Flashback Friday

2006. Senior year (yes, I'm nostalgic lately).

There were just enough senior boys for all of us senior girls to get jerseys made. And, yes, I graduated from a teeny school.

Can you guess which one I am?


*Hint: I wore Justin's nickname on my jersey!

come here, go there: link love

• I have been right there where Steph was - having girls means loving all things pink, even the mundane things like laundry!
• I had forgotten how much taller Czesia's husband is than her! But it's nice to hear he's a sweetheart; she deserves a big sweetie :)
• The more I read Kaelah's blog, the more I adore her - we're so different and yet so similar, it's awesome to see 23 before 24 through someone else's eyes!
• Leigh finally had that baby! And it's a girl - Hazel is adorable, congratulations!
• Jessica and her family make camping look so stylish - it's never this pretty when we go...
• If I lived in Austin, TX (like some other awesome girl I know) I would visit the Bueno girls all the time - they post the most amazing hair tutorials! 
• I've really picked up my Tumblr blogging lately -- it's amazing and I'm slightly addicted! Go see it HERE. 

Other note-worthy stories:

• My heart breaks for Trayvon Martin's family -- even more that we are so divided as a country on who we should be supporting in a case like this. 
• Have you bought a lottery ticket yet? Now's a good time -- the winner could be YOU! 
• Yes! There's going to be an Anchorman sequel! 

And just because you need this video in your life (and more just like it...)

Titanic: Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You

Before there was, "And so the lion fell in love with the lamb"...

And before there was, "If you're a bird, I'm a bird"...

There was, "You jump, I jump"...



Say what you will about Titanic. Say what you will about James Cameran or Leonardo DiCaprio or any of them. Talk all the smack you will, as you were, because I never hear one bit of it.

My heart has always gone on for Titanic (pardon the incredibly cheesy pun) -- I have loved this movie since the first time I saw it in theaters. And the six more times I sat and watched it with my friends only made me love it more.

I completely wore out my VHS double-tape set  (I still have them!) -- I memorized every word (just ask my mother) and I was completely engrossed in the entire spectacle. I kept Leo posters in my locker and reenacted scenes from the movie with my friends in middle school.

I have loved this movie since the beginning, will always love this movie. I am not ashamed or embarassed, nor will I allow your judging eyes to make me feel bad about it.

I am so PUMPED for the reboot in 3D -- I would, of course, love to go see it in theaters (with all my old girlfriends!) but if I don't make it, I'm just glad to see it's being reintroduced to a newer generation. Everyone knows of Titanic, but it's an entirely new experience altogether to see it up on the big screen...in 3D no less!

I will never stop being an avid Titanic fan, nor will I ever apologize for it. And if you're a closet fan, feel free to join me in celebrating.

Jack & Rose, forever.

PS Have you ever fogged up your windows in the car and recreated Rose's hand-swipe from their love scene? Yes, you have? Come sit by me, friend.

our RJ*

Sidney spent yesterday evening with friends at church, so Justin and I had some alone time with little miss Rhealen Jo!

If Sidney has taught us anything, we now know to treasure every little second of babies while they're "little". Justin and I both can't wait for RJ to get bigger and start communicating more with us, but for now, all her adorable little quirks keep us well entertained.

We spent some time outside, ate fried bologna sandwiches and played with diapers in the living room (the girls have a ton of toys, but they always pick weird things to play with)!

Of course we love our time as a family of four, but it's nice to get one-on-one time with the girls every now and then!


Hard to believe little miss will be 10 months old in a little over a week!

Taking The Expression "Eats Like a Bird" to a Whole New Level

I've been known to call my girls "baby birds" - especially when they were very little and made that cute little "O" shape with their mouth and puffed air at me. It was the cutest!

And I do a lot of things for my girls that I thought I'd never do before I actually became a mother. I've had to eat my own words plenty over the last four years between two kids.

But this is something I've never done, nor can I say I've never had the inclination to do:


Yes, that is Alicia Silverstone (you remember her, from Clueless) and she is feeding her son Bear from her mouth...just like a bird. (See the original post here on her website)

When I first saw this, I was all, "EWW! OMG ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?"

And then I thought about it. And I did a little research. And I learned it's not totally unheard of in other parts of the world. There was actually a time it was almost kind of necessary (generations ago) and then it started to make a little bit more sense to me.

But then the more I thought about it, the more I was going back to, "EWW! OMG ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?"

I hate to judge anyone, especially other mothers - because we all do it differently. And that's our natural right. And if AS wants to feed her little boy by mouth, then I'm no one to step in and tell her she's doing it wrong.

It's just, man, I can't get over how weird this is. And how unclean it looks - even if she brushes her teeth twenty times a day, our mouths are still just about the nastiest place on our bodies.

But then again, a guy and girl can make out to the point they've got their tongues stuck so far down the other person's throat they can't breathe and we all think "hey, that's totally normal" - so this is kind of like the same thing.

But not really. Is it?

I'm on the fence here. Help me out a little.

Hello Dolly

You know those movies you've heard about or have seen referenced in other movies, but you've never actually seen before?

May I present Exhibit A - "Hello, Dolly!"

I was just flipping channels Sunday, hanging out with Rhealen at the house, and came across the last hour or so of this movie. And I loved it!

I kept trying to think of where I'd heard some of the songs before (finally, I remembered! Wall-E!)...

Barbara is amazing. The songs are amazing. The costumes are amazing. The whole thing is just peachy sweet and wonderful.

Added bonus: I caught RJ dancing along to some of the songs!

birthday letter to my beloved

Dear Justin,

Happy Birthday, husband!

I hate you're having to spend your birthday working, but when you get home we'll have cake with the girls and some play time on the Wii :)

Hopefully this weekend was fun enough to last you 'til your next birthday! We had an awesome party Saturday (thanks everyone that came out!) and you showed Sidney how to shoot a gun (her first time!).

And then yesterday you had your first bass club tournament of the year - I'm very proud of you for catching the biggest fish and for coming in 2nd place with your teammate (sorry you got soaked in the rain!).

We've had some amazing birthdays together (this'll be the 9th year I've celebrated your birthday with you) and I hope you make every second of 25 memorable.

Happy, merry, wonderful birthday, my love. Here's to 25 and 50 and 75 more!

So much s'more. Oh yes, boyfriend.

Love,
Your wife

Flashback Friday

2006. Senior year.

Justin and his buddy, Steven, bought me in the homecoming "slave auction" and made me wear their practice gear.

It was always wet with sweat and stunk more than any roadkill, Mexican diarrhea, old shoe combination ever could.

Ah, memories. 

We Are Young (well, you may be)

Anyone else addicted to this song?

I feel a little guilty listening to it and thinking "yeah, I'm young!" when I sure don't feel so young. I'm in that awkward "in between" phase. I'm not early twenties, not late twenties. Just mid-twenties. 

Stuck being too old to be young and too young to be old. 

If this song had come out when I was about fifteen, I would've played it non-stop and felt my soul get all fuzzy and warm listening to the lyrics. 

Now, I just feel reminiscent and bleary-eyed. 

But still...I'm slightly obsessed. Please tell me you are, too. 

A->Z

A list of all the sites I visit (or have visited) as compiled by my trusty Google Chrome bar. Check it out!

(Thanks, Avitable, for the idea!)

(A) Amazon - Where I spend an obscene amount of time shopping for silly cell-phone covers and cheap books for my Kindle.

(B) Blogger - Duh.

(C) Craiglist - Looking for cheap shit online since early 2010.

(D) Damnyyouautocorrect - When I need a good laugh. I've laughed-cried so many times, I've lost count.

(E) ECU- Checking out all the money I don't have.

(F) Flickr - The ordinary. Uploading and trying to come up with witty comments for my photos.

(G) Google - 'Cause the internet is my playground.

(H) Hotmail - Someone email me! Something other than SPAM!

(I) IMDB- Total movie buff here. Also, I've been doing research for yet another post inspired by Avitable.

(J) JeongMee Yoon - A photographer's site that had some rad collections. I don't go to many "J" sites apparently.

(K) Knewlywifed - A totally awesome fellow blogger of mine. Again, I don't visit too many "K" sites.

(L) Lindsey Wilson College - Where I used to go check out all my B- grades.

(M) mommaruthsays - Getting all narcissitc up in here!

(N) Netflix - Canceled that shit weeks ago, but it's still my #1 "N" site.

(O) Old Navy - Cheap clothes for the kids and me - I fill up my online shopping cart but never buy.

(P) Picnik - BRING IT BACK!!!!

(Q) QVC - Not sure???

(R) Rue 21 - Looking for cheap white shoes for Miranda's wedding in May.

(S) Social Security - Probably trying to do something all important and legal-like. Can't remember now.

(T) Twitter - @mommaruthsays so come follow me!

(U) UPS - For when I need to send out those ebay sells super fast.

(V) Verizon - Represent.

(W) Wikipedia - 'Cause I believe everything they tell me.

(X) XBox - ???

(Y) Youtube - Kittens, kids playing ukuleles, Lady Gaga, movie trailers. You name it.

(Z) Zappos - Again with the shoes. I'm kind of obsessed, obviously.

My list is so boring compared to some -- what about yours? What does your list look like?

Having a swingin' weekend, y'all. I know my girls will :)

it started with a toilet

You know that line from Juno - "it started with a chair" - well that's kind of like me.

Except it started with a toilet. And that's not to say that anything remotely sexual happened on the toilet. It's just, that's where I was when I found out I was pregnant the second time around.

Not using the toilet, mind you. Well, I had just peed on the stick - but I'd already buttoned my pants back up and was just sitting there watching the seconds drag by. I get totally teary-eyed and weepy sometimes when I see that old toilet - it takes me back every time I go take a shit at work (which isn't very often, 'cause I don't like to shit in public).

So, yeah, it started with a toilet. I watched the little hourglass blink on and off for those two minutes -which seemed like an eternity- and then "PREGNANT" popped up, screaming at me from the window of that pee stick.

And I ran back into my office. And I looked at my co-worker Rachel, and I'm pretty sure she knew what the results were by the sound of my feet in the hallway. And she said, "Yes?" and I said, "Yes" and the rest was history.

I've taken countless pregnancy tests in my time, more than I'd dare to admit out loud (lest my mother read it and think me a total harlot) - I would also bet that about 99% of those tests were taken in some bathroom (Food City, Long John Silver's, etc) while out traveling or at a friend's house. I've huddled over test after test, counting down seconds like it's the end of the world, feeling that total whoosh of relief when I get one line or the digital "not pregnant"acknowledgment.

I've become increasingly familiar with local bathrooms and toilets galore across SW Virginia and East Tennessee**. Is it something I'm proud of? Not necessarily, but it's the golden truth.

For me, both of my beginnings began on a toilet.

Again, not the sex part. Just the whole, "Hey, you're knocked up!" part. Just making sure you're picking up what I'm laying down here.



**This makes me sound sort of like an irresponsible super slut*** who's had to take a million pregnancy tests. It's not quite anything like that; I'm just a nervous ninny who feels the need to take a test any time my period is a day late. Which has been just about every month since I first started having a period back in sixth grade. I'm a worry wart, that way. If I could have the money I've wasted on tests, I'd be buying us all a round or two or five at the bar Friday night. Just saying. 


***Using the expression "super slut"also makes me sound wildly promiscuous - I promise you, my dear husband has been my one and only. Going on nine years with the same guy and totally proud of it. Just saying! 

When the voices of children are heard on the green,
And laughing is heard on the hill,
My heart is at rest within my breast,
And everything else is still.
-William Blake, "Nurse's Song"

lately

Sidney & Jack - the two best looking members of my family :) 

Sid totally crashed on Miranda on our way to David's Bridal...

...but when we got there, she was more than willing to play "bride". 

Way to represent, Abingdon VA! 

I mean, really? I love her to infinity (and beyond). 

She was totally geeking out. 

My kid is so stylish! And looks so big! 

Rhealen Jo :) her 9 month visit was much more enjoyable (no immunizations!) 

Justin and I took Sid out for a little "big kid" alone time! 

come here, go there: link love

• Cecily talks about what it's like raising a daughter in today's troubled political world - and on the anniversary of International Women's Day. 
• I just recently stumbled upon Rubyellen's blog and I have to say, her girls are the cutest! I love following the little adventures of her family (her girls' names are True, Brave, Soul and Glow - for real!) and I think you would, too! 
• This week on Lauren's Countdown to Hunger Games (only 2 more weeks left! eek!) she featured an awesome blogger I adore, Sydney, so it was two for one sweetness! 
• Bekah shared a recipe for lavender lemon fizz - I've never done something like this, but it looks like it'd be such a relaxing treat at the end of the day! 
• It's nice to know we're not the only ones dealing with depressing, rainy weather - even Jessica in Hawaii has had her share, too! 
• Kate makes me daydream about operating my own self-sustaining farm someday, even though I hate dirt and heat and bugs. It's a pipe-dream! 
• Elsie has a great post up with tips for shooting lifestyle photography - there's some awesome tips in there, make sure you check it out!
• Emma shared the most amazing recipe for "pineapple flowers" - I don't like pineapple, but these little toppers are too cute to pass up! 
• I love Jenny so much - and I'm glad to be in the Unicorn Success Club! 

Other note-worthy stories:

• Our government scares the shit out of me part ONE, TWO, and THREE. 
• I am **very** excited for the new Lone Ranger movie! 
• The new reports on teen smoking from the Surgeon General are suprising - but I don't think that's any reason to punish legal, capable, adult smokers! 

And finally, the best thing I saw on the internet all week long. 

I'm not proud to be a Virginian this morning...

I like to think that I have home-town pride to spare. I'm wildly happy to let people know I'm from the great state of Virginia, one of the original thirteen colonies. But this morning, I'm not happy. Or proud. In fact, I'm disgusted with my home state and our governor.

Yesterday, Gov. Bob McDonnell signed a law into place requiring that women seeking abortions undergo abdominal abortions first, then wait twenty-four hours before being allowed to terminate. Only victims of rape or incest are exempt from this law. Women are not required to see the ultrasound pictures, but it is still mandatory they have one.

This absolutely breaks my heart and infuriates me.

Before you start thinking I'm pro-abortion, believe me, I'm not. I wish there was a way for every baby to be born and placed in loving arms that would take care of them forever, whether that be their birth parents, adoptive parents or foster parents. In my "perfect world" there would be no need for abortions - but this isn't my perfect world. And when it comes right down to it, it isn't my choice to make for another woman.

I would never, under any circumstances, believe that I had any right, power or place to tell another woman she could not, should not, and will not have an abortion. It is her choice and should be her protected right as a citizen of this country. To know that the law is stepping in to try and take away from that right is abhorring.

This is a law based on morality and religion - I don't care what they try to say.

Abortions are traumatic and I would hope no woman chooses to have one under light circumstances. They should not be used a means of birth control, and they should always be the absolute last resort for any woman. I can't imagine anyone, no matter cold-hearted they may seem, takes an abortion procedure lightly. It has to be one of the absolute hardest decision any woman makes, no matter the gestational age of the fetus.

But my point is, I can't believe our government -specifically my state government- is taking a step like this. A step that pushes us back decades in regards to women's rights. This is just the first step - what else with they regulate?

Some of the discussions being tossed around in the political race today scares the living shit out of me - is this where our country is headed? I expected so much of this year's political rat race to focus on the economy, jobs and reducing our national deficit. I never imagined basic women's rights would take the front and be used as a catapult to divide Republicans and Democrats.

This is a time in our nation when we should be uniting, now more than ever, and instead we are digging up old axes and using them to wound one another repeatedly. Our lack of focus on the future is making me feel uneasy.

And these are all feelings I wish could be put to rest - it's going to be a long 2012, I'm afraid. I can only hold out hope - hope that enough people will speak up and speak out.

And I hope that will be enough.

this kid?

She is the light of my life.

{9 Months}

Wow! Nine months have come and gone already -- she's two weeks shy of being outside my body just as long as she was inside!

Where to start this month's update? Hmm....

Rhealen has definitely taken a developmental growth-spurt over the past month. She's figured out how to say "dog" and "num num" pretty clearly. She attempts to call for Delilah (her babysitter's dog) and will shake her head "no", although she's yet to start saying it. She can "give sugars" and proves to be the smiliest baby ever.

Sometimes I think her face might burst from the smiles she shares with us - it's impossible to be mad in her presence, it's that contagious.

Rhealen loves to take showers -and sing while taking showers, "You Are My Sunshine" is her favorite- and she loves to play in her room with Sidney.

She's figured out how to "ugly" crawl - it's this strange combination of scooting, crawling, sliding. It's just ugly as hell, but it works for her. She can get from A to B at lightning speed, though it's kind of surprising to watch her go!

Her check-up is this Friday and I'm eager to see how much she's grown and what percentiles she's falling into these days. She's been on the low end of the charts for so long, I can't imagine she's made any big jumps lately.

I do love this little doll - her little face and big blue eyes make the days feel warmer and better. Seeing my two ladies together still melts me every time.

my to-do list

I have little things piling up, racking my brain, and taking up space. Things I need to do soon or else there'll be no more room to think clearly or speak straight.

See?!

I must tackle my little inner to-do monologue soon or I'll be making no sense!

LEARN how to embroider - specifically hand embroider. I am not the craftiest crafty person ever born, but I do have a little bit of design, style and passion in me. Now I need to make it happen and teach myself! I've been devouring YouTube videos left and right, jotting down notes and getting myself ready to dive in with at least some bankable knowledge.

I also want to learn how to make THESE because that's just how twisted and silly I am sometimes.

COOK a signature dish. A lot of people in my family are known for a **signature** dish (typically a dessert) and I want to have my own trademark food! My mom is known for pineapple pies and chili. My Mamaw is known for her butterscotch pies and amazing breakfasts!

I want my own "known for" food - which right know only consists of the super-easy, mass-produced dip recipe that includes cheese, hamburger, sausage and rotel tomatoes! Anyone and everyone can make that! I want something fancier and more unique!

READ the entire Vampire Chronicles series by Anne Rice. I have the Kindle. I have (some) time. I need to do it! There's no excuse why I can't; I'm the only thing getting in my way. I also need to finish reading The Stand, if only for my father's sake. I've started it several times but can never get further than 200 pages. I need to just suck it up and read the damned thing already.

CLEAN my house. Oh. dear. god. The laundry that is piled up in our bedroom is insane. I do manage to stay on top of the dishes, only because A) they start to stink after a while and B) that's the one thing Justin will nag me about but never actually do himself. The girls' room looks like a tornado went off in there and the rest of the house is just sort of "straightened up" - there isn't one inch of my house right now that I can officially call clean. I'm not the nit-picky type that obsesses over a clean house, but it's starting to drive me a little crazy! And I know that means it's bad!

SLEEP a little better. I'm in the midst of trying to "sleep train" Rhealen and it's totally screwing up my sleep cycle. Now that she's fast approaching the nine-month mark, I know I need to get her on a good schedule and teach her how to fall asleep by herself. I probably should've started earlier on, but everything I read says babies aren't emotionally or physically developed until 4-6 months to sleep train; and I figure since she's a little on the small side I'd cut her some slack (that's just the mama instincts in me coming out, she's perfectly developed for her age even if she is small)!

It goes against all of my other motherly instincts to let her "cry it out" sometimes, but I know this is for the best. For both of us. When she sleeps, she's a happier camper. When I sleep, I'm a much happier camper. I'm the happiest damned camper you ever did see!

SPEND a little more time with my girlfriends from high-school. Spend a little less money on stupid things. Spend a little more time kissing my husband. Spend a lot more time kissing my sweet girls. Spend a little more time on the phone with my dad and grand-parents when they call. Spend some quality time with my mom, just the two of us. Spend more time being happy.

It's a simple little to-do list, one I need to get started on right now! What are your to-do lists looking like these days?

amazing portrait series

You have to see this amazing portrait series by Tom Hussey - it's simply beautiful.

CREDIT: Tom Hussey Photography