Flashback Friday

Three years ago.

Three awesome kids, all totally mesmerized by the 4th of July fireworks.

Good times. 

Littlest Baby's First Picture!

That's our teeny tiny baby!

Due date stayed the same after yesterday's visit, so we expect our little bundle to arrive by the end of January (I'm notorious for delivering 1-2 weeks prior to my due date)!

Heart rate was fabulous, all the specifics looked great, and Justin and I both are breathing a huge sigh of relief. The first trimester and the first ultrasound are (to me) the most finicky and panic-inducing!

Yay for baby #3! 

Flashback Friday

Yep, there was a time when I wore a coordinating brown outfit complete with a cowboy hat. I wore this outfit proudly. Out in public. In pigtails. On a "school" sanctioned trip that was supposed to honor how smart we kids were.

Yep, that happened. 

lately

My kids are such bums @ Lowes

What used to be my lunch (cheese dog, potato salad & Crush, the best orange soda ever!) 

My blue eyed beauty

Jodi spoils all them babies! 

Having fun at Gran's house - notice the "walking" RJ! 

Again, those eyes. They kill me. 

Summer reading - just for fun! 

RJ & her birthday cake! 

Windows down, hanging out in the drive-thru! 

Between summer school and bible school, she's all schooled up! And loving it! 

Sidney and her new buddy Tanzi; she can't stop talking about her! 

My silly, sweet girl! 

New to Me Music

I'm slightly obsessed with this song.

Even though I have no idea what she's singing 75% of the time - the first time I heard the song, I heard it one way and now I can't unhear it to know what she's saying. Know what I mean?

It's hard to unlearn things in my opinion, especially music lyrics. And movie quotes.

But I'm getting off-topic here. This song? It's pretty awesome. 

Our Poppa's Day

He's definitely not your typical, traditional "Dad" - he's got his own style, his own way of raising little girls. It's rough and tumble but full of love. There's never a shortage of laughter or play-time when he's around. Before Sidney was born, it was hard to imagine him in the role of "daddy" - but now, it's hard to remember a time before he had a little girl on his hip and pink exploding all around him.

Thanks for being such an awesome Dad to our daughters, my crazy husband. We love you to the moon and back. 

Flashback Friday

This is a photo from December 2007 of my good friend Meghan and a three-month-old Sidney Morgan -- it's so funny to look at this now, because at the time Meghan wasn't real sure what to do with a baby. Now, she's got twin boys! Her hands are two times more full than they were here, just a few short years ago.

My, how time changes things! 

Community College is Real College

Sidney and I are driving down the road late one evening, headed to a late closing for work, when we pass the community college I graduated from last fall...


"Mom, there's your school!"

"Yes, it is."

"Remember when you graduated high school? And I was there!"

"You weren't at my high-school graduation. You weren't even born yet."

"Yes, I was! I walked on the stage with you!"

"That wasn't my high school graduation, that was my college graduation."

"Oh..."

"....."

"Mom, when are you going to go to a real college?"


And thus Sidney continues to procure the stereotype that MECC is not a real college.

Way to go, kid.

Sidney and me at my "college" graduation Nov. 2011

Re-design

I got the hankering recently to change up the blog "style" a little, so doing what I do best, I acted on a whim and switched everything up the other night!

Since Picnik went out of commission, I've been looking for a convenient, easy and quick (also, free) way to edit photos online - I hadn't found anything to my liking until last night. Through a simple Google search, I came across Pixlr and it just so happens to be the best thing since sliced bread! Or at least since Picnik!

I've already downloaded the app to my Android (also available for iPhone users) - the system is very much a blend of Photoshop and Picnik; easy to use, lots of great functions and features. A+ in my book!

As you can see, I went with a very streamlined look for the blog right now. I deleted a lot of sidebar features that I didn't like or use much anymore and got rid of most of the excess color that was distracting me. I want to focus on words and pictures and leave the rest to fade away into the background. I designed myself a simple text header and added another page of info for those interested in tracking me down on other social media sites.

Little blog makeovers make me happy and inspire me to keep writing! Y'all know me, I'm compulsive as the day is long - it was only a matter of time before I switched things up! Again! And I'm sure it won't be too much longer before I do it all over again! 

*That* Attitude

The past few weeks, we've been noticing a change in Sidney's attitude. The fact being: she has an attitude. The venom that comes out her mouth sometimes is unreal; she's four and yet somehow managed to spit her words like an adult. She's got the whole "smartass" thing down to a science.

And part of me wants to pull her up by her hair and spank her 'til the cows come home; the other part of me wants to burst out laughing, because hello, you're four years old. 

Usually, I stern-talk and remind her that's not the way to speak to others. Justin has a more "immediate punishment" kind of approach. Either way, we both know we're so in for it. The teenage years are going to be a living hell if the preschool years are any indication. 

I like to think I was a mild teenager. I didn't sneak out or do anything too crazy or stupid. I mean, of course I had my fair share of shenanigans and hoodwinks. I did enough dumb things to have a completely normal childhood, and I have a few stories of my own to tell. But still, I was nothing compared to others, compared to what I know I could've been. Even being an only child, I was still mild sauce. 

I can only hope my kids are like me; they do a few silly things, but mostly their actions just become fodder for silly old stories to be shared by their mother at every party a million times over (yes, Mom, I know you still get intense enjoyment out of the "alcohol whispered on the answering machine" story) - I can't wait to embarrass my kids and relive their so-called "glory days" for them even when they'd honestly rather forget them!

And I'm sure there will be plenty of those moments between me and my daughters, the same moments I had with my Mom. You know, the ones where they hide out in their rooms, fuming mad, blaring Kelly Osbourne's "Shut Up"** full volume, hating my guts, writing angry things in their journal, promising to be mad forever, getting over it twenty minutes later, asking Mom to borrow the car, saying 'I'm sorry' by washing the dishes, promising never to do that thing that made Mom made in the first place ever again?

Those moments. Glory days. 

**Still one of my favorite songs to listen to when I'm pissed. At anyone, not just my Mom. 

come here, go there: link love

• Leigh shared the most amazing "Popspots" on her blog - how ingenious!
• Kaelah and her fiance took their own engagement photos; and they turned out amazing.
• Julia shared some amazing bunkbeds on her blog; we've been thinking about doing bunkbeds in the girls' room, so this was just the inspiration I needed.
• Danielle shared her summer reading list recommendations (part one and two) - when that girl says read something, you read it! 
• Erin is my style hero - I love her Dressing series so much, she inspires me to put on some real clothes every now and then. 
• Rebecca has the cutest little Nana; I could listen to her talk all day (even if it is about flowers, which is a language I do not speak!) 
• Rubyellen shared a cute little DIY project - I definitely want to do this with Sidney at some point this summer. 
• Kaylah has, hands-down, THE prettiest hair ever right now; I love her color combinations (and I secretly wish I had hair like this!) 

Other note-worthy stories:

• Oh, Kourtney Kardashian. You and your "commitment issues" crack me up - but I do love to watch your baby daddy on TV. Scott is my favorite Kardashian! 
• The 18 best layer cake recipes - I definitely want to try the Revelatory Caramel Cake and the Momofuku Birthday Cake! 
• 
  

And to end this little series, a video! I've been dying to re-watch "Across the Universe" but sadly it's not among our insanely huge collection of movies at home. So, instead, I just watch videos online and suffice. This song/clip is definitely not among my favorites, but I absolutely ADORE Jim Sturgess' little head-shake at the 1:25 mark. He could not be any cuter!

Flashback Friday

A photo from our engagement session, summer of 2009, taken my good friend Emily. And yes, I still love him like a fool. And no, I don't miss all that hair.


(It's kind of crazy this September will be nine years for us!) 

RJ's "First" First Birthday Party

There was cake...

And presents...

And a messy little birthday girl...

And a good time was had by all! 

Her "big" birthday party is this Saturday, but last night was a perfect little warm-up with Papaw and Ging-Ging! 

{12 Months}

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RJ!

Today you are one! At exactly 11:22 AM this morning, you hit your milestone birthday and became officially a "one-year-old" - my, how time flies!

At ONE, you are slowly but surely getting the hang of this walking thing down pat. You can easily take up to five steps before plopping back down on your bottom. You still prefer to scoot and crawl most places, as it is definitely your fastest way to get from A to B. You are a lover of food; the only thing we've found you don't particularly care for are strawberries. Other than that, you can and will eat anything and everything!

You love books, especially books about animals. You love dogs above all else but have recently developed a love for the cows behind the house. Playing outside in the grass (and eating rocks) is your favorite thing to do, especially if your big sister is there to play with you!

You have six teeth, a head full of sandy blonde hair and the bluest eyes I've ever seen. You are sweet and loving and temperamental and exhausting. You are fire and ice combined, such a little copy of your daddy!

This first year has been absolutely wonderful, miss Rhealen Jo. I still can't believe it's gone by so fast! I hope today (and this weekend) is full of cake, family, presents and fun for you. Even though you'll never remember this birthday, it's one your loved ones will always cherish!



You can read Rhealen's birth story HERE. 

Sidney's Birth Story

Before I completely forget, I'm writing this down...if only to remind myself years from now how it all happened. How my sweet Sidney Morgan came into my life over four years ago. 

Flashback Friday (And Our Big News!)

For today let's get nostalgic and look at some baby pictures of my girls...because I have news! Of the baby kind!

Sidney Morgan 09/05/2007

Rhealen Jo 06/06/2011

That's right! The big news around these parts is....we're expecting! yet again! for the third time in five years! The biggest surprise from the month of May was definitely learning we're going to be welcoming a new addition to the family come late January. Justin and I were so incredibly shocked initially, beyond nervous to say the least, but we've finally settled in to a comfortable state of excitement!

I'm technically barely pregnant, but I can't stand not to share everything with everyone the second I find out; and besides, with my family and friends, there was no way I was going to keep this thing a secret! I ask that you keep us in your thoughts for the next few weeks (the first trimester is always the scariest to me!) and hopefully I'll breeze through this pregnancy with the same gusto and good times I've had with the last two.

Our little family of four will soon be a not-so-little family of five!