Cereal Anyone?

"You're going to feed me this? Really?!"

"Single grain rice cereal? OOOHHHH, sounds delicious."
"Wait! Nobody said anything about gagging me with a spoon!"
"MMMMmmmmm...."
"You're not getting this on camera, are you?"
"I'm overjoyed with excitement, I can't swallow it fast enough."
"I see you Cotton, and you're not getting ANY of my food!"
"What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a baby with food on her face before?"
"Airplane? I thought I was eating rice cereal.  Why do you keep saying 'airplane'?"
"You're telling me I can eat this 3 times a day? Yipeeeee!!!"
"More please, we're not done here."
"Just give me the bowl and I can feed myself.  You're not fast enough and you stop to take too many pictures."
"Is there any more?"
"I'll just finish it off the way Daddy does and drink the rest."

"Not Me Monday"

 After one of my cheerleaders couldn't come to practice, I DID NOT attempt to step in for her and base the stunts. This DID NOT result in me getting knocked to the ground a few times, head-butted in the face, and kicked in the chest. I DO NOT still have a bruise on my chest nor a slightly puffy cheek bone.

On the long, 5 hour drive back from Glennville, I DID NOT stop at the gas station just to get a plastic fork so I could eat the coconut cake my mom sent back with me.

I DID NOT use sewing thread for dental floss after I ran out. I DID NOT do this because I am NOT obsessed with flossing my teeth and couldn't stand to go a day without doing it.

Avery's carseat DOES NOT have a few spots on the padding where she may or may not have had an accident. I DID NOT just turn the padding upside down like a couch cushion to hide the stains.

While trying to find new ways to entertain Avery, I DID NOT tie a bathrobe belt to her bouncer in order to swing her while still sitting on the couch. I DID NOT take a picture of my sister doing it, either.

A Year Ago Today

A year ago today started off like any other day.  I was teaching 6th grade at Hebron Christian Academy and had cheerleading practice after school.  I felt fine and was ready for my planning period to take a break from those noisy kids.  My craziest class just left my room and I finally had some peace and quiet during my 6th period planning. 

 

As I opened my desk drawer, I remembered I had a left-over cheapy pregnancy test from my ovulation kit I had bought at Publix.  "What the heck," I thought, "It won't be the first time I tested one of these out just to get a negative.  Why not try again and just get rid of it from my desk?"  I entered the restroom...did my thing...and waited.  Low and behold, there's the one pink line that tells you it worked, but far into the distance, a second faint pink line stared me in the face.  "WHAT!!?? Are you sure? Is that really another pink line??!!"

"That must be a mistake," I thought to myself.  "This is a cheapy test.  I'll go to Publix and get a digital one."  With my heart pounding and hands shaking, I blurted out to my senior teacher's aid that I would be right back.  I think I actually ran to the aisle where I could find another pregnancy test.  After I purchased a new one, I went into the Publix bathroom to confirm my belief.  YES!!!!! I am PREGNANT!!!!!!I was in a daze for the rest of the day and am not really sure how I managed to coach practice.  I didn't tell a single soul, not even Michael, because I wanted to tell him in person.  I rushed to Target after practice and bought these cute socks to surprise him with.  Dinner was cooked, the video camera was hidden in the kitchen to capture his reaction, and I was shaking like a leaf.  The moment finally came and I said, "I got you something for Halloween.  Close your eyes and hold out your hands."  Once he opened his eyes, he read the socks and said, "Boo." Then his eyes got really big and he said, "What is this s**t?  Are you for real, is this for real."  He proceeded to try and 'scratch off' what he thought was a sticker that read 'pregnant'.  After it finally sank in, he was excited!  "Charge up your phone, we got a lot of people to call,"he said.
We called my mom first to tell her the amazing news.  Then, we jumped in the car, still in our pajamas, and headed to Snellville to tell his parents in person.  We handed each of them a pregnancy test and Mrs. Vickie said, "My baby's having a baby!"  It was a great moment.  On the way back home we called all of our relatives and closest friends.  Can you tell we were beyond thrilled?

It's amazing to think back that a year ago, Avery was just a little peanut in my belly.  As I look at her today, I can't help but wonder how anyone who has a child cannot believe in a God, a Mighty Creator, that orchestrated all of the fine details that go into the creation of a human being.  
Now, one year later, those little socks adorn the sweet feet of our beautiful 4-month-old.

"Thank you God for giving us the miracle of life.  Thank you for a baby who we love more than life itself.  Thank you for her health and all of the joy she brings everyone in our family."

Through Avery's Eyes

Wow! What an exciting weekend I had.  I was a very busy girl with people to see and places to go.  It was such a great time, I want to share everything I did with you.  Don't worry, tons of pictures were taken :)

Well, Saturday morning was a big day because The Pride Cheerleaders had their first competition.  Mommy was really nervous, me...not so much.  I was more excited about getting to wear my new cheerleading outfit.  Don't you like it?

My pants were my favorite part.  I think the diaper makes my butt look big, though.  Go Lions!
The cheerleaders did a good job.  They got 2nd place and didn't even get a trophy! What a bummer.  Oh well, I had other places to visit.  We hopped in the car and traveled all the way down to Glennville, Ga to surprise Poppa Jeff for his birthday party.  This is me with my Uncle Jacob, waiting to walk out and surprise Poppa.
SURPRISE!! He didn't even know we were coming and he was very happy to see me.  It was sooo humid in south Georgia, Mommy's lens was fogging up and the humidity did nothing for my hair.
Happy Birthday Poppa!  
All of those new faces and barking dogs upset me and I cried the whole night, until bedtime that is!  Grandma Debbie kept making silly noises and faces at me, which kept me from going to sleep.
The next morning was much better, and Poppa Jeff fed me breakfast.  After that, he took me for a walk around the neighborhood.  
Then, we ate lunch at my Great-Grandmother's house.  I just call her Bama for short.  This is Mommy and me in my Great-Great-Grandmother's rocking chair.  It was really squeaky.
After such a busy morning, I was pooped and just insisted on napping in Bama's big comfy bed.  
This is my beautiful Bama, Poppa Jeff's momma.  We took some pictures outside on her front porch.  Nothing says country like wicker rocking chairs on a front porch.
We were laughing at something funny Mommy was doing.  She was probably complaining about the humidity again fogging up the camera.
There was a lot of kissing...
...and talking...
...and laughing all day long.
The next day I went to see this Cricket Farm Poppa Jeff kept talking about.  I couldn't figure out why there were deer in a cricket farm.
Poppa showed me that when you blow on crickets...
...they scatter everywhere!
I saw a cricket on Grandma's arm and told her she better not put one on me!
There were millions and millions of crickets.  
After the cricket farm, we visited Grandma Debbie's work and saw her friends.  I was so mad Mommy didn't bring her camera in!  I wanted to do a little shopping after all that visiting, so they took me to this big store with lots and lots of random things there.   They said this was the Target of Glennville.  I didn't find much, so I settled for a teething toy and a few outfits.
It was a big weekend!  I had a great time in Glennville and can't wait to go back soon!

"Not Me Monesday"

Ok,  I know that Monesday is not really a day, but I'm a little late posting my "Not Me Monday".  I took a little trip this weekend and didn't get back home until late Monday night.  There were a lot of unfortunate things that happened to me last week that I couldn't wait to share with you.  I couldn't just skip out completely on your favorite post series.  So here it goes...

I DID NOT let my Diaper Genie over flow, AGAIN! 

While changing Avery's diaper, she DID NOT pee directly into her clean diaper, and I DID NOT proceed to fasten that diaper up and just say to myself, "She sits in pee all day long anyway, that's what diapers are for."

At the end of the day, I DO NOT forgo the burp cloths and just let her spit up on my shirt just because I'm about to change anyway.  This NEVER happens. 

I DID NOT spend 20 minutes straight just staring at and talking to my adorable daughter.  I DID NOT justify doing that by telling myself I was cooking dinner (while the food baked in the oven).

My sweet, educated husband DID NOT ask me, "When do you start brushing Avery's teeth?"  I DID NOT have to remind him that she doesn't have any teeth!

While driving down I-16, I DID NOT pull out my hand pump and express breast milk while driving.  

I DID NOT feel warm liquid run down my leg while bouncing Avery in my lap.  That warm liquid WAS NOT of the thicker substance that people refer to as #2.  It DID NOT escape her diaper, travel down my bare leg, and collect in a puddle on my parents' hard wood floors.  The dogs DID NOT sniff and lick my foot for the rest of the day, either.

I DID NOT plan a sneaky, surprise visit to Glennville for my dad's birthday and the next post WILL NOT be about that trip ;)

For Granddaddy Jeff