Men in My Life I

In lieu of Father's Day approaching, I thought I would share about some men who have impacted my life and write about some memories I have of/with them.

This is my Tatol. My mom's dad. His name is John Charles Dickey. 

He passed away when I was in middle school. He had muscular dystrophy.

I only remember him being in a wheel chair.

I remember going to the middle room of his house and getting him a cigar.

I remember gathering around him and my nanny at holidays to take a picture.

I remember going to his pawn shop.

I remember having our family Christmas at the hospital when he had a stroke. 

There arent too many things I remember about my Tatol. 

Towards the end of his life, he was in a hospital bed at his house.

I do though have memories passed down in stories for my grandma and my mom.

One of my favorites, is how my grandparents met. My grandma (Dolly) was working at a hamburger shop and my grandpa (Charles) was working in the oil field. The guys would go to lunch at the hamburger shop. Dolly saw him right away and thought he was cute. The problem was their was always a group of guys with him. So one day, Dolly left the hamburger meat off of Charles sandwich so when he had to come back alone. And he did. And she got him alone. And the rest is history. 

My grandpa was a good man. He was mayor of Oil City for many years and did great things. I wish I had had more time to know him. I love to hear stories from family about him. 

I know he was a wonderful husband and a great dad.

Mismatching PJ's

Everynight GT and Audrie have a bedtime routine that I am not a part of. Its like their thing. He changes her diaper, put her in pjs, gives her a bottle and sometimes rocks her to bed depending on her mood.

The other night they were doing their thing and GT says, "Babe, none of these pj's match" and I reply, "Thats ok just put her in something".

In my mind, I am thinking you dont have to put the exact bottoms and tops that came with each other. Just get something similar and put it on her.

This was the result:

Whales for the top and ice cream cones for the bottom.

I was laughing so hard, and GT said, "What, you said they didnt have to match."

Thats not really what I meant.

Top 2 Dates!

 

This weeks Top 2 Tuesdays is...Top 2 Dates!

Sadly, I could only think of one. GT just isnt really the romantic type. And I have come to accept it. So when he is slightly romantic it is a big surprise and really sweet. And I know its from the heart :)

So the first will be my top date and 2nd will be our idea for a date soon that I think will take 2nd place 

1. It was our 1 year dating anniversary and GT bought me a pink heart shaped necklace that I love! Then we got dressed up and went to Red Lobster (my fav)...our plans was to see a movie, but we were SO full from dinner, went to Wal-Mart and bought a movie. He let me pick. I picked 27 Dresses. Then when we back to his apt and made a palate on the living room floor and watched it. I am pretty sure I fell asleep. But it was fun. And I have some pics from that night!

Allie was our baby before we had a baby :)

2. For our 2 year wedding anniversary (in 2 months and some days!) We are going to let grandparents keep Audrie for the weekend while we do NOTHING! (well, we might do a lil' something....) but you know...We are going to lay in bed and watch movies. We are going to sleep in. Oh yes...sleep...how I have missed you. 

You might be wondering why this is such a big deal???

Well...basically this hasnt happened for 10 months, really more than 10 months...in the weeks prior to giving birth we were really busy with work, showers, preparing etc...then I got put in the hospital...anyway, this is much needed. Just a weekend to relax and not to have to worry about baby duties...Now, if I can only work up the courage to leave her overnight...and for a weekend! Oh my! 

Chicken Quesadillas

Last night I made some Quesadillas. And I didnt want them to be plain...and last time I made them I burnt them..

And the results was yummmmmmyyyyy. GT said they were the best he has ever tasted...so I think I did good!


Lydia's Chicken Quesadillas

1. Make Sauce similar to Taco Bell's Quesadilla Sauce

Quesadilla Sauce

Ingredients:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons minced jalapeno slices
2 teaspoons juice from jalapeno slices
3/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
dash salt

Prepare sauce by combining all ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and chill so that flavors develop. Stir occasionally. 

2. Warning this sauce is kinda spicy, but so yummy.

3. Plug in and heat griddle. You can also use a non-stick skillet, iron skillet or quesadilla maker, but I love my griddle. and it was fun. 

4. Began assembling Quesadilla

Ingredients:

Quesadilla Sauce

Tortillas

Fajita Chicken (you can make this yourself or take the easy route like I did and buy it already prepared)

Sharp and Mild Cheddar (Grated) a bowl full

Optional Items: Bell pepper, onion, mushroom, jalapenos, whatever you prefer on yours

5. Place a spoonful of sauce on tortilla and smooth. Pile on chicken and cheese (and optional items if you would like). Place tortilla on griddle (after spraying non-stick spray). Place another spoonful of sauce on another tortilla. Place tortilla on top of the one already prepared. 

6. Let it cook for ab 5 minutes then flip. Let it warm another 5 min. Check the inside. If it is all melted and bubbly then removed from griddle.

I like to serve mine with sour cream. Yum. 

I feel LOST-My Opinions

LOST. I have to blog my opinions and thoughts before I go crazy.

What I took from the finale last night was that the flash sideways was the "purgatory" and Jack's dad was leading them to heaven...However, from everything I am hearing on tv/facebook it is saying that they were dead the whole time? The whole show?

I thought when Jack's dad says everyone dies at sometime, it meant everyone died eventually and once they were all dead they "moved on". I dont know! Ugh!

Anyway, I did like how it ended. I dont know how it could have ended better really. When GT and I got in bed, we discussed it further. He said, "I wish everything didnt have to have such a religious ending." My response was it had nothing to do with religion but reality. Every story is good vs. evil. There is always a good guy and a bad guy. The origin of this is God and the devil. It is the root of all stories.

For me, LOST was about a group of flawed people who learned to love, forgive and ultimately experienced redemption. I think it is the best show ever created and I am sad it is over. I feel like it has been through alot with me. During my years watching lost, graduated college, I got married, moved to a different state, had a baby. Whew.

I am not too concerned with the unanswered questions. I like it. Thats what LOST is. A mystery. It leaves alot to the imagination which I think makes a good show.

I am not really sure its the end end. Maybe I am still in denial. GT thinks they might make a  movie, or mini series. He doesnt think it is over either. They could still do alot with it. They can continue the story line of what happened when Lipidus, Kate, Sawyer, Miles, Claire and Richard got of the island. What happened with Desmond, Hurley and Ben on the island. Rose, Bernard and Vincent?  And maybe the writers left it open for us on purpose. For us to imagine. Or for something in the future.

So, share with me your thoughts, opinions, theories???

Mother's Day Card

I want to tell everyone about my mother. Her name is Leslie Allen. And she is amazing. This post is an attribute to her and partly my dad.

My mom grew up in a small town in Louisiana. She went to a small college and met my dad while working as a waitress at a fish restuarant. One day I will share their love story, if allowed. It is one of my favorite stories to hear and tell.

Anyway, so they get married. And my dad tells her that he feels called into the ministry and they moved to Indiana to go to Bible college. My mom wanted to have children pretty much right away (I have no idea where I got that from :)  )  but God had other plans. They did not get pregnant right away, in fact, doctors told them that they could never get pregnant. 

Long story short-Luke, Leighton and I were born. My parents dedicated their lives to God and their family. My mom stayed home with us until we were all school-aged. When my dad had a day off they did something for us. We went to the park, the beach etc... My parents were REAL. They always let us make our own decisions with letting us know how they felt about it. Their love for God was/is evident is each choice they make. It is not in their heads, it is embedded in their hearts. And that is what they wanted to pass down to us. And they did.

My mom spent alot of time teaching me how to be a mom and a wife. I remember being in middle school and she would tell me things about marriage--and I would sit and think, "Why in the world is she telling me this? I am in the sixth grade." But now, I understand. Through my whole life living with her, she was preparing me for a life away from her. I am so grateful for her. I am so thankful she was self-less in raising us and self-less in being a wife. Her example has given me a lot to live up to. 

This Mother's Day was my first one. My Mom gave me this card:

     

The inside reads... Even before they told me, "It's a girl," I already loved you- and ever since then you have given me...

a lifetime of beautiful new reasons to love you more than I could have ever imagined.

It was very sweet, but the most special part was what my mom wrote inside...

       

"You have passed any expectations I've had for you...watching you with Audrie!"

I will cherish this forever.

The Couch Incident

I heard crying. But I couldn't find out where it was coming from...

Then, I looked behind the couch.

She was stuck. And I couldnt get her out. 
I couldnt fit behind the couch and I couldnt move the couch.

I had to talk her into crawling to me.

She was not happy about it. 

Stand Up, Stand Up!

Audrie stood up from the ground about a week ago. I saw it, but it only happened once so I didnt count it as really official! Well, she has been pulling up, letting go and standing for seconds even a minute or two. Then...Audrie wanted to pull up, let go, then stand while holding a toy. Then...she started to pull up, let go and even take a step, but she would fall after one step.

Well, today...She stood up from the ground up! Of course, we werent at home. We were at my bestie Lynzie's. She got her daughter a new swing set and they are in the process of putting it up, so we put the girls in the tower just to see what they would do....And Audrie stood up! Then she kept standing up!

Today, I bought some 18 month onesies, because her 12 month ones are getting to small. It made me really sad. They looked so big on the hanger. And she is only 9 months old.

 I meant to update her 9 month blog after her 9 month check-up, but I forgot. The nurse weighed her and said she was 18 lbs 5 oz. Then measured her length. I said, "I am not trying to be rude, but a week ago when we came for her ear infection, she was 19 lbs 5 oz. And if she has lost a pound, I need to know that is pretty important." So, the nurse told to sit her up on the scale and sure enough it said  19lb 5 oz. Made me feel better. So then I asked, "what was her length?" and the nurse said 28 1/2 inches. This could not be. She was 28 1/2 inches at her 6 month appt and I assure you my child has gotten a lot longer. Or she would still fit in 9 month onesies and she does not. Either you were wrong at her 6 month appt or wrong at this one, or both. **I, of course, didnt say any of this because I am a weenie and because I already made a deal about her weight** To me, as long as she is healthy, I dont really care her length or weight, but I would like it to be accurate. So...I measured her length myself last week and it was 31 inches. I measured it 4 times to make sure I was getting an accurate number. How could that nurse come up with 28 1/2? Well, of course, Audrie was rolling over and trying to eat the paper, so it wasnt easy for her...but anyway...

Long story short- Audrie at 9 months is 31 inches and 19 1/2 pounds. 57 percentile for weight and off the chart for length. 

Top 2 Thing Before I die..

I have never made a bucket list before...maybe I should...but for now here are the top 2 things I would LOVE and hope to do before I die:

Not get pregnant. Because I have been there. And hope to be there again. I would LOVE to run a crisis pregnancy center. If I cant run it then I would love to work at one full time, even part time. At the center, I would love to teach parenting class, work with adoptions, educate women on childbirth and pregnancy....Oh, I get so excited just talking about it! I want to do this....like tomorrow!!!!!

And the second kinda goes with the first....

Not have a baby. I have done that. And hope to do that again...but I would LOVE to ADOPT! Working in CPS, I know how important it is to adopt children in our own city, state, country. I know alot of people adopt internationally. And there isnt anything wrong with that, but there are so many children here that need adopted! GT and I have discussed this some and we are considering adopting after we have our third child! Or if God changes our hearts, it could be sooner...who knows!

So these are two things really close to my heart. I love children. And I love to educate people. And I love learning/talking about pregnancy and childbirth! :)

         You should play too...click on the button and have fun! 

Mommy Milestones

I stumbled about these mommy milestones from this website. Thought I would share:

Mommy Milestones for a 9 month old

• You put that sippy cup back together with the three-part straw and five other random parts ... all without a degree in engineering. (Turns out those diagrams actually make it more confusing!).
• You are praying that somehow your child will never stop taking naps (OK, maybe when she's 18).
• You can replenish an empty diaper bag in less than five minutes.
• You've let a video of twirling toys and classical music buy you 10 extra minutes of sleep.
• You no longer think the eyelash curler is the greatest invention known to woman—disposable diapers have rocketed to first place.

Funny story this made me think of. A few weeks ago, I was so super tired and Audrie was not. Well, have to be in the living room watching her while she plays for various reasons, and I need to be awake. So, I solved that by putting her in the jumperoo and I put on baby Einstein. I sure did take a 35 minute nap and it was wonderful! I felt kinda bad about it, but man, I needed the sleep!

Blueberry Face

It seems like every time the 3rd of the month rolls around and Audrie is a month older, she starts doing all these new things!

She has probably been able to hold her bottle by herself for 2 months, however, she refused to do it. She wanted me to hold it... and for the past few days, she is doing it by herself.

About a month ago, we bought her a walking toy of craigslist. One of those toys, she can push and walk. Well, we had to pull it and she would walk behind it. Then in the past week she has figured out the process and now she pushes it around without my help.

Audrie is finally get her top two teeth after having her bottom teeth for 2 months!

We are done with pureed baby food. She is now only eating finger foods. I was worried about her not getting enough meat. And my pediatrician told me about meat sticks. Basically, baby vienna sausages without the preservatives and its made by Gerber. They totally gross me out, but she likes them. And she loves blueberries. As seen here:

I lost my camera charger. I feel like I have been missing out on so much since I havent had a camera! I ordered a new one yesterday. So for now...I only have pictures from my Blackberry.

Audrie said "mama" the other day, but she hasnt said it again. :(  So it isnt really "official".

We had a great time at my parents house for mother's day. We went to Ruston on Saturday to take Audrie's 9 month pictures. This is the first photoshoot where she can sit up and stand up holding on to things. I cant wait to see the pictures and share them! 

Audrie is the most amazing mother's day gift I could get! 

Cooking a Whole Chicken!

Monday, Lynzie and I hosted a Premier Jewelry Party. I was in charge of the menu and this is what we had:

Bacon Jalapeno Cream Cheese Things
Potato Boats
Mocha Brownies
Party Pizzas
Fruit Salad

The first 3 can be found on Pioneer Woman's Website. Those Jalapeno things are sooooo good!!!!!!!! And the mocha brownies turned out delicious!

Go buy Pioneer Woman's Cook Book. and Make them. Right now. Yum.

Then last night...I cooked a whole chicken for the first time! And friends...if you do not make this on a regular basis--DO IT!

You might be like me. Kinda scared of chicken. Well, I found this on PW's blog. It was so easy and cheap!

Guess how much a whole chicken cost?

$1.50.  Thats right folks. Can it get any cheaper than that??????

And my sweet husband carves it and give me the kind I like, I am a little spoiled. So without him, I dont know if I would make the chicken. Dark meat really scares me.

Being a 9 Month Old

One day Audrie will ask me, "What was I like as a baby?". And I want to be able to tell her details. I wish I would have done this for all of her months, but its never too late.

This is an exhaustive list of what Audrie is like as a 9 month old:

• You can crawl really fast. Sometimes I get occupied for 30 seconds and before I know it, you are in mommy and daddy's bathroom!
• You love to cruise around on the furniture.
• You can stand on your own for a few seconds but then when you realize what you are doing, you get scared and sit down.
• You clap all the time. Sometimes it is called for and other times it just because you are so happy!
• You have learned to wave, however, you do not do it to say hi or bye.
• You still wont say mama, but you love to say dada.
• You still only have 2 teeth. You have had them for about 2 months now.
• You eat like a 1 year old. You eat mostly finger foods. And you eat alot, all the time. If someone else is eating you cry because you want food, even if you are full!
• Your starting to outgrow some of your 12 month clothes, because you are so tall.
• You love to chase the dogs and pinch their skins. They do not like this and usually run from you.
• You love to watch baby einstein. 
• You have a strange fascination with shoes and plastic bags.
• You enjoy chewing on the dogs toys, and sometimes you do before mommy sees it.
• You can find anything on the ground, even after I have vacuumed. And then you put it in your mouth. And sometimes you throw up, especially if it is grass.
• You like to drink out of a sippy cup, but you refuse to drink formula out of it.
• You wear size 3 diapers. You are starting to wear size 3 shoes, even though they are still a little too big. You wear mostly 12 months clothes. You have started wearing bows without a headband.
• You drink 4 bottle a day with 5 ounces each. Sometimes you dont always finish them because you want to get down a play. You eat 3 meals a day.
• For breakfast you usually eat oatmeal, rice or yogurt. 
• For lunch you eat a veggie with some snacks.
• For dinner you have a meat, veggie and fruit or yogurt again. You REALLY like yogurt.
• You are constantly moving unless you are asleep.
• Mommy or Daddy still rocks you to sleep. Occasionally, we let you cry yourself to sleep in your crib, but its hard for mommy to hear it. 
• Every night your daddy puts on your pj's, gives you a bottle and rocks you to sleep. Right now, it makes you mad because your pretty attached to mommy, but we hope its a phase.
• As I mentioned before, you are VERY attached to mommy. (and she is pretty attached to you too!)
• On Thursday mornings you go to Mommy's Day Out at our church so mommy can go to Bible Study and run errands after with Auntie Lynzie.
• You are super silly. And you love to smile.
• You laugh really loud when mommy or daddy nibbles on your hand or foot.
• You love for mommy to sing to you. Your favorite songs are "Jesus Loves Me" and "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes"
• You take a pacifier to go to sleep, although in the past few weeks you would like it at other times, but mommy is trying to keep you from getting into that habit.
• You don't really care for any specific toys these days. Occassionally, you will play on your learn and groove table, but you would rather just walk around the furniture and get into stuff you arent supposed to have.
• You have recently started dancing. Sometimes you shake your head and sometime you shake your booty. It is super cute. And I hope you have better rhythm than your parents.
• You make alot of strange noises. 
• You say ba-ba, but it doesnt have any meaning- atleast that I know of.
• You enjoy taking bath and splashing the water. Your favorite bath toy is your bath book.
• You go to sleep about 8:30 and wake up anywhere from 6:30 to 8am. Mommy loves it when you sleep until 8, but it does not happen often.
• You usually take 2 naps a day, but somedays you only take 1. 
• You really like to look in mirrors. You smile really big at yourself.
• You give mommy and daddy kisses by opening your mouth really big. 
• You laugh when mommy laughs. Even if it mommy is doing a fake laugh.
• You love it when daddy comes home from work. He makes you smile alot!
• I buy most of your clothes from Target and Old Navy. Occasionally, Wal-Mart, JcPenny and Osh Kosh B'gosh. Very rarely, Dillards, Gymboree and expensive baby boutiques.
• You have alot of bows. No, really. Alot. And you always have a bow in your hair.
• Your mommy and daddy love you SOOOOOOOOO much. Daddy cant wait for you to walk and talk, while mommy misses you being a little baby! 

These 9 months have been amazing. All my life that what I wanted to be- a mom. I never really wanted to be anything else. When my friends came over, I justed wanted to a play house and I was the mom. I played with baby dolls a little too long for my age...and I had everything for a baby--stroller, play pen, car seat etc...And I might have really thought my baby dolls were real.

Anyway, now that I am a mom, it is even better than what I imagined my whole life. And some people think I am crazy, but I cant wait to do it again! I want to have a BIG family! With lots of kiddos and chaos! :)