99 pictures and a Smile!

Well it finally happened - I've been waiting for Anna to turn 6 weeks old so I could get my first smile. Yesterday afternoon, I finally got it. I had informed Anna she was not to give the first smile to anyone else. Erin gave hers to Uncle Chris, so I was determined to get this one. After all, I'm the one doing all the work here and getting up in the middle of the night - I think I deserve it!

Let me tell you - it is a beautiful smile, I laughed, and then I cried. It couldn't have been more precious. I'll try to capture it on camera, but doubt I'll be able to get it for a little while!

Little does Anna know how many times she'll be asked to smile in the next 16 years! I sent my pictures in yesterday to be printed - 99 pictures since Erin's birthday(8/07). That's ridiculous! And much to my dismay, they accidentally printed doubles - 198 pictures to sift through and label. My mom is happy though cause she gets the extras!

a date with daddy

Joe and Erin had a date last night to Jungle Golf at the oceanfront. They took a picnic dinner and ate it in the truck while they watched a little video. Then they played golf together and Joe said she did very well. She wasn't quite sure where her ball went on the 18th hole. Then they went to the beach to play in the sand. We had one exhausted toddler and one extremely proud daddy last night. I'm so glad they got to spend this time together.

First Day of Preschool

Erin started Preschool yesterday morning. She woke up and was so excited! She got herself dressed while I tried to pull myself together and we were out the door on time!!!! She walked right into her room pausing for a few pictures. She hung her tote bag up and then found a magna doodle and a puzzle to start working on. When I picked her up she came out of the door holding her first craft. She said, "I made this just for you mom, you can hang it on the fridgerator, Do you love it?" Do I love it - I'll treasure it forever. She told us all about her first day, no lack of information there! I asked her about the other kids in her class and she could only remember a boy named David. Out of 9 girls and 4 boys, she remembered a boys name - wonder what David did to make himself stand out. Oh well, I'm sure many fun stories are to come! I'm so glad she had such a wonderful first day, and I pray many more will follow.

A Labor Free Weekend!

We were so looking forward to this weekend and having some relaxation and fun. We started the weekend off with the Saunders. Ryan and Erin enjoyed some time playing in our backyard that favors a sandy beach, and then they had a picnic in the living room. Papa Joe made the picnic table for Erin as a birthday present.

Then, on Saturday the girls went to check out the sales for a little while so daddy could get some work done. Then we all watched the Georgia Tech game and had homemade pizza. It was a very relaxing day. Sunday we enjoyed church and afternoon naps, and I got to go to Michaels by myself. Anna slept the whole time I was gone, and woke up as I walked in the door. I was also greeted by Erin telling me she hadn't had snack and didn't go outside to play. I asked Joe if she had mentioned those things to him and he said nope she just played by herself the whole time. What is it about mom that we get bombarded with everything? Of course daddy thinks my days are easy with the girls because they didn't bother him the entire hour and a half I was gone. Oh well - one of these days he'll get it!

Labor Day was great! Joe got up to play golf at an insanely early hour so he'd be back in time to hit the beach with the Small Group. Little did he know while he was playing, our numbers were dwindling. It ended up being us and the Jackson 3 at the beach, and it was perfect. Cody and Erin had fun with their shovels and pails and cookies too. Both of them had a great time in the water. It was also Anna's first trip to the beach and she loved it. We finished the weekend with a cookout at MawMaw's house(my mom's) with the cousins! It was a great weekend and we have spent today recovering!

Forgive the layout of Anna's picture - I haven't figured out how to rotate the pics.

A Very Busy Day!

We started this morning at Erin's preschool Open House. She got to play in her classroom while the parents learned all about the school year. She has 13 kids in her class, 9 girls and 4 boys. Erin won't know what to do with all those girls - she's always around boys. She starts school on Wed. and you know I'll have plenty of pictures from that.

After the Open House we had to jet to the Drs. office for Erin's 3 year old appointment. She got a big kick out of the paper dress she had to wear. She did really well on all the "games" they had her play to test hearing and eye sight. She's in the 50th percentile for weight and height.

Lastly, it was off to Joe's Crab Shack for some fun and seafood with Baba, Papa Joe and Nana. It was so nice outside we were able to eat on the deck and enjoy some yummy fish, and as you can see, corn on the cob. It felt like we were on vacation, and for now that is the only vacation we'll get this summer! Erin got to go home with the grandparents to spend the night. I'm ready for a good night's sleep - Oh yeah, I have a newborn - maybe in a couple more weeks!

8 Things You May Not Care to Know About Me, But Are Finding Out Anyways!

8. I too have a horrific hair story. A week or so before Graduation pictures I decided a new look was needed. I took a picture of a beautiful hair style to Changes salon. I came out in tears, not looking anything like the picture. I cried for hours. My friends named my haircut, the lion cut. My layers were so thick and framed around my face, that I did indeed look like a lion. And the bummer part is how much I paid for that haircut.

7. In 5th grade I was bitten by a Pit Bull dog. It was my neighbors dog and I walked by the pickup truck he was sitting in and he stood up, bit my lip, and sat back down. I have a small scar on my upper lip that I hide with lip liner. I am very thankful he didn't do much more damage to my face.

6. I have worn glasses since I was 2 1/2 years old. My Great Uncle noticed my eyes were crossing and shortly after I had to wear a patch to strengthen my weak eye. I was able to get gas permeable contacts when I was 13, but like Beth, I can't wear soft lenses. My mom still has my first pair of glasses, and they are so tiny!

5. I have no first cousins. My mom and dad are both only children, so no cousins for me. I am so glad my girls will have oodles of cousins to grow up with.

4. My brother, sister and I were all valedictorians of our graduating classes from Atlantic Shores. I attended ASCS from 4th grade through 12th, but I didn't attend the church until I married Joe in 2001.

3. I was accused of stealing a wallet in college. A local tv station did a wallet drop around Lynchburg, and of course had to include Liberty. I happened to be the lucky one to find the wallet. I checked it for ID but didn't see any so I turned it into the Marriot(our cafeteria). The tv crew followed me into Marriot and asked if a wallet had been turned in, of course it wasn't the same person I had given it to. So a few days later they aired the story that a Liberty student had not turned in the wallet. They didn't show my face, but enough of me that I was recognizable to people and started getting asked about it. In the end, the wallet was in the safe at Marriot, the news had to print a retraction and I got a big hug from Jerry in convocation to clear my name in front of the entire student body. That was my brush with fame!

2. I have only kissed one man! And yes, it is Joe. Joe was my first kiss, and he will be my last.

1. I turn 30 next year, and I couldn't be happier with where I am at in life. I love being a mom, it is all I have ever wanted to do. I am striving to raise my children to have a deep, close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and to know Him as a friend on an intimate level. I am blessed to have found a man that believes the same way I do. We have had one of the toughest years of both of our lives between 2006 and now, and our relationship with Christ is what gets us through, and keeps us going. That is the legacy we want to leave for our children!

A Trip to the Dentist!

Today Erin had her very first Dentist Appointment. We have been preparing for this for months by reading Dora's story "A Trip to the Dentist." She did fantastic. She did everything the hygienist asked her too, and didn't flinch at all! She looked like such a big girl sitting in the chair. She got to watch an episode of Dora while they worked on her teeth, how far technology has come. We are so proud of how well she did and she loves her 2 prizes from the treasure chest, a bracelet and a dinosaur! That's my girl!