Natchez Trace Pictures

Housebound and Teething

Well, since the weather here is hideously dreary, the serious drooler/teether and I are pretty much housebound today ... no going to the park, no going out back to play; you get the picture. So what have we been doing I'm certain you're wondering? Well, in Annie's case, she has (like any smart person) been napping, eating, and pooping. I have been doing laundry, etc. and looking so forward to the weekend! We've also been drawing with the groovy markers Aunt Mandi, Uncle Matt and Anna Lauren sent. Yes, I know they're hers but they're so fun!

And, of course, we've been taking pictures ... we both love that. Annie LOVES to look at herself in the little monitor after each shot. No clue where she gets that trait ...

Opportunities

ok, here are some lovely pictures of not just Annie but of us as well, even if I did just get out of the shower and have on no make-up and a towel wrap around my hair ... hey, you gotta take the opportunities when they present themselves ... plus, make-up is a rare thing around here -- there are just more important things to do: keep Annie from trying to wipe Hope's nose, keep Annie from using Mary as a stepstool to get onto the couch, and (my personal favorite) sit in her little playroom and play ...
and, yes, can't not mention my guilty pleasure: Idol starts shortly ... I really feel like it's Ramiele's turn to say bye-bye but who knows? Carly is still my favorite, I think ... Unfortunately, no one called to ask my opinion. Yet.

Wishful Thinking

So yesterday was that most wonderful day of days, Moms Day Out. I did errands, actually completed the never-ending laundry (well, almost) instead of living off the pile of clothes that finds itself wherever in the house (clean, just not actually put up,) and even got some bills paid. Then, it was time to go pick up the teething queen (honestly, are two-year molars the end of the drooling??) Well, whilst doing errands, I naturally had to swing in Target, and while there I picked up the enhanced version of "The Little Mermaid." Incidentally, this most-favorite movie from my own childhood is 20 YEARS OLD ... good grief. I thought our just-turned-2-years-old Annie and I could spend the afternoon with my teaching her all the lyrics to "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl," etc. I had it all planned out.
What actually happened? We might have made it through the opening credits, and by this I mean the title. After that 5 seconds, she was on to putting on her cowboy "boops" and running around the house while drool poured from her mouth. Oh, and that last picture of just me was originally both of us ... she just moved out of the frame.
Ah, someday, Ariel, we shall be part of your world ...

** ooohhh, sidebar: tonight is Dolly Parton night on Idol ... can't wait!! And yes, Katie and Stacy, the notebook is ready ...

Through the Years

So, I just realized (sob) Annie is actually old enough to have a tiny little collection of pictures of herself at various ages ... Mandi, I'm with you -- it is a bit emotional ...

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!!

So, as I was recently struck down in my prime with some sort of sinus funk, our precious Annie's second birthday has heretofore not been documented. Well, now it is ... now last year we did the whole "let's invite every single child Annie knows plus any random 10 children they might know" birthday party (which was great fun) but this year we opted for a different celebration, which involved Annie doing her favorite things (playground time, bathtime -- ok, so maybe we WISH this were one of her favorite things, playing with her new toys, LOTS of family time, and trying to put my shoes on her baby dolls) Needless to say, we're still having fun ...

Birthday Pictures

Birthday Pictures

Birthday Pictures

Birthday Pictures

Rocking Elvis

ok, so we have a child who is either on her way to an Elvis impersonator show in Vegas or becoming some version of a stripper (sorry, Anthony)... we'll still support her, of course ... But this may fast-track her daddy putting her into the convent!!

"Idol" comments: yes, Amanda needed to go soon (she was eliminated last week,) but is Kristy Lee Cook bullet-proof or something? And please, Carly in the bottom three? Oh, the injustice of it all ... tonight, as always, promises to be very, very entertaining ...

Belated Easter Pictures

Saturday Morning

Blessings

Ok, so another long absence from the world of blogging ... sorry! I have way too much to write about, so I'll just have to drag it out a bit. In the meantime, happy one-day late first birthday to precious Anna Lauren, and a much-belated happy first birthday to James ... these are my much-loved nieces and nephews ... well, technically, they're my second cousins, but I count them as nieces and nephews because their mommies and daddies are more like siblings to me. Love all you guys!

I was just downstairs with Annie playing, and I couldn't help but think how ridiculously blessed we are. With this being Good Friday, I guess I've been thinking a lot about what Jesus went through for us, and I can't help but think about how my life is so wonderful, and I don't mean that in an arrogant way. Just that we have a miracle daughter I love more each day and marvel at and who is happy and healthy and a husband who God sent to me because Anthony is without a doubt my other half. I could go on and on, but for once, I'm not. I'm just going to continue to reflect on what this day means to me and remember that in all the hoopla (at least in my case) I forget to be truly grateful for all that God has done for me ...

May you all have a wonderful Easter!