Birthday Slash Christmas Slash Disco Tree

I told you I was putting up our tree early, and yes, I decorated it in pink and green colors to coordinate with MEC's first birthday party this Sunday. It is not as full as I usually like my tree to be, but I had to make due because I didn't necessarily have an attic full of pink and chartreuse green Christmas decor, you know what I'm saying. But I think it turned out really cute with what I had. I used green netting and wrapped it in and out of the branches. I used pink and green berries to tuck in between branches, several shiny hot pink disco ball-type ornaments and green and pink ribbon for the topper. Brannon even thought it turned out pretty darn cute.

We have had this artificial tree for the past five years and it is the only Christmas tree Brannon and I have ever used. We first acquired the tree for free from Pat's Florist Shop in Tuscaloosa. I used to work for Pat who had a bad habit of buying new prelit Christmas trees and quickly discarding the old. Well this particular tree had 700 lights attached to it, but not one of them worked. Pat was going to throw this poor tree away when I spoke up and said I would provide it with a good home. Because Brannon and I lived on very little money during the first couple of years of our marriage, he quickly drove to Pat's shop and threw the tree in his car, took it home, and spent an entire weekend plucking the embedded lights off the darn tree. His hands were so chapped and bruised, but he did it!

Today the tree leans horribly and has uneven branches at the bottom. It truly is becoming a ridiculous looking tree, but we just can't seem to part with it. We put it up year after year so proudly, and figure out new ways to rig it so it won't lean so badly. And you know what is so funny? The pieces of plastic the held the lights to the branches still fall out of the tree - five years later! Next year we promise to buy a live tree. I hope. We'll see. It's kind of sad.

The following are a couple of pics of the top of the tree and one of the ornaments. I can't wait to see some of your holiday decorations and stories that go with them. Please share with us on your blogs friends and family! This is the perfect time to share your traditions and stories.

Love you all!

Merry Christmas, Already

So, I'm putting up our Christmas tree this weekend. I know, I know - it's not even Thanksgiving. Well, I am crazy and I simply don't care. I'm ready to put it up so that's what I'm gonna do. I managed to have our Christmas tree up mid-November last year thinking my nine-month pregnant belly was going to pop at any moment. Obviously, I had a perfectly good excuse to put up our tree early last year - not knowing when baby MEC was going to arrive. I remember yelling at Brannon for plugging in the lights because I was embarrassed that I had had my tree up so early. I didn't want anyone to see our glowing tree from outside.

"Then why even have it up," he yelled back.

He was right so I allowed him to plug in the lights every night thereafter. A lighted Christmas tree is Brannon's favorite. He would sleep out on the couch to those lights if I let him. He's just a big kid. This year I'm gonna let my tree shine all over the neighborhood. The only excuse I have is that MEC's Birthday party is next Sunday at our house. I'm decorating the house myself with some green and pink streamers and balloons. I thought it would be nice touch to have the tree up for her birthday party and one thing led to another and now we are having a pink and green Christmas tree this year.

"Pink?" asked Brannon.

Sorry love bug, pink it is. But won't that be soooooooooooooooooooooo cute fellow friends? I have green and pink netting and hot pink ornaments with pink and green ribbon. Tee-hee. I can't wait to decorate the tree this weekend. I'll take pictures of it and post it here. The only thing is we are not using a live tree. The tree will die before Christmas, so a fake tree it is.

Next year I vow to wait until Thanksgiving to set up our tree. In fact, I want a live tree next year so I'll have to wait until then.

Unless............

Sleepy Head

I hate, HATE, waking Mary Ellen up from her sleep. She often wakes up around 6:00 a.m. and talks to herself before falling back to sleep for another hour. This means I usually have to wake her up on days I have to go to work. I can't stand it. She is not good at waking up and will let you know she is not happy with your decision. This morning I snuck a quick snapshot of her in her slumber before having to nudge her awake. She looks so sweet here with her bee-bottom up in the air and pacifier secure in her mouth. What you don't see is her yelling at me for waking her up!

Mary Ellen is really growing. She finally has three teeth and a fourth one working its way to the surface. She loves to play peek-a-boo and often covers just one eye so she can still see you. She is also taking steps on her own and it will not be long before she is walking all around this house! She LOVES music and LOVES to dance. She loves the theme song to "Go Diego Go" and likes to dance to it.

These days are so precious. They are also sometimes sad. I feel that if I blink, I may miss something. Children really remind you how fast time truly does fly.

End Times

I believe we are living in the end times. I believe Jesus will be returning soon - very soon. I cannot deny global ongoings that have been prophecised in the Bible and written plainly for all to read, see and hear. One prophecy I have been reflecting on lately can be found in Daniel 12:4, which says, "But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase."

We are living in a world of infinite knowledge. With the invention of the Internet, we have access to anything at anytime. You want to know about honey bees or aerospace design? Presto! That information is just a click away. Anything you want to learn about, anything at all, is literally at our fingertips.

Billy Graham was quoted as saying "...ninety percent of all the engineers and scientists who have ever lived are alive today." And he is right. Human cloning, prolonging life through science, and space travel are just a few examples of how far our knowledge has come. I not only believe that this scripture in Daniel is in reference to people understanding the prophecies of the Book of Daniel, but I also believe this prophecy applies to our increasing knowledge in medicine, travel, science and technology.

We are living in the age of information. This is that time.

"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:4

This has been heavy on my heart because I think of all the lost in our world, and they have no idea that the end is not only coming, it is very near. How can they not know, I ask myself? Who is not telling them? Why don't they believe? But I also find comfort in His word that many will be saved and "...shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." Daniel 12:10

We have a great responsibility brothers and sisters to reach all those we can reach. Remember the Great Commission. I continue to pray that God gives me the courage and wisdom to speak the truth, to tell all about Him! I pray that He gives me the courage to stand up and say, "I love Jesus and I am not ashamed! Look what he did for me!" I also pray that God continue to give me the opportunity to share His word and most of all, the discipline to learn His word by studying it and living it. I used to ask why God didn't speak to me. I wanted a big sign, like a rainbow in the sky or a bird on my shoulder. Guess what? The Bible is my sign. That's how God speaks to us. Where did I get the notion that it had to be something so majestic and, well, big? He speaks to us all the time. The question is, do we hear Him? Are we opening His word and inviting Him to speak to us? I'm speaking to myself, too, friends and family.

I didn't post this to bring anybody down. I just feel convicted. I think we have a great responsibility, and I for one was not fulfilling it. But I want to. I am going to.

I pray that you make a commitment to do the same. I'm so thankful someone shared the Word with me, or I may still be one of those lost.

Thanks for listening. I love you.

Trick-Or-Treat

Trick-or-Treat!!!!

We went trick-or-treating in Grove Park and it was so much fun! MEC loaded up on some candy for Mommy and Daddy. Way to go Mary Ellen! Aunt Bronwyn went with us this year and helped out tremendously. Let me just tell you - holding a one year old for more than an hour is not an easy task. It was nice to give my arm a break and pass her on to another arm. Wow is she getting big. I can't believe that I am planning a birthday party this month. My baby is going to be one. That is so not fair. I'm not ready for her to be one.

The streets on Halloween were flooded with trick-or-treaters and it made me think of my childhood. It was so neat to see the neighborhood out and celebrating with one another. I wish it could be like that more often. MEC had a great time. She laughed at some of the kids and even some of the adults who dressed up. She laughed at this one guy who was dressed as a clown until he turned around to talk to her. Then he wasn't so funny. In fact, he turned out kind of creepy to my little pumpkin.

The pumpkin outfit was made by Grandmother and of course she was just too cute. And she left her pumpkin hat on! Hooray!

I don't know why some of these turned out so blurry. Sorry. Just squint.

Aplin Farms

Saturday I took MEC to Aplin Farms for a day of pumpkins, sunflowers, animals and wagon rides. Daddy is on outage and has to work all day six days a week, so we invited Grandmother, Grandad and Aunt Bronwyn to go with us. We had the best time. MEC really loved the wagon ride. She bounced up and down the whole time, looking out over the rails. It was neat watching her enjoy the day and the outdoors. There is nothing more refreshing than a beautiful Fall day full of orange, red and yellow. The weather was breezy and perfect. We just wish Daddy could of been there. Next year we promised to go earlier in the year before his outage starts up in the Fall.

I do have pictures of me with MEC, but they were not taken with my camera. MEC's Alabama outfit was made by her Grandmother, who by the way is very talented.

On My Heart

Break out your ear plus. I joined the church choir. Well, at least for Christmas. We'll see how that goes first! This is something I always wanted to do, but often felt too intimidated to do so. I have felt led lately to get involved more. Yes, I am busy with work and school and being a mom and a wife, but I need to get involved more in the right things. I'm tired of giving God the leftovers. And you know what, for a long time that's what I've been giving Him. I want Him and His people to get the goods. So Heritage Baptist, ya'll are gettin' my sometimes on-key singing voice! I was also asked to be a part of the decorating committee, and I feel honored. I'm not sure if you want me decorating anything, but I'll show up nonetheless.

I also am making a commitment to share the Gospel. Not share it more. To simply share it. As Brother Van shared today during service, that's all it's about folks. If we're not sharing the Gospel, something is wrong. And we're not talking about sharing it through "the way we live" (oh how I've said that so many times). He means truly, verbally sharing the love of Jesus Christ. You know what, I am scared. I think it's scary to share the gospel because I don't feel so mature in my faith like I see in others. I'm scared because I don't want to be rejected. I'm scared because it is usually socially awkward to share the Word, isn't it? Why is that? I know this, though. God calls us to witness - socially awkward or not. He calls us to verbally witness, not just by living as a good example. Should we live as good examples. Yes! Absolutely. But that is not it. That is not enough. I was so led today by Brother Van's message. These are souls we are talking about. I can think of so many times that I could have shared the story of Jesus, but didn't. I want to change that. I am still completely afraid, but I want to do that.

Will you do that with me?

"It is not for you to know the times and dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnessess in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth." Acts 1:7-8

I pray that God will give me - and all Christians - the courage and wisdom to share His word. I know he provides us with the opportunities to share it. I am so thankful that I had someone share it with me when I was in my twenties. I was so lost, but because someone cared enough about me, about my soul, I found the Lord. I feel so blessed and at peace to know that my sins were bought and paid for, that God loves me so much - so much - that He gave His one and only son so that I can be with Him forever. I don't deserve this love, but He gives it anyway. Hallelujah!

I encourage all of you to join me in promising to share the Gospel. I also encourage all of you
get involved, no matter where you attend church. I think it's a great way to meet new people and to fellowship. I'm so glad I finally did.

I wanted to share what was on my heart. I love all of you. Thank you for reading friends and family!

Making Memories

I love the term scrapbooking. I love how we use it as a verb and when you say it, everyone knows exactly what you are talking about, whether or not they, too, scrapbook. I first dabbled with scrapbooking a few years ago. I wasn't any good, at least not compared to some of the fancy smancy pages you see hanging in scrapbook studios today. In fact, I didn't know what I was doing. I'd find something neat to paste or tape in there and I'd just smack it down on the page. There was no planning. No layout. Just impulse. It was pretty sloppy.

I'm still not as good as some. Many people just blow me away at their skill of scrapbooking. I just do not have that much patience to take days to complete one page. I have to move on. There are just too many memories to record. I have gotten better, however, and most of that has to do with maturity and better finances. By the way, scrapbooking is EXPENSIVE! Too expensive. It's ridiculous really. I often find, make or invent my own embellishments. I refuse to pay $5 for a tiny bow or charm. Please.

Anyway, I have been working on a baby album for Mary Ellen. I am having the most fun with it. But the best part is enclosing small pieces of scripture on different pages for her to read when she is older. I want her to know that her life - her home - was surrounded by the Word and the Spirit of Christ since the day she was born...and before. I want her to know that when I was thinking of her, I was thinking of God. When I was creating these pages for her, I was creating for God. When I was praying for her, I was praying to God. I want her to know that they go together - she and Christ. I want her to know that her life - our family life - was filled with the joy a family can only experience through the love of Christ. I am so excited to present this book to her one day, to read it to her and to have her truly understand what it means to be blessed and to have His joy.

That is if I don't ruin her life before hand. (just kidding, ha)

I posted some pages for you to check out. Some pages are still works in progress, and please excuse the glare. A photographer I am not. But you get the idea.

Here are some random pics that have nothing to do with scrapbooking.....
Mary Ellen will eat absolutely anything....even a nasty lemon.

Mary Ellen reading...well, in one syllable words.

Mary Ellen loves TV. I mean really loves it. Being the good, responsible parents that we are, we move her when she gets that close to the TV... sometimes.

This and a Little of That

Here are some random photos I've been meaning to make prints of and post. As you can see, Mary Ellen loves her dog. Benny just does whatever we tell him to do and hopes to get a treat out of it.

Mary Ellen not so happy.... Isn't that face just so attractive?

An Angel...sorry, I haven't figured out how to rotate the pics. Just rotate your head...it'll be good for ya.

This is the canvas wrap Mark Broadway designed for us. It's the same stretched canvas I use when I paint. We just love it! We decided to hang it outside Mary Ellen's room.

Jogging Stroller Please

So, I'm thinking I need a jogging stroller.

Mary Ellen loves to go for walks - or rides - around the neighborhood in her stroller, but it's not really made for "Ann-Marie-pace" walking. I mean, if I could just be normal and go for a normal stroll, the stroller we have would be perfecto. But I'm not normal and I never understood why I have to walk fast. I just do. I read in Health magazine one time that it is healthy for your mind and also a great stress reliever to just stroll - to take your time and slowly walk around the streets, breathing in the fresh air and noticing the birds chirping and the breeze blowing.

Whatever.

I wanna walk and I wanna walk fast. I've tried talking myself into walking at a nice, even pace, but less than halfway into the stroll I'm looking like a rabbit running from a fox. My toothpick legs look like a pair of scrapbooker's scissors and I'm breakin' a sweat. Which brings me back to the stroller. This baby seat on wheels is not made for off-roading or even on-roading. It's made for mall walking. You know what type of stroller I'm talking about. It has the small plastic wheels that creak and squeak when they turn and if a pebble gets in the way, look out. Mary Ellen may go flying out of there!

One time I had to run because it started to rain on us mid-walk (and heaven for bid I get wet, because, it's like... icky). I'm sure that was quite a sight. I can see the neighbors peering out their windows:

"There goes that girl again. You know, the one who walks real goofy and fast. You know, the one with the baby stroller. There's no baby in it because she fell out a few yards back. Yeah, that girl. I think she's running now, if that's what you call that. She needs a jogging stroller," said the nosy neighbor.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my stroller. It's a part of a traveling system that allowed me to simply snap Mary Ellen's infant seat into it when she was itty bitty. It's great and has served us well. It's just simply not made for outside terrain. I think it was Brannon's sister, Bronwyn, who asked me how many miles I put on that thing!

"The wheels have definitely seen better days," she had said.

We haven't purchased a jogging stroller to date because I can't seem to part with a couple hundred dollars for a stroller. I mean, come on! Does it really cost that much to make a sling-shot on wheels?

So, if anyone out there in Dothan knows of a used jogging stroller for sale, I would love to know about it. Maybe then I won't have to stop mid-walk and scoop Mary Ellen up from falling out, or stop to pick up her pacifiers that pop out of her mouth after hitting a pebble.

Stuff, Stuff & more Stuff

This post was written by my mom, Judy, on her blog. I thought I would post it here for my friends because I know we can all relate. Plus, my mom is awesome, so read on :)

I'm never moving again.I mean it.I am going to die in this house.Anything to avoid moving again.I am bone tired. My arms and legs are so bruised from carrying containers and banging against corners of furniture and door jams, they look like rotten bananas. I've climbed more steps than what's inside the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument combined that my joints need 3-in-1 oil. I've perspired like a woman who used to be a man. I've smelled worse than roadkill in the noonday sun. I've pinched enough fingers; dropped too many things on my foot; hammered my thumbs one too many times; and stepped on enough carpet tacks.It's over, I tell you! The only thing my friends and family will have to carry out of my new home in the years to come is my dead body.Then I'll be free.

No more packing up stuff in cardboard boxes that bear labels from the last move a year ago.The "bathroom" box was packed with coffee mugs; the "living room" box was filled with pots and pans; the "dining room" box was filled with shoes. The "kitchen" boxes carried my books.Hey! How on earth did I accumulate so many books in a year's time? I sold and/or gave away practically an entire library before I left Pennsylvania last August! And shoes...where did all these shoes come from? And shampoos and conditioners and make up and jewelry and other accessories? Did they evolve somehow from the dust under my bed?

I'm embarrassed that I spent money on so much useless crap.I let myself down.When I hoofed it south last summer, I swore that I was going to live more simply. I had become a widow; and all I had was myself and Jesus, I said. I was going to get by on less.So I sold almost all of my furniture; gave away three-fourths of my wardrobe (shoes included, although it pained me); had a massive four-day "moving sale" where I unloaded a couple decades of Christmas decorations, dinnerware, kitchen things, knick knacks, small appliances.If I heard "are you sure you want to"... take your pick: sell, trash or give away something ... once, I heard it a hundred times. Yes. Yes. Yes. Get rid of it all. None of it has eternal value, I preached. What a know it all. Ha. How I deceive myself.

Sadly, what I sold last summer were items that I had purchased or lugged with me two years earlier when my husband and I "downsized" into an apartment.What is it about me and stuff? My husband, Jeff, and I used to marvel at U-Store-It units that were popping up throughout the landscape like kudzu. Imagine renting someone else's space to store your stuff. Stuff that won't fit in your house because it's filled with other stuff.Well, I've come to realize (albeit years too late) that, although I haven't rented a stranger's closet space, I am addicted to acquiring. "Admire, don't acquire" was the advice of my former pastor, Tommy Stoudt. I say it a lot now. But I don't always listen to myself.To give me a break, I can confidently say that I don't shop till I drop anymore. I have gotten better at tossing away sales fliers and catalogs before I read them, fearing I'll give in to temptation and get lost again in consumer hell. I have improved at "counting the cost."But I have a ways to go.

Shopping is still therapy.Every now and then, when I'm feeling stressed out or overwhelmed with "official" business, it does me good to go to the mall and put together outfits. I can't count the number of times I've pulled together an adorable ensemble only to put it all back. Nothing to show for my time except a sense of satisfaction that I can still mix and match with the best of them.Anyway, I digress...I am going to get even more strict with myself and only buy what I truly need. I want to build up a savings account; I want to learn to live with less; I want fewer things to dust, to wash, to stack and to iron. Less stuff to move.

And, oh, did I mention that I'm never moving again?

By: Judy Strausbaugh

Noggin

Mary Ellen loves Noggin. Well, Mommy loves Noggin. Mary Ellen doesn't have a choice. Noggin is a preschool channel that airs uninterrupted television shows, cartoons, etc., for little ones 24 hours a day. It's really a great station and on at our house all the time. We subscribe to Time Warner and it airs on channel 22. Most parents with small children know what Noggin is.

My sister, Molly, laughs at us because whenever she visits, my living room sounds like the backstage of a Backyardigans concert - or Barney, or (substitute the name of a singing dinosaur or large puppet here). Worse is that Mommy and Daddy THINK they are backstage at a Backyardigans concert and HAVE to sing every song and dance every move. We can't help it. The songs are so catchy, and on Noggin the producers air a different theme every month with a feature song to go along with that month. For example, July's theme was "Beside the Seaside" and that song was awesome! We still sing it. Last month was "Going on a Trip" and the theme song was just as catchy. I'm singing it now,

"We're going on a trip, we're going on a trip...are we there yet, are we there yet? My excitement is getting stronger. Are we there yet, are we there yet? I really can't wait much longer."

I bet many of you are now singing this song. You can thank me later.

There could be worse things to be hooked on, you might say. Or that at least this addiction has positive benefits for Mary Ellen.

Not so fast.

Many of the shows require viewer participation where the child is expected to give answers to puzzles, questions, memory games, etc. Some of these shows include Blues Clues, Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go (mommy's favorite...the songs are fun, especially Rescue Pack). The host of the entire network is Moose A. Moose, a bright yellow character who Mary Ellen smiles at everytime he appears. Whomever illustrated Moose A. Moose is a genius. Children are drawn to him like sticky on an ice cream cone.

Moose A. Moose, along with his pal Zee (who Brannon and I can't figure out is a girl or a boy - it's really weird), also involve the viewers.

Here's the problem - Brannon and I can't help but shout out the answers. If Mary Ellen could speak, she wouldn't have a chance. No matter how hard we try to suppress it, we just have to say the answer. Worse, we shout out all the incorrect answers. We can't help it. The questions are so simple and their answers are so obvious, that we find it hilarious for some reason to say the wrong answer. Not only will Mary Ellen grow not thinking for herself, she'll grow up horribly misinformed about the world around her. She'll think a square is a circle and a dog is a bird. Conversations with her will sound a little like this:

You, "Mary Ellen, isn't that tree full of leaves beautiful?"
Mary Ellen, "Duh, trees don't have leaves. They have wheels and my Daddy walks it to work everyday."

Brannon also likes to replace words in the songs, usually to change the meaning or point of the song from something positive and educational to something negative. For example, the show "Yo Gabba Gabba" has a song about waiting your turn in line:

"You gotta stand in line...it's only fair to wait right there..."

Brannon's version is, "You gotta cut in line...it's only fair to butt in line..."

Another song includes the lyrics, "It's fun to wash your hands, it's fun to wash your hands."

Brannon's version is, "Dirty hands are fun, dirty hands are fun. We don't want to wash our hands because dirty hands are fun."

One more. This song includes the lyrics, "Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose...It's nice to win, but it's okay to lose."

Brannon's version is, "We always win. We never lose. You better win because we don't lose."

Not only are we raising Mary Ellen to be misinformed, but to also be rude, crude and to walk around with dirty hands. Authorities should not allow people like us to raise children. We should be arrested.

Fraidy Dog

It's official.

I have the most afraid dog in Dothan...no make that Alabama. My dog Benny is scared of everything. Everything!

We rescued Benny from the Humane Society when we first moved to Dothan a couple of years ago. Well, I rescued Benny and brought him home, hoping Brannon wouldn't turn the poor pup down. I knew he wouldn't. Brannon is a sucker for distressed things, especially cute dogs. And Benny was a mess. We didn't even know he was a full-bred poodle until we took him to the beauty shop and had his matted, overgrown hair all cut off. Poor puppy. He was so hideous he was cute. His stinky hair hung over his eyes and covered his entire face. He had to be so hot since it was mid-summer when we adopted him.

We weren't sure what type of dog Benny was going to turn out to be. Was he going to chew up our house? Pee everywhere? Bark all night? Try to climb in our bed in the middle-of-the-night? Nope. Benny did none of these things. In fact, he did nothing. He didn't bark. He didn't play. He didn't chew on bones or beg for treats. He would just sit there, sometimes staring at the wall, and he would follow at my heel everywhere I went. He always looked so sad and depressed. One night before going to bed, Brannon was trying to swat a fly that was buzzing around our house all day. The fly landed on the window right above Benny's bed, and when Brannon grabbed the fly swatter to kill the fly, Benny coward and ran under the bed. There were other such scenarios that led us to the conclusion that Benny was not only severely neglected, he was abused. He is still deathly afraid of anything that resembles rolled up newspapers, bats, etc.

You wouldn't know Benny was this way if you know him now. He begs for treats, loves bones, prances around in excitement, loves to cuddle, loves to play, and LOVES to chase squirrels. Squirrels are Benny's life. And he LOVES to run. I swear Brannon and I would be rich if we allowed him to race - he's that fast.

Anyway, although Benny is a different - and much happier - dog today, he is still afraid of EVERYTHING. We have learned that Benny is afraid of:

• Baseball caps and people who wear them
• paper
• books - He wouldn't sit in the passenger seat of my car because I had books on the floorboard.
• Mary Ellen's boogie picker (you know, that suction thingy you use to get boogies out...when you're a mom, you can publicly say "boogies".)
• Marshmallows - Don't ask
• Baby toys - all of them
• Thunder
• Rain
• Sprinklers
• Any pool of water
• Mail
• Anything out of place, like if there is something sitting on our back steps, he will not go outside until we move it.
• Cade - Brannon's friend who is over quite often, and yet Benny thinks he is the devil.

This is just a sample of what Benny is afraid of. The list could be longer and it seems to grow everyday. We can't help but laugh at his behavior, especially when Cade comes over. Benny will run and hide underneath our bed, sometimes for hours, until the coast is clear of Cade. I think Cade was Benny's former owner, and apparently he chased him with fly swatters and marshmallows.

Poor pup.

We love him anyway, even when we can't pull him out from underneath our bed.

Mission Impossible

I recently joined the Facebook club and the networking that followed has been tremendous. I have caught up with more people in the past two days than I have in the past decade, mostly with people from my high school years. I have found myself laughing so hard at stories from my teenage past - mostly of me being nerdy and sooooo awkward. I was not a cool teenager, but a goofy, doofy one, and so what - I was still awesome in my own right. And I was funny and had some funny times with my funny friends.

I have to share one story I recalled that had me in stitches today. It involves my carpool buddy Jenn. Jenn lived two houses down the street from me and would catch a ride to school with me so she wouldn't have to stand out in the ice cold winter air in knee-high socks and that ugly, wool catholic skirt waiting for the short bus. Yes, our school bus was literally short because Jenn and I lived in an area where there weren't many students to pick up, and yes, our school skirts were ugly and very ITCHY! It was awful when my car broke down (and that happened often) because standing out in the snow bare-legged is not my idea of fun times. I remember hugging my backpack for extra warmth, praying to see that ugly yellow school bus turn the corner.

Anyway, Jenn was very brave to ride to school with me, not because I was a horrible driver, but because my car was not the coolest, to say the least. In fact, on a scale of 1 to 10 of car coolness, mine would be a negative 4. I'm surprised Jenn didn't ask me to drop her off before we reached school grounds. Ha. Okay, it wasn't that bad. It wasn't even that ugly. It was just a used Ford that I bought from my mom for $1. Thanks moms!

Well, the funny part (to me and Jenn anyway) was when we got on a "Mission Impossible" theme song kick. I somehow had a cassette tape with the theme song to Mission Impossible on it. We would turn the music up full blast and act out in slow motion to the music. We would pretend that we were saving someone from the side of the street, for example, or half-hanging out the Ford window pretending to be heroes - all doing this in slow motion like in a movie trailer. And yes, we did this while driving. I can't stop laughing. It was hysterical. You probably had to be there to watch us act out these scenarios, but they were funny. Trust me. I don't even know how we got started on it. I mean, how do you start this. It was probably me because I often did weird things or let my bizarre humor fly with little regard to who was watching. It is just awesome when someone shares that same sense of humor, or at least gets it!

Jenn and I did such things to many different songs, too. It was like we had a song-of-the-month to act out. We should of been actresses Jenn. Then we would be rich. Oh well, we'll have to settle for Mission Impossible memories.

Ha

P.s. Jenn told me today that she has moved up substantailly in regards to her car, considering she didn't HAVE ONE in high school.

Say "Cheese"

We have photos from Mary Ellen's 7 month session with Mark Broadway Photography to share with you! The link is www.pictage.com/509849. I keep trying to figure out how to download some pics to place on my blog posts from the web, but I'm too impatient to stop and truly try it. I'll learn one of these days.

I hope you enjoy the pics. I know we had a blast with Jeannie and Mark taking them! I just love this couple and believe that Mark is so talented and creative in what he does. There is no real staging or dramatic set-up, and everything is done in your home - or wherever you want. They will hop in a van and go to the park, the beach, your grandma's house, or wherever your little heart desires. Most of Mary Ellen's pictures in this session were taken with her sitting on her rocking chair or outside with her baby pool behind her! Her baby pool! And they turned out fantastic. Mark and Jeannie are both so down-to-earth, sweet and funny! You know I need funny - and by funny I mean that they laugh at my jokes, so to me, they are funny. Ha. But seriously, they make you feel very comfortable in front of the camera. They simply want you to be you. Mark said that when Mary Ellen begins to walk, he'll just let her play and run free and snap photos. This is what captures your child - not the posing.

Anyway, I know I'm going on and on. I'm just very pleased at the relationship we have established with Mark and Jeannie and I am happy with what they deliver. I don't feel like I'm "just another client." I feel like they enjoy taking pictures of our family.

Isn't it wonderful when we come across sincerity like this, especially when we live in a world of "me, me, me?"

Just thought I share.

Love you all!

Doodlebug Design Art Blog

I've started a new blog to showcase some of my artwork. It was so much easier to create a separate page rather than tagging it onto this one. Please check it out! I'm calling my work Doodlebug Designs - inspired my Doodlebug, of course.

I am going to place the link on this page so you can go directly there. But I will still give you the address - http://www.doodle-designs.blogspot.com/.

Love You!

Doodle McNoodle and Stinky Dinky Doo

I was happy to name my child Mary Ellen because I couldn't come up with a nickname derived from her birth name. You can't shorten Mary and you can't shorten Ellen. You could combine them and call her Mellen! But the other day when my mom was visiting, I gasped, "Oh no!"

"What?" my mom asked.

"What if the kids call her Smellin' Ellen?"

My mom laughed, rolled her eyes and said, "Only you would come up with that."

She's probably right. I come up with all sorts of weird thoughts, and like being called Smellin' Ellen is the worst thing that could happen to her. Maybe it may even keep the boys away for awhile, until she's like 30. I'm cool with her being mocked if it means that. Hey, maybe I should start the name - maybe whisper it in some kids ear on the playground when picking her up from school. "Hey kid, see that girl? She likes it when you call her Smellin Ellen. Yeah, that's right. Smellin Ellen. Spread it around - tell all your friends."

I'm so wrong.

I think we have been giving Mary Ellen enough nicknames in the past 6 months. I realized that she has about 25 nicknames - no joke. I've heard many, from myself and others. I thought I would share this long list of nicknames for the child who I said I would not nickname.

Here it goes:

Doodlebug
Doodle Head
Doodle McNoodle
Stinky Dinky Doo - see, Smellin Ellen already started
Puddin' Head
Puddin' Cup
Puddin' Pop
Buttercup
Butter Butt - I don't know where this one came from, but I've said it.
Baby Girl
Sweet Angel
Cutie Patootie
Yes Indeedie, You're My Sweetie
Blue Eyes
Munchkin
Princess
Toot
Scoot Boot
Pumpkin
Pumpkin Head
Girlfriend
Sweetheart
Dear heart
Silly Girl
Hey You
Goof Nugget
Little Girl - the one Brannon uses the most. He always says, "Hey my little girl!"

I call her Doodlebug, Doodle McNoodle, and Scoot Boot the most - and sometimes Toot, especially when she's being one.

Ha. I found this funny.

Love You!

Tell All About It!

I finally had my surgery on Monday, June 9. Everything is going superb. In fact, Everyone - including me- is really surprised as to how well I am recooperating. This was supposed to be a really painful and difficult recovery. I was told I would be in bed for a week and unable to do much until I completely heal.

Here's the thing. While I was being wheeled into the operating room, I asked the Lord to take away my pain. I told him I was not ready to endure a long recovery and I prayed that he would deliver me from the post-surgery blues.

He answered and He granted me a miracle. I have had little to no real serious pain. I mean, I was up out of the bed the day of my surgery, eating regular meals. I even stopped taking my heavy-duty pain meds because I just don't feel like I need them. However, I'm a little sore and only four days into recovery, but I feel remarkably well considering.

I wanted to post this quick update because I remember someone once telling me that miracles and answered prays are to be shared. That's the whole point of them. We are to go and tell everyone all about it.

So praise Jesus! He listens and He loves!

Take care!

Time to Talk

Brannon and I decided to runaway to the beach last weekend - alone. This means without Mary Ellen and diapers, and bibs, and burp clothes, and a million changes of clothes, and baby food, and bottles, and bottles brushes, and just about every other baby item you can think of that fills the entire trunk of our vehicle - with the seats folded down.


We left Thursday evening after Grandmother (Brannon's mom) picked up Mary Ellen and her fifteen suitcases. I made sure to give my doodlebug extra kisses - or "sugars" as southerners say - earlier that day because this was the longest I was ever without my doodle. I just knew I was going to miss her too much and want to come home early. I knew I was going to miss her talking aimlessly at her friends (it's what I call her stuffed animal toys) and her toothless smile. I knew I was going to really miss her giggle, especially the one where she's mad and trying not to laugh, but she just can't fight it and has to giggle. She'll literally stick her lip out and wrinkle her nose yet laugh. Of course, being loving parents we don't encourage this at all. We would never tease our baby for our own entertainment. Yeah. Right.


I was so sure I would end up miserable without Doodlebug. To my surprise, however, I didn't and I wasn't. I had a wonderful time and our weekend getaway became a very insightful trip for me. Of course I missed Mary Ellen and would think of her throughout the trip - okay, and we would call home a couple or few times a day. But this weekend trip to ourselves was maybe the best thing Brannon and I could have done for each other and for our marriage. Six months ago, Mary Ellen came into this world and into our lives. We brought her home to love and care for and it has been the most awesome six months for both of us. It's very easy, however, to have your days completely fly by without even truly spending time with your spouse. I mean, having a baby completely changes your world and house and if you are not careful, your marriage.


Brannon and I have been so busy taking care of the needs of Mary Ellen and going to work, school and running a house that we were not giving ourselves the chance to talk - to just sit and talk. I mean even just talking about the mundane, trivial things about our day or telling each other bad jokes or whatever thoughts are on our minds. It's so easy to let those little conversations slide by when you have pureed pears lying on the kitchen floor or five more bottles to wash. The scary thing is, I didn't even see it until I was removed from it.

It was during the weekend that I realized Brannon and I were missing each other and missing out on each other. I knew this because we could not stop talking to one another! It was hilarious and fun. We were trading stories about work and about people we know - yes, we were gossiping and it was awesome! We talked about politics and our future and we teased each other all weekend. We traded dream vacations and started planning our next one, which will be alone this fall! We had the best time. And it couldn't have come at a better time.

It's so easy for many of us to focus so much on the child that we forget to love the spouse first. It's so easy to forget where and who that child came from. And I think that is scary. It's too easy to isolate yourself from your partner and do what we say is "your own thing." This past weekend was a huge reminder for me that marriage takes constant work and attention. It is a conscience effort. I learned that the best thing Brannon and I could do for Mary Ellen is to love one another and to always make sure we set aside time for those little conversations instead of waiting for a weekend getaway to do it.

I am being completely honest and baring my business because I feel this is so important. I mean, aren't we always surprised to hear about a certain couple separating? Don't we always say, "no, not them?" Why is that? It's because we know that the certain couple once loved each other very, very much. So what happened? I think it is simply a journey of isolation. Couples slowly begin to isolate themselves from each other until they are no longer a unit. And this most likely happens without them even knowing it. It's sad and it's scary and we are all susceptible to this behavior unless we make that conscience effort.

Okay, I think I am finished with my soap box. I'll step down now.

I love all of you. I pray that we all recommit to our spouses and families and promise to always make time for those simple conversations.

Friends and a Little Game of Clue

We are blessed enough to have good friends. My bestest bud ever and her hubby drove from South Carolina to visit us this past weekend and it was such a great visit. It's not often we get to see each other, but we always seem to pick up right where we left off. No matter how long Liz and I (probably too long) go without talking to each other, the minute we get a chance to catch up it's like no time has passed at all. I miss being close to my best friend. Good girlfriends are hard to come by - and I'm talking about the ones you can call late at night because you can't sleep, or the ones you can say something really gossipy to and they won't think less of you (probably because they gossip back, tisk tisk).

Liz and I did a lot of growing up together. We were roomies in Florida when we were both struggling journalist eating really bad food and staying up way too late. In fact, we often ate really bad food way too late - can we say Steak N' Shake fries at 3 in the mornin'. I'm not going to say why we were up at 3 in the morning, but you can guess.

During her visit, Liz brought some pictures in a friendship album she made. I had really, really, really long, big, curly blond hair and Liz had really, really, really blond hair. Most of the pictures of me were really scary and I threatened my friend with her life not to show anyone her friendship album. In fact, if asked, she is to tell people she never had any friends to make an album, especially not one named Ann-Maire. All joking aside, it was really funny, but very sweet.

Our weekend was spent catching, reminiscing, eating lots and lots of carbs and playing a game of Clue on DVD. Now, you would think this would be easy to play because it's a classic game that almost everyone knows. Well, it took us nearly two hours to get through one round! First off, we didn't know that you have to wait for the DVD to tell you what to do, so we had to turn in all of our cards and deal them out again, as well as our characters because the DVD tells you who you can role play as. We were also following the instructions incorrectly and this caused me to miss a turn - a lot of times. Needless to say I didn't win. Those of you who know me well know that this bugs me. I just HAVE to win. Don't ever go running with me - I'll nearly kill myself just making sure I beat you!

Brannon won't run with me - no joke! He says I'm too "crazy" on the trails.

Our friends also got to meet Mary Ellen finally and they just ate her up. They even said she was cuter than another baby in their family. Ha, my baby wins!!!!! Just kidding.....no I'm not. Mary Ellen's awesome!

Until next time, I cannot wait to make a trip to South Carolina to see our friends again. Thank you Lord for great friendships. Thank you for fellowship and laughter. Thank you for memories and goofy pictures of us with really big, poofy hair. Thank you for friendship albums and Clue DVD games. Thank you for your kindness and love and all the gifts you give us. Thank you for our loved ones!