NYE

I'm laying in bed with my 2 1/2 YEAR old with only moments left in 2010. As fireworks go off around us, I'm reflecting on all that was jammed packed into this YEAR and yet it seemed to fly by.

Since Adams Group is in the middle of their move, it is requiring all of JMA's attention. We had family pictures this morning then he went in. I didn't want him to have to have BK or Subway one more time, so Rea and I took up some Cracker Barrel and visited for a bit.

Life

Did the gestational diabetes test earlier this week.


Been messed up with sciatica pain for a week...had a massage earlier in week...learned new stretches, but don't have a man to do them with...pain was a bit better today.

Found this on my dining room table this am...



Got it out and started to get acquainted with it this evening...


JMA worked until midnight last night. Tonight is another lonely night without him. I have no desire to cook a meal when he isn't around.

Rileigh moves around like a crazy animal! I started her Babies R' Us registry. 12 weeks and she should be here.

Reagan is enjoying her Tag Junior she got for Christmas. She just walked into the office and asked me what I was doing. I said "working on my phone" and she said "why?" Yes, we are entering the "why" to everything stage.

Trying to keep things in perspective over here.

Christmas Festivities

We had a good experience with Santa this year. (We went to a family party at Gram's place and they had a creepy, wannabe Santa.) After I took this picture, Reagan showed it to him.


We celebrated Christmas early with the Bray's. Here some of us are baking.


Then we took a break to do some dancing.





Rea has been sporting a few of her favorite things. Dora sunglasses, big jewels, and a notebook.


Our RI friends were visiting family in St. Pete, so we met halfway at a park. As always, Rea had a blast with Mr. Andrew. Here they were playing golf with big sticks.

Tradition

Icing...


Sprinkles...


Pose...


Enjoy...


All of it...


Repeat!

Christmas Angel

...a sand angel...



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Happenings...

Rea continues to do more and more big kid things. It seems as if she decided that it was time to start talking...complete sentences. We love how often and freely she says "thank you"....for example when we compliment her she says "thank you" or when I thank her for something she says "no problem, mom". So many cute one liners...wish I could remember them all.
Potty training was a success after 3 days, then she got super sick and still did fine. Once I got her home and feeling better, we took several steps back...we're pressing forward and trying not to get frustrated.

Using the magnifying glass to observe a bug...





While I'm standing on the ladder, she grabs my ankle and says "I got you mom."


Loves play-doh!


Even with a bare-butt...


Helping dad put her bike together.





Being funny, yet obedient while running errands...

Another Article

Read it here!

Signing Day

Yesterday the papers were signed... the new building is "ours".

Adams Group is moving north!

Here's a short article from earlier this week.

More to come on all this I'm sure.

Business, Pleasure, & Sick Baby

This past weekend JMA and I went to a business function in Tampa and left Rea with my rents. Unfortunately, she became super sick throughout the night.

After much deliberation and hesitation, we went on to Miami for a second business function...which was beautiful! The theme was...well, I can't remember the word...basically the dress was "tropical chic resort style" and the guys had a specific style shirt to wear. I borrowed this linen dress which worked great, but I looked super pregnant in it.


We had breakfast with brother and gf the next am. His apartment was just a mile down the road from our hotel. We had purchased tickets to the afternoon Cirque du Soleil performance weeks before since we knew we would be in the area. We all thoroughly enjoyed it.


We headed home to pick up our sick girl from my poor parents. She and I spent Monday recovering. Me unpacking/cleaning and her sleeping...

On the Go

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Huge Week

It has been a HUGE week in our lives. After much procrastination, I finally did it! I embarked on the potty training journey. Changing diapers doesn't bother me and they are convenient when on the go, so I was in no rush. I just needed to do it.
I decided to stay home...no work , no play group, no Bible study, etc. She started in undies on Monday and peed on the floor every time...wet undies didn't bother her. So Tuesday I started the day with no undies...bare butt. She still did all her business on the floor!!!! Keep in mind every 15 minutes we were sitting on the potty singing, reading, and talking about what should happen. Two other things changed on Tuesday...1) she started telling me after she went and 2) I was very stern about where pee and poo belonged.

I'm not sure where her shirt was in this picture...but here she is in day 2.


I ended day 2 pretty disappointed, but determined to stick with it for the week.

Wednesday morning...same plan...bare butt, stern mama, every 15 minutes. We spent all morning talking about it, but nothing at all!!!! At 12:15, she was playing and all of a sudden said "oh" and looked at me like "now what?" We ran into the bathroom and she went!!!!!! I was in shock and super excited!!!! I danced, sang, and acted like a goober.


I wanted to give her every little and big reward because I was so excited...stickers, SillyBandz, M'n'Ms, watch Dora, lollipop. I wanted to take a picture of she and her "pop" and this is what she did....


So then I said, "you can close your eyes...just face me." This is what I got...


Watching Dora...


She peed one more time in the potty and several more accidents that night for my m.i.l.

Thursday morning she woke up ready to make it her big day... She has been a potty using professional ever since! She even mastered 2 public restrooms today. We've had a few tricky moments while figuring it all out (I'll spare you the details), but so far so good!!!!

I'm so proud of my girl and I'm so pleased I stuck with it. Ready to see what tomorrow holds!

Reflecting on Blue Ridge

It really was a great time filled with wonderful memories. The cold, crisp air...learning how to play Yahtzee...Rea playing in the leaves...visiting an apple orchard...horrible service at the BBQ joint...JMA buying BBQ on the corner...beautiful cabin...Moon Sand on the back porch...visiting with GA family...delicious Thanksgiving spread (complete with flies)...doing nothing at times.


We named our new little girl while we were away too..... Rileigh Joy it is!


Thoroughly enjoying a Strawberry Shortcake sticker book on the way home.


Feeling grateful!

More from Blue Ridge

Our family animal..the donkey.

Up close and personal

Visited an apple orchard

Sampled apples

Visited downtown Blue Ridge

Making Memories in Blue Ridge

"Sweeping" leaves and collecting sticks with cousins

Playing with Braylen

Meeting sweet Carsen

Drawing by the fire

Going on a walk in 38 degree weather

Making s'mores