Never Alone

Hannah's First Four Months

2012-01-03T16:04:00.000-06:00

Well, Hannah was born... and she had her first 4 months of life. No biggie, right? Hah!

In some ways, it's like she was born yesterday. In other ways, I can't imagine life without her, and she has just been with us forever and ever!

It's absolutely amazing and wonderful to see the little girl she is turning into. She is so much more than a little baby now, even at 4 months old. She's so curious and interested in the world around her now. She's starting to play with things and has discovered her hands and feet. Her smile and laugh can, of course, melt mommy's heart in an instant!

I'm hoping that as she really starts hitting big milestones in 2012, I might be better about documenting them here, so we remember when and where they happened! Of course, I always say that. But, I'm hoping to use some of my better blogging buddies as inspiration

But, I'll leave you with the good stuff... the pictures =)

Welcome to our world Hannah!

2011-09-14T19:34:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm a couple weeks behind, but who can blame me right? I'm typing this with one hand, on my phone, while a sleeping baby girl is lying on my stomach! Hannah was born on September 1 at 11am on the dot! She was 7lbs, 15oz and 20 3/4 inches long. Most importantly, she is perfectly healthy and perfect in her mommy and daddy's eyes!

Our lives have obviously changed dramatically since 9/1. We are slowly but surely starting to find our new normal. So far, I feel pretty lucky as she tends to sleep in 3 or so hour stretches through the night. Of course, I'm still beyond exhausted, but that comes with the territory.

We've had a few setbacks, but we're working through them. Breastfeeding has NOT gone well or as planned. (Sorry if this is TMI...) I've met with the lactation nurse at Hannah's pediatrician's office and left that day very encouraged, but we still have alot of problems and serious pain. Not just uncomfortable, but cry my eyes out, I can't stand it pain. Right now, we are trying to nurse, but I pump as often as I can and we are supplementing with formula. Not what I had planned, but she is being fed and that's what counts!

We had her newborn picture session yesterday and from the two sneak peek pictures we've received, we're very pleased! She's a cute little girl (though I guess I'm a bit biased!)

I'm looking forward to figuring out our new schedule, as most know I love me a schedule. I know it will be constantly changing.

Hopefully, being home with her now, I'll be able to carve our time to keep this updated on our ever changing lives!

32 Weeks (well, almost)

2011-07-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm only 18 weeks behind in posting, right? Not THAT bad... HAH!

Tomorrow marks 32 weeks! It's hard to believe she's almost here! (Yeah, in that 18 weeks, lima bean got a gender and a name!) It's REALLY hard to believe that in 5 weeks, if Hannah decided that it was time to make her appearance, the doctors would let her!

We've got things rolling, in getting ready for her. Her nursery is painted, and all the furniture is here and assembled!


Here's Hannah's crib and changing table


Here's the window, glider and part of the bookcase

Here's the glider and bookcase... not very organized or cute yet! You can also see part of the decal that's going on her wall. It's just the one little bird right now, but there is a whole tree/family of birds. Maybe that'll happen this weekend.


And here's her sweet little blanket that goes with her bedding! I love the little birds and owls. We've actually got all of the bedding now, but I haven't taken pictures yet.

The next big project is cleaning out the closet in her room. It's full of years of "stuff". Since her room was our second guest bedroom/office, the closet in there really collected a lot. I've made some progress, but there are still some serious boxes to be gone through!

Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, we'll have most everything together in her room! I still need to:
1) Clean the closet
2) Put up the decal on the wall
3) Put up the ADORABLE letters that my little sister painted for her! (They are curly-Q kind of letters, and my sister, Cindy, managed to put all of the patterns and birds that are on her bedding, onto the skinny little curly letters... she is ridiculously talented)
4) Find a mirror or fun photo collage frame to put over her changing table.
5) and, you know, all the other stuff that needs to be done.

Maybe I'll have some more, complete pictures soon!

Is today the day?

2011-03-06T13:11:00.000-06:00

Today marks 14 weeks for the relationship between me and little lima bean (though, I think we should upgrade his/her status to little lime, as that's more size appropriate at this point!). I'm knocking on wood, crossing my fingers, and anything else I can think of. I've actually felt "okay" today. I've even skipped a dose of the phenergan. This is a massively huge step for me! I'm hoping today is the magic day where I become semi-quasi-pregnant normal!

Everyone says that by week 14, they are feeling better. So, I'm optimistic. I'm so ready to not base my entire world around being or not being sick. I'm ready to clean the house and cook dinner and fold laundry and start planning for the baby!

I can't believe that we'll find out if the baby is a boy or a girl in just 6 weeks. And, that in 6 weeks, we'll be half way there! That's ridiculous! As long as some of these days have been, feeling so awful, it's still flying by.

So, in light of this hopefully lingering new development of feeling somewhat better... I'm going to get the rest of my winter decorations down (and possibly a lingering small Christmas tree in the guest bedroom). Don't judge me... snowmen are completely acceptable in my world until March (and we're only a few days in!)

BABY!

2011-02-16T20:37:00.000-06:00

Well, it's now social media official (via facebook, twitter and all those crazy things)... Baby Crockett has an estimated arrival date of September 4, 2011!

Now, maybe I can be a good blogging momma and keep this thing up to date with how the pregnancy is progressing and then (yay!) how baby is doing! I've got some good blogging mommy role models on there, that's for sure!

Baby is doing well... we heard the heartbeat today and it was perfect! I'm 11 weeks, 3 days and it's been a ROUGH past 7 weeks. I've had some serious all-day (forget morning) sickness, am on a couple of medicines for it, and have almost made a dash for the hospital (but was thankfully able to avoid that). Hopefully I should turn the magically 2nd Trimester corner very soon!

It's late though, at least for my exhausted, preggo self... so I'm done for now. but there shall be a redesign and frequent updates soon (hopefully... I'm so wishy-washy!)

Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T17:49:00.002-06:00

I love Thanksgiving. and I LOOOOOVE Christmas. So I've been ready for "this time of year", since, well since they took Christmas music off the radio last year!

This year, I'm really having to focus on the "thankful" part though. It's been a rough past month or so. First (at least I think it was first), my step-grandfather passed away. It was tough... he had fallen and broken his hip about a week before he passed away, and then never really pulled through. It was tough on me, but really hard on my little sister. It was a challenge to be the best big sister I could be to reassure her that she would make it through this (she has never lost anyone close to her before).

Then, Clay's mom fell and broke her ankle. In the course of 2 weeks, she fell, she had surgery, came to stay with us for a week, and then had to move apartments (from an upstairs 3 bedroom, to a downstairs 2 bedroom).

Then, Clay's grandmother (his mom's mom) fell and broke HER ankle! Apparently it's contagious that side of the family! Clay said if I break anything, he's giving up, hah! So, needless to say, I've been tip toeing all the time.

So now, Thanksgiving will be cooked at my house, and then driven 2 hours so that our broken ones can have Thanksgiving... I'm a planner and not good with change, so we'll see how it goes.

There have also been a load of other things going on that I won't even go into, but it's added up to a stressful fall! Not to mention the craziness of my beloved Titans!

I have so much to be thankful for though, even when I get a little down. Just have to remind myself of that and have "positive expectations"!

So that's what I'm focusing on for now, trying to really stay positive, though it's so hard to slip into a negative frame of mind. But, it's worth it...I know that I'll be happier and can hopefully make those around me happier too!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone...off to continue the cooking! Gobble til' you wobble!

Apparently, it's fall...

2010-09-23T20:43:00.002-05:00

Well, apparently I forgot to blog during the summer months... that was quick! I honestly sat down to write something more than once, but something or another drug me away. You know, people sometimes ask "What have you been up to?". My answer tends to be "Nothing really." But then, when I think about it, I've been so busy, going, going, going, and I don't even know what I've been doing!

Take the summer for example...

Here's the short version of "What I did on my summer vacation (or lack thereof of vacation)":

First, it flooded. We all know about that. It wasn't very fun. I was in Nashville that weekend... even less fun. I was stranded at my mom's house, but thankfully (even though they live in Bellevue, one of the worst hit areas) they weren't affected for the most part, except electricity being out for about 4-5 days.

June was C-RAZY. At least at work. We had trial - a big one. It was busy. I'm sure something happened then, but I sure don't remember it =).

July: Ah July. It was hot. REAL hot. For the 4th, Clay and I took an impromptu trip up to the Smokey Mountains for the long weekend. It was GREAT. We didn't do much at all. We took a short hike, rode the Sky Lift to the top of Crockett Mountain (obviously!), we ate some AWESOME food, and did some super touristy things that are musts each and everytime you hit the Gatlinburg strip!

Late July brought the California trip. I was weary about it, but it turned out pretty good. My brother, Adam, got married in Napa Valley the last weekend in July. Clay and I flew out on a Thursday afternoon and came back on a Sunday. In case you are thinking about a "quick weekend trip to wine country"... consider extending it. The travel was hell, at least from Memphis (i.e. the WORST place to try to fly from, ever, no questions asked.) Adam and Claire's wedding was perfect for them, Napa and San Fransisco were fun (even though we had a total of about 16 hours to see them all!)

Here are a couple of pics from that trip:

Clay and I at the Pacific Ocean in San Fransisco (we got a foggy day =/)

Wine Country at it's best... from atop Artesa Winery in Napa

The Bride (Claire) and Groom (my brother, Adam) at the rehearsal dinner

My family (minus the happy couple) right before the ceremony

My dad and Clay at the reception... probably one of my favorite pictures ever!

We took a TON of pictures (check facebook for those) and check out Amy Stroup... she played some music at the wedding and is a friend of my new sister-in-law. She's AH-mazing. Her music has been featured on "One Tree Hill", "Brothers and Sisters", a bunch of others and, if you are watching the "Grey's Anatomy" premiere tonight, you'll hear her! Yay Amy!

Now, we're back home, working like crazy and back into the football grove. We are tearing UP I-40 driving to Nashville most weekends for Titans home games (and loving every minute.. GO TITANS GO!). I'm playing some softball with some of my Tipton County girls... apparently, everyone played softball in these parts, and not basketball... it's cool, I'm an awesome DH!

But, that's the summer in a (big fat) nutshell. I missed a few things (some weddings, some trips I'm sure, and a million other things), but hey, I blogged right?

Painting MACHINE

2010-05-25T19:52:00.003-05:00

So, we've lived in our house for about three and a half years. We have been slowly, but surely, painting the house at the rate of about one room per year.

Well, a few weeks ago, actually, I guess it was about a month ago now, before all of the flooding happened, I realized that we were behind schedule! We had passed the "3 year" mark of living in our house, and we had only painted 2 rooms: the master bedroom (a great medium blue color) and the living room (which is, I believe, "Sauteed Mushroom" below the chair rail, and "Ponytail" above).

So, on a Sunday morning after church, while Clay was gone to Corinth for the day, I stopped by Home Depot, picked up a gallon of "Chinese Jade", a new roller brush or two, a new roll of blue painter's tape and got to work!

Here's the color - Behr "Chinese Jade":

Here was my inspiration, my new casual china pattern that I started for myself in the Summer of 2008 with these very cannisters. Since then, I've been the dish queen for every gift giving occasion. At least I'm easy to shop for! (By the way it's "French Garden/Fleurence/Orange" by Villeroy & Boch):

Here are the "before" pictures:
(Ignore my messy kitchen please)

And 5 short hours later... tah-dah!
The finished product! Not the best pictures ever, but you get the picture:

I'm pretty proud of my handy work. Plus, now I'm a year ahead on the painting schedule, since I'm totally counting the breakfast nook that I painted as a 4th room. Pretty good use of a Sunday afternoon, if I do say so myself, since I can usually be found taking a 4 hour nap most Sundays!

We ARE Lambuth

2010-05-19T17:59:00.002-05:00

I really, really, REALLY want Lambuth to be OK... I need Friday to bring good news. I need the powerball numbers to fall in my favor (or someone else who loves Lambuth's favor) tonight...

We ARE Lambuth, and I believe in the power of prayer. It's just too good a place to not exist anymore. Keep the prayers going guys... we need 'em =/

Oceanfront property in Tennessee?

2010-05-01T19:47:00.006-05:00

What a day! I'd like to go ahead and throw out a request, and if anyone has any gopher wood they'd like to throw into my "build an ark" pile, please feel free to contribute... GEEZ!

I drove up to Nashville last night to spend the weekend with my little sister, Cindy, while my mom and step-dad headed to Chattanooga for the weekend. I went to sleep last night thinking "we're going to have some bad weather tomorrow, probably some severe storms, maybe a tornado warning or two". Apparently, I missed the "don't forget to bring your canoe" memo when I was packing!

Clay called me this morning around 7am to tell me about the flooding that had already happened in Brighton. He had been getting calls with the Fire Department all morning, but couldn't get out of the neighborhood because the water was too high!

Here is our neighborhood... not nearly as bad as most in the area, but not good!

Lucy Kelly Road - Clay couldn't get through to get to the fire department to help with all of the calls this morning. He even called the guys who were at the station, and they couldn't get the fire engine through it either.

"Just keep swimming, just keeping swimming..."

Yeah, pretty glad we picked up our prescriptions on Thursday afternoon!

Hope we don't need anything from AutoZone anytime soon...

And Covington now has their very own AquaDock, just like up at Yellow Creek on Pickwick... yikes...

When there was a break in the rain, he finally got there and the Fire Department had flooded (they moved to City Hall for the day), Highway 51 had been shut down, and when he went up to Covington to check on his car that is for sale at the bank, Walgreens, Gateway Tire, AutoZone, O'Reilly's and pretty much everything in North Covington on the East side of the highway was flooded! (Not just in the parking lots, but in the buildings.) Apparently, the National Guard in out and about in T-county with rescue/recovery/etc, but with just under a foot of rain (and 6"-9" more expected in the next 12-24 hours) I guess they are needed! Thankfully, the only damage we've had at our house was a minor leak in the kitchen (my newly painted one kitchen, boo!), which will require a bit of new sheet rock, mudding, painting, etc. But that's nothing in comparison to all of the people who've lost their homes around us today.

Nashville's been pretty crazy too. Cindy and I got out to do some shopping this morning and it wasn't too bad... but after hearing the tornado sirens as we were trying on some things at Anthropologie, we decided to call it a day. Coming back, we started seeing alot of the flooding. By the time we got back to the house, we were hearing the reports of parts of all of the interstates being shut down. It's a MESS!

Anyhow, now, we're just all hunkered down. Cindy and I are hanging out, hoping that my mom and David (my step-dad) make it back from Chattanooga tomorrow, so that I can head back home (assuming I-40 around Waverly is actually open at that point); Clay is trying to catch some rest, so that when the next round of severe weather comes through in the middle of the night and he inevitably gets more calls from the FD, he'll at least be somewhat rested; and I'm honestly considering the ark idea... or at least investing in a good solid funyak!

Home again, Home again

2010-04-18T17:26:00.002-05:00

We've made it back home after another weekend in Nashville. This month is full of Nashville weekends, which is A-OK with me! Of course, every weekend we're up there, it makes it that much harder to head back home. Don't get me wrong, we love our house and enjoy Brighton and T-County, but I guess Nashville will just always be truly "home". We're ready to make that move for sure, as soon as the time is right. (Which we sure hope is sooner rather than later!)

This weekend, we headed up to Middle TN for another Rotary conference for Clay and I went to see a college friend and Phi Mu sister of mine get married. It was really good seeing some of the girls that I haven't seen in quite a while. Plus, I got to get a haircut from Davida (who has been cutting my hair since I was about 7 or 8, and always gets it just right) so I'm a happy camper.

The great weather the past couple of weeks has REALLY gotten me in the mood for summer. I really just can't wait to get out on the water at Pickwick with our friends Jim and Jade. We've had some great times in the past 7-8 years with them out there and I'm sure this year will be no different!

On a different note, I'm a little sad today... a year ago today, we were pulling into site 1506 Cottontail Curl at Fort Wilderness at Disney World right about now... What I would give to be doing the same thing right now. I miss me some Mickey right now

Our little WDW Home

Happy New Year.... yeah, it's April...

2010-04-07T19:39:00.002-05:00

Well, I always claim that I'm going to do the whole blog thing. I'm really going to try this time. I think it would be good for me. And honestly (oddly enough), now that I don't have access to the internet all day everyday at work, I think I might actually be a little more apt to carve out the time to do it! Plus, I'm hoping that maybe a commitment to a decent blog will encourage me to actually take my camera with me when we go, wherever we go and TAKE PICTURES ('cause no one likes a blog with no pictures... it's like facebook with out the "face", seriously?)

So, where to begin? This week has been pretty good so far. We celebrated Clay's 28th birthday yesterday! He's made out pretty well, checking out with a leaf blower from his mom, a table saw from yours truly, a gift card from his grandparents, and some assorted cash gifts as well. There are some other things that still haven't made it to him in the mail, so I won't divulge them yet =).

But, my favorite gift that he has received has to be from my mom... we're taking Clay and my step-dad, who's birthday was on April 1st, to see "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor at the Ryman Auditorium on Saturday. I'm SO pumped! A gift for him, that I get the benefits of too, haha! I grew up listening to NPR, "The News from Lake Wobegon", "Guy Noir: Private Eye" and many others so I think it's gonna be great. Plus, I can never resist an awesome weekend in Nashvegas.

So, hopefully I'll have pictures of the whole crew, me, Clay, my mom, David, and my little sister Cindy, rockin' out downtown Nashville, the Ryman, and whatever eatery we decide to hit up after the show after this weekend!

2009-05-15T15:15:00.000-05:00

I don't blog well... it's a tested and proven fact. Maybe someday soon?

=)

2008-04-30T11:50:00.001-05:00

NEW JOB NEW JOB NEW JOB! What's that? OH YES... I have a NEW JOB! Well, I accepted one and turned in 2 weeks notice today. So, sit down, crack open a nice cold beer, appropriately tempatured(I made that word up) glass of wine, or favorite mixed drink (or just a coke if you prefer) and celebrate my liberation with me! I'm gettin' OUTTA HERE!

"The new job? what is it?" you ask? Ah yes... I will be the Assistant Director for the American Heart Association under the Regional Directors for Jackson, TN & Desoto Co./Oxford, MS. P-U-M-P-E-D PUMPED... yup, that's what I am! I hope I just brightened your day (if nothing else, you know you don't have to listen to any more rants about the current job)!

Here's my advice...

2008-02-13T17:13:00.003-06:00

Here's my advice...

If you are in college, major in something so specialized, that they have to give you a job with your degree. And try to like it too. Don't go with something that "is just so helpful in every industry"... it's a lie. Promise.

Told you so

2008-01-11T12:24:00.000-06:00

I told you I would end up writing a couple of these and then being worthless. But in my defense, it's been a crazy past few months.

First and foremost: I'm on the job hunt... so if anyone knows of anything in the greater Memphis area or would like a copy of my resume to hand out to, oh, let's say everyone you know... just let me know. I've got a job, but it's time to move on, and quickly... I'll leave it at that.

Things I want to say:

- I think it's sad when people who are still in school are so desperate to get out. I completely understand the whole wanting to move on thing, believe me. But there are so many people who are so obsessive over getting out, that they miss what's there. And it's sad. Because they will either a) realize later on what they missed and be sad or b) never realize they missed anything and not be as good of a person as they could've been. It doesn't make me that mad, just sad for them.

- Girls should never make decisions based on what their gay (literally, as in a boy liking boys) best friend thinks he might do. It's dumb and it will ultimately screw a lot of things up for them.

- People who think they are inherently better than other people because they make more money, are worthless human beings. It's pathetic, and I know entirely too many of these type of people. (Hence, frantically searching for a new job).

- My bedroom is blue now... it's a pretty amazing color of blue, with gold/tan-ish curtains and comforter. I'm kind've in love with it... and will be even more in love with it in a couple of days, since we have a ladder now and can finish painting the top two inches up to the ceiling =)

- My puppies are extremely cute. They are little demons as well. It's said that to break up a dog fight, you should pull out their back legs. Don't let anyone tell you this... you'll just get tangled up in the mess... (also, don't introduce new toys right before you leave to go out of town or around feeding time... at least if you are hanging out with my dogs. There will most likely be bloodshed... probably theres, but quite possibly yours too).

- I probably need to get the rest of our Christmas decorations down. I can't play the "it's still the 12 days of Christmas" card anymore. Now, it's just a little bit of laziness. A lot of stuff has been put up, but the tree is definitely still up (albeit, the decorations have been taken off... it's a matter of disassembling the tree and getting it to the attic). In my defense, I was sick all of the week of New Years. It's coming down tonight or tomorrow one though. So that's good.

- My feelings on the Vanderbilt Men's basketball season so far? THRILLED! I'm hoping we bust into the top ten after this week. Went to the UMASS game and am headed to the Georgia game in February. True love for a college team NEVER goes away.

- My birthday is in less than two weeks. So, not much shopping time left. Just ask if you need suggestions. Just kidding! (I mean, unless anyone would like to get me anything... I'm not opposed).

- If it weren't for gmail and gmail chat, I might hurt myself.

And I guess that's all I really have to say. Hopefully I won't suck at this quite as much now. But, I'm not making any promised.

Happiness and Cheer

2007-11-28T16:55:00.000-06:00

Well, maybe not really, but I love "Christmastime is Here"... especially when sung by the Peanuts gang (though Mercy Me has a pretty good version I heard on the radio the other day as well).

It doesn't take my long to start sucking at the whole blog thing. I made it a good 3 entires this time. That's probably a record.

Things have been crazy lately, as always. Lee was sick, but he finally, um, expelled (that is puked up) the rope toy he ate, so he got to feeling a lot better after that. Since then, the puppies like to try and kill each other. It's not pretty, that's for sure.

Let's see, this post needs a direction... a topic if you will. Sports, that's what I'm going to choose right now.

Apparently, there is some code out there that says "if Brittany likes and is rooting for a team, said team shall automatically suck and not do so hot". It's gotten to be pretty bad.

Examples:
Dale Earnhardt, Jr - sucked it up this NASCAR season (though half of it was probably due to his cracked out step-mom giving him torn up engines). It's so bad that now he's gonna be on the same team as Jeff "look at me in my pretty rainbows" Gordon. It's a tough blow to take.

Vanderbilt - one of these days, their football will not suck. I have eternal faith in this (and this faith, unfortunately, may be their eternal downfall). Either way, GO DORES (and next year, lets try not to miss game winning field goals against UT)

Tennessee Titans -Vince Young, I know you are young and still have a lot to learn, but let's pick up the learning pace... I NEED another SuperBowl game in the near future. At least they did win the game I managed to make it to this season (we won't talk about the fact that it was the Falcons)

Nashville Predators - It's early in the season, so hopefully my negative fanship effects will go away as the season progresses. But I was really hoping they could pull it out against the Wild on Saturday night.

Ole Miss - Well, I guess I don't have too much of an effect on this one. They really haven't been doing so hot (and haven't been a real threat) since the 60's. But that's ok... new coach, new season, new era. Hotty Toddy and I'm ready for The Grove 2008!

So there you have it. Maybe one day all the stars will align and my teams will kick some NASCAR, SEC, NHL, NFL/AFC butt again. Or maybe I'll wise up and pick some better teams. But we all know that's not gonna happen. =)

Everything's changing

2007-11-09T16:54:00.000-06:00

I don't blog well. I admit this. I get pumped up about a new blog for a week or two, and then I get lazy again. It's not that I don't think about it... I actually come up with insightful, witty, generally amazing (Hah!) topics to write about on here during my lengthy drives to and from work everyday... but then the work day hits full force and the blogging life is sucked right out of me.

Speaking of work, things are a-changin'... apparently, you should all add the title of "bookkeeper" to my job description. I swear, by the time I leave this workplace, I will be fully equipped to run a business of my own. Since I started here in Feburary of this year, these are the things I've done:

-Agent Assistant/Backup Receptionist
-Advertising & Marketing
-Bookkeeper

I'm thinking about getting my real estate license just so I can actually have had all the jobs possible in the building.

How did this bookkeeping thing come to be? Well, the girl who was in the position (who I shared an office with) got fired and went psycho (well... more accurately, went psycho, got fired, went MORE psycho). I witnessed the direct aftermath of the firing and it was not very pretty... we're talking 5 year old temper tantrum (but with the addition of the f-work, NUMEROUS times)... as in kicking things, yelling, and throwing things. Not so much becoming of a 27 year old with 5 kids (yeah I said it)....

So, here I am, trying to learn how to do a new job with no one but my office manager to teach me (who of course, isn't here today)... why must I be so responsible and dependable that superiors move me up and around (haha)? I mean, it's a good thing in some ways, because I'm getting more and more experience and I'll have a pimped out resume and all... but hell, I just wanna make my pretty little ads and print flyers sometimes!

In other news, one of the puppies, Lee, is sick. We're pretty sure he ate a rope toy or a blanket... those dogs are awfully cute, but I'm pretty convinced, not the smartest guys ever. I think he's on the road to recovery though as he's drinking water and even ate a few "cheerios" (i.e. some dog food that actually bears a striking resemblence to one of my favorite breakfast foods), so keep good thoughts going his way!

Yay for the weekend and get pumped... Thanksgiving is in less than two weeks... I LOVE the holidays!

What I learned in Arkansas

2007-10-26T09:02:00.000-05:00

Clay and I went to Arkansas this past weekend. Well, long weekend really: Sat. 10/20 - Wed. 10/24. It was pretty wonderful, if for nothing else but that we got the heck outta town for a few days. We headed up to/over to/down to (whatever you wanna call it) Hot Springs, Arkansas, which I had never been to. I learned quite a few things on this trip, but here are some highlights (and pay attention, some of them could be pretty useful if you're ever in the area!).

1) If you go to Crater of Diamonds State Park, you probably won't find any diamonds. But, apparently the way to do it is to go every day... and take lots of lawn chairs and umbrellas and radios, and bring your own buckets, boots, shovels and screens. Apparently consistency is key. Because half of the people there, I'm pretty sure live in that county and hunt for these diamonds as a source of income.

2) Murfreesboro is about 25-30 miles away from Nashville... this holds true for Mufreesboro & Nashville, Tennessee as well as Murfreesboro & Nashville, Arkansas. I enjoy that fact, just because it's kind've odd.

3) We've always heard that the closer you get to Bentonville, Arkansas, the better the Wal-Marts are. This obviously makes some sense, but until this past weekend, I had NO idea how true it was. They had men's suits, entire clothing lines for golf wear (that was pretty nice), and (probably the most important thing) an AMAZING beer selection. You don't usually think of Wal-Mart and beer together, but they had it going on. Usually, the only thing you'll get at Wally World is your standard Bud, Bud Light, Miller, Coors, Natty Light, and if you're lucky a variety (but never seasonal) of Sam Adams. This one, had Pumpkin Harvest (the new seasonal variety of Blue Moon), and at least 2 varieties of Fat Tire (which you can hardly find in Memphis at all). It was kind've amazing. Plus, a decent wine selection. It doesn't take much to amuse me... quite obviously. But, I wish the Covington Wal-Mart had that kind've beer selection. Sure would be nice...

4) Corn Dog 7.... there is one at the Hot Springs mall. The last time I had one of those, was probably in the late 80's at the Rivergate Mall in Goodlettsville. How I missed that fresh squeezed lemonade.

5) and last... Steve & Barry's. A store I had never heard of. Apparently, they started up North doing mostly collegiate apparel, but now they have just about everything clothing wise. I might start driving wherever I need to drive just to go to this store. The prices were unbelieveable. I bought a knee length black pea coat... for $14.95. I got 3 pairs of dress pants and Clay got 2 pair of jeans and a pair of khakis for $7.50 a piece. 3 sweaters and 3 button down shirts all for about $7 a piece. And a pretty awesome black hooded sweatshirt with stictched gold vanderbilt across it for $8. It was heaven on earth for the girl who hates spending money on clothes. There's one in Jonesboro, Arkansas (closest one to Memphis) and one in Nashville (Hickory Hollow Mall I think) and Knoxville. They are all over, just not in this are too much yet. Either way, I was excited and will probably make the drive to one of them next season just to shop.

And that's it I suppose. I mean, we learned all about the bath houses and stuff at the National Park too, rode a Duck, played some putt-putt at Pirate's Cove, took traditional baths and had massages as the Buckstaff and took lots of pictures too, but who wants to know about that when we can talk Wal-Mart beer and cheap (but nicely made!) clothing?

Christmas Music

2007-10-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

"Christmas music? But it's only mid-October!" Yeah, I know. But, I have an unusual love of Christmas music. I have no shame that I often listen to the stuff all year round. I just can't help myself!

The best part about it... it's always uplifting. I mean, can you seriously tell me that you can listing to a Christmas CD and not be in a better mood? It's my first line of defense for a bad day at work or somewhere else. I just pop in an Amy Grant Christmas CD, Manhiem Steamroller or the soundtrack to "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and BAM! instant happiness. It's a wonderful little trick actually. Though, I have to remember to keep my windows rolled up... because, as much as I love it, it is a little odd to see some girl jammin' out to stuff about sleigh bells and snowflakes and roasting fires when it's, oh, say 105 degrees outside. But the outside temp. never stops me... that's why we have A/C in our cars. So that I can make it frosty inside, and forget all of my worries in a winter wonderland (ok, sorry... that was really bad... I apologize for that one).

So here are my favorites, when it comes to Christmas music. You should probably keep them on hand for when the mood strikes (although, they are probably all available in the holiday section of your local Wal-Mart, which obvioiusly has ALL christmas decorations displayed prominently since it's after Labor Day).

- "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (soundtrack)
- Christmastime is Here, Linus and Lucy and Hark, The Herald Angels Sing... seriously, what is Christmas (or Christmas music!) without these???

- Amy Grant Christmas CD's
- Um, ALL OF THEM. I'm a little obsessive, but to my defense, I have been since I was about 4. I love them all... from the original with "Tennessee Christmas", "Sleigh Ride" and "Emmanuel" to 'Home for Christmas' with "Breath of Heaven - Mary's Song", "The Christmas Song", and "Grown Up Christmas List", to 'A Christmas to Remember' with "A Christmas to Remember" and one of my favorites on Chris Rice's CD "Welcome to our World". LOVE IT... every bit of it!

-Manheim Steamroller
- Just buy them all... it's glorious

and who can leave out the Mariah Carey Christmas album.... oh the days of Lambuth (we weren't "Christmas-10" apartment for nothing).

So that's my story on Christmas music. Get excited for it... it's coming! But, don't forget all of the wonderful holidays between now and then. I mean, if it has a Charlie Brown special for the holiday, it should NEVER be forgotten! (and on that note, if anyone needs to borrow "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", "Happy Thanksgiving Charlie Brown", "A Charlie Brown Christmas" or "It's the Easter Beagle Charlie Brown"... just hit me up. You know I have them.)

Numero Uno

2007-10-10T09:20:00.000-05:00

Well, I have a livejournal. I used to have a Xanga. Before that, I'm pretty sure I had some other kind of online journal. But, I feel kind've left out without being in the blogger world. Both of my brothers have them, a number of friends have them... so here I am. Not that I have anything of any real importance to say, generally speaking, but here I am nonetheless. My hope is to make this have a bit more substance than the previously mentioned sites. But, we'll see how that goes...

I guess I'll start with the blog title, as I feel that is almost a requirement. "Never Alone"... in my context, taken from a BarlowGirl song. It's something that I struggle with sometimes. It's sometimes really hard to remember that we are never alone. In the literal sense, it's not very often that we are physically alone. There is usually someone else around (whether we know them, like them, or want them to be there). But more so, God never leaves us alone. Even when things really suck, and we might feel like He's gone... He's not. We might forget it, but He's not. He's always there and we are never alone.

Also, in the a little bit less religious sense, I have to remind myself that I'm never alone because of my friends and family. Sometimes I might feel left out or left behind, but it doesn't mean that I'm on my own. I feel so selfish sometimes feeling like I'm alone, because I have so much: a wonderful, loving husband, a beautiful family full of many parents, brothers & sisters, grandparents, aunts & uncles & cousins, countless friends and two sweet little (ok not so little) puppies who are PUMPED everytime I come out the door! I'm blessed, and I've gotta do a better job remembering that.

I suppose that's enough for now. Work probably wouldn't be thrilled that this is how I've chosen to spend my Wednesday morning at work. Oh well! =)