30 Random Facts About Me

So I got this idea from Facebook and thought I would add it to my blog. Except on Facebook, it was only 25 facts, however, I wanted to add more.

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 30 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 5 people to be tagged.

1. I had a crush on Jamie for about 6 months or so before we actually met... in fact, I remember joking with a friend that I was going to randomly call him and invite him to go to a Phi Mu Formal with me. Turns out, he had a crush on me to. Little did we know... :)

2. I've learned SO MUCH since Noah's birth... I'm ALOT stronger than I've ever given myself credit for, I've learned patience, I've learned not to take simple things for granted, and most importantly, I've realized that's God's hand is truly in every situation

3. I over analyze everything and it drives Jamie crazy... he's always saying "why do you care, it's not a big deal!"

4. I love music, but my guilty pleasure is rap/hip-hop... the beats get me so pumped, plus they remind me of college and high school. a few fav's are Tu Pac, Eminem, Timbaland, 50 Cent, Snoop, Dr. Dre. I beep out the cuss words though, or cut the volume down

5. I love learning the lyrics to songs and (like Chenequa) as a kid used to rewind tapes over and over until I had them memorized. Now I just google the lyrics and learn them that way.

6. However, I've been known to mess the lyrics up... for example, I thought the song Regulators said, "And if yo A$$ is a buzz cut, 213 will regulate..." and it actually says, "And if yo A$$ is a BUSTA', 213 will regulate..." Thanks for pointing that out Chenequa

7. I have scoliosis and I'm lactose-intolerant

8. B/c of the scoliosis, I had to wear a back brace for 2 years - 23 hours each day when I was in middle school, which was pretty traumatic. My mom said it changed me b/c some people picked on me.

9. The scariest thing I've ever been through was the week leading up to Noah's surgery, however, the day of the surgery, I was strangely calm and I know it was God holding my hand

10. My grandfather died on my 24th birthday and I watched him take his last breath

11. Ghost stories make my eyes water but I love hearing them

12. I am OBSESSED with the Cranberry Turkey Temptation sandwich from Heavenly Ham and look forward to when its available each year... Oct. - Jan. (it's a seasonal sandwich). I emailed Heavenly Ham asking them to make it a year round sandwich, but to my disappointment, I was denied.

13. I played in the Fast Pitch Softball World Series when I was 16 years old.

14. My dad and I butt heads alot, but it's bc we are so much alike. But I still think the world of him and love him.

15. I love to dance with my girls, preferably in Nashville, at Decades, on a box... but it's been soo looong since I've gotten to.

16. I make an excel spreadsheet for everything... I LOVE EXCEL. And the more complicated the spreadsheet, the better.

17. Footloose has been my favorite movie since I was 3 and I can quote it word for word. "Jump Back!"

18. I love to sing in the car and don't like when people try to talk to me when I'm singing

19. I admire my husband, he makes me a better person

20. I received the "Most Improved Senior Chorus Member" award on Honor Day my Senior Year of High School... seriously, how embarrassing! I'm still not sure if that's something I should be proud of! :)

21. When I'm trying to go to sleep, I need the room to be pitch black and completely quiet. When Noah was a baby, I HATED the monitor b/c I couldn't sleep. I finally got rid of it. My thoughts are if he needs me, I'll hear him (his room is right by ours)

22. I think Keanu Reeves is the worst actor and his voice is so monotone and annoying

23. I don't love talking on the phone when I'm home with my family

24. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving b/c of my Nannie's dressing & gravy and all of the casseroles... I wanted it to be served at my wedding reception

25. I have a serious addiction to diet coke... I can drink a 2L per day

26. I'm a bad impulse buyer but then I always have buyers' remorse. I've even gone right back in the store and returned an item before.

27. It annoys me when someone is leading the music at church and they talk DURING the song, like telling you what the next line to the song is... I mean, we can read the next line of the song on the screens.

28. I tend to correct someone when they use bad grammar. I'm really trying to stop doing this b/c I know it can be insulting. I just do it without thinking.

29. I compare people to animals. I look like a pony, more specifically, a My Little Pony.

Okay, I now tag:
1. Martina
2. Nina
3. Sonia
4. Amanda
5. Leslie Burch

Progress Report

Well, our house is coming along... obviously, we haven't moved in like we hoped we would "at the first of January"... in fact, we probably won't be in at the first of February either. I'm thinking mid-Feb. Jamie said today, he thinks 3 - 4 more weeks tops, however, I'm NOT willing to place a bet on that! :) In any case, I'm not stressing over it because we have a house to live in until however long it takes to complete the new one and I've lived here 5+ years, so whats another few weeks? Anyways, just wanted to post a few before and after pictures and let you know where we are at. Cabinets have been installed, but they still have to be glazed. We are putting a chocolate glaze on them so that it will really show up in the grooves. I'm soooo excited to see the finished product b/c we kind of went out of limb with these. We saw them in a house during the Homebuilders Parade of Homes and took pictures to show our cabinet guy. I think he did a great job building them! Also, the trim is almost completely hung and is being painted this week. After they finish painting trim, they will begin painting walls. I'm really excited about my colors and hope it all turns out looking good. After they finish painting, they'll install hardwood, ceramic, and carpet. Then we're in! The kitchen is the room that's had the most work so here's the before and after. Today, I ordered my curtains for the kitchen and den and I'm SO excited about them... she said they would be finished in a month or two and I can't wait!

Before


After


Close Up

Celebrations, Reflections, and Resolutions

For New Year's, my parent's kept Noah so that we could ring in 2009 with our friends. We went to dinner at Dale's and then went to Brett & Chenequa's house to celebrate with our closest friends... with the exception of a few that couldn't make it. Right before midnight, Chenequa decided that we needed party hats... well the only thing she could find were Happy Birthday hats with dog paws on them from her dog's birthday party... so we improvised and used sharpie markers to turn them into Happy New Years hats. :) It was pretty low-key but we had a great time! It's so funny how things change as you get older, especially once you have kids and your friends have kids... going out and partying just isn't as big a deal anymore, nor is it something that you really care to do.

With the beginning of a new year, it tends to make you reflect on all those most important to you. For one, I'm so blessed to have such a great husband to take care of me and Noah. He works so hard to allow me to stay at home, and I am forever grateful for that. He's such a great father and I look forward to watching his and Noah's relationship grow even more with each year. He truly is my best friend.

I couldn't imagine life without my little buddy in it! Noah is the most loving little boy... he is so content just letting me love on him or hold him. I know that once he gets older, he won't let me cuddle with him as often (if ever!) so it's definitely something I try to not take for granted. The household chores can wait... Noah gets older every day so I cherish our time hanging out together! I love his sweet, crooked smile. I thank God for allowing me to be Noah's mom.

My parents are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. They would do anything for me, Jamie, Noah, and my sister, Lindsay. They were so great to us during the first few months after Noah was born, especially when he was having problems gaining weight & still considered "failure to thrive". He had a really difficult time learning to suck/take a bottle so each feeding was incredibly hard. He would go back to sleep or just wouldn't eat so it was at least an hour or more ordeal just to get him to take a few ounces. Then we would start back over an hour and a half later. It was exhausting. They told us to come stay with them at their house and both mom and dad helped out with feedings. We would all rotate shifts as to who would get up to feed Noah. In fact, they would even give me the night off, ever so often! Even now, just watching them with Noah absolutely fills my heart up b/c it's so evident how much he means to them. We call my dad a "Noah hog" b/c he constantly wants to hold him, especially in public! He's so proud to show him off to people he knows. We joke with him about it but I wouldn't want it any other way.

I am forever grateful for the friends God has placed in my life. I am so proud of each of them and the women that they've become! They have been such a support system to me, encouraged me when I needed it the most, laughed with me (and at me), and allowed me to cry to them even when I'm ashamed to. I look forward to 2009 and the years to come and watching our babies grow up together!

Now on to a much lighter note, I've made a few New Years resolutions and hopefully, by putting them on here, it will encourage me to stick to them! First off, I want to be a better house-wife... cook more often, keep a cleaner house, that sort of thing. Secondly, I want to COMMIT to working out at least 3-4 times a week. Jamie and I just joined Court House Racquet Club so we've started going to Body Pump. I just want to follow through with it, and not let it be some temporary thing. So there goes... I've put them out there so ya'll can hold me accountable!

New Years Eve pics

Group Shot -- last pic of '08

Noah's 2nd Christmas

Christmas was so much fun this year! For one, Noah is older so he enjoyed it more than last year. He enjoyed playing with his toys but his favorite "gift" seemed to be all the bows. This year, we spent all day Christmas Eve with the Brinks, ate dinner, opened gifts, and visited with Jamie's family. We then went to my parent's house later that evening and spent the night with them. Before Noah went to bed, we all sat in the den and read The Night Before Christmas to him. We did that last year, along with reading the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible... however, this year, Noah was ready for bed so we didn't get to the Bible story. After Noah went to sleep, Jamie, my dad, mom, Lindsay, and I were up for 2 hours putting together all of the toys... my gosh, what a chore! The next morning, Noah woke up around 9 and his eyes were so BIG when he saw all of his toys. After breakfast, we opened gifts, then got cleaned up and had lunch. In the past (pre-Noah) we would always travel to B'ham to see my mom's side of the family on Christmas Day, so the holidays were always hectic. However, we cut out all the traveling since Noah entered the picture. I agree with my sister in saying that this Christmas was perfect b/c it was so much more relaxing... no rushing around, no traveling.

Reading The Night Before Christmas

Santa Came!

The things a grandparent will do for their grandchild...