30 Easter Basket Stuffers for 2024
1 month ago
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Pumpkin Patch
The Pumpkin Patch:
A post by Abigail
A few weeks ago, Mommy, Daddy, Gigi, and I went to the Pumpkin Patch in Moreland. I wasn't so sure about it at first - there were all of these HUGE orange things everywhere! Then Mommy walked me around and introduced me to my first pumpkins! I think I like them. Apparently taking pictures at the Pumpkin Patch is a big deal for her, so I played along. Here are some pictures from our trip!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Nom nom nom....
Baby Monkey is eating my brain. I was certain he was already eating us out of house and home ( I can't stop eating!), but now he has moved on to my common sense.
Case in point: I showed up at Gordon college 20 minutes early tonight with an awesome WWI lesson in hand. The first thing I notice as I walk into my classroom is that the class before me put a few posters on the wall. Interesting. As I begin to set up my powerpoint, I notice that the college has switched out computers over the weekend. Hmmm...but this is great because with this new computer I don't have to kneel on the floor to plug in my flashdrive. WIN! I then glance around for my rolly-chair and notice that it is missing. Some other professor must have "borrowed" it, and that makes this pregnant lady a little miffed. I'll have to go hunt it down later.
At 6pm, I start to wonder where my students are. All 14 of them decided not to show up tonight. I silently curse them all as I reconsider the intelligence of posting their powerpoint lectures online. Then I start to wonder if maybe they're all in cahoots and agreed not to come to class as some sort of practical joke on me. Then I log into facebook as I wait and plan a really tough quiz for next week's class.
After waiting for 45 minutes to see if any students show up (they didn't), I pack up my things and head to the elevator. As I'm waiting there, I notice that the level 2 evacuation plan is posted on the wall. Whaaaaa? Now why on EARTH would they post the level 2 floor plan on LEVEL 3???
And then I realize what I should have realized 45 minutes ago. I am on level 2. I have been sitting directly underneath my classroom for almost an hour, and wondering why no one showed up.
I slap myself on the forehead and dart up to the 3rd floor, only to find that it's 6:45 and my students have long since left.
True story.
Case in point: I showed up at Gordon college 20 minutes early tonight with an awesome WWI lesson in hand. The first thing I notice as I walk into my classroom is that the class before me put a few posters on the wall. Interesting. As I begin to set up my powerpoint, I notice that the college has switched out computers over the weekend. Hmmm...but this is great because with this new computer I don't have to kneel on the floor to plug in my flashdrive. WIN! I then glance around for my rolly-chair and notice that it is missing. Some other professor must have "borrowed" it, and that makes this pregnant lady a little miffed. I'll have to go hunt it down later.
At 6pm, I start to wonder where my students are. All 14 of them decided not to show up tonight. I silently curse them all as I reconsider the intelligence of posting their powerpoint lectures online. Then I start to wonder if maybe they're all in cahoots and agreed not to come to class as some sort of practical joke on me. Then I log into facebook as I wait and plan a really tough quiz for next week's class.
After waiting for 45 minutes to see if any students show up (they didn't), I pack up my things and head to the elevator. As I'm waiting there, I notice that the level 2 evacuation plan is posted on the wall. Whaaaaa? Now why on EARTH would they post the level 2 floor plan on LEVEL 3???
And then I realize what I should have realized 45 minutes ago. I am on level 2. I have been sitting directly underneath my classroom for almost an hour, and wondering why no one showed up.
I slap myself on the forehead and dart up to the 3rd floor, only to find that it's 6:45 and my students have long since left.
True story.
All about Abby
Life has been pretty crazy the past few months - as you can surmise from the fact that until yesterday I hadn't written any posts since early August. That just so happened to coincide with the start of the school year. Coincidence? I think not.
Right now it is 3:30am and I'm sitting up listening to a coughing baby and feeling pretty helpless. Every few weeks or so Abby develops what I like to call "Daycare Kennel Cough". She'll cough and cough all week (worse at night), but not spike a fever. I think it has something to do with the weather changing and her drainage. So, while she coughs, this mama sits up all night and plies her with cough syrup and cuddles. I think the worst feeling in the world is when your baby is sick - even when it's minor - and you can't do anything about it. *Reminding myself that she would either build up her immune system NOW or later in preschool. Daycare Kennel Cough does not make me a bad mommy. Rinse. Repeat.*
We've fallen into a pretty good routine with me going back to work this year. I am teaching half-days at EC - 3rd and 4th block AP European History. I really couldn't have asked for a better schedule. Abby and I get up around 7am each morning, breakfast together and play for 2 hours or so. Then she toddles around the master bathroom with me while I shower, dress, and get ready for the day. If I'm lucky, she naps from about 10-11 (if daycare is lucky, she doesn't and she naps there instead!) We are dressed and headed out the door by 11am, so that I can drop her off with her teacher Mrs. Cindy and be at school by 11:42 for class change. I start off the week arriving at school about 20-30 minutes early to get some housekeeping done - but by the time Thursday rolls around, we are usually pushing it just to arrive on time!
Abby's daycare is about 2 minutes from my school, which I think has really helped me with the transition. I know that at any moment I can drop what I'm doing and be at her side in no time flat. It makes it easier for me to concentrate at work and not worry about what she's doing and when I'll see her next. It also helps that Abby ADORES her teacher, Mrs. Cindy. She didn't feel like this the first 2 weeks, and we had a rough time saying goodbye in the morning - but then one day everything changed and now she actually grins and reaches out to Mrs. Cindy when we arrive. I have to admit, the first time I saw her reach for another woman, I just about lost it. It does make me feel good to know that she's staying with someone who will love on her and play with her almost as much as I would.
There are usually 2 or 3 other infants in Abby's room on any given day. Right now Abby is the oldest since she is over 1 and not yet walking. They will not move her into the 1 Year Old room until she's walking well - which is just fine with me! That one year old room is crazy! Babies walking around everywhere and getting into everything. No, I much prefer her to explore in her cozy little infant room where she can be Queen of the Cribs! She has some boy friends that are a little younger than her that she likes to chase around and play with. There are also tiny twins who just started a few weeks ago. Abby is learning to get used to hearing newborns cry and learning not to crawl over them or poke their eyes out: two skills I'm sure Monkey appreciates her learning NOW. She's a very empathetic baby (she can always tell when I'm not feeling good or having a bad day) and she has been known to bring piles of toys over to any baby who is crying at school to make them feel better.
I teach until 3:30, then am usually at her school for pick-up around 4:15. 99% of the time she's happily sitting on the floor reading a book or crawling around on the baby slide with her friends. Her entire face lights up when I walk in and it makes my whole day. It's like we had never been apart for those 4 hours! Every now and then I'll show up and she's had a bad day - which leaves me feeling sad and guilty the rest of the night, wondering if going back to work is really worth it. Of course, it IS worth it - seeing as how I had no financial choice this year. In addition, those bad days are few and far between - I just love seeing her grow and learn in ways I couldn't teach her by keeping her cloistered at home. She's really opened up to people in the poast few months and is learning to socialize with other children. She came home blowing kisses this week - talk about melting a mama's heart! - and she is really pushing to learn to walk since she sees the boys doing it at school.
When we get home around 5 each day, we play in the living room while we wait for Daddy to get home. Right now Abby's favorite thing to do is push things from the living room to the kitchen and back again...over and over! Although she has a baby doll stroller, little car, and scooter we specifically bought for this purpose, she would rather push chairs, boxes, and Ginger instead. Matt usually arrives home around 6pm - you should SEE her face light up when she sees her Daddy! - and we all have dinner. Abby gets into the big tub in our master bath around 7, where she splashes around for a good 15 minutes or so while I try to wash her slippery self, then we do pajamas. Matt alternately reads her Pajama Time or Goodnight Moon every night while we sit in the rocker and have our "Nigh-Nigh" bottle. Then down she goes until (hopefully) 7am...when we will start it all over again!
Is it routine? Yes. But I love it, and so does Abby, I think. We could continue this routine indefinitely, but something tells me that everything is about to change in 2-3 months' time. And it will be rough for a while - I'm completely expecting a mommy-meltdown for the first few months of having 2 under 2. But I think we'll fall into a new routine soon enough. And it will probably be even better.
Right now it is 3:30am and I'm sitting up listening to a coughing baby and feeling pretty helpless. Every few weeks or so Abby develops what I like to call "Daycare Kennel Cough". She'll cough and cough all week (worse at night), but not spike a fever. I think it has something to do with the weather changing and her drainage. So, while she coughs, this mama sits up all night and plies her with cough syrup and cuddles. I think the worst feeling in the world is when your baby is sick - even when it's minor - and you can't do anything about it. *Reminding myself that she would either build up her immune system NOW or later in preschool. Daycare Kennel Cough does not make me a bad mommy. Rinse. Repeat.*
We've fallen into a pretty good routine with me going back to work this year. I am teaching half-days at EC - 3rd and 4th block AP European History. I really couldn't have asked for a better schedule. Abby and I get up around 7am each morning, breakfast together and play for 2 hours or so. Then she toddles around the master bathroom with me while I shower, dress, and get ready for the day. If I'm lucky, she naps from about 10-11 (if daycare is lucky, she doesn't and she naps there instead!) We are dressed and headed out the door by 11am, so that I can drop her off with her teacher Mrs. Cindy and be at school by 11:42 for class change. I start off the week arriving at school about 20-30 minutes early to get some housekeeping done - but by the time Thursday rolls around, we are usually pushing it just to arrive on time!
Abby's daycare is about 2 minutes from my school, which I think has really helped me with the transition. I know that at any moment I can drop what I'm doing and be at her side in no time flat. It makes it easier for me to concentrate at work and not worry about what she's doing and when I'll see her next. It also helps that Abby ADORES her teacher, Mrs. Cindy. She didn't feel like this the first 2 weeks, and we had a rough time saying goodbye in the morning - but then one day everything changed and now she actually grins and reaches out to Mrs. Cindy when we arrive. I have to admit, the first time I saw her reach for another woman, I just about lost it. It does make me feel good to know that she's staying with someone who will love on her and play with her almost as much as I would.
There are usually 2 or 3 other infants in Abby's room on any given day. Right now Abby is the oldest since she is over 1 and not yet walking. They will not move her into the 1 Year Old room until she's walking well - which is just fine with me! That one year old room is crazy! Babies walking around everywhere and getting into everything. No, I much prefer her to explore in her cozy little infant room where she can be Queen of the Cribs! She has some boy friends that are a little younger than her that she likes to chase around and play with. There are also tiny twins who just started a few weeks ago. Abby is learning to get used to hearing newborns cry and learning not to crawl over them or poke their eyes out: two skills I'm sure Monkey appreciates her learning NOW. She's a very empathetic baby (she can always tell when I'm not feeling good or having a bad day) and she has been known to bring piles of toys over to any baby who is crying at school to make them feel better.
I teach until 3:30, then am usually at her school for pick-up around 4:15. 99% of the time she's happily sitting on the floor reading a book or crawling around on the baby slide with her friends. Her entire face lights up when I walk in and it makes my whole day. It's like we had never been apart for those 4 hours! Every now and then I'll show up and she's had a bad day - which leaves me feeling sad and guilty the rest of the night, wondering if going back to work is really worth it. Of course, it IS worth it - seeing as how I had no financial choice this year. In addition, those bad days are few and far between - I just love seeing her grow and learn in ways I couldn't teach her by keeping her cloistered at home. She's really opened up to people in the poast few months and is learning to socialize with other children. She came home blowing kisses this week - talk about melting a mama's heart! - and she is really pushing to learn to walk since she sees the boys doing it at school.
When we get home around 5 each day, we play in the living room while we wait for Daddy to get home. Right now Abby's favorite thing to do is push things from the living room to the kitchen and back again...over and over! Although she has a baby doll stroller, little car, and scooter we specifically bought for this purpose, she would rather push chairs, boxes, and Ginger instead. Matt usually arrives home around 6pm - you should SEE her face light up when she sees her Daddy! - and we all have dinner. Abby gets into the big tub in our master bath around 7, where she splashes around for a good 15 minutes or so while I try to wash her slippery self, then we do pajamas. Matt alternately reads her Pajama Time or Goodnight Moon every night while we sit in the rocker and have our "Nigh-Nigh" bottle. Then down she goes until (hopefully) 7am...when we will start it all over again!
Is it routine? Yes. But I love it, and so does Abby, I think. We could continue this routine indefinitely, but something tells me that everything is about to change in 2-3 months' time. And it will be rough for a while - I'm completely expecting a mommy-meltdown for the first few months of having 2 under 2. But I think we'll fall into a new routine soon enough. And it will probably be even better.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Monkey's Big Ultrasound
Matt couldn't be at the big ultrasound in August, so I asked the tech to keep the gender a secret and write it down on a piece of paper. That night, Matt, Abby, and I went to Olive Garden and opened the envelope. Then we got to tell Abby she is going to have a baby BROTHER! We are so excited about getting ready for a Sandlin boy - he will be the perfect addition to our little family!
Here are some shots from the big reveal. I tried to get Matt to let me post the money-shot, but he argues that the longer we can keep Monkey from exposing himself to the masses, the better!
(These are from 19 weeks:)
Here are some shots from the big reveal. I tried to get Matt to let me post the money-shot, but he argues that the longer we can keep Monkey from exposing himself to the masses, the better!
(These are from 19 weeks:)
Grow, Monkey, Grow!
23 Weeks pregnant:
Me and my Boo-Bear (23 Weeks):
27 Weeks pregnant:
After realizing I am entering 3rd Trimester...already....
Me and my Boo-Bear (23 Weeks):
27 Weeks pregnant:
After realizing I am entering 3rd Trimester...already....
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Happy Birthday, Gummybear!
Abby turned one at the end of August and we had a Ladybug party for her at the local park. It was so much fun and turned into an all-day event! She had such a great time eating her first bites of cake, playing with her cousins and friends, and opening her presents. Here are some pictures from the big day:
Cousins!!
Thinking about eating the cake off my daddy's fingers...
Cheesing it up for the camera:
4 Generations!
I love my Granny!
My first taste of cake!
Hey...What's going on??
Abby's 1st birthday cake - made by her Aunt Cheryl!
Abby and Kat:
Becca looking pretty as always:
Raine and Jake playing at the park:
Rebecca and Baby Ian - our Babytime friends!
Abby and her Mimi:
Gigi and Grandy soaking in the day:
The two lovebirds:
Cousins!!
Thinking about eating the cake off my daddy's fingers...
Cheesing it up for the camera:
4 Generations!
I love my Granny!
My first taste of cake!
Hey...What's going on??
Abby's 1st birthday cake - made by her Aunt Cheryl!
Abby and Kat:
Becca looking pretty as always:
Raine and Jake playing at the park:
Rebecca and Baby Ian - our Babytime friends!
Abby and her Mimi:
Gigi and Grandy soaking in the day:
The two lovebirds:
Caroline - Pretty in Pink:
Me and my grandparents!
Mary June and Brittany:
What do you mean Birthdays only come once a year??!
Me and my grandparents!
Mary June and Brittany:
What do you mean Birthdays only come once a year??!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Mother of the Year
So I'm usually very attentive and all, but since Abby has started crawling, she's been getting into a bit more mischief than usual. Take today for example:
While I was getting ready in the master bathroom this morning, Abby was sitting on the floor and playing with my hair brush. She likes to watch me dry my hair every morning before we head out to our "schools". I suddenly realized I had not heard from her in a minute or two (she's always holding conversations with inanimate objects. It's really quite darling) and looked around to find her standing up, gripping the toilet seat, and trying to peer inside the bowl. Eww. BUT it did lead to a "teachable moment" - that's teacher-speak for a chance to dazzle her with information she never asked for. Our teachable moment consisted of "what a potty is for" (with full demonstration of the flush feature) and how we "wash, wash, wash our hands" after touching the potty.
Later, we were in the kitchen making our lunches when Abby crawled over to the cat food bowl. She looked up at me and said "uh uhh uh uh" (which is what I always say to her when she gets too close to the animal food). I smiled and nodded and said "That's RIGHT! Going near the cat food is a no-no!". I smiled at my genious child and she smiled back...right before putting a fistfull of cat kibble in her mouth.
While I was getting ready in the master bathroom this morning, Abby was sitting on the floor and playing with my hair brush. She likes to watch me dry my hair every morning before we head out to our "schools". I suddenly realized I had not heard from her in a minute or two (she's always holding conversations with inanimate objects. It's really quite darling) and looked around to find her standing up, gripping the toilet seat, and trying to peer inside the bowl. Eww. BUT it did lead to a "teachable moment" - that's teacher-speak for a chance to dazzle her with information she never asked for. Our teachable moment consisted of "what a potty is for" (with full demonstration of the flush feature) and how we "wash, wash, wash our hands" after touching the potty.
Later, we were in the kitchen making our lunches when Abby crawled over to the cat food bowl. She looked up at me and said "uh uhh uh uh" (which is what I always say to her when she gets too close to the animal food). I smiled and nodded and said "That's RIGHT! Going near the cat food is a no-no!". I smiled at my genious child and she smiled back...right before putting a fistfull of cat kibble in her mouth.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Blessed...not stressed!
We have had a great last few weeks of summer, and now we're heading into the final countdown before Abby turns ONE. Yes, I'm holding back tears as I write that. It seems like just last week we were bringing her home for the first time after all the weeks of back and forth to the nicu. She was so tiny she fit in the palm of Matt's hand and we just all laid on the bed when we got her home and looked over at each other like "now what??" And now here we are at 11 months old and 18 lbs. She may be a tiny thing, but she makes up for it with fiestiness! It seems like Abby learns how to do something new everyday - just yesterday she came home from "school" and she was pointing for the first time. Pointing at EVERYTHING - and babbling on and on to let me know what it was she was pointing at.
Abby had a great playdate with Corbin and Ian a few weeks ago. Ian was sleeping when I remembered I brought my camera, so here are some shots of Abby and her "best friend":
Here they are trying to start their own band "The Tiny Teethers". Abby has agreed to be lead singer if Corbin does all the dancing:
Corbin and Cathy - this was just too cute not to add:
Forever Friends:
We crashed Mimi and Papa's anniversary dinner - and Gigi and Grandy decided to join us too! Here we are at Frank's Italian Restaurant:
I got to spend some much needed girl-time celebrating with my friend Kristin at her baby shower. Here are Kristin, her sister Kelly, and their mother. Can you tell Mrs. Ross is excited to be getting two grandchildren this fall?
There are four people in this picture :)
Abigail learned to crawl last month and now she is a mobile machine! She spends her days moving from one room to another and chasing around the animals:
Here she is on her first day of "school"! She was so excited to go and play with the other babies...until she realized mommy was not going to be there the whole time.
Cutest face on earth:
Here she is on her first day of "school"! She was so excited to go and play with the other babies...until she realized mommy was not going to be there the whole time.
Cutest face on earth:
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