Tagged

I'm tagged by Angelle:

Places I've worked

1-Embry Hills Swim and Tennis Club as a lifeguard

2-Auburn University Bookstore

3-The Black Eyed Pea

4- A telemarketer selling magazines

Movies I can watch over and over

1-Napoleon Dynamyte

2-Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

3-Old School

4-The Parent Trap (either version)

Places I've lived

1-Birmingham, AL

2-Charlotte, NC

3- Athens, GA

4-Auburn, AL

Favorite tv shows

1-So You Think You Can Dance

2-The Office

3-America's Got Talent (how cheesy!?)

4-American Idol

Places I've been

1-Paris

2-London

3-Austria

4-Mexico

Foods

1-Mexican

2-Italian

3-Asian

4-Dessert

What I ate today

1- Peanut Butter Toast

2- An Asian Chicken Salad from McD's

3- Enchilada's that I cooked (I can email you a great recipe!)

4- Pinot Grigio

Places I'd rather be

1-Sitting on a beach

2-At my parent's lakehouse

3- Snuggling with my girls (but they are sleeping right now so I'll take that...)

4- On a plane with my hubby going anywhere!

You are tagged: do my quiz and leave me a comment if you participate-

Happy Anniversary

Five years ago, we were:

• -getting ready to get married
• -anxiously awaiting to celebrate with friends
• -young and clueless about the responsibilities that marriage brings
• -without children

We work well together. Jacob is calm and patient, where I am emotional and loud. We balance responsibilities. We parent well together, I think. We both have the same outlook for the future.

Thank you for the best five years of my life, Jacob. Here's to many more!

Our two girls-

I finally got a couple of great pictures of Issa in her heirloom Easter dress and bonnet that her Bibi made her! Issa just got some Princess chapstick. She had it around in her purse, toting it all over (I thought it was clear). The other day we were in the car, and it was awfully quiet in the backseat... I turned around and she had RED chapstick all over her lips!

Summer Fun- thanks Natalie!

Little Miss Sunshine

Beach Babe

Issa loved the ocean; LOVED it. We had such a nice vacation. Jacob's parents rented an incredible condo with a gorgeous view of the ocean, and a kiddie-friendly pool/playground within walking distance! Mornings we were at the pool and afternoons were spent at the ocean. She ran and jumped and dug and played her little heart out. JULIE and KYLE got engaged while there, and Jacob's brother JOHN and his girlfriend ELIZABETH also got engaged before we left! There will be lots of wedding fun this year! It is nice to be home, but we both agreed we're ready for another week vacation at the beach! Greer and I got together to celebrate my birthday last night. We went to the cutest Mexican restaurant in Decatur and talked, talked, talked over margaritas. SO fun. Jacob has been in Orlando for work. Orlando. Sunny Orlando. :) He got home late last night so we're glad to have him back! And by the way there is the most GORGEOUS arrangement of pink and purple flowers - I wish I knew more about what they are but the arrangement is stunning. That and a Spa Sydell certificate! Sweet huz-

Hilton Head bound

We are heading out for a week at the beach with Jacob's family! We found out that Jacob's brother Justin is flying in; he's been out on the ship (in the Navy).

Today we enjoyed an afternoon at the Georgia Aquarium, followed by Naked Dogs at the Varsity. YUMMMMMMMMM. Every gal needs a Varsity cap!

Have a great week!

Things I can do while breastfeeding Mae

1. Enter a new blog entry
2. Read People magazine
3. Make my cup of coffee
4. Make Issa's breakfast
5. Write thank you notes
6. Pick up stray items off the floor with my toes
7. Get Issa IN and OUT of her highchair

Yeah, go ahead and picture it. You've got the visual. Heh heh.

Lake Fun!

We had such a ball at the lakehouse for Father's Day weekend. We spent lots of time with my brother, Brent, my sis-in-law, Rachel, and their new baby (8 weeks), Katelyn! This is Bibi (my Mom), Issa, Mae, and Katelyn!

Splish Splash

Issa LOVES to help with Mae. Mostly she ignores her sister, which is just fine, but whenever it's bathtime, she wants to take a bath too, and help with washing Mae. Girls are just fun!!!

Julie

I love my Aunt Juju! We had fun playing in the outside pool and visiting with "juju" and "ky" last weekend; Julie's in school this summer at Auburn and she is so so sweet! Love you Juju - come back soon!

dear hubby home soon

Jacob has been out of town since Monday morning at 6 AM. He's been in DC all week, in these intense meetings all day and then doing work stuff during the evenings. He flies in tonight at 10, and it's been a long week. YIPPEE!

sweet girls in curls

We had Carly and Tom over for a night of pizza and gametime on Saturday night... it reminded us of the days before kids, except in *those* days we may have played Sequence and Triominoes until 3AM and had many more beers (staying at the house of course and not driving anywhere...). We had the best time, and Issa LOVES her "Tah-y" and "Tom". Let's do it again soon!

sweet sisters

Mae-girl

Welcome Ella Mae!

Ella Mae is here and we are home. Exhausted but home. And glad to be home to Issa's warm hugs and kisses and our own sheets and fluffy pillows.
Ella Mae was 7 pounds 12 ounces, and was 20 inches long. She has the longest most dainty fingers, and the sweetest fullest lips. Her eyes are big and blue, and she has a headful of dark hair. What a blessing she is. Jacob has been home, and it's been nice to enjoy time together as a family of four!
Thanks, blogger, for conveniently allowing me to post a new picture of my daughter. :)
Pix later...

Countdown is on-

So today is May 19. I check in to Piedmont on May 23 at 6:30 AM and the C-section is scheduled for 8:30 AM. It's amazing to think that she'll be here in 4 days. :-0

Her nursery is ready - complete with clean everything and a full diaper changing table. Her little Moses basket is next to our bed, ready to go! We have decided on Ella Mae Allbritton. We'll call her Mae. I would have put Mae first (mae ella) but I love the way Ella Mae sounds. So Mae it is! I actually saw the name first from my friend and old neighbor in Charlotte, Amanda. Her friend's baby girl is Mae, and the name stuck with me. I love it!

Last night was Poker Night - at Carly's. We turned it into Jacob's surprise 30th birthday party. It was a huge sucess. He had NO idea and there was a nice crowd to "surprise" him and spray him with silly string. It was great! We had the usual poker crew, and also two of Jacob's friends form high school and their wives. Carrot cupcakes with cream cheese icing (homemade, thank you very much), a Bruster's birthday cake (yellow cake, fudge filling, choco chip cookie dough ice cream), and BBQ from Old South. It was a great night! We left at midnight b/c Jake's Mom and sis were at home with Issa and were driving back to Cumming. BUT GUESS WHO WAS IN FIRST PLACE AT POKER? Me! I had tons. It was a fun night. They counted chips and decided that since I had 1/3 of all of the chips, they gave me 1/3 of the winnings. I had a lucky night - great hands.

Today we had a great day together. We have gotten lots of baby stuff in order. We had a tea party outside with water :) and Issa played for hours in her sandbox.

I'll check in after baby Mae arrives!

Two years old

May 10, 2007
Dear Issa,

Tomorrow you turn 2 years old. Two. I really can’t believe that the tiny baby that was on that changing table in Charlotte, North Carolina is now two. Walking and jabbering and talking and chatting and singing and pretending and hugging and loving.
I love you so much.
Sometimes I pick you up and smell the top of your sweet-smelling hair, and I can’t understand how you are this perfect. I close my eyes and try to just live in.that.moment… holding you and smelling your sweet hair. It won’t be forever that you let me cuddle with you.

You continue to look so much like your Daddy, but several people have commented that they think you are looking like me.
Your hair has started to turn from a darker brown to a lighter brown. And the curls… they continue to grow longer.

You love to sing. You will sing Old MacDonald, or Twinkle Twinkle, and I close my eyes and hope hope hope that I will never forget that sweet voice. Your little voice is like an angel-sound. But you don’t like to think that someone’s listening to you. If you think you could be on the stage, you quickly cross your arms and pout, “no”.

You are starting to demonstrate your independence. Although I don’t particularly like it when you tell me, “no” (and I tell you how I don’t like it), I secretly am happy that you are asserting your independence. You are strong-willed, and let your wants known.

And my, you are talking. I love to hear, “ussat, Mommy?” or “I do it self” (I do it by myself”, or “what daddy doing?” You are speaking in 5-6 word sentences most of the time, and your vocabulary is vast!

You love to eat pasta, and pizza, and anything Italian. High-flavor foods are a favorite.

Issa, Mommy is always here for you. I will be here this year and next year and forever. You could not do anything in the whole wide world that would make me love you any less.

I love you, sweet Issa-belle, my baby girl. You are my everything. Thank you for the best two years of my entire life.

Love, Mommy

How I met the huz

This post came about after reading Rollie's blog. I love reading hers - most days I get a good laugh, or some kind of emotion!
So I thought I would share the story of how Jacob and I met...
Jacob is two years younger than me - he's actually 2 weeks younger than my little brother. :) He and my little brother Brent lived together at Auburn University while attending college. I was at UGA but always knew Jacob. He and Brent were best friends, and did lots together on the weekends too. But I was always dating other guys, and knew him as "my little brother's" friend.
So I graduated UGA and taught for a year in DeKalb County Schools, and then was accepted to Auburn for graduate school. My first year at Auburn was Jacob's first year OUT of school. But Brent (following in his sister's footsteps) didn't finish college in the typical "four years".
So Jacob would come to visit Brent at school a good bit. And I was dating the "wrong" guy - the whole fam-damily didn't like him and looking back he wasn't right for me.
Jacob started hinting and asking me out - etc - but I was with that guy, and it wasn't the right timing.
The times changed though, and I broke up with the kid (and I say "kid" because he was). Jacob asked me out the following weekend.
Let me tell you: it was REALLY strange dating at first. But we really really really "clicked" at first, too. We had tons to talk about, and we had so much in common. Dating and hanging out was so exciting, and just comfortable. Jacob even ran it by Brent (I guess he kind of asked him?) to see if us dating was okay. And it was. Deep down I know that Brent knew that Jacob was a great guy - that's why they are still as good of friends as they are.
2+ years later, we got engaged. I can't imagine being happier. The stress of working, and bills, and just living is great, but I think we do a pretty good job together. We just work. And I can fully say that we'll be just as happy when our two girlies are getting married. He is a great friend, and a thoughtful husband. Family get-togethers are always truly fun. Brent is 30 on 5/11, and Jacob is 30 on 5/23, the same day as my C-section! Happy early Birthday, my favorite men!

Fun Easter

What a fun Easter we had. It was a beautiful, but cold, day. We enjoyed the Easter fun in the morning with Issa, then headed to church for a beautiful service. Then we came home for a big lunch with both grandparents at our house. I didn't even cook much at all - everyone brought so much food! Issa had a ball.

The lake was beautiful. It was cool and quiet, just the three of us. It was nice not having anything to do!

We are headed to Birmingham tomorrow to welcome our first neice into the world! My brother and his wife will have their baby girl tomorrow. Katelyn Lane... how sweet!

Issa stays here, and her Nanna and Big are going to pick her up at Miss Leah's house, and will keep her here until we come back tomorrow night.

Our dog Cassie has begun peeing either Issa's room or the soon-to-be nursery (should be read "empty room that finally has color in it but no furniture") when we are paying attention to Issa! It's terrible. After LOTS of testing at the vet, it's NOT an illness (UTI, thyroid probs, etc), and it's behavioral. The vet recommended behavioral therapy. I am having a hard time trying to convince Jacob that it's a good idea... :)

Happy weekend!