School just got more fun!

I am so excited! Lori Beth has started her observations and she is with me each Tuesday during 5th period. I am so pumped to have a good friend here with me. I know I will miss her when the observations are over. Until then, I'm going to enjoy the good company...might even put her to work!!!! :)

Flying solo...

Well, Nick started his part-time job this weekend. We need the money but IT STINKS! He worked Saturday 7AM to 8:30 PM and Sunday 7AM to 6:30PM. I take for granted the help he provides with our darling children! Getting ready for church was an interesting ordeal, especially considering that Andrew had kept me up the past few nights and I was a walking zombie.

We had a fun weekend, though. Friday night we went to Sumo for an early birthday celebration. Sushi, MMMMMMMM! Then Saturday Mom, Peyton, Andrew and I went to the Galleria. We were looking for new pants for me but found none (that's the problem with a big booty and short legs!!!) Then, of course, it was all football the rest of the evening. WAR EAGLE, even if the offensive play calling was horrible. Then church on Sunday.

Weekends fly by too quickly these days, just like the past year has! Thank you to all of my friends and family for putting up with me for another year. I hope to have many more to come!

Tater Tots vs. Bumblebees

Thankfully, the Bumblebees were much more on our level and didn't "sting" us. If we had been keeping score, Peyton's team would have won. Peyton still hasn't scored a goal, but at least she kicked the ball last night. She was so excited, too. Her coach took her aside and said something to her (not sure what) and after that, it was all good. Every time her teammate Griffin scored, she would yell, "Woohoo! Coach Felix, we did it again!" She had a blast! Hope to post some pictures this weekend.

First soccer game...

It was an ordeal to remember! Peyton's team, the blue team, the "Tater Tots" were playing the red "Flame". Okay, the names should tell you right away...the Tater Tots were about to be BURNED! Peyton's team is comprised of 6 players, 3 girls and 3 boys, none of whom have EVER played soccer before. The red team, also comprised of 6 players, has three boys who have played together before. NOT GOOD!

It was obvious after the first 5 minutes of play that the red team was on the ball and the blue team was chasing behind, trying to keep up. Still, Peyton kept in good spirits. She ran and kept up, but wasn't too sure about getting in the swarm of children to try and steal the ball. At halftime, she said, "I just can't get the ball away from that red team!" We told her to do her best and kick the ball when it came close and have fun. Nick gave her some tips on getting in the game, and she went back in to help her team.

Near the end of the game, it was obvious she was beginning to get frustrated. She would snap her fingers and say, "Awwwwww, man!" when the other team would score. (By the way, they don't keep score, but if they had it would have been about 13 to 2, red leading.) Peyton was yelling at us from the field, "I can't get the ball!" Still, she stayed on the field and ran her hardest.

Now for the tear-jerker...On the very last play of the game, I look out on the field to see Peyton running after the ball as fast as she can with a look of concentration and determination, but with tears rolling down her cheeks! It took all I had not to burst into tears myself. Here she was, trying as hard as she could, knowing she couldn't get the ball but refusing to give up. It broke my heart into a million pieces and made me so proud at the same time. While other kids had cried and given up because it was hot or they were tired or for one of a million other excuses kids always give, she wasn't giving up.

The game ended and they all gave high-fives. Peyton ran to me with a look of confusion. I could see all the different emotions on her face. I grabbed her up and as soon as she looked into my eyes, she fell apart. Mid-bawl she says, "Mommy, I was just trying so hard to get that ball and I couldn't get it from that red team. I just couldn't get it!" After she had a good cry, she was fine. My mom started getting Peyton to kick the ball and all was well. She got a kick out of the fact that Gigi couldn't kick the ball as good as she could! We told her we were proud of her and Nick told her he'd get her a soccer ball so they could practice at home.

In the end, she seemed okay with everything. She said she had fun, and that's what's important. We play again Thursday night. It will be interesting to see what happens and if her opinion changes now that she knows what she's in for! I just pray that she gets out there and enjoys herself...we will save the competition for later!

Peyton's Soccer Schedule

Peyton's first soccer game is tonight! She plays at West Jefferson (behind the old high school.) Everyone is welcome to attend. I know she'd love to see some familiar faces!!!

***All games begin at 5:45!

9/23
9/25
9/30
10/2
10/9
10/16
10/21
10/23

5-months-old and holding!

I know that every day is precious and I love to watch my little ones grow, but I think we are going to hold here at 5-months-old. I can't believe he's grown so quickly! We gave him cereal for the first time Friday night. He liked it, but still wasn't too sure about it. He woke up 4 times that night...and here I thought cereal was supposed to help them sleep! Repeat on Saturday night... up 4 times. Then finally on Sunday night he figured it out! He was flapping his arms like baby bird wings and opening that mouth as if to say, "More, Mommy, MORE!" He would fuss between bites. It was so sweet! AND he was still asleep when I woke up at 5:30. I had to get him up because I was about to explode. He ate, and went back to sleep until 8:20. Maybe this is the beginning of a beautiful new schedule, one full of sleep for Mommy!

Uh oh!

Everybody say a prayer for me. I woke up this morning with a stuffy nose and incredibly bad pain in the right side of my chest. Also a low-grade fever. I think I might be getting a breast infection. After seeing what Kim's gone through, I sure hope that's NOT what it is...

Sad mommy

I knew this day would come, but I didn't expect it so soon. This morning when I left home, Andrew was still asleep. After I dropped Peyton off at school I called Mom to tell her something. Andrew was up and in his usual cheerful mood. I had a few minutes before I had to be at work, so I stopped back by the house to say good morning to him. He was so smiley and happy! He was sitting in his high chair watching mom was dishes. I played with him for a few minutes and then got ready to leave. As soon as I got out of his range of sight, he started crying for me. It broke my heart!!! Like I said, I knew this day would come, but I didn't expect it so soon!

Sweet sleep!!!

Andrew slept until almost 5:00 this morning! WOOHOO! I got 6 straight hours of sleep. I didn't know what to do with myself. After I got up to feed him, I was so excited that I couldn't go back to sleep. Go figure! I finally dozed back off about 20 minutes before the alarm sounded. Oh, well. It was worth it!

This crazy life!

Man, life is busy right now! I know it will be this way until after Christmas. Nick had orientation for his new part-time job the past two days, soccer practice Monday, church tonight, meetings after school tomorrow, gotta get Kids' Market stuff ready Friday...then Saturday morning is Kids' Market drop off, going to Academy to get Peyton's soccer stuff, then Christopher's birthday party. WHEW! And next week isn't any better.

I was nursing Andrew on the couch last night and looked down at him. He had fallen asleep in my lap. As I watched him, I realized that his legs now wrap around the side of my waist. He has grown so much. I asked Nick, "When did he get so big?" It's been a month since I came back to work and it seems that he has grown exponentially. I cannot believe he will be FIVE MONTHS OLD in 11 short days. Where is the time going???? I want it back. I want to gobble up every morsel of this first year and hold on to it forever.

To all the new mommies and mommies-to-be...treasure it and don't worry about what other people say. Who cares if you hold them too much? Who cares if they sleep in bed with you? There will always be time for you to help them grow up. For now, just enjoy all the love you can hold and let them be little.

My little ones...

Checking in...

I got a little sleep last night! Woohoo! Nick put Andrew to bed shortly after we got home, which was around 9:00. I didn't go to bed until 11:30, but Andrew slept until 3:45. It was nice to get a few hours sleep. When Nick's alarm went off at 2:30, I rolled over to see a sleeping Peyton in the bed with us. We both must have been knocked out because neither of us heard her come in the bed. Oh, well...as long as we all got sleep.

Sleep deprivation STINKS!

My wee one has to sleep eventually! I mean, really...what's the deal? I think I'm going to have to start giving him cereal next week because I am seriously sleep deprived. (I say that every week, by the way. Just ask Kim!) I know that doctors say cereal won't help them sleep, that they will sleep through the night when they are ready. But it might be worth a shot at this point. I hate complaining because Andrew is such a fantastic baby. He almost never cries and he's smiley 90% of the time. He just doesn't particularly like to sleep. I guess I have to put it into perspective and realize that it won't last forever. I think I'd rather him be happy when he's awake. Peyton cried all the time but slept all night. I think I can deal with no sleep better than a screaming baby.

We went out to dinner with Ronnie, Cindy, Anna, and Autumn last night. Cindy got a new bed for her birthday and it's gorgeous. When we went back to their house to see the bed, I got to see baby pictures of Kyle and it's remarkable how much he and Andrew favor. The shapes of their heads, eyes, and nose are pretty much spot on. It's crazy! Peyton had the best time playing with A&A. I don't know who had more fun, Peyton or the big girls!

Reasons to smile

As if I didn't have enough reasons to smile, God continues to bless me. Pumping is going GREAT! I continue to have enough milk to freeze...I have about 50 ounces in the deep freeze now! WOOHOO! (I apologize to those of you who didn't expect graphic information. I'm so happy, I can't stop myself!)

The long weekend was very enjoyable. We had a great time Friday night at our Barnabas meeting...I think Peyton and Andrew would have moved in! Then Saturday Nick and I were both pleased as our teams won their season openers. WAR EAGLE!

I spent Sunday night after church with Kim and Heather laughing over too many things to count, including the fact that I can't eat buffalo chicken right now. EVIL! You should have seen me drooling over Heather's plate.

And, to start the week off right, I found out Michael Buble is coming back to B'ham in concert. Nick and I LOVE his music. We went to the concert the last time he was in town and had a blast. Nick is getting me tickets for my birthday, which is the 29th of this month. Yes, I'm getting older than dirt and twice as dusty.

I hope all my friends had as great of a weekend as I did.