About Me

My photo
Welcome to my blog. I'm a Mississippi country girl transplanted to Grapevine, TX. I have been blessed with a great husband, and my kiddos, Aleck and Ella. When I'm not eating bon bons on the couch, I am my kid's room mom, PTA member, Sunday School teacher, taxi driver, amateur photographer and personal chef. When I'm not doing those things, I'm running a small jewelry business, 2nd Amendment Jewelry (www.2ndamendmentjewelry.com), that I started with my twin sister, Glenda. It's a crazy and busy life, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in this world. I am so thankful for all the blessings in my life!

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Ten Things That Make Me Smile

  1. Eryn helping out by bathing AJ while I prepare supper. Looking up to see a giggling AJ run across the living room with his big sis right on his heels.
  2. Waking up to the smell of fresh brewed coffee in the morning and realizing that AJ slept until 7:30 a.m.
  3. Waking up from an afternoon nap to the sound of Tom and AJ playing with AJ's toys.
  4. AJ "barking" at the neighbor's dog.
  5. Sharing a cup of coffee in the morning with Eryn.
  6. Finding a bike trailer at a consignment sale that looks like it has never been used.
  7. Realizing how much faster I can ride my bike when AJ is behind me in the bike trailer and threatening to fall asleep before we get home.
  8. When I accidentally set off the house alarm system and AJ sleeps right through the extremely loud alarm, but opening the bathroom door too fast can wake him from a nap.
  9. Taking AJ for a bike ride around the block Sunday morning while still wearing our PJs. I would stop every lap that we passed our house for a sip of coffee and AJ would give me the sign "more".

  10. Aleck dancing around the living room while listening to Tom practice drums, all the while, sporting a mohawk hairstyle that Eryn had given him earlier in the day.

He said Momma today

I have been trying to teach AJ how to say Momma for months. He would always smile and say Dada. I came in from the grocery store and Eryn said, "listen to AJ say Momma". He said it over and over again. I jumped up and down in celebration. He thought that was funny which encouraged him to continue saying Momma. He has said MaMaMaMa before, but never Momma. The feeling a mother has when her child really says Momma for the first time is amazing. I am so blessed to have such wonderful kids.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

17 Months Old

17 months ago today we were blessed with Aleck. It is hard to believe that so much time has already passed. It seems like I just blinked, and now I have a little man that can scale his highchair in no time flat, can say "dude", can run almost as fast as Mommy, can melt my heart with a smile and a tilt of his head, can make me cherish the moments when I roll out of bed at 5:30 a.m. I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed us and allowed me to spend my days with my son.

"Dude"

AJ's new word for the day: "Dude"

I will try to get him on video to post. It is adorable.

The wheels have officially fallen off

So, I drive a car that is 11 years old, and has 165,000 miles on it. Of course I would love to drive a newer car, but I love not having a car payment more. I have often said, "I'm driving my car until the wheels fall off." Well folks, I think the wheels fell off today. I was getting off the freeway and my car started sputtering like the engine was about to go dead and I smelled burning rubber followed by a check engine light. Thankfully, I made it to my destination, Paradise Pond at First Baptist Church Grapevine, an indoor play place. We met Dede, Brooke and Presley for a play date.

The bright side of the day was Paradise Pond was so awesome that I am canceling our $65 a month gymboree membership. Somehow, this makes me feel a little bit better about taking on a car payment.

If you have a child in the HEB area you have got to check Paradise Pond out. The play area is an old church sanctuary that has been converted to a play area for kids. The place has different play areas including a grocery store, basketball toss, legos, trains, cars, magnets, dress-up, a small climbing wall, an oversized bounce house and a two-story play feature with slide. It rocks!

AJ napped for 3 hours when we got home. I didn't get any pictures because I forgot my camera, but Dede was there and I took some pictures with her camera. I will post pictures when I get them from her.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Wordless Wednesday




Feeling human again

I woke up feeling so much better today. Who wouldn't after sleeping all day yesterday?

We were getting ready to go to Gymboree this morning and I asked AJ to go get some clothes to wear. A minute later he came back holding a pair of shorts. It just goes to show that toddlers understand way more than we give them credit for.

AJ's new word for the day: "up"

Off to do piles of laundry. Have a great hump day.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Under the Weather

I have been under the weather since last night. Thankfully, Tom stayed home from work to take care of AJ. I am so thankful for my husband. I didn't get out of bed until 12:15 p.m. and went back to bed after I got home from my doctor's appointment at 4:00. Surely, tomorrow will be a better day.

AJ's new word for the day: two

Monday, August 25, 2008

1...2...3 Jump!


I looked up the other day and AJ had taken blankets and pillows out of the linen closet. He piled them in front of the ottoman and proceeded to jump on the blankets. I assume he learned "jumping" at gymboree. Of course, I reinforced the soft landing with more pillows and he jumped over and over again. I know, I know....I'm supposed to teach him not to climb on furniture. It's just that he planned this all by himself, and I was so proud of his problem solving.

Power Nap

12:15 p.m.

Aleck: standing in crib crying (translation: "I'm not tired. I don't want to take a nap")
Me: "Mommy loves you. Night, night."

4:00 p.m.

Aleck: babbling over the baby monitor after 3 hour and 45 minute nap (translation: "Well, I guess I did need a nap")

Squatting in the tub is NEVER a good sign!

You would think after changing three poopy diapers before noon, it would be safe to give a messy toddler a bath after letting him feed himself yogurt for lunch........NOT! Boy, am I glad we were in the bathtub instead of the kitchen sink, where we have taken some recent baths after especially messy mealtimes.

It is kind of funny, because I never gave AJ a bath in the sink when he was an infant, but all of a sudden he thinks bath time in the sink is the coolest thing EVER. When he is finishes eating, he gives me the "all done" sign and starts pointing at the kitchen sink and grunting. He thinks the spray nozzle is so much fun. Of course, most times we leave a puddle of water on the floor but honestly, in front of the kitchen sink is probably the cleanest area of my kitchen floor.

It is amazing how much a toddler craves stimulation and a variation in the daily routine. I will be so glad when it cools off and we can spend more time outside. I bought a bike trailer at Divine Consign, a consignment sale for kids clothes and toys. I am looking forward to getting back into cycling a little. Before AJ, I cycled quite a bit, but have only ridden once since I got pregnant two years ago.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Up To Speed

Aleck is fairly consistently sleeping through the night these days. He slept until 6:15 a.m. this morning, which is sleeping in around here. I am so thankful to be catching up on my rest! He is down to one nap a day right after lunch.

Our new preacher, Cameron, started today. I was in the nursery, but Tom said the sermon was awesome and I am excited and looking forward to hearing him preach next week. God is doing some pretty powerful things in the Brooks' household right now. I am such a control freak, so pray that I get out of his way and let him work.

Eryn starts school tomorrow and she has an insanely busy schedule this semester. She is taking a full load at TCC, as well as working 20 hours a week at a YMCA after school program. We are so proud of her.

My 20 year high school reunion is coming up in October. Man, time flies!

Aleck starts Mother's Day Out in a week. I am looking forward to having a little "me time", but I am sure I will cry more than he will that first morning without him.

Since our sailing adventures earlier this month, Tom has been talking about buying our own sailboat.

Aleck has learned to remove his diaper and seems to think it is quite humorous when he does so. Gone are the days of running around in a t-shirt and a diaper.

Aleck can now wear size 7 shoes. I lost one of AJ's crocs. Hopefully, it is at the Lost and Found at the gym.

Glenda, Jessica and Tyler's visit to Texas





Glenda, Jessica, and Tyler came for a visit several weeks ago. Jess and Tyler are so awesome with AJ and play with him constantly. We spent one day at the zoo and everybody loved feeding birds at the bird exhibit. Aleck liked the elephants but the gorilla was a big hit with Jess and Tyler.






Aleck had his first train ride on the Yellow Rose Express, but you can tell by the picture that by that time he was in need of a nap, BIG TIME.


We had a great afternoon by the pool eating watermelon and swimming. I think Aleck ate his weight in watermelon. He would feed Jess some of his melon and then eat some of hers. It was so adorable.


AJ also enjoyed spraying Tyler and Eryn with the garden hose.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Trip to the zoo











AJ and I joined Dede, Brooke and Presley at the zoo. We saw penguins, AJ had his first carousel ride, and we played in a farm play area. We had a blast.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Singing in the Rain





It rained all day today. I love the rain and had all my windows open all day to enjoy the rare occurrence of rain in August in Fort Worth. When Tom got home from work, he and AJ played in the rain. Aleck had a blast splashing around in the puddle and even tried to drink the water at one point...yucky!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Favorite Picture


This is one of my favorite pictures of all times! I took this picture while we were visiting my sister, Glenda, last month. She has two kids, Tyler, who is nine, and Jessica, who is eleven. They are so good with AJ. They live on a little farm and have chicken, rabbits, dogs, and goats. AJ had such a fun time. I wish we lived in the country so I could grow my own vegetables and have farm raised eggs. Tom and I have talked a little about moving, but until then I guess we will just have to make frequent trips home to play on Glenda's farm.

Friday, August 15, 2008

"Dack, Dack"

Aleck picked up a rubber duck today and quacked like a duck. It was especially adorable because neither Tom, nor I, had taught Aleck that his rubber duck said, "dack, dack" (translation: "quack, quack").


Today's new word: Ball

Today was the second day in a row that AJ did great in the gym daycare. When I put him down, he RAN to a big red car and climbed in. He was so excited to play with new toys. He starts Mother's Day Out in two weeks, and I pray that he doesn’t freak out with separation anxiety. When I registered AJ for the program back in February, I thought there would be no way I would be ready to spend two mornings a week away from AJ. I am surprised by how much I am looking forward to having a little me time. Even SAHMs (stay at home moms) need a break sometimes.

Joni came by yesterday and brought AJ a stuffed animal. It is a sock monkey. Since Daddy won't let AJ have a baby doll, the sock monkey will have to do. Thanks, Joni. You rock. Oh, I almost forgot. When I picked AJ up from the gym daycare, he was carrying a baby doll around on his shoulder. It was ADORABLE! Wish I had my camera.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Three Things Thursday

Three things I am thankful for today:

1. Aleck is beginning to sleep through the night. I am beginning to feel human again.

2. Aleck is overcoming his separation anxiety. He stayed in the daycare at the gym today for the first time without crying. When I put him down, he ran to the toys without even looking over his shoulder at me. I was so proud of him, and a little sad. My little boy is growing up way too fast.

3. The look on Aleck's face when he played in the rain for the very first time.

Sailing Vacation