IVF Ramblings

Geography Rules

2009-10-08T20:01:00.003-05:00

Hello, the world! Ok, maybe not the world, but at least hello to the handful of faithful followers I have ...

Annie is now 19 and studying pre-med at Harvard; gosh-dang we're just so proud of her! Ok, maybe not exactly. Well, we are proud of her always, but she's not quite 19. She is, however, every single second of 3 1/2 with all the stubborness, etc. that comes with the age. And yes, as I have stated before, I am for all practical purposes raising a tiny version of myself. Things really do come full circle, don't they??

I'm now working 4 days a week at Annie's pre-school and loving it. I've always loved the program but even more so being on the other side of it. It's very, very much like a family environment, and I really feel blessed to have the opportunity to be there.

Annie is now taking ballet one day a week, which is great fun, and I promise to post some pictures. Actually I need to post a bunch of pictures, but that'll take a bit of time.

Ok, so there's a tiny glimpse into our lives at the moment, but I can't go without giving out a geographical nugget of information: there is not an Australian Ocean. Not that I thought there was or anything ...

Tin Cup Chalice

2009-07-10T21:00:00.004-05:00

So as has become somewhat of a family tradition, we spent the 4th of July in a condo in Biloxi with my parents. It was a fabulous time and a wonderful opportunity to see lots of our family and friends. But I suppose a picture really is worth a thousand words, so here goes:

With my beautiful mother:
Annie and my grandfather:

Dinner with family:
My gorgeous Aunt Mar, who you may recall was Queen of the Mardi Gras Ball:
My best friend, Teri, and her three girls came over from Mobile, and these are pictures of them:

My daddy with Annie (her beloved "Pa"):

No point in trying to stay dry in the pool, Mom! (Annie with her "Kay-Kay")

Our good friends, Jenn and Chris and their fabulous pool:
Their Great Dane, Toby, who is breathtakingly beautiful:

These Are the Days

2009-06-28T11:29:00.009-05:00

So Annie and I returned a few days ago from our jaunt across to Atlanta to see our family ... my cousin, Kelly, her husband, Michael, their 2-year-old, Spencer and that precious new baby girl, Madeline ... it was great fun peppered with the antics of two toddlers and a newborn ...

Spencer and Annie (and Hailey the mighty dog in the background) spent most of their time right about here playing with Spencer's beloved cars or watching TV (if we were particularly lucky!)
And of course we spent a LOT of time loving on this little beauty:

And we watched this a lot:

And we spent a really cool morning with Spencer and Annie at a place called the Yellow River Game Ranch, which is sort of like an animal sanctuary where the majority of the animals just roam free:

But mostly we just hung out and had family time:

And at the end of the day (or anywhere during it) Hailey would just decide she was a teensy bit worn out from the stress of it all:

All in all, we had a wonderful visit, even if I did look around at the kids at one point and marvel at the fact that we're actually adults now with our own families! Have mercy!

That's All

2009-06-18T13:17:00.006-05:00

Greetings, dear readers, I have returned to my beloved blog from a far-flung land I like to call (on a good day) motherhood.

As a general update on the recent happenings in my (as I like to refer to it on a good day) life (actually more like a circus) I bring you this:

1. Our precious border collie, Hopie, has been found to have crystals in her urine. This was discovered after a lovely urine sample was collected and brought to our vet. (the collection of aforementioned urine involved yours truly trailing behind Hopie in the yard wearing one latex glove, carrying a plastic container and trying to jab it under her whenever she would squat. She, being incredibly smart, would squeeze out a single drop, stop, stare at me and then sprint across the yard to finish her business.) The crystals (they almost sound pretty, don't they?) in her urine have not become kidney stones, and Hopie is currently being treated with oral medication.

2. Sweet Mary recently had a tiny bit of surgery to remove a growth on her (how to say?) hind quarters and is doing just fine. However, during the pre-surgery bloodwork, it was discovered that one of her liver enzymes is abnormally elevated, so she is currently taking a liver-protecting supplement.

3. I bet you're wondering why I would leave our human child until the end of the update. Well that would be because she has sprouted horns and on some days is virtually unrecognizable to the naked eye. Lucky for you, today is not one of those days ... we've actually had a fairly lovely day today. I believe that is because the last two have been fairly *&^%^&*&% (you may fill in any word you like.)

I have contemplated purchasing some book on how to survive this phase or whatever is happening here, but such a book does not seem to exist. I believe it is because all writers who encountered this phase with their own children were rendered incapable of stringing even a few words together to form an intelligible sentence when all was said and done. Just a hunch, mind you ...

And so it goes ...

What Goes Around Comes Around

2009-05-27T10:27:00.004-05:00

So yesterday was a big day in the life of sweet Annie Barclay ... her first trip to the dentist. I honestly had no idea what to expect, but she actually did really well. Of course it probably helped that the waiting room looks like Chuck E. Cheese ... it's a mainly pediatric dental practice, so of course the whole thing is geared toward that part of the population. When Annie realized "The Wonder Pets" was about to come on one of the bazillion TV's, she announced to the waiting room in a loud voice: "The Wonder Pets is COMING ON!!" Very exciting ...

Following the trip to the dentist, I made the not-so-smart decision to take Hopie to the vet to (modesty out the window here) have her anal glands expressed. We swung by the house to pick up Hope and there we went, Hopie in the backseat and Annie so proud she was riding by her. The vet was fine if you count having your sweet border collie a tiny bit violated so her glands could be expressed and your 3-year-old NEEDING to be picked up simultaneously as "fine."

Ah, but the fun really started when we got home. We drove into the garage and here's how it went:

"Mommy, I NEED a grilled cheese."

"Ok, just a second." (me, trying to get Hopie's safety-first harness off before she hung herself jumping out of the car)

"Mommy, what Hopie doing?" (Hopie, sprung from her harness and now trying desperately to get out of the car)

"Getting out of the car to go in the house."

"I want to go in the house."

"I know, just a second."

"Mommy, I NEED to get out." (me now trying to unbuckle Annie from her car seat.)

She, also sprung from the car, heads for the house.

"Mommy, I NEED a grilled cheese, please." (I love how she throws in manners ...)

"Ok, Annie, just a second ... it has to cook." (me getting out skillet, bread, cheese, etc.)

"Mommy, I NEED some juice, THAT juice" (she has now dramatically flung open the refrigerator door and is gesturing toward my Dr. Pepper.)

"No, honey, that's Mommy's Dr. Pepper, here's some apple juice."

"I NEED to watch something on TV ... I NEED my grilled cheese." dear God, I can't think as fast as this tiny child makes demands ...

"Annie, the grilled cheese is cooking, and where are your manners?" ( I realize I am sounding a bit like our "Manners Matter" book.)

She has gone into the living room, and I finish up the grilled cheese, taking it through to her (feeling more than a bit like a slave.)

"I'm tired now. Cover me up, please, Mommy?" she says, curled up on the couch, exhausted from making demands, being chauffered around town and growing hormones.

As I look at my child I have only one thought:

Oh. My. Lord. I. Have. Given. Birth. To. Myself.

Birthday Wishes

2009-05-25T20:11:00.002-05:00

Today is my mom's birthday ... such a wonderful day, and I wish I could be with her!

Sometimes when you want to write something about a particular person it's impossible to find the words. Like now. There aren't enough words to describe my mom.

She's always and without question been there for me. To this day. If I need to call her twelve times in one single day because I'm (usually unnecessarily) freaked out about something Annie-related, she just listens and listens and listens. She doesn't mention that after the eleventh phone call she might actually have something she needs to get done that particular day. Nope, she just listens. Not because I'm that spectacular but because she is.

Her friends could tell you that, too. She's generous beyond measure and always carves out time for the really important things in life. Her family, her friends, and my dad, who is the love of her life.

As I watch Annie grow and somehow, impossibly find myself loving her even more deeply every second, I think of my mom. I hope I pass all that I've learned from her onto my precious child.

And Mom? Well, happy birthday to my best friend, my confidante, my sounding board for pretty much everything, and for the beautiful woman who showed me what unconditional love is. I love you always ...

Maddy Day

2009-05-17T17:29:00.005-05:00

Well, well, dear readers, another blog is upon us, and I have quite a bit to report! First, my dear cousin (Kelly), her husband (Michael), their precious son (Spencer) and their dogs (Hershey and Hailey) welcomed the newest addition to their family Friday morning ... weighing in at 9 lbs. 3 oz. we have the beautiful Madeline Elizabeth Day. Sweet little Maddy is absolutely gorgeous, and I have fought many urges to just hop in the car and drive to Atlanta so I could see her! Alas, I've been ravenously eating up all the pictures I've had coming my way, which you can see below. I can't wait to meet her, and if all goes as planned, Annie and I will doing just that in June ...

This has also been a big weekend for our little drama queen (still don't where that little personality comes from!) as both sets of grandparents were in town for her end-of-the-year Kindermusik program Saturday mornining. We all went out to eat Friday night despite the rain (and yes, Annie does have her little umbrella in the restaurant) and had a blast. The program was a hoot (as you can see from the pictures), and it came as no surprise that Annie had no stage fright whatsoever. That's one of her best little friends, Camie, in a lot of the pictures with her.

The last picture is one of Annie and me that Anthony snapped this morning after church.

Ah, but what would a weekend be without an incident of some variety, right? On Saturday (since all grandparents were on hand and more than willing to babysit) Anthony and I snuck out to the movies. Because we saw a relatively long but really good movie ("Angels and Demons" and no, I don't care that the two reviews I read weren't particularly kind) I decided to use the restroom before the movie.

No worries until I washed my hands and went over to get paper towels. I assumed it was one of those high-tech, "super-sanitary" machines, so I waved at it like it was a long-lost friend (isn't that how you activate the sensors?)

Nothing happened. A little mortifying but as my hands were dripping onto the floor I persevered.

I waved under the machine, thinking perhaps the sensor was there. People began to line up behind me. (Speaking of, if any of you are reading this, would it have killed ya to offer some advice??)

Nothing happened. So there I stood, smiling politely, hands still dripping and staring at the perplexing paper-towel dispenser. Good grief, just as I was contemplating drying my hands on my pants and forgetting about the whole thing, I saw it.

An old-fashioned handle-thingy. Huh. I just pushed it and lo and behold. Paper towels emerged.

Miracle of miracles.

It really has been a fun weekend, and Maddy, you beautiful girl, welcome to the family ... I can't WAIT to meet you!

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-09T20:38:00.004-05:00

Well, Mother's Day is upon us once again, and I always find myself searching for the perfect words for the day ... first, I have to wish my own mom Happy Mother's Day. I have absolutely no idea where I'd be without her, and she is ALWAYS there for me, and somehow as I get older I find myself needing her more and more (see #4!) She's beautiful inside and out, and I love her more than I could even begin to say. She's my best friend. (And Mama, I know you're reading this, and I want you to know I'm so sorry Grandma's not here anymore ... she would be so, so, so proud of you!)

I also want to wish my mother-in-law a happy mother's day ... she's so special to me and such an incredible grandma to Annie.

Finally, I thought I'd share some really random things I've learned about motherhood in the past 3 years:

1. Motherhood only gets harder as your child gets older. (and yes, I'm aware I've only just begun on this one!)

2. Making a snorting pig noise (Annie's newest trick) is not attractive ... funny but not attractive.

3. You discover you really can differentiate between your child's cries - in a split second.

4. With every passing day, you appreciate your own mom more and more.

5. Dora the Explorer and The Wonder Pets are actually pretty cute little shows. Honestly.

6. When it comes right down to being a mom and making all the split-second decisions with which you're constantly bombarded, you never know for sure if you're "doing it right."

7. Red crayon "drawings" on white doors are NOT easy to remove. Enough said.

8. Having a potty-trained child is a double-edged sword.

9. It's ok to zone out during this line of questioning from your child.

"What doing?
"Now what doing?"
"Now what doing?"
"Now what doing?"

10. Kids are expensive.

11. Hand-me-downs are the best. (*see #10)

12. If they're clothes and they're clean, they're fair game to be worn -- matching optional. Seasonally appropriate optional.

13. You discover you possess an uncanny ability to sprint through Target whilst navigating one of those massive kid buggies if your child is having a meltdown.

14. You discover that even on the worst days, the days when you might want to hide in your closet in the fetal position because your child is driving you that crazy, you absolutely wouldn't trade being a mom for anything in the whole wide world. Why? See below ...

Just Another Day In Paradise

2009-05-07T20:26:00.002-05:00

Well it's about this time of year that we all start spending a lot of time at night out on the deck: grilling out (Anthony!) and just hanging out. Or as is the case this year, enjoying what little time there seems to be when it's not monsooning! (and yes, I just made that word into a verb)

Mommy of the Year

2009-05-04T19:37:00.004-05:00

Oh, welcome to the world of the current Mommy of the Year ... yep, you're looking at her. Or should I say reading her blog. Let me back up a bit and explain: one of my friends and I had a playdate with our girls on Friday at my mom and dad's condo in Franklin. All was going well ... the girls were playing incredibly well, my friend and I were having normal conversation that did not revolve around Dora, Moms Day Out programs, budgets, etc.

Then suddenly a silence fell upon us. Could the children be playing so incredibly quietly?? Nah, it was a bizarre quiet, the kind that does NOT bode well.

So we crept back toward where the girls were. It took about two seconds to realize what they had been doing: toilet papering the back half of the condo. And brushing their teeth A LOT, emptying an entire box of kleenex onto the floor, and using two boxes of band-aids to cover any and every surface of their persons. And yes, it was one of those moments where we were laughing hysterically. How could we not? Kids will be kids, and those moments are priceless. Not fun to clean up but priceless.

We also went to another friend's little boy's birthday party this weekend and had so much fun. I think that explains the following pictures ... Maybe!

Random, Random, Random

2009-04-29T13:19:00.003-05:00

Alright, rabid readers, here are a few random pictures from the past few days (weeks?) ... one of Anthony's birthday cake, some from a recent playdate, and a few from a festival we went to in Franklin this past weekend ...

I promise to write more later ...

A Moment Like This

2009-04-21T18:37:00.003-05:00

Ok, as usual I have no excuses (not even Facebook) for my absence here in bloggerland ... I'm still working on the bazillion pictures from the Masters, but here are a few miscellaneous ones in the meantime. (and yes, I know most of you check here for the pictures not for the writing!!)

In case you can't tell, Annie is slightly in love with her "American Idol" karaoke machine-thing, and I have "A Moment Like This" stuck in my head for all of eternity, if not a bit longer. (thanks, precious Kayla!) She LOVES to "sing" into that microphone, so look out, world ... or, in her case, look out convent!

The Birthday Party

2009-04-16T08:10:00.001-05:00

Well, due to the unpleasantries of a computer virus, I've been unable to return to my blog and post Annie's birthday pictures, but alas, here they are ... We spent her actual birthday with my mom and dad and an obligatory visit to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch, then Saturday was her cupcake-decorating party, which was great fun!

I'm playing "catch-up" with posting pictures but next will be the historical images we captured during our trip to Augusta and the Masters ... I promise to return this time ...

Chelsie

2009-04-12T19:31:00.003-05:00

Well, before I start posting all the pictures from all the adventures of the past several days, I felt I must devote a post to my mom and dad's cat, Chelsie. She passed away on Wednesday at the age of 18.

Chelsie was a lap cat, pure and simple ... she was just as happy to climb onto your lap, curl up and purr away for hours. She was wonderfully sweet, and the picture with this post was taken at Thanksgiving when we were in Columbus and Annie decided to read a book to Chelsie. As I've said before, our family is EXTREMELY pet-oriented, and our daughter is turning out to be just the same.

As I believe all animals should, Chelsie absolutely lived a luxurious life and was happy until the very end ... she wasn't sick and passed away peacefully in her sleep. In all honesty, if you have to lose a pet, could you choose a better way for them to go?

Still, I'll always miss her ...

Welcome Back to the Jungle

2009-04-09T22:07:00.005-05:00

Well, well, howdy!! It has been a really fabulous last SEVERAL days as the computer suddenly and inexplicably became unable to connect to the internet ... very, very bizarre.

However, that little problem was fixed by a technician today, so I may now return to the world of blogging. SO much to catch up on ... Annie's birthday, my cousin's little boy's birthday party, our very recent return from Augusta where we saw a practice round for the Master's Golf Tournament, and of course the bazillion pictures to accompany all of these happenings.

Please stay tuned ...

Slipping Through My Fingers

2009-03-27T07:45:00.000-05:00

Dear Annie,

Well baby girl, here we are. You're 3 years old now, which is really hard for me to believe! To say the last 3 years have been an adventure would be a massive understatement ... All the years and all the hoopla it took to bring you into this world -- well those memories are fading fast. Maybe because they don't matter as much as they used to. You're all that matters, even if I do wish being a mom came with some sort of instruction manual!

Oh the phases you've been through (and are going through!) Some days I just want to pull my hair out, but that feeling never really lasts that long. It's a feeling I've come to realize every mom has had and I guess a feeling I'll have LOTS more times! Still, when we're sitting on the bed and I'm painting your fingernails and you lean over and kiss me, I realize what's really important and I hope in some way you realize it, too. I love you. I love you always, and I can't even imagine what my life was like before you. I had no idea it was possible to love another human being in the all-consuming way I love you.

When I was younger, I wanted to move to New York and become a writer. I thought that would be such a cool thing to do ... Now I am so content when Daddy and I get to spend a day with you just doing simple things. Your sense of humor absolutely brings us such joy, especially when you do something like hop on our bed and do the Dora dance. You really do live life to the fullest, even at this young age.

And your heart ... well, I think you're going to be really tender-hearted like me and like your Pa, especially when it comes to animals. You love your "Mimi and Hopie" like nobody's business and you're so gentle with them and so kind. My heart melts when you go over to Mary and give her a kiss when she's on the couch asleep. God bless you for your sweet little heart ...

I have no idea what's in store for you, but as long as you're happy it's ok with me (within reason, of course!) I just hope you know how much we all love you and how that can never change, no matter what. And when I say we "all," you should know you have probably the best family God ever made behind you, and trust me when I say they will ALWAYS be there for you.

Happy birthday, baby ...

I love you, Annie, and I always, always will,
Mommy

So This Isn't About What I'm Wearing??

2009-03-25T12:25:00.003-05:00

So we have a new saga in our lives ... the Hopie allergy drama. She's been seeing a doggie dermatologist (yes, you read that correctly) and had to go in Monday for allergy testing. Well this presented a huge wardrobe dilemma for me as I was not having a particularly good hair day and wanted to plunk my red washed-out denim bucket-type hat on my head ... I even had it in my hand to do just that when it hit me: what if I encountered a bull in the waiting room of the dermatologist? I just didn't feel inciting a riot would be a super start to the day.

In addition, there are a lot of birds who view red as a predatory color, and I did not want to be attacked by a murderous gang of blackbirds, macaws or the like. Oh, what to do, what to do, what to do? Go with so-so hair and put my focus back on poor Hopie who was facing a 6-hour day at the vet's full of shaving of her beautful fur and 70 needle pricks to determine her specific allergies or resume only focusing on myself?

I have to be honest; it was not an easy choice.

Let's just say, though, the red hat stayed home, and we didn't find any bulls or scary birds in the waiting room. Hope, however, is allergic to just about everything under the sun, and we're going back Monday so I can learn to give her allergy shots. Wow, that should be an adventure ...

In the meantime, Annie's 3rd birthday on Friday is just roaring towards us, and I keep wondering where all the time has gone? But that's another post altogether, isn't it?

Annie Barclay, Our New American Idol

2009-03-22T17:48:00.003-05:00

Ah, our usual random images from the weekend ... the first few were after my shower and Annie's bath, and I'm honestly not sure whose hair was wilder!! The last few are of Annie singing into an early birthday gift from her most favorite babysitter (Kayla) ... it's a little American Idol karaoke-type toy which she LOVES!! And it's safe to say the child knows how to use a microphone!! It's also safe to say I'm waiting for my turn to sing, too!

Are You There, God? It's Me, Annie ...

2009-03-19T19:48:00.002-05:00

So yesterday was Daddy Doughnut Day at Annie's Moms' Day Out Program, which I just realized is a fairly self-explanatory phrase ... Just for comparison, here's a picture of what she looked like about this same time last year:

And here's our baby girl yesterday:

And with the love of her life:

And with her current boyfriend at Moms' Day Out:

Yes, I did say her "current" boyfriend, and that sound you might hear in the background is Anthony measuring Annie for the habit she'll soon be wearing in the convent ...

A Time For All Things ...

2009-03-18T09:17:00.004-05:00

Sometimes life is strange, isn't it?? Yesterday was a day that left me almost without words to describe it. I'll try, though. The pictures above are of Alex (Anthony's dog), and of Annie and Alex.

Alex was Anthony's dog before we got married. She was the most wonderful mutt of a dog with the sweetest disposition. I say "was" because she had to be put to sleep yesterday. But wow did she ever have a story.

First, Anthony had Alex, and it was just the two of them. Then I came along. Anthony and I dated, got engaged (Alex was the first to know), got married, then I moved in with my two cats (Sam and Katie, who also passed away in the past few months) and two birds (who also passed away over the years.) As my cousin was fond of saying, we had ourselves quite the zoo.

But a zoo wasn't enough for me. I felt Alex needed another dog-friend since everyone else in the house had a friend of their own kind. Enter sweet 6-week-old black lab Mary a mere two months after our marriage. So there we were: newlyweds with two dogs, two cats and two birds in a not-very-big starter house with orange shag carpeting which actually proved perfect for raising puppies. Yes, I said puppies. About four months after Mary came onto the scene, I found Hope, a homeless little border-collie mix puppy. I didn't call Anthony about bringing her home, I just put her in my car and took her straight to the vet for shots, etc.

After much coaxing, crying (me, not Anthony, who told me he liked Hope but didn't feel we needed any more animals at the zoo) and a bribe of new golf clubs for Anthony, Hopie came to live with us, too. Oh and somewhere along in here, one of my parakeets died, and I was so distraught about the situation (and the fact I couldn't properly bury her during my lunch hour because the shovel didn't work so great in the frozen ground) that I bought not one but TWO more parakeets. Yep, we now had three dogs, two cats and three birds.

Of course this situation wasn't bound to hold for long. For our first anniversary, we went to visit Anthony's brother in California, so my cats went to my mom and dad's to stay while we were gone. Well, as most of you know, they never did come back to live with us but lived VERY happily at Mom and Dad's. Exit two members of the zoo.

Also around this time, I think Alex had pretty much had enough. So to make a really long story a tiny bit shorter, she went to live with Anthony's parents, where she also lived VERY happily. That dog, that wonderful, beautiful dog, touched so many people's lives while she was here. I personally will always miss her for so many reasons ... she was technically my first dog ever and she'll always be so much a part of my history with Anthony. Not to mention that whenever we go home and we're at Anthony's parents' house, I'll still be looking for her to come sit by me.

I'll always be waiting for her to come sit by me ...

Yesterday was also my dad's birthday, which I am so glad we got to spend with him! He and Mom were in town for a few days, so Annie and I went to their condo yesterday, and we all had breakfast together at a great little place in Franklin. Then back to the condo for playtime and hiding eggs for Annie (about a million times!) It was great fun ...

We had a cook-out at our house to continue the birthday celebration, and the pictures from that are below. There are also a couple of random ones from the last few days of Annie and Mary ...

Spring ... Really?

2009-03-15T19:57:00.002-05:00

Well, I feel it is time to write a short treatise on the current weather situation. Now it is important to note that I have spent the past several days trying to be a non-self-involved person, one who realizes the weather is simply an inconsequential portion of the day and keeping it all in perspective. For example, I have used some of the following as my mantras:

"Time spent laughing is time spent with the gods."

"Rain, rain go away, come again another day."

"Rain keeps the earth hydrated and healthy."

"Cold and misty grossness are simply a part of spring."

"At least we're perhaps better off than those people who live in that place where it's only daylight for half of the year or something similar."

"Ok, seriously, it's spring. Where's the sunshine?"

Alright, alright, I admittedly fell off the weather wagon there towards the end, but let's face facts. I am really NOT so much of a non-self-involved person, and the current weather is getting super old. It's SPRING!! Doesn't that imply running through meadows in the glorious sunshine, not digging out sweaters, sweatshirts and the like?

Has anyone notified Nashville and the surrounding areas that spring has sprung?

Apologies to Readerdom

2009-03-10T18:41:00.005-05:00

Ok, so here are a million pictures of the past several days (hanging around the house, Annie's bathtime, friends over for dinner, church, a Vanderbilt baseball game with Annie dancing in the stands, etc.) to make up for the hideousness of my recent lack of blogging. Sorry, dear faithful readers! (and, yes, I know there are a few of you out there in readerdom!!)

Hope you enjoy the pictures ...

PMS For Almost 3-Year-Olds

2009-03-05T17:34:00.003-06:00

Ah, a day with the tiny one ... she goes from looking so cute in her little denim skirt, then off to Kindermusik, errands, allergy shots (me), etc. to returning home where she has suddenly developed an aforementioned affinity for changing her clothes into Lord knows whatever. Today it was her pajama bottoms, a t-shirt she found that's about 2 sizes too small and her beloved blue Mickey Mouse jacket ...

Otherwise, it's a bit like living with a ticking time bomb. (heretofore known as probably what it's been like for Anthony to live with me all these years!) I swear the child has PMS if that's possible for an almost 3-year-old. You just look at her wrong, and all you-know-what breaks loose. But not all the time. Sometimes she's just the sweetest little thing who says things like, "thank you, Mommy, for lunch today." Who knows ...

Like I've said before, motherhood is a slippery slope!

Happy Birthday, Hopie!!

2009-03-03T19:03:00.002-06:00

Well, I must start off by wishing our sweet Hopie an early "Happy Birthday" (her 10th birthday is tomorrow) ... she's come quite a long way since I found her homeless, completely neglected, missing patches of fur and chomping on an ant-covered biscuit 10 years ago ... We love you, baby girl!

Now, onto the world of Annie ... potty-training continues to go remarkably well and has now been strangely combined with excellent manners. How, you might ask? Witness a conversation from earlier this afternoon:

"Need to poo-poo, Mommy!"

"You need to poo-poo?"

"No, thank you." A little surreal, but who can complain when your child is exhibiting some seriously nice manners.

On the other hand, our precious beauty has really, really begun showing off a big-time stubborn streak. I don't know if it's because Annie's about to be 3, but it's more than a teensy bit challenging. (I try not to dwell on the fact that most of my friends have said the 3's were worse than the 2's.)

Ah, being a mom. What can you say? It's the hardest and simultaneously the most amazingly wonderful job ever ...

Now, for the serious business. American Idol. Must be off to watch ...

Images

2009-03-01T10:31:00.003-06:00

Just some random pictures from the last few days, including the snow that we woke up to this morning and Mary digging out her beloved tennis balls ...

In these pictures, you can see Annie's newest habit (and no, not the kind the nuns wear!) ... she loves to come home from wherever we've been and find a lovely little "outfit" to dress herself in ... ah, the exertion of a toddler's independence, I suppose!

Where Did Those Ashes Come From?

2009-02-26T09:26:00.002-06:00

So we're at Ash Wednesday services at church last night ... picture it if you will: a church filled to overflowing, a time to commune with God and us trying to find seats at the VERY back of the church in case we need to make a quick getaway.

The service starts, Annie's doing great ... a little squirmy but that's most certainly to be expected. All is well, the quiet is deafening and then:

" I NEED TO TEE TEE, MOMMY!!"

Thank the good Lord we were sitting toward the back because lo and behold she did need to tee tee. Successful potty training is so good and so bad ...

We return from our trip to the bathroom and resume sitting with Anthony. Again, Annie's hanging in there and doing really well. Then the time comes to have ashes put on our foreheads. We all move along to the front of the church, Annie still doing great, receive our ashes and take our seats.

Then:

"WHAT'S ON YOUR HEAD, MY DADDY?"

Anthony quietly says: "ashes."

"WHERE'D THEY COME FROM?"

I honestly forgot what he said at this point because I was trying to not laugh, be holy, etc.

Then:

"I NEED TO TEE TEE, DADDY!!"

And so she did.

All in all, it was such a wonderful time together as a family, and Annie (with all the honesty, innocence and curiosity of a child) really did great. And in my little world, I think that's exactly what God wanted.

Live From the Red Carpet

2009-02-22T19:30:00.002-06:00

Pictures from our fun weekend of errand-running, haircuts, laundry and generally trying to stay warm here on the tundra ...

Oh and of course I must mention the Oscars, which are going on even as we speak. Although I so want my dear friend Meryl to win, I feel it may be Kate's year ... we shall see ...

The Belle of the Ball

2009-02-18T16:35:00.003-06:00

More pictures from the Ball ... all family and family friends as well as one of my mom's best friends, who was also in the Mardi Gras Ball Court ...

Reality Bites

2009-02-17T13:37:00.004-06:00

Well, we have returned from the big Mardi Gras Ball weekend and crashed back into reality ... It is worth noting that my aunt was the Queen of the Mardi Gras Ball, a very heavily guarded secret known only to a handful of family and very close friends until the actual night of the ball!! Very exciting and so much fun!! I've posted just a few of the nearly 300 pictures we came home with, and yes, I am the one in the cream-colored sweater to cover up my shingles ... (and yes, those are my beautiful parents!)

Happy Mardi Gras Ball!!

2009-02-12T12:39:00.001-06:00

off to Gulfport for the Mardi Gras ball ... shall post pictures when we return ...

The Princess and Her Potty

2009-02-10T19:20:00.003-06:00

can breathe sigh of relief (all 4 of you out there in readerdom) ... potential Mardi Gras ball dress catastrophe has been averted ... ball is this weekend so shall post pictures next week ...

in meantime, tiny child has become virtually (brace yourselves) potty-trained ... is miracle of miracles ... notice in picture of Annie in dress-up clothes from Uncle Matt, Aunt Mandi and Anna Lauren her pretty new panties ... after two accidents she suddenly is potty-using fool ... is amazing really ... only wonder why Princess potty now spontaneously plays its you-just-successfully-tee-teed-in-me music even if no one is near bathroom ... bizarre ...

Sister Annie

2009-02-05T09:53:00.003-06:00

Mardi Gras Ball dress hunt continues amidst sinus hoopla caused by bizarre weather shifts here in Nashvegas ...

would appear that tiny daughter has first official "boyfriend" in her Moms Day Out program, as evidenced by exchange with boyfriend's grandpa yesterday ... suspect precious hubby wildly making calls to convent even as I write ... Ah, Sister Annie ...

The Little Hermit

2009-02-01T19:56:00.002-06:00

is good to start day at church ... is interesting to start day volunteering in church nursery when (simultaneously)one toddler falls asleep drooling away on your shoulder and then one escapes the room when an unsuspecting parent opens the door ...was left with no option but to race after escapee whilst hoisting drooling, hopefully-still-sleeping child higher onto shoulder ... ah, the rigors of the church nursery, especially when had chosen to wear high-heeled boots for the fashion-conscious Jesus ... am downright ashamed of way self thinks sometimes ...

and then there was Stein-Mart, the mecca of hope and endless possibilities for Mardi Gras Ball dress ... not today, though, so search continues ... interesting day continued, though, as child dressed head-to-toe like Harry Potter with flowing black robes stealthily darted in and out of the racks at the Mart ... was actually a tiny bit scary if honest ...

and to conclude: must be getting older as Superbowl parties sound nowhere near as fun as hanging out with family at home ...

What Lies Beneath

2009-01-30T15:03:00.005-06:00

Do not mean to continue discussing shingles but viral plague has now SERIOUSLY disrupted life ... Mardi Gras ball dress to be worn in a couple of weeks is virtually backless & will show hideousness of skin ... perhaps is like leprosy ...no, strike that ... have worn dress before (avert your eyes, red-carpet-walking fashion world) & is wonderful because is so comfy but must have Emergency Plan B ... afraid to adopt "wait & see" approach as could end in wild, desperate & disastrous dress choice with no time for alterations ... is horrible emergency ... am so concerned with important things in life ...

More, Please??

2009-01-29T16:23:00.004-06:00

have used Annie's naptime in most productive way and cleaned out purse ... is like scavenger hunt almost ...

am also cursing, cursing, cursing steroid medicine am currently taking while in "shingle mode" ... creates ravenous appetite (could eat couch, I believe) and is NOT my fault I consumed half a bag of potato chips, half a can of french onion dip, an egg salad sandwich with cheese and lots of mayonaise, two glasses of milk and a bottle of water in the course of an hour ...

am still hungry. not good.

Say What Now??

2009-01-28T16:25:00.003-06:00

Always spend Annie's naptime feeling I should be doing something earth-shattering, such as working on cure for cancer, turning home "green" so as to be more environmentally conscious, exercising or the like. But invariably I do the same things: domestic diva chores such as laundry while pondering (but not acting to actually accomplish) more contributing-to-the-world activities or, today, pondering the bizarre little conversation with Annie involving a bald-headed baby doll, a red-headed baby doll, a hairbow and why we couldn't move the red-headed baby's hair onto the bald-headed baby so the bald-headed baby would have hair and could wear the bow.

Must work on making home "green."

Facebook or Bust ...

2009-01-27T19:44:00.004-06:00

ok, so blog is definitely suffering due to newfound addiction to Facebook ... is sad but true.

Not much to say on shingles front, except they are moving along (literally) ... is simple, miserable addition to list of strange medical maladies I have experienced. Super. Actually may not be so strange as have talked to lots of people who have had "the experience." But to continue whining, must say they are so awful ...

Good possibility of some winter precipitation tonight so must be on lookout ... will retrieve night vision goggles ...

shall see if Annie has Moms Day Out tomorrow morning or if it is cancelled ...

Images of the Weekend

2009-01-25T10:37:00.007-06:00

Well, with all the not-so-fun-but-I'll-spare-you-the-details of having shingles, it's been a pretty quiet, making sure I'm taking the right medicine at the right time kind of weekend ... having said that, I occupied/distracted myself by just grabbing the camera and taking a bunch of pictures over the weekend ... I even managed to get a few of my birthday cards when Annie wasn't snatching them off the floor ... I know, super excitement but still I offer you the following:

Happy Shingles to You!!

2009-01-22T11:07:00.003-06:00

And so I must report on my very special yesterday ... First, all was just super. I dropped Annie off at Moms Day Out and headed downtown for my 6-month post-op appt. with my OB/GYN. Since I absolutely love my doctor, I was actually looking forward to the visit and had just barely sat down in the waiting room to read the paper and learn all about the historical occurrences from the Presidential Inauguration (ok, fine, to read all about who designed Michelle Obama's fabulous clothes from the day) when I was called back.

Now this part is just lovely ... my doctor came in just as the entire paper I was trying to read while balancing those heinous and massive tablecloth things they give you to cover up came completely apart (the newpaper, I mean.) Anywho, he took one look at me and said, "wow, you really look amazing; I can just see how much better you feel since your surgery." People, it just doesn't get much better than that ... I felt that after being told I look amazing these days was an excellent point to stop the exam. But no. And, for the record, this is where my day began to go downhill.

He noticed a rash-type thingy on my left hip and immediately said, "You know, Laurie, I'm almost positive that's shingles." I sat basking in the earlier "you look amazing" comment and really didn't catch on at first. But then I did as he suggested a timely visit to my general practitioner. Again, just a super day.

So since my parents are here and were picking up Annie I just headed on down to my GP, who promptly looked at the rash-thingy and sent me straight upstairs to the dermatologist, where I sat in the waiting room with some people with very interesting bandaged areas. I got a bit nervous, but the doctor was a great guy, except that he did a hideous skin scraping of the area so he could look at the slide under the microscope and confirm (or not) the presence of shingles.

Of course he returned with the fabulous news that I have shingles. Great. He then returned with a free sample box of some medicine that specifically targets shingles. I opened the box, and this lovely little booklet fell out with a picture of an attractive couple rafting and a massive heading that said: "MANAGING YOUR GENITAL HERPES." Of course at this point I freaked out a bit, but the doctor said the medicine also treats herpes and all would be ok. Sure.

And the day moved on ...

So off to the pharmacy I went to get my prescriptions filled, and while I waited it seemed everyone in the pharmacy had a shingles story to tell. One person had a friend who died from shingles, one person knew someone who had shingles on her scalp and is now legally blind in one eye from complications. It was a great and grand experience, let me tell you.

So for the record I am now on seven thousand medications for shingles, am wildly uncomfortable, still trying to wrap my head around "Lost" from last night and preparing to celebrate my 23rd birthday tomorrow most likely in the least binding pajamas I can locate. Ok, ok, 23rd and then a whole lotta years ...

Nonetheless, yesterday was nothing if not entertaining, and as my uncle often says, "It's not nuclear war."

Life is good and interesting ...

Kindermusik Program

2009-01-18T10:41:00.005-06:00

Here, for your viewing enjoyment, are a few million pictures from Annie's Kindermusik program on Saturday morning ... The very first picture is of our wonderful, wonderful teacher holding Annie in her lap ...

The Dance of Motherhood

2009-01-16T10:48:00.002-06:00

So it continues to be a frozen tundra here in Nashvegas ... VERY cold ...

Anywho, Anthony had a meeting last night, so that left just us girls hanging out at the house for a bit. There Annie and I were (and all the dolls lined up beside us) watching that ever-magical "Mamma Mia" (and intermittently dancing), her in her pj's, me in my feetie pj's ... those moments remind me why it is so amazing to have a child, especially a little girl. I only say "little girl" because it is my single point of reference!! Still, there's something absolutely breathtaking about the whole situation ... They can drive you absolutely batty, but I suppose no one ever said motherhood would be easy. All in all, it's not such a bad way to end the day dancing around the living room with your daughter and laughing ... Not bad at all.

Russia From the Porch

2009-01-15T11:32:00.002-06:00

And so now we have begun contruction of our igloo because it's so unbelievably cold ... when the wind chill is -1, I have a distinct feeling of living in Alaska and being able to see Russia from the front porch. At least when the beer-making project ends in some explosion we'll have extra heat from the flames ...

Don't Let It Snow

2009-01-13T10:18:00.003-06:00

Well, the threat of snow is upon us once again ...

It occurred to me today (in between sipping champagne and eating bonbons whilst Annie sang gentle lullabies) that receiving this news brings a whole new reaction these days. Used to be (in the olden days) that hearing we might get snow meant visions of our family in the front yard building snowpeople with Mary and Hopie hurling themselves into the banks of snow to make snow-dog angels with their little paws. Ah, the beauty of it all ...

Now just hearing the words "chance of snow" from the dreaded weather people brings feelings of sheer terror. What if Annie's Moms Day Out is cancelled tomorrow? Not a pretty picture as Hopie has to go to the vet after I drop Annie off for allergy skin testing and, as usual, I have the normal Target-related errands to run and a meeting at our church tomorrow night.

Snow is just not part of that picture.

In mommydom, it's very important that the weather go along with whatever your plans are for the day. Or maybe I should say "what your plans WERE for the day."

The best-laid plans ...

Mr. Beer

2009-01-11T13:07:00.002-06:00

Well, I hardly know how to start this blog, but I suppose I'll give it a whirl ... For Christmas (and per his request) Anthony got a beer-making kit from my cousin and her husband. It's actually called Mr. Beer. Now I have nothing against beer, mind you, but the idea of homemade beer scares me a bit.

But I digress a smidge.

In order for Anthony to make his own beer, the fermentation process (oh, Lord) must occur in a location that meets certain temperature criteria. This location was deemed to be our pantry under the stairs ... Harry Potter, anyone? Anyway, so that all the beer-making stuff could fit in there, we actually had to clean out the pantry for the first time in about three years. (explanation for Hopie wearing her Halloween mask from several years ago that we found in the pantry.)

So now we are set up to make our own beer. Yep, you may just call us the Barclay Brewery.

Annie's in her hat and mittens just because she wanted to wear them. No beer involved there ...

Princess Annie

2009-01-06T11:56:00.004-06:00

Some miscellaneous pictures from the past week or so ...

The Chef Goddess Would Like To Share

2009-01-06T09:46:00.004-06:00

Well, dear readers, I would now like to share a cooking tip with you.

(Oh, wait, it's ok. No one saw you fall out of your chair from the shock of reading that last sentence, I promise.)

Anywho, when cutting up onions or garlic or anything that leaves a not-so-fresh odor on your hands, simply pour a bit of salt onto your hands and wash them in cold water for a sweet smell. Lovely, isn't it??

Ok, ok, I did not develop this little exercise myself. It seems I may have stumbled across it while watching Meryl Streep on "Live With Regis and Kelly" on YouTube. She was discussing a movie she has coming out in the spring where she portrays Julia Child and shared this tip with the audience.

Nonetheless, I will dwell on the fact that I was actually cutting up an onion this morning in a sort of preparatory work task for supper tonight. It would appear that in the new year I have become a sort of multi-tasking chef goddess ...

Circus

2009-01-04T18:12:00.002-06:00

So between maintaining my Facebook page and raising a child, we managed to squeeze in our weekly (ha! more like daily for me) trip to Target to buy groceries for the week. Well, as some of you know, I've been having a bit of trouble with the fact that I'll be 35 on the 23rd ... I decided I would prove (to whom, I don't know) I'm still just as hip and cool as anyone out there and purchased the new Britney Spears CD. Ok, yes, I also like her, but my fascination with teen pop is another blog altogether.

Anywho, we came home, and I uploaded the CD to our computer so I could put it on my iPod. Well, coolness here somehow deleted every single song from my iPod in the process (except the Britney CD.) It might have been because I disconnected it before I was supposed to, a fact I left out when I was reliving the entire nightmare to Anthony and moaning about how to fix it, but let's face Laurie facts: just fixing a little problem is so boring when compared to putting as much drama as one can muster into describing the current situation.

One more thing: it makes me so bitter when they put someone else's head onto my body for a photo such as has been done in the Britney CD pictures. For heaven's sake, they could at least ask permission ...

The Dark Side Beckons

2009-01-03T11:59:00.004-06:00

Oh, heavens to Betsy. (incidentally, who is Betsy??) Thanks to the encouragement ("YOU HAVE TO DO THIS!!) of various friends and family members, I have now joined the wickedly-addictive Facebook website. I'm not quite sure where that fits in with my New Year's Resolutions, but oh, well. I'm still learning how to use all the hoopla that goes with one's Facebook page, and trust me, it's a LOT of hoopla! Next I just have to learn to handle the need to be on Facebook at all times just in case someone contacts me, instant messages me, posts new photos, comments on my photos, updates their current status, etc. ... as one of my "Facebook encouraging" friends said: "Welcome to the Dark Side."

Resolutions

2008-12-31T08:52:00.004-06:00

Resolutions for 2009:

~ will not wish for excuse to wear couture ... why, oh why, did self ever watch "The Devil Wears Prada?"

~ will spend time learning where various countries are, even learning which countries are actually countries (as in Paris is a city, not a country)

~ will think about family and friends in heaven, realizing that so many things I loved about them (especially about Auntie) we are all carrying on with ... know they are smiling at us

~ will be grateful and live in moment ... will help others less fortunate and those who cannot help themselves ...

~ will savor moments as one that occurred with Annie yesterday, who woke up from her nap, hugged me, and said "Love you, Mommy"

~ will not take amazing, amazing family for granted ... will realize not everyone has "a group" as my Uncle Larry put it

~ will dance every single day, being so grateful to FINALLY feel good enough to do so ...

~ will do very best to be kind to each and every person I encounter in a day (ESPECIALLY dear husband)... never know what others are going through ...

~ WILL learn to accept fact that self is going to make mistakes and that is ok

~ will be thankful to God for the beautiful world He has given us ...

You Are My Dancing Queen

2008-12-30T09:19:00.002-06:00

Well, Christmas was absolutely perfect with lots of family time ... I'll post pictures soon. As you might imagine, we took a few million ...

One of my gifts was (shock!) "Mamma Mia!" on DVD, so of course I've watched it a few hundred times and learned all the steps to the pier sequence of "Dancing Queen" ... SUCH a fun movie!! Anywho, back to my original point (and I did have one), I believe our lives should be like "Mamma Mia", where people just burst into some previously memorized and perfected song as we journey through life.

For example, we're dropping the kids off at Moms Day Out, and all the parents just suddenly launch into a choreographed dance routine in the parking lot (complete with full musical accompaniment, of course.) The children join in, the teachers sing along, the neighbors come out of their homes to join us for an impromptu dance around the neighborhood, and the day just becomes magical! Oh, and of course everyone involved would have beautiful singing voices and fabulous costumes.

This happening would naturally occur at any moment and at any location... Target or the allergist or a Mardi Gras ball or anywhere really. It's as if the world would always be waiting with a wildly enthusiastic song that everyone around would know the words to and also a lovely dance.

It could happen ... Just be on the lookout!!

Silent Night

2008-12-24T20:38:00.004-06:00

Well, despite the monsoon and oddly warm temperatures that descended upon Nashville today, we have had a wonderful time checking out the Opryland Hotel Christmas lights. Mom and Dad are here, so we had lots of photo ops, and the breathtaking decorations we found at the hotel are well beyond description ...

The pictures of Annie in her jammies were taken right before she went to bed tonight ... she's telling our Scottish Santa what she wants for Christmas tomorrow ...

And lest we forget what we're truly celebrating tomorrow, here are two pictures of the Holy Family and Annie touching Baby Jesus ...

May everyone have a wonderfully joyful and peaceful Christmas!

The Fun of Family

2008-12-23T13:37:00.002-06:00

Anthony's parents and our niece spent the night with us last night, and of course the girls had a big time!!

The Duty At Hand

2008-12-19T13:39:00.003-06:00

And so begins the two weeks of holiday joy ... no Kindermusik once a week, no Moms' Day Out twice a week ... woe is me.

We went (as usual) to the happening hotspot on Fridays, McDonald's, with our friends today and found it to be a bit more rowdy than usual as the schools all got out early, and it seemed everyone in the city decided to be at the golden arches. Anywho, not to gross anyone out, but Annie had not yet had her morning poop when we arrived, so I knew (with that special mother's intuition) that it would happen while we were there with 7,000 other children. Sure enough ...

I went to the bathroom to change her (the handicapped stall has a changing station) and as I was doing so, the commode just automatically flushed. I don't know why ... it isn't as if they flush when you actually want them to. So after a bit of fright, I returned to the duty (no pun intended) at hand. Then ... another flush. Very strange. Very strange indeed.

At least my knitting didn't get wet ...

The Miracle of Christmas (sort of)

2008-12-17T14:58:00.002-06:00

And so today was Annie's Christmas program at Moms' Day Out ... given the fact that it was around 20 minutes long and her class was the youngest class on the stage, I was wildly impressed. Not once did she pick her nose, flash anyone or even attempt to get off the stage. Ah, the Christmas miracle ...

I also had my haircut today and have decided to carry around knitting wherever I go. No, I don't knit, but someone at the salon had some sweater-thing started and the knitting resting atop her purse, and I decided it looked a bit crafty. So I figure I'll find a friend who knits, have her start something for me, then just have it about whenever I'm out so it appears I'm some sort of seamstress. Genius.

Keeping Everybody Warm

2008-12-12T16:26:00.002-06:00

The Hideousness Of It All

2008-12-12T12:37:00.004-06:00

(As a preface, I must wish my mom and dad a very happy anniversary! I love you both so much ... And also a big good luck prayer for Uncle Michael and his football game tonight.)

And so today we are officially snowed in. I'm not sure what I expected after last night's mini-blizzard, but our usual Friday playdate/hanging out at the always hip and cool McDonald's couldn't occur because of the ice on the roads. To indicate the hideousness of the situation, all Williamson County schools were closed today.

My first thought was, "Oh, dear Lord, what will we do stuck in this house all day?"

Anywho, Annie and I have spent all morning together, and even I have to say she's been really good considering we've been confined to the house. (and yes, I realize we could have been out in the snow building a lovely Martha-Stewart-type snowman, but it's 25 degrees outside and COLD.) No kids in the neighborhood are out playing.

So we've read and read and read ... Annie has developed quite the voracious appetite for any and all books about Clifford the Big Red Dog. She's also developed the unending question: "What's that?"

Here's a sample conversation:

"What's that?"

"That's a tractor."

"What's that?"

"That's a cow."

"What's that?"

"That's a horse in some sort of clothes to keep him warm."

(at this point I check to see if she's actually paying attention, or if the entire thing has become a game.)

"What's that?"

"I believe it's a dinosaur, long extinct but somehow he has survived and is in our backyard."

"What's that?"

"It is Dolly Parton."

(and then, inevitably, the mind numbs.)

"What's that?"

"I don't know."

"What's that?"

"I still don't know, but I will find out."

Yep, tiny white lies in motherdom are certainly forgiven.

I hope.

Arrives the Snow

2008-12-11T21:05:00.002-06:00

"Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Home Sweet Home

2008-12-09T08:54:00.005-06:00

have returned from tour of southeast ... have posted various pictures from most recent trip and also Thanksgiving ... anecdotes from insane road trip to follow ...

From Gulfport trip:
Annie reading to one of Mom and Dad's cats:

With my cousins, Nikki and Danielle:

Annie and my Grandpa Calvert:

Annie with my Aunt Mar (Meme) and little Maggie:

From Thanksgiving trip:

Annie with Darby, Teri's new baby:

Our visit to Molly's, one of my best friends in Columbus:

Annie with the Barclays:

Anthony and his brother, James:

Annie, her cousin, Ethan, and Grandpa Barclay:

Annie and her cousin, Emma:

Bye Bye, Baby Ethan

2008-12-03T21:47:00.003-06:00

on the road again ... Annie and I will be leaving in the morning to head to Columbus then Gulfport for my grandmother's 90th birthday weekend ... should be back sometime on Monday ...

'tis my most sad duty to report that the beloved Baby Ethan has suffered mortal wounds ... was passing through the living room after taking a shower and noticed sweet Mary Barclay chomping on something ... didn't have contacts in or glasses on so couldn't see what it was but assumed she was chewing on a bone ... upon closer inspection discovered that (for whatever reason) she was gnawing on Baby Ethan and that his hands were no longer connected to his body ... so sad and so unlike Mary (at least since she's well out of puppydom when anything was fair game to be chewed upon) but worse things could be happening here in our little world ...

As usual, life will go on ...

Pretty As A Picture

2008-12-03T10:49:00.000-06:00

The Best-Laid Plans ...

2008-12-02T12:46:00.004-06:00

oh, is so laughable when self decides to have a day at home to do laundry and the like and actually expects to accomplish these tasks ... had (ridiculous) visions of tiny child playing peacefully whilst I worked on laundry, swept kitchen floor, etc.

Not to be.

Have gotten most of laundry done, but only whilst working around the following:

"Need more juice, please, Mommy." (at least manners take Annie a long way.)

"Need to be covered up, please, Mommy."

"Need to find cup."

"Mommy, come watch Clifford."

"Mommy, read to me, please." (admittedly, I never pass this one up.)

"Want to put on pink boops." (her cute pink boots, which somehow tiny child decided she can recognize the color of.)

"Can't find boops."

"MOMMY?????"

Entire day has reminded me of saying friendly check-out person shared with me at Target yesterday: "Those of you who think you know everything really annoy those of us who actually do." Felt self had all bases covered today and would get chores done ... oh, well ... not end of world.

Is Bazillion Even A Word??

2008-12-01T21:54:00.003-06:00

Well, we have returned from our Thanksgiving merriment, so I wanted to post a few of the bazillion pictures we have ... the first two are of Annie's haircut from today, but the last one of her in the football helmet is from the Thanksgiving holidays when we were at a friend's house. Trust me, there will be many more Thanksgiving pictures to come ...

Run, Turkey, Run!!

2008-11-23T20:53:00.002-06:00

Annie and I are leaving in the morning to go to Columbus for the Thanksgiving holidays, and Anthony will be joining us Wednesday when he leaves work, so I wanted to go ahead and wish everyone out there in readerdom (yes, I think I made that word up) a very happy Thanksgiving! And please, pray that all the turkeys everywhere in the world are (literally) running for their respective lives ...

(Kayla, if you're reading this, I fear we're going to miss your being at home, and I can't tell you how much I hate that! We're not coming back until Sunday, so let me know when you're coming and going ... )

Values

2008-11-19T20:14:00.002-06:00

So now I'm officially stealing from other people's writing ... oh, well ... this came from another blog I follow and asks you to list six things you value and six things you don't. Here's mine:

Things I Value:

1. Family (to include, OF COURSE, our pets)
2. Faith
3. Kindness
4. Friendship
5. The lessons I learned from all we went through to get our beautiful baby girl.
6. Life

Things I Don't Value:

1. Material "stuff" in general
2. Inconsiderate drivers
3. Rudeness
4. Cruelty to animals
5. Closed-minded people
6. Geography

P.S. While we're on the subject of things to be valued, may I just say that our sweet Mary Barclay celebrated her 10th birthday on Monday ... God bless her!

The Vanity of It All

2008-11-16T15:34:00.002-06:00

We've spent most of the weekend helping Mom and Dad move into their condo in Franklin, which will be a sort of second home for them. It's so fun, and the pictures of Annie and her Pa are from the weekend. In case you can't tell, it's been really, really cold here!!

Of course the other part of the weekend was spend watching football ... NO COMMENT on Mississippi State, but we're really proud of Vanderbilt! I'm sorry because this is so vain, but I just wish Vandy's team colors were a little prettier ...

Isn't She Lovely?

2008-11-12T19:49:00.004-06:00

I'm certain that all readers have been sitting on their respective seats just waiting for the next blog, but as we currently live on a tundra of sorts with bizarre weather patterns I've been a bit ill with some kind of sinus grossness. Therefore, I have now provided an explanation for my absence.

Where to begin?? Ah, yes, the beginning. Nah, that would take too long. Suffice to say that Annie continues to amuse us, especially with certain behaviors. For example, I'll be sitting in a chair in the living room while she's playing, and all is well in our little world. Then suddenly, things erupt: she comes to me and proclaims "ME SIT HERE" and tries to physically move me out of the chair. (Not happening, by the way.) Or she suddenly decides that sweet Mary, who is quietly resting on the couch and minding her own business, is in the exact spot Annie wants to be, so she tries to manhandle 80-pound Mary out of the way. Again, NOT happening. It's hysterical all the drama she puts into these efforts. Annie is SO dramatic, and as I've always said, I have NO idea from whence that came.

Still, toddlerdom is so full of paradoxes. Annie loves for me to read to her, and sometimes we'll be sitting side by side with her little leg thrown over mine, and she puts her hand on my face to turn it toward hers and just looks at me with her hand still on the side of my face, and I swear, I swear, I swear my heart skips a beat. Wow, is being a mom a roller coaster of a ride.

Shady Lady

2008-11-09T18:56:00.004-06:00

Check out the cowlick, especially in the third picture ... that's our girl!!

Love Never Fails

2008-11-06T17:37:00.006-06:00

And so tomorrow is our 10-year anniversary, which seems completely unbelievable!! How quickly time passes ...

I'm not going to mortify Anthony with gushing love poems, but I do have to say what an amazing husband, father, and friend he is. Of course I suppose if you've been reading this blog, then you already know that. We have been through a lot in our 10 years together, but all in all every single thing we've encountered and gone through has only made us stronger. We are truly a team, and that in itself is a wonderful feeling!

Anthony, I love you, and I always will ...

Baby of Mine

2008-11-05T10:24:00.002-06:00

Just random pictures for all to enjoy ... one thing, though: the one of Mary outside with tennis balls in her mouth is her most favorite place to be, and getting two tennis balls in her mouth simultaneously is her greatest accomplishment. We're just so proud ...

As for Annie, well, today was "picture day" at Moms Day Out, which of course meant the never-ending battle with her wild hair and even wilder cowlick. We've pretty much tried everything to tame the cowlick, but I honestly think we could lay on it, and the thing would still be insanely unmanageable. Oh, well, if that's the biggest worry we have, then we're doing pretty good. But wow, did she look so pretty and grown-up this morning ... this growing-up thing is a bit difficult. I don't really think about it for awhile, and then it's like WHAM she's not a baby anymore.

On the other hand, she'll ALWAYS be my baby ...

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2008-11-01T21:36:00.002-05:00

Just a couple more pictures ... a friend of mine took both of them, the first being at Kindermusik and the second taken at McDonald's with Annie and one of her little "boyfriends" ... I met a couple of my mom-friends there for lunch and big-time use of the indoor playground so the kids could run wild ... FABULOUS lifesaver when it's freezing outside ...

Happy (almost!) Halloween

2008-10-30T14:56:00.002-05:00

So today was our little Kindermusik Halloween party, which was great fun ... the kids were absolutely hysterical in their costumes, and why wouldn't they be since all the moms and dads were swarming around them taking pictures like we had become some sort of insane paparazzi? Plus, one little girl came as Little Orphan Annie, which caused a bit of confusion with my Annie!

Anyway, here's Annie the clown wearing the costume I wore (made by my mom) when I was about her age ... and yes, you can see in the pictures when all the kids got cookies, etc. Just look at that Annie eating!

Boo!

2008-10-28T14:54:00.002-05:00

Ok, so I've obviously and unintentionally taken an extended leave of absence from blogging ... my apologies to my 4 loyal readers out there!!

So the Halloween season is upon us ... I was leafing through a magazine the other day, one I found under our bed. There was this absolutely adorable "little" craft you can do with pumpkins ... It's worth noting here that "little" is how the magazine described the craft on its cover. As in here's a teeny tiny little project involving very little of your time and certainly one that requires no dangerous tools or whatnot. So I'm thinking I should become a crafty person, which I am NOT as anyone who's read this blog knows. Anywho, I digress a bit.

So the "little" craft involves three pumpkins, and on each you put an individual letter to spell "BOO." Sounded cute, so away I went reading and thinking I could actually pull this craft off. Uh-huh. First, you have to actually purchase three exceptionally attractive pumpkins. Then you hollow each one out, and I mean REALLY hollow them out so that the skins are extremely thin. This part is important as the skins must be super-thin so that you can exacto-knife (I'm not even allowed to use this tool) the letters in the pumpkins. THEN you hot-glue-gun (again, not a tool I'm allowed to use) some sort of felt decorations on the pumpkins.

Good grief. It's amazing I actually finished reading the article. That cute "little" craft shall remain where it should: in the pages of the magazine. Or on my cousin, Danielle's, front porch. Have mercy.

That's all ...

Toddlerdom Gone Wild

2008-10-20T19:38:00.004-05:00

Alright then, things in the wide world of toddlerdom have run slightly amok ... according to "the books," the entire situation has to do with the age-appropriate egocentricity of the toddler. Knowing why things are happening isn't always helpful, most especially when your daughter is screaming at you over and over (despite the fact that you're standing 3 feet away from her) "MAMA!" "MAMA!" "MAMA!" Wow, 10 hours of that can seriously drive you crazy.

Or my personal favorite: Annie now seems to believe that EVERYTHING is hers. "ME COUCH!" "ME CLOSET!" Or, God forbid, she sees Anthony or me walk into a room carrying something, anything ... "ME FOOD!" (or whatever we're carrying.) I don't think it would matter if we were carrying TNT (no reason we would be, just the first example I thought of) ... it would be "ME EXPLOSIVE DEVICE!" She seems to feel she is in charge of the entire household, but once again the need to be in control is completely normal.

And of course her favorite word: "NO!" (again, normal)

Oddly enough (or maybe not so much) she seems to be a perfect little angel at Moms Day Out ... it's just when we're at home or running errands that she becomes this little demon-person. Honestly, what's frightening is that I've heard that the 3's are worse ... Lovely.

That's all ...

Do You Hear What I Hear?

2008-10-17T16:25:00.005-05:00

Well, it would seem we have officially entered the world of potty-training. (for Annie that is; Anthony and I are ok ...) We have now bought the obligatory plays-four-songs-and-might-as-well-spit-out-money-if-you-tinkle princess potty; now the trick is, of course, getting Annie to use it at just the right moment.

For now, she has discovered the "trigger" for the music without actually doing anything except sticking her hand down into the potty (see photo below) and finds the entire situation fascinating. We have to go "try" at least 7,000 times each day (no complaints, though, because this is how she'll learn, or so all the books say.)

"Annie tee-tee," she says before beginning to wildly yank her pants down ... I'm still working on not laughing at the sight of her sitting on the potty while still wearing her diaper. God bless her ... she really does crack me up.

As with all of parenthood to this moment, potty-training, too, shall be a grand adventure. (or something positive and inspiring like that!)

That's all ...

P.S. When did the kids start growing up SO fast?

Saved By The Animal Kingdom

2008-10-16T14:41:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the delay in blogging, but discretionary time is GREATLY lessened when the tiny one is around ... I am, however, happy to report that pacifier time is down to only nighttime. Annie does occasionally ask for a paci (or "faci" as she calls it) during the day, but being that she has the attention span of a fly, distracting her is not hard. Example:

"Faci?"

"What, honey?"

"Faci in here?"

"Oooh, Annie, look at that bird in the backyard."

"Bird?" And off she runs to the window to keep a check on the animal kingdom.

Just like taking candy from a two-and-a-half-year-old.

Seriously, though, it would be lovely if there were a book out there that described how to raise your child day-by-day. Or even hour by hour. Otherwise, how am I to know if I'm doing it right?? Wait, maybe I'll just write the book anyway. I could call it: Motherhood: It's Not Okay If Your Baby Goes to High School With a Pacifier.

That's all ...

Hello, the World!

2008-10-13T21:50:00.003-05:00

Update on stomach plague: Anthony and I have come back to the world of the living, and Annie is coming home tomorrow. Not a moment too soon! (and thankfully, she has not been sick at all.)

The pictures are from our fabulously wonderful babysitter/friend, Kayla, who took them last time she was home. (Also pictured are Kayla's nephew and, of course, the beloved Baby Ethan.) Oh, and a pacifier that yes, we need to work on removing from precious Annie's little mouth (for good.) But that's for another day ...

This, Too, Shall Pass

2008-10-11T20:54:00.003-05:00

Things to Remember When Going Through a Stomach Plague:

in order to make your cream-colored towels blush-colored, just toss them right in with your dark laundry on accident.
become addicted to You Tube, particularly any and all segments containing Tina Fey portraying Sarah Palin. The likeness is eerie.
know that People magazine is full of helpful hints. For example, trenchcoat-style jackets are "in." I personally did not know this as I have been too busy ensuring that my t-shirts and jeans/yoga pants were appropriate for my daily destination. ( ** Perhaps an emphasis is necessary here. Choosing the daily t-shirt is of the utmost importance: I would never wear my "You say psycho like it's a bad thing" t-shirt to drop Annie off at Moms Day Out. It just seems wrong.)
become VERY familiar with the following should-be-their-own-food-group items:

Imodium

saltine crackers

ginger ale

Sprite

grits

mashed potatoes (don't actually cook them, just buy the kind you can microwave. )

** Cooking saps necessary strength you may need for ... well let's just say trips to the bathroom. Don't cook. (ok, if you're like me just use the current stomach plague as an excuse to continue current life as a non-cooker.)

If your spouse also comes down with the stomach plague, separate bathrooms are just lovely.
Find extraordinarily distracting activities for current bed-ridden (between mad dashes to the bathroom) state. Maybe reading is good if you have even slightly moved past the point of keeping your eyes closed and your body entirely still so as not to disturb the monster within. If you have moved to the point of the plague where you are interested in even a bit of reading, might I again suggest magazines, even if they make you realize you no longer know any actor, singer, etc. under the age of 25?
Find something really entertaining on TV, again only if you're to this point in the misery. For me, it was turning to "Friends" and smiling a bit, even as I realized how much I still miss this show. I also realized how incredibly attractive all six of those people are, especially when I caught sight of myself in the bathroom at one point and was scared of my own reflection.
Remember my mom's advice: "this, too, shall pass." (literally and figuratively.)

P.S. To clarify: because Annie is (so far) not at all sick, she is safely in Columbus with her grandparents.

That's all ...

The Plague

2008-10-10T11:48:00.001-05:00

some sort of stomach bug/hideous plague has descended on our house but shall return soon ...

Sometimes

2008-10-06T19:25:00.004-05:00

Alright then, tonight's post may be a bit different ... for those of you who don't know me, my undergraduate degree is in journalism, so at heart I am a writer. And yes, I'm going somewhere with this, and that is to say that ideas for writing occur at strange times, usually when I'm in the shower at night, just as was the case tonight.

My oldest and dearest friend, Teri (we've been friends for 30+ years, so she knows me pretty well) recently commented that on my blog I sometimes paint a sort of rose-colored glasses view of things. (I'm paraphrasing, but she was completely right, and for that I thank you, T.)

I never mean to imply that every single day with Annie is perfect and wonderful and full of fireworks and loveliness, because it's not. Nope. She finds my last nerve and just stomps on it sometimes. And yes, she drives me crazy, too ... at least sometimes. Maybe that's what motherhood is about ... "sometimes" should be the mantra.

For the other gazillion hours, I can't imagine life without her. Or what life was like before her. Truly. Annie is this wonderful little creature, so full of life and zest and spunk and so beautiful. I have no idea how I was so incredibly blessed with this most amazing child. Still, being a mom is not easy, but I think you just do the best you can, go to sleep at night and then do it all over again the next day. And pray. A LOT.

The other thing I feel compelled to mention is life after a hysterectomy because that has certainly affected me for the last few months. Physically, yes, I feel better ... ok, the best I've felt in years. But emotionally? Well, it's just not easy. It's sort of like having PMS and having no control over your moods. And yes I know a lot of it is hormones trying to get back in sync, but it's still hard to handle.

The other part of having a hysterectomy is that you're focused on feeling SO much better that only later does it hit you that you'll never have a biological child again. Ever. This is not to say I am overlooking the inexpressible gratitude I feel for Annie, only to say that the finality of the situation is one I am struggling with. Sometimes.

So, please, I never mean to paint a picture of my life that isn't quite accurate. I'm human; I make mistakes, and I try again the next day. I think everyone does. And I KNOW moms do.

Finally, Teri, you may never know how much I value our friendship, our phone calls about everything or nothing, and your ability to see me for exactly who I am. I love you.

That's all ...

A House Divided

2008-10-05T18:14:00.002-05:00

Well, another weekend, another Saturday, another football game ... since my in-laws were in town and kept Annie Saturday night, Anthony and I went to the Vanderbilt/Auburn game. For those who might not know me, my loyalties at this game were a smidge conflicted ... Anthony works at Vandy, but my dad went to vet school at Auburn and I've rooted for Auburn WAY longer than I've been rooting for Vandy. However, since I was wearing a Vanderbilt t-shirt and sitting in a section of the stadium SURROUNDED by very vocal Vandy fans, it was truly difficult.

I think if I had gotten up and cheered for Auburn ... well, I'm just not sure what would have happened. So for the first bit of the game I more or less just sat there, but this was not working as I am not a just sitting there kind of gal, so I had to cheer for somebody. Wow, did I cave fast ... such an easily influenced soul I am.

Nonetheless, when the game ended with Vanderbilt winning by one point, we were literally stuck in our seats. Truly we couldn't have left if we wanted to since no one was moving ... seems Vandy hasn't defeated Auburn in like a million bazillion years, and the surrounding Vandy fans did NOT want to leave. They actually said things like they just wanted to "revel in the moment." Ok, fine, but it was super-hot yesterday, so all those packed-in the stadium people were beginning to smell a little not-so-fresh. I don't mean to be insensitive, but I just wanted to head for the car. But nope, the team re-emerged onto the field and we sat for a good half-hour or so. (as opposed to a bad half-hour, I guess.)

I am, however, happy to report that Mississippi State did NOT lose this weekend. Ok, fine, they didn't play but still. We'll take what we can get.

(And, Kel, if you're reading this, your strength in the face of life's adversities has always been inspirational to me ... don't forget that, and give Spence a big kiss from Annie.)

That's all ...

Politics? Nah!

2008-10-01T20:00:00.003-05:00

Alright, now I am NOT about to get all political on this blog because frankly it's just not my place ... everybody has the right to decide who to vote for (of course you're more than welcome to write my name in despite the fact that I have very little clue as to where most countries are located.) However, just once I would so love to turn on the TV and find some positive political ad, interview, etc. Perhaps it could go something like this:

Barack Obama: "You know, Sarah, I may totally disagree with your feelings on blah, blah, blah, but your glasses are really cool."

Sarah Palin: "Thank you, Barack, and I think your wife has an amazing sense of style, even if I do think your opinion on foreign policy is absurd."

Barack Obama: "Ok, of course it is your right to think that, but by the way your up-do is always looking good."

Sarah Palin: "Again, thank you. And you, well, there just aren't many people who wear a suit as well as you do, even if I completely go against your feelings about how to fix the economy."

Barack Obama: "Wow, thank you for the compliment, even if I do find you to be a bit of a moron."

Sarah Palin: "You are more than welcome, even if I also find you to be a bit idiotic yourself."

At this point they would laugh together and perhaps share a bonding hug, vowing to always be friends and play together at recess.

That's all ...

That's All

2008-09-30T13:15:00.002-05:00

Ok, so all regular readers (all 4 of you) prepare yourselves for a bombshell.

Being a stay-at-home mom is NOT glamorous. (I have recently watched "The Devil Wears Prada" so my feelings here are most likely under the influence of the movie.) It does not involve couture. I do not rise from slumber each morning, put on full make-up, enter a could-be-a-house size closet to choose a staggeringly fashionable outfit with the perfect accessories and stilettos and face my day looking like something out of next month's "Vogue."

Nope, most days involve t-shirts and either yoga pants or jeans. That is if I actually make it out of my pj's. Today is not one of those days. I did manage to brush my teeth, though. For special days (i.e. Mom's Day Out, Kindermusik or playdates) I may even bust out the Listerine but not today. Sorry, precious husband.

It is, at this very moment, 1:21 in the afternoon, and I am still in my pajama pants and a t-shirt. To some of you this may sound luxurious. Rest assured, it is not. I am currently sporting a stain of what I can only hope is a bit of cereal bar from my child's breakfast on my shirt and completely exhausted from entertaining a 2 1/2-year-old for the last 5 hours ( including reading Goodnight Moon at least 10 times in a row. ) I chose today to be home because it is the only day this week we don't have some activity planned. And now, thankfully, Annie is napping.

As for me? Well, as Miranda Priestly would say, That's all.

Gatlinburg Pictures, Part 2

2008-09-29T20:46:00.002-05:00

Game Day or Bust

2008-09-27T17:24:00.005-05:00

Well, it's Saturday, which OF COURSE means football. Don't get me wrong here ... I've grown up watching football since forever; in my family it's just sort of expected that you know what the position of wideout means or what a quarterback blitz is.

When Anthony and I first got married, all of our Saturdays during football season revolved around the games that were on TV. Things were a bit different back then, and I'm not just talking about the fact that our mortgage was something like $15. On those wonderful football Saturdays, we'd just lay around, eat chips and dip and watch football ALL DAY. Literally. It was such a simple time.

Actually, things are still pretty much the same when it comes to game day. Even though both of us went to Mississippi State, only one of us claims to "bleed maroon and white." Personally, I'm ever so slightly less loyal and more than a bit mortified by State's recent win/loss records. If Anthony would let me, I'd run out front right this very second and change our Mississippi State flag to I don't know, maybe Georgia or USC? But nope. I have to "hate" Ole Miss ( a bit difficult since my cousin, mom, uncle, grandfather and brother-in-law all went there) and act absolutely outraged when they win a game. (Please no one tell Anthony that I almost always sneak into the closet to call Kelly after Ole Miss has won a game and be happy for her. He might disown me. Actually he probably would.)

Sadly, Mississippi State plays LSU tonight at LSU. I don't think it's going to be pretty, and most tragically it's going to be on national television. Perhaps we'll be the only two people on the planet watching the game. We can hope ...

Stay Tuned

2008-09-25T20:19:00.002-05:00

Well, most dear and faithful readers, we have returned safely from our jaunt to Gatlinburg ... being that we came home with over 300 pictures, I am only providing a teeny-tiny sampling here, but I promise I won't be posting all gazillion pictures in the days to come!

We did have a really wonderful time, and I'll relate some of our adventures (falling into streams and whatnot) soon ...

Look Out, Gatlinburg -- Here We Come!

2008-09-18T15:27:00.001-05:00

We're off to Gatlinburg in the morning and will be getting home late next week, so I'll return to the blogging world soon after that ...

The Best Medicine For a Wounded Heart

2008-09-16T11:20:00.002-05:00

Katie

2008-09-15T20:29:00.003-05:00

And so another one of my precious animals has left this earthly life ... my most beautiful and regal cat, Katie, was put to sleep this morning. She was gorgeous and dainty but boy could she hold her own if the need arose.

The story of how she came to be in my possession goes all the way back to a parking lot at Mississippi State when I was a sophomore and thought she could live in my dorm room undetected. From there, things just get a bit more interesting ... in her lifetime, Katie basically lived all over Mississippi, including with my great-aunt (Auntie) in Meridian while my roommate and I looked for and eventually found a place in Starkville we could afford that would also allow us to resume ownership of precious Katie.

She lived with me from then on, moving to Biloxi with me when I got my first job after grad school and then back to Columbus after Anthony and I got married. Then after discovering Anthony was allergic to cats, my parents very graciously offered to let Sam and Katie TEMPORARILY live with them.

That was around 9 years ago, and she'd lived there quite happily ever since.

As you know, in my family we're pretty much all "animal people." So I like to think that Katie's in heaven somewhere with Sam and Auntie and most likely ruling the roost.

At least that's what I'll see when I picture her.

Crazed Photographer For Hire

2008-09-12T21:15:00.016-05:00

Friday:
Our big playdate with Caroline (i.e. adult coversation for Mommy with Caroline's mom!) a necessary trip to Publix and a picture of Annie in her favorite green racecar buggy, pictures of the girls having their respective rests, and of course our sweet Annie in the playroom after her nap.

The dancing queen ...

Saturday: Game Day

Can't you just feel the love all around?

There's a very special place in heaven for sweet Mary Barclay!

Watching Daddy mow the grass ...

Trying on Mommy's shoes ...

Getting ready for the game ...

The girls trying to contain their excitement over the fact that they're on the verge of having the house to themselves for several hours ...

Proof that no matter where you are, there is always a BABY STROLLER to be found ...

Ok, I've had it!!

And I've just realized there are about a bazillion pictures on this blog, and probably our parents are the only ones still reading!! So I'll save Sunday morning's pictures for the next blog ...

Best-Laid Plans

2008-09-12T21:04:00.002-05:00

Because writing is truly my passion, and photography is a pretty close second, I have grand plans to photo-document (is that a word?) our weekend, starting this morning with our playdate followed by our super-exciting trip to Publix in the enormous green racecar buggies ... Yep, the next blog should be interesting ...

Dancing Queen

2008-09-11T21:15:00.004-05:00

Since it's been a pretty busy last few days, today was our getting back to business day, which meant the never-ending delight of doing laundry, cooking (yes, you read that right) a little bit, going to the dry cleaners, and the weekly trip to get my allergy shots. Here's how that jaunt to the allergist went down:

We arrive, Annie decked out in her baby stroller t-shirt, leggings, Cars shoes and carrying a little black Halloween purse. In the waiting room, we find one other patient (a man) and the usual bowl of suckers. Annie has a sucker. I sign in to get my shots.

Annie plops down in a chair, eating her sucker and surveying the scene. There is a large bank of windows which overlooks the parking lot. She spots (God HELP us) a baby stroller. HUGE gasp from her ... "BABY STROLLER!"

"Yes, that is a baby stroller. See the mom with the baby? That's the baby's stroller." Me speaking in a relatively quiet voice in an attempt to offset my child's VERY excited (read: LOUD) screeching.

"BABY STROLLER!" Screeching continues, a virtual narrative of all that transpires with the baby stroller. I look at the man in the waiting room and smile, hoping he is a kind soul who understands the crazed thing that takes over my child when she sees baby strollers.

"OOOHHH, BABY STROLLER LEAVING!!"

"Yes, the mom has to go, so the baby stroller has to be folded up to fit back into the car." Quiet speaking continues, even as Annie's little face becomes a bit sad when the baby stroller is no longer in sight.

She turns around and plops back in her chair, still eating her sucker. She looks at the kind patient and points. I panic.

"MAN!"

Mortified, I still speak quietly. "Yes, that's a man; he's waiting like we are." Thanks to the good Lord in heaven, the man smiles.

Then the allergist emerges with a patient he's just seen to check on setting up her next appointment. Annie points at the doctor. I want to sink into the floor.

"MAN!! MAN WORKING!!" No comment from me at this point. The man-patient heads out the door, waving bye as he's waited his twenty minutes after his shots.

"OOOOHHH, ANNIE SIT IN MAN'S CHAIR!!!"

"Ok, fine, whatever."

Next, Annie heads to the garbage can to dispose of her little sucker stick. On the way back to the chairs, she passes the nurse's area where I got my shots. I work on digging a hole in the floor. She points.

"OOOHHH, LADY!!! LADY WORKING!!" Luckily (again) the nurse finds Annie delightful, and they strike up a conversation which somehow ends with Annie showing the nurse her dance moves ... this display ends with Annie spinning in circles until she falls down, causing her to see another sucker under a chair. I am now crawling out the window.

It would seem that for my child, life is truly a stage. Who knew I'd ever be the audience??

Life, In A Nutshell

2008-09-10T19:55:00.002-05:00

Mom and Dad have been here for a few days this week, so here are a few pictures of them when they were over for dinner one night and also a couple of pictures Anthony took tonight after I'd just had a shower and Annie was on her way upstairs for her bath.

Annie's had a good two days at Moms Day Out this week, at least according to her little daily reports. There's a spot where "quiet as a mouse" can be circled on their papers but needless to say this phrase has not yet been circled on our baby girl's ... is anyone surprised?

The Hoarding Habit

2008-09-09T15:59:00.003-05:00

I don't know if this is some phase Annie's going through, but God help her and her hoarding habits ... I swear ... when she takes naps, it's unreal all the things she needs to take to bed with her. Everything from toothbrushes, little tractors, miniature aluminum cars, shoes (could be one or both), 7,000 baby dolls, etc. It's truly a sight to behold.

However, her mean daddy and I have put a stop to what was rapidly becoming an out-of-control habit. Now, she just takes beloved Baby Ethan, lambie and a pacifier since we can now actually see her gigantic molars cutting through her gums.

Nonetheless, we didn't raise a quitter. Last night, after her bath she came to Anthony and said, "Annie go night-night" and patted her chest. Only one problem. Her chest sort of rattled a bit when she patted it. Seems she was going to smuggle two little post-it size pieces of paper into bed via her shirt. Why? I have no idea, but it is the funniest thing I have seen in awhile ...

Mommy Gone Wild

2008-09-08T11:20:00.002-05:00

We may have hit an all-time low here at the Barclay household of Mommydom. To pass the time away this morning before Moms Day Out, we actually had a photo session with the beloved Baby Ethan.

In my defense, however, I cannot stress his importance around here ... still, a photo session with a baby doll is a bit sad ...

The Better to Eat You With, My Dear

2008-09-07T19:54:00.002-05:00

Just a few pictures from our weekend ... most especially notice Annie's new "big girl" tennis shoes ... frightening how quickly she's growing up!! She's so proud of those shoes she even takes naps wearing them.

And now a word about budgets ... we love them so much and follow ours so very closely that Friday found Annie, beloved Baby Ethan and me swinging through Jersey Mike's picking up sandwiches for supper (never mind that we had boring but nonetheless budgeted food at the house to eat.) Anywho, Baby Ethan had never had the excitement of watching subs being made, so of course I had to pick up Annie and Baby Ethan to watch the entire process ... not strange at all. Also during this time, Annie was chomping on Baby Ethan's arm to help her teething discomfort. Just imagine how we must have looked. Or don't. It's just too strange.

Or maybe not. On the way out, as I was holding the subs in one hand and Annie's little hand in the other, I found myself saying something I have never in all my 34 years on the earth said: "Annie, does Baby Ethan taste good?" Right out loud. With people around us. It's truly a miracle I have not been committed yet ...

Baby Strollers Baby Strollers Baby Strollers

2008-09-05T08:59:00.003-05:00

Our conversation from yesterday's trip to Babies R Us: (you can guess who's saying what)

"See baby strollers?"

"Yep, I promise we'll go down that aisle."

"See baby strollers ... OKAY!!"

"See baby strollers."

"See baby strollers."

"See baby strollers."

"See baby strollers."

This went on for approximately 15 miles, or however long it was until we actually arrived at the store, got Annie strapped into a cart accompanied by our little Baby Ethan and commenced to shopping. And then:

"See baby strollers?"

"Yes, I promised we'll go down that aisle, but Mommy needs to look for something else first. And please don't scream so people think we're crazy."

"See baby strollers?"

"See baby strollers?"

"SEE BABY STROLLERS?"

"Ok, tiny, screeching child whom I do not know, I will take you to view the beloved baby strollers."

"BABY STROLLERS!! OKAY!! OKAY!!"

And then, I swear I decided on-the-spot that Babies R Us is a store created by the devil. There weren't just a few baby strollers, there were at least 7,000. Maybe more. Difficult to count when you have your eyes closed.

Baby Mine

2008-09-03T19:59:00.002-05:00

Ok, so our baby started her second year of Moms Day Out today ... it actually was such an incredibly busy day for me that I hardly had time to think about it. Interestingly enough, there's another Annie in our Annie's class, and the "other" Annie has a twin (also in the class.) God bless the teacher. REALLY bless the teacher ...

When I was leaving the room after dropping Annie off ( she practically shoved me out the door so she could start playing) there were at least 4 of the 7 or so kids in the class screaming their brains out. Of course they'll adjust, but I swear it's almost comical. Maybe because Annie wasn't one of those screaming kids ...

I'm backtracking, but I had actually gotten her dressed to go this morning (which is a tiny but VERY choreographed little activity) and we were literally standing at the door to go to the garage and get in the car. She had her little backpack and was looking so cute. Then, just as I reached for the doorknob, I smelled it. Poop. (Not to gross anybody out, but bodily functions are just so very much a part of parenthood that I wanted to share.) So anyway, we went back to the living room, and I did the fastest diaper change EVER. I mean, this was a good one. I hiked Annie's little dress up, yanked her bloomers down, and within 4 seconds we were in the car to go. Amazing little story, huh? All you moms out there know exactly what I'm talking about ...

As for the pictures: yes, I know that is a most unladylike pose in the first one, but people, you try getting a 2 1/2-year-old to sit still, and I'll send you a million-dollar check.

Just don't cash it, ok?

Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season

2008-09-02T20:10:00.003-05:00

Ok, I'm feeling a little bad about what I wrote yesterday ... please understand that I was NOT making light of hurricanes. Anthony and I have lived in Pensacola and in Gulfport, so we have experienced our fair share of tropical weather (of course Katrina was the horrific highlight of everything.) We were so very fortunate this time that our family and friends are all ok, and we pray (as we will continue to do) for everyone along the coastal areas ...

It's just that the meteorologists always crack me up when something big weather-wise is going on, though it wasn't so funny to be reprimanded by the one and only Jim Cantore when he called me earlier today.

Ok, that's just a lie (sorry, Mom.) He actually called me tonight ...

Another subject: Annie's first day of Moms Day Out is tomorrow. We haven't told her yet because she loved it so much last year that it may send her into a complete frenzy. Selfishly, I have very mixed feelings about the entire situation: she's just growing up so fast! On the other hand, the child talks non-stop all day (pretty sure that came from her Aunt Kelly because she sure was the talker when we were growing up!) so it might be a nice little respite, but we'll see.

I'll have a full report tomorrow ...

Come In, Meteorologists

2008-09-01T12:48:00.003-05:00

Ok, to all weather people out there I must preface this with an apology. Well, except this part: since Anthony and I were living in Gulfport to experience Katrina, we've been following the happenings of Gustav today. And I know I wrote a pretty similar blog back then but still, weather people, PUH-LEESE, here's just a sample of the coverage we've seen and heard today:

"YES, SMART PERSON BACK AT THE STUDIO, I CAN HEAR YOU ... I CAN HEAR YOU ... YES, I CAN HEAR YOU ... I SAID I CAN HEAR YOU!!!!"

"Well, good, we weren't sure as it's been awhile since we've heard anything. What's it like out there?"

Seriously?

"WELL, WE'RE BEING BATTERED PRETTY GOOD HERE ON THIS OUT-IN-THE-ELEMENTS STRUCTURE ... IT FEELS A BIT LIKE BEING PELTED BY NEEDLES WITH THE RAIN AND REALLY, REALLY, REALLY STRONG WIND."

So why not report from an indoor location?

"Wow, well it looks pretty bad from what we can see since you just flew right off that bridge you were reporting from."

"YES, I AM BLOWING AROUND BUT I'LL CONTINUE TO REPORT FROM THIS OUTDOOR-IN-THE-MIDDLE-OF-A-HURRICANE LOCATION."

God love 'em, those meteorologists. And God love us because we were sitting right there watching ...

Merry Christmas, Happy Easter, etc.

2008-08-31T11:31:00.002-05:00

Well, welcome to the Barclay Labor Day weekend ... we have spent it like so many others in the past: reading the paper (Mary and Hope's most favorite hobby) and cleaning out the garage.

This cleaning out of the garage was, of course, Annie's cue to grab her Cars shoes, a jacket (even though it was a bazillion degrees) and the beloved Baby Ethan. Oh, just in case there was confusion, I wasn't actually cleaning, just supervising and celebrating every single holiday that exists as our decorations for them came into view. I most especially loved Christmas. I think that was my favorite ...

Now Annie mostly played and found a nice place to put Baby Ethan down for a nap, even reminding us to be quiet so he could sleep. Right.

As her hair got sweatier and sweatier, and her face got redder and redder, we tried to get her to take off her sweatshirt-jacket, but no. She really likes that jacket. But FINALLY (not soon enough for me) we came back inside, she got half-naked and kicked back on the couch. Ahhhh, now that's a Labor Day I can get on board with ...