Fun Family Pictures

I thought this picture was too cute not to share. This is Hailee watching her Dad change the oil in his car. I ran to get the camera when I saw her.

These are a couple of pics from Hailee's birthday party, she got a brand new bike that she loves from her Marmie and Papa!

Happy Birthday Hailee

Yesterday, Hailee turned 2 years old! It's incredible how quickly the time passes. I remember everything, every little detail of the day she was born. I remember being more nervous about the IV they were going to give me than anything else, even the surgery! I'm not good at needles friends, at all. I remember how great Nathan was with her and how nervous we both were. I remember all the wonderful family and friends that came to see her. I remember the first night she was with us in our room and thinking, "how are we ever going to manage this!"

But tow years later, we have and we are proud of the little girl that she is.

Nathan and I took Hailee to get her very first haircut yesterday, my family kept raggin on me because I hadn't cut her hair yet and she was starting to look a little like a rag doll. She did not enjoy the experience that much, I posted a pic for all of you to see her grumpy face.

Afterwards, we took her for her favorite food of choice, chicken nuggets. Then, we went to a place in Norman called Little River Zoo, it was a really cool place for kids to go see animals, we got to feed some goats and pigs, I think she had a great time! By the time we got home, way past her nap time, she was out for three hours!

She is the biggest blessing of our lives. We enjoy her everyday and are constantly amazed at how sweet, intelligent and funny she can be. Also stubborn, we are beginning the terrible twos!

Happy Birthday Hailee!

CourtStrong

I think we all know Lance Armstrong, his many accomplishments, and his LiveStrong foundation (www.livestrong.org). Other people have done their own spin off the LiveStrong name (www.barkstrong.net) and now it’s my turn because I want everyone to know about CourtStrong.

CourtStrong is (obviously) for Courtni. We did a bike ride this last Saturday and Courtni and I thought it would be good for her to get on the bike since she is prego and won’t be able to do all the rides we did last summer. Just like all the rides she did last year, she knocked it out. We didn’t ride the same distance or route but I did see her once when she had completed about 13 miles and she was looking good. She had about 7 or 8 miles left and she was determined to finish strong. CourtStrong.

She continues to make us proud.

You better look out for her next summer,
Nathan

Twinkle Twinkle

Here Goes The Summer

Well, it's official. Nathan and I have sold our home and have a closing date set for the end of May. We will be going to Choctaw for the summer and staying in my great grandmother's home that is vacant while our new home is finished being built...hopefully by early fall! We are kinda looking at it like summer camp, she has quite a bit of land and it will be fun to have some wide open spaces for the summer to explore and play with Hailee on! We are excited and a little sad all at once. After all, this was where we started our marriage and brought our little girl home to, we've made a lot of wonderful memories here. We are very fortunate to be able to do this and are looking forward to what the future is going to bring. Meanwhile, we are busy packing and storing and moving all in a month, May is going to be busy! Hailee's turns 2 next Friday, we are getting things together for her party, cannot believe she will be 2 already!

On another note, Nathan rode his first ride of the season yesterday and I rode my first and last. It was a lot of fun. We rode out in Choctaw, the weather was perfect! I can't wait to get back out there next season after the baby is here. I am proud to say that I rode 20 miles while being nearly 4 months prego, yes...I am "tooting" my own horn!

Grateful

Even though my pregnant hormones get the best of me sometimes and I tend to take some unpleasant attitude out on my husband, I love him with all that is in me. He has given me so much more than I think I sometimes deserve. He is a constant source of support, love, and laughter for me in my life. I have many different roles in life as most people do; a wife, mother, career woman, teacher, and a lot more, but I just get to be the woman with him when we're together. He somehow knows when the perfect moment is that I need to be swept away from all of it for a bit and be tucked away with him. I've known him now for nearly 11 years, it's surreal to think that sometimes. He is a fabulous father to our little one. Last night Hailee climbed right up in his lap and fell asleep on his chest. He never tries to get out of bath time or changing time or "play with me daddy" time. In fact, he almost always initiates all of them. I could not and would not want to do this life without him. He is an amazing man.

Stuck Trains and a Busy Night

For any of you readers that live in Moore America between 12th and 19th street, you may have a pretty good idea about what gave me a headache tonight. I get to Hailee's sitters at 5:00pm everyday who lives on the west side of the train tracks that run N/S off I-35. We live on the east side of the tracks. I pick Hailee up and we are on our way home, I see the line of car lights ahead and know the train is stalled! I come across this at least 2-3 times a week it seems, maybe not quite that much but it certainly feels like it when you want to get somewhere in a hurry. It happens when I am on my way to work at 6:30am too! As I am tryiny my best to sit there patiently and wait as I talk to Hailee about her day, I get a call from Nathan....someone wants to come and look at our house tonight (our home is for sale) which is great! But, now it's nearly 5:45, no dinner, haven't made it home, need to do some light cleaning, they will be here in an hour. So, I shimmy out of the car lane somehow, the train isn't even moving at a snails pace at this point, it is dead. I perform a magic u-turn and decide to by pass the tracks further north. I'm thinking about dinner now, don't really want to cook because then that means I have to clean before the guests arrive. So, I decide to make a quick stop at Del Rancho to pick up some sandwiches. Then I begin to feel the guilt spread over me as I am not cooking a nice healthy home cooked meal for my family, but, hey, sometimes you have those nights. Hailee and I finally make it home, quickly consume dinner, vaccuum, make beds, etc... The company has arrived and I remember I haven't even taken a look in the mirror. I go for a quick glance and there it is, tired baggy eyes with mascara shades underneath, a pregnant belly and ketchup stains on my shirt from Hailee's sandwich. At this point, I just want to take a bath and get in my PJ's! The people were great and it was a good visit and I am thankful for the "traffic" in the house. I rocked my little one to sleep just now and I know that I am abundantly blessed. We sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and played peek a boo. I laid her in her bed, "Night Night Mommy, luv you." she says. I smile and tell her the same and thankful for the day that I had, stuck trains and all.

The first attempt at posting!