Who Needs a Boy?

Lately, it seems like everyone except me thinks it's time for 'another one'. We just aren't there yet. And when we do get 'there', I really want to consider adoption. But for now, we are just having fun with Avery Grace. Besides, who needs a boy, when you can have this much fun with a girl?

Yes, I miss you terribly!

I'm writing a letter to this man. An apology letter. A we miss you terribly letter. Yes, I realize he will probably never receive it, but I will write it and hope he does. (Besides, I am the girl that truly believed that Martha could host her first post prison event by catering my wedding after her release from prison. Yes, I googled the prisons phone number. Yes, I also called and asked "Is Martha there?" Apparently, she was too busy to take a call. Whoda thought?)

Anyway, back to President Bush! I, although fiercely conservative, had my doubts about Bush. By the election I had decided his time had really passed (not that he could've come back for a third term anyway, darn those term limits!) My thinking was that I wasn't too happy about this long, expensive war and he was never too great at public speaking. Although his invention of new words did keep me entertained. Well, I wanted a change, but not this change. I did all I could at the voting booth, and we were defeated. Now we have a President, who blatantly lied during his campaign - not that he's the first to do this, but still - I clearly remember a promise during the debates about getting us out of this war and now he is sending more troops overseas. And we have a President who can give a darn good speech (even if it is only because of the teleprompter)!      

I have discovered that I miss our former President and I miss our country. You know, the one that didn't spend trilllllions of dollars to bail out the entire country. The country that wouldn't consider National Healthcare as a way to solve our healthcare problems. Yep, I miss that country. And I owe an apology to President Bush. At this point, we are helpless. We can only pray that at the end of these 4 lonnng years, our country is in tact. And we should start praying now for the next man or woman that will be elected to lead our country. That somehow, we can retrace our steps, and find the country that our founding fathers wanted for us. One with God as the center, small government, low spending, NO abortion and very few handouts. Too bad our elected officials don't value the Constitution as much as the conservatives do. What a pitiful shame.

I've heard the Miss Me Yet? items are flying off of the shelves. Imagine that? The grass is not always greener on the other side. So, this is my public apology to President GW Bush. I had no idea how bad it could get. I took you for granted. I didn't pray for you enough. I miss you terribly.

Avery Meets Dora!

A few weeks ago, while visiting Nonna and Poppa, I ran across an ad in the paper to meet Dora and Boots at the local mall. Well, since Avery is a tad bit obsessed with Dora and loves anything like this (Santa, Chuck E. Cheese, etc.) I knew we had to be there! Unfortunately, so did 550 other parents. We knew there was a problem when we pulled in the Natchez Mall parking lot and couldn't find a space. You must understand that I often refer to this mall as a flea market. It's pretty tiny and doesn't have the greatest stores. But, on this day, something was drawing the crowds. That something was none other than Dora the Explorer! We got in line and I wasn't sure what I was thinking. Thank God that Nonna was with me! There is NO WAY it would've worked otherwise. We took turns entertaining Avery while one person held our spot. We shopped, played games, got snacks, colored, shopped some more, strolled some more, waited some more. Oh and in between we had about 5-6 meltdowns. I guess that was my own fault for standing in the 2 1/2 hour line to meet Dora! Yes, I am insane!

Playing her favorite game in the Fun Tunnel - Skee Ball! She's a pro ; )

She knew which prize she wanted too!

The pen and paper worked for a little while. Oh, and the paci, yeah we wouldn't have made it without that either!

Nonna thought she would like to look at where Dora sat. It was easy to show her since Dora took a 15 minute break every 30 minutes. NO, I am NOT exagerating! Teenagers wear the same suit and three of them swapped out every 30 mins. Nonna under-rated the meltdown that would occur when Dora came back from break and Avery had to let the next kid in line go. Can you say Terrible 2's?

What would we do without her?

And the moment we waited for...a smile at Dora. I even got a much blurrier, less smilier version printed for only $10! ; )

Yes, after that experience, we had one exhausted toddler!

Wordless Wednesday

Superbowl Sunday: Food Edition

What's a good football game without crinkle cut fries, ribs so tender the meat falls off the bone, buttered rolls, baked beans and some good Coca-Cola? Kudos, once again, to Nonna!

I'd say Avery enjoyed her BBQ!

Cruisin in the Beetle

Avery got a mini VM Beetle for Christmas from Nonna and Poppa and before this weekend, she would push the pedal every once in a while and look shocked when it moved. On this weekend, she actually held it down and rode around. It was so cute! She seemed pretty impressed with her new mode of transportation.

Now we just have to work on steering! She has no idea that she is supposed to be steering the wheel. You can see though, she had an escort (Nonna) to do that for her. Why steer when ya don't have to, right?

Valentine

Valentine's is even more fun when you get to spend it w/ two sweeties. Umm, unfortunately I didn't get a pic of my other sweetie (Charlie). Oops! ;)

Nonna and Poppa visited Valentine's Day weekend and Avery got her Valentine's present from them. She is really into books right now, so they did great! (As always!)

Avery loved the snow!

I was contemplating whether or not to go to work on 'snow day', but I figured we would be open. The best plan I could come up with was to be there at 5am so that if Avery couldn't go to Tina's, I could swap out at 11 with Charlie. The roads were actually fine and I enjoyed coming in 2 hours before everyone else. No distractions = great time to work! The best part? I got to work a full shift but be home by 1:30. I really think I could work that schedule every day! I was pretty exhausted by 8pm though. On my way to get Avery, I was disappointed to see that in many spots the snow had already melted, but I made a mental note of a few good spots. I went home to get the camera and discovered our neighbors yard (I guess b/c they have no trees) was perfect. So, off we went! It was done snowing by now, and not even too chilly outside. She had a great time running around in the snow.

We got flowers at work that day, for Valentine's, and she wouldn't let it go!

And here is the night before, when we realized it was accumulating. Charlie brought in a chunk of snow and she got to play with it inside!

Wordless Wednesday

Last Birthday Post...I Promise!

So, I’d say it’s pretty nice to be 2 on your birthday. Truth be told, I still enjoy them at 25! But I don’t think I get quite this much loot!

She lovvvves her Dora microphone, esp. the We Did It song!

After we got back from the sensational Saints Superbowl Sunday, we had a package for Avery waiting in the mailbox. Apparently, the card was pretty impressive. She kept saying “Ooooohhhhhhh” and touching the glitter. It was a pretty adorable card :)

Almost as adorable as the outfit that came with it! Thanks Addison...you made Avery’s day!

Winter Wonderland

So, as you may have heard, some of us in Louisiana got snow on Friday. Someone on Facebook said that it was the first day in history that every state got snow. Not so sure about that - Hawaii??? Anyway, we were sure happy that we were part of the Winter Wonderland. Some of you see it everyday and probably gripe about it most days. But in Louisiana, when it snows, there is something to celebrate! Every street has a snowman and children in the yards. We think it's pretty miraculous and great fun! Charlie took these pics earlier in the day. I've never seen this much snow in my life! We got 5 inches. I hope it happens again this year and every year! Luckily, I got home from work before it all melted and I will post the pics of Avery in the snow later.

Meet Eva

So, tonight I was in a pretty foul mood. Avery had about 18 meltdowns in the mall today and I was clueless. What do I do to get her to stop? Spank her in public like a crazy woman? Can't really do timeout in a crowded mall. Especially when every time I *try* to put her in timeout she won't sit or stand where I tell her to. Charlie can get her to mind, for the most part,  but I am clueless. I feel like a bad mom. A clueless mom. THAT mom. The one you see in the mall and think to yourself, "Wow. Let's hope she doesn't have any other kids." On top of that, I left quickly without finishing my Valentine's day shopping. So, she won't be getting a cute Dora Valentine's Day card that sings or does something spectacular. A measly Spongebob heart is all I've got for her. Oh, and Charlie, well he didn't even get a Spongebob heart (much less a card). So, I was mainly mad at myself but I just griped out loud. About everything. Then I had ice cream for supper and griped that I keep gaining weight. Because, my life is just so rotten.. right? I mean who has a 2 yr old w/ tantrums? I'm sure I would only have that bad luck. And who eats crap 24/7 and gains weight? Only me, right!?!

Then I happened to come across this blog. I read a few posts and felt sorry for Eva. Then I watched the video. And cried. and cried. and cried. Avery was asleep and Charlie kept asking what in the world I was watching on my phone. I tried to explain through tears but he said if it makes me cry, I should stop watching it. I told him that men just didn't get it. Sometimes women need a good cry. I cried for Eva and her family. But I cried harder because I realized just how ridiculously blessed I am. 'Bad day' shouldn't be in my vocabulary. I'm not going to list the reasons I'm blessed, it just doesn't seem appropriate. But tonight, I owe it to Eva to trade. If someone should be griping, it should be her. If someone should be having a bad day, it should be her. I encourage you to watch the video. I pray it has changed me. And not just for tonight. I spend entirely too much of my time complaining about a magnificent life.

I'm not really onboard with MckMama's 'bold blogging'. Great for her, but for me, crappy days seem crappy enough and I don't want to document crappy stuff. But tonight I am daring to be bold. Hopefully when I wake up in the morning I won't regret it. If any of you get from Eva, what I got from Eva, it will have been worth it. Good night all!

Pa's Rocking Horse

These pictures are from Christmas time, and  I can't remember if I posted them or not, but Avery loves riding this rocking horse. My Pa, (Nonna's dad) made this horse for me when I was a baby. It is so special to me. I look forward to passing it down to Avery and watching her babies ride on it one day! Pa isn't with us anymore, but I know these pictures would make him happy. I'm sure he spent many long hours building this horse, and I so appreciate that he did that. :) 

Wordless Wednesday

Sensational Saints Superbowl Sunday!

Although admittedly, I'm not the biggest NFL fan, when the Saints go to their first Superbowl and you live in Louisiana, you simply must jump on the bandwagon. Now, that's not to say that the men in our family aren't die hard fans. (Well, except my dad, who sticks to his Miami Dolphin roots, and Charlie, who refuses to admit a few short years ago he was a huge Chicago Bears fan!) But the rest of them, oh yeah, tried and true!

And when the Saints did something great, they were there to cheer them on. As if we were in the stadium, we cheered like the players could hear us. Like we were the only ones cheering. Boy, did we cheer!

And when things weren't looking so great, we worried. We considered the possibility of loss. 

But we still believed!

Well, most of us believed and some of us just became exhausted w/ all the hoopla...

And when things got even worse, we debated game plans and statistics. Just imagine that Josh (my brother, on the left) is the head coach and Mickey (my uncle, on the right) is the assistant.

And we encouraged our team, and each other...

And when good things happened, we fist pumped and danced and CELEBRATED!

We called plays and screamed at the top of our lungs when we wanted to challenge a call...

And we waited, while the actual refs reviewed the challenge...

And we jumped and screamed and went absolute bizerks when a call went our way...

And the interception? Oh, the interception. Well, you see, in our house the interception will forever be remembered as the moment that Uncle Mickey realized his beloved Saints had just won their first ever Superbowl... and for just a moment he lost his mind...

and the spot with the hole in the wall, the one where he butted his head, will forever be remembered as the result of one of the happiest, most painful moments in his life. 

WHO DAT?