Everywhere I Go... Damn! There I Am

Monday!

Outside my window... much the same as last Monday. It's sunny and gorgeous and HOT. I'm enjoying the A/C!

I am thinking... that I don't want to go to the AT&T store today. I'm not very good a making "demands." Z has coached me and told me not to overtalk (which I tend to do), and just make it clear what I want and how I want it. Ugh. Easier said than done.

I am thankful for... my family... arriving on Thursday and Friday. I'm looking forward to celebrating Bella's first birthday with her East Coast family -- both the blood relatives and the family we have chosen.

From the kitchen… who knows?! I have food left from last week's shopping, so I need to determine exactly what I'm cooking. Probably whole foods tonight: a meat, a veggie or two, and some rice.

I am wearing... my favorite jean "skort" and a khaki brown flowered top. Cool and comfortable!

I am creating… plans in my head for the class I'll be teaching at the end of July. Just barely forming the thoughts, but they're there!

I am going… to talk to those AT&T people after Bella's nap.

I am reading… Testimony by Anita Shreve. I tried desperately to like Capote in Kansas by Kim Powers. Since Thursday I've been reading it and I've only gotten to page 60... so, last night it got tossed to the floor, and I picked up Testimony. We'll see how it goes!

I am hoping… that my ScrapRoom cleaning will get done today or tomorrow. I also hope that Hannah gets better so I can see her and her Mommy on Wednesday!

I am hearing… The sounds of NPR and the washing machine.

Around the house... It's laundry day! And, I need to do some general upkeep: we've got our favorite aunts visiting us this weekend!

One of my favorite things… Our new armoire/entertainment center! I happened upon it at Finders Keepers last week. After getting Z's approval, we purchased and loaded it on the truck. It is the first piece of furniture that I've purchased because I WANT it. We didn't NEED it, but the price was right and I love it! My favorite part of the whole process was Z looking it over and determining what needed to be fixed/touched up then asking me, "Are you willing to stay up late tonight to get it all put together... like Christmas?" And it was like Christmas! We were up until almost 1, but the benefits outweighed the sleepless night!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Getting ready for the family visits and celebration this weekend. Gearing up to see my BFF, whom I haven't seen in a few months!

Here is 'picture thought' I am sharing…

The big ONE! As we get closer to

your East Coast celebration, I thought I should share some of your West Coast celebration pictures. Now is the time to reflect on how far we've come.

I can't believe that it's been one year, little girl! Your arrival was quicker than anticipated and your being you was unexpected, "A girl? Really?" I never had the ultrasound techs or the midwives tell me what you were, but we all assumed you were a boy.

Aunt M's arrival was accompanied by her statement, "See! I told you she was a girl!"

And a girl you are!!

You quickly got over your fussy eater status and after a month of learning about each other, we knew that formula was just right for you.

You changed from a colicky baby to a dream child: Sleeping through the night, all smiles and giggles during the day, good naps, GREAT eater!

Those legs never stopped moving, though, and to this day, they still don't. Your motor skills developed well before any language skills, and by 10 months old you were walking. A shock to many, a joy to your parents.

You are your own person in every way, shape, and form. You know what you want, you know when you want it. You smile at everyone you meet, waving hi! and showing off your talent for sounding like a monkey. You'll try anything once, and sometimes twice, and you haven't met a steak you don't like.

Playing with Kharma makes you happy, even though she's still not too sure of you. Any animal is fun for you, and you've learned how to pet them gently, and not to pull on ears or tails or whiskers.

Books, lately, are your favorite toys. You bring us one after the other, sometimes wanting us to read, other times just wanting to revisit the pictures. We let you turn the pages and point at all the things you see.

You sign "More" and "Eat" and "Hat," though you won't wear one. And you're learning how to clean up your toys before you go to bed. So quickly, you are growing my wee one, and every day makes me love you even more. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for you! I love you!

Thursday Thunks

Welcome to the June 24th version of Thursday Thunks!

This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by Berleen, the number 1559 and the color calico.

1. Someone knocks at your door. You answer it. It's a kid from the local school selling candy bars for a fundraiser. Do you buy one? I buy two or three. But I have to write a check.

2. The end of the world is tomorrow and you are out of milk - do you go buy some? Of course! Gotta feed the baby while we still have today!

3. Have you ever picked up the phone and called someone that you hadn't talked to in years? No, but I've Facebooked them. Does that count? But really, that's a comment on technology today and how it keeps us from making personal connections. It's kind of sad if you think about it for too long... so I won't... moving on...

4. Whats on your computer desktop background? A picture of Bella in a green shirt, outside, holding her Daddy's hand.

5. What was the very first movie you saw in a movie theater? The first that I remember is Back to the Future, but it might've been Annie. I don't remember seeing it in the theater; however, we didn't have a VCR at the time and it was my favorite movie.

6. If you had to take a 10th grade science test, do you think you would pass? Probably not. I did great in Chemistry, but it has gone right out of my head!

7. Describe heaven. Sunny and 70 with a light breeze. It looks a lot like New Zealand on the Hauraki Gulf. All the people I love surround me -- they all get along -- and none of them make me mad. I've learned how to play the guitar and sing at the local coffee shop on Wednesday nights.

8. Has a place that you lived ever been infested with some sort of insect or rodent? No, but after I moved out, there was a bit of a rat problem. My SIL came home to one sitting on the kitchen table. EEEEEW!

9. When you were a youngin', did you hide in the clothes racks at department stores? Who didn't?

10. Is there anything in your vehicle that is broken? Hmmmm... yeah. The vent in the console on the drivers' side sticks and won't stay where I put it.

11. What is something in your house that people would be surprised to find? a treadmill

12. Do you agree with the death penalty? In theory, yes. In reality, no. I just don't agree with killing people. Period.

13. Whats your favorite type of bear? Okay, when I first read this, I thought it asked about my favorite type of beEr. I thought, eeew... I don't drink beer. I drink pear cider. Then I realized that it says beAr, and now I'm at a bit of a loss. Pandas, though not bears, are probably my favorite. If I have to choose and ACTUAL bear, I would pick the brown bears you find in the mountains of North Georgia.

14. Where was the last place you went? To Z's shop to drop off his notebook, then to the Farmers' Market, then to Kroger. It was a big excursion.

15. What if that person knocking at your door earlier was an adult selling candy bars... would you buy one? Nope. I probably wouldn't even answer the door if Z wasn't here. I'm chicken like that.

Right Now

Inspired by Ali's blog today.

As I was blog-hopping, I turned to find this: my little girl giving me a hint.

I think I understand...

Heads or Tails Tuesday: Tractor Girl

HoT # 96: Summertime Memory

Since this is TAILS your summertime memory needs to be a real memory of yours. It can be a childhood memory, a memory from teens years or later. It can even be from last week.

While we were in Oregon, Bella discovered that she, like her father, has a "thing" for tractors. I guess it's genetic. I spent the afternoon watching her ride around with Daddy. Though some might say this was a bit reckless, dangerous even, how could I deny the joy? My favorite memory so far this summer is my girl and her daddy tractor-riding in the beautiful Oregon sunshine.

Aunt K and Father's Day

I have been a terribly horrible, no good, very bad blogger lately. It's been a busy month, that's for sure! Before this past week of insanity ensued, we were lucky to have a visit from Aunt K! With Aunt M in KC, she was flying solo, but we had a fantastic time, nonetheless: Art-B-Que, shopping at MOG, K's "Epic Ride" from the wilds of Gwinnett to Downtown Decatur, Andrew Bird, great bacon... The visit was all too short, but I think a terrific time was had by all... especially Bella!

The insanity of my 50 hour work week continued into this weekend. We enjoyed Ben and Christie's wedding, despite the record temperatures, and celebrated Zach's second Father's Day. I made breakfast (a rare occasion since Bella's arrival), we had lunch at the Compound, and we relaxed together as a family for the rest of the afternoon.

Now that Monday has reared its mighty head, I'm back to the grind of SAHM. I love the summers that teaching affords, but I have never been a fan of chores. While summers now mean time with Bella, they continue to mean taking over the majority of the housework. Ugh. I'm off to face killer dustbunnies and piles of laundry.

In an attempt to get myself blogging a bit more, I'm going to take a page out of ViolinMama's book today and do a Monday Daybook...

Outside my window... it's shaping up to be another sunny scorcher. Don't think we'll be outside much today!

I am thinking... that I am ready for Bella's 4th molar to finally break through. She's in pain and cranky which makes for a long day together.

I am thankful for... this time I get to spend with my daughter, despite her crankiness.

From the kitchen… steaks tonight... finishing off our Father's Day celebration. We were too stuffed to eat a big dinner last night.

I am wearing... my pajamas. Haven't gotten to the shower or dresser yet.

I am creating…a clean house today in the hopes that I can begin some creating in the ScrapRoom this week. I miss it!

I am going… to the grocery after Bella's bedtime tonight. A long week of work has left the cupboard quite bare!

I am reading… Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. I'm about halfway through and am intrigued by the relationship between two women. So many things to which I can relate and so many that are foreign to me!

I am hoping… to get a lot of work done today on this house!

I am hearing…Bella playing with the new blocks she got for her birthday.

Around the house... Did I mention the killer dustbunnies?

One of my favorite things… is all of the new babblings and words Bella is trying out. It's fun to hear her discover new sounds and put those sounds into "sentences."

A few plans for the rest of the week: Nothing definite... just lots of catching up around here. I hope to get to the Farmer's Market and possibly pick up a wading pool at Wal Mart this week. Hoping to finally get to Growers' Outlet this weekend and do my long-anticipated Mother's Day shopping!

Here is 'picture thought' I am sharing… Picture thoughts are above... Just how lucky I am to have such amazing people in my life!

Happy Monday!

How I Spent My First Mother's Day. A Photo Essay

Playing Catch Up

Bella's nine month photo in Winston... it was a gorgeous day!

Bella's ten month photo in Oregon... sunshine and 70. Unheard of.

Bella dyeing her first Easter eggs.

Bella walking with her Daddy in her Easter dress on Easter Sunday.

I can hardly believe that May is nearly here. Testing is nearly completed and, with a little luck, all of my students will do well. I'm not sure who is looking forward to the end of testing more -- them or me! I've been in meetings and discussions about what next year will bring, and I'm looking forward to the changes. Being out of the classroom teaching teachers is truly a calling for me. I only hope that all goes as well as we are currently planning. There is still much to be done and many to get on the bandwagon, but I think we can do it. Knowing that there is a team of teachers working for change is comforting. I know I'm not out there alone.

My little girl gets less little every day. She's working on walking now, and has the bruises to prove it. She's getting pickier about what she eats, but she'll still try anything more than once. She's night-time pacifier free... I'll tackle those naps this summer. And to think... in a little over 6 weeks, she'll be a year old. I'm amazed by how quickly the time goes by. Everyone tells you that you need to cherish every moment because babies don't last long... and boy are they right! My little baby is fast becoming a little girl. Independent. Funny. Personality Plus. *Sigh* Where does the time go?

A New Friend

My friend, Laura's, cat is staying with us for a while, so Bella has a new friend. His name is Sampson. After taking some time to settle in, he is now comfortable enough to venture into Bella's play area. Yesterday, he was so patient and gentle that he let her pet him. He thought this was gooooood, so he even got up on the coffee table for some head butting.

Our permanent cats, Luna and Xerxes, really take no interest in Bella. They will tolerate her petting, but find an escape route as soon as possible. Kharma, our "guard" dog, thinks that Bella is good for one thing, and one thing only: licking. So, we have to curb that. It's been nice to have Mr. Sampson around. He's good for Bella. And I think he doesn't mind it so much himself!