Hello, the World

excellent news as obviously have computer back ... appeared for a moment we would lose all computer content (to include last 6 months of pictures) ... however, wonderful local computer specialist found corrupt Windows file and was able to save everything on computer ... and yes, for anyone wondering, we have now purchased an external hard drive and backed up all our files ...
have many, many pictures to post to catch up from last couple of weeks but will start with Columbus trip ... these are Annie and her Grandma and Grandpa Leder for those who don't know them but expect many more pictures from Columbus...
lots has happened since self last blogged: beautiful Anna Lauren was born (pictures coming very soon), Annie had her first birthday March 27 and her 12-month check-up March 29 where she was deemed to be "perfect" by her pediatrician, and it was decided that the best route for us to have another baby was a straight-to-it path to IVF...
many things happening but most importantly: one more pregnant cousin (Kelly) to go so all my thoughts are with her and her husband, Michael, and their soon-to-be-born son, Spencer ...

Anthony's Blog Version 2

Laurie and Annie returned from Columbus on Wednesday afternoon. If you are expecting a lot of pictures and a lengthy or rambling review by Laurie, you will be dissapointed. It turns out that our computer would not turn on this morning, so Laurie asked that I tell everyone that she will write and post pictures whenever the computer is up and running. Also, she can't check e-mail. On a brighter note, Pregnant Cousin Watch 2007 is down to one pregnant cousin. Mandi and Matt (well, actually Mandi) had a beautiful baby girl in Jackson, MS on Tuesday morning. Anna Lauren Calvert, Mandi, and Matt are all doing fine and adjusting to their new life together. With Kate having baby James last week in Birmingham and Mandi having Anna Lauren this week, that leaves Kelly in Atlanta due in mid-late April.

Anthony's Blog of the Day

Since Laurie is out of town with Annie, Laurie asked that I update the blog. Not sure what to say, other than Laurie will be back soon. She has the camera with her, so there will be plenty of pictures when they get back from Columbus. Until then, there won't be any pictures on the blog. Laurie and Annie are in Columbus for Jan's birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday Jan! With a quiet house this weekend, I'll be able to catch up on some "honey do" items. Yardwork, a little painting, cleaning the garage....and watching plenty of March Madness Basketball! As my friends in the Athletic's Department say, you have to cheer for the paycheck. Go Commodores!

Proud Day

annie in her cool dinosaur pj's, annie with her beloved doggy door, and of course, annie discovering how to pull toilet paper off the roll ... what a proud day for all of us ...
had lovely day yesterday with KinderMusik friend at the McDonald's playground ... is excellent way to pass the time and still manage a conversation with a grown-up friend while precious child plays on the indoor playground ... no, not tempting to leave her there for other mother to claim ... ok, is tempting on occasion but are excellent and friendly mothers there so sure she would be in good hands ...

The Poopies and the Puppies

want to go outside and lay in grass and never come back in house but am supposedly responsible grown-up now (plus am allergic to grass and not in mood for terrible hive situation)... have just experienced worst poop diaper ever in the history of the free world ... am sure no one EVER has seen such a sight ... won't describe it so as to leave to your imagination ... (please don't write in with more horrible diaper experiences ... will make me cry)
besides her healthy hind-quarters beautiful daughter is absolute delight ... is most often happy, on the verge of walking and talking and suddenly transfixed with doggy door ... loves to crawl over and put her toys out the door ... is somewhat bizarre but keeps her occupied so is good situation ... confuses poor Mary and Hope but on occasion Annie's toys get carried out into the backyard ... can't expect girls to know difference between their toys and Annie's when are so similar ... besides, poopy child loves her puppy dog sisters ...
[on pregnant cousin front, count is holding at 2 ...]

James Aubrey Thornton

and may I introduce James Aubrey Thornton, the beautiful son of my cousin, Kate and her husband, Jim, born March 10 in Birmingham ...
(and for anyone counting, I now have two pregnant cousins)

The Naked One

am continuing writing and posting fool ... after we TRIED to change Annie into her pj's last night, she crawled around naked (frighteningly her favorite way to be) ... she got her daddy's shoe, her own pj's, and you can see she's very much getting ready to walk ... still our precious little girl, though!

Morning Musings

I'm having random thoughts this morning, so readers beware ...
I've decided (after almost a whole year) that once you're a mother, you're never the same person you were before and you will never have the same life you had before.
Ever.
You will inadvertently put your finger in your child's poop while changing a diaper (if you're lucky, this will not be a daily occurrence), you will have very little time to yourself, you will go to the bathroom with an audience (Annie, Mary and Hope), you will think of your child constantly and wonder about the type person they will become, you will have sleep deprivation and learn to live with it, you will find your child to be the most the charming creature God ever made (most of the time), you will learn that you will not come first anymore (this one can take time, especially if you're an only child like me), you will look in your child's eyes and see all of your relatives who aren't here anymore and think maybe they met her before she was born, you will spend countless hours just watching your child sleep and wonder how you got so blessed, you will be frustrated, exhausted and absolutely pushed to the limit by them but love them more than you can find the words to express but mostly you will thank God every night for this little person who has come into your life and made it so incredible.
I love you, Annie ...

The Rainforest Cafe

here's our big dinner out at the always fun Rainforest Cafe ... obviously Annie was completely overwhelmed by the whole experience ... that's precious husband with Annie, beautiful Jill with Annie and me with our new magician friend, Greg (it was kids' night at the Rainforest) ... the last picture is just one from yesterday where she was actually still enough to take her picture ...
can't write much today as is KinderMusik morning and is carefully choreographed routine so must go find something for breakfast ...

Wild Kingdom

oh, am writing more often which was part of Lenten "giving up" (priest once told me you could do something not just give something up) ... am writing goddess ... has as always been busy morning already ... think of family and friends with greater than one child ... perhaps 2 or 4 or more such as Von Trapps on "Sound of Music" ... am doing good at this stage to keep up with my one child ...
Mary and Hope are re-adjusting to annie being home ... must say, though, is sad sight to see 80-pound lab running from her tiny baby sister .... alas, our home is like Wild Kingdom and always will be ... Mary guards her bones and tennis balls, Hope guards Mary and Annie crawls between them and puts her fingers up Hope's nostrils (mine, too, and not sure what that's about) ...
have actual dinner date tonight with friend who's in town ... will all be going (not Mary and Hope but the rest of us) ... am very excited ... is not lunch date with mom across the street involving crawling all over the McDonald's playground in windpants and no make-up (really, what would be the point?) but actual real clothes, make-up and flat iron dinner date ... will wrestle small child later in the afternoon because still would rather be naked but she'll wear something precious and have lovely hair ... will take lots of pictures ...

Life Is Good

am picture-taking fool these days ... have even included pics of downstairs half-bath remodeled by none other than precious husband ...
life is a bit active and crazy these days ... annie is crawling fool and self just tries to keep her from taking out one of the dogs or me for that matter ... precious child still has such a love for their food, water and rawhides ... ok, though, as is such fun and so joyful ...
but back to self ... still feeling so much better after surgery and enjoying annie even more as a result ... life is good these days ...

The Rear View and Beyond

Mary Queen of Scots

oh, what a day already ... have spent morning telling Annie "no" to eating dog food (old habits die hard) and poor sweet Mary Barclay (who spent 8 years learning "no") thinks I'm talking to her and has no idea if she's supposed to eat her breakfast or not ... God bless our little family ... am feeling so much better since surgery, which is a good thing since Annie is going 90 miles an hour all the time ... she's so funny, though, and it's wonderful beyond words to have her home again ... you'll notice most pictures of her lately are in her high chair; that's because her high chair seems to be the one and only place she actually sits still ... oh, my sweet cousins, what a joyful journey you are about to begin! I'm so excited for y'all ...

Hopie's Birthday

today's our sweet Hopie's birthday, so Annie celebrated by sharing a rawhide bone with her ...

Our Girl

The Return of Annie

the sun'll come out tomorrow ...

Somewhere Out There

love this picture ... it's of Dema, a 26-day-old tiger cub and Irma, a 5-month-old orangutan, both of whom were rejected by their respective mothers ... they're currently being cared for in an Indonesian hospital and have become very close ... just thought it was a great online picture and story ...

ok, moving along to self ... recovery is going well ... am following dr's orders and taking it very easy ... laying around against my nature as are many tasks self should be doing: cleaning house whilst ridding it of clutter and creating streamlined abode as in Pottery Barn or the like, writing first novel, organizing all Annie photos, etc. ... in reality, self has become giant warthog -- resting on couch and talking on phone, sleeping, catching up on all CSI's and movies that I've DVR'd (is that a word?) lately, and following the Anna Nicole saga ... am still sore but am moving along in the recovery process ...
as for sweet Annie, couldn't miss her more but continue to get good reports from her grandparents so am glad she's happy ... as a parent, having a happy child is gratifying beyond words ... still hear her in the house from time to time but have decided that once a child comes into your world you are forevermore changed ... is wondrous really to be able to just think of her, which I do a lot ...