It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

 

I’ve been at my apartment for almost 2 years. Last year was my first Christmas here. I didn’t decorate the outside because, well, I’m lazy. I got a fake, pre-lit tree, and decided I might need to put it up around December 20th. In the interest of full disclosure, when I boxed the tree up after Christmas, it didn’t go far. The box is still in the corner of my living room. Don’t judge. There’s not a lot of storage in this place.

Anyway.

My sister came in town last Sunday night. We made tentative plans to go to the movies after I got off work on Monday, but I ended up having to cancel because I had more schoolwork than I thought due 2 days later. I was getting ready to leave work on Monday and was closing down my Facebook page (I was working hard, trust me) when it refreshed and showed that my sister had posted a picture with the caption “Mom and I did a drive by decorate!! Guess who the victim...I mean lucky person was?”, and then a picture of the outside of my apartment all decorated:

 

(I’ve since taken down the hideous stocking on the door and replaced it with my ornament wreath)

Now, I’m not a fan of colored Christmas lights. I’ve never liked them, except in very small doses. I’ve just always liked the clean look of white lights. My family knows this.

Here’s the kicker though. They were trying SO hard to make it gaudy looking so that it would embarrass me and I’d take them down. But I realized after I got home that they used some old lights that were my grandmother’s. You know the ones, they’re all pokey and inflict horrid pain when you step on them. Especially if you’re barefoot. And carrying a plate of food.

 

So now, instead of embarrassing me, they just remind me of Granny’s house. Her tree, decorated to the nines, with all of our ornaments from every year adorning each limb weighing it down so they’re all dangerously low, in her living room full of family.

And that’s not gaudy at all.

Christmas Cards

My family and I use Shutterfly for all sorts of things. Almost every time we go on a vacation or any type of trip, we use Shutterfly to upload and share most of our pictures. It’s the easiest thing to do! I’ve also made several photobooks through them, and the quality is great! I keep the books out in my living room, and they’re always good conversation starters.

They have the best selection of Christmas cards this year! We’ve never sent one out as a family before (my parents, sister and I), but now that my parents don’t have any children living at home anymore, mom said she might want to send one out, just so extended family would be able to keep tabs on all 4 of us, since my sister and I don’t have our own families yet.

Whether you want only 1 picture on the card, or 3 or more, they have something to suit every whim. They have flat cards, and folded cards, and I’ve heard of people sending out folded cards with a 4x6 print inside—that you can get printed through Shutterfly! Here are a few of my favorite layouts!

And great news for bloggers! Go here to sign up, and you get 50 free cards! How great is that?!

Self portrait=fail!

I was crazy enough to agree to go I tagged along with Laura and the kids to a Halloween party at one of Cade’s classmate’s house this evening. Landry and I hung out for most of the party so Laura could wrangle the other kids and make sure they didn’t collapse from a sugar overdose. She had my camera and hers (we have the exact same one), because each one had a different lens on it. I wish someone would come up with a “blanket” lens, that covers EVERY distance and EVERY aperture setting. I know it wouldn’t be cheap, but I’d sure save up for it!

Anyway, I discovered something today. Well, I already knew it, but it was validated this afternoon after Laura handed me my camera to hold while she went to do something. It had a fixed (meaning it doesn’t zoom—you move your feet to zoom) lens on it, so I thought I might be able to take a self portrait of Landry and me since I wouldn’t have to worry about zooming in or out.

 

Not really what I was trying to take a picture of there..

Not bad, but she’s not looking where I want her to look. 

Better. But I have no eyes, and Landry’s blurry.

“Hey, Ahmee? Whatcha doin?”

 

“Trying to take my picture? Ok, let me purse my lips and pose. I make self portraits look GOOD.”

Just Thursday

 

 

Outside my window..it’s sunny and warm. I’m home “sick” today, and usually I’m stuck at work with no windows, so I’m taking advantage of it today.

The time is..2:25pm

Today I feel..tired. Thankful. Sick. Blessed.  

I am thinking..I really don’t like missing work. I’m miserable at my job, but missing work=losing time off, and I hate eating that up. I can make it up by working more, but that’s a bad idea since I’m usually very grumpy when I’m up there. 

At the moment, I am thankful..I’m not contagious! Went to the doctor today and I just have some sinus and allergy stuff going on.

I am going..try to get ahead on some school assignments this afternoon. I don’t have anything due until at least Monday, but it would be nice to not have it hanging over my head all weekend.

I am wearing..pajama pants and a t-shirt. Hey—it’s a sick day. Don’t judge.

I wish..I could find a teaching job. 

I am reading..nothing at the moment, but I think I’m going to get a new James Patterson book soon.

I am working on..trying to eat better.

I am hoping..I’m feeling better by this weekend so I can carve pumpkins!

I am hearing..the whir of the computer and traffic on the street. 

I bet you didn't know..I’m REALLY not a people person. 

One of my favorite..memories of my Grandmother is when she moved to the town we live in, in an assisted living community, I took her grocery shopping once every 2 weeks or so. It was the most time we ever spent alone together, and I loved it. I miss her terribly.

Weekend Plans..

[Thursday] is today. Home “sick” and resting. Hopefully will be going to Laura’s house to watch Grey’s tonight. If not, I’ll watch it tomorrow at work.

[Friday] Work. Then home. Maybe.

[Saturday] Laura and I want to let the kids carve pumpkins, so I think we’re doing that Saturday. No other plans that I know of.

[Sunday] Church. Nap. Homework. Church. Then Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters!

 

Happy Thursday!

3 years later…

Three years ago today, you were born. Three years later, you still have my heart. I love the little girl you've turned into, and can't wait to see how you grow into a young lady.

I love how it takes you a while to warm up to people, but once you're comfortable, you don't stop talking. Ever.

I love how girly you are. Everyone says that's my fault, but I don't care. I love having you as my shopping buddy.

I love the fact that you think you are a princess. You are, baby girl, you are.

I love being your Godmother.

I love how much you love your brother and sister. You idolize Cade and always want to know where he is. The same goes for Landry. We were a little scared of how you'd handle a new baby, but you did amazingly.

I love how you love others. Uninhibited and complete.

I love seeing the world through your eyes.

I love the way you sing songs.

I love the way you squeeze my neck when you hug me.

I love your giggle.

I love....

...you

I can’t believe you’re 3 years old, sweet girl. Thank you for loving me as much as I love you, and for being the smart, brave, fearless, funny, silly, beautiful and spontaneous little girl in the whole entire world. Ahmee loves you so much!

It just. won’t. light.

 

Lately

I sit down to write a post, but life keeps getting in the way. First in the form of school, then in the form of laziness (hey, at least I’m honest). I promise I haven’t forgotten about this little ole blog.

Fall semester is in full swing. I’m taking 9 hours, which in Graduate School is full time. All of the classes are online, so that helps tremendously with the laziness factor—I don’t have to get up and go to campus. Most of the assignments are due on either Sunday or Monday, so if I’m smart I usually do them by Wednesday so I can enjoy my weekends. This week? Not so smart. I have two things due Thursday. (Which is why I’m blogging tonight..makes sense, no?)

I didn’t get a teaching job. Yet. I didn’t get a teaching job yet. I’m still looking. I missed the deadline to get a job and have it count as my internship at school, but the hunt is still on. A classmate of mine and I agree that even if we were to get a job in the middle of the year, we’d take it. It wouldn’t count towards our degree, so we wouldn’t be getting observed, so pressure=gone! It would be a way to get my feet wet without having to worry about impressing a professor or passing a class. Win-win. Now I just have to find someone who will hire me.

The past week or so has been very weird and strange. A friend of a friend (she’s my friend too, but she’s my friend’s best friend) lost her 2 month old baby girl to SIDS last week. Very sudden, and very tragic. She was 10 days older than Landry, and perfectly healthy. We’ll never know this side of Heaven why He wanted her home so soon.

So in light of all of what has been going on, I’ve been spending a lot of time with my two loves lately. Go hug your babies, guys. You just never know.

And a post isn’t a post without a few pictures, so…

Praise the Lord and pass the gravy!

Ready to be a cheerleader! Or a singer.

Until next month time!

Two

 

I have two of the most gorgeous Goddaughters. Sure, I’m biased, but I mean seriously. Look at them…

 

 

   They make me so happy and I’m so glad I get to be involved in their lives.

 

(yes, clothes are optional for this 2 year old. at least she doesn’t go to school yet!)

Wordless Wednesday Thursday

He wanted a pizza party…

 

So I turned 26 yesterday. Twenty-six. As in, 4 years before 30. Anyway.

It was also the last day of Summer School, so I got up that morning, took my final, and then did a little dance. If I play my cards right, I might MIGHT end up with all A’s for this summer. We’ll see.

I was off work (I think I was more excited about that than I was about it being my birthday), so mom took me to lunch at Olive Garden.

 

That’s my go-to restaurant. Love me some pasta. Dad was fishing with his cousins, but they made sure to call me from the boat and sing Happy Birthday. It was cute.

After lunch I came back home, did a little primping, and then went to two schools down the road from me to talk to the principals. No one is hiring right now, and it’s very discouraging, but I wanted to get my face and resume out there. It can’t hurt, right?

Earlier that morning I had gotten a text from my friend Laura. She wanted to know if I had plans for supper, and did I want to have a birthday supper with them? Sure! After all my errands, I headed out there.

Melain and Landry were taking a nap when I got there, and Cade was furiously working on something at the kitchen table. Much drama ensued when I walked in the door because he wasn’t done making my card. After I went to the back to “check on the girls” he had a chance to finish it and tape it up for me. Cutest thing ever. Once Melain woke up, she had her chance to paint me a picture too.

 

 

Laura was working on making a cake as well. My friends are better than your friends in case you were wondering. Cade had told her that “we HAD to have a pizza party and go to Johnny’s and just tell Ahmee to meet us up there and when she walks in we hide and then scream SURPRISE and surprise her!!” And when Laura suggested they make brownies he looked at her like she was an idiot and said “no mom. we have to have a cake”. I love that kid.

We didn’t go to Johnny’s (hello, 3 week old baby) but we did order pizza and have a pizza party at home. Which was perfectly fine with me. After the cake had chilled in the fridge for a bit (cream cheese icing, ya’ll, it will rock your world) they brought it out and sang and blew out helped me blow out the candles.

I posted the above picture on Facebook, and my mom commented on it wanting to know if they were my children. I guess that pic does kinda have a “mom” vibe to it, doesn’t it? Who cares. I’ll claim ‘em.

 

         And I just love this picture. You gotta admit, I have a beautiful Goddaughter, don’t I?

 

It was a good birthday. And the whole not-married-don’t-have-any-kids-where-is-my-life-going bit only got me down for a little while. Score!

The best day.

I’d been waiting for this day since the minute I got the text that she was pregnant. Laura was gracious enough to allow me to be in the room when this precious baby girl made her appearance, and it will forever connect me to this baby and be one of my most favorite days. They can’t get rid of me now.

It was the best day.

They had to be at the hospital at 5am. We all knew Laura didn’t have a history of fast deliveries, so I strolled in about 9:30. Stan started off the day by calling people and beginning a pool of what time we thought Landry would make her arrival. Needless to say, we were all WAY off. Laura had walked around at at 3 centimeters for the past 2 weeks, so we all thought it wouldn’t take long for her to progress. Landry had other ideas though. She was given time to see if she would go into labor on her own (she didn’t with the other two, she had to be induced both times.), but she just wasn’t. The pitocin was started around 12:30, but by 4:30 she was still only 4 centimeters. Brandi, her doula, and I kept catching eyes across the room. We were starting to get a little worried that she hadn’t made any more progress.

Stan’s dad had the kids, and they desperately wanted to see their mommy. By that time it was around 6:30, and we didn’t know how much longer it would be, so she was able to smile through the pain and see her babies for just a few minutes. Did I mention she didn’t get an epidural? This girl rocks, and to be able to talk through contractions is hardcore.

Not long after the kids left, things started moving along fairly quickly. The smiles decreased as the pain increased.

It wasn’t easy watching her in pain, but she pushed through it like something I’ve never seen before. And then, when I thought she couldn’t take anymore…

…there she was.

This baby girl who just moments before was swimming around in her mommy’s belly. She was here and she was beautiful.

The room was quiet. I was crying, Laura’s mom was crying. The moment they plopped her on her mother’s chest is something I’ll never forget. She was perfect, and I was in love. Ten fingers, ten toes, and a head full of dark brown hair.

7lbs. 15 oz and 19 inches long. Perfection.

It was the best day.