Overdues....

Well, I see once again I let too much time go by before doing an update. Not too much to update here.
Zach turned 1 year old on 9.18. Poor thing. He was sick, for literally, a month. Including his birthday. We also found out the hard way that he is allergic to eggs. Well, we think. We still have to take him for allergy testing to be sure. So we didnt do a birthday cake for him. :( I felt so bad. We also didn't really do a party. He was so sick and I had missed so much work. I know he doesn't care, but I feel guilty. Maybe we will just do a HUGE 2nd birthday party to make up for it. I might even learn how to bake a cake with those fake eggs.
He has decided his new favorite thing is to hit and bite. This is new to me. Lacey never really did that. He only really bites at school. He hits at home, and we are working on that, but he and Lacey play so rough sometimes...

Lacey is doing well in school. She had a small little stint where she was talking too much and getting into trouble. I would rather have that personally. Not a big fan of biting or hitting. She, of course, is one of the brightest in the class. She loves to go to "her school". She has made some "best friends". Lexi, Joycee and Lacey are inseparable. She has, knock on wood, managed to dodge being as sick as Zach has been. Actually, she hasnt been to the doctor at all in months. They say it takes two years in the daycare system for a child to get their immunity up to where it needs to be. I guess they are right. Lacey has been in day cares for right about two years now. She is still a sweetie, but growing so fast. She isnt even 4 yet and 4t clothes are too small. Her little feet are a size TEN. She defiantly will not get my small feet. Her vocabulary has just taken off. She likes to talk and talk. She gets up talking and goes to bed talking. I love to hear her little voice and all of her ideas, but I gotta be honest. When she is telling me all about her pop tarts first thing in the morningI want to turn her volume down.

Andy started a new job. He had been at his old company for 8 years, so it was a really big decision for him. He gets job offers from other construction companies about every 6 months or so. He is one of the best foremen in the state for in his line of work. He is very loyal and he is a little older. He didnt want to loose his tenure and have to start over somewhere only to find out it was a mistake. The new job offered the same health insurance, ect. They also provide him with a F450, a gas card and a raise. That truck and gas alone is a major expense that is gone. Gas prices are outrageous. He and I both drive a lot of miles, so it adds up quick. We also were able to scale back to one car. Its a sacrifice, but if that is all we NEED then that is what we should have, you know? Maybe once we can get these kids out of the outrageously expensive daycares, we can buy another car. Actually, we could buy three for what we pay monthly. He has been at his new job for right at a month now. He said it is the best career decision he thinks he has ever made. I am very proud of him. He is such a great husband and dad. He has a HUGE job in Atlanta that they are working on right now. Right at 13th, 14th and Piedmont. Right around the corner from me. His hours you ask? Sunday through Monday 7:30 am to 10:00Pm. He only has had to work those hours once or twice, but hes been putting in a ton of time at work. Right now he works until the job is doneno matter how late. It could really open a lot of doors for them. A downtown Atlanta job is a major job. He cant make any mistakes. Hes been doing really well! He has managed to finish his bores ahead of schedule so far. He put in 60 hours on the clock last week. Then the commute is somewhere around an hour to an hour and a half. And he didnt have to work the weekend. On top of all that, he got sick back when Zach was so sick. He was just starting to really get over it this week, but had to work out in the pouring rain on Monday and Tuesday. I felt really bad for him. I know hell recover and be okay. So basically, things have been going really well for him.

I have nothing really new to report. Things at work are getting better. They finally got rid of that idiot manager that we had. Sadly it was only after he had wreaked havoc on everyone for a year. Our moral is just awful. We have a new manager that is great. Hes also a sales manager and has been with the company for a long time. He is changing a lot of things and isnt really sparing anyones feelings. He is very dont take it personal, its business kind of guy. I like it, but it also makes me nervous. I know I am valuable at the company, but the kids get sick a lot. Especially Zach. I missed close to a whole month of work with him in September. I dont think things would really change, but I dont know. Next time, because I am sure there will be a next time, when I am out a lot because of one of the kids being sick, he may just decide to replace me with someone who doesnt have kids. Maybe not. He is so friendly and genuine and asks me about the kids frequently. I know when we first found out he would be taking over the dept he called a meeting and sincerely asked about the kids and told me that he wouldnt want me to work with him if the kids werent my most important priority. So maybe hell stick this winter flu season out with me and the kids. If not, itll be fine. Im sure of it. Andy working so many hours is really worn me out. I already have to get the kids up every morning, but now I am rushing to the daycare to pick them up, give them baths, feed them, wash dishes, pack diaper bags, pack book bags, laundry, ect. Whew. Just thinking about it wears me out. Poor Andy is just as tired. Ive decided I am going to try to get this house decorated and more like a home. When we moved in I was already pregnant and since then, with two kids and a full time job I havent really had that much time to paint or decorate. Not sure what I am going to do, but as soon as I get it done, I might just take some pictures and post them up here. See what everyone thinks.
I hope everyone is doing well. I miss you all. I hope you have a wonderful November!!

Paul Harvey

Words for my children by Paul Harvey:

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated and that you learn honesty by
being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed, mow the lawn
and wash the car.

And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new
car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you
can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get
a black eye for fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you
have to share a bedroom with each other at some point. And it's all right
if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when one of
you wants to crawl under the covers with with the other because
you are afraid, I hope you let him.

If you want a slingshot, I
hope your Daddy teaches you how to make one instead of buying
one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read
books.

When you learn to use computers I hope you also learn to add
and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends
when you have your first crush on a boy/girl.

I don't care if you
try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.

I sure hope
you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma and go fishing with your
Grandpa.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the
holidays.

These things I wish for you - tough times and
disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to
appreciate life. Written with a pen; sealed with a kiss. I'm here
for you.

25 Years...How?!

I couldn't have asked for a better group of people that I have surrounded myself with. Before 7:15 this morning I had already gotten 4 calls to wish me happy birthday. When I rolled out of bed I had a card from Andy and when I went upstairs to get my little ones ready Lacey handed me a card as well. I arrived to work only to have my wonderful supervisors bring be breakfast and all of my co-workers had already put my presents on my desk. I even had a salesman come in with my chocolate from my FAVORITE local bakery. (Maison Robert is the name...BETTER than Godiva)And after such a wonderful morning I hate that I still feel a little spiteful about this whole day. 25. 5 years away from the dreaded 30. When did I get so old? I realize in the grand scheme of things that I am actually quite young, but it's hard to see it that way. Maybe it's because when I had thought of my 25th birthday I expected my life would be totally different from the way it has turned out. Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful for everything and everyone I have, it's just so different from what I expected. I guess the twists and turns of life got in the way and I am grateful for that. Andy, Lacey and Zach are the best surprises that have ever happened to me. So Happy Birthday to me and hopefully the 5 years before the dreaded 30 will be happy LOONNNGGG years. :)

First Steps...

Andy and I were just talking about how we couldn't believe little Zach wasn't walking yet. Was he just lazy? He has been cruising very well for weeks...months really.

Today was the day. Andy picked up the kids from Daycare and when he walked in he saw little Zach walking around his room. His teacher had suggested not telling me about it until Zach did it for me, but Andy didn't like that idea. I got home late and one of the first things Andy told was me that Zach had something to show me. We tried to get him to walk for me, but he wasn't having it. Everytime we would stand him up, he'd plop on his little bottom, crawl to me and laugh. Eventually he did walk for me, though not as much as he was earlier. I cried and I am usually not such a crybaby. It was a very bittersweet moment for me, not only because I missed his first steps, but we have been waiting on this moment for so long and it was over in a blink of the eye. He also chose my grandfather's birthday to take the first steps of his life. Since our birthday's were so close, we always celebrated together. Since so many years I celebrated my birthday on his I feel like it is half mine. It's still a very special day even though we lost him over 8 years ago. Coincidence? :)

A Milestone

Zachary's hair has been getting long. Maybe some wouldnt think so, but Andy and I do agree on one thing. Boys hair needs to be short. Zach's was curling over his ears and you could almost get a little bitty ponytail pulled together at the back of his head. I had been saying I wanted to get his hair cut for a while, but I had also been putting it off. Even though his hair was longer than I would have liked, it was his BABY hair. So soft and with the little curls. I knew that when we cut his hair that would only make him look more like a little boy and less like my baby. I finally decided to bite the bullet today. Andy said he needed to go and get his hair cut and wanted to just go ahead and do it while we were on our way out to get my car. I figured since we will all be together, it was a good time to cut Zachs hair. We did it. Zach acted kinda okay. We were very disappointed with the stylist. She rushed and was actually almost a little rough. Zach has a few spots that are not even, but he looks so much better. He also does look more like a little boy to me. His baby hair is gone.

Lacey and Zach's First Braves Game

It didn't start out good and it seemed to only get worse. We were supposed to arrive for a 3:55 game. We were hoping to arrive at Turner Field around 3:00-3:30. We, of course, were going to have to park, drag them both through the stadium, find our seats, and then get up to (I'm sure) go to the potty and get something to drink. Andy and I didn't want to miss first pitch. Lemme just say, I have been getting kids and diaper bags ready to go places for 3-1/2 years now. I really fell behind on this one. We didn't leave our house in DALLAS until 2:45ish. Then, and only then, did we realize that no one had eaten lunch yet and we didn't have any cash for parking. So after stopping at McDonalds for lunch and swinging by an ATM, we finally make it into Atlanta.

At 3:55 when the first pitch was thrown we were sitting in traffic that stretched all the way around Turner Field looking for parking. Because we were in a truck, not a car, no one would let us park. We FINALLY (after 45 minutes) were able to find a lot that had room. $30.00 to park. I still have NO idea how Andy was able to get his big truck into the teeny tiny space that we were given.So we unload, walk to the stadium and start to look for our seats. We had seats in the Lexus level and I assumed it was on the bottom level. Andy tried to tell me otherwise, but I didn't listen. After about 30 minutes of walking around the stadium, we finally find our seats...which are taken at the moment. We had to get the usher to "usher" these people out of our seats. They were great seats and we thankfully were in the shade. Before 5 minutes is up Lacey needs to go potty and is thirsty. Zachary is fussy also. Andy pops a bottle in Zach's mouth and goes to get Lacey something to drink. By inning #5, we were on the verge of a double kid meltdown.

Long story short, we arrived in our seats in the 3rd inning, we left in the bottom of the 6th. And we spent over $50.00 in parking and drinks, not to mention the price of the tickets. It turned out to be a great game (we listened to it on the radio on our way home)

All things aside, we all were able to spend time together as a family. Most of the time we are all being pulled so many different ways that even on the weekends we aren't all together.
I am sure 20 years from now Andy and I will be sitting in our old rockers laughing about the whole situation. I think we may need to wait a few more years before trying another "family outing" like that again.

Mobility - Shmobility, Obsessions with hairbrushes & School

It's been too long since I have blogged. I try to write at least once a month with updates about the kiddos.
So. Mr. Zachary is now mobile. When I say mobile, I don't mean just scooting around on his little bottom. He turned 9 months old on the 18th. He can pull himself up, he can crawl, he can stand up on his own, he can cruise while holding onto something, and now he can walk. Well, almost. He has learned to take Lacey's little chairs and push them around the house as he walks behind them. He looked a lot like Frankenstein at first, but he has gotten so much better. I am really surprised he isn't walking on his own. His movement has gotten so smooth and controlled over the past month. He also LOVES solid foods. It's almost all he is eating now. That adds to his messiness. He wonders around with a soggy cracker or cheerio on a regular basis and of course, touches everything. I think ( know) he desperately wants to keep up with his big sister.
Speaking of big sisters, she obviously has quite a few girly things. Hairbrushes, necklaces, purses and dolls to be exact. Zach must think he is a girl. His favorite toy? A hairbrush. He loves to play with little dolls, they are another favorite. His cars, footballs, and trains? Not so much. He will literally take off at top speed to get a brush if he sees one. I hope this is something he will grow out of. I can't imagine the teasing he will get if he decides he wants to be a hairdresser one day. Just as long as he gets married to a girl..I guess I could be okay with anything he decides to do.
Lacey and Zach both started back at daycare. This is their second week. I know the girl that runs this daycare and love her. We loved Miss Chelsy and her family too, but Mom/Daycare was cheaper and just a better option for all of us. We also felt that Lacey needed to be in a "school like" setting. She has to be quiet, walk in straight lines, make friends and share. Not to mention she has a spot in the GA funded Pre-K next year (WONDERFUL!!) She is also soaking all of the things they do in "class" right up. Most of the time she doesn't want to go home with me and last weekend she couldn't understand why she couldn't go to her school.
Zachary also enjoys himself. All of the teachers just love him. (of course they do!) I can tell that someone is snuggling with him all day long. He is also very friendly. He gets that from Andy. Lace and I, well, people don't flock to us, and we don't really care. Zach and Andy have that magnetism that draws people. When I get him up in the morning he is excited to go and when I pick him up, he is excited to leave. Works out really well if you ask me. He has been sick since the day he started. Last night he even threw up ALL night. I am running on about 30 minutes of sleep right now. He was fine after 3am so I watched him for a few hours and came into work about 10:00. I have checked on him a couple of times today and so far he is doing really well. Just tired (I know how he feels).
Andy has been working out of town quite a bit. It's hard working full -time with two kids and doing it all alone. I enjoy the solitude when the day is done, but most of the time without him the day isn't done until 9:30ish. I can't remember the last time I actually had dinner. He hates being away also. Most of the time when he is gone, he comes back on the weekends. A couple of weeks ago he had to work straight through the weekend into another week. He was pretty upset about it along with Lacey. So I packed the kids up that Friday night and brought us to him. No one slept in that tiny hotel room, but I haven't seen Andy's face light up like that in a long time. He hates being away from his kids. He didn't even think about the lack of sleep.
Nothing really special with me. I did get a promotion and a great raise at my work. Lindsey no longer works with me :(. I got the raise and promotion because things are so crappy here. It's not fun. I dread going to work everyday. I don't want to live like that. I'm going to stick it out and hope things change soon because this company has been great to me over the past few years. Let's face it. I have missed a lot of work because of the kids. Never once has it been mentioned. Not in a review, not even in passing. I owe it to myself to stay. I think that should pretty much sum up all of the new things that are going on.
I'll try to update more often!