Before I was a mom...

I am feeling a little sentimental today...I blame it on the hormones. I found this poem, and it made me cry (insert Michael saying "What's new?!"). I thought it was beautiful, and perfect, and everything I have felt over the past (almost) 2 years. This pretty much sums up mommyhood for me....

"Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys

or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not

my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind

and my thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child

so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night

watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because

I didn't want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces

when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small

could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of

having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel

to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond

between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small

could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night

every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth,

the joy,

the love,

the heartache, the wonderment

or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,

before I was a Mom."

Unknown Author

I love you, sweet Caleb!

Catching Up

So it has been a long time since I last posted. I could list a million excuses, but really it all boils down to school starting back and just being super busy with that.

Last weekend I went to Philadelphia for my cousin's wedding. It was great fun, but it was the longest I have ever been away from Caleb. I did not like that. Here are some pics from the weekend...

This is my cousin, Ryan (one of the groom's brother), and his daughter, Fiona. She is 2 and was the flower girl. She did a great job. He is trying to coax her down the aisle. :)


Haley and Chad saying their vows.


My family that made the trip...


The bride and groom



Other than the wedding and school, we do have some other news to share...


Yup, we are pregnant! Caleb is going to be a big brother around April 5, 2011. I am about 11 1/2 weeks along, and we couldn't be more thrilled about the newest addition to our family.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

Well, it is just about official...summer break is over. Usually I am kinda excited about going back to school. It is something about the new school supplies, meeting my new kiddos, and seeing work friends that brings some excitement to my life. Well, this year is totally different. I am DREADING going back to work, and dreading EVEN MORE of leaving Caleb. So sad. We have had a wonderful summer together. We have spent mornings together, done a Little Gym class, been to the pool dozens of times, been to the beach twice, and really spent some amazing mommy/Caleb time. I am really going to miss that little man!!!

This past weekend our family headed down to Jekyll Island for my family reunion. We left Wednesday and stayed with Michael's sister in Statesboro. This is where Michael and I went to school, and let me tell you - I didn't hardly recognize the place! It has changed so much in just the 5 years since I left. Anyway, on Thursday we headed down to the island to meet up with my family. Now, if you know me, you know that I L-O-V-E my family and my family reunions, and this year was one of the best! There were 82 of there total, and there was never a dull moment. Caleb loved playing with all of his cousins, and Michael and I enjoyed watching him have so much fun! Here are a few pics from the weekend...

Caleb FINALLY loves the ocean and sand!!!

Caleb played baseball in the ocean with Daddy and Grandpa!
Caleb also played baseball with some of his cousins and their Daddies.
Caleb and his cousin, Alice. They are 2 days apart!
Since August, 2008 there have been 11 babies born in my family. Here are almost all of them. The last baby was born just 6 weeks ago!!

Braves Game

**This is the 2nd post today. Please make sure you read the wedding post as well!**

For the wedding, Michael's cousin Charley and his fiance, Erin, came and stayed with us! They are SO much fun and Caleb LOVES, kinda on the obsession side of love, Erin! We can't wait to celebrate their wedding day in Kentucky in January!!!!! On Sunday after the wedding we decided to go the the Braves game. This was Caleb's first big Braves games (he has been to several Gwinnett Braves games), so we were very excited!

We got there with plenty of time. Remember: I am married to the man who believes you should be at least 30 minutes early to everything, if not more. Charley is no better. Needless to say, we were WAY early! Anyway, we took advantage of the time and took some pictures outside of the stadium.

And then we took some more pictures once we got into the stadium...

Caleb was not too sure of Chopper!

Don't you worry...we were there SO early that we got to see the grounds crew cover the field for the RAIN DELAY!!!!!!!!!! UGH!! It poured. It lightening. It thundered. All of these things combined with a VERY excited 21 month old baby, who should have been napping, was not a great deal of fun!
Finally the game started, and Caleb was serious about the beisball (that's how he says it) and his tomahawk Charley bought him...

Here is Charley and Erin!

So, we watched about 2 innings, and Caleb had had enough. So Caleb and mommy headed down to Toon Town while the others watched a few more innings. All in all it was a fun, memorable first Braves game for Mr. Man!

the bearer of the rings...

On Saturday, July 17, 2010, Michael's sister, Mary Evelyn, got married. When she got engaged she asked if Caleb would be the ring bearer, and of course we said yes! All I could think about was this precious little boy, in his white knee high socks, stealing the show! Well, as the wedding got closer and closer, I got more and more nervous. I wasn't sleeping or eating, and all I could think about was Caleb ruining her day. :) The wedding was outside, and not to mention it was at 7PM! All of the odds were that he was going to A) run and play in the flowers or B) have a complete meltdown. Michael's cousins daughter, Sarah, was the flower girl, and all we could hope is that she would walk down the aisle and Caleb would follow her. Michael and I were also both in the wedding, and I am not ashamed to say that we bribed him, like a lot. Throughout the evening, before the wedding, and during pictures, I would feel safe to say Caleb ate 1/2 a bag of a king sized M&M's, got a new Thomas train and other things that we deemed appropriate at the time. But, in the end, all of my worrying and our bribing was not needed because Caleb and Sarah were PERFECT (and totally precious, I might add!!!)!!!!! Here are some pics. I will say that I have lifted these pictures from other people. I took not 1 picture all day Saturday. Running after a little boy, trying to keep him clean is a job in itself. :)

At the rehearsal Friday night...

Caleb and Sarah practicing...

They stopped for a few pictures on the bridge...they LOVED this bridge!
cousin love...
Now on to the BIG DAY!

Caleb and Sarah in the brides room before their "walk"
Michael and his brother, Grant, walking their mom



walking down the L-O-N-G aisle. Sarah had dropped all of her petals before they hit the bridge!
Caleb walking...
Mary Evelyn and her dad
The bridesmaids
The Grant/Rees Family
(Michael's mom's family)


The Anderson Family being introduced at the reception
Mary Evelyn and Shawn King

Congrats Mr. and Mrs. King!!!

Mommy's Birthday Week...

If you know me well, you know that I love birthdays, and even more than birthdays, I LOVE to celebrate them. My birthday is no exception!!! This past Wednesday, July 7th, I turned 28. I like to celebrate my birthday starting with the rest of the US on the 4th of July, and go for a good week. :) My "week" was WONDERFUL, filled with my favorite things: family, friends, cookie cake, and relaxation (well, as much as you can with a very busy almost 2 year old!!). This year, along with my birthday, I was able to celebrate another accomplishment that I have been working towards: my Master's degree!!! As of June 30, 2010 I am a graduate.

Mom and Dad sent me a cookie bouquet to celebrate this milestone! Actually, the card read "Love, Mom and Dan," so dad is now Dan to any of you who see him!!! :) ha ha

The birthday week continued with a pool trip to Woodstock to see my sister and Savannah with Kim and Davis (Sara was at sleep away camp). We had a great time!

Caleb is such a little fish!!! He loves his float, and wants NO ONE to touch him while he is "swinnin'"

Savannah, Caleb and DavisCaleb and Davis drying off...I love this picture!!!

We continued our week with pool trips with friends, seeing old friends, and going to dinner on my birthday with my family. I will spare you the video of me on the horse saddle at the restaurant.
I share my birthday week with one of my favorite sets of twins, Adian and Addison Callahan. They are the twins of some of our friends, and they are 3 months older than Caleb. They had a Yo Gabba Gabba party complete with DJ Lance Rock. Caleb was not too sure of "Rock," as he called him, but had to keep close tabs on him the entire time. This is as close as he would get to DJ Lance Rock.
My birthday week concluded with an AMAZING trip to the Atlanta Zoo with Grandmommy, Grandpa, Aunt Lisi, Uncle Russ, and Savannah. Caleb had a BLAST!!!! And so did Mommy and Daddy! Thanks, Grandmommy and Grandpa for letting us use your passes!

As soon as we got inside the zoo Caleb was amazed with the flamingo's, or birds. Whatever.
Caleb and Savannah AKA: Meerkats :)
Our family and our friend, Mr. Giraffe :)
Mommy, Caleb, Aunt Lisi, Savannah and Willie B.
This baby and my baby, are the same age. The furry baby is just slightly bigger than my baby. :)
Caleb LOVED the petting zoo. Mommy thought it was stinky.
It is safe to say there will be many more visits to the zoo in our future. We had a GREAT TIME!!
Please notice Caleb's lion overalls. It is all about the outfit, ya know! ;)

...God Bless the USA...

We had a fun 4th of July. We went to church, the pool and then, of course, to see fireworks. :) We weren't sure what Caleb would think of the fireworks. Last year he was OK with them, and I use the term, OK, loosely. This year was no different. He was on top of our car with our nephew, Davis, (I know, I know, Mother of the Year), and when the fireworks started he freaked out, grabbed on to Davis and said he wanted to go home. Actually, he was pulling any excuse to leave (ni-ni (aka: bed), Barnay (aka: Barney), ki cat (Buddy the cat), etc.). Michael got him down and held him. He was OK if one of us was holding him, and he could get a death grip on our shirt. Here are a few pics from our birthday party for America!

Caleb and Mommy before church
Caleb and Daddy before church

Michael and Davis waiting on the fireworks

Mommy's Little Firecracker

Me and my favorite nephew...ok...he's my only nephew, but I love him!
The photo for my Mother of the Year nomination :)

The 4th of July always makes me remember what I am truly thankful for. I am thankful for my county, and all of the men and women who have fought to give us the freedoms that we have. I am thankful for my friends. I have a wonderful group of friends who I love dearly.I am thankful for my in-laws who love me like their own. I I am thankful for my brother and sister, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, and my beautiful nieces and nephew. I am thankful that I am at the point in my life where they are all my friends, and not just people who have to be nice to me. :) am thankful for my mom and dad. I love them more than words can do justice. I am thankful for my husband, and the family we have created. I am thankful for all of the memories we have made, and those that have yet to be made. I am thankful he loves me when I am not that lovable. He is my number one fan, and my best critic. Most of all, I am thankful for Caleb and the beautiful little boy he is becoming. He has a heart of gold, and a personality that radiates happiness. I am thankful for pictures like this one that truly capture the love I have for this
little person...