Well I'm done

My doctor has put me on bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy. I have somehow lost amniotic fluid and he is concerned with how low the amount is. My number went from 13 to 6.5 in two weeks and 5 is concidered dangerous. So I have to lay in bed or on the couch and drink lots of water. Of course I have gotten out for Christmas, probably more than I should have, but when I get where I'm going I find a good spot to sit and stay there for the rest of the time. I have to go back to the doctor for a check up on Thursday to see if my fluid levels are better. Clark and I have decided that it is close enough to time now to go ahead and pack our bags and put them and the baby seat in the car. You never know if the doctor might keep us and Abbey comes a little earlier than we thought. I'll let you know how every thing turns out. We are also getting our call list together for those that we are suppose to call when I go into labor. If you want us to dial you up, please either leave a message here or drop me an email. I can still use my Sewanee email and plan to check in often. Let me know if you want to be called, Day or Night, The Day of, After she gets here, or any other option. I'll post more soon. Have a wonderful Christmas holiday!!!!!!!

The latest pictures of Abbey

Here are the 24th and 26th week pictures of Abbey Claire. The tech was nice enough to outline the 24th week picture when I told her that the people were having a hard time picking her out. Then this past Friday, the 26th week, she focused on her face trying to get some of her features. Abbey yawned and stuck her tongue out, but we missed getting those in pictures. Maybe next time. Enjoy!

Tessaisms

For those of you who know Tessa or read her mom, Renee's blog, you will understand the title. But I believe I have meet Tessa's match. In casual conversation at the doctor's office on Friday, mom and I were talking and I was catching her up on some of my friends and their families. I began telling her about some of the things Renee has mentioned that come out of her 6 year old's mouth. At that point mom starts to tell me about my 5 year old cousin, Courtney, Tessa's soul mate I believe although they have never meet, and some of things she has been into lately. Appartently Courtney got in trouble this week for talking in class. Something I can relate to since that was one of my downfalls as a child. When her mom asked who she was talking to in class she smiled and said, "No one, I was talking to myself." About what, "My baby cousin, Abbey." The first person I thought of when mom told me this was Tessa. Kids think so differently than adults. I just hope Mrs. Dottie, her teacher, will forgive Courtney's facination with my daughter. And yes it is the same Mrs. Dottie that I had as a kindergarten teacher. Imagine that.

Good news...

Well, we went to the doctor last Friday and had measurements taken and bloodwork done and got the word today that Abbey looks normal and healthy. My iron levels are a little low so I'm going on Iron supplements for a while, but that really doesn't surprise me since it is something I have dealt with since I was in 7th grade. Anyway, I'm five months along and only have 4 to go. I'm ready to see our little girl. Clark finally got to feel her last night when she decided to stick a leg or elbow or something in the air and it made a little bump on my tummy, not one you could see, but definately one we could feel. She's still not making a lot of movement that I can feel on a regular basis so as much as he really wants to feel her move, Clark is going to have to wait until she gets a little bigger. But I think the bump he felt last night helped. That's all for now. I'm sure I'll have pictures next week, since we are going camping this weekend. Don't worry, we borrowed Clark's dad's camper so I can have air conditioning and we aren't going too far, just to Rock Island. Have a great weekend everyone!

It's a girl!

Well, I'm sure some of you have heard but for those who haven't, we are having a girl. We have decided to name her Abbey Claire and Clark and I are both very excited. He has already said that he can't wait to teach her to play guitar and she should have her first rock band by the time she hits junior high school. She will definately be her daddy's little girl. He will be so wrapped. In the meantime we have already started shopping for little girl things. Thanks to Aunt Jan, she has a great little pink onesie that says, "Don't laugh, Daddy dressed me" that Clark took very well. He said that is one thing he will have to get used to is the way to dress a little girl, especially after seeing the 2T sized halter tops at K-Mart yesterday. I believe his words were, "I don't want her in a halter top when she's 20, much less when she's 2." Protective already. I will try to get the ultrasound picture on soon.

High School

Here is the lastest question session that was passed out...

1. Who was your best friend? Elizabeth, Karen, Laura, Shalene, Nicole and Susan.
2. Did you play any sports? Nope
3. What kind of car did you drive? A 1987 Chevy Celebrity, white with the sports package (passed down from mom)
4. It's Friday night, where were you? In the fall the dog pound, baby. Go rebels!!!!!! The rest of the time at the movies or out with friends.
5. Were you a party animal? No
6. Were you considered a flirt? Yes
7. Were you in band, orchestra or choir? No. I was an actress in high school.
8. Were you a nerd? No. I was an honor student, but not a nerd.
9. Were you ever suspended or expelled? No.
10. Can you sing the fight song? Sure.
11. Who was your favorite teacher? Mrs. Lacy and Mrs. Collins, I liked there view on English Lit.
12. What was your school mascot? Rebel
13. Did you go to the prom? No. (Not until last year, if that counts.)
14. If you could go back, would you? Maybe for a minute, but what's done is done.
15. What do you remember most about graduation? I won $50 in the pool tournament at project graduation that night.
16. Where were you on Senior Skip Day? I was in class. I was a goody and didn't skip.
17. Did you have a job your senior year? Not during the school year, but I worked at Shoney's in the summer.
18. Where did you go most often for lunch? We couldn't leave, so it was the good ol' cafateria. I ate a chicken sandwich and sweet tea every day.
19. Have you gained weight since then? Can I use my pregnancy as an excuss? Of course I've gained weight.
20. What did you do after graduation? I went to college and graduated with a BS in BS (or Public Relations, which ever you would like to call it.)
21. What year did you graduate? 1994
22. Who was your Senior Prom date? refer to question #13 (my husband, Clark)
23. Are you going/did you go to your 10 year reunion? Yes. I had a pretty good time considering I really didn't want to go at first.

St. Andrews Bay

Well, here are pictures from the Panama City camping trip. I didn't take any of the motorcycles, but I did get a good one of the Navy boat coming to port. The others are Clark, Greg and Gavin.

Have you ever seen Mennonites at the beach? Well, now you have.

Sorry for the Delay.

I was looking back over my blog to try to figure out what I posted about before we got pregnant and I realized that I had promised some pictures of our early vacations this summer and had never delivered on those pictures. Well, here are some pictures from the McClain family camping trip. This was really a lot of fun. We had a fish fry, Mollie and Jan tried so hard to stay on their floats in the lake and Alex spent much of his time just relaxing. I'll try to get some pictures from our Panama City camping trip on here soon.

Classic Pooh

We have finally started on the nursery. As many of you know I started getting things a few years ago when we were trying on our own to get pregnant. I always knew that I wanted a Classic Pooh nursery for either a boy or a girl and I found the perfect bedding, so I bought it. Then a girl I worked with was selling her crib, so I bought that. I found the changing table to match on ebay and bought that. Then I discovered that they had all types of pooh things on ebay so I found the curtain, changing table cover, diaper stacker and crib sheets to match my bedding. I slowly bought up all these things, brand new on ebay, as I had the money (among other things that I thought would be cute in the nursery). They have been boxed up for the most part over the past couple of years and when I found out I was pregnant I couldn't wait to get them out. Clark had already put together the crib and changing table and put the bedding on it, but everything else was just laying in the crib until Sunday. We spent the afternoon getting old boxes and craft things out of the babies room and into the guest bedroom (our new junk room) and putting some things in their place. We bought a rack to make an extra place to hang clothes in the closet and a shelf system for little shoes and things, so Clark took care of that and we hung the curtain. It is really coming together and with another afternoon or evening of work we should have things in order so as soon as we find out what we are having, I can start buying up gender specific stuff (right now everything is yellow). This is really starting to get fun. Once you get past the sickness and fatigue, it's not too bad.

She's going to drive me nuts.

Everytime I see my little 5 year old cousin Courtney she asks, "Where is my baby cousin." She's not doing very well with the "having to wait" part. She's ready to see her cousin now. Her older sister has much more patience and understanding. Mom said that Courtney came by her house the other day to visit and saw the bassinet and stroller that I gave mom to use at her house. First Courtney got all excited thinking that the baby was here, then she wasn't sure about it when mom told her that those things were there because the baby would stay at Aunt Linda's sometimes. Courtney replied, "Why can't Carrie take the baby to her house to stay." It is really different trying to explain a baby to a five year old, but I love it. She has so many opinions about it. Last week in Sunday school, she decided to tell her teacher about the new baby cousin. She added that it was going to be a boy and she was going to name it Thomas. That was the first I had heard about that either of those. I tell her that she has to wait until after Christmas, when it gets close to Valentine's Day, but she still asks everytime I see her, "Where is my baby cousin."

Finally...

...we get to see the baby's little face in the pictures. It was really putting on a show today, waving it's arms and wiggling up a storm. I go to my regular OB doctor starting next Friday which means three things, I've made it through my first trimester, I don't have to take shots in my hip every night anymore, and I won't get the cool 3-D pictures every week. What do they say, "two out of three ain't bad." I'm going to miss getting these pictures. Probably the next scan I have will be to see if we have a boy or a girl. The stakes are about even right now. We have family and friends that are going for both. The nurse/midwife that does the scans each week in predicting a boy because she believes she might have scene a little something there, but who knows. She says it is just an early prediction and of course not fact. I've been told it is a girl because of the growing heart rate and a boy because I'm carrying him low. It's not a science just thoughts. Only the scan and the baby can tell. Well, here are todays pictures. Enjoy!

Butt crack?

OK Here is the now infamous butt crack picture of my child. Everyone is wanting to see this one for some reason. I showed it to a couple of people and the word spread fast. Again this is a view from the back. The baby just isn't ready to show us that beautiful face. Hope you enjoy!

How exciting!

Well, I've decided that Carrie Brock is my hero. I check her post daily because she is truely the modern housewife and she always has such great ideas. I often have to admit that in a small town, we don't have some of the great things that Carrie has in the bigger city, like CSA vegetable associations, sewing clubs, milk delivery and the Fresh Markets. A few months back she posted about the cloth, reuseable grocery bags that she was going to purchase at her local grocery and I thought that was such a great idea. My husband loved the thought because he hates carrying in our groceries in those plastic bags that roll around in the back of the car and rip open when he comes up the stairs with food. Well, imagine how excited I was to turn the corner at the frozen food section of Kroger yesterday to see a whole rack of beautiful blue cloth bags for $.99 a piece, insulated for $2.99. I was happy and so was Clark. I thought I would just start out with a few, but Clark kept putting them in the cart. We bought 6 regular bags and 2 insulated. At the check out they told us that you get $.04 off each bag you use, each visit that you use it. They will pay for themselves. They hold plenty of groceries, stand up in my car instead of falling over and rolling around, and the insulated ones even zip to really keep things cold on the way home. It was much easier for Clark to bring the groceries up the stairs. This was the best grocery trip ever. Now if we could just get the milk man to deliver to our small town. Carrie, you are so lucky.

8 and 1/2 weeks

Well, I'm a little behind with these pictures, but here is our little one two weeks ago when I was at 8.5 weeks. These are the best pictures yet. I love the new 3-D views. The first one is from the back where you can see its little arm and leg buds. In the side view it has its arm up next to its head. Last week it was not in the mood to be seen and wouldn't turn around so we could get a good look. Therefore, the pictures didn't turn out very good. But it was wiggling a lot. Maybe this week will be different. Enjoy!

Here are the pictures.

You can see its head pointing to the left and little arms in the middle. Mom says its bottom still looks a little like a tadpole, but the doctor said that in the next couple of weeks we will really start to see the body parts. It will still be a couple of months before we know what we are having though.

We have a jelly bean!

Next week it should be the size of a gummy bear, or at least that is what the doctor says. It is confirmed that we only have one and it is doing very well. I'll try to post pictures. I'm 7 weeks and 4 days along. The heart beat was 160 today and you can see little arms and legs and the head. Mom almost cries everytime we go to the doctor now. I was going to start leaving her at home, but dad won't let me. :) Anyway, we are starting to get things going in preparation for the baby. Clark floored a section of the attic last night so we can put boxes in there and get them out of the nursery and mom is going to start looking for cloth diapers (for her to use, I'm not sure about that one yet). From my first commission check we are going to recarpet the whole house, which it is in dire need of, so the baby has a clean floor to crawl on. We also have a few decorations to get up and other things to straighten before the new gifts come in. This is so fun!

100 Things about me

Since everyone else was doing it, I guess I better play along. Hope you learn some things!

1. My name is Carrie, but I always wanted to be Felicia.
2. My favorite color is blue.
3. I have always lived in Tennessee, but have lived in eight different houses or apartments (mostly in Winchester and Murfreesboro).
4. I’m an only child, but my mom worked hard to make sure I wasn’t a brat. I hope she succeeded.
5. My favorite time of the year is the Fall. It is cool but still sunny and there is nothing better than football season.
6. My husband says that he can’t believe he married a woman who loves football more than he does. Go Vols!!!!!
7. One day I want to grow my own food and learn to can, pickle and preserve.
8. I majored in Public Relations: Recording Industry in college and have never used my degree.
9. What I have used are the cooking, cleaning and laundry skills I learned while living on my own in college.
10. I always dreamed of marrying a musician and waking up in the middle of the night to him playing a beautiful romantic song on the guitar.
11. I married a musician and wake up to him snoring or elbowing me in the back.
12. I always wanted to have lots of kids.
13. We are expecting our first baby in February after four years of trying, three surgeries and two cycles of IVF.
14. I once got Lance in trouble for spray painting “LED ZEPPLIN” on a road close to my house when he was in high school, but I didn’t actually know he did it until I jokingly said at the Brock’s dinner table, “I figured you did it since that sounds like something you would do, Lance.” Since he can’t lie, he fessed up to it. I’ve always felt sorry for getting him in trouble!
15. I was in band for one year and played the trumpet.
16. I was in chorus for two years and was a soloist.
17. I tried out for show choir three times and never made it.
18. I meet my husband in high school and thought he was a typical annoying prankster that was in band with my best friend’s brother.
19. I saw my husband in college and thought he was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. (It’s the blue eyes)
20. I came home from my first date with Clark and told my roommate that I was going to marry him.
21. She apologized to me at my wedding for not believing me when I told her that.
22. I wish life were fair and I wish people didn’t take advantage of others, but most of all I wish we could vote in a government that could make life easier for our elderly.
23. I would like to see welfare reformed. The concept is a good idea, but the thought of my tax dollars paying for lazy women to have numerous children from different daddies and not have to work because of it, and then neither the government nor my own insurance would lift a finger to help me and my husband bring a child into a loving Christian home, bugs me! Sorry I need to vent sometimes.
24. I think a sense of humor is one of the most attractive things about a person.
25. I always wanted to be a singer when I grew up.
26. I changed my major five times in college.
27. I have a Golden retriever named Cheyanne.
28. I have had cats, dogs, and fish growing up, but dogs are my favorite. They have such great personalities.
29. I used to sing into my hair brush and dance around my room when I was young.
30. Sometimes, I wish I could go back to that time. The 80’s were cool.
31. I remember where I was when the Challenger exploded and President Reagan got shot.
32. I always wanted to take ballet.
33. My hero when I was little was Mary Lou Retton. I even wanted the American flag leotard like she wore. Go USA!!!!!
34. My favorite New Kid on the Block was Donnie Wahlberg. I always had a thing for bad boys.
35. Walking to piano lessons from the elementary school was a little creepy. (Right, Libby?)
36. I was an actress in high school, had lead parts in the plays and won a lot of awards for it in competition.
37. I minored in Theatre in college.
38. I wasn’t “gay” enough or “troubled” enough to major in Theatre in college. ( In other words, I was a straight girl with a good life and loving family)
39. I worked on the Concerts Committee in college and got to see George Strait, White Zombie, Rod Stewart and AC/DC for free. Believe it or not, White Zombie had the nicest fans and Rod Stewart had the worst. I had to help throw four middle age women out of the Rod Stewart concert for fighting with the people sitting behind them.
40. I have a hard time knowing what my talents are and having dreams and goals to strive for.
41. I love to cook, but hate to clean up.
42. My laundry never makes it past the basket after it is dry. You should see me and Clark digging through four baskets of laundry to find clean underwear, socks, shirts and pants that go together.
43. TV takes up way too much of society’s time.
44. I love TV.
45. I was named after my Great-grandmother’s favorite teacher, Ms. Carrie, and my mom, Linda. (Carrie Lynn)
46. I have worked at Sewanee for 8 years, and I want to quit in 8 months. (I want to be a stay at home mom)
47. I sold tennis shoes to pay for my apartment in college.
48. I would prefer vanilla to chocolate ice cream, sugar cookies to any other kind, and cheese pizza to one with toppings. I guess I just like the simple things.
49. My tastes have changed since I’ve been married. I now eat brussels sprouts, asparagus, cooked onions, cooked carrots and seafood. I love crab legs.
50. I was always a little envious of other kids that brought their lunch because they brought M&M’s in their lunch. My mom thought they had too much sugar. Now I’m thankful she thought that way.
51. I’ve always had a best friend, all my life. (Our parents were even friends before we were born)
52. I went to San Diego, CA for my 21st birthday. It was the first and last time I have been on a plane.
53. I want to go to Maine to eat Lobster.
54. I would like to read more and have more time for all the hobbies I have started but never finished.
55. I used to embarrass my mom by telling people stories that happened on soap operas as if they happened in real life. I didn’t mean to, I just thought someone should know that the “bus Jeff was driving turned over and hurt a lot of kids, but Dr. Weber said no one was killed and they would all be fine.”
56. My husband says that my family tree doesn’t branch because we are all from Sherwood.
57. Out of four McClain children, two of them married into Sherwood families, Clark and his sister Janet. Who’s family tree doesn’t branch now, Clark!
58. I currently work for Sewanee: The University of the South, Century 21, I'm on the aiport board, I decorate cakes and I teach at church (although now I only teach VBS and as a substitute). I really need to give something up.
59. I had braces in junior high school for two years.
60. I’ve had glasses since 3rd grade and contacts since 7th.
61. Only one girl ever called me four eyes and I hit her for it.
62. I’ve never cared for dating around, I always liked a one on one relationship.
63. However, I did have a lot of boys who were friends that I hung out with when I was in school. I always told daddy that they weren’t dates, just “outings”.
64. My uncle told me one time that he mailed me a Cabbage Patch doll for my birthday when I was in 3rd grade, but it must have gotten lost in the mail. I never really believed him and neither did my parents.
65. I don’t like to fly in planes, but I’m a member of the Winchester Municipal Airport Authority Board.
66. I’m thinking of retiring my real estate license and becoming a photographer for my next career.
67. I have to know what everyone else is ordering before I can order at a restaurant.
68. I’m not a morning person and neither is my husband, which makes for a grumpy morning and a lot of apologetic lunch time phone calls.
69. I used to not like sitting on the end of the pew at church, but I’ve gotten over that.
70. When I leave a message on the answering machine, I use all the time that the machine gives me and talk to it like I’m talking to the actual person.
71. Never feel like you can’t mail someone a letter or send someone a card and never talk bad about junk mail. Junk mail paid for my house growing up, my first car, half of my college education and numerous other things. (Thanks daddy for always reminding me of that!)
72. Of all the people who have come and gone in my life, I have the cried the most for a fallen soldier. I miss you Alex!
73. Every year on Christmas Day we have breakfast at mom and dad’s and then open presents. This has been our tradition since I can remember. Next year the tradition will have to change locations.
74. I like Coke rather than Pepsi, and yes there is a taste difference.
75. My first car was a white Chevrolet Celebrity, and I wrecked it ever year that I had it.
76. My first wreck, I took out the Holiday Marina sign at the lake and they never replaced it. Now they have a new sign on the other side of the turn off to the Marina.
77. My dream car is a red corvette.
78. My dad said he would never be able to buy me a real Vette, so one Christmas he got me a remote control one. I still have it.
79. I took two Military Science classes in college to meet two of the required PE credit hours.
80. My biggest fear is dying and the worse way I think would be to drown. However, I love to swim and spend a lot of time on the lake. Be careful and wear a life jacket!
81. I have always been a nail biter until the past couple of months and I think with the vitamins I’ve been taking for the baby, they grow quicker than I can bite them off.
82. I love to go shopping with my mom, she finds the best buys.
83. I wish I could stick to a budget.
84. I would like to be more organized, but I’m not sure I could function if I were more organized.
85. I hate the color pink, but I guess I will have to deal with it if I have a girl.
86. I wear a size 7.5 shoe and have since the seventh grade.
87. I have an orange belt in Karate.
88. I smoked in high school and college and only told my parents a few months ago.
89. I’m glad I quit when I was 21, and I wish Clark would quit.
90. This list stuff is making me think too much and I don’t like to think this much.
91. I accidentally stole my best friend, Karen’s boyfriend in high school. My best friend from church, Melena, stole the boy that I had been sort of seeing when I was in college. I deserved it.
92. Karen and I didn’t let a boy come between us.
93. The boy that I stole from her in now getting a divorce. I’m glad I found Clark.
94. I don’t really care for crossword puzzles.
95. My worst subjects were science and vocabulary.
96. My best subjects were English, Math and Accounting.
97. I hated Math, especially Mr. Maxon’s Algebra class.
98. I played Softball for 1 year and decided it wasn’t for me.
99. My favorite vacation spot is Panama City Beach, but I bet if I ever went to Hawaii, that would become my new favorite vacation spot.
100.I’m glad this list is done because I’m out of ideas. Enjoy!

Time to go camping again

This weekend is the big, McClain family camping trip. About ten to thirteen adults and two or three children will be heading to Nickajack to camp for the weekend, with at least three fishing boats and possibly a pontoon boat, one camper and about six tents. Most of those coming are direct members of the McClain Clan, but some are in-laws and friends, which should make it a lot of fun. Clark and I always try to explain how "prepared" this family is when they go camping, but you really just have to see it to believe it. So I'll try to get some pictures while we are there. Hope everyone has a good weekend. Take advantage of the warm weather, the rain might hit soon (or at least we hope so).

Bonnie's Married

My niece Bonnie is finally married and it was a beautiful wedding. She is not the girly type and the wedding wasn't girly either really, but more of a simple and elegant nature. She wore a beautiful wedding dress and Brian wore his tux. They each had a witness, maid of honor and best man, to stand with them. The preacher wore his Sunday suit and cowboy boots and the ceremony was in the front yard at her mothers house, under an arch decorated with tulle and red roses with the squash patch in the background. It was perfect. The bar-b-q reception afterward fit in as well, was a lot of fun, and produced some great pictures. It just goes to show that you don't have to spend a lot and go overboard to have a beautiful and elegant wedding. Especially if that's just not your style. I wish Bonnie and Brian a long and happy marriage together. I know they are going to be very happy.

Two Dogs Rose

Here are a couple of pictures of the band performing on the main stage at the Dogwood Festival. Thought you might enjoy. Members: Nathan Wilson (guitar and lead vocals), Danny Hartman (rhythm guitar), Dillard Woodall (bass), and Clark on drums.

SOLD!

Well, it is strange how things work out sometimes. I have been in the real estate business for a year now and haven't sold anything. I have found that you have to have money to make money and you also need time to devote to this business to be successful at it. However, those are two things that I'm a little short on lately. I had decided that my life was too hectic and I needed to simplify and since money and time are short the first thing to go was going to be real estate. Now, in the past couple of weeks, I have put a contract on a house and it was accepted and I have to finish paperwork and take pictures for the house I'm listing. It seems that when I don't try to make progress in this business, or even try to leave the business, that is when things start to pick up. Now that I have these deals in the works, I have to stay around a little longer. It's just strange how that works, isn't it?

I'm back!!

Well, we had a wonderful time in Panama City and I'll have pictures later to show you, but I thought I would go ahead by saying that camping at the bay is not too bad, very clean and well taken care of. We enjoyed the calm bay water, much like being on the lake here, but I did miss being able to fall out of the door and be right on the beach and hearing the waves roll in. We did get to see the Airforce jets fly over a lot and even saw a Navy ship come in to port and restock. Clark said that the Navy ship was a smaller one that goes back and forth between the land and the big ship to restock it. I have pictures of that too. All in all it was a good trip. Clark is already asking where we are going to camp next and we had to go by an RV store on the way home to look at our future camping vehicle, a fifth wheel with a master suite. Plus he informed me that he would need a new duel wheel truck to pull the new camper. Big dreams! Anyway, the only bad thing (and its not really a bad thing) that happened was the biker rally at the beach. We didn't realize when we planned the trip that it was "Thunder on the Beach" biker week in Panama and you have to really watch out for the bikers coming in and out of traffic. We were on the other end of the beach from the festivities, but there were a lot of bikers staying in the camp grounds. Most of them were very nice and didn't make a lot of unnecessary noise and the bikes were nice to see (Harleys, Hondas, Gold Wings, etc.) I enjoyed our trip a lot and of course we spent some great time with our friends, Greg and Jana, and their son, Gavin. Gavin had Clark all over the place, he loves Clark and has to know where Clark is at all times. If Clark went back over to our tent for something, Gavin followed him. They played ball on the beach and hung out at the camp grounds. I think it is so sweet. I'll try to get the pictures downloaded this week so you can see them.

Pretty Toes!

I'm so excited. My friend Jana is taking me to the nail salon so we can get our "toes done" to go to Florida. She says that nothing is better than pretty toes wiggling in the sand. I've never done this before so I'm really looking forward to it. I hear they rub your legs and feet before they paint your toes. I think everyone should have this done monthly. I think everyone should get a massage one a month too. I had my first full body massage and first massage with stones in March and it is so worth the money. Anyway, I can't wait to see my toes all fixed. It should be fun!!

It won't be long...

...till we are back at the beach. Two weeks from yesterday and Clark and I will be in our favorite vacation spot, Panama City Beach. This time will be a little different though. First off we are going to be staying in a tent in St. Andrews State Park instead of the nice condo with a view. We love to camp so I think it will be a lot of fun. And don't worry our friends, Greg and Jana, are going and bringing their RV, so if it should storm we have a place to stay. The second difference has a name, Gavin. That would be him to your left giving me dirty kisses after playing with his trucks in the dirt. Before, when we went to the beach with Greg and Jana, it was just us couples, but this time we are going to take their almost three year old, Gavin. He is such a boy as you can see. I can't wait to see him playing in the water. We will get a break from him because Jana's parents are going to go and stay in the condo, so they can keep him a couple of nights and let the couples go out to dinner. He is their only grandchild and they want to see him at the beach. What good grandparents!! Now it is time to dig out the camping gear and settle on a swimsuit, two things that I hate to do. But you have to go through that to get to the good part, REST, RELAXATION and FUN!!!!!!!!

Sad news!

We have lost one of our own in this crazy war over seas. Alex Stephens was killed last Thursday in a road side bombing in Afganistan. He was 28 years old from Tullahoma, a 1996 graduate of FCHS. Those close to my age might remember his sisters Shalene and Shalia. Shalene has done two tours in Iraq and has been blessed to return with no harm. Shalia lives in German with her husband. This family has been hit hard over the years. Their mother passed away two years ago after a heart attack and their father was involved in a motorcycle wreck when they were very young suffering some brain damage, so there have been a lot of hardships in this family. Alex will be missed by a lot of people, but most of all by his wife and three month old daughter, Sienna. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Simplify!!!

This is my new theory on my life. I think lately my world has been too chaoic and I haven't been able to enjoy the simple things in life like I once did. So my resolution is to simplify. I want to go back to just one job, so I think I will hang up the real estate license for a while. Simplify!!! I want to go back to being frugal, when I got excited over finding a good deal on clothes, or found something cool at a yard sale, and being able to save on our grocery bill. Simplify!!! I want to start freezer cooking again so I have time with Clark in the afternoons after work and I want to go fishing (I know you don't approve "Miss" Jan) to spend time with Clark doing something we both love. Simplifiy!!! Most of all I want my weekends and my sanity back to enjoy both in a comfortable setting (on the lake, at a yard sale, out camping, or just visiting family and friends) and not have to worry so much about a dirty house or dirty laundry because I'm able to keep up with those things during the week. I want to feed my creativity and not force myself to have a hobby because I think I need one (I haven't competed a craft or scrapbook project in four years). I want to simplify and enjoy!! I'll let you know how it goes. :)

Not this time

Well, our attempts at a baby didn't work out this time. The treatment was unsuccessful and we aren't sure where we are going to go from here, but we know that we need a break. We have a vacation planned to Florida next month and a little reconnecting to do. This is all that we have been focused on for the last couple of months so it is time to just relax for a bit and think about something else. Just thought I would let everyone know. Thank you for all your prayers. It just isn't our time yet.

My favorite picture!

I just had to share this picture because it is one of my favorites, and it took me a long time to get a copy from Daphne. This is Clark holding his godson, Jacob London, last Easter. I love that Jake smiled at just the right time. It was the first get together the family had after he came home from the hospital. Jake decided to grace us with his presence 7 and 1/2 weeks early only weighing 3 pounds and 10 ounces. He was in Erlanger for about a month before he came home, but you wouldn't know it now. The second picture is me and Jake right before Christmas. He is now one and starting to walk. What a sweet little boy. Just thought I would share.

Off to a bad start

Well, I'm off to bad start on this posting thing. We have had a busy week and I just haven't gotten around to it, but I did manage to send out an email to inform my friends that I now have a blog. We did have a great time the weekend before last at our niece Mollie's sweet sixteen party. She seemed very happy with her party and her presents. It's hard to believe she is at driving age, so watch out on the roads! I'll try to post some of the pictures I took for everyone to see. Clark and I were on bed rest all last weekend (mostly me) and I've never wanted to get out of bed so badly in all my life, yet when I had to go back to work on Monday, I wished I were back in bed. Funny how we are never satified. I guess that is all for now, but check back, I might have those pictures soon.

This is all new to me!

Well, after watching Libby's blog everyday (sometimes a couple of times a day) I decided to go ahead and set one up for our little family. Right now there isn't much going on. Clark and I both work a lot with our full time jobs, my part time real estate and his band, Two Dogs Rose. The band has been in the studio by the way and should be releasing some acoustic songs soon, just in time for the summer gigs. Other than that we are doing all the normal stuff, eat sleep, try to get pregnant and work. If you know about the third thing I mentioned then pray that the treatment helps and it happens soon. For those that don't know, after four years of trying and three surgeries, we are getting some treatment that will hopefully give us a full family soon. I'll try to post every once in a while. Since it is just us and the dog right now, there isn't much to say. I'll keep an eye on all of your posts though. It is the best way to get great pictures of your wonderful families. Keep up the good posting!!!!