4th of July

You know your weekend is starting out right when you stumble across the Oak Ridge Boys' "Elvira" on your radio, while waiting on a big bucket of fried chicken from Quik Chik. Quite the combo. I can't make it through that song (or a bucket of fried chicken) without smiling.





Something else that makes me smile...






Maybe I should've given that dress a once over with the iron. Oh well... when you're that cute, nothin' else matters. Crushed up clothes included.




Speaking of cute...

I bet his first word might be something along the lines of, "Momwhyareyousoobsessedwithplaid?"

After church, we enjoyed lunch at Aunt Ann's (except we prounounce it without the 't' -- it's more like "An Ann's") and spent time with my cousin, Hucks, and his family, who were visiting from Alabama.



Hannah, Anna, and Hamp

Matt and sweet Molly

After lunch, we made ourselves a to-go plate of Lemonade Pie, headed home, made some mashed potatoes that involved just as much butter, cream cheese, and Half & Half as it did potatoes, and headed right back into town for another get together with friends. I wish I would have taken pics during this little gathering, but the camera got left in the car. It lost its spot on the list of important things, right behind diaper bag and mashed buttery goodness.

Our small town sure can put on one big fireworks show! Kate really enjoyed them. Even more than that, she loved watching the smiles on everyone's faces as they watched them. She kept asking her cousin JP, "You like 'em? Do you like 'em?"

A little ink for the occasion

A fuzzy picture of my favorite gals, my two sisters.

The fuzziness gives it a summery night kind of glow, doesn't it? Actually, no it doesn't. It's just how it turned out and I'm choosing to embrace it.

M to the Izz-A was off work on Monday as well, so that evening we went to the park and played, played, played.

Well, not Hamp. But he was loving the outdoors!

My little monkey

After lots of playing, Hamp was still doin' his thing...

...so we kept right on playing.

Update:

Since my last post, I'm happy to say that Hamp has been doing really well. He seems more content, relaxed, and at ease with everything...which in turn, means I'm feeling more on the up and up. He's been sleeping a lot and his colicky symptoms are lessening. He's been one happy little man, which makes me one happy mama.

And this weekend M to the Izz-A and I will be celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary.
I think the Oak Ridge Boys said it best with, "Oom poppa, oom poppa, mow mow."

Earning Her New Digs

I think it was Warren G and Nate Dog that said, "You've gotta be handy with the steel hammer, if you know what I mean, earn your keep."



Friday:




Kate helped M to the Izz-A all weekend putting together the pieces for her new room. She helped put her big girl bed together and helped paint the toy shelf that Daddy made.


Saturday:

Sunday: our day of rest! Thank goodness!

Monday:

Junior just didn't have it in him to find the humor in the fact that Kate thought his nose needed a fresh coat of paint.

Her room no longer looks like a nursery. It's a 'big girl' room as we call it. Click here to see the before: Kate's nursery.

And this is the after:

And I ordered these cute art prints and matching door sign from etsy. They should be in any day now.

I love reorganizing, moving around furniture, and remaking over rooms, but this one was bittersweet for me. I can't believe my little girl doesn't need a crib anymore, and that she actually sleeps better in a real bed. The first night I saw her lying in bed, I had to smile to myself as I found comfort in the fact that she still looks so little in a 'real' bed. I was so glad she did. She's still little to me. And it seems she's growing up way to fast, as cliche as that sounds.

Tonight I copied some lyrics into the little journal that I keep for her from the Sidewalk Prophets song, "The Words I Would Say":

Be strong in the Lord and, never give up hope.

You're gonna do great things,

I already know,

God's got His hand on you,

Don't live life in fear,

Forgive and forget,

But don't forget why you're here,

Take your time and pray,

These are the words I would say.

Thank God for each day.

Before I had a child I used to think about what it would be like to have kids, and how I hoped that they'd be good at this or good at that... a great athlete, prom queen, valedictorian or whatever. But now it's not that all. As long as my children love the Lord with all of their heart, and have a heart serving Him and others before themselves, I'll be one proud, happy mommy. When it comes down to it, none of that other stuff really matters, at all.

Wow. I just realized I quoted a rap song (old school as it may be) and a praise and worship song all in one post.

Nice.

Go 'head Mr. Wendal

On the way to work I heard a song that I haven't heard in quite a while, Arrested Development's "Mr. Wendal". And yes, in case you were wondering, I still remember every single word of it as I successfully proved to myself and a few passerbys today.

Anyone care to duel it out?

Amazing

We sing a lot of praise and worship songs in our church and I've had one stuck in my head lately. I don't think it's by coincidence either. God puts songs in our heads and our hearts to remind us of what's important.

The song I've been singing lately as I go about my day reminds me that it's not about me or things I want to accomplish in this life. It's about HIM. How can we not sing HIS praise, through good times and bad? Our God is truly amazing and our plans pale in comparison to His ultimate plan for us.

I like the saying that goes something like this: Wanna make God laugh? Tell him your plans.
I mean really, what we can concoct in our minds as 'the perfect plan' for our lives, doesn't even come close to the Greatness of the Lord and HIS will for our lives.

Well, that's enough of me trying to analyze everything. I realize I start to just ramble because sometimes He leaves me speechless, really. I am in complete awe of the Lord's indescribable love for us and just how incredibly amazing He is.

Here's part of the lyrics I've been singing lately. It's from Chris Tomlin's "How Can I Keep From Singing Your Praise":

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And fall down again
I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love

What a man

Matt kept Kate today while I went to work as he usually does on Mondays. (He works four 12-hour days, so Mondays are his day off.) Well, when I got home, I was so happy to see that he had done more than just watch Spike TV all day long. In fact, he did a lot more, which is why he deserves a post of his own!

Before, I left this morning I asked him to please make sure that Kate gets dressed at some point today. And get her dressed he did! How funny is it that she was wearing a dress when I got home?! Granted it was a denim dress 2 sizes too big and probably more appropriate for Fall-type weather but I thought it was adorable on her and even cuter that he went to the trouble to dress her up a little. He also made a trip to Wal-mart and bought Kate her first potty. Yes, she's only 14 months old but she's been obsessed with potties lately and I guess it's never too early. And get this, he had already gotten the video camera out and taped her sitting on it for the first time. But to top if all off, he had a load of towels and sheets in the dryer. Oh yea baby, a girl could get used to this.
Whatta man, whatta man, whatta man, whatta mighty good man... (cue me some old school Salt-n-Pepa here)
So here's to my Mattie. Love ya!

Catchin' Up

Because I skipped a few days of blogging last week, I've got some catching up to do. As I mentioned before, the majority of my week consisted of sitting in a conference room watching Power Points on education and curriculum. I left that 3-day workshop with some REALLY great information...unfortunately for the presenters it had nothing to do with their presentations. It did however have everything to do with beauty products, which as you know, makes the whole thing TOTALLY worth it! I sat by a girl who recently moved here from Michigan and she mentioned that her mom works for L’Oreal. She went on to say that L’Oreal and Lancôme are not only made by the "same people" and in the same factory, but they are even made in the same vats! I've heard something about that before but...the same vats?! That's awesome! The only differences between the two are packaging and price, of course! I had to ask her which type of L’Oreal mascara she used, because it looked really good on her, but as my sisters can vouch, I've had an unadulterated marriage to L'Oreal's Voluminous line since the first stroke on my lashes back in middle school. (Except for a short Mary Kay stint that lasted about a month) Yea, don't hate, I started wearing mascara in middle school. What's up?! I also rocked some sweet-lookin' neon rubber bands on my braces. And?? ....Sorry, got a little off track.
She said that she used their Telescopic mascara in carbon black. Wellllll, if you know me, you know I had to swing myself into a Wal-Mart on my way home and get some! It's a weakness! Love me unconditionally please. Long story short, Voluminous and I are in the middle of a very nasty divorce. I LOVE the Telescopic. It has a weird looking brush/wand but it works perfectly. I also bought some other L’Oreal makeup and love it all. Their True Match line is great. Okay, just some good info, thought I'd pass it along.


As many of you know, this little mama is having a hard time leaving Kate while she goes off to work. Today was her first day with her new, "official" babysitter, Deanna. It took every ounce of restraint I had not to call and check on her every hour. I knew she was fine and wasn't really worried; I just missed her so badly. Deanna was great about it; she actually called me and gave me an update on their day so far. I really am thankful for the way things worked out.

I had to go and by some things last night to send with Kate today and heard the song "Find Your Wings" by Mark Harris. I love that song. It makes me think of Kate. But, at this transition time in my life, it had me all teary-eyed and runny nosed. Man, I think when you become a mom, you lose all control of your emotions. Seriously, believe it or not, you used to could not make me cry, no matter what. Now, it's the total opposite. But that’s okay, it’s totally worth it. So what if you show up to work the next day to take your picture for your new ID badge with puffy slits for eyes? Okay, maybe I cared a little. I'm hoping I'll laugh about it later. When I'm batting me some Telescopic lashes! ha!