-Jo aka gypsy mama, who chooses a topic every Friday and writes for five minutes.

Only five minutes.

Today's prompt is joy…..

Here I go.

"I've got the joy, joy, joy…..down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart"

A chorus of 15 little voices belt out the words to this classic Sunday school song as they dance around our church's social hall. I wonder if they understand the depth of eternal truth that lies within those lyrics.

Do they know that joy is more than a feeling of happiness, of gladness? Do they understand that joy is not temporary or fleeting? Can they understand that joy exists even in the midst of troubles and trials?

15 tiny bodies dance around the social hall, bodies moving with abandon, grins stretching wide across rosy cheeks…..

While they may not yet understand all that joy is, it is evident that they are full of it. And I will do all that I can to help them learn about the ultimate source of joy, our Heavenly Father.

And I will pray that they will come to find the source of joy everlasting, so that one day we can all dance before His Throne – and perhaps will sing those simple words "I've got the joy, joy, joy….down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart"

What I Wore: Wardrobe Formulas

2011-09-15T04:41:00.001-07:00

Slowly but surely, I am relearning what items/colos/combinations work best for my body and my life. Additionally, I am developing a "formula" for quick and easy looks that I know will carry me thru the work day. For me, that formula is trousers, knit top and either a jacket or cardigan. Here are two different looks that use that formula.

On Wednesday, I paired black trousers with a teal cowl neck top and a taupe cardi. I tucked in the top and belted the trousers to showcase my waist a bit more.

Today’s version of the formula is simple greyish/black trousers, a patterned cowl neck top, and a cropped cardi. I left the topped untucked for a little variety.

I think these looks is polished and professional without being too stuffy. Moreover, I could swap out the trousers for jeans/clam diggers or a skirt and have a simple mom-on-the go look.

Do you have a wardrobe formula? Perhaps, you have one or two go to outfits – looks you know will work and that do not require lots of planning?

Wordless Wednesday: Big Shoes to Fill

2011-09-14T04:22:00.001-07:00

Dress Like a Girl Challenge: Revamping our Bedtime Wardrobe

2011-09-14T04:01:00.001-07:00

September's Dress Like a Girl Challenge was to kick it up a notch in the bedroom. When I am purchasing pajamas, I have a few factors that I have to take into consideration:

1. My husband firmly believes in sleeping in a cool room (think low A/C and a fan blowing), so I have to have pj’s that are warm.

2. I can not stand anything near my ankles when sleeping (weird I know) so pants are not an option.

3. I have an 18 month daughter who likes to pull and tug on my clothing, so I need tops that provide full coverage and are likely to stay in place.

A shopping trip over the weekend, led me to these little gems at my local JC Penney.

These mix and match tees and boy shorts, give me the comfort of my husband tee and boxers, but with a decidely femine shape. The $9.99 price tag meant I was able to stock up on several different options.

Hubby loves to see me in gowns – preferably silk – so I picked up the two gowns below….for a steal.

Source: JC Penney

Melissa posted some great ideas on Monday. Go check her out and let us know how you’ll be revamping your bedtime wardrobe.

What I Wore: Feeling Patriotic

2011-09-12T04:14:00.001-07:00

I suppose since yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the September 11th tragedy, I am feeling extra patriotic. This morning my eye was drawn to a navy blue blazer and a bright red layering tank. I wanted to pair the items with a tan skirt or camel colored trousers but I own neither of those pieces. Instead, I paired them with this pair of very light grey trousers.

In the week and a half since I began my little "project", I am learning to look at the items in my closet with an extremely critical eye. By doing so, I have eliminated items that I either a) didn't love or b) are not flattering to my body. Additionally, I am able to see where gaps exsist in my wardrobe and determine what pieces would be great investments.

Expect to see me purchase a tan skirt and camel trousers in the near future.

Thursday Thoughts: Ready for Another Baby?

2011-09-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

I hold the fevered toddler in my arms, feeling her warm body curling into mine, her soft breathe blowing against my neck, closing my eyes I remember when this toddler was a tiny infant who loved to nap on my chest with her tiny head tucked under my chin. As I reminisce, I feel the faintest sting of longing.

I turn to M and say “ I want to have more babies with you”.

He smiles and says “Now…?”

“Yes” is my reply.

Fast forward a few days, and the toddler is healthy, whole, and running wild thru the house. M is on the tractor, mowing the weeds that are threatening to overtake our blueberry fields, and so I am left alone to cook supper, bath Joycie, fold a load of laundry, and prepare for the next day.

As the sun is setting, M comes home. Joycie has just sput out her a half chewed piece of chicken and is rubbing it into her freshly washed hair. Frazzled, I glance and M and vow “We are not having another child anytime soon.”

And so it goes, a constant back and forth of wanting to expand our family and desiring to keep it in its present form. I know in the deepest parts of my heart that our family is not complete - there is an empty chair at our kitchen table that I hope will one hold a rowdy little boy with his father’s green eyes and strong chin. Or perhaps it is where our 2nd daughter will sit, giggling with her sister over shared secrets and Daddy’s jokes.

But something is holding me back. I often wonder if it is fear – fear of another pregnancy, fear of how our family dynamic will change, or is it selfishness. It takes careful coordination for M and I to do the things we do with just 1 child, how much more effort would 2 require. Moreover, I am in the best shape of my life, and I am not ready to allow my body to be changed by pregnancy. And then there is Joycie – the apple of our eyes, the center of our world – who is day by day developing more personality, more spunk. I worry that another child would somehow shortchange her.

So we wait…..and pray….. for guidance to know when the right time will be, for the child that is yet to come, and for the sleeping toddler who is a blessing to us daily

What I Wore: Basic Pieces

2011-09-08T04:30:00.001-07:00

This is not the first outfit that I put on this morning. I woke up with intentions of wearing an different top, pants, and cardigan. However, after dressing and living in the look I started to notice things that were wrong. The top had stray threads from where the collar was unraveling, the cardi had a stain, and the pants are just too big. So I put the items in a repair bin, a laundry basket, the donation pile and went to work finding something else to wear.

This outfit is pretty basic. It is just a simple sweater and dress slacks. To add a little oomph, I belted the sweater at the waist. This look proves that you can take basic pieces and use them in new ways.

What I Wore: More Shades of Purple

2011-09-07T04:05:00.001-07:00

I love suits as evidenced by what I wore yesterday. However, with a tiny upper body and a pear shaped lower body, it is often difficult to find suits straight off the rack that fit well. Therefore, I often turn to seperates to create a “suit” look. This is the case with today’s look.

Jacket: Worthington at JC Penney - $30

Lilac Tank: Worthington at JC Penney - $10

Pants: New York and Company - $40

Look at this picture, I notice that the pants are feathering at the hip area which normally indicates that they are too tight. However, this pair of pants fits me perfectly in the waist and hip area.

Do any of you readers have an idea on what could be causing the feathering?

What I Wore: Purple Power Suit

2011-09-06T15:16:00.001-07:00

Tank: Bass Outlet - $3.00

Jacket: JC Penney - $6.97

Black Dress Pants: New York and Company $30.00

Dress Like a Girl {September Challenge}

2011-09-05T19:12:00.001-07:00

I have an entire dresser drawer devoted to pajamas. When M and I first married, this drawer was home to silk gowns, lacey nighties, and a few items that were gifted to me at a lingerie shower.

Over the last 3 years, this drawer has come to house M’s oversize flannel pajama bottoms, his old ratty t-shirts, and a few of his worn out tank tops. I would like to tell you that M had invaded my drawer. However, the truth is that I am using his old clothing as my pajamas.

I tell myself it is because it’s more comfortable. After 8 to 10 hours in high heeled shoes, button down shirts, and power suits, I long for comfortable. But in all honesty, I have just grown complacent. I know that M loves me,finds me beautiful in anything I where, so I see no need to put forth any extra effort.

And that bothers me. And since Melissa agrees with me, we’ve decied to make the September Dress Like a Girl Challenge about ditching our husband’s cast offs and finding our own cute (and comfy) pj’s.

If you’d like to join us, then dig around in your dresser drawers, search thru your closets, and find a lacey nightgown from years gone by, or maybe swap out your usual pj’s for something cute and girlie. Melissa and I will be sharing ideas next week for cute, girlie, and inexpensive pajamas.

Weekend Recap: Football Season Begins

2011-09-05T08:06:00.001-07:00

September means the end of summer and the start of college football season. While some will miss the hot sunny days of summer, I am excited about cool fall days spent tailgating and crisp fall nights spent in the stadium watching my beloved Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Tech kicked off their season on Thursday night – and M, Joycie and I joined my parents to enjoy the pageantry, excitement, and spectacle that is college football. I was even more eager to see how Joycie would react to football. While we had taken her to the games last season, she was too young to do much but nap thru the games.

I had the camera ready and snapped this picture as soon as we walked into the stadium. She was bit unsure of the noise, the lights, and the people.

But she soon grew comfortable enough to prop up and wave at everyone who walked by our seats.

When the band took the field for the pre-game show, she stood stock still and then broke into a dances.

At the end of the first quarter, we made a concession stand run and Joycie enjoyed a bag of M & M’s all by herself.

At the end of the night, we danced in the stands as the band played our fight song.

I will admit that Joycie did spend a good deal of time running up and down our aisle, climbing over the bleachers, and trying to escape to climb the stairs – but all in all I think she did great. I am looking forward to seeing what she does at the next game.

Doing More than “Just Enough”

2011-08-31T04:24:00.001-07:00

Volunteering to co-host the “Dress Like a Girl Challenge” with Melissa has prompted me to give serious consideration to how I present myself to the world. I work in an office that is home to both high level executives and hourly employees – I am somewhere in between, with work attire ranging from scrubs (it’s a health care company) to suits. I often feel as though I am not pulled together, polished, or something is just off with how I am dressing.

Then it hit me this morning as I was fiddling with the outfit that I had quickly thrown on before making my husband’s coffee, switching a load of laundry, and replying to e-mails. I am not devoting any true time to getting ready for my day. Yes, I put on business casual clothing, swipe on a bit of powder and lipstick, and check to make sure that my hair is not resembling a bird’s nest. But I never go beyond that. I am doing just enough…..and that is no longer good enough.

So today, I let the dishes sit in the sink, and went back to my closet to give serious consideration to what I was going to wear. Here is what I came up with (Please excuse the weird head tilt--- posing is not my strong suit)

While I don’t want this to turn into a fashion blog, I will be posting my daily outfits for awhile, just to give me some accountability. Do any of you have tips/tricks/suggestions for dressing better?

I Broke My Own Rule

2011-08-26T04:07:00.001-07:00

Before Joycie was born, I swore that I would never allow my child to sleep with me. I had seen too many parents who had struggled to transition their baby out of Mama’s bed and into their own room. I figured that if I avoided it from the start, I could avoid the struggle.

Needless to say, I was a little agitated when M put a half-awake Joycie down in our bed. He promised that he was only going to let her snuggle with us for awhile before moving her to her crib. Knowing how easily M can fall asleep, I figured that I would be the one doing the moving.

At 5:45 a.m., I woke to the beeping of my alarm clock, and a tiny hand resting on my cheek. As I lay in the stillness of the early morning, breathing in the scent of Johnson’s & Johnson’s Baby shampoo, and traces of chocolate milk, I realized that I didn’t mind so much that M had broken the “rule”.

In a larger sense, I realize that is the balance that I have to find as a parent. I want Joycie to become a good person, with a strong work ethic and high morals.

To instill that in her, I need to provide her a home with rules, expectations, and boundaries. On the other hand, I want her to have a creative spirit and a joyful soul, so I must teach her the moments when can ignore the “rules” and embrace the moment.

So while, I do not intend on letting Joycie take up residence in my bed nightly, I am not going to protest too loudly if some morning in the future, I wake up next to that little body.

What parenting “rule” have you broken?

Wordless Wednesday: Snapshots of Vacation

2011-08-24T04:19:00.001-07:00

Another Blogging Milestone….

2011-08-23T03:54:00.001-07:00

I have been blogging for close to five years. I can remember getting excited when one of my posts garnered a comment from someone who I didn’t know in real life.

Then I giggled as I gained a few followers. Now, I am celebrating another blogging milestone – co-hosting a blogging event.

Check out Melissa's Blog for all the details.

Bigger Picture Moment: Joy in the Repetitive

2011-08-12T04:17:00.001-07:00

The familiar notes of a jazz flute float thru the speakers…as the next track on the CD begins to play. I look in the rearview mirror to see Joycie’s tiny face split into a grin that I swear spans ear to ear.

As the beat picks up, she begins to clap her hands and kick her feet into the air. I have come to learn this is how she dances – or at least how she dances while strapped into her car seat.

I chuckle softly at the excitement that she shows. We have listened to this track five times this morning, and each time she acts so surprised to hear it, and then reacts with such joy.

While she dances, and the singer sings of God’s glories……I wonder why I can not find such joy in the repetitive things of my life. Lately, life has been a cycle of work, working out, worship, and not much else. I find myself growing discontent, restless, – dare I say bored by the routine.

“Lord, I would love to find joy again.” I think as I drive.

“Then choose to embrace it.”

As God’s child, I can never lose my joy – as all of my hope rests in Christ. However, I can choose whether or not to live out my joy. So as I dropped Joycie at daycare, and pulled into my usually parking spot at the office, I made a choice to embrace the joy.

It was another day at work…..but I joyfully danced my way thru.

Wordless Wednesday: Playing in Mama’s Makeup

2011-08-10T04:28:00.001-07:00

Daily Gratitude: Vacation

2011-08-09T06:13:00.001-07:00

Last week I turned 29, and blogged about how I was going to update daily with something that I was grateful for…..um, yeah….that didn't happen.

It's not that I do not have a myriad of things to be grateful for but rather I have little time to capture the moments in this medium. I file the memories away in the corners of my mind and my heart with every intention of sharing them each evening. But there is dinner to make, aerobics class to teach, a little girl who wants me to spin her around the living room while we listen to praise music, and a handsome husband's whose strong arms beckon me to cuddle just a few more moments…..and so I don't turn on my computer, download the picture, and release the torrent of words that I wish to share.

In the past, I would have felt guilty, offered my profuse apologies and vowed to get back on track. However, I am learning that I often make grand plans and promises that I can not keep. Instead, of re-pledging to post daily, I am simply going to tell you that over the next year I will be sharing my moments of gratitude.

Let's start now. I am grateful for my upcoming vacation. Spring and summer are very busy seasons for our family. Since we own a blueberry farm, we spent March, April, and May carefully tending the blueberry fields – watering, fertilizing, pruning, weeding, and protecting those tender buds from late spring frost. As the May flowers begin to wilt under the June heat, the blueberry bushes bring forth their fruit and "picking season" go into full swing.

For you non-farmer types, picking season is the 6 to 8 weeks where the crop is ripening and we spend every spare second we have working to bring that crop to market. Picking season is hectic on full-time farmers, but for us full-time farmers with full-time real jobs it is utter chaos. A normal week during picking season, has the men of the family on tractors from 5:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. or later. My sister-in-law, mother-in-law and I like to joke that we are "widows" during picking seasons, as we only see our husbands long enough to say good morning, scarf down a bite of supper, and good night.

Picking season can leave me feeling disjointed and disconnected from M. And so, each year we plan a week long escape at the end of the season. It is a time to reconnect and regroup both as individuals, as a couple, and now as a family.

This year, M and I are taking Joycie to Chattanooga. We have rented a cabin just 45 minutes south of the city. It's a quaint two room cabin situated on a shimmering lake. We have plans to take Joycie to the Tennessee Aquarium and the Chattanooga Zoo. But those are the only plans we have made. We intend on spending the rest of the time just hanging out – lounging in our pajamas while enjoying a pancake breakfast, taking long walks around the lake, and maybe dancing around the living room.

17 Months

2011-08-05T14:34:00.001-07:00

Dear Joycie,

You are now 17 months old….and becoming quite the active little girl. As always, we will begin your letter with your stats:

You are 40 inches long and weigh 22 pounds.
You are wearing size 18 month bottoms, size 12 month bottoms, and size 4 shoes.
You have 10 teeth.
You are still in size 3 diapers….and I am thinking you are going to be in those sizes for quite some time.

Your vocabulary continues to grow. This month you’ve learned to say ‘No, no, no’, stop, shoes, oustide, ahts –at (what’s that).

You can point out various body parts including your hair, head, teeth, tongue, hands, arms, feet, and tummy. When asked you can make the sounds of dogs, cats, cows, and ducks.

If we had to choose your favorite toy, the Dora the Explorer guitar and microphone would win. You love to play with them, dancing and singing along to the music. However, you love being outside more than anything.

Daddy is in the process of building you a swingset so that you can enjoy the hot pink swing that Nana and Papa bought for you. When you aren’t swinging, you like to explore the yard – picking up sticks, rocks, and dirt.

At school, your teachers say you are very loving. Each afternoon when Mama picks you up, you give your teachers hugs, blow kisses to your classmates, and tell everyone we pass bye-bye.

You are a constant source of joy for us. The silly faces you make, the funny noises, and your infectious laughter warm our hearts so much.

Love,

Mama & Daddy

30 Before 30

2011-08-04T04:30:00.001-07:00

At 5:59 a.m., I turned 29 years old and officially entered the last year of my twenties. Up until a few days ago the thought of entering this “last year” had not crossed my mind. Then suddenly I was hit with an overwhelming urge to create, do, be and experience more – as though the life I have right now is somehow not enough or that once I turn 30 I would be unable to achieve any measurable goals.

Since I am 100% blessed to have the life I am living – a wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter, a job I love, a nice home, car, and my health – I pushed aside the idea of creating the list…..and moved on.

However, in the quiet moments of the day, I felt myself once again needing to write this list. A conversation with a dear friend helped me to see, that creating a “30 Before 30” list does not mean I am unhappy with who I am now. Rather, the list gives me direction and focus in what can often be a busy, hectic and demanding life.

Therefore, I am submitting to the blogging world my “30 Before 30” list.

1. Dance in the rain with Joycelen.
2. Take a week day off from work, have M do the same, and spend the entire day at home with Joycie. (Bonus points if we spend the whole day in our p.j.s)
3. Run a 5K race with Mikey.
4. Run a 5K race with my running group in each of the 4 seasons.
5. Run a 10K .
6. Complete a half marathon.
7. Run a 5K race with my running group in each of the 4 seasons.
8. Attend a Nascar Race
9. Attend a professional football game.
10. Take dance lessons.
11. Try at least 1 new recipe each month.
12. Taking a cooking class with M.
13. Visit at least 2 states that I have never been to before.
14. Take a mission trip to another country. However, if this can not happen a mission trip to another state will be fantastic.
15. Start a children’s choir at my church.
16. Take an unplanned, uncharted, unknown roadtrip with M & Joycie. Just load up in the car and go.
17. Chase lighting bugs with my nieces and nephews.
18. Spend an afternoon listening to my grandmother tell family stories. Record these on video.
19. Treat my Mama to a spa day.
20. Spend a day fishing with my Daddy.
21. Treat my sister to a girl’s day out - mani’s, pedi’s, a little shopping, and a nice lunch.
22. Complete a bike race.
23. Ride in a “poker run” with M.
24. Find something to be grateful for every day for the next year. Post a picture of the item on my blog.
25. Practice random acts of kindness. The goal is at least one each month for the next year.
26. Have something that I have written be published in a newspaper, magazine or online.
27. Research, begin, and if possible earn my personal training certification.
28. Take a digital photography course.
29. Spend the day playing tourist in my tri-county area. Visit the attractions that bring out of town folks to the area.
30. Read at least 1 new book each month. A new book can be defined as either a newly published work or an old work that I have never read.

Letters to Joycie - How to Handle an Exhausting week

2011-07-28T06:40:00.001-07:00

Dear Joycie,

As you grow older, you will experience days and possibly weeks where it appears that everything that can go wrong will go wrong. Those are the weeks that will test your patience, your strength, and your faith. Daddy and I, and I suppose you as well, are in the midst of one of those weeks right now. So I thought it wise to document this time in our life - and how we are handling things. Perhaps, someday far into the future, you can read this letter and it will encourage you thru your own difficult time.

Last Friday, you woke up with a flushed cheeks, a warm torso, and an insistent cry for juice. My Mama instincts went into overdrive and I immediately checked you for a fever. The thermometer read 99.1 – a low grade fever but enough to keep you home from daycare. Without any vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, or copious amounts of snot, your Daddy and I deduced that you were likely teething. A quick check of your mouth revealed two new teeth trying to break thru your gums. Feeling secure in our diagnosis, we gave you some medicine and sent you to your Nana's for the day.

By Friday night, the fever has disappeared, and you were once again our happy, playful girl. I was certain that the worst was behind us. I couldn't have been more wrong. Saturday afternoon saw your fever increase to 102. Nana Becki, who happens to be a nurse, made a house call and told us to start alternating Tylenol and Motrin every two hours to control the fever. As the afternoon gave way to evening, your fever kept climbing, and by 1:00 a.m. the thermometer was reading 104. Daddy and I were bathing you with cool cloths, giving lots of fluids, and praying over you. At 3:30, exhaustion overtook you and Daddy, and I sat up watching the two of you sleep. I continued to pray over you – as my heart was fearful and I felt utterly helpless.

With the first streaks of sunlight pouring thru the window, I felt your cheek and was so relieved to feel it cool. It appeared the fever had broken. You woke up smiling, ate a great breakfast, and played all day long. But as Sunday evening came, the fever returned. It was another night full of alternating meds, cool baths, and prayers.

Daddy stayed home with you Monday. And you remained nearly fever free. Tuesday came and Nana Becki took you to the doctor, where you were diagnosed with a sinus infection. The doctor gave you some medicine and said you should be on the mend soon. Yesterday, we sent you to school, and you were so excited to see your teachers and friends. When I came to pick you up, you didn't want to leave. I was relieved to see that you were feeling better. However, I noticed that you had the beginnings of a rash on your neck. I began to check you out and quickly realized that the rash was covering you from head to toe. On top of everything else, Joycie, you've now developed an allergy to penicillin. We are waiting on a new antibiotic and hopefully we can put a close to this long, exhausting week.

Daddy and I are tired. This week has been full of trials. However, we have managed to make it thru them relatively unscathed. So what did we do?

1. We prayed - I can not stress enough that pray needs to be a vital part of your life. This week we've prayed for your healing, strenghth of us, peace, and admittedly - that we could get more sleep.

2. We played - On Monday, Daddy stayed home with you. He spent his time encouraging you to play with your toys. And he says that it helped you to feel better.

3. We sought stress relievers - For Mama, that meant having a good cry in the shower on Sunday morning. For Daddy that meant a long nap with you. And for all of us, a nice long walk on Monday afternoon.

Joycie - I would love nothing more than to spare you all pain, heartache, and the storms of life. However, just as I was unable to lower your fever, I can not keep trouble from your life. Instead, Daddy and I will work to teach you how to handle the difficult times. And above all else, please know that we are always here if you need us.

Love,

Mama and Daddy

16 Months

2011-07-18T04:20:00.001-07:00

Dear Joycie,

Another month, another letter – one more attempt for Daddy and I to capture all the memories that we want to cherish for years to come.

Let’s start out with your monthly stats:

You are wearing 18 months tops and 12 month bottoms. The 12 month bottoms are still big in the waist, but it is mostly because you are so long.
You are holding steady in size 3 diapers.
You now have 10 teeth – cutting 6 in the last month and ALL at the same time.

Your vocabulary continues to expand. In the last month, you have learned to say “No, no, no”, “Shh”, “Amy”, cup, and juice. You are also learning the various sounds that the animals make.

You absolutely love music. At VBS last week, you climbed on stage every night to dance with Mama as we led the worship music. In the car, you point at the radio and insist that I turn it on….and then happily clap your hands and kick you feet in time with the music.

You are quite the little ham…..you love to make silly expressions and funny noises so that you can be the center of attention. You are also growing more and more inquisitive – exploring the world around you. You especially love to be outdoors – where you can play with rocks, sticks, and anything else you find in the yard.

As bittersweet as it may be, Joycie, we have to say that you are growing into an amazing little girl!

Love,

Mama and Daddy

Five Minute Friday: Wonder

2011-06-24T06:29:00.001-07:00

< i> I am participating in The Gsypy Mama's Five Minute Friday. Each Friday, we are given a prompt and for 5 minutes we write were the prompt leads, no thinking, no editing, just writing. This week's prompt was Wonder. </i>

I watch her in the rearview mirror as we drive into town. Her hands are clapping along with the music – and I marvel that at 15 months she has the innate ability to stay on the beat. As the upbeat song changes to a slow one, her attention is drawn away. I watch as she begins to point out her various body parts – head, eyes, ears, nose, and her tongue - she says the names to herself, somewhat garbled, but clear enough for me to understand.

I study those body parts – the light brown hair, the bright blue eyes, the rosy cheeks, the small ears, and that cute pink tongue. Only a few traces of her babyhood remain, each day she becomes more like a little girl, and less of a baby.

She begins to sing, an incoherent song, but it makes her smile. My heart swells at the sight of those four tiny teeth flashing. As I listen to her sing, my mind drifts back to that hot July day, two years ago, when I sat on the bathroom floor and tried to comprehend my impending motherhood.

At that time, all I could think of was sleepless nights, dirty diapers, bottles, and formula – my life changing forever. But now, I know that motherhood is so much more. Motherhood is watching the world thru my child's eyes. It is seeing the best parts of my husband and me coming together into a beautiful being.

It is the amazement of her achievements, the beauty of her soul, and the wonder that she has brought to my world

Five Minute Friday: Home

2011-06-17T09:02:00.001-07:00

I am participating in The Gyspy's Mama 5 Minute Friday. This week's prompt is Home:

Home is a not the three bedroom, two bathroom house on the dirt road near the county line where I now reside. And it is not not the yellow concrete block house on the paved street where I spent the first 26 years of my life. Home is more than mortar, stone, lumber…. It's flesh, blood, heart.

Home is my daughter's breath brushing against my neck as she dozes while we cuddled on the couch. Home is my husband's arm draped across my hip as we snuggle between the sheets of our bed. Home is my mother's smile, my father's laugh, the crazy antics of my nieces and nephews. Home is long heart to hearts with my sister, sister in law or best friends. It's my brother in law's silly jokes and goofy grins. Home is my father-in-law's bear hugs, and the gentle grace of my mother-in-law. Home is the wisdom of my 3 grandmothers – 1 by birth, 2 by blessing (marriage). Home is the love of my myriad of aunts, uncles, cousins,

Home is not a house, but rather the people who I share my life with on a daily basis.

Wordless Wednesday - Doing it on Her Own

2011-06-15T04:21:00.000-07:00

15 Months

2011-06-08T04:05:00.001-07:00

Dear Joycie,

Another month has come and gone, and now you are 15 months old. With each passing day, we see less of the tiny baby that we brought home from the hospital, and more of a beautiful little girl.

This was another month full of exciting changes for you. To begin with, you cut 2 more teeth, bringing your total up to 4 – 2 on top, 2 on bottom. At daycare, you moved from the baby room to the 1-year old room, where you have already become the “leader” as your teacher calls you. Each morning, you walk down the hall, open the door on your own, and go inside to find a friend. Then you turn around give me a kiss and say “Bye.” At day’s end, you blow kisses and wave bye to your teacher and your friends.

In the last month, you have become more adventurous – looking to learn anything and everything about the world around you – which sometimes gets you into trouble.

You love to ride on the 4-wheeler or tractor – and it doesn’t matter whose driving. You laugh so big as the wind blows thru your hair, and you clap your hands with excitement.

You are learning to point out your body parts. We have mastered head, eyes, and tongue – which you show by sticking it out and wiggling it. And you all say “so big” if asked how big you are.

Speaking of how big you are, here are your stats for this month:

You weigh 22 pounds, and are 31 inches long.
You wear 18 month tops, 12 month bottoms, size 4 shoes, and size 3 diapers.

We love asking you various questions and watching your response – either a big head shake yes, a small head shake no, or a quizzical look if you are not sure….and the occasional yes and no.

You are changing every day Joycie, and each changes excites us as we fall more and more in love with you!

Love you lots,

Mama & Daddy.

On Finances: Me & The Coupon Craze

2011-05-24T04:16:00.001-07:00

The rising costs of living, the lack of growth in M’s job industry, and a long list of much wanted (and a few needed) home improvement projects have M and I looking for ways to “tighten our belts” and spend less.

A quick look at our family budget reveals that we are spending $75.00 to $100.00 a week on groceries. As a family of 3, the grocery budget seemed extremely high, and so I began looking for ways to cut the costs.

Turning to my trusty friend Google, I soon found a plethora of sites promoting “Couponing” as the way to reduce the grocery budget.
Moreover, Facebook was swamped with everyone sharing their great deals – people are buying 5, 6, even 10 newspapers just for the coupons. The deals looked great, so I dug deeper.

My research reveled that there are deals to be had by couponing. But many of the deals were for items that M and I don’t like, don’t use, or simply don’t want in our home. I thought couponing would not work for me – until M suggested that I “use what you can and forget the rest.”

I took his advice to heart, channeled my inner nerd, and created a coupon plan that works for me. I began by creating a list of all the items that are staples in our home – from the food we eat, to our toiletries. This list was put into an Excel spreadsheet where I added
columns to record the cost of each item at the 4 main stores in our hometown. To get the non-sale price for each item, I went to the stores with pen and paper in hand and wrote out the prices. (Yes, I got weird looks but I was okay with it). Once I had all of the data
input, I could then run a few formulas to calculate if the sale price of the item was really a good deal.

Next, I divided our grocery budget into 3 categories: Items for weekly menu, Staples, and Stockpile. For example, our menu this week includes steak fajitas, smothered chicken, and turkey burgers. A quick check of my fridge and pantry reveled that I need steak and chicken breasts to complete my weekly menu, so those items were put on my shopping list. Next, I saw that we were nearly out of milk, yogurt, romaine lettuce, and
cheese – items that we consider staples in our home – so those were added to the list. I then sat down with my sales papers, and the trusty Excel spreadsheet, to figure out which stores would give me the best deals. I quickly saw that ribeye steaks were on sale for $1.99 a pound and chicken breasts were on sale for $1.69 a pound. I roughly allocated a
third of our current grocery budget for the menu items, so I had $25.00 to purchase the meat. I spent $13.00 on steak (6.5 pounds) and $11 on chicken (6.5 pounds). Next, my food staples cost me $22.00. Assuming I was willing to spend the entire budgeted $75.00 – I was left with $29.00 to spend. My local grocery store had pork tenderloin on sale for
$2.50 a pound, so I purchased 5 pounds to put in my freezer. In total, I spent $58.00.

While the savings was not as tremendous as it could have been, I did save money. More importantly, I only purchased things I know I needed and would use. I am hoping that over time more of my budget can be devoted to stockpiling rather than purchasing to cook weekly meals.

So that’s how I am “couponing”? Do you coupon? If so, do you have any tips/tricks for? What about general budget cutting ideas?

Purposeful Quiet Times

2011-05-18T19:04:00.001-07:00

I have done something scandalous recently – okay maybe not scandalous, but something that is counterintuitive to my Christian faith. Want to know what I’ve done?

I gave up my daily quiet time for nearly a week

(Cue shocked gasps, tongue clucking from my Granny, and narrowed eyed looks from some Christians)

But I had a good reason. Recently, my daily quiet time had taken on the feeling of just another item on my to-do list. The routine was wake up, brush teeth, read Bible, pray, move on to the rest of my morning ritual.

If something happened that caused me to miss that quiet time – think teething toddler – I felt guilty. I thought God was going to be angry with me if I didn’t read a passage. Then while reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan – it clicked.

I need to be spending time with God because I longed for His presence. Not because I wanted to check it off my to do list, not because I wanted to earn brownie points.

So for several days, I purposely skipped my morning quiet time. And lo and behold, I found myself longing to read the Word, to spend time taking my prayers to the throne of my Heavenly Father. Just as I long to connect with my friends who live around the world, I found myself longing to spend time with my Heavenly Father.

I have once again resumed my daily quiet times. But now, I know that it doesn’t have to happen in a set time, place or way. Just as I talk to my friends at various times, in various forms, I am spending time with God – thru prayer, Bible Study, listening to worship music, and sometimes quietly sitting in my darkened living room – learning to “Be Still and know He is God.”

Moreover, I know that my motivations for those quiet times are pure - born of a hear that seeks the Savior.

14 Months

2011-05-05T04:16:00.001-07:00

Dear Joycie,

Today you turn 14 months old. Can we take just a moment to grasp the fact that you are over a year old – we say it all the time but you are growing up so fast!

It has been a busy month for you. It began with a week long trip to Orlando. While Mama was in seminars and lectures, you led the life of leisure with Nana Nancy and Papa Babo back at the hotel. You loved playing in the pool, riding the elevator, and jumping on the bed. During one the rare moments of free time, you had dinner with Goofy and Pluto – and were in awe of them. Daddy and I plan on taking you back to Orlando later this year for a family vacation.

You continue to expand the types of table food that you eat. You seem to get really frustrated if we try to feed you – you want to do it yourself. We are allowing you to feed yourself anything as long as it does not require a spoon. Your tastebuds are very sophisticated – and if you don’t like it – you’ll shake your head no or promptly spit it out.

Along with the trip to Orlando, you enjoyed your 2nd Easter. Last year, you were too little to understand what Easter was – sleeping thru most of it. But this year, you woke up early for the Sunrise Service at church and were so quiet as you watched Papa Mike preach.

After sunrise service, you put on your pretty Easter dress and we went to church. After that, we had a huge Easter dinner at Aunt Lane’s. You were so wore out that you slept thru lunch and the Egg hunt. But you had already hunted eggs at your school and at church.

In terms of your growth here are your stats:

- 31 inches long, 22 pounds

- Wearing size 12 months shorts/bottoms and 18 months tops. (You are long and lean)

- Still in size 3 diapers and probably will be for a bit longer.

- Your feet have grown and you are now wearing size 4 shoes.

Joycie, you have a huge zeal for life. From the time you wake up in the morning till you go to bed, you are full of laughter, smiles, and lots of energy. Each day you teach us something new, make us laughter, and of course marvel at how something so awesome belongs to us.

We love you so much!

~Mama & Daddy

Lessons my Nephew Has Taught Me

2011-04-27T06:07:00.000-07:00

I want to write something profound, something inspiring – and if I am truthful something that will garner lots of comments. But every time I sit down to type a post, I feel as though the writing is forced. The sentences are stiff, the voice not my own. So I stop, close my eyes, breathe deeply, and try to find what I want to convey.

My mind goes to my oldest nephew T*. And as I think of him, my heart grows heavier, the tears come, but rather than stop them as I have done countless times before – I let them flow. Hot, salty pathways cut across my face….and I feel a release.

I learned that I was going to be an Aunt for the first time when I was 22 years old. My sister, who was a high school senior, called to tell me the joyous news. I felt anything but joyous. I remember sinking to the kitchen floor and sobbing. Sobbing that my sister's youth was lost, sobbing for the heartbreak that my parents were feeling, and sobbing out of fear for the yet unborn child.

In the midst of my sobs, I heard God whisper "This baby is my creation. The unborn life is one I have made…. Trust Me."

God was right! Perhaps the circumstances of his conception were less than ideal, but my nephew was a creation of God. And he was part of me, so I could do nothing but eagerly await his arrival.

On May 6, 2005 – I held his tiny body in my arms – rocking him and singing. And my heart swelled with an overflowing love. "I love you little man. I'm your Aunt…and I am going to be the best Aunt ever."

When he was 2 and a half, I realized something was not quite right. While the other children played with toys, he hung back watching, as though he was unsure of what to do. My sister and mother brushed off my concerns

"He's just shy."

"He does not like lots of people."

But their explanations did nothing to quiet the still small voice in my head that said "Something is not right." I started taking a closer look at my nephew – his speech was limited, he often repeated himself, poor eye contact, the list of worries grew and grew.

After careful research, I called a family meeting and asked my sister to ask his pediatrician to have him tested for autism. World War III ensued..

So to keep the peace, I kept quiet.

Kindergarten comes, and T starts the year off with a bang. However, a few weeks into the year, the letters from teachers start coming home. T has trouble focusing, he is falling behind his peers. The teachers are concerned, I'm concerned.

The school system pushes for testing. And this time my sister agrees. After a battery of tests, visits with a psychologist, two psychiatrists, speech therapists and a new pediatrician – the diagnosis comes down.

T has attention deficit disorder and pervasive development disorder – not otherwise specified. A.D.D. is not a new diagnosis for our family. My father and sister both suffer from the disorder; we are all familiar with the medications that will need to be taken, the learning adaptations that may need to be made. It is the P.D.D. – N.O.S. that shakes me to the core.

Just like 3 years prior, I begin researching. It is hard to describe what PDD-NOS is, other than its being an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some people diagnosed with PDD-NOS are close to having Asperger syndrome, but do not quite fit. Others have near full fledged autism, but without some of its symptoms.

T has some autistic behaviors, but in most ways he is atypical. However, he will need speech, physical and occupational therapy to help him catch up with his peers. Educationally speaking, he will need to have lots of one on one time with teachers, and will work in small group settings. It is highly likely that he will need to repeat kindergarten.

And so I sit, crying – tears of relief that we can finally get T the help he needs, tears of anger that my sister (and other family members) did not listen to me 3 years ago, tears of regret that I did not fight harder for T, and tears of fear for the obstacles T may face in coming years.

Once again God whispers "T is my creation. His diagnosis was no surprise to me. Trust, Kimberly, just trust."

Thru tear clouded eyes, I see the bigger picture…. that the amazing God I serve has a path laid out for T. Perhaps it is not the path that we would have chosen for him, but God's path is always better. So I am letting go of the anger, the pain, the regret and I am going to watch God do remarkable things thru T.

After all, God has already used T twice in his short life, to teach me a few lessons on trust.

Joycie’s First Egg Hunt

2011-04-23T13:03:00.001-07:00

WW: How Many Shapes Fit in the Sub-Woofer?

2011-04-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

Through the Fire, Part Two

2011-03-30T11:20:00.001-07:00

I woke up last Friday morning, with a tired body, a grateful heart, and a wary mind. While it appeared that the fire was no longer an immient threat, it was still burning. M and I decided that we would allow Joycie to stay in town with my parents (therby reducing her exposure to the smoke), leave our vehicles packed (in case we needed to evacuate again), and go to work.

The first few hours of my work day were spent alternating work with telling my various co-workers about the previous night's events. Each and every one of them showed a huge amount of concern, and they each offered to keep praying for the safety of our home. Around 11:30, my father-in-law, who happens to work with me, received a call that the fires had started back up – and it seemed as though our homes were once again in danger.

I called M to give him the news, and then rode home with my FIL. The rest of the afternoon was spent with our eyes on the tree line – watching the shifting smoke, preparing to leave at a moment's notice. Finally, late Friday night, it was determined that the fires were contained and not likely to threaten us again.

Saturday was spent unloading our vehicles, clearing the ash from our yard, and just enjoying being with family. On Sunday, our church elected to suspend our evening services, and instead gathered together to feed the hundreds of firefighters, forestry workers, policemen, and volunteers – who had been working so hard to spare our community from destruction.

As each one of them came by the dessert table where I was serving, they offered me a sincere thank you. And each time I replied " I should be thanking you. Your service has saved our homes."

The fire burned within a quarter mile of my home. A quarter mile – that's a distance that I can normally run in just a few minutes. It would have taken the fire mere seconds to cover that distance – if not for two things:

God's Grace
The hardwork of the firefighters.

I will never forget either one of those things.

Through the Fire....

2011-03-25T04:40:00.001-07:00

What items would you take from your home if you were just given a few minutes to evacuate? Clothes, photos, important papers, special mementos….. It is something that we should all think about but very few of us do.

I know – I was one of them – until last night. Yesterday, a brush fire broke out in my town. And by 8:00 p.m. last night, sheriff's deputies were going thru our community asking residents to evacuate. The smoke was thick in the air, the glow of the flames was visible from my front yard, and it seemed as though the threat was imminent.

Frantically, I grabbed items from the house – pictures, medicine, Joycie's clothes, a few items of clothing for M and I, my camera, important papers. I thought I had grabbed everything that I would need. But when I arrived at my parent's home I realized that I had forgotten – our computers, the video camera, the SD card with all the photos and videos of Joycie's first year. Thankfully, M was able to put those items in his truck – as he had stayed behind to plow fire breaks, water yards and houses, and assist the fire department until the last possible second. (He is a volunteer fire fighter, so he has training)

While M, his parents and brother worked to safe our homes and farms, I sat by the phone – calling everyone I knew to solicit prayers – and to wait for updates from M. The amazing God that I served heard all the prayers that were lifted – because by 10:00 p.m. the winds had shifted pushing the fire away from our homes. And by midnight, I was safely tucked away in my bed. At last report, no homes or other structures had been lost.

However, we are still wary, as the fire is still burning and the slightest shift in the winds could push the flames towards us. Therefore, both of our vehicles remained loaded with the things that we chose last night.

This morning, as a I watch the sunrise through a smoky, hazy sky….I am grateful. Grateful that no homes were lost, that lives were spared, and that my family is safe and sound. And I feel prompted to encourage if you to create an evacuation plan for your family, make a checklist of items that you want to take with you if the worst was to happen, and most importantly hug each family member a little tighter today. If last night taught me anything, it is how fragile life is, and how quickly it could all be lost.

Wordless Wednesday: Bed Head

2011-03-22T19:54:00.001-07:00

Happy Anniversary Mikey!

2011-03-21T04:01:00.001-07:00

A little over 3 years ago, I moved back to this tiny town that we call home. My intention was to stay for a few weeks – maybe a few months – just until I got my feet underneath me again. After all, I was coming home to nurse a broken heart…. I thought I was running away from the pain of the break up, but I was really running straight into my future.

That future was you, Mikey. Little did I know, that the playful banter we exchanged at your parent’s Super Bowl party was just the beginning of something life changing.

I still remember the butterflies I felt while I waited for you to pick me up for the church Valentine’s Day supper. I thought it was illogical to be nervous. After all the only reason you were taking me was because our lovely sister-in-law Lane was making you. If the butterflies were bad before you picked me up, they were ever worse once you arrived. But you calmed me – with you jokes, you questions about my life, and the wonderful conversation we shared. I did not realize it at that moment, but looking back I can clearly see, that is the moment I fell in love with you.

One year later, I walked down the aisle clinging to my Daddy’s arms, once again fighting butterflies. Then I saw you in your tux grinning that sly grin you always have. And once again, you calmed me. As we stood before our family and friends and pledged our lives to one another, I thought that I could never love you more.

I was wrong.

Three months later, we were taking a pregnancy test on hot July afternoon. We were so certain that it would be negative. The timing for pregnancy was wrong, we were still newlyweds not ready to be parents. But there was no denying what the test said. And when I lost it – alternating between hysterical laughter and gut wrenching tears – you held me, you calmed me. And when the shock wore off, and we prepared for parenthood, I fell deeper in love with you. And again, I though that I could never love you more.

Wrong again.

9 months later, we welcomed Miss Joycelen into our lives. The image of you holding our daughter for the first time is forever etched in my mind. Even in my drugged haze, I could see that you were already deeply in love with her – and once again my heart swelled with love for you.

Over the last year, I have watched you as a father. And each of the moments that I have witnessed have strengthened my love for you. There is an oldies song that has the words “I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.” That’s us babe.

You are my best friend, my confidant, an wonderful father. You are the person who calms my fears, reassures me when I doubt myself, encourages me to pursue my dreams. You are the man that I love with everything that I am.

I am so blessed to have shared two years of marriage with you and I look forward to a lifetime together.

I love you!

Turning 1 is Just Ducky

2011-03-20T12:46:00.001-07:00

Joycie turned 1 on March 5th. And me – her type A mother – had been planning her party since I was 5 months pregnant with her. So pulling everything together was pretty easy.

In case you didn’t catch it by the title, the them for Joycie’s party was rubber ducky.

My mother-in-law made this gorgeous cake for all the guests to eat. It was a yellow cake with homemade buttercream icing. We decided to make the ducky pink, since Joycie’s favorite bath toy is her pink rubber ducky.

This is Joycelen’s smash cake. The duckies on this cake were part of the party favors that I ordered from Oriental Trading company. Each child got their chose of rubber duck (pirates for the boys, princesses for the girls & bubbles). The favors were such a hit that the adults were snagging some for themselves.

This is a shot of the cake table. It is hard to make out – but the window behind the table has a valence of pink and white streamers.

Joycie had 2 outfits for her party. This picture show her in her dress that she wore to welcome guests. The personalized banner was another Oriental Trading company find.

The morning of the party was dreary and I was certain it would rain. However, by party time, the weather had turned into a gorgeous sunny day. We moved everything outside and took advantage of the new patio furniture that my parent’s gave us a gift. Joycie was not impressed by her smash cake – she spent more time playing with her duck.

Since all of the kids at the party were older (4-11 years) we just let them play in our yard. They rode power-wheels, played in mud puddles, had baseball games, and of course chased bubbles. The adults sat under our carport and enjoyed the day.

I admit that not everything that I had planned for the party happened -- no games were played, and I totally forgot to show the slideshow that I created.

But it was a great day where we were able to celebrate Joycie, suriving the first year of parenthood, and thank everyone who had helped us!

Girl’s Day Out

2011-03-19T12:10:00.001-07:00

Today Joycelen and I had a girl’s day out with my Mama. The three of us headed to our local mall around 10:00 a.m. Our intentions were to just browse and then pick up my anniversary present for M. However, our favorite store, JC Penney’s was having a mega sale. And we soon found ourselves in full on shopping mode.

Okay, I did most of the shopping, while Mama and Joycie watched me. Mama has quick to give me feedback on my outfit selections, while Joycie picked new items for me to try on – by pulling at anything within arm’s length – especially the brightly colored tops.

We took a break around 11:00 a.m. for big drinks with crushed ice, and our favorite candy bars. Mama and I attempted to feed Joycie and early lunch. But she was more interested in our snacks, than her squash. We finished our muching – and headed to a few more stores.

Our last stop was the grocery store – where we managed to make it out with nearly everything on the list in under 30 minutes. Now, Joycie is peacefully napping and I am on the couch blogging.

It was a wonderful morning and afternoon out. I loved catching up with my Mama and getting to see her interact with Joycelen. I look forward to many more Saturdays like this one.

What are you up to this weekend?

Five Minute Friday: On Waiting

2011-03-18T05:58:00.001-07:00

The late afternoon sunlight streams thru the glass, dances across the floor in a beautiful pattern of soft color. But she doesn't notice. She is to intent, to focused on what lies beyond the glass – the driveway where he will soon park.

Minutes slowly tick by on the clock above the mantel. A soft hum of a car catches her attention; she hurries to the doorway – blue eyes dancing with excitement. But then her faces falls, as the car drives on by. It wasn't him.

She attempts to distract herself from the waiting. But it is a failure, nothing holds her focus for long. Another hum of an engine, but this time she waits in the middle of the room. Too scare to look for fear of being disappointed.

The she hears the doorknob turn. And she breaks into a toothless smile, claps her hands, and walks over to the man she loves most in the world. Her Daddy!

Time's Up. I recently discovered, the wonderful Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama, who encourages her readers to write for five minutes straight while abandoning worries about grammar or edits or word choice. We are simply to write. Today's prompt: On Waiting

Bigger Picture Moments: Mommy Guilt

2011-03-17T05:07:00.001-07:00

This Thursday, I am particpating in Bigger Picture Moments - a place where bloggers share the harvest of living intentionally by capturing the bigger picture through simple moments.

For 98.082% of her life, Jocelyn has been cared for by immediate family members. And yes, I sat down and calculated the exact percentage – because I am a nerd. However, recent events have made it such that care by family members was no longer feasible.

Just after her first birthday, Jocelyn was enrolled as a full-time student at the daycare that is a part of the health system where I work. The facility is top notch – with loving staff members, age appropriate curriculum that aids in development, and is located only 2 minutes from my office. It is the perfect place for Joycelen.

But as was inevitable, as soon as I left her with the teachers in her new classroom, I felt myself succumbing to the dreaded mommy guilt. I felt guilty that she was in daycare, I felt guilty that I was a working mama. This simple guilt built up until I had convinced myself that I was a horrible mother – making wrong decision after wrong decision that would scar my child for life. ( Overly dramatic – of course! But that's how my mind works when I feel guilty).

At 5:00 p.m., I literally leapt from my chair and hurried to pick her up from daycare. I expected a huge grin, lots of hand clapping, and big kisses since in my mind, I was "rescuing her". Instead, I found a little girl who stuck out her bottom lip, shook her head no, and refused to leave with me. Apparently, she wanted to continue playing blocks with her new found friends.

Rather than feeling even worse because my child did not want to leave with me…..I was elated. Joycelen had felt so at ease – made new friends so quickly – that she wanted to stay. Mommy Guilt vanished – and a bigger cause of Mommy pride arrived. Pride at my daughter's growth……and pride at me for making the right choice even if it was a difficult one.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

Here I go Again

2011-03-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

Most of my childhood friends would tell you that they thought I would grow up to be an author, since I was always "writing another book". But somewhere along the way, my love of words – and as an extension writing – got lost.

At the end of 2007, I discovered the world of blogging, and my writing was reborn. I faithfully blogged my thoughts, my feelings, the daily happenings of my life for all the world to see. However, my readership only consisted of my father, a few college friends, and a few random readers that I had met thru other blogs.

But I kept writing – thru the devastating end of a 4 year relationship, thru my decision to move home, thru a whirlwind romance with the man of my dreams, my wedding, honeymoon, and pregnancy. I blogged diligently about the birth of my beautiful daughters, and all the amazing moments that have composed the first year of her life.

I am not sure how, or when, but once again, my writing has been lost in the shuffle of life. The daily routine of rising, working, taking care of family responsibilities has left me with little time to write. At first, I was okay with it, but now I am beginning to feel out of sorts, less like me.

I realized this morning that I truly miss my writing. That my soul needs a creative outlet – that this blog is that outlet. So here I am , again, plunging back into the blogging world with renewed vigor.

My goal is simple to write something every day. I have no grand ideas about what I will write – it may be a profound insight, it may be a random thought I have, or a synopsis of my day. But I am going to write……..because for me writing is a necessity.

And if I am lucky, you – the reader – will be blessed by my writings and continue to share in this journey with me.

Wordless Wednesday: What a difference a Year Makes

2011-03-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Joycie !

2011-03-05T12:37:00.000-08:00

Joycelen,

For 365 days, I knew this moment would come…the moment when you would celebrate your first year of life. The moment when I would sit down and try to find the words to capture all the emotions that the last year has encapsulated. And even with all of the forethought, the planning, the preparing, this milestone has taken me by surprise. I catch myself looking for the sleepy infant that I brought home from the hospital – instead I find myself looking into the face of a toddler. And while the tinest part of my heart misses the newborn you, I would not trade one moment of the last year for anything.

Nearly from the moment of your birth, you made it known that a) you did things on your own time table and b) you, much like your Daddy are laid-back. Like any new Mommy, I read about developmental milestones, the projected timetables, and watched your constantly for signs of the first smile, you rolling over, sitting up. Each time it would seem that you were taking forever to reach the next milestone, and then over night you’d be doing it. And when I would get so excited at your new accomplishment, you’d flash me a look as if to say “Mama, chill out. I got this growing up thing covered.” Prior to your arrival, I had prepared myself for brining home a screaming, crying, colicky infant. Instead, your Daddy and I brought home a baby who slept for nearly 4 hours a stretch, started sleeping thru the night at 2 months old, and transitioned to her own crib at 6 months. You never seem to meet a stranger, freely giving smiles to new people, and rarely do you get upset – unless we are slow to feed you or tell you “No.”

Joycie – you are dynamic and full of life – showing no fear at taking on new challenges, rather that’s a new daycare or learning to walk. Each night you fall asleep with a smile, and wake up with the same. You are utterly content in who you are – and that has been a constant lesson that you have taught me……to be at peace with who I am, where I am, and to simply enjoy the moment.

I suppose like any other letter to you, I should include your stats:

- You are wearing size 18 months clothing, size 3 diapers.

-You weigh 21 pounds, and seem to be growing an inch every day. I do not have an accurate length measurement, because you never stay still long enough.

- You are a busy little girl, who loves to toddle around the house, or run if you have your push toy from Nana and Papa.

- You have come to discover a new found appreciation for the outdoors. You especially like riding on the tractor with Daddy and swinging on the porch swing with Mama.

- You vocabulary is still growing, with Mama, Dadda, and bye-bye being your most frequent used words.

- With your two teeth, you are managing to transition to nearly all table food, and really like spaghetti, yogurt, and eggs. You still dislike peas (and I can’t say that I blame you).

The last 365 days have been an adventure, Joycelen, full of twists, turns, bumps, a few bruises, the occasional bought of tears (yours and mine), lots of hugs, and big wet kisses. I have loved every single minute of it…..and look forward to seeing what the next year has in store for us.

I love you baby!

~Mama

Reflecting on a Year Ago….

2011-03-03T03:50:00.001-08:00

365 days ago, I was physically miserable. My body had reached maximum capacity – with Joycelen taking up every available inch of space. I ached all over – from the top of my head to the bottom of my very swollen feet. A pregnancy that had been pain and problem free for the 38 weeks prior, suddenly felt like torture. And to add insult to injury, my body showed no true signs of beginning to prepare for labor. Therefore, a year ago, our amazing OB/BYN Dr. H told M and I that she was going to induce me on March 4th. And that night, with much aniticpation, excitement, and a healthy dose of fear, we made the final preparations to welcome Joycelen Rebecca into the world.

11 Months

2011-02-18T14:04:00.001-08:00

note the major bedhead

Joycie,

You are now 11 months old – which means Mama is frantically trying to finalize the last minute details of your 1st birthday party, while trying to remember to savor each moment with you. Here are you stats for this month:

•You weigh 22 pounds. And are 29.5 inches long.

•In terms of diapers, you are still wearing size 3

•You are now wearing clothing sized 12 months. But we are finding that the tops are becoming too short. You’ll be moving up to 18 months before much longer.

This month’s big achievement is that you took your first steps. Not only was it amazing to see you achieve this big milestone, but you took those first steps in the same place that Mama took her footsteps – the living room at Nana Nancy and Papa Babo’s house. Since those first steps, you’ve taken few more unassisted steps (3 while hanging out with your other Nana and Papa, 2 with Aunt Lane) – but it seems that once you realize that you are walking, you promptly change your mind.

Since you are now an extremely active crawler, Mama and Daddy spend lots of time chasing you throughout the house. You are especially attracted to the bathroom – you love to crawl in there and play with things you aren’t suppose to – like the toilet. Just yesterday, I discover rolls of toilet paper floating in the bowl…..any ideas how that happened?

Your favorite toys are still your baby dolls and your singing lady bug. You also enjoy playing with anything with buttons – especially t.v. remotes and telephones.

Next week, you will start daycare full time. Daddy and Mama are certain that this new adventure will prompt even more growth and development.

~Mama & Daddy

A New Widget

2011-02-16T14:18:00.001-08:00

I have done a teeny bit of redecorating on the blog. My sidebar now features a widget for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure. As you may remember, I am registered to walk in this event this October.

Now that the madness of the holidays has settled,I am ramping up my training and my fundraising. I promise that I am not going to turn my blog into a rampant plea for donations. However, if you would be willing to give then click on the widget in the side bar. It will take you to my personal fundraising page.

Thanks!

Bigger Picture Moments: Radio Silence

2011-02-04T04:01:00.000-08:00

It has been nearly a month since I have posted an entry. While my silence did not start out intentionally, it soon became that way. One evening, after arriving home from teach aerobics, I sat down at the computer - eager to have my "me time" - I was only going to take a few minutes to read a few blogs, comment on a few posts, and write a post or two. Nearly 2 hours later, I looked up to find M and Joycie asleep on the living room floor.

The simple sight of them curled next to one another, breathing softly in time together, devestated me. I had wasted another chance to spend time with the two people that I love most in the world. So that night, I decided to change my habits. I sorted thru my Google Reader, unsubscribing from those blogs that did not truly resonate with me. (60 plus blogs gone....) I decided then to take a 1 month hiatus from all things blog related.

In that month, I have had numerous date nights with M, played for hours with Joycie, laughed with friends at aerobics classes, enjoyed dinner with my extended family, and a myriad of other things. I soon realized that I was once again living the life that I loved - rather than being a character in the background.

I'll admit, I did miss blogging. But I also knew I would miss those moments a whole lot more. In the month of no blogging, I have trained myself to get up earlier, so now after M leaves for work and before Joycie wakes up, I have time to read blogs, post my own entries, and comment on the blogs that I truly love.

That's my bigger picture moment.....

10 Months Old

2011-01-17T06:36:00.001-08:00

Joycie,

You are now 10 months old! Wow, it is hard to believe that just a year ago Daddy and I were putting the finishing touches on your nursery and counting the weeks until your arrival. Now, we are counting the weeks until your 1st birthday. Here are your stats for the month:

•You weigh 22 pounds. I can not get an accurate measurement of your length, because you are too wiggly.

•You are now in size 3 diapers.

•You are now wearing clothing sized 12 months.

This month you went from crawling in small bursts to crawling everywhere. Mama and Daddy have to pay close attention to you or you will crawl into the kitchen and we find this:

You are fascinated with our kitchen cabinets and want to take everything out of them. However, Mama does not like it, so it is a constant battle of wills. Normally, you are content with a pot and wooden spoon to bang on the pot. But some days, you throw a fit if you are not allowed into the cabinets.

You are also starting to stand unassisted for longer and longer periods of time. And you will pull up on any piece of furniture and step side to side to navigate around a room. We have a feeling that you are going to be walking soon (too soon I’m afraid).

You love to give kisses to everyone – especially the baby doll that Aunt Jess Walden got you for Christmas. And you adore playing with your cousins.

Each day, you are learning, growing, and changing. We love watching your personality develop more and more. Joycie, you are a blessing to us and we love you bunches!

~Mama & Daddy

2010 In Review

2010-12-31T09:51:00.001-08:00

January – This was the month that we spent preparing our house for Joycelen’s arrival. There was a lot painting and cleaning. But the hardwork gave us a beautiful nursery for our daughter.

February – During the month of love we were in the home stretch towards Joycie’s birth. We spent this month having baby showers, visiting the doctor and counting down.

March – Along with the strong March winds, we welcomed our daughter into the world. The first few days were fraught with a few bloopers but we managed to survive.

April – April saw me return to work and learn about the darkside of motherhood. However, the smile of a certain little girl outshined the negative.

May – Things were rough around the Lee household in May. A sick husband and baby added up to one exhausted Mama.

June - The start of summer saw big changes in our household. I learned that I couldn't do it all, M celebrated his first Father's Day, and Joycie had her first visit to daycare.

July – July brought steaming hot temperatures in South Georgia….so we spent our free time inside. July was also a month of insight and self-acceptance for me.

August – This month started out on a high note, with a lovely family trip to Atlanta. However, it ended on a sad one as we had to say goodbye to my beloved cousin.

September – M turned 31 this month and we celebrated with a birthday scavenger hunt.

October – Joycie experienced her first fall festival, hayride, and placed 2nd in a costume contest.

November – As the weather turned cool, and we prepared to celebrate a day of thanks, Joycie once again taught her Mama an important lesson or two.

December – We celebrated Joycie’s first Christmas with our family and friends.

Our New Year’s Eve plans are low-key. We have a NYE service at church, after which, M and I will watch the “ball” drop from the comfort of our couch. I hope that each of you has a blessed New Year.

Christmas Recap

2010-12-28T07:09:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas celebration began on Christmas Eve with a candle lit service at our Church. Joycie was quite thru the first few moments of the service, but began to get sleepy and fussy so I opted to take her into the nursery. I sat in the darkened nursery rocking her and singing Christmas hymns to her. My mind thought about Mary, and that long ago Christmas Eve as she prepared for the arrival of her son. It was a beautiful moment and a cherished memeory of the holiday.

On Christmas morning, Joycie was wide awake by 8 a.m. M fed her a bottle while I called both sets of grandparents to let them know that they could come over to watch Joycie unwrap her gifts. Joycie had little interest in unwrapping her gifts, which was suprising since she had been trying to tear into the wrapping paper all week long. After lots of encouragement from Daddy, she managed to get her presents unwrapped. The picture above is her excited face as she plays with her stacking rings.

After Joycie unwrapped her presents, M and I exchanged our gifts. I was tickled pink at how excited he was over the new WII game that I bought him. However, his excitement was nothing compared to mine, when I unwrapped my gifts. He began by giving me a box, than contained a flour shifter.

I was a little perplexed, but thought that there had to be a purpose to his gift. So I eagerly unwrapped the next two packages and discovered a bottle of vanilla flavoring, and a can of baking powder. I sat there stunned as I realized that M had bought me a stand mixer. M said that he was worried that I did not like the gift.....but I assured him that I was just so blown away that I had to fight tears. Once I got it together, I tore into my box, and soon had my shiny new toy on the kitchen counter.

Once we were finished with our gift exchange, we went to M's brother's for Christmas breakfast. Joycie managed to find her way into a leftover box.....and was entertained for quite awhile.

We exchanged gifts with my parents, sister, brother-in-law and nephews/niece at 11:30. With 4 kids all under 5 trying to open presents, it was chaos to say the very least. However, it was so much fun watching them get excited over each item. When the presents were all unwrapped, we snapped family photos in front of my parents tree and then headed to M's parents for Christmas lunch. At M's parents, more presents were unwrapped, lots of good food was eaten, and laughs were shared. Our Christmas festitvites ended with a Christmas supper at my parents home....followed by M playing his new game, Ghost Hunter. The excitement of the day wore Joycie out and she was tucked into bed by 8:30.

Did you have a wonderful Christmas?

From Our Family To Yours

2010-12-24T06:34:00.000-08:00

9 Months

2010-12-21T06:33:00.000-08:00

Joycie,

You turned 9 months old on December 5th. Since we were on vacation when this milestone occurred, and are now in the throes of the Christmas season, you 9 month letter is a little late. Mama’s sorry. Here are your stats for this month:

•You weigh 20 pounds and nearly 29 inches long.
•You are now in size 3 diapers.
•You are now wearing clothing sized 12 months.

Your vocabulary continues to expand with you saying “Bye” whenever someone leaves a room, as well as attempts to say “Meme” (great grandmother”, and La-la (which we think is for Aunt Lane.)

You are beginning to crawl in small bursts. You begin by getting onto all fours and rocking back and forth. Then you pull your legs up to your hands. After 2 or 3 times of this, you realize that you are not moving fast enough, so you resort to rolling – or begin grunting/crying… until someone picks you up. (Spoiled much). However, you have no desire to be held, instead you wiggle until we set you down and then you try to walk with us holding your hands.

Your 2nd tooth is coming in – right next to the first tooth. I chuckle every time I see your smile with those 2 teeth shining thru. You have experienced your first Thanksgiving – and we gave you small tastes of the traditional Thanksgiving fare. You liked pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and stuffing. However, you strongly disliked the ham and turkey.

You are still a happy, loving baby. You have smiles and laughs for nearly everyone you meet – and tend to lunge head first into the arms of whoever starts talking to you. Last night at Daddy’s Christmas party, you were blowing spit bubbles, kisses, and giving a pageant wave to all the guests.

Joycie – you are a constant source of delight to Daddy and I – teaching us something new everyday. We can not wait to see what the next month holds for all of us!

We love you!

~Mama & Daddy

Prayer Request

2010-12-10T09:42:00.000-08:00

I have a series of blogs that I will ocassional read, but rarely comment on. They are blogs that I have found thru other blogs, and so on and so on. My most recent discovery was the blog of Sarah .

Sarah is an amazing Mom to Ella, Jacob, and Audrey. Jacob and Audrey are the twin that Sarah gave birth to prematurely just a few months ago. I have peridoically read Sarah's post as she shared how her twins were growing/thriving - serving as a testament to God's amazing healing power.

So you can imagine my dismay, when I read today on Sarah's blog that Audrey is bakc in the hospital - battling a serious virus.

Would you please pause and say a prayer for this sweet baby girl, her mom, dad, twin brother, and big sister?

Twas' The Write Before Christmas - Day 5

2010-12-10T08:42:00.003-08:00

Day 5 Prompt

“If you had to sing for your supper, you’d starve”.

That’s what my sister told me when she was 3, and I was 7. We were riding in the backseat of my parents silver mini-van, belting out the words to My Boyfriend’s Back.

While her words stung, I knew that they were true. I have been gifted with many talents, but a beautiful singing voice is not among them. I tend to either sound like I am singing with my nose pinched off, or as though I am trying to imitate my husband’s deep bass voice.

And yet, I love to sing. I sing in the shower, in my car, to my daughter as we dance around the kitchen. I songs that I love from all genres of music – from The Beach Boys classic Kokomo, to Etta James soulful love song At Last, and everything in between.

My favorite songs to sing though are hymns. Hymns are to me like quilts – they wrap themselves around you – offering warmth, comfort and security.

In the midst of trying days, I find myself humming the tune “Sheltered in the Arms of God…
And soon I raise my voice to sing

"So let the storms rage high. The dark clouds rise. They won't worry me. For I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God ."

And I sing with reckless abandon – which has often earned me strange looks from co-workers. I am also certain my husband’s ears are often aching by the end of song service – but he never complains.

While earthly ears may hear my nasally tone, my wavering pitch, and my uncanny ability to get off tune, the ears of my Heavenly Father hear an anthem of praise, a song of a grateful heart, and that is a beautiful thing.

Twas

2010-12-10T08:42:00.001-08:00

Twas' The Write Before Christmas: Day 4

2010-12-09T05:34:00.001-08:00

Day 4 Prompt

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, is one of my top 5 favorite Christmas movies (although, I will admit that the Grinch scared me just a bit when I was a child). As I child, I loved the movie because the “bad character” became “good” at the end. The movie had a happy ending – and I have always been a sucker for happy ending.

Now that I am a grown up – and perhaps a bit wiser, I love the movie because it teaches the important lesson that in the words of Mr. Grinch

“Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more."

It is that little bit more than can make all the difference in the holiday season. For me, the little bit more is:

Celebrating the Birth of My Savior

Watching Christmas Movies in my PJ’s with the children from our Church

Singing silly Christmas songs with my husband, brother in law, an sister in law while standing in my mother-in-law’s kitchen

It is watching my nieces make smores in my fireplace on Christmas Eve.

It is decorating Christmas cookies with my nephews.

It is the wonder in my daughter’s eyes as she creeps over to touch the lights on our Christmas tree.

Knowing that for the moment all the people that I love most are safe, healthy, and well.

What things make your Christmas “mean a little bit more”?

Twas' the Write Before Christmas: Day 3

2010-12-08T06:57:00.000-08:00

Day Three Prompt

She shifted uncomfortably on the pew. Glancing at her watch for the third time, she noted that only a mere five minutes had passed. “Will this service never end?’ she pondered.

Her parents had insisted that she attend the Christmas Eve service with them. “It is a family tradition.” Her mother had stated.

“When did you go to detest spending time with us?” her father queried.

It was not her parents. She loved them with every fiber of her being and spending time with them was enjoyable to her. Instead, it was the service. In the 8 years, since she had left home, she had only attended church a handful of time. No longer did she feel the pull to gather with others who shared her faith. After all, what was the point? Life in the city had shown her the hatred, despair, violence that filled the world.

She had done the right things growing up. She had never drank, smoked, swore, had pre-martial sex, made good grades, went to college…. and still she was alone, living in a rented apartment, working at job that paid the bills but left her feeling unfulfilled.

With her dark thoughts filling her mind, she barely noticed the choir filing into the sanctuary. But she was drawn out of her self-imposed pity party, when a beautiful soprano voice rang out “I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play, And mild and sweet their songs repeat, Of peace on earth good will to men."

Her mother leaned over and whispered, “That’s Jenna. She lost her husband and little boy in a car wreck earlier this year. You remember me telling you about her.”

She nodded, watching the woman’s face radiant pure joy. “How – how in the midst of such a tragedy, could this woman be happy? Moreover, why am I so bitter?’

"Then rang the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men" Jenna finished the carol.

The crowd rose to its feet with thunderous applause. But she remained seated, tears streaming down her face. “I have had it all wrong. My focus has been on what have in this moment, in this world. I have overlooked what I have been given here, and what I have been promised in the world to come.”

Casting a tear filled glance around the sanctuary, her eyes first fell on the nativity. The tiny statue of a baby – resting in a manger. A promise of hope, a promise of salvation. Then her eyes fell upon the cross – the fulfillment of that hope, the completion of the promise.

That night, as she left the church with her parents. Her heart sang “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men"

Twas' the Write Before Christmas - Day 1

2010-12-06T12:36:00.000-08:00

Day One Prompt .:

Lost Amid the Snow

I have never been lost amid the snow. Truth is, in my corner of the world, snow is extremely rare. In 28 years, I have seen snow 5 times, and only one of those came during the holiday season.

I thought that I had nothing to offer on this prompt – no poems to write, no gorgeous photos to share. I started, stopped, deleted, and re-wrote for nearly an hour.

And then it hit me – I was taking things too literally. So I started letting my mind wander (which can be a dangerous thing)…

Snow ---- > White Noise

A gentle snow is a beautiful thing but a blizzard is dangerous, often deadly. In a blizzard, people can lose their way.

Activity during the holiday season is the same way. It always starts innocently – I agree to attend a party, volunteer to prepare a dish for the get together, or just need to buy “one more gift” – and soon the going/doing/being/buying has overwhelmed me. I am bombarded by the “holiday” and lose the reason for the Season.

Too many holidays I have been lost amid the snow. Not this year, instead I am settling in at home, snuggling under the blankets, and waiting out the weather.

Bigger Picture Moment: Hold her close, let her go

2010-11-18T07:50:00.000-08:00

Joycelen has always been a happy and content baby. While most newborns take a few months to settle into a sleeping pattern, our Joycie was snoozing all night long at 2 weeks old (a fact that I am grateful for each and every day). When she turned 6 months, friends/family/coworkers began to warn me that she would soon suffer from stranger and separation anxiety. Not our girl – two weeks after turning 6 months, she practially leapt into the arms of the security guard at my Alma Mater’s football game. And when I drop her off with my Mama each morning, no tears are shed.

But last Thursday evening, Joycie was anything but happy and content. When I got home from work, I sat her down on her play mat, surrounded her with her favorite toys – and went to change out of my business suit. As soon as her tiny butt hit the floor, she burst into tears. I picked her up, checked her diaper, dried the tiny tear trickling down her cheek, and once again sat her down. More tears – more crying…..I picked her up again. For the next hour, my darling girl would scream if I even attempted to put her out of my arms.

Concerned at her behavior, I went thru the Mama checklist – she had a clean diaper, it was not time to eat, not time for her evening nap, and she was not in physical distress or sick. Then the realization dawned, my girl just wanted her Mama’s undivided attention. And I happily complied.

Lesson learned: Sometimes, as a Mama, you have to set everything else aside and just focus on your child in that single moment. .

Last night, I noticed that Joycie’s eyes were getting heavy. M was working in the home office which is close to her room. Worried that he would keep her awake, I took her into our room – thinking that we could snuggle our way into dreamland. For 45 minutes, Joycie kicked, tossed, turned, pinched my nose, shoved fingers in my mouth, pulled my hair – did everything under the sun…but sleep. Finally, I decided to lay her down in her crib. I had barely pulled up the covers when I heard the first snore.

Lesson learned: Sometimes, as a Mama, you have to learn to let go of your child and allow her to do things on her own. .

Those two lessons were my bigger picture moments for the week. I would love to hear about yours, so please link up with Sarah .

8 Months

2010-11-17T05:43:00.000-08:00

Joycie,

You are now 8 months old…wow, two-thirds of your first year are behind us. I know that fairly soon I will be planning your first birthday. I say it every month baby, but time is flying by. Here are your stats for this month:

•You weigh 18 pounds and 15 ounces and 28 inches long.
•You are now in size 3 diapers.
•While you can wear 6-9 month onesies, your long torso and even longer legs mean you have to wear 12 months in pants and dresses.

You are still a talker – your favorite words included Mama, Dadee, Nona (for Nana) and Papa. You are starting to say the word when you see the person.

Over the last month, you have learned to reach for someone when you want them to hold you, clap your hands to music, wave bye-bye, and give “High Fives”.
You are still not interested in crawling. You prefer to either scoot around on your back, or army crawl. But you get really excited when we put you in the walker – you can zoom all over the place. You are getting quite accomplished at pulling up and I really believe that you are going to skip crawling all together.

This month you also got your first tooth. Daddy and I had heard that when babies cut teeth there are many sleepless nights, crying fits, and other unpleasant side effect. However, we should have known you would be different. You were never cranky, ill, or upset. Mama just happened to notice that you had cut a tooth on the bottom of your mouth.

You had another first this month – your first Halloween. Mama bought you 2 separate costumes. You were a sweet pea at the community fall festival, winning 2nd place in the costume contest. At our church’s fall festival, you were a Georgia Tech cheerleader, while Mama was the football player and Daddy was the Georgia Tech fan. You loved the hayride at the fall festival and seeing all the big kids getting candy.

Daddy and I are so blessed to have you. Your loving, happy personality makes us smile.

We love you!

~Mama & Daddy

Bigger Picture Moment: Grateful

2010-11-11T06:35:00.000-08:00

For some today is just another day off from work - but for me today has a deeper meaning.

One of my earliest childhood memories is of my Daddy teaching me to place my hand over my heart while the national anthem was played. I can remember mimicing his movements and looking up at him while the trumpet sounded its notes, and I saw tears in his eyes. Years later, I would come to understand why those tears glistened in his eyes. My father is a Vietnam Veterna, and while he served as Military policeman and was therefore spared much of the horror of Vietnam - he is still haunted by his service. Those tears, I believe, are for the loss of his innocence, the loss of cherished friends, and for the grief our country felt during that time. But those tears are also for the other men and women who have given their service to our country - both in times of war and times of peace.

Today is a day set aside to honor those men and women. Men and women who willingly offer themselves as servants to a nation. Men and women who leave their homes, their friends, their families and willingly place themselves in harm's way -- not for the paycheck, not for the glory, but simply because they wish to protect the freedom that has made this country great.

Elmer Davis was quoted as saying "This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave".

I thank God that America still has brave men and women who are willing to serve.

So to my father, my friend Kevin, to my youth group memeber Cedric, and to all service members past and present -- THANK YOU! My life is blessed because of your willingness to serve.

Wordless Wednesday: First Tooth

2010-11-10T10:56:00.000-08:00

Please excuse the snot and drool on her face. She was (still is) battling a runny nose and had just stopped blowing spit bubbles when I snapped this image. I had only been trying for 2 weeks to get a picture of the tooth.

Christmas Cards with Shutterfly

2010-11-09T12:48:00.000-08:00

Now that Halloween is behind us, and Thanksgiving looms on the horizon, I find my thoughts turning to the approaching Christmas season. Last year, I was heavily pregnant and lacking motivation in terms of sending out Christmas greetings to far flung family and friends

However, this year, I have numerous pictures of an adorable baby that I need to share. But I found myself at a loss on how to include those precious shots with the Christmas cards that I send out. Enter Shutterfly.

With their expansive collection of Photo Christmas cards , I can create the perfect card for our family and friends – one that maximizes the level of Joycie cuteness. And when I and done with that project, I can pick amongst their Christmas Cards for cards to send business associates, work colleagues, etc. Shutterfly even has Gift Tags .

I know that Christmas is still more than 50 day away, but thanks to Shutterfly, I have one less Christmas task to worry about.

It's Offical!

2010-11-05T04:31:00.000-07:00

Last week, I casually mentioned that in 2011 I would be walking in the 3 Day for a Cure Walk . At the time, I had just mailed off my registration packet. Today I received a confirmation e-mail that I am indeed registred for the 2011 3 Day for a Cure Walk in Atlanta, Ga.

Now the real work begins. Not only must I being to train my body to be able to handle walking 20 miles a day, I must begin to fundraise. My fundraising goal is $2,300. If you might be willing to donate, you can make a donation on my personal fundraising page .

If you are able and willing to give, I thank you in advance. If you are unable to give, I ask that you pray for me as I begin this incredible journey. I will be updating periodicaly with training tales, fundraising stories, and more.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-03T15:29:00.001-07:00

M thought Joycie would like the taste of sweet-tarts……I think it’s safe to say he was wrong.

My Prize Winning Sweet Pea

2010-10-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

Our town hosts a fall festival each year and as a part of the festivities, there is a costume contest. I had not planned on dressing Joycelen for the contest - as I was saving her real costume for our church festival on Saturday night. However, at the last minute I bought this sweet pea costume at the dollar store. It was cute enough to win her 2nd place in the baby division.

Girl’s Weekend

2010-10-28T16:55:00.001-07:00

Hi Everybody, Joycie here. Mama is once again very busy with work, so I will be guest blogging for her today.

I wanted to tell ya’ll about the great “girls weekend” we had last weekend.

My Aunt Gail came to visit for the ENTIRE weekend. On Friday, we went shopping – and I got lots of pretty new fall dresses. Then we met Daddy for dinner at Ruby Tuesday’s. He was late – so we ate appetizers – well the grown up’s at them, and Mama fed me tiny bites of the cheese biscuits.

On Saturday, Nana, Aunt Gail, Mama and I went shopping … and once again I got lots of pretty fall outfits. Then we came back to the house where I played and played with Aunt Gail…

She sang silly songs to me, played patty cake, and horsey.

We even swang on the porch swing. I had a great time with my 3 favorite ladies. I hope we can do it again soon.

Bigger Picture Moment: Celebrating Life

2010-10-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

There are only a few days remaining in October. As the calendear changes, the world's focus will likely shift from Breast Cancer Awareness to the upcoming holidays. But not for me - because each day I see a living reminder of breast cancer.

My cousin Tammi, who I have mentioned in previous post is a 2 time breast cancer survivor. She is also my co-worker. And each morning, as we chit chat at the coffee maker, I offer a silent prayer of thanksgiving -- that she beat the odds and defeated breast cancer.

This month, I have blogged about Tammi's story, what I have learned about breast cancer, and what we as women can do to fight this dreaded disease. This week's prompt for Write Pink is to write about how this month's posts have changed you, or about a breast cancer survivor you know and love.

Instead of retelling Tammi's story, I will simply tell you that the above picture was taken moments before Tammi and I mailed off our registration for the 3 Day for a Cure 2011 Walk in Atlanta.

When Tammi was diagnosed she dreamed of walking to one day celebrate her remission....and it was my vow to walk in her honor. Next October, we will due it together -- a celebrate of life, a celebration of family, and a celebration of VICTORY!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

Monday's Meals

2010-10-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

Between my work schedule, training schedule, M's farm work, and church responsibilties, we often find ourselves stretched thin. There are many nights that we do not sit down to eat supper until nearly 9:00 p.m. On those days, I am grateful for one thing:
My crock pot. I love the fact that I can put a meal on in the morning, it is ready when I walk in the door after work -- and can stay on the warm setting if we can't eat until much later. For the next few Monday's Meals, I am going to share my favorite crock pot receipes. This week it is:

Easy Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Ingredients:

2-3 pound pork tenderloin

1 - 12 ounces can of diet coke/coke zero/diet pepsi

1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce

Directions:

1. Trim excess fat from your tenderloin and poke several holes in it using a fork.

2. Place pork tenderloin in your crockpot and cover with the diet coke and bbq sauce.

3. Cook on low for at least 8 hours.

4. After 8 hours, remove pork from crockpot, shred and return to the crock pot. Allow it to continue to simmer in the pot until you are ready to eat.

*M says that the meat gets more and more tender the longer it stays in the sauce mixture. We are usually able to get a few meals out of just one tenderloin. If you prefer your bbq sandiwches to be saucier, you can just add more sauce when you prepare your sandwich.

7 Months

2010-10-16T13:36:00.001-07:00

Joycie,

You turned 7 months old on October 5th. With each day that passes, you are becoming more independent – almost toddler like – and less of the tiny infant that we brought home from the hospital. Per the usual routine, here are your important statistics for the month:

You weigh 17 pounds and are 28 inches long.
You are still wearing size 2 diapers because you have absolutely no waist.
You are wearing clothing in sizes 6-9 months.

Last month you were practicing your M and B sounds. But this month, you are using words. You routinely say Mama, Daddy (although it comes out Da-DEE), and Ba-ba (which have come to believe is your word for bottle). You have also said Uh-oh, Nana, and Papa.

You are an accomplished sitter, and have stared trying to pull yourself back up when you tumble over. While you are not yet crawling, you are beginning to get up on all fours and rock back and forth. Mama is fairly certain that you will only crawl for a brief time, as you already try to pull up when you cousins are standing around.

Daddy and I have had to buy you new toys as you show no interest in the toys that are designed for your age range. Instead, you prefer playing with Lacey’s baby dolls, London’s pom-pom’s or Trevor and Trenton’s trucks.

You have developed quite an outgoing personality. While at the Georgia Tech game last week, you threw yourself from Mama’s arms into the arms of the security guard. Then you promptly gave her a big, wet kiss. As we tell everyone, you are a happy, content, loveable, easy going baby.

Love,

Mama & Daddy

Write Pink! Kimberly's Story

2010-10-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

My first cousin is a 2 time breast cancer survivor. After watching her heroic battle with cancer, you would think that I would be a breast cancer expert. But I am not. In fact, I am so uneducated that I do not even know to give myself a proper self-exam.

For this week's Bigger Picture Moment, I decided to do some research - after all knowledge is power. I went hour reading various documents, articles, websites, and speaking with breast cancer survivors and my own doctor. Here are a few of the interesting (at least two me) things that I learned:

- Women in there 30's have a 1 in 229 chance of developing breast cancer. By age 40, the chance increases to 1 in 69.

- My diet can be a factor in increasing/decreasing my risk of breast cancer. Some studies have found that a diet high in saturated fat may increase breast cancer risk, but a diet high in monounsaturated fat may lower breast cancer risk.

- Diet is not the only lifestyle factor that can have an impact on my breast cancer risk. Exercise has the potential to lower the risk of developing breast cancer by 20%.

- A lump in my breast my not be the only sign of potential cancer. When performing self exams, I should be looking for the following changes:

Lump, hard knot or thickening
Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
Change in the size or shape of the breast
Dimpling or puckering of the skin
Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

The most important thing that I learned this week is that this is my body. And because it is MY BODY, it is my responsibility to do all I can to educate myself about breast cancer. Then I have to put that education into action.

What new information have you learned about breast caner? How are you going to put your knowledge into action?

Making the Important Connection

2010-10-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

I am a social media junkie. Each night, I come home, turn on my computer and read blogs, change my Facebook status, tweet to a few friends, and spend hours IM’ing. Social media has allowed me to stay conneced with family and friends who are not nearby. Given my hectic schedule, social media allows me to share glimpses into my life with out committing a lot of time.

However, in my bigger picture moment, I came to realize that social media was harming the most important relationship in my life, my relationship with M. Thursday night started out as so many others. M arrived home from work, we loaded up the diaper bag, grabbed our gym clothes, and headed to my parents house to drop the baby off. We arrived at the gym and I went to pull our gym token out of the console – it wasn’t there.

That set off a firestorm of frantic searching (by me) but to no avail. The token was not in the truck and without it we were not going to make it into the gym. By this point, I was beyond frustrated, so when M suggested we go home rather than get fellow gym goers to let us in, I snapped “Fine, just do whatever you want. Forget that I need the workout to distress.”

It was a long, silent ride home. Once home, I turned the house topsy turvy - determined to find the token – certain that if I had not lost it, my evening would not have turned out so poorly. After 30 minutes of looking, I found the token, in the pocket of the jeans I had worn to the gym the prior week. Excitedly, I went to our workout room to inform M of the good news. The sight I found broke my heart.

M was sitting on the weight bench, head in his hand, shoulders sagging. He was hurt – and there was no doubt as to who had inflicted the pain. I knelt in front of him, resting my head on his knee and with tears in my eyes and throat, I whispered “I’m sorry.”

Those simple words opened up a lengthy dialogue, in which M shared that he often felt ignored in the evenings. As he said, “You find Facebook and blogging more interesting in me.”

I assured him that was not the truth, but that he often came home and turned on the television, becoming so engrossed in the show that I felt neglected. So I was turning to Facebook and blogging to fill the void.

But Facebook, blogging, My Space, and twitter can not replace honest conversations with my husband. Myth Busters, Sports Center, and The History Channel are a poor substitute from laughter shared between M and I. So now I have a new rule for myself – no blogging, Facebook, or twitter after M arrives home. That’s our time.

How’s is working? Last night, M arrived home, we stretched out on the floor, conversing about our day, a mock wrestling match ensued, which resulted in M chasing me thru the house while I laughed hysterically, and Joycie looked on in wonder and amazement.

And it was way more entertaining then any television show, blog post, or Facebook game.

Bigger Picture Moment : I'm doing this for Joycie

2010-10-07T06:17:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago, I along with my family sat in the surgical waiting room while my cousin Tammi underwent her first mastectomy. I can remember sitting next her daughter Tamela, as she read the note that her mother had written her - a note that told her not to worry, that she was going to be okay. And I remember the haunted look in Tamela's eyes - because in spite of her mother's assurances, she was not certain that Tammi would win the battle. Truth be told, none of us we certain -- we were all terrified.

That image - the stark terror etched in Tamela's eyes has never been far from my mind. Now, as a new mother, I find myself hoping/praying/ that my daughter - my precious Joycie - will never have to experience that kind of fear. But hoping/praying is not enough. I have to take steps to
lower my risk of breast cancer . I need to perform monthly self breast exams to ensure that I know my breats, that I would be able to recognize any change in them, not just a lump .

But I will not stop with just me. There are countless other women in my daughter's life that need to know - her Grandmothers, her Aunts, her cousins, and even perhaps her someday. And beyond Joycie's tiny world there are millions of others who need to be made aware.

Because if we are know, then we can fight, and if we can fight then we can win. And if we win, no more daugther's will sitting in waiting rooms with terror in their eyes and fear in their hearts.

What I’m loving Wednesday….

2010-10-06T07:04:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday! Today I'm linking up with Jamie to share the things that I am loving this week.

The fall decorations in my living room.

This little scarecrow that sits among the “pumpkin patch” above my living room window.

I’m in love (maybe even obsessed) with pumpkin spice candles. I have them in my kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. They smell amazing and embody the fall season.

As soon as the weather turns cooler, I begin craving hot tricks. I am loving White Chocolate Mocha’s from Starbucks. Unfortunately, the nearest one is nearly half an hour away. But M promised that he would treat me to one this weekend….

I am loving the fact that this weekend is Homecoming Weekend at Georgia Tech. I am so excited to share the Homecoming traditions with Joycie, Mikey and my parents. I am also excited about reconnecting with friends.

And lastly, but most importantly, I am loving my baby girl’s laughter. She has been giving little giggles for the past few weeks. However, she has not started laughing – deep belly laughs that have her little body shaking. Her joy at the world around her is something worth loving!

What are you loving this week?

Monday's Meals: Kickin Chicken Chili

2010-10-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

Lyndsie at A Love Worth Waiting For , is hosting a new link up called Monday’s Meals. The idea is for each person to share favorite recipes, and then each week we can get inspired for new meal ideas. M and I often eat the same 5-6 meals week in and week out, so I am eager to participate and get a little kitchen inspiration.

Over the weekend, the temperatures here grew cooler. Saturday night is was chilly enough that I needed to wear a sweater when we went out to dinner with friends. The cooler temperatures immediately had me craving warm foods – soups, stews, chili – so I thought I would share my favorite chili recipe.

Kim’s Kickin Chicken Chilli

*This receipe was modified from Gina’s Recipe.

1 bag of frozen pepper and onions ( You can also use freshly chopped if you prefer)
1 16-oz can black beans
1 8 oz can dark kidney beans
1 8 oz can light kidney beans
3 cups of corn (I usually grill ears of corn and then take it off the cob. However, you can use canned or frozen)
2 cans of diced tomatoes
2 jalapenos chopped ( If you prefer things less spicy, use only 1 jalapeno)
1 packet taco seasoning
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
1.5 pounds of chicken breast
To prepare, place the beans, peppers, corn, tomatoes, and seasoning in your slow cooker. Place the chicken breast on top, cover, and cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. About half an hour before you are ready to serve, remove the chicken breasts and shred them and place the shredded meat into the slow cooker.

When you are ready to serve the chili, you can top with sour cream, avocado, cheese, and crumbled tortilla chips. My husband likes to mix a mashed avocado with a bit of ranch dressing and use it as a topping. And while it sounds weird, it tastes great and the cool ranch is a lovely contrast to the spice of the chili.

A Letter to Joycie - #1

2010-09-30T11:28:00.001-07:00

Joycelen,

Each month I write you letters that detail how much you have grown and changed in the previous four weeks. And each month, I print those letters out and tuck them away in your baby book, in the hopes that years from now, we can read them together. And when I am no longer with you, you can read those letters and feel the love that I have for you.

I enjoy writing those letters. But lately I have been feeling as though I should write more letters. Letters that speak to you about more than just how you are growing up (way too fast for my liking) – letters than impart some of the wisdom that I have gained in the 28 years on this earth.

I also want to have these letters to refer back to – so when I encountered a parenting situation in the future, I can remember how I wanted to handle it, what I wanted to say, what I wanted to do.

So today, on Thursday, September 30, 2010, I am going to impart my first bit of wisdom to you.

“Don’t envy others!”

Joycie, it’s a simple fact of life that someone is always going to have somthing you want. The popular girl at school will date the boy you are secretly crushing on, a coworker will get the promotion you wanted, a friend will buy a new vehicle while you drive your old car.

You’ll first reaction will likely be envy. It would be easy to give into this emotion. You will list the reasons that the boy should like you better (Side note: Any boy who thinks you are anything less than amazing should be ignored, but that’s another lesson for another day), why you worked harder to earn the promotion, or why it is makes no sense for your friend to buy a new vechicle in her current financial situation.

You will probably find yourself wishing that you had what the other person has…don’t. I promise that there are things going on that you do not know about, problems that you can not see, worries/fears/questions that are plaguing the other person.

Envy is a waste of time and energy. Instead, of envying, you should be happy for the other person. And then focus on all the good that is in your own life. Sit down and list out all the things that you have been blessed with and I promise, you will soon forget about the boy, the promotion, or the car.

Okay, I would write more, but you are sitting in my lap and keep banging the keys, so I will close this letter.

I love you, pook!

~Mama

Write Pink ! Blog for Your Breasts Day

2010-09-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

We each have moments in our lives that change. Moments that so dramatically shift our worlds, that we can describe in vivid detail where we were, what we wore, when the moment happened. For me one of those moments was April 4th, 2004.

I was lying on my beige floral couch in my one bedroom apartment in Smyrna, GA. I was wrapping up the final weeks of my senior year at Georgia Tech. Per Sunday afternoon tradition, I had called home to give my parents the weekly update. Towards the end of the conversation, my Mama said “Honey, we need to tell you something.”

My heart leapt into my throat. I wondered if the news would be about my grandmother. Over the early part of the spring, she had been ill – I wondered if it was the news that the end was near. It was not. Instead, the news my mother shared was even more shocking, even scarier. With tears clogging her voice, she spoke “Tammi has breast cancer.”

Tammi was my oldest cousin on my father’s side. 14 years older than me, she had been more of a big sister to me than a cousin. I had always admired her style, her zest for life, and though I had never told her – I secretly wanted to be like her when I grew up.

That night and in the coming weeks, I wondered how this could be happening. My cousin was still so young – didn’t breast cancer happen to older woman. I was scared of what would happen to my cousin, but during a long conversation with her she assured me “I will win.”

And she did! She beat breast cancer, not once, but TWICE. Unfortunately, many woman do not win their battles. So today, in honor of my cousin’s victory, and in memory of the other soldiers, I am participating in Write Pink: from the Head, Heart and Feet.

Please join me and Bigger Picture Blogs today as we kick off Write Pink! from the Head, Heart and Feet by teaming up with Army of Women and bloggers everywhere to Blog for our Breasts.

The Army of Women campaign is an online initiative, where women (and men) can sign up at http://www.armyofwomen.org/. The members are then contacted via E-blast to participate in groundbreaking, breast cancer prevention research studies. They can either sign-up for the studies online, or if they do not qualify, they are encouraged to forward the information to a friend or family member. Every woman ( or man) over 18 is welcome to participate, whether a breast cancer survivor or someone never affected. Do you want to join the fight against breast cancer? Then sign up! Want to recruit friends and family to join the army? Encourage them to sign up by using the Invite a Friend Link.

Breast cancer has taken the lives of too many mothers, daugthers, sisters and friends. Join this Army and let's battle to win the war with breast cancer.

A Single Curl

2010-09-25T08:51:00.001-07:00

Bigger Picture Moments: Following the Plan

2010-09-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Bigger Picture Moments, a weekly writing meme where we breathe in the moments that paint a picture of the grander scheme. All moments are welcome in this space -- small or large, as community is just as important as the grander awareness brought on by searching for a bigger picture every week.

I have always wanted to be a runner. There seems to be a freedom in running – the breeze blowing around you, the repetitive sounds of your feet hitting the pavement – running seemingly provides a momentary escape from the pressure of the world around you.

Two years ago, I was in the middle of transforming myself into a runner. I was nearing the end of Couch to 5K training plan and was a mere two weeks away from my first 5K run. And then I got injured.

Two X-ray, 1 MRI, and a few cortisone shots later, I was able to finish the race. But my knee was extremely inflamed, and my doctor advised me to take a few months off from my new found hobby.

Those few months became years. Recently, I have once again felt the urge to run. To lace up my shoes, pick a route, and just run. But my body is two years older, and has undergone changes sense then – namely given birth to a child. So once again I am following the Couch to 5K training plan.

On Monday, I was in the middle of the first day of the 4th week of the program. My training plan called for a 5 minute warm up walk, followed by a 3 minute run, a 90 second walk, then a 5 minute run, followed by a 2.5 minute walk – all of which is repeated a second time. The first set was hard – I struggled to maintain my pace, and my legs felt heavy. Three minutes into my 2nd 3 minute run, I was feeling great. I was experiencing the elusive “runners high”, so I though – I think I’ll just keep running. So I ran for another minute and then another.

My training partner looked me and said “Aren’t you suppose to walk now?”

“Nah, I am feeling good – and besides the walking segments are boring. I am just going to run the rest of the time.”

And my plan worked for a moment. And then my lungs began to feel as they were on fire. I couldn’t breathe properly. My lack of breathe lead to a cramp in my side that finally forced me to stop my workout.

Later that night as I lay on my living room floor attempting to stretch out my sore muscles, I though about my run. I realized that I had gotten so focused on the end result – RUNNING – that I had desired to abandon my training plan.

It’s something that happens to me in other areas of my life. I become so consumed with the end result, that I often miss the small steps that I need to take -- and often wind up costing myself more time.

So in the coming week, I am going to follow my training plan to the letter. And in the other areas of my life, I am going to focus on the completing the small steps that will get me to my end result.