Bye Bye Baby....

Well, as I mentioned earlier... Tanner has learned to climb out of his crib, and for the last two weeks or so his favorite thing has been this "fun" game that consists of us putting Tanner in the crib... only to find him standing at the door a few minutes later.

So... to avoid him breaking the crib (or one of his limbs), we decided to go ahead and switch him over to a twin bed this week.

It didn't take long for him to embrace the new arrangement. He loves it! He keeps patting the bed saying, "my bed," with a big smile. But of course, as much as he seems to like it, he still prefers my bed around 4:30 AM...

After belonging to all three of our beautiful babies, it was a little sad to see our crib gone... and gone for good this time. At least I hope it's gone. We took it down to Rhea Lana's consignment sale in hopes to pass it on to another family for a reasonable price!

Cookin!

Well... you know I love American Idol! And on Wednesday we had a front row (well, actually a second row) seat to the David Cook show.

Woo Hoo! We got to watch him "cook it" right up close! HA!




Me and a few friends headed to C-town to bask in American Idol glory... and while, of course, he's no Jon Bon Jovi... the show was really good - and lots of fun.






The only low point for me would be that when David Cook launched into his only cover tune of the night (which was Van Halen, Hot For Teacher,) and two of the youngters with me did not IMMEDIATELY recognize it. I'm not sure either of them knew it at all! Ouch! Ghee... can you guess which two were not familiar with Van Halen....

So, Woo Hoo for David Cook! He proved his Idol "worth"! And maybe some day he'll be lucky enough to follow in Daughtry's footsteps and open for Bon Jovi!! HA!!

Work From Home

Well, I survived my first full week with my new job! I'm catching on pretty good, and I met my personal goal for the week without any problems. In fact, it's such a perfect arrangement that I'm just sure it won't last! I'm waiting for them to call me up any second now and tell me that they're changing everything... what can I say, I am a bit of a pessimist!

But, hopefully not. So, it's been good - I'm thrilled to have found this! However, there are some adjusments we're making. To "work from home" is one of those things that people always think will be so easy. I mean, it must be, you're "at home". But alas, it is still "work". It takes a lot of self discpline (which isn't exactly my strongest quality) to turn off the distractions and focus on what you're doing - especially when one of those "distractions" is a wild, but very sweet, little boy!



Tanner has had a busy couple of weeks. An exceptional sleeper (and I mean perfect) since the day we brought him home, he has recently started protesting bedtime. When his persistent fussing and shaking his head at us didn't work, he decided he would just start climbing out of his crib. Perfect.


So... he has been tapping into his new "secret weapon" a lot this week (typically around 2:00 AM), and because I am weak... there have been a few nights we've ended up like this. (Yes, that is Trav ASLEEP next to him).





And of course, just as I'm starting this job and counting on his traditional two-hour naps during the day so I can work some more, he has also figured out that he can whip out that "secret weapon" at nap time too!


So, there have been several afternoons when he has ended up like this.




In addition to that, he is also trying to get used to my working routine (or the one I'm trying to establish). I try to work at least an hour in the mornings, if the work is available. And on the days when Tanner is home alone with me, overall, he has done fairly well. He watches Max and Ruby (his new favorite), and he will play in his room with his tools and his car. Every now and then he will come alongside my chair and give me a pitiful look, and I'll have to get up, get him some juice, a snack, restart his show, or read a quick book or two.

He does much better on the days Tessa is home with us too. She keeps him occupied.

So last week it was Friday morning, I was working, and actually having a moment where I was feeling pretty darn good about it. The kids had been playing in their room, and I had been quite productive for a while. Apparently... for a bit too long.

My computer is five steps from the door to Tanner's room, and I heard him and Tessa in there laughing and happily playing. They were really laughing.... you know, that crazy belly laugh little kids have. And then I heard Tessa singing and saying, "Make it snow, Tanner." I smiled thinking how creative and funny they were together... and then suddenly I thought, humm... I smell powder.

I emerged from my chair to find that Tanner had, indeed, made it snow.

I didn't even take a picture of the other side of the room... where there was apparently a snow storm! Oh, well... note to self: lid on powder - always closed!

Happy Heart Day

MY VALENTINES!

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about."

Sorrow With The Sweet

You know how as you mark all that needs to be noted on your calendar, there are those dates that you probably would remember, but still want to “officially note." You know, the birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc., etc… and then there are those dates that you know you will always remember, whether you want to or not, and so you don’t exactly need to put them in writing.

Today is one of those dates… every year, as February comes and goes, in between Tessa’s birthday and Valentines Day, with all the sweetness, is a bit of sorrow.

February 11, 1996. My sweet and much beloved friend, (my high school BFF, partner in crime, runnin buddy, the Louise to my Thelma) Tisha, was killed.

She was murdered during a robbery where she worked. And like so many things that go on in the world which are beyond our understanding… it was completely senseless and tragic. She was only 20, and while I don’t think I knew it as much at the time, I’ve learned over the years just how young that was.

The day of her funeral a youth pastor from a church in Maumelle gave Tisha’s uncle a letter. In junior high, Tisha used to attend that church’s community youth events, and he had known her well back then. He wrote in the letter things he remembered about her, stuff she had done with their church, and that he had known Tisha to have given her heart to Christ. He wrote to her family (who he didn’t know) that while he could not begin to explain or understand this tragedy, that he “believed with all his heart,” and knew that “this day” she was at peace, “in the arms of Jesus.”

Whoever that pastor was... God bless him.

We were living in Illinois when she died, and driving home from her funeral the next day, this song was playing… and it has reminded me of her ever since.

It felt like springtime on this February morning
In the courtyard birds were singing your praise
I'm still recalling things you said to make me feel alright
I carried them with me today

Now as I lay me down to sleep
This I pray, that you will hold me dear
Though I'm far away, I'll whisper your name into the sky
And I will wake up happy

I wonder why I feel so high
Though I am not above the sorrow
Heavy hearted, till you call my name
And it sounds like church bells, or the whistle of a train
On a summer evening, I'll run to meet you
Barefoot barely breathing

It's not too near for me
Like a flower I need the rain
Though it's not clear to me
Every season has its change
And I will see you when the sun comes out again

Four Years of Tessa...

Our Tessa turns 4 today! We celebrated yesterday with a pool party for our aspiring little mermaid!

We met Tessa on a February afternoon... we arrived at the hospital at 6:30 AM for a C-section that was scheduled for 9:30.... which didn't get underway until 3:30. By 4:30... she had made her debut.

She came out screaming her sweet little head off, and has not been bashful about making us aware of her needs ever since!

Just this year Tessa has started to understand what a "birthday" is, and that it's really good when it is your birthday. Here she is turning 1, 2, and 3...

And finally 4 years old... on her way to preschool last week in her new dress, so excited about her special "birthday cookies" to share with her class for snack.



Her Grandma hooked her up with a pool party yesterday, and we had so much fun! It was a great party!

She has grown up SO MUCH this past year... (sniff, sniff).

So the indoor pool party was a big hit! Thanks so much to Grandma, and all our friends for celebrating Tessa with us and helping her have such a great birthday!

February Arrives!

At 7:00 AM, I glanced at the Yahoo headlines this morning on my way to the laundry room and noticed that Punxsutawney Phil had already been up and predicted six more weeks of winter... and it dawned on me that I cannot believe it's February already!

Last week was one of those weeks... by Tuesday you're so ready for it to be over, but come Friday night you can't believe it's gone. It was the last week of the month (which is always long because Trav works sooo many extra hours). We spent Monday and Tuesday cuddled up under the covers inside due to ice and snow threats, and it was just way too cold to go anywhere anyway!

And we also spent plenty of time doing some redecorating...

Then on Thursday I got my computer in from my new job, and had to get it home and all set up, etc., etc... and I am pleased to report that thus far, it seems to be GREAT! I'm anxious to get more acclimated to the various doctors and their styles so that I'll be quicker at getting reports done, but I don't think it will take too long.

This is what the "desk," which sits in the tiny walkway between the kitchen and the laundry room, looks like now. It's still in gross need of organization... of course. It's not the ideal arrangement... but it works.

And so we're gearing up for a busy month! Our sweet Tessa turns 4 next Sunday. We'll be celebrating the Saturday before doing one of her favorite things - SWIMMING!! Grandma hooked Tessa up with an indoor pool party - and she is soooo excited.

And a couple of weeks later is my birthday - when I turn 25!! Oh... I mean, 35. For some reason 35 seems much older to me than 34. When I'm at the gym punching my weight and age into the elliptical, I will no longer get to "arrow down" to 34. It starts up at 35. I'll be in a whole new "group" on the forms where you have to check a box... no longer in the 25 to 34 group. Now I'll be 35 to 44. Ouch!

Somewhere in the middle of things I am also hashing out my nursing school plans. Tanner is officially enrolled in five day childcare for next year (sniff... sniff....), and we're praying Tessa gets into the LRSD Pre-K school we want her at. And as a new "twist" to that venture... I have to retake the ACT. Yes, that's not a typo. The ACT, that horrible test you dreaded all throughout high school. It turns out the powers that be in the registration office at Baptist have been very busy since I first starting taking my pre-req classes out there, and have made a few changes.

They have now decided that if your ACT score is more than 10 years old... they're gonna need you to take it again. Seriously! Luckily, I don't have to make a high score (or I'd be quite screwed), so if I can just swing the same sad little score I managed the first time around, I'll be okay.

And on an exciting side note: As you probably know, American Idol is back on!! And while it's too soon for any favorites this round, I will be in the second row later this month to see a favorite from last year - DAVID COOK! I know it'll be way fun, and I am very much looking forward to hearing David sing about the time of his life... :-)