This Day in 2010

Three years ago, today...

...Davis was so proud to call himself a 'big brother' and vowed to take his role very seriously,

...I was beyond ready to get Reese out of my belly and into my arms,

...Justin stayed as close to me as physically possible and I learned how freakin' weird an epidural makes you feel,

...our family was finally whole and complete,

...we got to experience, for the first time, a healthy, stress-free birth, full of unexplainable emotions (I desperately hope that I never forget what I felt at this moment),

...it officially sank in that Justin had a tiny girl that he was going to be responsible for,

...we relished in these postpartum moments, with a sadness in our hearts knowing we were deprived this privilege with Davis,

...they met,

...and the love for her extended throughout the family.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET GIRL!  

Another Accomplishment



...about 2 years in the making...

 

A Jimi Thing

He's a pug/something else mix who's maxed out at about 15 pounds...just enough weight on him so that Reese can't carry his ass around (often times by the neck, pretending he's fake) anymore.  He joined our family in February and Davis demanded that we call him 'Jim'.  It was a battle we knew we'd lose and, therefore, chose not to start. 

Justin and I, as it turns out, aren't the biggest 'dog people' in the world, so a little Jim has turned out to be a perfect fit for us both.  All four of us, really.  The kids are obsessed with him. 

He's very hyper and smart and protective. His 'favorites list' would include tennis balls, stuffed animals, my shadow, playing on the floor with Davis, Justin's attention, and Reese's bed.  We lubbers him.

He just looks like a 'Jim', right?

 

Always all up in my biz...

When we first brought him home.



Competitive Gene

Davis HATES losing.  We all hate it, but he really, really does.   If you've ever been around my brother while he either played a sport or merely watched one on TV, you'd know exactly where the trait was passed down from.  I've also been known to toss my tennis racket a time or two on the court.  And cuss words fall out of my mouth on the reg. 

Anyway, back to Davis...

The kid literally cries when UGA loses a football game.  He gets angry with Justin when he and Matt don't get first place during Monday night fishing tournaments.  If he answers a question wrong, he'll tell you to re-ask it just so he can blurt out the correct response and then immediately celebrate.  He doesn't even care that you just gave him the answer.  Other physical outburst triggers include...Mario Slugger's Wii game, racing to the car, getting his York Peppermint Patty wrapper off first, being the first one to what him and Reese have deemed 'the best seat in the living room'...I could go on, but you get it.

The poor kid doesn't win foot races.  He just can't.  He's also not the strongest, most coordinated kid around.  And I, alone, can say this because he came out of my belly.  He's constantly challenging people to race, wrestle, etc.  Sadist?  Or just super, duper determined?  Who knows for sure.  Because of this, though, we're presented with numerous opportunities to vomit the whole 'winning isn't everything/be a good sport/stop crying, they only lost by 1' spiel.  I think we need more practice, though.  It's rooted deep in his being. 

When we're alone, he and I, we like to talk about how much we love each other.  I always say, "You're my first baby, ya know.  You'll always be my first."  To which he proudly and enthusiastically replies, "That means I win." 

Yes.  Yes it does.

And Fish Go 'Blub'

Now, I'm curious.  What does a fox say? 

This video, posted a mere 11 days ago, has over 24 million views, folks.  My children have contributed about 20.

Permember Me?!?

A ridiculous amount of time has passed since my last blog post. I feel like I've been keeping people informed through an easier, faster outlet like Instagram over the past year.  Recently, though, I've thought about jump starting this bad boy. I'm shocked I even remembered my password to log on, honestly.

Let me start off by sharing a story. Setting: Boogs' bedroom. Time period: Last night. Characters: Her, me, and a snoring dad.

Reese is the queen of getting out of bed and has become so creative with her reasons why. "I want to tell Jim 'good night'." "I want to sleep with Ralphie (her stuffed walrus)." "I miss you."

Last night, it was, "My teddy bear is scaring me." It went more like this, though, "MY TEDDY BEAR...*gasp, huff, puff*...IS SC-SC-SCARING MEEEEEEEE!!!" Oh, brother. I calmly explain that he's just a stuffed animal, not scary at all, and he won't hurt her. She seemed to buy it.

Five minutes pass...

Same thing. She's scared of her teddy bear, who's innocently sitting at her desk, across the room. He is, however, staring at her. So, I ask her if she wants me to remove teddy bear from her room. Great idea. Now she's bear-free and said bear is in the living room.

Five more minutes pass... "WHERE'S MY TEDDY BEAR!?!?!" You've GOT to be kidding me. By the way, this is all taking place while I'm trying to watch the only television show that I keep up with, religiously. Of course, right? She knows. I know she knows and she's doing this on purpose. "Your teddy bear is in the living room. Remember a couple minutes ago? He was a scary monster and I saved the day? I'm gonna need to you settle down, stay in your bed, and go to sleep." I don't even wait for a response because that's always when she sucks me back into her world where she wraps me around her tiny finger and dominates me.

Five minutes...

Now she's screaming from her bed that she NEEDS some water. The good listener didn't get out of her bed. But I don't either. She doesn't stop, though. Finally, I scream from my room, "JUST GET IN HERE!" She comes. "Get a drink and get up here, now." She does. "Go to sleep." Now, she's cradled in my arms, taking up half of my body, and passes out within 17 seconds. Now, I'm in awe of her all over again.  After about an hour, I scoop her up, and put her back in her bed.  Ahhhh....

This morning, I headed to the kitchen, but was stopped by the sound of her sound machine.  Her bedroom door was opened, meaning she got up yet again last night.  I peek in, look over at her desk, and that damn bear was back in his spot!  She's crazy.  100% nuts.  And I love every bit of it. 
 

 

Things She Loves

Her puppers.  Mostly the tail.

Playing pretend 'night-night'.  She loves to put her babies, stuffed animals, and us to pretend sleep.

Dancing.  I need to video tape this more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEMtTuwDwPI&feature=youtu.be

Food.  Since Davis was and has always been a very picky eater, we LOVE to watch Reese eat.  It amazes us when lettuce goes into her mouth and actually gets chewed and swallowed.  She loves green olives, corn, eggs, everything...

Pressing buttons on my laptop.  See...

                           cfedwyujlo;i657uyklkt43wrfdehjvfdcsweuinb ghum ,n hygtedsxswj

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Bubble Guppies.  I pretty much have the theme song to one of those shows stuck in my head at all times.  "Bubb bubb bubble.  Bubble bubble guppies..."

 

Coloring.  Mostly on Davis' train table, his desk, and our coffee table.

 

Stickers.  Why does every little girl go through this sticker-addiction stage???

Things He Loves

His 'duh' of course.  Remeber this post?  Can you believe how much it's aged since then?!?!

 



His DS.  This is a special treat he gets if and when he's had a good day at school or therapy.  Favorite game right now: Monster Jam Urban Assault.

Curious George.  He snuggles with him when he's watching cartoons and sleeps with him every night.  I think this came about from seeing Reese with 'Puppers' all the time.  Notice Reese in the background...doing what she does...climbing on the coffee table...

Fudge Brownies.  Jay bought these in Pensacola and got him hooked.  He begs for them whenever I go to the grocery store.  They're pretty pricey so I stock up when they're on sale and they're actually really tasty. 

 

His 4-wheeler.  He's getting pretty reliable on it.  He fell off once and has been slow and steady on it ever since.  Just need to build up the confidence again.  And, I promise, he wears a helmet.  A gigantic one.  This pic was taken when he first laid eyes on it and it's the only one I have. 

 

 

One Direction.  They're the British version of The Backstreet Boys.

 

 

Phineas and Ferb.  It's a pretty funny cartoon.  And Wipeout.

 

 

 

 

 Swimming.  He's a rockstar at it now.

 

 





 



A Mom's Heartbreak

This conversation took place about 5 minutes ago, when I picked him up from school...

Note:  Friday's are Ice Cream Days during lunch.

Me:  "What kind of ice cream did you get today?"
Davis:  "Um, the rainbow kind."
Me:  "Was it good?"
Davis:  "I didn't get to eat it because nobody opened it for me.  And then lunch was over and I had to throw it in the trash."
Me (so broken hearted):  "Oh no, Davis!  I'm so sorry!  You should've asked someone to help you!"
Davis:  "I raised my hand, but nobody didn't see me."
Me:  "Next time, ask the person that takes your ice cream money to open it for you."
Davis:  "Ok, but she's the ice cream money lady; not the ice cream opener lady."

Saddest thing ever...minus, like, actual sad stuff...

Back To School...

My mom (a registered nurse) and grandmother (a former x-ray tech) have, my entire life, encouraged me to enter the medical field.  So, when it comes time to enter college, what do I do?  I get a Marketing Degree...just like Dad.  I don't know what I was thinking.  I have no desire or intentions of ever using it, of course.  I took finding out I was pregnant one week after graduation as a sign...I retired at the ripe old age of 23, deciding that I was destined to be a stay-at-home mother...especially after giving birth to Davis, spending 16 weeks with him in the NICU, and knowing the extra help he'd always require from me. 

This has been my role for the past 6 years...with the addition of two more little pitter pattering feet on the hardwood floors.  Mind you, in those years, I've taken on the responsibility of helping Justin with the paperwork side of his business (mostly so I'd have something to do besides wipe asses) and made a small profit off my knitting hobby. 

Over the past few months, I've started to panic maturely contemplate my life 3 years from now, when Reese is in school all day.  Maybe it's my upcoming 30th birthday or maybe it's the concerning amount of mustard I've consumed my whole life, but I'm AH CHANGIN', PEOPLE!!!  What will I do with those 32.5 hours every week?  Will I go through an identity crisis because I no longer have any asses to wipe?!?  I really don't want to join Corporate America because, remember, I'm retired from that.  :)  I see how hard Justin works every day as a construction worker and business owner and I don't want him to have to bust his tail well into his 50's.  I think I should, and want to, contribute more when I don't have children at home with me all day, everyday.  I also want something for myself, outside of my home, that I can feel proud about...but, in turn, greatly benefit my family.

During our last family vay-cay to Pensacola, my mom, once again, says to me, "You should really go back to school and get your nursing degree.  You'll always be able to find work, get paid well, and the hours are so flexible so you can still be home with the kiddos after school.  You can practically make your own schedule."  And, there's it was.  My 'ah-ha' moment.  The clouds, literally, parted. 

On the way home, I started researching and researching and researching.  I was on a high.  I couldn't stop talking about it.  And didn't stop until I stumbled upon Chattahoochee Tech's website.  They had extended their Fall 2012 enrollment deadline to August 8th (another 'sign'), one week later than where I stood at that moment.  I got my official transcripts from UGA and KSU during that week, marched up to Admissions on August 6th, was handed my Student ID#, and signed up for 3 classes yesterday.  Done deal, folks. 

The real, serious question is this...Will I or will I not gain the dreaded Freshman 15???

New Master

I spent a lot of time in my bedroom between 9th and 12th grade (either grounded or having secret phone conversations that my parents would inevitably find out about anyway) and would often redecorate my room, so I'm a pro at moving heavy furniture by myself...despite what my scrawny physique might suggest.  Plus, when I want something done, I want it done RIGHT THEN and Justin had at least 3 more hours of work left for that day.  :) 

Please pardon the horrible lighting and dark photos...I HATE my ceiling fan bulbs...

I moved the nightstand from Justin's side to my side and found these simple window panels at T.J. Maxx...  

...and put this beauty from the basement in its place.  I start classes next Tuesday and need a place to study and stay organized.

The best paper weight, ever...

I moved his dresser and the glider (which I would really like to throw in the front yard, but I knew Justin would object...not because of the unwanted yard art, but because he and that glider and the Golf Channel spend a lot of time together) over to where my dresser was.  Note: a few drawers had to be removed during this process to avoid a hernia.  Justin's dresser is from the Jesus Days, I'm sure of it, and weighs A TON.

I took a large frame from above the kitchen cabinets, painted it, and added some rosettes made from old t-shirts.  The print came from the internet...free.   

I stenciled designs onto our existing pillow shams.  I don't know why, but don't you always feel like you have to incorporate some sort of 'do it yourself' activity when redecorating???

I took these prints from the living room and put them above the bed.  Something super special is about to take their living room wall spot and cover the 18 holes I put in the wall to hang them when we first moved in.  Stay tuned.  :)

And, I'll leave you with a close up of my desktop background photo...



 

'Blade Runner'

I like when he said he remembers growing up thinking he just had different shoes, not a disability.

I loved watching him compete last night.  He had such a great attitude for having finished last, probably because he knew he was a winner, still.  And who didn't tear up when James exchanged name tags with him?!?!  What I really wanna know is how are ALL South Africans so gorgeous?!?!

Mr. and Mrs. Nuneen

...see what I did with the title, there?!?!

Justin and his life partner completely platonic friend, Matt, won Monday's Allatoona Team Fishing Tournament!!  They would probably say the victory was due to hard work and determination, but I think it came from the extra scoop of mayonnaise I tossed onto their late night sandwiches...

Look how happy they are!

 

By the way, Davis's first day of first grade went off with a 'bang' and that's all I'll say about it...