What a wonderful day it was this time last year. Chip and I were awakened at 3:30 am to my water breaking. Oh my, I was two weeks early. I was freaking out because my bags were not packed and the car seat was not installed. My ever so calm husband took me in his arms and said it was all going to be alright. We quickly packed our bags while I was on the phone with my mom. The hospital said not to rush, so, we didn't. We strolled in to labor and delivery around 6:45 am with wide eyes and full of wonder. At 7:46 pm, Karlee Addyson joined our lives.
What joy she was and has been since that day. It is so hard to believe a year has gone by. It's been the best year of our lives. I read the poem on a picture frame given to me by Chip last Christmas every night:
"You are the poem I dreamed of writing,
the masterpiece I longed to paint.
You are the shining star I reached for
in my ever hopeful quest for life fulfilled.
You are my child, with all things
I am blessed."
This is so true. God created Karlee just for us. She is everything I always prayed for. I know she is just borrowed from God because she is His child. But boy I sure have enjoyed this borrowed year. I look forward to so many more.
Chip and I try to be the best parents we can be for her. She is such an easy, happy child. Her laughs melt my heart and her cries break it. I love her hugs and kisses. I just light up when she says "momma" and looks for me. I've been able to see and enjoy all of her firsts. This is something I really worried about when I went back to work. I was afraid I would miss everything. Her first coo, smile, laugh, word, wave, clap, and step will forever be etched in my mind.
Karlee, I hope you have enjoyed your first year as much as mommy and daddy have. We love you so much. We hope we are raising you in a good Christian way and guiding you down a path of life in Christ. I personally hope I become your best friend and stay that way. Reach for the stars baby girl. Hope big and dream bigger. Nothing is out of reach if you reach high enough.
Love, Mommy and Daddy
Turn the sound on and enjoy a 15 minute glimpse of Karlee's first year.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Happy Birthday Pumpkin!
Karlee is 1 today! I can't believe it. We had her cupcake party yesterday. It was so much fun and chaotic at the same time. Karlee got an early birthday present Thursday when she went to the doctor. After a flu test, RSV test, and strep test, it was determined that she had a really bad sinus infection. Her white count was really high. After confirming nothing was contagious, we continued on with party planning. I made cupcakes and Karlee's cake all day Friday. I sat Karlee on the counter and she helped me whisk her cake batter. I had to hold her other hand to keep it from wondering into the bowl. Hudson Galimore came over with Jay Friday night so he helped me decorate the rest of the cupcakes. Karlee enjoyed him being there because it gave her an excuse to show (take out!) everything in her toy box. Saturday was fun. Karlee loved her chocolate cake. She touched it a little then sucked the chocolate off her fingers before really diving in. Diving in is literal. She bent over and stuck her whole mouth and nose into the cake. She came up smiling and laughing. It was absolutely priceless. Karlee loved opening her presents. She had a little help from Rolley Len Kirk. They are just under two weeks apart. We celebrate Rolley Len's birthday next Sunday. More cake, yeah!! Thanks to the grandparents, Karlee was spoiled like Christmas all over again. We are in desperate need of an extension on our house! Happy Birthday Pumpkin! Mommy and Daddy love you so much. Thank you for being such a joy to our lives.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Tagged
I've been tagged to tell you the 10 most honest things about myself. Here goes:
1) I am an under control shopaholic. I love to shop. I think having a little girl has made it worse. I wake up Monday and Friday mornings wondering where I can shop that day. I even sit at work during the week thinking about things to buy. I mentioned I was an under control shopaholic. I am constantly thinking of things to buy but I actually don't purchase what I think about. I know how much I can spend during each week of the month and I spend exactly that. I don't save money at all. I'm actually trying to save now because the economy situation scares me to death. I like expensive things. I don't bargain shop at all. If I find a bargain, I think "ooh, more money to spend on something else." I know. I have a problem!!
2) I love going on vacation. Before Karlee, Chip and I traveled all the time. I think most vacations are therapeutic. At least traveling without a child is!! We took Karlee to the beach twice last summer and had so much fun. I know this summer will be even better because she is walking and is fascinated with everything.
3) I really like to read. I don't have the time for reading like I used to. I'm a sap for a really good book. When I'm hooked on a good book, the house could fall down around me and I wouldn't notice. The Twilight series has been getting me in trouble lately with Chip. I totally ignore everything around me when I'm reading these books. I hope I pass this love of books on to Karlee. She already likes to flip the pages of her books and look at the pictures.
4) I like the teenage Disney movies like Princess Diaries. There's just something about those family type movies that are appealing to me. There's no cussing, love making, or killing. They are just fun to watch movies that don't require thinking or analyzing. I do too much of that during the day as it is.
5) I decided I wanted to be an accountant in the 10th grade. I loved math and still do. I have become totally dependent on a calculator though because of my job. I sat for the CPA exam and passed three of the four parts before I became pregnant. I took the last part in August before Karlee was born. Some may not know, but that was the time period when I was extremely sick with morning/all day sickness. I had to leave the room three times during the test. Needless to say, I didn't finish the test nor did I pass. The honest part of me here is sometimes I wonder if I wasted my time getting a masters degree in accounting. I could have just gotten by with my bachelors degree. In a small town accouting firm, I would still do audits and tax returns anyway. I'll be paying back my student loan for grad school for umpteen years to come. Was is worth the time and money to get my masters?
6) I am one of those crazy accountants that loves tax season. Yes, you are reading this correctly. I love the adrenaline rush of working in a time crunch, always working on a deadline, and late hours of number crunching. The routine work of non-tax season days gets so monotonous. In tax season, there's always something new and challenging to come to work to. I like seeing which stocks pulled the highest dividends the past year. Seeing what other people do with their money is just down right intriguing to me.
7) I have a very short fuse when it comes to patience. I can't stand for something to be done at a slow pace when I know it can be done faster. When I think about something or want to do something, it has to be done right then. Don't tell me to wait! This drives Chip crazy.
8) I am a pretty big procrastinator. I know this contradicts the earlier statement about patience. But, it's okay if I put something off!! I start off with good intentions. For instance, I ordered Karlee's birthday invitations extra early but waited forever to mail them.
9) I knew I would marry Chip Baker the first time I met him 12 1/2 years ago. I even told my aunt Suzzanne I would marry him that very day I met him. It was just one of those things that I felt God doing. I was even dating someone else at the time. I honestly think Chip and I were made for each other. I don't think anyone else could put up with either one of us!! I would rather spend time with him on any given day than anyone else. I have and have had a few people that I call friends. I've always been the person that people forgot about. Chip is the only best friend I have ever had. He is the only person (besides my mom) that I can truly count on for anything.
10) Last but certainly not least: I think Karlee is the most precious, beautiful creature ever made. Yes, I am biased. I wanted to start a family several years ago but Chip just wasn't ready. I resented him for that for a while. I now know that Karlee was totally worth the wait. God made her especially for us and she is perfect. I have so many dreams and hopes for her. I hope she always understands how much Chip and I love her no matter what she may do along the way. I hope she never lets anyone stand in her way of accomplishing something she dreams to do. And if they do, I hope she has a friend that will go to bat for her over anything. The kind of friend that would fight a bull, lie in front of a train, or dive to the bottom of the ocean for her. I know that in a blink of an eye Karlee will be a teenager. She will hit that age where she "thinks" she can't tell her parents anything. I hope she has that friend she can go to for support and special talks. I include this in my prayer for her every night as I rock her to sleep. (I then hope that friend will come tell me everything Karlee told her or him!!)
I am now tagging Jessalee Langford, Sarah Crim, and Laura Deline.
1) I am an under control shopaholic. I love to shop. I think having a little girl has made it worse. I wake up Monday and Friday mornings wondering where I can shop that day. I even sit at work during the week thinking about things to buy. I mentioned I was an under control shopaholic. I am constantly thinking of things to buy but I actually don't purchase what I think about. I know how much I can spend during each week of the month and I spend exactly that. I don't save money at all. I'm actually trying to save now because the economy situation scares me to death. I like expensive things. I don't bargain shop at all. If I find a bargain, I think "ooh, more money to spend on something else." I know. I have a problem!!
2) I love going on vacation. Before Karlee, Chip and I traveled all the time. I think most vacations are therapeutic. At least traveling without a child is!! We took Karlee to the beach twice last summer and had so much fun. I know this summer will be even better because she is walking and is fascinated with everything.
3) I really like to read. I don't have the time for reading like I used to. I'm a sap for a really good book. When I'm hooked on a good book, the house could fall down around me and I wouldn't notice. The Twilight series has been getting me in trouble lately with Chip. I totally ignore everything around me when I'm reading these books. I hope I pass this love of books on to Karlee. She already likes to flip the pages of her books and look at the pictures.
4) I like the teenage Disney movies like Princess Diaries. There's just something about those family type movies that are appealing to me. There's no cussing, love making, or killing. They are just fun to watch movies that don't require thinking or analyzing. I do too much of that during the day as it is.
5) I decided I wanted to be an accountant in the 10th grade. I loved math and still do. I have become totally dependent on a calculator though because of my job. I sat for the CPA exam and passed three of the four parts before I became pregnant. I took the last part in August before Karlee was born. Some may not know, but that was the time period when I was extremely sick with morning/all day sickness. I had to leave the room three times during the test. Needless to say, I didn't finish the test nor did I pass. The honest part of me here is sometimes I wonder if I wasted my time getting a masters degree in accounting. I could have just gotten by with my bachelors degree. In a small town accouting firm, I would still do audits and tax returns anyway. I'll be paying back my student loan for grad school for umpteen years to come. Was is worth the time and money to get my masters?
6) I am one of those crazy accountants that loves tax season. Yes, you are reading this correctly. I love the adrenaline rush of working in a time crunch, always working on a deadline, and late hours of number crunching. The routine work of non-tax season days gets so monotonous. In tax season, there's always something new and challenging to come to work to. I like seeing which stocks pulled the highest dividends the past year. Seeing what other people do with their money is just down right intriguing to me.
7) I have a very short fuse when it comes to patience. I can't stand for something to be done at a slow pace when I know it can be done faster. When I think about something or want to do something, it has to be done right then. Don't tell me to wait! This drives Chip crazy.
8) I am a pretty big procrastinator. I know this contradicts the earlier statement about patience. But, it's okay if I put something off!! I start off with good intentions. For instance, I ordered Karlee's birthday invitations extra early but waited forever to mail them.
9) I knew I would marry Chip Baker the first time I met him 12 1/2 years ago. I even told my aunt Suzzanne I would marry him that very day I met him. It was just one of those things that I felt God doing. I was even dating someone else at the time. I honestly think Chip and I were made for each other. I don't think anyone else could put up with either one of us!! I would rather spend time with him on any given day than anyone else. I have and have had a few people that I call friends. I've always been the person that people forgot about. Chip is the only best friend I have ever had. He is the only person (besides my mom) that I can truly count on for anything.
10) Last but certainly not least: I think Karlee is the most precious, beautiful creature ever made. Yes, I am biased. I wanted to start a family several years ago but Chip just wasn't ready. I resented him for that for a while. I now know that Karlee was totally worth the wait. God made her especially for us and she is perfect. I have so many dreams and hopes for her. I hope she always understands how much Chip and I love her no matter what she may do along the way. I hope she never lets anyone stand in her way of accomplishing something she dreams to do. And if they do, I hope she has a friend that will go to bat for her over anything. The kind of friend that would fight a bull, lie in front of a train, or dive to the bottom of the ocean for her. I know that in a blink of an eye Karlee will be a teenager. She will hit that age where she "thinks" she can't tell her parents anything. I hope she has that friend she can go to for support and special talks. I include this in my prayer for her every night as I rock her to sleep. (I then hope that friend will come tell me everything Karlee told her or him!!)
I am now tagging Jessalee Langford, Sarah Crim, and Laura Deline.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Miss Explorer
Karlee now walks more than she crawls so it is really keeping me on my toes. While I was fixing her a snack this afternoon, I heard the chairs at the breakfast table sliding. This is where I found Karlee: 
Karlee's getting her balance down pretty good. She'll start to teeter a little and will just keep on walking. She now claps while she walks because she has seen me do that a hundred times with each step. I get so tickled at her all the time. She wakes up from her night time sleep and naps saying "go go" and bouncing in the crib. She is having so much fun exploring on her newly found legs. She's going to think the video camera is permanently attached to Mommy. I just can't resist capturing these special moments.
Karlee's getting her balance down pretty good. She'll start to teeter a little and will just keep on walking. She now claps while she walks because she has seen me do that a hundred times with each step. I get so tickled at her all the time. She wakes up from her night time sleep and naps saying "go go" and bouncing in the crib. She is having so much fun exploring on her newly found legs. She's going to think the video camera is permanently attached to Mommy. I just can't resist capturing these special moments.Sunday, January 11, 2009
FINALLY......
I finally have video footage of Karlee walking. I was actually able to capture it before and after her bath tonight.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
First Day of School!
Karlee started Parkway Preschool this morning. I was a nervous wreck getting ready for work this morning thinking about how she would react about being left with strangers for such a long time. An hour in the church nursery on Sundays is usually too long for her. I couldn't imagine what 3 hours would do to her.
She woke up in the best mood just gibbering away about who knows what. I kept telling her we were getting ready for school and she was saying "go go" like she knew what I was talking about. I gave her the new backpack Santa delivered on Christmas morning and she was so excited for something new.
We ate breakfast, waved bye bye to Sable, and off we went.
We walked to the classroom with Ali and Stirling (talking about their new wonderful news!). Mrs. Pat welcomed us and talked to Karlee for a little bit in my arms. When she asked Karlee if she wanted to play, to my surprise, Karlee went right to her with no crying or reaching for me. I was shocked but kind of sad that she was fine with me leaving. They went straight to the toy basket and Karlee started playing and talking away. I stepped out before she realized what was happening and continued to watch for just a minute through the viewing window.
I was teary eyed walking to the car. Thank goodness I will be working today to keep my mind off of leaving my child. I can't wait to pick her up at 12:00 to see how she did after I left. The ladies in her class made strawberry muffins and brought bananas. I'm sure Karlee will love them for that! She loves muffins.
She woke up in the best mood just gibbering away about who knows what. I kept telling her we were getting ready for school and she was saying "go go" like she knew what I was talking about. I gave her the new backpack Santa delivered on Christmas morning and she was so excited for something new.
We ate breakfast, waved bye bye to Sable, and off we went.
We walked to the classroom with Ali and Stirling (talking about their new wonderful news!). Mrs. Pat welcomed us and talked to Karlee for a little bit in my arms. When she asked Karlee if she wanted to play, to my surprise, Karlee went right to her with no crying or reaching for me. I was shocked but kind of sad that she was fine with me leaving. They went straight to the toy basket and Karlee started playing and talking away. I stepped out before she realized what was happening and continued to watch for just a minute through the viewing window.
I was teary eyed walking to the car. Thank goodness I will be working today to keep my mind off of leaving my child. I can't wait to pick her up at 12:00 to see how she did after I left. The ladies in her class made strawberry muffins and brought bananas. I'm sure Karlee will love them for that! She loves muffins.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Is it January???
The Auburn Bank ATM just posted a temperature of 77 degrees as I was driving by. Are you kidding? It feels more like spring than winter. Karlee is loving the warmer weather though. She loves to be outside. When you say "outside" she starts crawling to the door and says "go go". We spent most of the day Friday strolling around the backyard and cul de sac in her new car.
We took a trip over to the Cowan's to see Will's new puppy, Zach. He is a boykin spaniel and is just beautiful. Chip has a boykin named Tate that was "adopted" by his parents when we got married. One dog was enough for us newlyweds! Seeing Zach everyday makes me want another boykin.
After church on Sunday, Chip and I took Karlee to Town Creek Park to stroll around the trails. We ended up in the cemetery at the end. There's just something weird about leisurely walking around a cemetery. Some people even were sitting on blankets reading just down from a headstone. Too creepy for me!! The grass beside the lake is much more appealing. We probably ruined the calories burned on the walk with the TCBY ice cream we had afterwards. Oh well! It sure was good. We gave Karlee her first bite of ice cream and she turned away making a horrible face. She didn't care for the cold on her tongue.
We took a trip over to the Cowan's to see Will's new puppy, Zach. He is a boykin spaniel and is just beautiful. Chip has a boykin named Tate that was "adopted" by his parents when we got married. One dog was enough for us newlyweds! Seeing Zach everyday makes me want another boykin.
After church on Sunday, Chip and I took Karlee to Town Creek Park to stroll around the trails. We ended up in the cemetery at the end. There's just something weird about leisurely walking around a cemetery. Some people even were sitting on blankets reading just down from a headstone. Too creepy for me!! The grass beside the lake is much more appealing. We probably ruined the calories burned on the walk with the TCBY ice cream we had afterwards. Oh well! It sure was good. We gave Karlee her first bite of ice cream and she turned away making a horrible face. She didn't care for the cold on her tongue.
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