The Boy Who Cried Wolf

moving day.
After almost two months of living with my Grandparents we are finally moving into our new home!! There is still work that needs to be done but today I am happy to be unpacking-- filling up the cupboards in our new kitchen, positioning furniture the way I've planned it in my mind, and convincing Brady that the bed does indeed need to go in the center of the wall in our room instead of up against the wall. Silly boy wants to have one us crawl over the other one to get out of bed.

We did that before. In the apartment. It was short lived and after I finally convinced him to let me position the bed differently to his surprise he actually like it better. I have no doubt that he'll come around--eventually-- this time too.

6 month old little monster. 
We bought her a jumpy thingy because she likes to stand up and bounce around while you hold onto her hands. We figured she'd love it but she's still trying to figure it out. We put her in it and after five minutes she starts to fuss because she's done.

She's going through this awesome stage where she likes to have my attention every second of the day. If I'm not looking at her she gets upset. Like--woah. We had a diva. She fake chokes now because she knows that I immediately drop whatever I'm doing and rush to her side. Smart, funny, little diva.

The other day I made myself a sandwich for lunch and I had just sat down on the couch to enjoy said sandwich when Avey went into this coughing, choking, fit. At first I thought she was joking but then she didn't stop when I looked at her so I freaked out. Dropped my sandwich on the ground and then stepped on it while rushing to her aid-- ready to do some serious pounding on her back to get whatever was stuck in her throat out.

When I got next to her on the floor she started to laugh because Momma is a funny fool and Avey is a good little prankster. I don't know where she learned how to fake choke herself but she did and now she does it once or twice a day. I tried to tell her the story about the boy that cried wolf but I don't think her comprehension skills are quite up to par yet. Sister drives me crazy.

"I coulda been a contender."

She's also become a little mimic. For months I've been placing my hand over my mouth while I say "awahwahwahwahwah". Like the Indians. Then if she makes noise I move my hand over her mouth too. Like I said we've been working at this for months and the other day while we were sitting on the couch, in the garage, in the duplex she placed her hand over her own mouth and let out a mighty Indian holler.

She likes to use the back of her hand for her Indian cry--so funny!

I grabbed my camera and hit record while we went back and forth--speaking Indian to each other. It was AWESOME. 

Also awesome? The way she started crawling two nights ago when everyone walked out of the room and it was just us two. She got up on all fours and crawled... twice. I woke my Grandparents up in hopes that she would do it again but she didn't. Last night after several failed attempts at trying to get her to crawl toward me I placed the TV remote at my feet (because Sister loves the things she's not allowed to have). Wouldn't ya know it? Girlfriend got up on all fours and crawled right over to that TV remote. I called for Brady and he was finally able to see it too. The look on his face was priceless. Big, huge, grin-- mouth wide open, he was radiating proud papa.

duck face. 
Avey started making this sniffy duck face shortly after we moved in with my Grandparents. It's ridiculous how funny it is.

toys.
Avey likes the toy for the tag. If the toy doesn't have a tag she isn't interested.

wet t-shirt contest.
June 12, 2012
My Grandparents are having some work done in one of the rooms of their house, needless to say, there has been a handy man walking around for the better part of the morning. Avey and I are here by ourselves so I took it upon myself to play hostess and offer the man a cold, refreshing, beverage. He laughed and said he was fine drinking out of the hose. I insisted that he come inside and have something cold and filtered.

While he was drinking and telling me some silly story Avey started to fuss in the other room as I prepared lunch. When I sat down on the floor with Avey in the living room I realized that the front of my shirt was wet and thought to myself, "Hmm I must have spilt some water."

Wrong. 


Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. 


Not water. Breast milk.

My handy dandy little milk pad was not positioned correctly and my milk let down-- in front of the handyman. I just thought I should share how utterly humiliated I am and how it sucks to be so leaky all of the time. Nursing is awesome, it saves a bundle, and it is much more convenient than formula. The pros outweigh the cons by far but sometimes I think back to a simpler time where my boobs were my own (+Brady's). One day...

Kisses.

Caught

It is not abnormal to find the four of us (My Grandparents, Brady, and I) sitting around the kitchen after a day of gardening, sewing, mommy-ing, and work--telling stories, eating dinner, and making jokes. Shortly after Brady and I moved in during one of these common gatherings in the kitchen my Grandma grabbed our attention with a muttered "oh no."

She had been cleaning and refilling the glass bowl of water marbles they'd bought while on vacation. She pulled out a broken marble. "I wonder how that happened..."

"Maybe somebody smushed it?"

All eyes were on me. I can't keep a secret to save my life "I thought that they'd be smushy. But they're not. I smushed it in half."

"You smushed it in half and then you hid it underneath all the others so no one would find it?" Brady asked with a smile.

I nodded. Guilty.

"She's like a little kid."

It's true. Growing up with six other kids to blame stuff on has not done me well. Brady always finds me out. There are tell tale signs--

1. I blame it on Eric. Brady's old roommate. 
2. I blame it on Avey. Been blamin her since I was pregnant.
3. I blame it on curiosity.
4. I cry.

But I don't lie.

To his credit he never gets mad. He always thinks I'm kinda funny.

Honest to God I don't know why I do the things I do. I could get real deep and introspective with this post but I wont because the truth is though 99.9% of the time I don't think things through (like smushing none smushable water marbles) it always eventually leads to a good laugh and a good razz.

Like the time when I was 16, days after we moved to Texas, I burst into my Aunts house and held my family captive while I told them how I saw a dead penguin on the side of the road. Still to this day anytime anyone in my family drives past a skunk on the road they text, or call-- "I just passed a Texas Penguin."

When someone eats all the ice cream I blame Avey. When something gets broken I hide it. I probably need to take a trip to the Dr. Phil Show because there is probably something very wrong with me. Something that probably has to do with my spider phobia and the way that bunnies creep me out. I'm not going to dwell today.

Today I have to figure out how to convince Brady to fix the coaster that I accidentally broke when I picked up my glass to take a drink. The glass coaster clung and then dropped to the concrete floor. Right now it's hiding in a gift bag on my dresser.

Dear Dr. Phil,

.....

Sew Happy

A month and a half ago we moved in with my Grandparents. My Grandmother is a seamstress. She owns her own business. She does custom embroidery, alterations, and screen printing. Her skills far exceed the above mentioned areas. She has made wedding dresses, wedding cakes, dozens of quilts, pants, painted houses, built walls-- you get the picture. I knew when we moved in with my grandparents that I was going to have a unique opportunity--that if I asked-- my Grandma would delight in showing me how to make whatever I wished.

When I was pregnant with Avey I spent a couple days with my Grandma learning how to make hooded towels. We had such a great time and it was such a fond memory that I was excited to learn more. My Grandma is a patient teacher she is someone who will give help when needed without being overbearing.

A couple months ago I found a neat idea on pinterest and I knew that in order to pull it off I would need my Grandmas help. The week after we moved in I asked my Grandma if she would teach my how to make a pillow case and more importantly I wanted to know how to use her BIG embroidery machine. She was excited that I was interested in something that she loves so much. She jumped at the chance and we were off and running in no time.

I learned how to use her embroidery program and I learned how to use her machine. I started to help fill orders.

Inspired by her enthusiasm and spurred on by a project she had going I decided I wanted to learn how to make a quilt so she took me to a quilt shop she loves. I was enthralled and severely overwhelmed by it all. I wondered around the shop scrutinizing and touching all the different fabrics. Listening to much more experienced women talk about all the different projects they had going on and all I could think was--


"I can do this."


"I can make beautiful, extravagant things that people ohhh and ahhh over."


"I can adopt this skill that would enrich the lives of my family and those around me."


I stopped dead when I spotted a fabric with the preamble to the constitution printed on it. I quickly gathered stripes, stars, and things that reminded me of America-- an idea quickly forming. For those of you who have never been to my house (before or after I got married) my entire living room (before I got married it was my bedroom) has an Americana theme. Brady-- patriot that he is-- is a fan of my decor choice. With fathers day around the corner I thought that I'd surprise him with a new quilt for the family room. He loves our country and our constitution-- I knew that he'd think it was really cool.

pieced together-unfinished. sans both borders.

Obviously that is not going to be his only fathers day gift. I've got something manly hidden away.

That was a couple weeks ago.

I am now working on my second quilt-- Brady knows about and has seen the Americana quilt. I was sewing when he got home from work and he found me out. He really likes it. I am blessed beyond compare to have a Grandma who has diligently worked at perfecting a skill that used to be a hobby and is now a thriving business. Blessed that she worked so hard and is wanting and able to pass what she's learned along to me.

All that to say-- on Sunday my soon-to-be sister-in-law had her Bridal Shower. I had thought about saving the throw pillow I had made for the wedding but I couldn't wait. I eagerly waited while she opened up gift after gift--getting closer to mine. The smile on her face did not disappoint.

the pillow says, "where he and she became we"

update.
Sunday Brady finally finished the floor in the duplex which means we can move in in 7 days. The only thing we are waiting on now if for the epoxy to cure, an air duct cleaning, and a professional deep clean.

So our move in date is set for June 16! Hallelujah!

I'm having mixed emotions. I am excited to move in but sad to see our time with my grandparents come to a close.

Our future is bright, my heart is full.

Wined and Dined

co-sleeping.
There are times when I can't wait to get all settled in our new house just so that I can get a decent nights sleep again. One without Avey pulling my hair or pushing her tiny feet into my back. Then there are times like tonight where all three of us sleep--touching in some way or another. Avey tucked away in the crook of my arm, holding Brady's hand. Brady and I find each other at the foot of the bed beneath the covers-- ankles interlocked with shins and feet and toes-- tangled until I don't know where he begins and I end.

I woke up at 5am and I knew that I had finally received my definite answer to my pregnancy inquiries. After asking myself how I felt about it a half dozen times I realized that I'm okay-- it was for the best-- it wasn't meant to be right now. There are these times when I am so glad that we co-sleep because at 5am this morning I really didn't want to be alone and I needed a reminder that one baby is plenty for now--that one baby is perfect right now.

I got back under the covers. I took Avey in my arms-- she snuggled into my body and slept on. I tangled my feet in Brady's legs--he gave me a light little leg rub in his sleep. Put back together again-- I'm glad that we have a family bed. I know it's what is right for us right now. Soon she will be in her own crib, in her own room, but not tonight. Tonight she sleeps in my arms, while she holds Brady's hand, and provides comfort for a momma who needs it.

bunco. 
My Grandma has a bunco group and when they're short a lady she invites me to play. Well last month they were short two so Brady played. Fun was had by all.

Grandpa watched Avey. He was a good sport about it. It was during her fussy time so he took her on a couple walks outside around his garden. Finally she crashed in the sewing room.

alabama. 
There are some friends you have for life and friends that you have for now-- all of them serve their purpose--all of them are important. But sometimes you meet someone who is so much like you in so many ways that even distance and time can't tarnish the bond.

I was overjoyed to get to spend sometime with my friend Tana--one of the few who befriended with no questions asked when I moved to Texas. She loves me and she digs my kid. She's a keeper.

Avey was a champ at the airport and all the way home she'd talk so loud she'd send herself into a coughing fit. I tried to recorded it while I drove 70 mph down the tollway but it just wasn't happening.

graduation. 
It's strange when everyone starts growing up. There are moments when I'm sitting alone where I have to remind myself that I'm a grown up-- I have a kid-- and a husband... and then I start to wonder when that happened. What happened to childhood? Riding bikes and stopping at trees--pretending like they were gas pumps where you'd stop to fill up with your moms expired credit card that she let you keep in your Pocahontas wallet.

When did this girl go from binky sucking, diaper wearing, little sister. To 18 year old, taller than me, graduate?

One day you're playing house and the next day you're living it. Heck she's kissing boys and I have a 6 month old. Life drug on forever when I was a kid and now it's sprinted past me and I'm trying my best to just keep up with it all.



My parents were right-- about almost everything.

Bethany and our cousin Gabriel were born one day apart in the same hospital. Our families have always been very close and it was neat to see them graduate from the same High School. We are so proud of them both.

visiting. 
Brady's parents came out to Dallas to drop his sister at the airport last weekend. We were able to meet up with them along the road to say hello. Brady's sister Aubrie is spending a few months this summer in Middle Asia-- teaching English.

It's her birthday today!

Wishing you the best Aubrie in all your travels on this very special day. We miss you and our thoughts are with you often. Happy 23rd birthday!

Brady's parents spent Memorial Day weekend with us at my Grandparents house. It was a nice little visit-- we were excited to show off Avey and all the ways she's grown.

Brady's mom and sister Aubrie.

sweet little darling loves to wave.

His parents were awesome-- Brady and his Dad slaved away prepping the concrete for stain at the duplex. His mom literally fanned me for an hour while I nursed Avey in the garage in hundred degree heat. She is always giving, kind, and eager to help. It was a lovely weekend.

winery. 
Remember that winery I mentioned? While Brady's parents were here we decided to go for a tasting. I had never been to a wine tasting before so it was an exciting new treat. The owners were so welcoming and kind. Very patient with our childlike questioning.

We spent a couple hours learning about the process of making wine and the ins and outs of the business. By the end of it all I was ready to jump in with them.

"Sometimes you have to watch someone else love something before you can love it yourself. It's as if they're showing you the way." *Donald Miller

They didn't just grow grapes. They had a garden with strawberries, bell peppers, wheat, flowers, beans-- you name it!

nap time.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!