tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699037899030035562012-02-15T12:48:58.994-06:00Reflections on home, family, and faith.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.comBlogger1111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-82396752761704661012012-01-31T14:10:00.005-06:002012-02-02T11:08:07.978-06:00

A few weeks ago, the whole family was at Target, and Jeff watched the kids as I looked at some clothes. They were doing some remodeling, so there was a huge open space that the kids took advantage of. Graham and Lucy were running around, tackling each other, and laughing hysterically. They were a little loud, but they were cute. Finally one young woman said, "It so nice to see a family with two

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-64237691999889486102012-01-24T21:15:00.012-06:002012-01-25T08:07:24.649-06:00

I'm not sure when I'll stop getting sentimental and nostalgic over birthdays. It hasn't happened yet. It's a sweet day for me, and I hope my kids feel its special for them too. Like a video, I play the events in my head that led up to Graham's birth. It was a rough day. But being removed from that day by three years, I can say it was a beautiful day. I remember the hard things about the weeks

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-8561602376241325912012-01-03T23:51:00.004-06:002012-01-06T11:21:05.348-06:00

Despite the fact that my husband is against New Year's resolutions, I obliged him to set "goals" with me for 2012. We had some of the typical and unrealistic goals that everyone else and their mother also set this year. But we also talked about how we want to pray for our kids after we put them to bed at night and how we want to read through the Bible in the next year. It probably won't happen.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-28215554831224774622012-01-03T15:45:00.004-06:002012-01-03T16:09:00.761-06:00

I'm starting the New Year out with a bang...that is...in the kitchen of course. I decided I would make my friend's 8 minute tomato soup. I wanted something besides a grilled cheese or PB&J, and I could handle 8 minutes. First, I put the soup in a pot that was too small...the cream quickly overflowed. Next, I moved the soup to be pureed in the blender. I turned it on and was nearly frozen in shock

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-47563666460463057652011-12-27T01:26:00.011-06:002012-01-02T20:50:09.353-06:00

It's been a busy 6 weeks. In addition to all the normal craziness surrounding the holidays, Jeff and I both celebrated our birthdays and our 6th anniversary. Despite the chaos, it's been full of delight. Graham loved Christmas last year, but this year it's at a whole new level. I just stared at him and watched the delight in his eyes as he watched the The Polar Express one night. I swear his eyes

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-60397322075293545812011-11-10T22:08:00.006-06:002011-11-11T09:18:28.948-06:00

A year ago, I cried when I met our sweet Lucy. When I saw her, her hair looked black. Her skin was dark. Some people called her my little Hispanic baby. But, now her jaundice is gone...her skin looks like mine. And her hair is light brown...looks like it might turn blonde. She's got beautiful blue eyes, and her cheeks are still just as full if not fuller than the day she was born. She still has

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-19985058023025518482011-10-27T14:33:00.003-05:002011-10-28T14:31:40.649-05:00

Shepherd's Pie and honey glazed carrots were for dinner. Graham wouldn't touch the Shepherd's Pie. He just kept asking for more carrots. "I'm so glad you love carrots, Graham. Did you know that carrots are so good for you? They help you see better." (By the way is this just an old wives tale? Hope I wasn't lying to him.) Anyway, after a few helpings of carrots, I insisted that the boy eat some

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-79965333838797826782011-10-08T21:55:00.007-05:002011-10-11T22:35:18.284-05:00

I confess that I feel guilty when I let my kids watch a TV show, and I feel proud when I've read them two books in one day. I confess that I consider myself a good mom when I've cooked a meal from scratch and when we've done a craft at home. I confess that sometimes I determine whether I've had a good day or bad day based on if my kids have taken their naps or not. I confess that I think I have

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-78282043049200162272011-08-19T09:04:00.007-05:002011-08-19T09:33:24.709-05:00

So G started school today. We've been talking about it non-stop for the past few weeks, but today he cried like a baby when I left him. What happened? He was so excited about it. His teacher sent me a text a few minutes later saying that he cried for about 10 seconds. So, that makes me feel a lot better about how the day will go. He loves kids and having activities to do, so I think he's

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-2333612987249281112011-08-18T15:11:00.013-05:002011-08-18T21:19:57.060-05:00

If you ask me, the front door wreath is always a great clue to what the rest of a person's house looks like. It's one of the areas where someone can be creative on the outside of the house. Because let's face it...some of us don't like the outside of our house nearly as much as we like the inside of our house. I'm embarrassed to say that until recently, I never had a wreath on my door. That is

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-78349334234293103022011-08-16T21:11:00.003-05:002011-08-16T21:21:53.656-05:00

So for those of your wanting a potty training update (I'm sure there are so many of you out there), I thought I'd give one. This conversation from last week pretty much sums it up. Me: Don't you want to wear underwear? G: But I don't want to wear underwear. Me: Why don't you want to wear underwear? G: Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Hmmm....not sure how to take that. I could think deep. I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-14392612141276380172011-08-01T21:39:00.007-05:002011-08-13T12:23:26.751-05:00

Did you see where Wipeout was filming in our local Target? Oh, wait. That wasn't Wipeout. That was me and the kiddos yesterday. It all started when I told G he was going to wear underwear. A year ago I thought G was a genius child when he potty trained himself. But it only lasted for 2 weeks, so we've been potty training ever since. I've tried a million things, so this was just one more attempt

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-427289269865706762011-07-13T13:31:00.005-05:002011-07-13T14:19:23.301-05:00

"Those things are so archaic. Your baby could die in one of those, you know." Well, maybe no one said those EXACT words, but I heard some bad things about Johnny Jump Ups. I didn't even think they were still being sold in stores. But I didn't care, and I thought they looked like fun, so when Graham was about 6 months old, I bought one at a consignment sale. He loved it, and Lucy loved it too...

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-34781798132732716062011-06-28T13:49:00.005-05:002011-07-05T20:28:09.619-05:00

The smell was awful, and it was distinct. Jeff and I realized it at the same time. It was a skunk. Jeff ran outside to check on Steve. I did what any good housewife does in the time of crisis... I Googled "how to get the skunk smell out of a dog." After making some concoction using all my baking soda and vinegar, Jeff advised me it wasn't Steve. He gave him a bath with soap and water, and Steve

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-11014800660365998892011-06-20T14:50:00.007-05:002011-06-20T16:27:00.412-05:00

(picture taken by Shannon Forbes)This is a conversation with my little 2 year old:Me: Do you want oatmeal for breakfast?G: That would be awesome!A couple of hours later...Me: Do you want to play with play dough?G: That would be awesome! I think it's going to be a good (or should I say AWESOME) day.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-30045847700067425642011-05-30T14:08:00.014-05:002011-05-31T16:36:33.097-05:00

From www.spoolsewing.comI thought I'd just share in more detail what I made for Lucy's room. First up: the birdie mobile. Seven months ago I was doing Google searches for "things to do on bed rest" and "what to do when you're bored." It was 100 times better than bed rest in the hospital, but I was still going stir crazy. One of the things I decided to do was make a bird mobile for Lucy's room. I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-53269200105606443702011-05-26T21:01:00.003-05:002011-05-26T21:14:54.199-05:00

I've been meaning to post these pics for a while, but I just haven't gotten around to it. Lucy's room used to be Graham's room, and we were lazy and just didn't want to paint. Plus, I love the color blue! So I transformed this former blue boy's room into a blue girl's room. I recovered Graham's bumper pads, made a bird mobile, used some embroidery hoops to spell out her name above the bed and

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-22019228030567216932011-04-28T16:10:00.007-05:002011-05-05T15:24:13.592-05:00

I sat down to right a post about something cute that Graham said, but I think I'll save it for another day. I can't get these storms out of my mind. I think about family who barely escaped death in Tuscaloosa, I think about videos of the most ominous looking tornado I've ever seen, I think about me pacing the hall in the early morning debating on whether we should wake the kids up and get to our

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-83083345141866920942011-04-21T12:56:00.010-05:002011-04-21T14:26:18.500-05:00

So, I've got a baby who thinks she only needs to nap for 15 minutes a day. Need I say more? I haven't done much blogging. But, it looks like she is improving, and I hope that means my blogging will improve as well. I have too much fun writing to abandon this thing altogether. I will be back. Meanwhile, you should check out Jenna's giveaway. She's got some really cute art prints that I think would

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-90667200993248989482011-03-18T08:51:00.004-05:002011-03-18T08:57:41.535-05:00

Have you seen my friend Jenna's blog? Everyday Clever is cute, fun, and full of great design ideas. Jenna was one of my college roommates and is now teaching while finishing her interior design internship. So...I think you should check it out. You might just get inspired to do something new to your home!

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-9631790444117806252011-02-28T15:20:00.008-06:002011-02-28T15:41:43.394-06:00

It's storming today, and the worms are out...at least in our kitchen. I wasn't up for getting out, so instead we stayed at home and made dirt pudding. I almost forgot about that stuff. But then I had a 2 year old and was quickly reminded. Graham sure enjoyed it...just like he enjoys anything chocolate. He told me the worms were scary, but then he ate them, so I guess they weren't too scary. I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-23475076899802303172011-02-07T09:14:00.006-06:002011-02-07T13:17:11.432-06:00

I asked G if he wanted to read a book, and he went to the bookshelf and pulled this one off. Then he told me, "Read self." Okay Graham, knock yourself out. He sat there for a few seconds so he could "read self" and then gave the book to me so I could read it to him. I said, "Don't you want to get a book from your room that has pictures?" He replied, "Read this." So I began reading him The Summary

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-75532070482182778852011-02-06T15:05:00.004-06:002011-02-06T22:48:44.608-06:00

"Aw!" "Almost!" "Fall in Water!" "Splash!" "I did it!"I bet you're a little confused right now, but these are all things that Graham said last night as we watched Wipeout. The kid loves that show. Who would have thought? I looked at him with a smile thinking about all the times I had gotten frustrated with him throughout the day. Wanting affirmation that everything was okay, I reached over,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-57978022990835029632011-02-05T13:15:00.007-06:002011-02-05T21:33:32.211-06:00

This is the book that Jeff so appropriately chose as Graham's potty book. Thank you very much Jeff. I love cleaning up mudpies. And in other news, this is what our son looks like when when tell him to close his eyes as tight as he can. It is also what he looks like when you tell him to smile for the camera. Go figure. And this is our happy little girl. I'm thankful to be saying "happy." She's

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-7548695701335603072011-02-02T14:37:00.010-06:002011-02-02T15:04:09.501-06:00

picture from designspongeonline.comIf I were married and didn't have kids... at least not kids that run around the house like crazy and need to eat every 2 hours, then I think I would do this for Valentine's Day. Pretty cute, clever, and romantic, huh? Can't you just picture a couple lounging on the pillows and eating Chinese takeout with their chopsticks? It's a Valentine's Day fort featured

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-73483231576364451582011-02-01T21:00:00.012-06:002011-02-01T21:34:01.250-06:00

...there was a red balloon and a little boy turning two! Yep, I'm the mother of a two year old. And this two year old loves the moon, and he's pretty fond of the story Goodnight Moon, so I decided to put on a Goodnight Moon 2nd birthday party. We wanted to have RC colas and Moon Pies and rent a Moon Bounce, but maybe we'll save that for another year. We went the healthy route for lunch with hot

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-2428332833873938002011-01-18T21:49:00.002-06:002011-01-18T21:54:25.085-06:00

This is what happened after I gave Graham a M&M after going "potty" in the toilet.Graham: "Where's M&M?"Me: "You ate it!"Graham: "Where's M&M?"Me: "It's in your tummy!"Graham then begins grabbing his tummy saying, "Open! Open!" as he tries to recover the M&M so that he can enjoy it one more time. Guess that boy just doesn't get the digestive system, huh?

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-46308320515523108012011-01-13T21:19:00.003-06:002011-01-14T16:46:49.246-06:00

Well, my Granddaddy worked on airplanes, but not during World War II, and my cousin sang "Precious Lord" and not "Precious Jesus." I just got through updating this information on the previous post so that it will be correct. It's hard to keep up with 90 years worth of events! :)

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-88735118065332896002011-01-10T08:41:00.008-06:002011-01-13T20:57:56.423-06:00

March of 1920. That's when my Granddaddy entered the world. He had no idea what God had in store for him. He got older and worked hard. It was the Depression, and he had to quit school just to help provide for his family. He met a girl and fell in love. He served as a quarter master in World War II. He had four children. He wanted all of his children to go to college...something he was unable to

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-49116465441837097622011-01-03T09:11:00.006-06:002011-01-04T09:08:19.754-06:00

Dear Lucy, The night before I met you, I didn't sleep much. All the anticipation of what was to come the next day on top of the sleeplessness that already accompanies pregnancy didn't make for a good combination. Plus I had to be at the hospital early for a 7:30 c-section. I put on a dress and leggins, threw on a pair of Converses, and had your Daddy take one last pregnancy photo. It was chilly,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-47737544359711267232010-11-22T13:50:00.008-06:002010-12-16T20:37:49.049-06:00

I wuv Woosy. Translation: I love Lucy. That's what I've been hearing around here these days. And even more common than that is, "Where's Woosy? Where's Woosy?" Graham is so concerned about his little sister. He is always looking for a "blankie" to cover her up and her paci to make her stop crying. It's quite adorable to see how smitten he is with the newest girl in the house. Lucy arrived on 11/

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-73023414926245544112010-11-09T22:58:00.003-06:002010-11-09T23:09:55.307-06:00

Well in about 9 hours I will be a mother to a little girl. I am a little nervous but mostly excited. I spent Friday night in the hospital because I have officially developed preeclampsia. The doctor was concerned about this and wanted to monitor me overnight. Things looked better on Saturday so he gave me the option of having Lucy or waiting a couple of more weeks. Jeff and I decided to

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-32718512869969516212010-11-01T15:56:00.003-05:002010-11-01T16:34:31.203-05:00

If you came to my blog thinking that you were going to see pictures of me from 3rd grade with gaudy make-up and a pink boa around my neck, I'm sorry to dissapoint you. Those aren't the glamour shots I'm referring to. And by the way, is Glamour Shots still in business? We're talking about Lucy here. I went for Lucy's weekly photo shoot today (aka ultrasound). She's looking great. She weighs in at

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-64557499018215784162010-10-30T21:32:00.001-05:002010-10-30T21:36:22.563-05:00

Still pregnant. Healthy baby. So thankful. That's about all I've got to say. Although I'm getting so anxious to meet her, I'm grateful that Lucy is hanging out just a little bit longer. I was 34 weeks on Wednesday, and I feel like I can breathe a sigh of relief. Hang in there sweet Lucy. Can't wait to hold you soon.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-28033657520097073212010-10-21T10:40:00.006-05:002010-10-21T11:00:02.379-05:00

So let's put this serious stuff aside for a post and talk about hair. Have you seen my son's hair? If you haven't, you need to see it in person. It is crazy long, awesome, curly hair (sorry...just let me brag for a minute). He is a little rocker dude. And when it gets in his face, all you have to do is tell him to fix it, and in Kelly Kapowski fashion, he gets it out of his eyes. Can't you now

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-56248943293731933202010-10-18T11:28:00.003-05:002010-10-18T11:38:27.153-05:00

I'm blown away. Seriously, I've never been so amazed by the generosity of others. Meals are being scheduled for the next 8 weeks from my church. Friends have offered to come from states far, far away to help me take care of Graham. And someone at my church is paying a lady to come clean my house every other week until Lucy arrives. Really? You would do this for me? Some of these people are close

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-80769560478242844112010-10-13T08:15:00.003-05:002010-10-13T09:28:34.547-05:00

I went to the doctor on Monday and the nurse wouldn't even tell me what my blood pressure was. It was really high. She told me to lie down on my side and took it again several minutes later. It was a little better. The doctor walked in and told me that he wasn't sending me to the hospital, but he was putting me on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy (I've got 8 weeks until my due date). He

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-84729903976569036912010-10-08T19:44:00.004-05:002010-10-08T19:56:47.410-05:00

Thank you Lord! I'm writing this post from my home and not a hospital room! The hospital is brand spanking new (just opened on Saturday), but I'm much more content at my own place. And besides, they are still trying to figure out what they're doing over there. The staff is great, but they've got a lot of new technology to work with so it's going to take some time. Almost everyone who walked in my

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-35449509092489621972010-10-05T14:36:00.004-05:002010-10-05T15:05:32.487-05:00

Yesterday, what I'd been scared of this entire pregnancy actually happened. I went to the doctor's office and my blood pressure was high. They immediately sent me to the hospital and kept me overnight for monitoring. I kept telling myself that I had a 75% chance of not having preeclampsia again with this pregnancy. And then I lost it. Why do I bank in percentages and not in the God of my

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-20770631856121533762010-09-16T11:50:00.002-05:002010-09-16T12:10:54.959-05:00

When I was in kindergarten and getting ready for school in the mornings, my mom used to say, "Jennifer, you are slow as molasses." And I thought absolutely nothing of it. You see, I always thought she was saying that I was "slow as Lassie" and the only Lassie that I knew was a pretty fast dog who had a TV show. Maybe it was a trip to Lambert's (the only home of the throwed rolls) that made me

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-91386155995658028192010-08-21T14:37:00.006-05:002010-08-23T22:00:27.056-05:00

In case you wonder where we live, we live in that house that has really, really tall grass. That is until a couple of days ago. Jeff has been so busy with work and a remodeling project to get ready for little Lucy that our yard has been rather neglected. But this week the weather wasn't quite as hot, and Jeff had the opportunity to cut the grass. Of course G was right there beside him cutting the

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-88672094374816532642010-08-06T23:10:00.001-05:002010-08-06T23:12:57.148-05:00

Check out my post on Lydia's blog!

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-83227191466138042722010-08-02T13:27:00.005-05:002010-08-02T13:48:10.343-05:00

I just got back from taking Graham on his first trip to McDonald's. Some of you are probably thinking,"Disgusting...why would you let your child in that place." Others of you are probably saying, "Why have you deprived that poor kid." But it is what it is. I have no aversion to McDonald's, but I do have this fear of the playground. When I think about playgrounds, my heart starts beating faster,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-50567366206900162382010-07-31T15:30:00.005-05:002010-07-31T15:48:29.049-05:00

Girl! Sorry to keep some of you hanging. Yep, Lucy Paige is cooking away in my tummy. At least that's what they tell us. We invited our families over for the reveal party. Jeff's parents thought it was going to be a boy, and my parents thought it was going to be a girl. The only reason my mom was 97% sure it was going to be a girl is because she analyzed everything I said from the time of my

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-15628355009932284202010-07-17T14:39:00.004-05:002010-07-17T15:37:37.579-05:00

Secrets, secrets are no fun. Secrets, secrets hurt someone. You know who that someone is? Me! I've got a secret, and I can't tell anyone. We were supposed to have an ultrasound this Monday to find out our baby's gender, but I ended up having it a week early. We had a "reveal" party planned for our families after the doctor's appointment on Monday. We were able to move the party to Sunday, but

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-56061153716144177752010-07-16T15:24:00.004-05:002010-07-17T07:14:36.281-05:00

So, I've started doing guest blogging on my dear friend Lydia's blog. She has an amazing business where she personalizes stationery, invitations, announcements and more. She made Graham's birth announcements, and she is doing the invitations for my sister's wedding that is coming up in just 8 weeks. You have to check out her beautiful work! And you can stop by there every Friday for a post from

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-31680100325967430702010-07-08T22:12:00.003-05:002010-07-08T22:16:46.454-05:00

Today I asked G for a kiss, and he came up to me and landed a big wet one on my lips. I turned around to go into another room, and he ran up behind me saying, "The baby!" I bent down, he lifted up my shirt, and gave a big kiss to the baby. In that moment I forgot about the multiple toys he took away from a kid today, the several times he threw himself on the ground when I told him to give a toy

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-78689764220673215782010-06-13T15:33:00.003-05:002010-06-13T15:40:47.356-05:00

Graham cried as I was leaving the house this morning. You might be thinking,"aww...that's so sweet," but the truth is that he often cries when just anyone leaves the house. Even if he's just met you. As I stepped outside and shut the door, I could hear Jeff scooping him up saying, "It's all right. Come on G! You want to go jump on the bed?" No wonder he's been a Daddy's boy all day long.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-84430943555109317412010-06-12T16:08:00.002-05:002010-06-13T16:12:34.741-05:00

"Help! I'm stuck in the bathroom, and I can't get out." These are the words Graham would have told me the other day if he could only speak in complete sentences. You see, Graham has this fetish with doors and has had one ever since he started crawling around the house. He loves to go into a room and shut the door. But his love ends there. After a few minutes, he starts crying because he also

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-61705828437451988812010-06-07T11:35:00.004-05:002010-06-08T15:18:04.244-05:00

At 8:15 last night I was just about ready to put Graham down for the night when Jeff came into the room asking for a mason jar. He came back from the kitchen with one in hand and said, "Let's go catch lightning bugs!" "It's kinda late," I said while looking down at G in his dinosaur pajamas. I myself already had on a t-shirt and pajama bottoms. "He's just a baby," Jeff said, and to that I smiled

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-51844463045848213772010-06-02T14:34:00.003-05:002010-06-02T15:19:01.187-05:00

The night before I found out I was pregnant with #2, I didn't sleep well. That's when I knew something was up. I always sleep well unless of course I'm pregnant. I decided that morning that after the gym, I would swing by the Dollar Tree to pick up some pregnancy tests. A friend of mine who recently had a baby told me they worked, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm not one to hold things in,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-30824707688255660312010-05-26T14:46:00.004-05:002010-05-28T11:37:43.218-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, my parents picked up Graham on their way from my sister's graduation in Knoxville back to Memphis. I was heading to Memphis the next day, so I thought a few hours away from him wouldn't kill me. Plus I was exhausted and could use a break! When I got to Memphis the next day, there was my little boy walking around the house with a rubber snake around his neck. He would come

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-32923688980044367552010-04-30T20:39:00.005-05:002010-04-30T22:05:28.036-05:00

*note* please sing the next 5 lines to the tune of "The Brady Bunch"Until this one day when this lady ate some tacosAnd she knew it was much more than a crunchHer belly really started growingAnd that's the way she got the baby bump! The baby bump. The baby bump. That's the way she got the baby bump! I know you may think it's impossible, but I already have a baby bump. I'm only 8 weeks pregnant,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-48206292796784834522010-04-26T10:37:00.004-05:002010-04-27T11:11:06.558-05:00

Last Thursday I met my friend Bekah and her son at Chick-fil-a. I went up to the counter, placed my order for some yummy food, paid for the food out of my "eating out" envelope (check out the Dave Ramsey envelope system), and placed my envelope on the tray with all of my food. We had a good time at lunch. We talked, ate, and watched the boys smile at each from one high chair to the other. The

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-6901850678461162772010-04-02T11:05:00.003-05:002010-04-03T07:21:06.988-05:00

This week one of my friends got some tragic news...the kind of thing you hope you nor any of the ones you love never have to deal with. I want to wish away and pray away her family's pain. I want to make it all better for her, and yet I know that the pain is still going to be there. My friend has had enough pain over the past few years, so why does she have to go through something else? I find

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-91756115998508939622010-03-22T10:51:00.008-05:002010-03-22T11:12:34.953-05:00

As I waited for Jeff to complete the sentence, I thought about all the possible endings. Would he say, "because I no longer have to eat Hungry Man dinners?" Probably not. He loves those things and eats them whenever I go out of town! Would he say, "because you're such a good mom," "because you're so pretty," or "because you make me happy?" That would be awfully sweet, but I wasn't sure if he

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-26760871203083541442010-03-07T21:31:00.004-06:002010-03-07T21:47:03.453-06:00

One day you can walk easily under a table, and one day you cannot. It is a huge milestone in the life of a toddler, but none of the books seem to mention it. I'm proud to say that Graham can no longer walk under the table or the desk without hitting his head. After a week of tears and bumps, I think he has finally caught on. Now he only gazes nostalgically at the space between the floor and the

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-3543392558331055072010-02-27T21:48:00.004-06:002010-02-27T22:10:23.482-06:00

It's amazing how quickly things change. I thought Graham was going to be pouty and unhappy forever, and now he is back to his usual, happy self...for the most part, at least! He's walking all over the place and those teeth are finally coming in! And since things are going pretty well, I thought I'd share a few cute stories about Graham. He's being pretty adorable these days! One day this week I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-54238120033651326292010-02-11T15:52:00.007-06:002010-02-12T10:10:05.141-06:00

I've been wanting to use this line in a blog title, and finally, I got my chance. When my sister was in a church play, this was one of her lines. For some reason this line with that cute, half southern, half British accent, just makes me smile. No, she's not British, but for some reason she has a twinge of the English accent and we're just not sure why. But anyway, I have been working harder than

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-7943948356407877322010-01-28T20:31:00.004-06:002010-01-28T21:15:08.618-06:00

I think the week after Graham was born was the most difficult week of my life. Emotionally I'd been fairly stable throughout my hospital stay, but I was a wreck after givin birth to Graham (I can't imagine what parents go through when their baby is in the NICU for months). My doctor was visiting me one morning and said, "I think you did better than any patient I've ever had in the hospital for so

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-61247066751759913692010-01-24T20:27:00.002-06:002010-01-24T21:13:59.087-06:00

A year ago today I got up around 5:00 am. They started inducing me around 5:30. My doctor broke my water mid morning and I got an epidural (make that two epidurals) when the contractions became stronger. (Unfortunately the first epidural only worked on one side of my body). I didn't feel good...but it wasn't the worst pain I'd ever been in. I'll have to attribute that pain to a kidney stone. All

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-68409935078287735622010-01-19T21:15:00.004-06:002010-01-20T09:03:08.750-06:00

The other day I determined I was finished with letting cold weather overtake my life and decided that G and I would venture into the subarctic temperatures for a little stroll. You can only stay inside so long, so we bundled up and stepped outdoors. Instead of the stroller, I put G in his off road wagon that Nattie and Poppa gave him for Christmas. I was a little nervous about the wagon because

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-3040012018134357982010-01-16T22:10:00.003-06:002010-01-16T22:45:44.679-06:00

I've always been terrified of cooking an entire chicken. I don't care what it costs, I'm going to have nicely packaged boneless skinless chicken breasts for dinner. It might have something to do with the time I put a whole chicken in a crock pot, forgot to take out the giblets, and the entire thing disintegrated into some indistinguishable form of mushy chicken soup, but nonetheless, I'm scared.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-61077375034429731772009-12-25T07:18:00.004-06:002009-12-30T14:46:24.232-06:00

I realize that some people will be bored by these Graham stories, but I'm writing this down so I don't forget. I don't want to forget the days leading up to Graham's arrival, and I don't want to forget God's faithfulness. The Israelites put up stones as a memorial to reflect on God's deliverance and faithfulness. These blog entries are in a way, my stones. I want to look back years from now and

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-12730261805579158032009-12-18T19:13:00.004-06:002009-12-19T21:46:32.834-06:00

A year ago I went to the doctor's office. My blood pressure was high. It hadn't been high since my doctor had taken me off work. I was also leaking some protein. My doctor told me I was going to spend 24 hours in the hospital while they ran some tests and monitored Graham. My first thought was "great, last time I missed my baby shower and this time I'm missing our anniversary/babymoon at a bed

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-56194526761128708082009-12-14T16:29:00.004-06:002009-12-15T11:05:40.496-06:00

Who new that a baby could be such a great incentive to exercise? Exercising around Graham is so easy because frankly, he thinks it is hysterical. Sometimes I wish I was in front of a mirror so I could see what I do that is just so funny. One of the exercises I do around the home is the Invisible Hula Hoop. In case you were about to google it, yes, I made it up. There's this hula hoop craze right

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-2943674171351772009-12-14T12:02:00.003-06:002009-12-14T13:36:31.363-06:00

No, it's not those pair of earrings Jeff got me from Anastasia's, that headband that's my crutch when my hair is oh so greasy, or that Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag I just had to have. My best accessory ever has 3.5 teeth, the cutest grin, and has just developed the skills to shake his head "no." I walked into the Ladies' Church Brunch on Saturday and several people commented that it was

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-89879265214489703052009-11-23T22:09:00.010-06:002009-12-06T13:13:28.458-06:00

My mom called to tell me about an article on Yahoo. A 43 year old man was presumed trapped in a vegetative state for 23 years. In reality, he heard every word that was spoken to him. Because a doctor finally discovered this, he can now communicate via a keyboard. I think I believe in pulling the plug, but when I hear stories like this, they perplex me. My mom reminded me of a story I wrote about

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-80271972773526586082009-11-23T12:03:00.003-06:002009-12-06T13:12:45.202-06:00

Graham's napping. I just fixed myself a bowl of taco soup and sat down to eat while listening to an Indelible Grace CD. I was trying to think of all the things I could do while he was sleeping, and suddenly I realized that I should grab my Bible. I opened the Bible to a page and laughed to myself as I thought about a recent Bible study discussion over randomly reading Scripture verses. You know,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-41704565800531437722009-11-20T22:48:00.005-06:002009-12-30T14:47:45.639-06:00

This day a year ago I noticed that one foot was a little more swollen than the other. I went to the pharmacy section of Kroger and took my blood pressure. I cried all the way back out to the car. It wasn't good. I phoned the on call doctor and he said not to worry but to come into the office in the morning. I went to see the doctor. My blood pressure was still a little elevated. They sent me to

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-17898298795872960772009-11-12T20:20:00.003-06:002009-11-13T16:34:20.153-06:00

To shave or not to shave. Almost every woman faces this dilemma in the shower. You have to think about how much time you have, what you're wearing for the day, and if going one more day without shaving will be painful when your clothes rub against you legs. It's a serious decision, and you need to make the right one...or there will be consequences Wednesday was one of those should I shave or not

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-50024935915613295092009-11-10T20:19:00.002-06:002009-11-10T20:43:26.259-06:00

I got into the car to go to Bible Study. Bible? Check. Book? Check. Diaper Bag? Check. Baby? Check. What were all the ladies going to think? I might actually arrive on time or just a couple minutes late. As I started my 10 minute drive, I looked down at my arm. "Please, please tell me that is water," I thought to myself. My brown shirt had a spot, but it had been raining. "Maybe a big rain drop

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-79030122700671099742009-11-09T11:34:00.004-06:002009-11-09T11:55:24.326-06:00

It was Saturday afternoon, and I hadn't made anything for the Barn Dance. Everyone from our church and local RUF group was supposed to meet on a farm for good food, bonfires, and of course, some square dancing! I needed to bring a side, but I really didn't want to go to the grocery. Graham was asleep, Jeff was painting the outside of our house, and I needed something I could make quickly and with

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-8810421328955961112009-10-21T21:15:00.005-05:002009-10-21T21:49:39.305-05:00

It's been a while. Nothing too crazy has happened, so I haven't been inspired to write. I guess I could talk about the every day going ons in our home, but really, does any one care about that? I'm sure I have had boring posts in the past, and I'm sure I will in the future, but I'm feeling the need to tell something exciting right now. So here it goes. I think the title of this true story should

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-16304970912447308982009-10-06T15:46:00.004-05:002009-10-06T17:05:25.034-05:00

If you can't decide on what book to read or what movie you need to watch, just invite Graham to your house, and he'll be sure to choose one...or several. Yes, everyday he pulls a number of books and movies from the shelves. Jeff even reorganized last night to keep Graham from getting into the movies, but of course Graham outsmarted him. Today Graham chose the book The Baby Name Wizard from the

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-31705146617248763592009-09-29T21:44:00.002-05:002009-09-29T22:03:45.871-05:00

Aside from Graham eating dog food and splishing and splashing in the water bowl, nothing too exciting is happening around here. We've been to the park a couple of times and gone on lots of walks trying to enjoy this glorious Autumn weather. What comes to mind when you think of Autumn? I think of the beautiful trees, the cool crisp mornings, football, pumpkin spice lattes, and of course, caramel

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-30730534644065826792009-09-18T21:22:00.002-05:002009-09-18T21:48:47.644-05:00

You don't have to be Indiana Jones in a pit of snakes or Bear Grylls swimming through underwater caves to embark on a great adventure. You simply need a common location, say a restaurant or a mall, and an 8 month old baby. On Wednesday I met my mom and dad for Lunch at Panera. My dad was holding Graham and just as he was attempting to move his tea out of Graham's reach, my dad apparently lost his

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-79807264786231775822009-09-15T21:26:00.004-05:002009-09-15T21:50:05.701-05:00

until I met my husband. I grew up cheering for the Cowboys (they weren't as trashy back in the day) and watching my brother at Briarcrest games. Although I never understood all the positions, I thought I was a fairly loyal fan. But when I met Jeff, I discovered that I was not worthy of being considered a fan. My friends who knew Jeff warned me of his intense passion. They weren't kidding. I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-8168977115945144402009-09-06T21:31:00.006-05:002009-09-07T11:42:02.613-05:00

I can remember opening Spurgeon's daily devotional to the date I was going to leave for France months down the road. There was something exciting about reading the devotional months ahead of time, knowing on that day I would embark on a great adventure. I remember last year looking at expiration dates on foods and getting really excited at the thought that I should have a baby by the time. I love

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-19659823537049139982009-09-03T19:17:00.002-05:002009-09-03T19:44:51.804-05:00

Rectal. Yes, we have a thermometer in our linen closet that is clearly labeled with an "R". As soon as we used the thermometer, Jeff ran to get a Sharpie. "What do you need that for," I wondered to myself. Then I saw Jeff draw a big fat "R" on it. "Oh...I see." Jeff wanted to ensure that we never made the mistake of using a rectal thermometer as an oral thermometer. Pretty smart I thought. There

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-39376789314780353522009-08-31T21:45:00.006-05:002009-09-01T07:28:52.721-05:00

On Friday I loaded up the car and made my first "real" road trip by myself with Graham to visit my college roommates. Our destination was Atlanta. Graham slept for 2hours and woke up just before I pulled off the exit for Chick-fil-A. It was perfect timing. I felt like the Queen of Sheba at Chick-fil-A. One of the workers just kept walking around to see if I needed any help. She knew I had my

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-45008220010871872152009-08-22T10:19:00.005-05:002009-08-22T21:47:14.653-05:00

"I'd like to thank Ruby for teaching me that tummy time is fun. I'd like to thank my Dad for giving me crawling lessons when I was just a youngster. I would have never figured it out without you. I'd like to thank my Mom for believing in me and demonstrating the correct way to crawl around the room. To this day, I'm striving to emulate you. And I would also like to thank God for two hands and two

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-1054869378970867942009-08-21T20:32:00.008-05:002009-08-21T21:55:47.303-05:00

I was singing this rather morbid song while Graham was napping a few days ago. Yes, kids' songs are so ingrained in my brain that I often sing them even when Graham is not around! While I was singing the song, memories came back of one summer in France. During high school and college, I spent 3 years at Camp of the Peaks in the French Alps. One summer we took a trip to the city of Briançon (The

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-16102545662282758742009-08-18T21:23:00.009-05:002009-08-19T11:07:12.237-05:00

Tuesday nights = Chick-fil-a = no cooking for me! Yes, every Tuesday night we get together with some of our friends and attend Kids' Night at Chick-fil-a. It's been a tradition for nearly a year because the kids' meals are only $1.74. It's expensive, I know, but you are really paying for the ambiance. Nothing can beat people dressed up as cows and the romantic serenades with the kazoo. Yes, we

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-35458248414574659642009-08-17T17:20:00.003-05:002009-08-17T17:31:00.279-05:00

Yes, I'm afraid it's true. Jeff and I actually resorted to using the Wheel of Responsibility. We were having a debate as to who had to change the next poopy diaper. We had each changed one that day. I told Jeff that I knew how we could settle the dilemma. I then pulled out the Wheel of Responsibility and laid down the ground rules. No best out of 3. Just one spin. Plain and simple. And of course

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-84845218321841936192009-08-16T16:14:00.004-05:002009-08-17T17:19:33.387-05:00

So you may be wondering how baby food is going since I was totally stressing out about the whole thing. I guess you can say it's going pretty well, despite the fact that Graham is the messiest eater I have ever seen in my entire life. I mean, I knew it would be a little messy, but I didn't expect it to be THIS messy. I fed a baby in the nursery at church a few weeks ago, and he had baby food all

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-26515762579273032822009-08-15T09:33:00.004-05:002009-08-15T13:12:03.045-05:00

I absolutely love appliqued clothing. A plain little onesie can look so adorable once you applique a cute design on it. Even though I have no experience sewing, I thought I would take on the project of appliqueing a onesie for G. This is my first one, and it is my first attempt at using a sewing machine all by myself, so please don't laugh. I think with a little bit of practice, I'm going to

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-40493990444181076122009-08-14T12:35:00.005-05:002009-08-14T22:13:24.354-05:00

Since I've been at home with Graham, I've seen a lot more of my neighbors. I watch what they are doing through our big picture window. I run into them while I'm on walks with Graham. I see them when Graham and I run errands. So, I've just been contemplating our neighborhood and trying to decide how to characterize it. Quirky, I think, is the best word. We live in one of those neighborhoods that

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-79488484243445666842009-08-10T09:11:00.005-05:002009-08-10T18:08:18.045-05:00

I spent 3 1/2 years at an amazing church while I was at Covenant College. This was written by an amazing cook, but more importantly an honest, sincere, down to earth, godly woman. I miss my sweet church up on the mountain, and I miss dear Jane Henegar. This writing quite often leaves me speechless. I long to adopt this attitude towards cooking! Why Cook?I cook because I was cooked for by a woman,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-35234788606740777622009-08-07T09:49:00.005-05:002009-08-07T17:57:37.011-05:00

Here are a few things a guy just might not want to do or say to his wife/lady friend (as Jeff likes to call them). I'm not speaking from experience, of course."You're so beautiful, you could be a part time model." Apparently this is from a song, but how was I supposed to know? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYcDhG3kNq8"I love you just as much as I love Steve (the dog), just in different ways. I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-42280030170435809732009-08-06T10:01:00.007-05:002009-08-07T15:23:16.851-05:00

Yesterday I spent the day shopping in downtown Franklin, TN with my mom, my sister, and of course Graham! The downtown area is filled with boutique stores and quaint cafes. As we were about to step foot in The Iron Gate, out walks Vern Yip. We were stunned. Abbey and I looked at each other and said,"Uh...that's Vern Yip!" About as soon as we finished the sentence, he hopped into his bimmer and

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-33850383152231085522009-08-04T20:59:00.007-05:002009-08-05T08:16:52.430-05:00

I know. I know. You probably thought the baby police outlawed Johnny Jump Ups. You may have had one when you were a kid, so you thought they surely were being sold in antique stores by now. Well, I'm here to prove to you that Johnny Jump Ups are alive and strong. My sister and mom did some research and told me that they are in fact still producing Johnny Jump Ups. So....a couple of weeks ago I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-24091401555290720492009-07-31T08:31:00.006-05:002009-07-31T10:16:57.440-05:00

I've always liked chicken, pies, and pots, but for some reason when you throw it all together, I'm not a huge fan. That is until my mom started making this chicken pot pie recipe. I believe it is a Southern Living Recipe, and we all know that Southerners know how to cook. There are 3 things that I can promise you about this recipe. 1. If you're a chicken pot pie eater, you will never use another

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-73174674502949161852009-07-25T09:30:00.006-05:002009-07-25T12:42:32.334-05:00

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Graham. Whenever Graham sat in his Bumbo chair, it made him have to poop. One day his aunt Abbey was watching him while his momma got ready for the day. Sure enough, after a few minutes in the Bumbo, there was a stench in the air. Abbey, being the responsible aunt that she is, immediately picked up her nephew to save his mom the trouble of changing

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-29627602713957395632009-07-21T13:12:00.009-05:002009-07-22T14:37:07.361-05:00

I felt like a crazy mom yesterday. You know what I'm talking about. One of those moms whose hair is disheveled. Her outfit has been quickly thrown together. You can tell she is really worn out, she can't handle her kids.....you know, a crazy mom. Yesterday I planned out some meals for the week and decided to go to the grocery store. When I go to the store, I always take Graham in his car seat and

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-56965041191594377512009-07-15T11:21:00.003-05:002009-07-16T16:17:49.939-05:00

I was going to wait until Graham was six months old to start solids, but because he is starving and only a couple of weeks away from six months, I threw a bib on him, sat him in his cute high chair, and shoved some oh so delicious rice cereal in his mouth. Then I freaked out. I'm not ready for this baby food thing. I have been planning to make baby food for Graham, and I am just not ready. I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-12810997205067701712009-07-05T21:31:00.010-05:002009-07-10T22:50:39.622-05:00

Well we did it. We took Graham on his first trip across the county and succeded with minimal crying and fussing. Jeff, Graham, and I hopped on a plane to San Diego to see my dear friend Lydia, her sweet husband James, and their adorable daughter Ruby. Graham and Ruby were supposed to be only 2 weeks apart, but Graham changed that when I had to deliver a month early! However, 6 weeks isn't that

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-74157268766793028302009-06-12T10:17:00.005-05:002009-06-13T16:37:24.756-05:00

For me, 13 has always been my lucky number. I was born on December 13th, so I always wanted to be number 13 when playing basketball or softball. If I ever needed to choose a number for an activity, it was number 13. It just made sense that I found out I was pregnant on June 13th of last year. I took a couple of pregnancy tests on June 11th and a few more on June 12th. The results? Well, two times

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-21115578664849718332009-06-10T10:11:00.005-05:002009-06-10T10:37:26.987-05:00

Baby boy clothes- sometimes I feel like its so hard to find ones I like! When I was first pregnant, I always looked at the girl clothes. I could find girl clothes that I liked just about anywhere. Boy clothes, well, that was another story. They have to be soft and you still want a boy to look like a sweet baby even though he's a boy, right? The problem is that some of the boy clothes that I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469903789903003556.post-85397547534918219192009-06-09T22:33:00.005-05:002009-06-09T22:59:51.478-05:00

Graham does not like medicine. And when I say doesn't like, I mean he absolutely abhors, completely detests, would rather do anything else in the world than to take a few drops of medicine. Graham got sick for the first time last Wednesday. Ironically he was already scheduled to go to the doctor that day for another round of shots. I told the doctor that he felt really warm to me, but my

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463929465450091790noreply@blogger.com0