Aubie! Aubie! Aubie!

These are the words I heard all morning as I was trying to tackle Karlee to get dressed. Today was Spirit Day at Parkway Preschool. I have definitely learned my lesson to not tell Karlee that Aubie is coming to her school ahead of time. She was bonkers this morning, which caused mommy to break a sweat in my house that was 65 degrees!

I will preface this story with saying that Chip had put in Karlee's head all day yesterday to say Roll Tide to Aubie. Of course, when Chip and Karlee got home from work last night, Chip said, "Karlee, tell mommy what Aubie says." My sweet innocent child said, "Rolllllll Tiddddde!" I just looked at them in horror. Those are terrible words to put in my child's mouth. I told Karlee that is NOT what Aubie says. I also told her daddy that he was going to get a spanking for using such blasphemy!

All morning, I was saying War Eagle and Go Auburn. Karlee would repeat it and I was happy. Then, when we got to school, Mrs. Kim asked Karlee if she was ready to see Aubie. Karlee so proudly said, "Roll Tide" to her. I just wanted to cry! My poor baby has been tainted.

I held my breathe as I walked in to the pep rally hoping Karlee would not yell those ugly words in front of everyone. Luckily, she didn't! Everybody was yelling and cheering for Auburn and saying War Eagle and my sweet Karlee just chimed right in. I was so proud!

Karlee's class waiting for the cheerleaders and Aubie.

Doing the arm motions for "WARRRRRR EAGLE!"

Sitting so ladylike!

Finally getting close to Aubie. She told this little girl to go away!

I guess Karlee is going to have to learn on her own which team to pull for like I did. I grew up with a dad cheering for Auburn and a mom cheering for Alabama. I made the right decision of which team to pull for and I know Karlee will do the same. But, as long as I'm in charge of the wardrobe, she will NEVER NEVER NEVER wear crimson and white!

83 Years!

My Granny turns 83 on Thursday! We celebrated with a little party on Sunday with all the family. It was supposed to be by the pool at Eddie and Dawn's house but the rain kept us inside. Not complaining about the rain though because we need it desperately. The party started at 2:00 which is Karlee's nap time. She fell asleep in the car on the way there. So, she was not in the party mood until cousin Maggie got her stirred up and she played like a maniac the rest of the time.

We ate wonderful food and desserts as usual with this family. We attempted to get group pictures (like we don't have enough of these already throughout the years!).

Raleigh (7 months), Lila (20 months), Karlee (2 1/2 years)

Granny's kids and their spouses (Uncle Alan was MIA!)

The great grandkids (Maggie is a grandchild but Karlee wouldn't leave her side!)

Since Karlee was occupied with Maggie, I got to just sit back and relax. Thanks for the picture Ashley!!



It was a wonderful time with family. I honestly don't know what we would all do without Granny. She is the rock of this family and the glue that keeps us all close. She has had a rough 83 years but is the strongest woman I know. Happy birthday and we love you Granny!

Let It Rain

A Nesting Mommy

My parents took Karlee to the beach last week from Wednesday - Sunday. So, that meant lots of time to rest for mommy, right? WRONG! My nesting kicked in full gear and I don't think I sat down much at all while Karlee was gone.

Everything has been marked off the "getting ready for baby" to-do list:
*all baby clothes/blankets/receiving blankets are washed and put away.
*all baby toys, swings, bouncy seats, play mats are out of the attic, washed, and ready for use. The nursery smells like a bottle of Dreft!
*all bottles are out of the attic, washed, and stored away in the kitchen.
*my bag and Madelyn's bag are packed for the hospital.
*my closet is straightened up and now includes all baby essentials for bath, diapering and dressing for downstairs use.
*the nursery is finished!
*car seat is out of the attic, washed, and ready to go in the car.
*all nursing supplies are on hand, and one thing of formula is in the pantry in case nursing doesn't go as easy as it did with Karlee.
*nursing pajamas are washed and put away.
*spent $220 at Target buying all the baby essentials (diapers, wipes, ointment, baby wash, baby lotion, mylicon, bottle nipples, etc) - all the things you take for granted when you receive them at the baby showers for the first child!

Shewwwww! I think that's everything I did while Karlee was gone, besides sew a few things. One of the sewing projects I finished was the wall letters for Madelyn's nursery. I ran across a really cute lettering idea in the Pottery Barn kids magazine a while back. It was a paper letter in one color on top of an 8x10 piece of paper of another color and framed. Those little things are $30 per letter! I got to thinking that I could just make my own. And, I figured since I have this nice sewing and monogram machine, that I should get a little more creative than paper.

One of my co-workers has been saving the cardboard pieces that come in the box of stock checks at our office for Karlee to use for art projects and coloring. So, that was the base for my idea. I had on hand most of the fabric that matched Madelyn's room. So, I just appliqued her letters on pieces of fabric and sewed the fabric up like a pillow. I slid the cardboard piece down in the pillow case, used long nosed tacks to pin to the wall, and tied ribbon around the tacks. I pat myself on the back because I don't think they look too bad. And, it's a special handmade project. I had thought about framing them and hanging them with ribbon but frames were just too expensive and the cardboard is paper size (8 1/2 x 11).



Everything for Madelyn is just sitting in her room right now. Karlee was really quiet last night and I knew she was in Madelyn's room. I snuck upstairs with camera in hand and found her in the boucy seat. I quickly snapped the picture and disappeared. I kept glancing in there to see what the noise she was making was coming from. She had found the basket of toys and lovies, the boppy pillow, and the play mat. Well, the nursery was clean and straight for a few days at least!

Giddee-up!

All I've heard since this birthday party is "I want a pony and a pot pig." The pot pig she is referring to is a pot-bellied pig! I don't have pics of the 9 week old baby pig but Karlee sure remembers it. The man holding the horse was laughing at Karlee because she kept telling the horse to giddee-up and she took her hat off, waved it over her head, and said "yee-ha!" Dora does that in one of the movies we watch over, and over, and over, and over again.

Thanks Elisha for inviting us to such a fun birthday party for sweet Ella Grace.

Lunch Date with Mommy

Today has been an off schedule day. Karlee didn't wake up until 9:30 so we ate breakfast around 10:00. We played a little and then ran my normal Friday errands. We stopped by my office to get my paycheck and Karlee kept hearing and seeing airplanes (my office is very close to the Auburn airport).

I asked her if she wanted to go watch the airplanes take off and land. The biggest smile spread across her face and she said "YESSSSS. PLEEEEEASE." It was 1:15 and my pregnant belly was growling so we pulled through McDonald's and grabbed a quick "healthy" lunch to go.

I backed up to the fence at the airport and we picnicked in the back of the car. There were planes taking off and landing literally every 3 minutes. Karlee waved at everyone of them. It was fascinating having a conversation with my 2 year old about where the planes might be going. She told me that one was going to the beach, one was going to play football, and one was going to school.

Trying to fly like a plane with a mouth full of chicken!

I was glad I had my little camera in the car. She kept telling me to take pictures of the planes and then she wanted me to show her the pictures.

It was such a fun small part of the afternoon. I truly enjoy my two days off of work each week to just spend with Karlee. She is so simple to please and is very easy to entertain for the most part. I hope she enjoys our time together as much as I do. Things are about to really change for us in about 6-8 weeks.

"Time Out"

Thursday afternoon, Karlee was playing on the back porch with Sable. She kept picking up Sable's food bowl and putting it on her head. She called it her helmet. I told her to stop doing that because the bowl was dirty. She kept doing it and I told her I was going inside to get sad stick. She then yelled "No!" at me and threw the bowl across the porch. I brought her inside for a spanking and she ran to the front door. She said "no sad stick mommy, I want time out."

She preceded to stand in the corner with her nose to the wall and cry. I told her to stand there until I said she could move. I couldn't resist grabbing the camera and quietly taking a picture. We have never done time out so she must see this at school. I just wonder if she has seen another child in timeout or if it has been her. Definitely a question I will be asking the teacher on Monday. I sure would hope they would tell me if Karlee does something that deserves time out.




When I told her she was done, she ran to me and said "I sorry. Let's go play with Sable again." She picked up the dog bowl and put it back beside the water bowl and never messed with it again (all without me telling her to put it back). Time out may be my new best friend!

The Baby Bump

I did a horrible job of documenting my pregnancy with Karlee. Partly because I was so sick and miserable! This time around is so different. I feel great and have only gained 15 pounds so far (31 weeks). Karlee definitely keeps me moving so there is no time to feel bad or sit and rest. I have about 6 or 7 weeks left according to the doctors so I am in the home stretch.

Last night after dinner (hence the panties only!), Karlee wanted to go outside to play with Sable. So, we headed out to the back porch for a little while. Madelyn had the hiccups and Chip laid his hand on my belly to feel them. I asked Karlee if she wanted to feel Madelyn and she came running over. Afterwards, I grabbed the camera to capture a few shots of the Karlee/baby bump interaction. Sorry the picture is terrible. Chip is not the greatest photographer!



Later, Karlee climbed up in my lap (what's left of it) and gave Madelyn hugs and kisses. It was so sweet. I really hope she is this loving when Madelyn is actually here!