Quick Potty Update...

I can confidently say that Tripp is now day-time pee-pee trained!!! He has not had an accident in his pants in about 4 days! I am so proud of him! It has been so easy for us; it shocks me. Now, he will even take off his pants and underwear himeself without telling anybody he needs to go and run to the bathroom! Last night after we put him to bed (in a diaper), he started yelling for his daddy. When Joey went in there, he said he had to go potty. So, he wanted to get up and go even though he could have easily gone in his diaper. We still have a ways to go on #2! He is completely freaked out by it. But oh well! At least I don't feel like he really needs to wear diapers during the day anymore and he can stop sleeping in the expensive over night diapers because he is starting to hold it most of the night. Okay...there's my brag on my big boy!

You be the Judge!!!

Who does this look like?!?!

Potty Training 101

We've been working really hard with Tripp on potty training. A while back (like a year ago) Tripp was showing a lot of interest in beginning to use the potty. However, lazy momma over here didn't take advantage of it. Then I went back to work, we moved for the second time, and Tripp started going to a sitter full time all in a 2 week period. The area we saw him regress in was using the potty. He wanted nothing to do with it. When we would ask him about it or try to talk to him about it, he would have none of it. Over the last few weeks, he has slowly started showing interest again. This time I have jumped all over it. This weekend, while we were at home, he has only worn big boy underwear. We've had to put the toddler potty in whatever room he is in at the time and let him run around in just his shirt and underwear, but it has worked! He is telling us when he needs to go and a couple of times, he has gotten his underwear off on his own and pottied without even telling us! Now, we are getting close to mastering peepee. The other? Who knows when that will happen? He's actually had 2 accidents off that in our floor! Yuck! We'll see how he does at the sitter's this week. I'm so proud of him! It will be nice not to have to buy diapers for him anymore!

Showing off his underwear

Using his potty!

Good Times, Great Friends

For the first time in I don't know when, I went out two nights in a row this weekend. Friday night, Joey and I went with a huge group of people to a club/bar in Covington to hear Rhett Akins play. At first Joey and I weren't real sure what we getting ourselves into, but we had a GREAT time! We started off the night at a mexican restaraunt and then headed over to the OZone. Rhett Akins didn't start playing until almost 10:30, but we got to listen to the DJ and then the opening band before he came on stage. I LOVE to dance and don't ever get to do it anymore, so it was a lot of fun. I didn't think to take my camera with me, but Christen snapped a picture of the two of us. Let me just say, I love this girl! She has made my transition in moving to Madison way easier on me! Saturday night, I actually had a girls night. Maria and Anna came down from Henry County and Forsyth to meet up with me and Laurie. Laurie's husband Marc is Joey's best friend. We went and ate dinner at The Icehouse and then went back over to Laurie's to hang out for a little bit. The men all hung out at our house with all the kids. They handled themselves very well, and when I got home, both my kids were in bed and Laurie's little boy Peyton was asleep in the living room. The only one still up was Brody (Maria's little boy). It was a really good time and I look forward to doing it more soon. Needless to say, I took a nap today! This body isn't used to two late nights in a row! However, the more and more I go out and build relationships here in Madison, the more and more it will begin to feel like home!

Me, Anna, Maria, and Laurie before leaving my house for dinner

At the restaraunt

Me and Maria....what would I do without her?

Finally...Some Good News!

Linda went today for the results of her latest scan and the cancer is COMPLETELY GONE!!! Praise God! They said within 4-6 weeks she should be feeling like her old self again. They also told her that there is a less than 10% chance that it will ever come back. It will be great to have her feeling up to par again.....for many reasons (one of which is babysitting:-))! We are just so thankful for all the calls and prayers over the last few months. We've definitely been able to feel them and our God is so GOOD!

History in the Making

I'm the first to admit how ignorant I am when it comes to politics. However, it doesn't take Einstein to realize that today is an important day in America's history. I'm at school right now and in just a little while, I'll let my students watch the Inauguration live. I have no idea what the next four years holds in store (nor does anyone else), but I do know that God holds our nation in the palm of His hand. Nothing that happens will take Him by surprise. Although I didn't vote for Obama, I do pray for him over the next four years. He has a big job ahead of him and not one that I would ever want.

Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody, Everywhere!

Today while I was putting groceries away, I heard someone humming the "Clean Up" song. I turned around and found Makinley rearranging the refrigerator. She was humming while she was doing it! Even though she can't say the words yet, she is able to hum the right tune! Daddy came running to snap a few pictures!

Taking everything is out

Salad dressing back in its spot

Hmm...where does Mommy keep the chocolate milk mix?
Oh, yeah, right here!

Finally, the spray butter back where it belongs!

Aren't I lucky to have such a great big helper?!

Happy Birthday, Big Poppa!!!

January 21st is my Daddy's birthday, so last night we spent the evening celebrating with him and my mom. We took the kids to a Japanese Steakhouse for dinner. Tripp was hilarious. When we first got there something on the wall scared him so he wouldn't leave my mom's lap. Once he got over that, the chef came out and made the fire on the grill and Tripp was totally freaked out. Joey and I didn't get to enjoy our dinner because for the first time ever, Mak decided she didn't want to sit in her highchair. She has always been so good about just hanging out in her chair for the majority of the meal and last night she wasn't having any of it. She wanted out the second we put her in. We barricaded her in the corner for a little while where she could walk around but not go far, but that didn't last long. We all ended up passing her around until finally Joey just had to get up and walk around with her. One of the highlights of the night though came when Makinley all of the sudden stopped what she was doing and started grunting. I said, "Mak, are you pooping?" and she nodded her head! When she finished, she walked over to me and pointed to her diaper. I said, "Do you need your diaper changed?" and she said "Yeah" and went to go lay down on the floor of the restaraunt. It was so funny and I couldn't believe she actually understood what I was asking her! Just shows how much she is growing up! I'm also hoping this means she is going to be easy to potty train! Although it was a hectic meal, both my kids gave us a few laughs! Happy Birthday, Daddy! I love you and hope you have a gazillion more!

For the only few minutes that she sat in her chair

One keeps their eyes open, the other closes them

Tripp being scared of something on the wall
Mak hanging out with her Poppa
Tripp was terrified of the fire, so he hid on the floor (real sanitary, I know)

"Is it safe to come out yet?"

These two love thier GiGi and Poppa!

Two Big Baby Dolls

Hey, whatever works to keep them happy! :-)

Picture Update: Paw Paw's Services

My dad and his two sisters...Susan on his right, Mary Grey on his left. Ignore his eyes being closed, it ALWAYS happens! Paw Paw's memorial table
The picture board

The Sheneman, Ham and Brooks Families

Grandma and Paw Paw's headstone

Tripp with his American flag sticker in honor of his G-Pa

Joey chased Makinley around the whole graveside service

Joey, Mak, Mark (my cousin), Trey, and Liz (my cousin Matt's wife)

My mom and dad singing, "The Lighthouse"

My cousin Matthew

I thought it was fitting that Makinley found an American flag to occupy her

A Momma's Plea

I know several of my blog reader friends have had their pictures made recently by Jen at At First Sight Photography. Awhile back, Jen posted an "In Memory of" post on her blog of an 18 month old boy she had photographed that passed away on Christmas Eve. At school today, a fellow teacher sent out a prayer request for one of her best friends who had just lost her baby boy on Christmas Eve and it was the same baby Jen had photographed. Small world, huh? Anyway, I just want as many people as possible praying for this sweet family. I may not know them personally, but as a momma, my heart absolutely breaks for them. Click here to check out Ashley's (Webb's momma) blog. After reading her post today, I wanted to do nothing more than rush home and cradle my kids. Satan knows exactly how to attack me, and all day today I've been bombarded with thoughts of what I would do if this were to happen to us. I just don't know. I pray that during circumstances like that, I would run to the One that holds me in the palm of His hand. But, in my human heart, I know that would be tough. Once you've experienced holding your child in your arms for even half a second, you don't ever want to let them go. It's a love unlike anything I ever thought possible, definitely a love that a few words on a blog post could never encompass. But, please, join me in praying for the Broach family. I know they need it.

New Stats!

Makinley had her 15 month check up today, even though she turned 16 months old this week. Anyway, her new stats are:
24.10 pounds-75%
33 inches-95%
We talked a lot about her eating habits and the Dr is not at all worried that she still doesn't like to eat table foods that much. She told me to keep feeding her baby food veggies to get her vegetables in her. She is meeting all of her milestones great! The Dr said over and over again what a good baby she is. Makinley never makes a sound when we are at the Dr's office, no matter how much they poke and prod her. Now, when they gave her the shots, she cried for about 10 seconds after the second one. The first one just made her look at me funny, like "What the heck was that?!" Tripp, on the other hand, screams at the Dr's office if they just look at him. Just another example of how they are like night and day. Anyway, my baby girl is growing up too fast! I have a ton of pictures to post once the battery in my camera is charged!

Back in the Groove

Well, last weekend was a whirlwind. I went to Wilmington with my parents and brother on Thursday. We had my grandpa's memorial service on Friday morning and it went really, really well. My aunt, cousin, brother and daddy all spoke at his service and my mom sang Amazing Grace. I really think it was exactly what my Paw Paw would have wanted. There were tears shed, but there was also a sweet happiness to the service. After the memorial service, we packed up the car and headed to Salisbury, NC to have the graveside service on Saturday. Joey and the kids met us in Salisbury and we spent the night in a hotel for the first time with the kids. We got two rooms because I didn't want the kids to wake each other up! Mak and I slept in one room and Trey, Joey and Tripp stayed in another. Tripp thought it was this awesome adventure and he did great. Mak did ok....not great...but ok. Saturday morning, we had the graveside service. Again, it was really good. Trey led the whole thing. My cousin spoke again, my family (mom, dad, Trey and I) sang a song together and then my dad and mom sang another song. The best part of both services was when they played TAPS (is that right). It gave me chills. It was also very humbling when they presented my dad with an American flag at the memorial service. They knelt down on one knee in front of him and then saluted him when they stood up. Awesome. I do have some pictures from the weekend; I'll post them when I get them uploaded to the computer.

Now, it's back to the grind. I'm back at work and it's hard to get back in the swing of things. I've only worked 2 days in the last 3 weeks, so it's tough. But, we're making it. Plus, it's MLK weekend this weekend! :-) So, a 3 day weekend!

Not a Bad Deal

We decided to convert our bonus room into the kids' playroom for the time being. Or, should I say, to convert the bonus room into the area that now looks like a toy store exploded? However, the great thing about it is that Joey and I can walk downstairs and not have to look at it anymore! When we converted Tripp's crib to a bed, we moved his glider upstairs so that we would have somewhere to sit. But, we decided that it would be nice to also have a couch up there too. That way no one has to sit on the floor unless they want to. (We also have a full bedroom suit upstairs; it's a great sized room).

Now, we also have this big open area in our master bedroom that is supposed to be a sitting area. It's turned into the space Tripp and Makinley chase each other around in. Joey and I figured one day we would also put a couch there and maybe some end tables and a lamp.

About a month ago, the nurse at my school emailed out that she had two couches she wanted to get rid of for $150/each. Joey and I went and looked at them and decided that we would really like to buy one of them for our bonus room. Jill called us on Saturday to ask if she could deliver the couch and told us that she and her husband decided to just give us the other one because they wanted them out of their garage. So, Joey and I got two couches for $150. I don't think you can beat that! Now, they are about 10 years old and you can tell they have been loved on, but who cares? It's not like they are the main couches we sit on.

This is the one in the bonus room. It worked out great b/c Tripp's glider was also blue/white. Now we just need to get a blue comforter for the bed and we'll be set!

Obviously, this is our bedroom. We are going to get some brown accent pillows and a brown throw to go across the back of it and we'll be good to go. I'd like to get some end tables for either side too. (Please notice my two children have already made it into their new climbing toy)

So, anyway, isn't $75 a steal for a couch? We were really excited!

Lunch for champions

I've posted before about what a picky eater Makinley is. It's not getting any better. However, at least the four foods that she seems to love (or at least like) are healthy: bananas, yogurt, oatmeal, and applesauce. Now, it is very bothersome for her mommy that that is literally about all she will eat (unless I offer her baby food, which I am beginning to think she will eat until kindergarten if I let her), but at least it is something. It just gets very frustrating that I can't just give her whatever we are eating and her be content. She will literally just touch the food with her finger and start gagging. It never even reaches her mouth. I try offering her different things ALL the time, but we end up eating one of the four above mentioned things at every meal. I've even stopped giving her milk during the day to try and make her hungrier for food; she doesn't care. We go for her 15 month check up in a couple of weeks and I plan on talking to her pediatrician again about it then. At her 12 month check up (which she was really 14 months old when we went) the Dr told me she would rather Mak eat baby food than french fries. I'm scared it's a texture thing though and if I keep only giving her baby food, she'll never grow used to different textures. Now, she does fine with all types of snack foods. It's just main (nutritious) foods that I can't get her to eat. Anyway, today at lunch, she had her usual: oatmeal and a banana. She's getting to the point that she only wants to feed herself. She was so cute in her gray/black that I snapped a few pictures! Can someone please explain to me why my pictures won't load in the order I want them to? It's driving me nuts! Oh well, here they are in the wrong order!

Waiting patiently for my lunch

Walking towards Mommy to get in my chair (sucking on an empty toothpaste tube)

Eating all by myself!

New Year's Day

We had a very laid back New Year's Day. We really didn't do anything but hang out at the house. Joey watched some football, but that was the extent of the excitement. However, I did take a couple of pictures of the kids just to document the day!

I feel like she is really starting to look more like a toddler and less like a baby :-(

Sporting his red/black to support the Dawgs!

Made Whole

His body has been made whole again....no more cancer, no more liver and heart problems, no more nicotine addictions.....just a glorious body made perfect in the sight of our Heavenly Father. My heart hurts right now tremendously and I wish more than anything that I could give my daddy a hug and kiss my grandpa's head one more time. However, my God is good and His timing is perfect. My dad and his sisters were able to be with my grandpa as he drew his final breath on this earth. Scripture tells us to be absent from the body is to be present with God. That gives me such comfort right now even with all the hurt. My grandma and my brother were waiting anxiously and now there is a sweet reunion happening in Heaven. Thank you to everyone that has been praying!

January 2, 2005

That is the day that we said good-bye to Joey's dad. Today, on the 4th anniversary of his death, I find myself thinking about him a lot. He was such a good man and he loved his family so much. I'll never forget him telling me on my wedding day, "You're my daughter now" and he meant it. There was never an "in-law" attached to how he viewed me; I was just as much a part of his family as Linda and Joey. I really wish he could have met my kids. In fact, I really like to believe that before God gave them to me through pregnancy, Ralph kissed each of their faces from heaven. Tripp has Ralph's ears, so every time I look at him, I can't help but think of the man he was named after. As my heart is heavy on this January 2, 2009 thinking about my grandpa, I can't help but wonder if the two men will share the same anniversary. But I have to remind myself that although our hearts hurt when we lose ones we love....there are big reunions taking place in heaven at the same time!

The Year Ahead

Here are just a few of the things I look forward to in 2009:

1. My weekend get-a-way with Joey. We haven't been anywhere together for an entire weekend by ourselves in 4 years. In just a few weeks, we are going to Myrtle Beach together (that is if I can straighten out my children's sleeping habits by then) and my parents are going to keep the kids for us. We are so excited to have a few days just to reconnect and spend some quality time together kid-free. We'll miss them but it will make us appreciate being their parents that much more!
2. Getting involved in church. We have finally found a church that we really love, but so far we have only been to the main service. We look forward to getting involved in a small group and possibly in a women's and men's individual bible study. We also are excited about getting the kids involved in the children's ministry.
3. Tripp's 3rd birthday. I can't believe he will be 3 in March. Wow.
4. Makinley's 2nd birthday in September. Again...wow.
5. My last year in my 20's. Thirty is staring me in the face, so I'm going to enjoy my last full year in my 20's! Thirty sounds really old to me, by the way.
6. Watching Linda regain her health. Hopefully we will soon hear that she is in full remission. It will be great to see her get back to her old self.
7. Trey and Jennifer's wedding. May 30th will be here before we know it and Trey will officially be someone's husband. That's hard for me to believe, but there is no doubt that God ordained their relationship. I know it is going to be a great wedding and a time of togetherness for our family. Interesting facts: Joey and I started dating on April 2nd. Trey and Jennifer officially started dating on April 2nd. Joey and I got married on May 31st. Trey and Jennifer will get married on May 30th. Ironic, huh?
8. Hopefully, seeing the economy bounce back a little. Wishful thinking? Maybe not.
9. Potentially starting my master's degree. It is going to be really hard work, I know (especially with two little ones) but it's something I've been talking about doing for years and I'm going to bite the bullet. I know I will be glad I did it once it's over. Not only that, Joey said when I'm done I can get a maid! That's enough motivation for me!
10. Seeing what God does through each and every day of my life and through the lives of the ones that I love. One of my "New Year's Resolutions" is to be even more aware of the small blessings He gives. I want to see Him and know Him more. I don't want to take one single day for granted. Above all, I want to live for Him!!!!