an evening with the camera and my thoughts.

Hank wanted to have his picture made. So gladly, I obliged.

While I was at it, I took some pictures of the progress on Avery's room. Then I took some pictures of Partner who has not gotten his fair share of face time on the blog. (BTW, we are keeping the name Partner. We got used to it, and found that changing it might damage his self confidence.)

I am not terribly concerned about the actual care I will give little Avery. I think I have a pretty good handle on the feeding, bathing, diapering, rocking, sleeping aspects of raising a child. I am more concerned about discipline that comes later. Let me explain. Lately, I have had some "Come to Jesus" moments about being thrown into the parental circuit.

Incident #1: Last week my friend Sheryl, who has three sons, was telling me her role in alerting her oldest son's school of some off campus lunch issues. Apparently, some of the students who were co-oping would "leave for their job" and bring lunch back to the students who had to stay at school all day. I'm thinking, "So What? They leave and come back then leave again." When I should have been thinking about their safety, and the problems it could cause should one of them get in an accident. Uhh. Must start thinking like an adult.

Incident #2: As Mom and I sat in the nail place getting our pedicures yesterday, there were two young women with a very cute/slightly active four year old little boy. He wasn't really misbehaving, considering he had no toys, and was there for at least and hour and a half. He was just bouncing, like little boys do. One of the women started thumping him in the forehead to get him to sit down and be quiet. Ummm, Thumping him? Seriously? What are you teaching him with that? When the other girl was done with her manicure, he went to sit by her. He was still having trouble sitting still, and the other girl told him she was going to "Kick you in the head," if he didn't shut up. Wow, I know I am not a parent yet, but it was a great lesson in what not to do to discipline a 4 year old. (Jane Ann was about to blow a gasket and start parenting classes right in the middle of Nails by Ly.) And, if you were wondering, the kid did not settle down with his "discipline". In fact, if anything, it made him more disobedient. Lesson learned (for me at least).

"Babymoon" given two thumbs up by TJ and Tracy

Yeah for a relaxing weekend with the dear husband. We rode north and stayed at Gavin and Amber's lake house on Lake Guntersville. It was a beautiful drive and I almost finished my book! We ate dinner at this Bed and Breakfast called Gorham's Bluff, and were practically the only ones there. The food was incredible and the view was even better! We drank sparkling cider, and I almost felt like a grown up again! It was a great little get-away before Baby Avery gets here!

Speaking of the little one, she is the size of a large mango, weighing in at almost one and a half pounds, 11 1/2 inches long, and gaining about an ounce a day. (That is a lot!) Mom and I worked on her room yesterday when TJ and I got home from our trip. We rearranged the furniture that we have, and got rid of the junk that had piled up since we moved in. We put the bedding on the bed, because the mattress made it here over the weekend! It is so cute! Pictures of that tomorrow! I have been agonizing over a changing table for weeks now, and I finally found one that I am in love with! This only proves that a little persistence and some prayer go a long way! Here is the picture. It should be here in a few weeks!

The Fair is in October

When I taught at McInnis, my students were obsessed with Fair day. Reggie would sing the Fair theme song everyday regardless if it was April or October. He would draw the big top of the circus tent, and the happy smiling faces of all McInnis students in front. I embodied Reggie yesterday, as my excitement for the fair overflowed into my work time.
The fair was as wonderful as I remembered, or at least, as wonderful as a carney filled, fried food fest can be. Since I am growing another person, I could not ride any of the rides, but I did manage to waddle onto the Ferris Wheel. I ate a corn dog and a piece of pizza, and even a bite or two of funnel cake. Oh, delicious funnel cake. TJ and I had a caricature drawn of us while Lacey and Justin rode the "Zero Gravity". In the end, the sweet man who drew it turned a blind eye to my rotund body and gave me a very tiny waist and giant boobs. TJ, of course, has a six pack and a Partner's Realty visor on.

I hope she likes it!

The walls have stripes!!! Justin did a great job on them! I am really impressed! My ideas are starting to come to fruition. I am still looking for a comfy rocking chair and a rug, though. Now we need to clean the room out of all the junk that is piling up, and get organized. I really enjoy organizing and being organized, but the thought of doing it is so overwhelming. Once it is done, I will feel like I have accomplished something! Yeah for progress!

TJ & Tracy's One Year Anniversary

Justin is painting Avery's stripes today! I am very excited to check out the progress when I get home today! The chandelier shades are finished, and the bedding should be here tomorrow! It is starting to come together.
Today is our first wedding anniversary, and we are celebrating by taking a trip to a secluded cabin on a lake near Guntersville. Some people call this a "babymoon"(because we are pregnant, and having really nothing to do with our anniversary, although the timing in impeccable). Regardless, I am looking forward to some relaxation and whatever else TJ has planned!
Grandma is in town, and we are working on our Muscadine Jelly! It will be ready tonight. I hope it is as good as I remember. Avery is kicking the crap out me right now, so I will mention her progress. Today is 22 weeks and 4 days. 17 weeks 3 days left till her due date! I am so ready for her to be here! I will post pictures tomorrow!

Massage = Happy Me

I had a pre-natal massage yesterday after work. It was wonderful! I think I will need another one soon! My back feels great, and I slept like a rock last night. Avery liked it too! She kicked and rolled around the whole time I was on the table. Last night before I fell asleep, I felt her move her hands and feet at the same time. It was a very strange sensation. Before it had been mostly on one side or the other, but last night, it was both sides at the same time. It gave me a much better idea of how big she really is. She is one pound and gaining steadily. She is now as long as a spaghetti squash (11 inches).

Avery weighs 1 pound!

I bought a mattress! Yeah for me being decisive! I went with the organic, and I found one on sale!!! It should be here by next week! The bedding probably won't be in til mid-October, but at least I will have a bed and mattress to put them on!
Last night I had my first calf cramp. At four AM I shoot straight up in bed, but I was so sleepy I couldn't remember which way to flex it to make it go away! Finally, I figure it out, and the pain subsides. Strangely, instead of being my normal pissed off mood that I was awakened, I felt a sense of motherhood and pride at the prospect of having a baby. Like the pregnancy was real because I was having calf cramps. Who am I? I feel like I say that at least once a day. I look in the mirror, and my body appears foreign (see belly photos). My belly button is no longer my own. And who exactly is invading my brain and giving me all these crazy emotions that fluctuate so rapidly?
I hope my old self returns when Avery gets here (mind and body, preferably).