Persistence Pays Off

Awesome parenting... we ran out of milk a few weeks ago, and "improvised."

Beach fun!

Our fun group! (We missed you, Rosi and Garnet!)


Glad to be home again!

I'm Trying, I Promise :)

Hey guys! I've been making 2nd (hundredth) attempts at getting these pictures to download, but there is a problem with my camera connection. I've never had this much trouble with it, and I'm thinking Cline will have to look at it for me (which he definitely won't have time to do today, but maybe over the weekend). I'll try again later, or maybe see if I can get it to work at my mom's.

Wouldn't Ya Know....

...I made a whole special trip downstairs to get my camera, so that I could keep my promise to post pictures tonight, and my computer won't download the pictures! This has happened before, and I usually have success the next day. So, I will try again, tomorrow. Sorry :)

Innocent Conversations

To answer a question from a previous post, "soon" means within a month :) Just kidding. Pictures are indeed coming "soon" (i.e. hopefully tomorrow, since tonight I am too busy that I just can't find time to download pictures lazy to go down the stairs and get my camera)! Actually I have a valid excuse for the delay in posting this week - our computer spent a couple of days in the shop getting a tune-up and some more memory. Good stuff.

I am feeling somewhat inspired, so I'm going to make another attempt at a funny little story until I remember to bring my camera up the stairs. (Dare I say the writer's block may be lifting??) Last weekend we went to the beach with some of our dear Augusta friends. It was great catching up with the moms and kids, and learning the exciting news that all three of us ladies are expecting (Congrats, Kelly, and a very belated Congrats, Ruth)! We played by the water, ate good food, and had a wonderful time together, although Christa's sleep schedule limited some of our fun time. Oh well - I'm grateful to have such a good sleeper, even if it does make vacations more difficult.

At any rate, I had quite a depresssing converation with a friendly stranger in a bathroom while we were there. You see, I seem to be a wee bit bigger with this pregnancy. While I am not terribly sensitive about it, I have noticed that I am a mere 5 pounds away from my maximum weight with Christa (and 14 weeks left to go!) and my largest clothes are already on the comfortable/snug side. But I'm sure it's because I don't exercise at all and drink 5 cokes per day and eat nothing but carbs perfectly normal to be quite a bit larger the second time around.

Anyway, I was totally fine with this whole arrangement until this conversation:

Scene: restaurant bathroom - I am waiting to wash my hands while a lady (we will call her "hot pregnant lady") finishes washing hers. As "hot pregnant lady" reaches for a paper towel, she notices my belly.

Hot Pregnant Lady: Look at us - the pregnant women in the bathroom, surprise, surprise!

I laughed, thinking that she looked great, rationalizing that I was probably much further along than she was.

Hot Pregnant Lady, (as if reading my mind): So, when are you due?

Me: September 7. How about you??

Hot Pregnant Lady: August 21.

Me: (Uh-Oh- she's due BEFORE I am. She's supposed to be BIGGER than I am. This must be her first child, of course.) Oh, not too much longer, then!

Hot Pregnant Lady, (as if reading my mind): So, do you have any other children?

Me: (Does she have special powers or something??) Yes, I have a daughter who will be 2 next month. How about you?

Hot Pregnant Lady: Oh, mine will be 2 next month, too!

Me: (Blast my friendly nature!!!! I need to get out of here before she tells me she doesn't exercise and drinks 5 cokes a day and eats nothing but carbs)! Well, good luck - have a good night!

So, that was a fun conversation (although Hot Pregnant Lady was very nice, and I'm sure we could be great friends). I was almost over it yesterday, until my sister asked me if I could fit into the back seat..... of a normal, mid-sized car!!!

Perhaps it's time to re-instate my YMCA membership. I think I'll go have a cold coke, now.... and maybe some more carbs.

A Terrible Thing...

.... is what I did the other day. I really can't believe I did it - I mean, I really, actually did it. And I'm embarrassed.... and ashamed. No self-respecting adult would do this thing. And no self-respecting adult would admit to doing this thing.... on the internet. I have kids, people! I'm supposed to be an example of a good and decent human being. My primary role in life is to instill in my daughter behaviors and activities that will help her to make wise and responsible decisions later on. I have a baby on the way; that means I will soon be responsible for the well-being of two little people. Thank goodness they will have their Daddy - he would never, ever, in a million years, do this thing. Actually, he caught me in the midst of my act... and he laughed at me... hard... for a long time. I am afraid that you will, too, when I tell you what I did. But what I did was so awful that I have to tell someone. I have to get this out.

Friends, (insert whispering voice)

...I watched an entire episode of Hannah Montana....

...and I liked it.

We're coming home from the beach today, and I'll post pictures soon :)

Congrats Uncle Cleve!!

Hello all! We are in the midst of a busy graduation weekend as we are celebrating Cline's brother's graduation from high school! This time next year, he'll be finishing up his first year at UGA - Go Dawgs :) I remember when I first met him - he was an adorable, chubby little boy when Cline and I first started dating. Now, he's grown into one of the sweetest, most respectful young men that I know. We will miss his last minute visits on the nights I happen to be cooking :) We are very proud of Cleve, although I can't help but feel a bit older today. Like I said, he was cute little kid when I first met him, crying over a football game. Oh wait... all my in-laws still do that! (I say that with nothing but affection :)

I can't think of any cute Christa stories at the moment. We're on the outskirts of the "terrible twos," although it really isn't all that bad so far. She definitely has her opinions, and lets you know when you are not doing things according to her plan. We have tried to teach her manners, so she says "mo peese" (more please) a lot, especially if TV is concerned. If I say no, she says it louder and more emphatically until I either give in or the inevitable tantrum ensues.

In other news, thanks for all your comments regarding the baby name. We still don't have a final nickname. I think I'm starting to like "Abby Kate" just a wee bit better, but Cline is partial to "Abby." Maybe we'll just meet her before we decide for sure.

I've been too busy to take pictures this week, but I'll try to get some up soon. Have a great day!

Happy Mother's Day

Hello all! Let me give a shout-out to all the mommies, soon-to-be-mommies, and all women who will one day be mommies. I also have a shout-out for the mothers out there whose kids are grown, but who still have very important, motherly roles that they fill daily. I am blessed to call two such women mother and mother-in-law, and I couldn't ask for a better one of either!

We are having a nice Mothers Day around here. My own mother decided to leave town for the week, so Christa and I spent the morning with my mother-in-law and 20 other extended family members. Our lunch experience was chaotic to say the least! (But delicious, nonetheless). Cline is working today, but got me a much appreciated house cleaning several weeks ago and what I am sure will be 2 very sweet cards to be opened later.

With all that said, I'm going to make use of the rainy day, put on some laundry, and enjoy what I hope will be a nice, long nap. Oh, and by the way, I think I'm wearing Cline down on releasing the baby's name, so hopefully in the next day or two, I'll be asking your advice on nicknames!