tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90295903057813978832024-03-18T02:04:28.899-05:00The CockrellsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-40020473314794015242011-12-15T21:38:00.003-06:002011-12-15T21:43:40.485-06:00Cockrells Christmas Card 2011<div>HO. LEE. CRAP.</div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't posted since August! Geez. I guess you could say I've been busy? :D</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is our Christmas card with our BIG BOY, Hudson, at 6 months old (almost 7)!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" /></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AYuGjZk3bN2bng&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=118"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AYuGjZk3bN2cA/0AYuGjZk3bN2cOaA/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1324006658000/0/" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" /></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Photo Card</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Can't believe how fast he is growing. It makes me so sad to think of all the time I miss with him when I'm at work all day. :( What can you do? I know I'm working to provide a good life for him. </div><div><br /></div><div>He truly is the sweetest baby boy, and he is SO happy. Obviously he has his moments of fussiness (AKA "angry baby alert"), but most of the time he is just content as can be. LOVE that boy more than anything.</div><div><br /></div><div>Having a baby has made me appreciate and love our families even more, because it is so neat to see all of our family members loving on Hudson when they see him. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and all the best in 2012!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-80339285779285818412011-08-03T20:16:00.005-05:002011-08-04T20:22:03.229-05:00Currently I'm...a Linky PartyToday I'm joining up with a great new teaching blog I came across: <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2011/08/currently-i-am.html">Oh Boy 4th Grade!</a><br />She is hosting a little linky party (kind of a Think-Write-Share), and I thought it was fun! She also created this cute image to type in your answers! I had no idea how I was going to add my answers on top of the image, but I copied it into Smart Notebook using the camera feature and did it there! You may have to click on it to make it bigger in order to see my answers, sorry about that!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jvp3_po6d2Q/TjnzG2npk4I/AAAAAAAAAzo/3-lUGyFTUOA/s1600/Currently%2B8.2.11_2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jvp3_po6d2Q/TjnzG2npk4I/AAAAAAAAAzo/3-lUGyFTUOA/s400/Currently%2B8.2.11_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636803707697468290" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway, to all my teacher friends, you should check out this blog--lots of fun and great ideas, etc.<br /><br />Can you believe school starts in 2 and 1/2 weeks?! Sigh. This new mommy is already missing her baby just thinking about it! :(<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-25815278823338435302011-07-10T19:00:00.010-05:002011-07-11T11:32:57.687-05:00Hudson is......our little angel.<br /><br />...SO darn cute.<br /><br />...wiggly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YqTMMa3ZI_E/ThpLTuilT9I/AAAAAAAAAyw/7Q1YEDD8PVw/s1600/IMG_1162-bnw.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YqTMMa3ZI_E/ThpLTuilT9I/AAAAAAAAAyw/7Q1YEDD8PVw/s320/IMG_1162-bnw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627893486635536338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />...a precious gift.<br /><br /><br />...sleepy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dlflA6DHPFw/ThpMSYrAb3I/AAAAAAAAAy4/Y0YTE6FIUv0/s1600/IMG_1006-bnw.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dlflA6DHPFw/ThpMSYrAb3I/AAAAAAAAAy4/Y0YTE6FIUv0/s320/IMG_1006-bnw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627894563097046898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />...tiny.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qvriOYT9vzg/Thphe-cYjfI/AAAAAAAAAzA/klCr-p3L-E4/s1600/IMG_1332-bnw.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qvriOYT9vzg/Thphe-cYjfI/AAAAAAAAAzA/klCr-p3L-E4/s320/IMG_1332-bnw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627917869138873842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />...a little prince!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdtTOhWhxVg/Thpj3W00UpI/AAAAAAAAAzI/CzQGiZx4hjc/s1600/IMG_1271-bnw.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdtTOhWhxVg/Thpj3W00UpI/AAAAAAAAAzI/CzQGiZx4hjc/s320/IMG_1271-bnw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627920487023923858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hudson, you are 6 and 1/2 weeks old now, and you are really growing!<br /><br />You are finally getting into a night time routine, where you sleep for a longer period first (usually 4-5 hours), then a shorter period next (2.5-3 hours). We are so thankful that you are figuring out the difference between night and day!<br /><br />Daddy has been SO wonderful in helping me out when he is home. On weekends he helps with a nighttime feeding so I can catch up on my beauty sleep, and he changes LOTS of diapers when he is here!<br /><br />You are about to switch over from newborn diapers to size 1 diapers, and you are starting to fit into some of the 0-3 month clothing, though you can still fit into your Newborn size clothes as well. I guess all the brands are a little different in sizing, just like in women's clothing!<br /><br />One of the best things EVER was seeing you smile at me for the first time (June 30th, 5 weeks old)--of course it happened at 3:00 in the morning, so your daddy missed it! I almost woke him up, but I don't think he would have appreciated it too much! :D Now your daddy and I love to try to make you smile--we especially love when you grin really big and show your toothless mouth--so precious! One of these days we'll catch it on film.<br /><br />We love you so much, Hudson. I am already getting sad when I think about going back to work in August; I'm going to miss seeing you all day! :( In the meantime, I'm just trying to enjoy all my time with you because I know these moments will pass too quickly. So stop growing already, sweet baby! :)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-4389908085661475672011-06-02T15:09:00.004-05:002011-06-02T15:33:44.613-05:00The new man in my life:<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWC9vJM6Zaw/TefvJ4lSmZI/AAAAAAAAAyM/OrjmupphR64/s1600/GEDC0061.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWC9vJM6Zaw/TefvJ4lSmZI/AAAAAAAAAyM/OrjmupphR64/s320/GEDC0061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613718413627267474" border="0" /></a>Hudson Morris arrived via cesarean section at 2:09 pm, Wednesday, May 25, 2011.<br /></div><br />We are overjoyed that he is here--happy and healthy. He weighed 6 lbs, 10 oz. and was 19 and 3/4 inches long.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SV_U6P5kVZc/TefvKpLZzfI/AAAAAAAAAyk/P8GkC3VKGKg/s1600/GEDC0078.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SV_U6P5kVZc/TefvKpLZzfI/AAAAAAAAAyk/P8GkC3VKGKg/s320/GEDC0078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613718426672025074" border="0" /></a><br />We checked into the hospital Tuesday night at 7:00 pm to begin the "cervical ripening" since I was not dilating. I received the medicine around 8:45, and within the hour, my contractions were about 3-4 minutes apart! The baby's heart rate began to drop after most every contraction, so the nurses kept coming into my room every 30 minutes or so to change my position in hopes that he would respond better; no luck. He didn't like contractions in ANY position (I can relate).<br /><br />Eventually the pain got pretty bad, so they gave me an IV narcotic which didn't really take away the pain, but it did make me hallucinate really funny things when I closed my eyes. Like rows and rows of elephants in straight lines or rows and rows of frogs. (The animal changed every time I opened and closed my eyes again.) Around 5:30 am my contractions were 1 minute apart, so I got my epidural (thank JESUS), and life was good. About 8:00 am they began the Pitocin to try to speed up my labor since I was still only dilated to a 3, even though my stupid contractions were so close together. Not long after, they stopped the Pitocin because baby was still under stress. We just waited and waited to see if I would dilate more and keep progressing, but the only thing that progressed were my contractions (even after they STOPPED the Pitocin--really??). At some point around 1:30, my doctor came in and said that we really needed to go ahead and get baby out and needed to do a c-section. My whole pregnancy I was hoping and praying I wouldn't have to deliver via c-section, but at that point I was almost relieved because I was so nervous about putting the baby into even more stress when I went into active labor/pushing, etc. So 10 minutes later they wheeled me out (after a pep talk from my mom, who had a c-section with me) and down to the operating room.<br /><br />I think Clint and I were both petrified of the surgery; I know I was. The second they wheeled me in, I started shivering! It was the strangest thing, though the anesthesiologist (blessed, blessed man) told me that shivering was very common (??). I got my spinal block of morphine, which caused me to need to vomit/pass out, so I got more meds for THAT. Lol. I was SOOOO nervous knowing I was about to get cut open, and I just couldn't stop shaking. Finally they brought Clint back so he was right next to me when they began. I definitely did NOT like the sensations of the cutting and pulling out the baby (that was the worst part), but I am SO thankful my baby boy is here and safe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jyX79ifJHc/TefvKcg7PQI/AAAAAAAAAyU/QBwmeUVDjP0/s1600/GEDC0067.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jyX79ifJHc/TefvKcg7PQI/AAAAAAAAAyU/QBwmeUVDjP0/s320/GEDC0067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613718423272635650" border="0" /></a><br />I was so drugged up that the moment he was born and they held him up over the curtain, it was so surreal, and I just laid there smiling. I think I may have said "awww..." Lol! The first real words I remember saying were when they called out his weight, and I said "Really?!" because I really thought he'd weigh much more!<br /><br />Anyway, that's my birth story. Well, Hudson's birth story. :) A dramatic entrance to the world, which is scary--he must take after me!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ceSOsMuRTe4/TefvKQ415jI/AAAAAAAAAyc/9PRIa-4XsOs/s1600/GEDC0070.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ceSOsMuRTe4/TefvKQ415jI/AAAAAAAAAyc/9PRIa-4XsOs/s320/GEDC0070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613718420151723570" border="0" /></a>Here's Daddy changing his first of MANY diapers! <br />What a wonderful man I married; how did I get so darn lucky??<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Welcome to the world, Hudson! Mommy and Daddy love you so much, sweet boy! (Now if you could please stick to the feeding schedule, we would be very grateful.) ;)<br /></div></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-3045958413383757712011-05-22T13:22:00.011-05:002011-05-22T14:02:47.328-05:00Almost 40 Weeks--the end is in sight!<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3EbU6DLOc4/TdlXFhzQZTI/AAAAAAAAAxM/tc2-7I707Wk/s1600/GEDC0045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3EbU6DLOc4/TdlXFhzQZTI/AAAAAAAAAxM/tc2-7I707Wk/s320/GEDC0045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609610563350979890" border="0" /></a>39 Weeks (Holy hell!)<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RkPbyf7Gn7A/TdlWurGHTZI/AAAAAAAAAxE/nk2oJzpMB_4/s1600/GEDC0046.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RkPbyf7Gn7A/TdlWurGHTZI/AAAAAAAAAxE/nk2oJzpMB_4/s320/GEDC0046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609610170709003666" border="0" /></a>39 Weeks<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-diD2zMnHGU0/TdlWc3ruDDI/AAAAAAAAAw8/V3fuqIiCIJg/s1600/GEDC0045.JPG"><br /></a>Well, for all of those people (including me) who have thought all along that this baby would come early, we were wrong! :)<br /><br />I'll be 40 weeks on Wednesday, and baby Hudson does not seem to be in any type of hurry to enter the world! We sure are ready to meet him, though, and we go back to the doctor on Tuesday afternoon. It is likely, depending on his size, that I'll be induced Wednesday. So he may be born on my due date after all, which is so rare! :)<br /><br />I haven't really had the whole hard-core nesting phase, just experienced it off and on. I've felt so awful for the last few weeks (and have been on bed rest for 2 weeks), I haven't had much energy to do a ton, so thankfully Clint has been amazing and doing tons of stuff around the house, and my mom has come over to help me a few times. She and our good friend, Debbie, came over to clean one day, too, which was awesome.<br /><br />Hudson's room is all ready for him, so I'll share some pictures. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I knew I wanted bright colors, not pastels, and no typical baby theme (trains, bears, etc), so here's what we ended up with:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ngw_GjSVVA/TdlYn7Xs9SI/AAAAAAAAAxU/3lTDF-I9XyU/s1600/GEDC0038.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ngw_GjSVVA/TdlYn7Xs9SI/AAAAAAAAAxU/3lTDF-I9XyU/s320/GEDC0038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609612253841913122" border="0" /></a><br />The lime green wall accent wall is actually painted in stripes--<br />matte and high gloss, but it's so hard to see in photos.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zJXdhyjuK8c/TdlZNeUQFrI/AAAAAAAAAx0/ksBmy_U_aYY/s1600/GEDC0037.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zJXdhyjuK8c/TdlZNeUQFrI/AAAAAAAAAx0/ksBmy_U_aYY/s320/GEDC0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609612898877839026" border="0" /></a>We were lucky enough to inherit our crib and changing table from Clint's sister's family; they are from Pali, back when the brand was still made in Italy, so they are very nice and sturdy pieces.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ECpAEe-QmEo/TdlYolGd_CI/AAAAAAAAAxk/W5TboMGK5NA/s1600/GEDC0043.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ECpAEe-QmEo/TdlYolGd_CI/AAAAAAAAAxk/W5TboMGK5NA/s320/GEDC0043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609612265043917858" border="0" /></a>LOVE this dresser I found thanks to my friend, <a href="http://thekubinskys.blogspot.com/">Jennifer</a>, who bought hers from the same vendor: <a href="http://www.houseofhargrove.com/">House of Hargrove</a>. I bought the whimsical knobs at Hobby Lobby. I liked the mismatched antique pulls that came on the dresser, but I wanted to incorporate some of the green and blue from the rest of the room.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xdVXwgZgom0/Tdlb96SPMEI/AAAAAAAAAyE/JtLAdzg8Pzw/s1600/DSCN2324.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xdVXwgZgom0/Tdlb96SPMEI/AAAAAAAAAyE/JtLAdzg8Pzw/s320/DSCN2324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609615930042560578" border="0" /></a>OK, this lighting is horrible, but I wanted to get the full bedding in. My amazing Aunt Vera made the bedding as a gift for us. I opted against a bumper, but I think it's plenty cute without one, considering all the busy patterns I picked out! :) The middle section is actually a lime and white stripe, and the bottom is a lime and white pattern similar to houndstooth. I wish I had a picture to do it more justice; she did such a fantastic job.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Well, Hudson--any DAY now, sweet baby! We are ALL waiting with bated breath for your arrival. In many ways, I can't believe he is actually going to be here; it's been such a long road. But I am SURE ready to get him OUT of my belly (uterus). :D Wish us luck, please, and hopefully the next post will be Hudson's birth announcement!!!<br /><br /><br />Love to all,<br /></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-55542526293236016132011-05-13T12:04:00.003-05:002011-05-13T12:05:32.613-05:00Boo, Blogger!REALLY IRRITATED that blogger somehow lost the last post I wrote, which was REALLY long. SIGH.<br /><br />This has never happened before, so I'm hoping it's a one time thing! Anyone else having this problem? (Aside from the fact that the site was shut down for 2 days?)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-60310743812992827572011-05-12T10:19:00.000-05:002011-05-13T15:54:40.680-05:00Come on out, the weather's fine...Oh my goodness. Yesterday was my 38 weeks pregnant mark, and sadly, at my appointment, baby hadn't progressed much since last week. Looks like Hudson is nice and cozy where he is for now, but I'm still hopeful that he'll be born on May 18th (next Wednesday)--that's the date I've thought throughout this whole process. Ha--process of growing a baby?!<br /><br />The doctor said she thinks he is currently about 6 and 1/2 to 7 pounds, and I'm thankful that even if he gains a half pound a week for the next 2 weeks, he still (most likely) won't be over 8 pounds. I am pretty nervous that if he were to be too big, I'd have to have a c-section, like my mom did with me (I was over 8 pounds, and her pelvis was too narrow). I would love to be able to deliver Hudson myself and not have surgery. Yes, I am a wimp and want an epidural (without a doubt!), but I still want to experience the labor and delivery if I can. Of course, if I need to have a c-section, that will be ok, too. I trust my doctor, and that's what she's there for. <br /><br />My dear friend, Jenn, just had her perfect little baby boy, Eli, a couple of days ago, and she did amazingly! He is a seriously GORGEOUS newborn (takes after his parents!), and Jenn was a trooper and actually had fast labor once it finally started (baby Eli was 8 days overdue when he arrived)! I am so, so happy for Jenn and her husband; they are going to be amazing, loving parents--he is one lucky little boy to be so loved and adored! I also can't wait for Eli and Hudson to meet--they are going to be best buddies! :D<br /><br />Jenn gave me hope that the labor is conquerable and not as awful as t.v. shows make it out to be--I know I will still be super nervous when it's time, but I have faith that I can do it! Women do it everyday, right? And besides, my fear of the unknowns of labor & delivery are trumped by my desire and NEED to get this baby OUT of me!<br /><br />Monday I began modified bed rest at home, so my last day of work was last Friday. Thank GOD, because I have been in SO much pain that it hurts to walk, to sit, to lay down, everything. My lower half feels like I'm a Gumby figurine and someone has ripped my legs apart. My legs feel like growing pains as a child--remember those?? Too bad I'm not getting taller as a result. My lower back and hips are the worst, with my sad little ribs a close second (Hudson LOVES to hang out under my ribs, apparently--OW). Anyone who knows me knows I am a complainer by nature (I come by it honestly; have you met my mom?), but I am truly thankful to be expecting this baby boy any day now. I am so thankful we were able to conceive pretty easily, and I am thankful for a healthy pregnancy. Now if I can just get him out safely so our new life as 3 can begin! We are so, so lucky, and I can't wait to meet our little boy.<br /><br />:D<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-57387418177522435132011-04-24T15:33:00.002-05:002011-04-29T12:52:43.194-05:00Baby Showers Galore!Well, I have been posting my photos from baby showers on Facebook, but I figured it would be nice to have those memories here on my blog as well. So here we go!<br /><br />This shower was hosted by my wonderful cousin, Melissa, and my sweet mother-in-law Dianne helped out with the yummy food!<br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-c4.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=1441151880786110660&site=widget-c4.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=1441151880786110660&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-c4.slide.com/p1/1441151880786110660/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=1441151880786110660&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-c4.slide.com/p2/1441151880786110660/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=1441151880786110660&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-c4.slide.com/p4/1441151880786110660/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><br />My BFF, Kristen, hosted a shower for me at her awesome house in Dallas:<br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-eb.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=1369094286748457707&site=widget-eb.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=1369094286748457707&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-eb.slide.com/p1/1369094286748457707/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=1369094286748457707&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-eb.slide.com/p2/1369094286748457707/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=1369094286748457707&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-eb.slide.com/p4/1369094286748457707/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><br />My amazing fellow 2nd and 3rd grade teachers hosted a shower for me at school:<br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-6a.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=1801439850976116074&site=widget-6a.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=1801439850976116074&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-6a.slide.com/p1/1801439850976116074/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=1801439850976116074&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-6a.slide.com/p2/1801439850976116074/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=1801439850976116074&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-6a.slide.com/p4/1801439850976116074/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div><br /><br />Clint and I feel VERY blessed to have so many friends and family members who love us and want to celebrate Hudson's arrival!<br /><br />Only 3 and 1/2 weeks left till D Day: May 25th!<br /><br />Very curious to see if he comes early like everyone thinks he will!<br />Bags packed and ready to go, just in case! :D<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-25949563094846715732011-04-18T20:41:00.003-05:002011-04-18T21:11:17.547-05:00things i love:-cereal<br /><br />-cake (vanilla or yellow only, please)<br /><br />-donuts (specifically cruller/buttermilk)<br /><br />-trashy t.v.<br /><br />-my tervis tumbler<br /><br />-dr. pepper (with & without vanilla flavoring)<br /><br />-Pink (the artist, not the color)<br /><br />-Hudson's room<br /><br />-the baby in my belly (even though he won't stop pounding on my ribs) :)<br /><br />-my fabulous husband, who has really been understanding and has catered to me during this pregnancy<br /><br />-my co-workers, who are all fabulous and funny<br /><br />-my new car (especially its bluetooth--the BEST)<br /><br />-margaritas (sigh--one day, i shall taste you again, my long lost friend)<br /><br />-the fact that i will get to meet this baby boy in approximately 5 weeks!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-60592933083148184112011-04-09T21:27:00.003-05:002011-04-09T21:42:38.773-05:00Almost 34 Weeks!Wow, time is really flying here at the end of my pregnancy.<br /><br />And thank GOD. The bigger I get, the worse I feel, which only makes sense, right? Everything is pretty doable except for the severe rib pain I've been feeling. Sometimes it will just be some random sharp pains, but other times it's constant sharp pain, and it's awful. Today has been one of those awful days. I am just waiting for baby Hudson to drop and hopefully take some pressure off my poor ribs.<br /><br />In other news, back at our 18 week appointment, when we found out we were having a Hudson and not a Quinn, the sonogram showed a calcification on his heart. Since then, we've been getting lots of sonograms on a regular basis to check on this little "spot," all the while knowing it would possibly go away, and also, that (according to our dr. AND the specialist) it was nothing to worry about. <br /><br />Anyway, at our 32 week appointment, the calcification wasn't seen, so we are hoping it is gone for good! Like I said, we were told not to worry, but you can't help but wonder just a little bit, even so. :) We go back on Monday and get ANOTHER sonogram, so hopefully the calcification really is gone. :)<br /><br />At 32 weeks, baby boy weighed approximately 4 lbs, 4 oz. They say at this point the baby gains about a half pound a week. Uhh...I do not relish the idea of having a 9 pound baby! And frankly, even though my hips are clearly widening as I type this, I am pretty sure they will STILL be too narrow to fit a 9 pound baby between them. Just sayin. And I really don't want to have a C-section if I don't have to. My mom had to have a C-section with me because her pelvis was too small. Seriously. This baby cannot be 9 pounds, or I will be screwed! LOL. Oh well. I know none of this is in my hands, and whatever happens, happens. As long as Hudson is healthy--that's all I'm concerned about right now. That, and I just can't wait to meet him and see what he looks like! At our 32 wk appointment, we lucked out and got to see some 4-D pictures of his face, and his cheeks looked SO CHUBBY! In that sense, he definitely takes after me. I am so curious to see if he will inherit the Cockrell chin dimple, which all the Cockrell men seem to have. :D <br /><br />As it gets closer to time to meet Hudson, I just feel so happy and excited. I'm still nervous about labor & delivery. I know it's going to be hard being a parent. I know we're going to be exhausted for a while. I know breastfeeding will probably be hard, at least at first. There are so many things to be afraid about, but I know things will work out, because above all, this baby is going to be LOVED. Like, hardcore.<br /><br />Wow. We are really going to be Mommy & Daddy. Wow.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; width: 107px; height: 72px;" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-74135636096707935002011-03-06T21:40:00.005-06:002011-03-07T22:11:58.697-06:00The Non-Blessings of Pregnancy<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b>WARNING: this post may not be appropriate for men or for women who have never been pregnant and plan to be one day. Continue reading at your own risk!</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The negative things I knew about pregnancy <i>before</i> I got pregnant:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>1) "morning sickness"</div><div><br /></div><div>2) you gain a lot of weight</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The negative things about pregnancy I know about <i>NOW</i> (28 & 1/2 weeks along):</b></div><div><br /></div><div>1) "morning sickness?" more like "all day and all night sickness."</div><div><br /></div><div>2) the previous "my legs get hail damage when i cross them" syndrome turns into "my legs are covered in hail damage no matter how i sit or stand" syndrome.</div><div><br /></div><div>3) heartburn. horrible, horrible heartburn that sometimes goes for 24 hours with no relief. (God, thank you for Protonix.)</div><div><br /></div><div>4) the inability to sleep due to having such a fat belly that there IS no comfortable position.</div><div><br /></div><div>5) lots and lots of discharge that requires me to wear panty liners even though there is NO PERIOD. so much for saving money there for 10 months.</div><div><br /></div><div>6) having to pee constantly, but only peeing out a tiny little bit at a time, only to have to pee again 15 minutes later, again yielding only about 6 drops.</div><div><br /></div><div>7) waddling.</div><div><br /></div><div>8) not being able to bend over to put on pants. or socks. or shoes. etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>9) it's really difficult to wipe after using the restroom because my huge belly is in the way. </div><div><br /></div><div>10) listening to people tell you their childbirth horror stories (or those of someone they know).</div><div><br /></div><div>11) cankles.</div><div><br /></div><div>12) the entire first trimester, when i didn't want to eat ANYTHING, but everyone and every book says you should eat every 2 hours to help with the "morning sickness" (that actually lasts 24/7).</div><div><br /></div><div>13) your husband noticing when your butt starts to get bigger and telling you about it. </div><div><br /></div><div>14) the utter exhaustion. no one could have prepared me for how exhausted i am. especially in the very beginning, and it's coming back now that i'm in the 3rd trimester.</div><div><br /></div><div>15) the stress of getting everything "ready" when you have no idea about most things.</div><div><br /></div><div>16) nose bleeds. um. WTF? i had never in my life had a nose bleed before i got pregnant. now? like 3 times a week (or sometimes 3 times a day). and always at the most inconvenient times possible (like right when i'm walking out the door, only to get blood all over me and have to change AND soak a shirt that's got blood all over it...or at 3:00 am).</div><div><br /></div><div>17) constipation. need i say more?</div><div><br /></div><div>18) gas. oh, you only THOUGHT i burped a lot before. pssshhh. and this has definitely gotten BETTER towards the end--minor victory!</div><div><br /></div><div>19) back pain. my mom told me she couldn't sleep for the last few weeks she was pregnant with me because her back was in such excruciating pain. last few weeks? HAH! my back has been hurting since like, week 12! and i have 11 weeks to go!</div><div><br /></div><div>20) the rumored "horny pregnant woman?" urban myth. just sayin'. (and if any of you currently pregnant or past preggos disagree, keep it to yourself. also just sayin' because i might have to cut you.)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>BOY HOWDY, am i glad that these 40-ish weeks of constant crazy side effects are going to yield such an amazing blessing: </b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Our baby boy, Hudson!</i> </div><div><br /></div><div>seriously, though: i know it will ALL be worth it (and if i hear one more person say that to me, i might projectile vomit all over them). we can't WAIT to meet our little boy. well, we can wait long enough to make sure his lungs can function on their own and long enough to make sure his nursery's all ready for him! but you know what i mean. :)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-55681875305429124462010-12-17T19:45:00.009-06:002010-12-17T20:06:02.926-06:00The evolution of the bump...so far!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TQwUaC_2ymI/AAAAAAAAAwE/mAYmkgpHKX0/s1600/149667_1610852158390_1448840384_1519475_4245118_n.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TQwUaC_2ymI/AAAAAAAAAwE/mAYmkgpHKX0/s320/149667_1610852158390_1448840384_1519475_4245118_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551834878354836066" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />7 Weeks<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TQwTqpLzNaI/AAAAAAAAAv8/d8EeYnN4r2g/s1600/149667_1610852198391_1448840384_1519476_4886610_n.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TQwTqpLzNaI/AAAAAAAAAv8/d8EeYnN4r2g/s320/149667_1610852198391_1448840384_1519476_4886610_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551834063971759522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />9 Weeks<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TQwTlGXzzGI/AAAAAAAAAv0/KwaY7Q2SHCg/s1600/57315_1610860078588_1448840384_1519517_1069647_o.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TQwTlGXzzGI/AAAAAAAAAv0/KwaY7Q2SHCg/s320/57315_1610860078588_1448840384_1519517_1069647_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551833968727542882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />10 & 1/2 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TQwWAdET_mI/AAAAAAAAAwU/0vVzKiBLzrQ/s1600/51635_1625201157106_1448840384_1546153_4643730_o.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TQwWAdET_mI/AAAAAAAAAwU/0vVzKiBLzrQ/s320/51635_1625201157106_1448840384_1546153_4643730_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551836637699505762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />12 Weeks<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TQwUry-V-5I/AAAAAAAAAwM/bgScbIfaBWo/s1600/133459_1668386196705_1448840384_1624695_2288584_o.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TQwUry-V-5I/AAAAAAAAAwM/bgScbIfaBWo/s320/133459_1668386196705_1448840384_1624695_2288584_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551835183291169682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />14 Weeks<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TQwS_T3oV7I/AAAAAAAAAvc/yLLP_aZ_UIQ/s1600/134391_1668441038076_1448840384_1624787_6707820_o.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TQwS_T3oV7I/AAAAAAAAAvc/yLLP_aZ_UIQ/s320/134391_1668441038076_1448840384_1624787_6707820_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551833319515641778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />16 Weeks<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-66747450706036564532010-12-10T09:01:00.001-06:002010-12-10T09:01:20.840-06:00Corrected Christmas card!<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AYuGjZk3bN2cA/0AYuGjZk3bN2cOSg/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1291993252000/0/"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Simply Joy Christmas</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards" style="color: #6666cc;">Customize your Christmas cards</a> with Shutterfly.</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-75210206977272179842010-11-08T18:51:00.004-06:002010-11-08T20:35:33.252-06:00Friend Makin' Monday: Top 10 of 2010Thanks to <a href="http://thetexasdarlings.blogspot.com">The Texas Darlings</a> for hosting FMM this week and for allowing me to link up and participate! It's been ages since I really blogged for the sake of blogging, and I figured this was a good way to forge my re-entrance into the bloggy world! So thanks again. :)<br /><br />You can find other new fun friends' blogs at: <a href="http://thetexasdarlings.blogspot.com/2010/11/fmm-top-10-of-2010.html">THIS LINK</a><br /><br /><br />This year has been WONDERFUL, and I am very thankful for my life right now, including my job, my husband, my family, and my friends.<br /><br />Top Ten Things from 2010:<br /><br />10. Spending holidays and birthdays with our crazy but sweet families. I am thankful for their support, and it is so fun to be around our TEN nieces and nephews! Even though Scott & Shawn aren't so young anymore...ok, so they're technically adults...*tear* They grow up so fast!<br /><br />9. Snow for my birthday! Last time that happened, I lived in NYC! Crazy for it to snow in Texas (in MARCH, no less)!<br /><br />8. Did I mention my husband is awesome? 5 years together and counting, 2 married years and counting, and he still makes me laugh at the most unexpected times.<br /><br />7. My new job in 2nd grade. I am really loving the 2nd graders, and I LOVE my teammates. Lucky me.<br /><br />6. Laughs shared with my friends. Makes life better, huh?<br /><br />5. Pool time in the backyard this summer. Ahhh...spending time with our friends and family out back. Can't beat<br /><br />4. Performing the title role in Miss Saigon. Never in a million years, would I ever get that chance again, and it was the role of a lifetime. It was the first dramatic role I had ever played, and it was HARD and emotionally difficult. There were nights when I would go home totally depressed because I was so deep into feeling her life and circumstances. But wow, what an amazing show and experience.<br /><br />3. Surviving the 2009-2010 school year. I love my job, and I love my kids, and sometimes (like last year), you love your kids almost too much because of their special needs. It was a very hard, emotionally and physically draining year, and I felt like I grew a lot as a teacher and person. It was tough, but I made it through!<br /><br />2. Our trip to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands! WOW. I can't even describe the beauty and serenity of that place. And I REALLY hope we can go back one day and stay in St. John (my favorite)!<br /><br />1. Finding out that we are going to be parents! Wow. I just can't wait to meet this baby. It's surreal in so many ways and hard to believe that there is an actual HUMAN growing inside of me! We are so blessed.<br /><br /><br />Happy Monday!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-24511930553876163912010-10-31T20:04:00.002-05:002010-10-31T20:29:13.558-05:00Almost 11 Weeks...I can do it! I can make it to the 2nd trimester in one piece!<br /><br />Letters to Baby:<br /><br /><br />Wednesday, October 6, 2010<br /><br />Dear Baby,<br /><br />I am 7 weeks pregnant with you today. I can’t believe I still have to wait a whole week to see the doctor and get a sonogram. I am dying to see you and hear your little heartbeat. I just want to make sure you’re doing ok in there all by yourself!<br /><br />My tummy is quite round for me to be just 7 weeks along. I have decided that something is up! Either you are actually BABIES, not baby, or perhaps I have been pregnant longer than we think. Either way, we are so excited about you, and we can’t wait to visit the doctor next week. I can’t believe when May comes around you will be joining our little family. Things will be so different, but I can’t wait to see all the wonderful things you will bring to our lives and our hearts.<br /><br />You have definitely already done a number on my body. At first, the only thing that I noticed is that I was exhausted. I mean, so exhausted I didn’t feel like moving. I have spent a LOT of the last 6 weeks taking naps, resting on the couch, or reading in bed. <br /><br />I’m still feeling pretty darn tired ALL the time, but it’s not QUITE as bad as when I first found out about you.<br /><br />About a week or so ago, I started feeling pretty sick to my tummy. I feel hungry a lot, but nothing sounds good. I don’t actually want to eat anything. But my tummy hurts like it’s hungry. Very frustrating! I just ate some Cheez-Its, and they were YUMMY. Now Daddy is cooking some stir-fry with chicken, and I think it will be good, too.<br /><br />Be good in there, love.<br /><br /><br />Sunday, October 31, 2010<br /><br />Dear Baby,<br /><br />Wow! Time has flied! I am almost 11 Weeks along now, and I am counting down the days until I enter the 2nd Trimester and (hopefully) start to feel better and more energized. I’m sure your Daddy is tired of waiting on me hand and foot, cooking, and cleaning up for me, but he sure has been sweet about it. <br /><br />We finally got to see you on the ultrasound back at 8 weeks, and there was only ONE of you in there (thank goodness)! You measured EXACTLY 8 weeks, so you are just coming along quite nicely, just like you should. Way to be the best at growing; you are already a baby after your Mommy’s own heart, trying to be the best at everything. ☺<br /><br />These days, I have been eating a LITTLE better, though my tummy sure still doesn’t want certain things. (A LOT of certain things, actually). <br /><br />I have been liking salad, yogurt, jello, pudding, chocolate, milk, orange juice, cereal, strawberries, apple sauce, and donuts. I can’t get enough donuts; I am trying to quit going to the donut shop in the mornings on the way to work, LOL! I also have been drinking a Carnation Instant Breakfast (milk chocolate flavor) every single morning. Mommy has NEVER liked to eat breakfast, because her IBS has always made it an unpleasant experience. So I do eat something small, but not until I get to school and after having my Carnation.<br /><br />I am still sleeping a LOT and taking lots of naps after work and even on weekends. Today I felt extra awful and laid in bed for 6 hours! ☹ Hopefully I have successfully warded off the cold that was trying to attack me.<br /><br />Aunt Sadie & Uncle Trey have already given us LOTS of goodies for you; you are going to have SO many people loving on you and giving you gifts all the time; that’s pretty obvious already! You have already gotten gifts from both Grandmas, too!<br /><br />We are all VERY excited to meet you. So keep on growing and getting stronger, and preferably don’t grow MY nose, because it’s not my favorite. ☺<br /><br />We love you, sweet pea!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-77820026121559623472010-10-29T19:49:00.008-05:002010-10-29T20:04:57.910-05:00I've got LOVE in my tummy.Yep. So for the few people on earth that don't know, Clint & I are expecting our first baby in May.<br /><br />We are SO excited and feel very blessed that this pregnancy fit right into our anal retentive time table for me to have the baby at the end of the school year so I could be home with baby all summer before going back to work. :) Hee. Don't you just love it when things work out the way you plan? It's such a rarity, I must say I was really surprised when I saw that "pregnant" on the digital test. I am praying that things go along well and both baby and I stay healthy.<br /><br />Another reason I'm so excited is because one of my dearest friends, Jennifer (who I also teach with), is due 3 and 1/2 weeks before me! It's so nice to have a good friend to talk to, complain to, and compare stories/pains with!<br /><br />I am a little over 10 weeks along now, so I am really hoping that some of this nausea and other accompanying pains will start to diminish soon. :( I keep reminding myself that it could be SO much worse, and I am thankful to be where I am, but that doesn't make me feel much better when I'm lying awake at 3 am, feeling awful. :( Here's hoping I get back to my normal self soon!<br /><br />OK, I'm going to post a few belly shots, and please forgive me for the horrible quality, as I was too lazy to use a real camera/get my husband to take the shots/etc.<br /><br />I plan to start using a real camera from now on! It's amazing how you can feel so horrible that it doesn't seem like a priority to take a decent picture of yourself that will be used to document an amazing time of your life...hmm. Yeah. Well anyway.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TMttvNHWhpI/AAAAAAAAAu8/sH9hTWeeTaM/s1600/7+weeks"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TMttvNHWhpI/AAAAAAAAAu8/sH9hTWeeTaM/s320/7+weeks" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533637224896562834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />7 Weeks<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TMtuBWFTAWI/AAAAAAAAAvE/zQKFt7bHAFQ/s1600/9+weeks"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/TMtuBWFTAWI/AAAAAAAAAvE/zQKFt7bHAFQ/s320/9+weeks" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533637536541507938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />9 Weeks<br /><br /><br />So am I the only one who is too lazy to scan the sonogram picture so I can upload it to the internet? I must be. I'm sure I am the only one who's too lazy to do that. See, we don't have a scanner at home. And the scanner at school is like, way far away from my classroom. And like, did I mention I feel awful? Hmm. So anyway. Yeah.<br /><br /><br />YAY BABY!!!<br /><br />So exciting. And scary. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-35339143662581082252010-10-09T20:51:00.002-05:002010-10-09T21:11:54.351-05:00the worst blogger ever.Yep, that's me!<br /><br />Sorry for the hiatus. Things have been quite busy and crazy around here since school started at the end of August. I have accomplished absolutely nothing other than working. I bought the paint to redo my kitchen cabinets, and it's sitting in my garage. I keep telling myself I'm going to call the handyman guy and get a quote, but it never happens!<br /><br />I have really been enjoying teaching 2nd grade. It's a nice change in several ways--they are VERY sweet and absolutely LOVE Mrs. Cockrell. I'm also enjoying the new curriculum. It's definitely a change, but I'm getting used to it. :) I sure do have some doozies in my class this year, but mostly they are fabulous and super sweet.<br /><br />Already got what, 7 weeks down? Only...hmm...how many weeks of school are there? Nevermind, it's too soon to start the countdown; I'll go crazy!<br /><br />I wish I had something good to write about. No such luck...hopefully soon, though! ;)<br /><br /><br />Back soon!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-3945079347752989432010-07-02T18:26:00.002-05:002010-07-02T19:03:49.370-05:00You know you're getting older when:<div>-all the movie stars you're attracted to are now younger than you.</div><div><br /></div><div>-9 times out of 10 when you meet someone new, they're younger than you.</div><div><br /></div><div>-bending down to get on the floor and then getting back up is a lot more challenging than you remember.</div><div><br /></div><div>-you remember when those lame, raunchy teenager movies were what you and your friends went to see on the weekends.</div><div><br /></div><div>-most of the time you'd rather stay home and watch t.v. or read a book instead of going out to the bar.</div><div><br /></div><div>-you walk into a room and immediately forget what your purpose was in going there.</div><div><br /></div><div>-you sometimes know exactly what you want to say but cannot for the life of you remember the word that MEANS it.</div><div><br /></div><div>-you're married.</div><div><br /></div><div>:)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-19910294034467023962010-06-13T13:30:00.002-05:002010-06-13T13:37:47.430-05:00Job News!<div>I am very excited to announce that in the coming school year, I'll be moving to 2nd grade! I'm excited to be joining the fabulous 2nd grade team but super sad to be leaving my amazing 3rd grade teammates. :( Thank goodness we will all be on the same hallway this year. At least that way I know I'll still see my lovely ladies every day!</div><div><br /></div><div>This was a hard decision for me, because I have been very happy in 3rd grade, but I've always known that eventually I'd like to teach 2nd, and I figured it would be easier to make a change NOW than to do so after I've had a baby (no bun in the oven yet, don't get too excited). Just thinking into the future is all. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Change: scary, yet exciting. We shall see!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-3934146404810194362010-05-28T18:59:00.002-05:002010-05-28T19:05:57.011-05:00Seriously??<div>--2 and a half days of teaching left this school year.</div><div><br /></div><div>--have to have my entire classroom moved by 12:00 on Wednesday.</div><div><br /></div><div>--psycho people are really exhausting.</div><div><br /></div><div>--SO ready for summer.</div><div><br /></div><div>--half my big toenail got ripped off tuesday, and it HURTS.</div><div><br /></div><div>--need some quiet time.</div><div><br /></div><div>--in love with True Blood.</div><div><br /></div><div>--so excited about getting back to blogging on a regular basis.</div><div><br /></div><div>--still trying to book a vacation officially!</div><div><br /></div><div>--SLEEPY.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-4649690401762439292010-05-16T22:12:00.002-05:002010-05-17T21:08:32.586-05:00My 29th Birthday Shindig:<div>What, so I'm posting these 2 months after the fact. Sue me.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been busy! LOL. The GOOD news is (knock on wood), I haven't been sick since my birthday! Yeehaw! I'm starting to believe I might make it to the end of the school year (another 2 and 1/2 weeks) without missing anymore days! YAY. I think I can...</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy the pics of me and my crazy friends!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande', Verdana, 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Sans', sans-serif;font-size:9px;"><p style="visibility:visible;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widget-63.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" height="320" width="426" style="width:426px;height:320px"><param name="movie" value="http://widget-63.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="scale" value="noscale"><param name="salign" value="l"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="flashvars" value="cy=ms&il=1&channel=2738188573475628899&site=widget-63.slide.com"></object></p><p style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=2738188573475628899&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-63.slide.com/p1/2738188573475628899/ms_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=2738188573475628899&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-63.slide.com/p2/2738188573475628899/ms_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=2738188573475628899&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-63.slide.com/p4/2738188573475628899/ms_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></p><p></p></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-43632554195233483812010-04-18T13:43:00.007-05:002010-04-18T15:14:11.384-05:00better late than never: family photos.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tdTt0k8BI/AAAAAAAAAt8/ACXfuLEKqM8/s1600/DSCN0581.JPG"></a><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is one of the best pictures of the youngest grandkids! I'll have to print some copies of this one for parents & grandpa & grandma! So precious.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tWAyZ8jcI/AAAAAAAAAs0/3iEX6Ep_tEU/s1600/DSCN0543.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tWAyZ8jcI/AAAAAAAAAs0/3iEX6Ep_tEU/s320/DSCN0543.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461553544647445954" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>the kids with cousin Joel. he came down to visit from Ohio this year.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tWAZ3059I/AAAAAAAAAss/FeLpc-EQe2s/s1600/DSCN0542.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tWAZ3059I/AAAAAAAAAss/FeLpc-EQe2s/s320/DSCN0542.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461553538061887442" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>all the grandkids except for Shawn! how did that booger get out of this one?!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tV_l5qMeI/AAAAAAAAAsk/gW1cmZBln8c/s1600/DSCN0539.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tV_l5qMeI/AAAAAAAAAsk/gW1cmZBln8c/s320/DSCN0539.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461553524110930402" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Grandpa gets in on the fun!</div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tYvFLaS2I/AAAAAAAAAtE/KJnuHuhN1r8/s1600/DSCN0551.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tYvFLaS2I/AAAAAAAAAtE/KJnuHuhN1r8/s320/DSCN0551.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461556538983992162" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Clint with Carl & Boots.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tYuz5aXmI/AAAAAAAAAs8/2REGqXJ7lII/s1600/DSCN0561.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tYuz5aXmI/AAAAAAAAAs8/2REGqXJ7lII/s320/DSCN0561.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461556534345096802" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Carter playing in the snow on Christmas Eve!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tYvhR-MWI/AAAAAAAAAtM/t6ZG5DP0INg/s320/DSCN0566.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461556546527703394" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tYvhR-MWI/AAAAAAAAAtM/t6ZG5DP0INg/s1600/DSCN0566.JPG"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Grandma & Chloe in the snow:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tdTt0k8BI/AAAAAAAAAt8/ACXfuLEKqM8/s1600/DSCN0581.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tdTt0k8BI/AAAAAAAAAt8/ACXfuLEKqM8/s320/DSCN0581.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461561566415876114" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Trey, Chloe, Grandma & Uncle Clint:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tdTIoMdlI/AAAAAAAAAt0/ySMwO2nbmxU/s1600/DSCN0577.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tdTIoMdlI/AAAAAAAAAt0/ySMwO2nbmxU/s320/DSCN0577.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461561556431828562" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Carter & his Daddy:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tdSigno8I/AAAAAAAAAts/DX6k93weApw/s1600/DSCN0573.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tdSigno8I/AAAAAAAAAts/DX6k93weApw/s320/DSCN0573.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461561546199507906" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Lucy:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tdSBy6QlI/AAAAAAAAAtk/nxdxp0to_T4/s1600/DSCN0570.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tdSBy6QlI/AAAAAAAAAtk/nxdxp0to_T4/s320/DSCN0570.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461561537417855570" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Carter with Uncle Clint:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tdRe6z_PI/AAAAAAAAAtc/MX0cLLXEkRI/s1600/DSCN0568.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S8tdRe6z_PI/AAAAAAAAAtc/MX0cLLXEkRI/s320/DSCN0568.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461561528055758066" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-2236395961502736622010-03-15T22:59:00.003-05:002010-03-15T23:11:54.832-05:00Friend Makin' Monday<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(85, 61, 33); line-height: 20px; "><div style="color: black; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I just read on another blog about "Friend Makin' Monday" on <a href="http://amberfilkins.blogspot.com/2010/03/friend-makin-monday.html">aefilkin's blog</a>, and it sounded like fun, so here I am! Here are her questions for this week:</span></b></div><div style="color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I am.... sick with Mono...day 9 and counting.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I think....so many people miss out on meeting wonderful people because they are too close-minded.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I should...be in bed, but i'm just not tired.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I dream....almost only nightmares. no fun, but true.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I want....to re-do our kitchen. and to win the lotto. ok, i want a lot of things.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I know...how lucky i am to have my husband in my life. he is truly a good person.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I don't like....people who think everything is about THEM.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I smell...nothing. after a while, your nose gets used to the Scentsy scent. :)</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I hear....Frasier...Will & Grace just ended.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I fear....losing my loved ones.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I usually...am late.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I search...for meaning in life. :)</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I miss....my Gran. it's been almost 11 years, but i still think about her a lot.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I always...try to be nice to people, even when they don't deserve it.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><br /></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I regret....the days when i was younger and self-destructive. luckily, i didn't do too much damage!</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I wonder....how difficult it will be for us to get pregnant (no, we're not trying yet).</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I crave....chips & salsa and/or queso almost daily. it's a sickness.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I remember...living in new york and thinking every single day for 3 years how magical it was.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I need.....to get well in time for my birthday party on saturday. actually, i need to get well by thursday or friday, so i have time to clean the house first. :)</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I forget....what it's like to be 8 or 9 years old, like my students. it would make me a better teacher if i could remember.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I feel....a little disappointed in what has been the least fun birthday i can remember.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I can....make people laugh, which i love.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I can't....dance well.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br />I am happy....most of the time, actually.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I lose.....hmm, i can't think of anything i lose on a regular basis, unless you count losing my mind.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I sing....constantly. i was a vocal performance major, and i teach voice lessons, and i perform in 2 or 3 musicals each year. love it.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I listen...to music a lot. i find it hard to ride in the car without music. sometimes i make myself drive in silence with just me and my thoughts, though. ever tried it?</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I shop.....too much. i've got to calm it down.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I eat....things that are not healthy for me. :(</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><span style="font-size: large; "><b>I love.....so many people.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; "><br /></div></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-36122706448201834492010-03-15T15:16:00.010-05:002010-03-15T22:36:23.482-05:00results of severe boredom.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S575wWBK9cI/AAAAAAAAAsc/F4NyP_Y3b_E/s1600-h/DSCN0707.JPG"></a>you can ask anyone who knows me well: i don't get bored. i just don't. i could sit at home for hours, reading, watching t.v., looking through magazines, reading blogs, surfing the internet; i just don't get bored. ever.<br /><div><br /></div><div>and then i got Mono. good times, right? well, i think it didn't help me that i could barely move, so at times i didn't even feel like holding my book for very long. i've watched plenty of tv, completely read 2 novels, read 4 magazines cover to cover, read probably close to 400 blog entries--all in the last 9 days since i got sick.</div><div><br /></div><div>finally on friday (the day after my birthday--which was spent in bed--joy), i couldn't take it anymore. i was bored. it was a strange feeling. </div><div><br /></div><div>i started cleaning out the drawers and cabinets in our wet bar. i rearranged all of the odds and ends, repackaged some of the Christmas china that was still out loose, rearranged the 18,000 margarita and wine glasses we have, and organized my recipes. this is quite comical, you see, as i don't cook. like, ever. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>please enjoy the photos from my day of severe boredom.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S56ejtUe_lI/AAAAAAAAAr0/2DucHMUHaTM/s200/DSCN0674.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448966935463001682" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>here is my lovely recipe binder, given to me by clint's aunt carol at my bridal shower. look, i'm actually putting it to use! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S56cANZ46QI/AAAAAAAAArk/QjxPF9Ff0-c/s200/DSCN0671.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448964126577060098" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I took all my loose recipes and labeled, cut and pasted them onto these loose leaf recipe pages. YAY organization!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S56dB7ijDAI/AAAAAAAAArs/ORn8uu5kCZo/s1600-h/DSCN0672.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S56dB7ijDAI/AAAAAAAAArs/ORn8uu5kCZo/s200/DSCN0672.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448965255652903938" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S56cANZ46QI/AAAAAAAAArk/QjxPF9Ff0-c/s1600-h/DSCN0671.JPG"></a>I decided to keep the original recipe cards from family members and simply dropped them into a sheet protector that sits in the front of my recipe binder. I love the vintage recipe cards and beautiful handwriting! We just don't write in cursive like the older generations did. I call my own handwriting "prinsive," a random combination of print and cursive letters. It seems that's what most people use these days. Oh well, it's unique if nothing else. :)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S57wUz65S2I/AAAAAAAAAr8/qIMDsbsTiN0/s200/DSCN0681.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449056839490161506" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>here's my newly reorganized nook above the wet bar. i'm still not sure i love it, but i like it better than what was there before (margarita glasses with that same fiesta pitcher--too many glasses with the hanging ones).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S57xO4vjpQI/AAAAAAAAAsE/US3U8XIde2w/s1600-h/DSCN0684.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S57xO4vjpQI/AAAAAAAAAsE/US3U8XIde2w/s200/DSCN0684.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449057837217195266" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /></div><div>now that i moved the cookbooks up top, it makes the counter a lot less cluttered, as seen here, with a lovely framed photo from one my musicals and a lovely crystal bowl filled with wine corks. the crystal bowl was a wedding gift, and i figured since i don't have a china cabinet, why leave it hidden in my cabinets? i need to drink some more wine, though...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S572LhhyTnI/AAAAAAAAAsM/Dcy0bAGC60Q/s1600-h/DSCN0701.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S572LhhyTnI/AAAAAAAAAsM/Dcy0bAGC60Q/s200/DSCN0701.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449063277003951730" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>here is the "new" left side of my mantle. i'm really liking this side. it seems balanced to me. i like the platter, but i'm constantly afraid it's going to come crashing down at some point (most likely in the middle of the night, waking a frightened yours truly to the faux sounds of an intruder).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S573V1YrAmI/AAAAAAAAAsU/1vFfUJxe2dU/s200/DSCN0693.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449064553644753506" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>here's the right side of the mantle, which just doesn't look right to me. i can never figure out what is wrong with my mantle groupings. i rearrange things a thousand times, i've read advice about it on several blogs, i've shopped the house and tried out new things (enter everything on this side now apart from the brown vase). i'm at a loss. oh well. it'll do for now! :)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S575wWBK9cI/AAAAAAAAAsc/F4NyP_Y3b_E/s200/DSCN0707.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449067208104408514" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div>here is the whole mantle (terrible photo, i know). what can you do? the problem is that i can't get too rustic-vintage in this room, even though i love it, because the living room is done in a new, mod version of the 60's flower power, including a chocolate brown shag rug, and pillows with large flowers in burnt orange, avocado, and red. we have an avocado accent wall to the left of the fireplace. what's a newbie decorator to do? :) just keep trying different things!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029590305781397883.post-8168013272784607802010-03-14T13:44:00.007-05:002010-03-14T14:55:41.116-05:00crazy reading fool.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S50zUyRZmKI/AAAAAAAAArU/_Tp7ayF_4fk/s1600-h/queenbigcity.jpg"></a><div>thanks for stopping by!</div><br />well, considering i've hardly left my house in 8 days due to this probable case of Mono (find out for sure tomorrow from 2nd blood test), i definitely haven't had a very thrilling or productive week.<br /><div><br /></div><div>i thought i'd post a little about the books i'm currently/soon to be reading. :) there is not a day in my life that i don't have a book in progress. as soon as i finish one, i pick out a new one to start the next day.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S50zUDJF_EI/AAAAAAAAAq8/0ZucDyznaDw/s1600-h/dearjohn.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S50zUDJF_EI/AAAAAAAAAq8/0ZucDyznaDw/s200/dearjohn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448567543722015810" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;">this week i read and finished <u>Dear John</u> by Nicholas Sparks. i was a little underwhelmed by the love story of the book, but i was completely struck by the relationship between father and son. there was a point where i literally sobbed over it for a good 10 minutes. so much that the husband was worried about me! :) the book is a little slow getting started, but i enjoyed it overall.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S50zUmm2f_I/AAAAAAAAArM/NjMXkCN85A0/s200/last+song.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448567553242071026" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">i'm currently in the middle of reading <u>The Last Song</u> by Nicholas Sparks. it is definitely a youngsters' love story, but in my opinion, the writing just seems better in this one. ??? i definitely don't read Sparks for his writing genius; it's the stories that are heartfelt and enjoyable. when you're sick, you don't really feel like reading hard core literature. :)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S50zUyRZmKI/AAAAAAAAArU/_Tp7ayF_4fk/s200/queenbigcity.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448567556373321890" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div>next up on my Kindle is <u>Queen of Babble in the Big City</u> by Meg Cabot. Cabot is the author of all the Princess Diary books and writes chick lit for teens and for adults. i find her voice very fun to read. she has good comic timing. not sure if any of this makes sense, but she really is an enjoyable author to read. i think i must have read the original <u>Queen of Babble</u> book last summer, so hopefully i'll enjoy this one as well. there is a 3rd, also: <u>Queen of Babble Gets Hitched</u>. i love series!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S50zUXaRuiI/AAAAAAAAArE/cWZyLb43lAw/s1600-h/chelseavodka.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QLMa9e0Say8/S50zUXaRuiI/AAAAAAAAArE/cWZyLb43lAw/s200/chelseavodka.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448567549162797602" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><div>i also ordered <u>Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea</u> by Chelsea Handler on my Kindle. i think people either love or hate Handler, but she cracks me up with her hateful comments. anyway, i've heard her books are funny, so hopefully i will enjoy this one! she just came out with a new book: <u>Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang</u>, if you're interested.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>good times with reading! feel free to leave some book recommendations in the comments; i love recommendations from friends!</div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85761/gayla311/d13a67090ba145f4cfe31cddbb01b158.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3