Celebrations

On Thursday I attended a Celebration of Life for my student Danielle's mother, Christy. I also taught Danielle's older twin sisters Meaghan and Rebeckah, two years ago. Christy went to be with the Lord early Monday morning after a battle with breast cancer. She was 34 years old. Gone too soon. When I saw the girls Wednesday night at the visitation, they were doing very well. There were a ton of people there and many of their friends from school came. At the funeral, they were not doing so well and it broke my heart. Apparently Danielle needed her inhaler before the funeral due to her asthma and she started crying because her mom was always the one to help her with her inhaler. It's just not fair. Meaghan and Rebeckah are going to middle school next year. Danielle is really struggling academically. They need their momma. I promised their dad Steve I would take care of them at school and that's what I will do but no one can replace their momma. Contininue to pray for this family. I am so heartbroken for them.

You will be missed Christy!

Friday night, the Phi Mu alumnae girls got together with our significant others for a chili cookoff. Everyone brought a pot of chili and some cash. We had a jar in front of each pot of chili and you voted with your money. The chili that had the most money won and we donated all the money to our philanthropy, Children's Miracle Network. We always donate our money locally, to MCG children's hospital in Augusta. Nick made his famous deer meat chili and guess what? He won!!!

 We had a blast just hanging out and talking and of course eating good food!

Also this weekend, my bestie Ashley turned 30! Her husband Kevin threw a surprise birthday party for her. She had absolutely no idea!

 

 You can't see it very well in this picture, but she is wearing the monogrammed fleece jacket I got her for her birthday. I liked it so much, I ordered one for myself! I could't

help it, hehe. This is me, Ash and our friend Kristin.

Even though it was a really sad week, I was glad it ended on a good note.

So What!!!

Linking up with Shannon again for another "So What Wednesday"

 

Here's what I am saying "so what" to this week:

 

1. I got an extra planning period yesterday because my class had guidance. I spent half the time texting with my sister in law when I had a million things to do. It had been one of those days and I just need to unwind.

 

2. I watch Teen Mom 3. Trash, trash, trash but so entertaining. Love how Alex continues to leave her child unattended on table tops even after she fell off a chair on her head. Mom of the year! I saw in US Weekly that Mackenzie and Josh are married and have another kid on the way. I hope they do a spinoff show in a few years called 22 and Divorced. Leah from Teen Mom 2 can be on it too because I am sure she will be divorced a second time by then.

 

 

3. All of my pre-pregnancy dress pants for work fit EXCEPT the ones from Express. I don't think people that shop at Express have kids too often so I am not really worried about it.

 

4. People that OBSESS over the gender of their unborn child and get mad if they don't get the gender they want. This seriously irks me and I always seem to run across these idiots. Be happy you are able to have a child. There are many people out there who would love to be in your shoes and are struggling with infertility. Very selfish and insensitive. I can understand being privately a little disappointed but complaining and crying about it publicly is just ridiculous.

 

5. Daylight savings time. I was all nervous that Kennedy would be off schedule and have a hard time adjusting but she has done great!

 

What are you saying "so what" to this week?

5 on Friday

Linking up with these fabulous ladies for the "5 on Friday" fun! Here's what's on my mind this week:

 

1. This week has been a fun week, but a sad week as well. My student Danielle's mother Christy is dying from breast cancer. She was first diagnosed 5 years ago, went into remission and the cancer recently came back with a vengence.  Her liver is starting to shut down and the doctors are saying it could be any day now. This has really hit me hard because Danielle's older twin sisters Meaghan and Rebeckah were in my class two years ago and I got to know Christy well. She helped out with class parties, chaperoned on field trips and volunteered at the school often. She is an amazing mom. She recently told her sister that she wasn't afraid of dying but she was just heartbroken over all the things that she was going to miss out on in her girls lives. Absolutely heartbreaking. Please pray for this sweet, sweet, sweet family.



2. How was your Halloween? Ours was fabulous! Our neighborhood goes ALL OUT for decorating and trick or treating. You usually can't even leave our neighborhood between 6 and 9 because the streets are so packed with trick of treaters. However, this year we didn't have nearly as many as usual. Trunk or treating has become really popular at some of the local churches so we are wondering if that's where all the trick or treaters went. But anyway, we took Kennedy trick or treating at a few houses and she had a blast!

3. Third grade went on a field trip this week to Brusters to make our own ice cream and then to the North Augusta Greenway for a nature walk. We had a blast! The kids made cotton candy explosion ice cream which has pop rocks in it, very yummy! Check out this giant spider we spotted on our nature walk. Even the boys in my class were screaming over it!

4. How bout them Gamecocks??? Best win of the season!!!! So glad I stayed up to watch it even though I was exhausted from Boo at the Zoo! We are still in the running for the SEC East! Go Cocks!

5. Lastly, I will leave with you with Kennedy and her babydoll. I love this little girl more than words can say!

Kennedy is 11 months old!

 

 Sick at home with Daddy on her 11 month birthday but still managed a smile for pictures!

 

I am linking up today with Kristin at Busy Bee for "Baby Talk Tuesday." Kennedy turned 11 months old yesterday. I can't believe she is less than a month away from being one. My pregnancy seemed to go by soooo slow but once she got here, everything went by soooo fast.

 

What has Kennedy been up to this month?

*Walking a few small steps here and there, still not completely on the go. Unless she is pushing her little shopping buggy, then boy can she move!

*Eating a lot of new foods! She had her first cupcake at Jackie's shower and loved it! She also is a huge pasta fan like her Mommy.

*Waves and says hi to almost everyone she sees! She is very friendly!

*Loves her babydoll!

*Loves to play in the playpen at school with her best buddy, Emerson.

*Cutting her top two teeth!

*Very clingy to Mommy the past couple of weeks.

*Favorite book right now is The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle.

*Favorite tv show is still Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

 

In just two weeks, we will be taking her 1 year old pictures. My friend Valerie that took my maternity pictures will be taking them. She does a great job. I can't wait! It's hard to believe this was a year ago.....

 

 

Have a great rest of your week! :)

Boo at the Zoo!

 We had a blast at Boo at the Zoo! Kennedy was one adorable Snow White! :) They had a lot of lights and some of the animals were out. I didn't get a good picture but we actually saw one of the kangaroos hopping around which was crazy because usually the kangaroos are sleeping when you go during the day. They also had a bunch of candy stops but we didn't get any candy for Kennedy because obviously she is not old enough to eat it. My MIL kept telling me we should get some and just eat it ourselves but I think that's kinda tacky. I always get annoyed when adults come to our house on Halloween and trick or treat.

It was really fun looking at everyone's costumes. We saw quite a lot of other Snow White's. My SIL Gretchen and I got a huge kick out of a mom and dad that were dressed as Teletubbies and their son was a lion...seemed very random to us. We told Nick and his brother Ben that next year we thought they should go as Teletubbies, hahahaha.  They weren't having it. Nick did like all the Duck Dynasty costumes! :)

Kennedy with her cousins, Lexie, Tabatha and Marley. We tried to get pictures of the cousins and this was about the best we could get. Kennedy is cutting her top two teeth so she was not in the best mood and Marley kept trying to escape!

 Our first Halloween as a family of 3. :)  I think next year Kennedy will enjoy it a little more because she will be almost 2! Can't believe she will be 11 months tomorrow! :)

How was your weekend???

That awful feeling!

When Kennedy was a newborn, I could not do the whole "sleep when she sleeps" thing. As soon as she fell asleep, I was up washing bottles, cleaning up, doing laundry etc...By the time Nick got home from work, I was a zombie. Too tired to even shower. I would just crawl into bed. Kennedy nursed every 2-3 hrs so I wasn't getting much sleep at night either. One day during my maternity leave, Kennedy was having a really rough day. She cried pretty much non-stop alllll morning long. At one point, I got so stressed that  I accidently dropped the Itzbeen timer on her little face. :( Right at that time my bestie Megan came over to visit and so I could take a shower. I met her at the door hysterically crying. I felt like such a failure of a mom. Megan looked at me and said "Give me Kennedy. Go take a shower and go to bed." And that's exactly what I did. When I woke up, I felt much better but I will never forget that awful feeling.

I haven't felt that way again until tonight. Honestly I am usually one of those just "go with the flow moms" but tonight was a different story. Nick had class so Kennedy and I met my sister in law Rachael at Chili's for dinner. Kennedy did really great during dinner until right when the waitress brought our check. She got very whiny and fussy so I picked her up out of the high chair and was going to hold her until the waitress brought back my card. Well I quickly discovered that Kennedy had had a MAJOR blowout. Probably one of the worst ones she has ever had. She is cutting her top two teeth so her diapers lately have not been fun, but this one was BAD. I quickly took her to the bathroom, used the WHOLE travel case of wipes to clean her up, grabbed a change of clothes in her bag,  then discovered that I HAD NO DIAPERS IN HER DIAPER BAG. Seriously? Who does that? Of all the things to NOT have in a diaper bag. I remember changing her at my aunt and uncle's on Sunday and thinking "yikes, this is the last diaper in here, I need to put more in her bag"  but obviously forgot all about it when I got home.

So I ended up just putting her in her change of clothes with no diaper. By some miracle, we were able to drive the 15 minutes home without her peeing or pooping again.  As soon as we got home though, I discovered that I was covered in poop from carrying her. How did I not notice this??? Put her down on the floor with some toys so I could change and she starts hysterically crying and holding her arms up saying "mama, mama."  Teething has also made for a very clingy baby! I had to just let her cry because I had to get out of those yucky clothes but by the time I was changed into my pj's, I was crying too. I felt so stupid for not having a diaper and I felt awful listening to her cry for me and not being able to pick her up because I had to clean poop off my clothes and arms. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal but I just felt like such a failure because of all the things to forget?!?! I gave her a bath and we spent the rest of the night snuggling watching Sprout network until bedtime. Nick came home and I started crying again just telling him what happened because I felt so stupid. Nick looked at me and said "so? you forgot a diaper!" Then he proceeded to tell me all the great things I do as a mom like singing songs, playing with Kennedy on the floor, taking her on walks, reading to her every night, praying with her every night, talking and interacting with her instead of being addicted to my Iphone like so many other moms. After that, I realized he was right. I forgot to restock her diaper bag. So what. So much worse could have happened! I felt a little silly for getting so emotional. No mom is perfect and I know that God chose me as Kennedy's mom because he knew I would be a great mom to her. Even when I forget to restock the diaper bag....

So What Wednesday

Linking up with Shannon today for "So What Wednesday." It's been awhile since I have done this linkup and I miss it! :) Here is what I am saying "so what" to this week:

1. I immediately bought Kennedy a long sleeved white onesie when I heard it was going to be in the low 60's this Saturday night when we are at "Boo at the Zoo." There is no way I am putting a coat on over her adorable Snow White costume.

2. I am sending out Kennedy's 1st birthday invitations this week. Her party is November 23rd. A little early, yes, but I couldn't wait any longer!

3. I bought all of the decorations and favors for her party at Party City. I wish I was a crafty mom, but I am just not. I don't want her party to be one big Pinterest fail so storebought was the way to go for me.

4. When Ashley and Kevin came to visit last Friday night, we got home from the haunted house around 10:00. All four of us were in bed asleep by 10:30. Things sure have changed! This picture was taken Halloween 2009 when Megan, Ash and I were 25. So much much more energy back then and even more energy back in the college days....but ya know what? So what? I kinda like being old and I LOVE being a mommy! Oh and don't you just love Nick's "Billy Mays" Oxy Clean costume? Bahahaha!

 

Have a great rest of your week!