All about some pictures

I'm sure I have lots I could post on, but it's been a rotten week so I figured I could keep you happy and bombard you with pictures. Just so you've been warned.

Not the greatest pic here but the little devil would not sit still. This was the first (and only time so far) that I have been able to put pigtails in her hair. I have been dying for this moment, and God willing I'll be able to do it again. She won't wear bows, wear barrettes, nada, nothing.

This is what I found when I was changing her from a nap the other day. You can only imagine the marks that she had on her legs. I'm not even sure where she got these, but I'm a tad impressed with how she got them on.

This one sort of explains alot of things. She still won't keep her pants on, so I've resorted to at least trying to keep big girl panties on. You have no idea how many half naked shots I have of her, because no matter what else she has on, she MUST be wearing those stupid red boots. Yes they used to be cute, and now they are just big stupid red boots. And check out the killer thighs I'd like to think that she got my cheerleading/gymnastic legs, but that would require them to have much more fat. I'm already picturing teacher conferences where I have to apologize for her drop kicking the guy that pulls her hair.

I guess I should throw in a potty training story while we're sort of on the subject. Basically it's non-existent, which is okay by me. But she will say potty, we'll run to the potty, she sits for all of about 5 seconds, closes the lid and says "bye poo poo." Not quite where I'd want us to be but at least she sort of gets it.

This one has been requested a few times...these come in a strong second place as her second faves behind the red ones...but they are mommy's favorites so sometimes I win.

And this one is by far, one of my favorite pics of her. It's a tad blurry, but I just love her expression. And the blue eyes...enough said.

And these last few of us are at the George Strait concert last weekend.

Before the concert and therefore still sober.

Getting there...

Gone...but what a good time it was

Hope everyone didn't get sowed in this weekend.

Truths and Lies, the Finale

Finally I'm getting around to this. My husband left Tuesday for Brazil, AGAIN, and I'm desperately trying to get my house ready for a Bridal Shower tomorrow. Doing that and taking care of a toddler alone has left me very little time for blogging. So without further ado, I bring you the conclusion to the truths and lies.

Truths:

#2 and #7

#2. I was adopted at 2 weeks old. I could not have been brought into a better family. Anyone who knows my parents, and my family knows how lucky I am. I thank God every day for them. My birth mother was 17, kicked out of her house, and was sent to a home for pregnant teens to complete the rest of her pregnancy. My birth father was not in the picture at the time. I have always known I was adopted, and I cannot remember a specific time when my parents told me. About 4 years ago I was contacted by my birth mother, and she and I have had minimal contact since then. She wants much more from the relationship than I want to give her, and as hard as it is on her, it's the way I want it. Maybe someday I'll post more about it on my other blog where I can go password protected. It's something I've been wanting to write about for a while, but haven't gotten around to it. The whole thing has given new meaning to me for parents who aren't able to have children of their own. My brother is also adopted, but obviously from a different family. He and I could NOT be more different. I used to hate going on vacations when I was younger for the fear that someone would think he was my boyfriend since we look nothing alike. He used to beat me up and I hated him, normal brother/sister things, but now we have a great relationship.

#7. I have only thrown up 9 times. That's going back to childhood, or as far as I can remember. And I CAN remember each time. The last time I did it was summer of 06, and before that it had been about 8 years since it happened. It's a big part of my anxiety disorder, another thing that I may talk about if I can get up the courage. Another one of my blogger buddies talked privately about this very same subject, and I am overwhelmed by her courage to talk about something so private. Only my closest friends know about it, and even though they may not understand it, they support me. And as sick as I was this last pregnancy, I never actually puked. Because that's just what my body does. Instead of getting it out and feeling better, it would rather keep it in and feel more like shit.

Lies:

#6 and #8

#6. I have only been 4 wheeling once in my life, and I was about 12. I came pretty close to flipping and becoming another ATV casualty, therefore I haven't been on one since. However, Matthew owns both a 4 wheeler and 2 dirt bikes and while the 4 wheeler is mostly used for his hunting excursions, he's been known to throw down and get crazy with it. And even though he's too big and looks ridiculous on a dirt bike, he takes that for a good spin occasionally too.

#8. While it did take me 6 years and 2 colleges to finally graduate, I only had 4 different majors, not 6. Although with as many hours as I had when I graduated, I should have had a double major.

So there you have it. Things you did and didn't know about me, and things you probably wish you never had learned!

2 Truths, 2 Lies...Part 1

So I mean to write this over the weekend, but lo and behold I got busy and I figured you wouldn't care to wait. I'll do this over two posts, and then I'll announce who came the closest.

Truths:

#1, and #3

#1. Both of my feet have webbed toes. I don't look like a duck, it doesn't make me a good swimmer, you probably wouldn't even notice them if you didn't know they were there. The only abnormal thing about my feet is that my toes are really short, but my feet are really long. I did ask the doctor at an early age to separate them. His advice was me was to go to the beach, and pay attention to peoples toes. I didn't do that, but I did find out that my third grade teacher also had them. She was my hero and I never thought about separating them again. If you are that curious, I'll post a pic.

#3. I have traveled extensively over seas. My first trip came as a Junior in college, when I participated as a cheerleader in the New Year's Day Parade in London. Fred Savage was the Grand Marshall of the parade, and I got to meet him. I thought I was the shit. Remind yourself this was 1993...so he WAS cool back then. I also went back there and spent 8 weeks studying abroad my senior year of college. Good times, good times.

My senior year my cheerleading team was one of 10 US squads to participate in an international competition in Tokyo. It was an incredible experience to say the least, it was hands down one of the cleanest cities I have ever been to.

My parents caught the travel bug many years ago, when my dad was on a traveling basketball team. They were able to go many places overseas and therefore when my brother and I were old enough they decided they wanted to pick up where they left off. My mom organized tours over the summers when I was in college, and over those 4 years I was able to travel to Spain, Morocco (WORST PLACE I HAVE EVER BEEN) , France, Switzerland, Italy, Scotland, Amsterdam, New Zealand and Australia...which was as Ava would say "Ah-sum"

Lies:

#4 and #5

#4. We did vacation as a family at the same place every year, but that stopped when I turned 16. The location was Hilton Head, and until 2 years ago I had not been back. Starting in the summer of 06, my best friend and I started going back with our kid(s), a tradition that I hope continues.

#5. I have not been a bridesmaid in 9 weddings, however one of my friends has. I have only been a bridesmaid in 4 (technically 5 if you count my best friend who got married in Vegas, but there was no dress for that one). And I didn't pass out, but a bridesmaid DID pass out at a wedding I was in back in 2006. And it was funny. And no one got it on video.

Part 2 continued tomorrow...I promise.

4 Lies, 4 Truths

I've seen this one going around, and I don't really have much else to write about, so here goes a little bit of see how well you think you know me! I'm going to do it a little differently, so here I bring you 4 lies and 4 truths. Leave your answers in the comment section if you want, I may or may not send out a prize, but you never know!


1. My second and third toes on both feet are webbed. When I was in third grade I begged my Dr. to separate them but he wouldn't .


2. I was adopted when I was 2 weeks old. My mother was 17, she was kicked out of her house and was forced to spend the remaining 3 months of the pregnancy in a home for pregnant, unwed, teenagers.

3. I have been overseas 6 times, and have visited 11 different countries not including Mexico and Canada.

4. My family and I have been going to the same beach for vacation every year that I have been alive.


5. I'm a serial bridesmaid, I've been a bridesmaid in 9 weddings and I have all of the dresses to prove it. I even passed out at one from the heat and standing too long.


6. Before I had Ava, I would ride dirtbikes and go 4 wheeling on the weekends with my husband and step son. I still go any chance I can.


7. I have only thrown up 9 times in my entire life. I can recall each and every time.

8. I had 6 majors in college before I ever graduated. It took me 7 years to finally finish.

Let's see how many get them right!

Officially Summer

So I took Ava to the pool yesterday along with some friends and their kids, and thankfully it was a success. Last year, we took her (granted she was not even 3 months old) and she hated it, I mean HATED. Screamed as if I was intentionally trying to torture her. Fast forward a year, and I could barely get the child out of the pool. One thing I couldn't understand though. How is it possible that in constant 85 - 90 degree heat, a pool with no more than one foot of water has a temperature of, oh say 60 degrees? It was FREEZING! But teeth chattering and all, there was mucho fun to be had.

Here is what I mean by last year's excitement. This was taken right after I attempted to put her feet in the water. See the outstretched legs?? Yeah, she was pissed. (and I know, my boobs pretty much take over the picture, so as hard as it may be, just pretend that I'm not there!)


Then here's yesterday. That's my friend in the background. She would probably kill me if she knew I posted this on the Internet.



All in a day's work :-)

Pushing the horn on daddy's NEW fishing boat. And he thinks I'm a compulsive shopper??
The biggest catch he will probably every get...if not the biggest, defiantely the prettiest.
.
Got a busy weekend ahead. I have a friend in from Cincinnati and then we're off to the lake tomorrow to catch up with the boys who will be fishing. Ava will be spending quality time with her grandparents and I will be spending quality time with the sun and my liquid friends.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend...

Another One..

Two whole posts in one day? I know, I can't believe it either. But I was tagged by Whitney to reveal 5 things about me that I have never mentioned on this blog.

1. I have an anxiety disorder. I think it's always been there but has surfaced in a number of ways over the past year. Most of it relates to travel, as I now get motion sickness something awful. But traveling in general sets me on a whole new level. My doctor introduced me to Xanax...and he's been a good friend ever since.

2. I have one older brother, and we are both adopted. I never once thought about contacting my birth mother however she somehow found me. I made the mistake of writing her back, and now she will not leave me alone. I thought that I would change my opinion of her once I had my own child, but I have made it very clear where I want my relationship to be with her, and she cannot accept that so I have to move on. I have the greatest parents on earth and I would not do anything to hurt or jeopardize their feelings.

3. My second and third toe on both feet are webbed. I hated them, and my mom tried to make me feel better by calling them twin toes. I once asked a doctor to separate them and he wouldn't do it. He told me to go to the beach and look at every one's feet and I would find someone else who had the same thing. I didn't find any at the beach, but my third grade teacher revealed that she too had feet like that. I think she was my favorite teacher of all time.

4. I have a 13 year old step son. I have a lot of problems with him, but mainly they come from the fact that his mother is a piece of crap and isn't around enough to teach him the simple things in life. He might be coming to live with us this fall, and while my anxiety goes on high alert with the thought of it, I know he will be better off in the long run.

5. I had a miscarriage in early 2001. I broke up with the guy right after it happened. If the pregnancy would have taken, I would have delivered in December 2001 and would not have been at the company Christmas Party where I happened to meet the man I am married to now. I honestly feel that it happened to me for a reason.

That's it! I'm not tagging anyone, so feel free to do this if you like!

A little bit of fun..

I've been tagged by Connie to do a meme of 7 songs that I'm listening to right now...so here we go!!

1. Nobody by Akon - no reason other than it's a perfect summer drinking on the patio song.

2. So Over It by Katherine McFee - I don't generally have the McPheever, it's just a song I heard last week after we got royally screwed out of a house. I was going to blog about it...long story short, we made an offer on a house, we were told that the offer was accepted, then we got a call saying another couple offered the sellers $11,000 more than asking price. Yep...but I'm over it so the song is perfect.

3. Say it Right by Nelly Furtado - This song is #1 on my IPod, and I love rolling down the windows and turning this one up.

4. Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts - no real reason for this one...other than the fact that this song was popular the summer after getting my license, and I loved rolling the windows down and jammin to this one

5. Yeah by Usher - yeah I know this song is old, but I can't help it...I think Usher is hot and I get pumped up every time I hear this. In fact I like it so much I made my DJ play it 3 times in a row at my wedding...2 years ago.

6. This Ain't a Scene by Fall Out boy - just another good summer song

7. Wind it Up by Gwen Stefani - I hated this song at first, but now I can't get enough of it. Gwen's my girl

Tag, you're it Holly, Whitney, and Lisanne

TGIF...

Those 4 letters used to be what I looked forward the most during the week. Boy how times have changed. I'm lucky to know what time of day it is, not to mention what day of the week!! I used to never rely on a calendar, I could pretty much remember everything that I had to do without writing it down, and now??? I might as well right down scheduled times to go to the bathroom!! Why is it now that I'm home, everything in the house seems to fall apart?? Sure...I'm taking care of a baby all day long, but Ava's so good at entertaining herself that I should have plenty of time to catch up on laundry, change out the dishes in the dishwasher, clean a room or two here and there. I used to be a freak about keeping my house cleaned, and now it seems that the only thing I do seem to be good at is vacuuming, but that's only because with two pets and my hair falling out at record speed I'm sick of picking hair off of Ava's clothes. I'm past the point of picking up toys everyday, I mean what's the point when all you do is turn right around and put them out again?? I've seriously contemplated seeing if hubby will let me hire a cleaning service to come in and clean once a month...but I already know what he will say. He doesn't always seem to understand how hard it is to be a stay at home mom. Do any of your husbands think that you sit around and do nothing all day?? Because apparently mine does....but then there will be a time on the weekend where he's left alone with the baby say for...maybe an hour and as soon as I walk back in...he complains that he needs a break!!! HA!! But I don't complain most of the time, because I know I'm lucky enough to have a husband that thinks we can afford for me to stay home (at least for right now).

So with my ramble over...and getting back to the original reason I wrote this post...it is Friday and I've got a fun weekend planned! I'm not going to tell you what I'm doing tonight, mainly because I'm too embarrassed to talk about it. If you really want to know, all you have to do is ask :-) Tomorrow we're taking Harley (the dog) to the kennel so he can play with some of his buddies, and then I'm taking my best friend to the basketball game. Basketball is HUGE here and we are playing one of our big rivals...who happens to be ranked #1 so you can figure it out. She has 3 kids so this is our night out. Hubby is even paying for us to stay in a hotel room Saturday night...but don't let that fool ya, the game will be more than enough excitement and we will probably crash about 12:00!! She's a SAHM mom to 3 and doesn't get to spend many nights away, so I think she might be looking forward to it more than me. Sunday is one of our nephews 9th birthday so we are going to a party for him, and that will be the first time that I get to see my new nephew who will be 2 weeks old, so me and Ava are both anxious for that!!

Ava's gearing up for a fun night at "camp" aka Grandma and Grandma's house

I hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend!!