Table for Five!!

Table for five...we'll need two high chairs (GULP)

2010-10-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

So, we got some exciting news last week. We are expecting another baby! When it rains, it pours. Eight years of infertility have come to a screeching halt, as we will have two children, two and under! WOW! Granted, Phillip will be two years and nine months old when the baby is born...but still, two is two :) We are really excited about it! Olivia is hoping, praying, bargaining, begging for a girl! Mike would prefer a boy. As a mother, I am supposed to say that I don't care, but honestly, I would like another girl :) Tune in later (probably six months later, knowing me), for more details!

Anti-Vacation

2010-07-07T06:19:00.000-07:00

So, my parents are on vacation. For most 32 year olds, this does not affect their life in any way. Maybe they have to stop by the house and pick up mail or water a plant, but otherwise, not biggie. If you work for your parents, it's a biggie. An anti-vacation, if you will. I am doing all three of our jobs this week. Which means working from 7:30 a.m.-5:30/6 p.m. For six days. I am tired. A crazy, bone deep tired.

My children are missing me. Normally in the summer, Olivia comes to work with me. Phillip comes to work with me year round. However, I knew I couldn't swing it this week. There is no way to be this busy and play with/watch the kids. So, Monday Olivia went to the lake with my friend Kim and her daugher and neices and Phillip stayed with my grandparents. Tuesday, both kids stayed at home with Mike. Today, tomorrow, and Friday they will be at our churches day care. My good friend is the director of the day care and she is letting them stay this week.

I am so glad I don't have to leave Phillip every day. Olivia went to day care when she was his age and did fine. He is not going to do fine. He is a mama's boy. He will behave for them, he's not a cryer, but he will be sad. When I left, he was sitting in a high chair, about to eat his breakfast. He just looked at me, with his lip quivering and blinked those big blue eyes. Yeah, so glad I don't have to do that everyday.

The good news is that Mom & Dad are having a great time in Cancun and they needed a break. I will need one by the time they are home :) Only four more days...

DAY OF BLOG SILENCE FOR COHEN

2010-07-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

I'm Back...

2010-06-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

Wow, I really suck at blogging! Well, a lot has happened in the last six months. The kids are both growing like weeds…especially their feet. I think both of them may have to special order shoes by the time they are adults! Phillip is a full fledged toddler. He runs, plays, talks, and absorbs everything like a little sponge! He is learning to identify his colors right now, and it’s quite adorable. Wellow (yellow) is his favorite. Whenever he has crayons, he immediately takes out the wellow and hides it.

Olivia is excited about starting 5th grade! How did this happen, she was just a baby! She just went to camp for the first time last week. She had a blast. When I picked her up, she said “Mom, I don’t want to hurt your feelings…but I didn’t miss you one bit!” Ha! Poor mom, she’s just not cool anymore. She is planning on spending a week with her grandparents in Louisiana before school starts. Maybe she will miss me then. She is almost 5’ feet tall and beautiful, if I do say so myself!

Mike and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary in April and our 14 year “date-iversary” in June. In April, he and I went to Florida for a week. It was bliss. We slept late, went wherever we wanted, laid around on the beach, and ate like pigs. It was so much fun! I went deep sea fishing for the first time ever! It was a blast.

Well, I would like to say that I will be back soon, but you never know. Hope everyone is having a great summer!

Olivia getting ready to leave for camp

Phillip on Easter. He bit through his top lip three days earlier :(

Mike & I deep sea fishing!

TIRED

2009-12-09T20:00:00.000-08:00

Mike's parents arrived from Louisiana today. They are staying with us through Christmas. Everyone was super excited to see Nana and Grandpa. Phillip was a little hesitant at first, but warmed up and performed the rest of the evening! Olivia gave them a piano concert and had some bedtime snuggle time with Nana.

I'm very thankful that my kids have grandparents that love them! My kids are the only grandchildren on both sides of the family. That spells S-P-O-I-L-E-D! Phillip sees my parents everyday, Olivia sees them a few times a week. We don't get to see Mike's family as much, but the kids love them just as much!

Mike's parents have already bought the kids' Christmas presents. Olivia got a new quilt, sheets, shams, throw pillow, curtains, and bed skirt. It's super cute, I can't wait for her to see it! Phillip got a GIANT toy box, which I am sure will be full by Christmas day.

We bought Phillip a toddler bed today. He LOVES it! He went to bed right away in it and fell fast asleep. Too good to be true, right? If you said yes, you are correct. He woke up 45 minutes later, crying hysterically. He then tried to climb into my bed. I found him hanging onto the sheet sobbing. He fell right back asleep though, so I'm optimistic that it's going to work out.

I am really bad about letting him sleep with us when he wakes up at night. I did the same with Olivia and she was almost 5 when she finally quit crawling into our bed at night. Occasionally, she still has relapses. The night we brought Phillip home from the hospital was one of them. Coincidence? I don't think so!

I am exhausted and about to turn in. If Phillip gets in my bed, I guess I can sleep in his :)

Pictures from the Parade

2009-12-07T20:33:00.001-08:00

This girl LOVES coffee, thanks to her Aunt Bethany!

Snug in the stroller...for now...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2009-12-07T20:21:00.000-08:00

Ah, the Christmas spirit is flowing freely in the Bell household. Tonight, we took the kids to the Christmas parade in "town". We live in a tiny little suburb, so the next city over is considered "town". It's still a relatively small city, but it's a lot bigger that the tiny hamlet we live in.

We had a delicious (seriously) dinner at Subway and then headed downtown for the parade. We were early so we stopped in a local coffee shop on the town square for hot chocolate (for me) and coffee for Mike & Olivia. Olivia, of course, got decaf. She loves the taste of coffee, too funny.

The kids both loved the parade. I had Phillip swaddled in blankets in his stroller, but that didn't last for long. He wanted to stand beside us and wave at the floats. He refused to keep his mittens on, so I'm sure we looked like very negligent parents.

Phillp is really coming out of his shell. He loves to wave and say "hi" to everyone he sees. He is developing a great vocabulary, this morning he told his sister to "hush".

Speaking of sister, I am really having a hard time with her. I guess it's just growing pains, but it seems like every conversation we have ends with yelling and tears (on her end). She is very emotional and quick tempered right now, I have a feeling that puberty is right around the corner. I just keep loving her and hoping that we wind up with a functional mother/daughter relationship when it's all said and done.

My in-laws will be here Wednesday. They are staying until after Christmas. This is the first time in 10 years of marriage and 14 years of togetherness that they have been here at Christmas. Mike is super excited. I am a little worried. I love them and all, but I am just nervous about having to adjust all my traditions. That's what marriage is, I guess.

They did get the kids some great presents. My MIL is super about that. She just calls me up and tells me to order them what they want and she will pay for it. Olivia has a whole new bedroom collection coming, a new quilt, curtains, sheets, bedskirt, etc. Phillip is getting a big toybox.

Mike's parents are getting older, they are 72 & 77. His father has Parkinson's disease. I know my kids won't have them around forever, so we are going to cherish this Christmas.

That's all for now, I got all of 3 hours of sleep last night, so I think I'm going to crash!

Thankfulness

2009-11-29T20:26:00.000-08:00

Ahh, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I am tired and bloated. It has been a wonderful weekend, filled with family and fun. We had a tiny little Thanksgiving dinner Thursday with my parents. The rest of the entire family was out of town, so it was just us. We fixed WAY TOO MUCH food and ate until we moaned. At one point, Mike looked at me and said, "Is this what it feels like to be pregnant?" Yeah, sure, just like it...for NINE months!

Friday, I lounged around the house with the kids. It was glorious, leftovers and all. Mike had to work that night, so we just lounged. Olivia spent the night with Mom & Dad. It was a lazy day.

I worked some Saturday, we were shorthanded at the store. It was fine. Nothing exciting.

Today, was some great church and more laziness at home. We cooked another turkey (HA), so we would have leftovers this week.

So, since I last blogged, Phillip & Olivia have both had birthdays. My brother did an amazing photo shoot of the kids for Phillip's one year pictures. I am including some of those in this blog for my three readers :)

My laptop is finally fixed (AGAIN). This laptop is a lemon. I am breaking down and ordering a new computer for Christmas. Merry Christmas MAMA! I hope to blog more, I need an outlet.

This is a very disjointed, random post, so I will just leave the pictures. Tata!

I am fat

2009-07-31T20:17:00.000-07:00

Well, there it is. I'm not chubby, I'm not pleasantly plump, I am fat. I am 80 lbs overweight, or at least over the weight I want to be. 80 lbs. That's crazy. I weigh exactly what I did this time last year. I was 8 months pregnant. Yikes. Tuesday, Mike, Mom, Dad, and myself are starting Weight Watchers. Dad wants to lose 100 lbs, Mom wants to lose 20 lbs, Mike wants to lose 40 lbs, and I was to lose...80 lbs, of course. However, if I lose 80 lbs, I may lose 10 more just so people tell me that I'm looking TOO SKINNY! How great would that be? So, it's out here in interweb world, I have to do it...right?

Seriously though, I will do this. I am 31 years old. I have many, many years ahead of me (I hope). I want to spend them healthy and active, not fat and tired. I want my children to be proud of me, not embarrassed by me. I want to be the pretty girl my husband married, not the fat, grumpy woman who ate her :)

Wish me luck...

All Because Two People Fell In Love...

2009-06-18T18:56:00.000-07:00

Thirteen years ago tomorrow, I went on my last first date :) It was an unlikely pairing, an eighteen year old girl, a thirty two year old man. Some would say it was scandelous. But, I knew, before we ever went on that date, that this was the ONE.

Let's start in April 1996. On April 2, when I was all of 18 years and 15 days old, and still in high school, I met two men who would both change my life. One for the better, one for much worse. I was introduced to these men by my friend and boss, Randy. We were leaving work one night and he said, "Hey, I met these guys last night, you should meet them, they're great." So, we poked our heads into a partially constructed restaurant next to the store we worked at and said hi. The two men were Mike (future husband) and Chris (future nightmare). Well, we started talking to them and I stayed and talked for over 2 hours. Mike was hilarious. Chris was, well, he was hot. Mike was good looking, but seemed very OLD to me. Chris was 26 and looked all of 20. When it was time for me to go, I told them I would see them again, I was sure.

Fast forward to the next night. My BF Chanda and I, along with her little sister, stopped by my place of employment to pick up something I left earlier. I saw Chris and Mike leaving, so I pulled up and said hello. They said that they were headed to Los Portales (a local Mexican eatery), would we like to go. Well, of course, we did. So, we had a great time talking to these guys and when we left, we all agreed that Chris was really into me.

Sometime during the next week, Chris asked me out. Thus began a three week relationship that had A LOT of drama, some of the worst decisions I have ever made, and a broken heart. The broken heart was due to the bad decisions, not the idiot. Anyway, that relationship was over quickly, and while it was, by far, the worst of my life, I got something priceless out of it. My friendship with Mike. Though Chris and I were over, Mike and I had become fast friends, bonding over our superiority complexes and other things we had in common.

Well, over the next couple of months, the friendship grew. We saw each other daily and had a great time when we were together. I was falling, and fast. In my mind, I kept telling myself that this would never work. We were 14 years apart, he just thought of me as a little sister, etc. Well, on June 16, I called him and bit the bullet. I told him that I was romantically interested in him and would like to go out sometime. I was met with *SILENCE*. Then, he regained his composure and said that he would love to, how about lunch that Wednesday, his day off.

Well, I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep the next three nights, I had never been so excited. My friends thought I was nuts. Here I had fallen head over heels for this OLD guy, who was cute and funny, but OLD. Anyway, he picked me up for lunch on Wednesday and we headed for the Garden Plaza Hotel. SCANDELOUS! Kidding, kidding, we ate at the restaurant there. One of my good friends worked there and I wanted a witness to the date. You know, to tell us if we looked cute together, if we had chemistry, etc.

Well, we talked comfortably throughout the meal. Of course, we were great friends already, so the conversation flowed easily. Towards the end of the meal, I casually placed my hand towards the center of the table. He, just as casually, placed his close to mine, and within seconds, our fingertips touched. I am not exageratting here, I felt a spark. I had never felt like I did the moment we touched. My whole arm was warm. We left soon after that and he put his arm around me on the way to the truck. My knees went weak. That had never happened. Even though I was only 18, I had dated quite a bit. This weak knees thing was very new. All the way back to my job, we held hands. He had a stick shift and shifted with his left hand :)

Once we got to work, I shyly sat on my side of the truck as we parked. He turned off the engine and turned towards me. We locked eyes for a few seconds and then he said "Come here you". In one swift move, he pulled me towards him and kissed me. The earth stood still. I saw fireworks, wedding bells, baby blankets, and rocking chairs all at the same time. I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I was kissing my husband. After a few minutes of kissing, I had to tear myself away and head back to work. I floated through the rest of the afternoon. Sometime around 3 p.m., he called me babbling about picnics and walks on the beach. Basically, he was telling me he was smitten. I agreed and told him I could not wait to see him again. I promised to call him that night.

That night, when I called him, he sounded different. Using a very well rehearsed speech, he told me that he understood that I was very young and that I had a life to live. He totally understood if I wanted to date other people and live a little. He would wait for me and would not be dating. He was ready to commit to me, but expected nothing in return. I listened to his speech and then told him that I had no intention of ever seeing anyone else. He was the one for me.

Less than two weeks later, he showed up at my job, told me to sit down, and then told me that he was head over heels, without a doubt, in love with me.

Two weeks after that, all hell broke loose when my parents discovered that the guy I was dating was 32.

Three years after that he proposed to me in a candlelit room, choking back tears, making my dreams come true.

A few months later, we were married.

A few months later, we welcomed with much joy and tears our first baby.

Eight years after that we welcomed our second baby.

Today, 13 years after our first date, I still see fireworks, wedding bells, baby blankets, and rocking chairs when we kiss. I look across the dinner table and see the man I fell in love with. The man who cried when he proposed, makes me laugh every single day, and makes all my dreams come true. Whether he is rocking our babies or mowing the grass, I fall in love with him more every day.

Even though our relationship seemed unlikely and certaintly doomed, I can say with all seriousness, that our marriage is incredible. Mike is truly my best friend and we enjoy each other so much. Here's to many more years!!

Well, almost 9 months later...

2009-06-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

My beautiful babies, I am so blessed
One of Phillip's 6 month pictures, too funny!

So much for using this blog to keep up with the kids' milestones. It's been a wonderful 9 months. Baby Phillip has meshed into our family without a hitch. Olivia loves him, rarely gets jealous. Phillip is the happiest, sweetest, most easy going baby I have ever met. People are constantly commenting on his sweet nature. Here is a wrap up of the last 9 months.

Phillip: Well, he started out little, but did not stay that way. By late October, Phillip is a butterball. A very content baby, he sleeps when we do, except he wakes to eat. OFTEN. But, he goes right back to sleep, so no big deal. Phillip is holding his head up well by two weeks old. He is rolling over by three months and sitting with a little support at four months. By five months, he's sitting unassisted and the Bumpo seat is not longer needed. By the time he is seven months old, Phillip is crawling like a pro. He said his first word, Mama, at around 6 months. Mama is by far his favorite person. He loves Dada and Sister, but Mama is #1. By 9 months, Phillip has a lot of words. He can say: Mama, Dada, Paw-Paw, bye, hi, dog (og), cat (at), up (a personal favorite of his), and go (gah). He has four teeth that he cut in one day during his 8th month. Pulling up is a favorite activity, he began doing this at around 7 months. He pulls up and cruises everywhere. At 9 months, he frequently stands unassisted for a few seconds, then falls. I am in no hurry for him to walk. Overall, he is an absolute joy and I LOVE that we spend every minute together. The red hair and blue eyes were quite the surprise, but now I can't imagine him any other way.

Olivia: Olivia continues to grow taller and leaner. She is a beautiful girl who is growing into her arms and legs. Third grade is over. We are leaving the private school that we were at for two years and trying public school again. Olivia was so tired of that school and she gets to start middle school in August. She is super excited. Olivia took placement test for public school and scored college level on her reading and upper fifth grade level on her math. She is still considered highly gifted, which is no surprise. What does surprise us is what a sweet, compassionate person she has become. She is very mature now and almost all traces of my "baby girl" are gone. She still enjoys being babied and can be found many evenings with all 4'9" inches curled up in my lap. I adore her and cannot get enough of her charm and wit. She has developed quite the interest in boys and it's killing her daddy. She has become very fashion conscious and has great taste. We love shopping together. I cannot wait to see what kind of lady she grows into. She loves God very much and enjoys all church activities. She even helps me with the bulletins on Sunday.

Well, that sums up the last 9 months, sorta. I am loving everyday with my babies. I thank God for giving them to me. We are so blessed.

Just as sweet the second time around

2008-09-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

Snuggled up with Daddy
Already holding up his head

Love those chubby cheeks

His first bath

He sleeps with at least one hand in his hair

Watching Big Sister on the computer

A year ago, if you told me that I would love a newborn baby as much as I love Olivia, I would have slapped your face and called you a liar. Well, maybe I wouldn't slap you, but I would disagree. I could not fathom loving another child as much as I love her. The entire I was pregnant, I was convinced I would love this child a little less. After all, Olivia and I have eight years of history. She looks like me, she talks like me, she is so much like me, we just gel.

Anyway, I was wrong. I love this little boy SO MUCH! Every morning, I look at his sweet little face and I fall in love all over again. He doesn't look like me (he looks like Daddy), he doesn't act like me (he's very calm and laid back), but he is so, so wonderful. I have found myself, every morning as we snuggle in my bed, looking heavenward and thanking God again for my miracle baby.

Olivia is doing so good with Phillip. She loves him so much. The first thing she asks in the morning is "Can I hold him?" The first thing she asks when she gets home from school is "Can I hold him?" She is so good with him and he is mesmerized with her. Life is good.

Mike went back to work yesterday after two + weeks off. I missed him. He has waited on me hand and foot since we came home from the hospital. I don't know what I did to get such a good husband, but I'm keeping him. Here are some pictures for my two readers :) Hope you enjoy!

He's Here!!

2008-09-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

Miracle baby, Phillip Michael, made his way into the world at 4:48 a.m. on September 5. He was about 2 1/2 weeks early. He weighed 7 lbs 14 oz and was 20 inches long. A bad bout of jaundice made him lose a pound, but he is thriving now.

Words cannot express how excited we are, how happy we are, how blessed we are. Olivia LOVES her new baby brother, there has not been one moment of of drama. He is a great baby. He does not cry, unless you change his diaper or clothes. He just whimpers a little when he is hungry. I am so in love with this little boy. He looks like his daddy. Oh my, he is just wonderful. I am on maternity leave with a happy, healthy baby. Hopefully, I will update more...we'll see...

Yeah, I'm still alive...

2008-07-07T11:03:00.000-07:00

Well, the dead laptop is finally revived, so I can blog again. I have had to limit all of my computering to work (where they frown on the blogging) and home with Mike's ancient laptop, which is not even worth the trouble. But I'm back, and hopefully more faithful...

Phillip (the baby, not the uncle) is growing nicely. I had an ultrasound last Tuesday and he is TALL. He is about a week and a half longer than he should be :) Considering Olivia was almost 22 inches when she was born, I'm not surprised. Mike and I aren't really tall people, I'm 5' 8 and he's 6', but our dads and their families are tall. My dad is 6'3 and Mike's dad was 6'2, so no surprise that our kids are tall. Olivia is currently 4'6. She's 7. Yeah, I think 6' is a good projection for her. So, it looks like Phillip will be tall too. His weight was right on track (best they could tell), so he's tall and skinny, so far.

He moves ALL THE TIME! I'm not complaining, believe me. Whenever he doesn't move, I freak out, so I'm happy for the constant kicking, but he's got really big feet, so I feel it.

I can't believe he will be here in 71 days. I haven't done the nursery yet. We bought the bedding, but we still have to paint and reassemble the furniture that's been in the attic for 5 1/2 years. We did get the stroller/car seat and a swing, so we're moving in the right direction. I'm so lucky, I have all of these friends that just had babies, so I'm getting tons of hand-me-downs. Usually, I'm really picky about stuff like that, but I've realized that some things I will only use for a few weeks, so what is it going to hurt to not own it myself.

This week we are heading to the mountains for a week or so. Nothing like thin mountain air and steep inclines to pamper you in your last trimester. Our townhouse is nice, right beside a pool, and has a hot tub, so I'm happy. Drop me a line and say hello, I like to know who's reading :)

It's a BOY

2008-04-15T16:16:00.000-07:00

Well, we found out today that little "Taco" is a boy. We got to see his heart (all four chambers), his kidneys, his spine, arms, legs, face, and of course, his "boy part" (hello, scary googlers).

I was ecstatic! Mike was excited, he would have been either way. Olivia was devastated. She cried and cried. She did finally warm up to the idea, but it took a little while.

Little Phillip Michael will be here in exactly 22 weeks! YAY!!

Thursday Night TV, how I've missed you

2008-04-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

Well, after months of misery, I finally got to watch a BRAND NEW episode of The Office last night. It did not disappoint. I don't know if it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen or if I was just so glad it was bad, but I laughed aloud the whole time.

A few of my favorite parts include: The fake Friday night overtime, Jan's office & workspace, Michael's bench he sleeps on, the tripod in the bedroom, Jim trying to leave the party, with or without Pam, and Dwight's babysitter.

Oh, I am laughing now, I am so tickled. Thank you writers, thank you for giving so much :)

Dental Woes

2008-04-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

My poor husband had to have oral surgery today. I'm still not sure exactly what the problem was (you know how forthcoming with information men can be), but it had something to do with a cracked tooth that had become infected.

So, he rode to work with me this morning. His surgery was at 1 p.m. and I had some things I needed to do at the office. He hung around and entertained me this morning. Then I took him to the surgeon's and settled in for a long wait. To my surprise, he was ready to go in 41 minutes.

Mike is one of those people that is hilarious when under the influence of anethesia or pain meds. He becomes very child-like and endearing. All the way to the car, he was complementing the dr. and then he dug in his wallet and gave him a free pass to his restaurant. You know, because surgeons are short on money these days.

We then had to travel to "the Walgreens" and drop off his prescriptions. The first one we went to had a three hour wait. No thank you. The second one had a 35 minute wait. That's more like it. We left the 'scrips and went to pick Livi up from school. By then, Mike was coming around a little better and was HUNGRY. So, we swung by McD's and got a milkshake.

Finally, we headed home. Once we arrived at home, Mike was wandering around and seemed pretty lucid. He took some pain meds and settled down to rest. He then thought of something he wanted out of his truck and headed outside. A couple of minutes later, I heard the lawnmower. I ran outside and guess what? The man who had surgery two hours earlier was mowing. Well, I put a stop to that and sent him inside. It's been pretty calm since then.

I've got to call that dr tomorrow and see if I can get a steady supply of whatever drug he's on. He never wants to mow the yard normally :)

Oh, well, I'm glad he's okay and I'm settling in for an adventurous evening.

Fashion Fun

2008-04-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

I am a faithful blog reader, though a few are my very favorites. Big Mama is one of them. I adore her Fashion Friday posts. She is having a fun fashion "bare all" this week and I am excited!!

American Idol, it changed my life

2008-04-02T19:56:00.000-07:00

Tonight as I was watching the results version of AI, I was in good spirits. I was pretty sure that one of my personal bottom two was going home. And she did. I loved hearing the Clark Brothers, they are actually friends of my family, though I don't personally know them. They did sing at my brother's church on Sunday morning though. Same song they did on Idol. And I love me some Dolly! Love her, love her, love her. However, silicon and botox, not gravity, is what's holding her up.

Anyway, onto the life changing. The Idol Gives Back clip just killed me. I wept. Not sniffled, wept. Here I am, parked on my well fed keister, watching AI in my suburban paradise. I have plenty to eat (too much, really), a beautiful home, a healthy, beautiful child and another on the way. These children don't have blankets, much less homes. The little girl that was looking for her sister was about the same age as my daughter. I seriously freak out if I think about my child getting lost at the mall. I cannot fathom her living on the streets.

How, oh how, can this happen? How can we, as a country, spend billions and billions of dollars on the war that will not end and not help these babies. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not anti-war or pro-war, I am tired of war. I am tired of the fact that we have been at war my child's entire life. I am tired of children, babies really, living in street because no one can or will help them. Why can't we make a difference?

I can make a small difference, I can donate something to AI Gives Back (and I will), I can sponser a Compassion Child (which am I just about to do), and I can give to charities through my church (which I do). But, my one little thing is not going to save those children.

It's so overwhelming, so hopeless feeling. I want to do something, anything to make a difference. Everything feels so small. Mike and I have toyed with the idea of international adoption. But, then we feel guilty, because there are so many kids "in the system" here that need good homes. Then we feel guilty, because maybe it would affect our child if we brought a child with "baggage" or emotional problems into our home.

Oh, how to make a difference? I'm still pondering. One funny thing though. I called my little brother after AI and was talking about the episode. I told him how moved I was by the orphans and he said he was too. I said "It makes me just want to adopt one (meaning the one of the thousands of orphans)". He said "Jeez, Andrea, after all they've been through, shouldn't you adopt both of them (he meant the two sisters who had been reunited)". He is so literal, he always has been. I started laughing and said "No, you dummy, I mean I want to adopt one of the orphans, not one of the sisters". He said "Oh, that's good, it seemed cruel to separate them now". Maybe it's not so funny written out, but it was a nice comic relief from the sadness that has settled on me.

LAZY Saturday

2008-03-29T18:51:00.000-07:00

Olivia had a sleepover at church last night. Imagine 40 or so kids between ages 7-11, staying up all night, playing games, watching videos, and playing Dance, Dance Revolution.

Umm, yeah, sounds horrible to me too! But, several (more) dedicated (than me) good souls hosted it and a good time was had by all.

It stormed really bad last night and I kept waking up all night worrying about Olivia. She is terrified of storms and I kept expecting the "Will go pick me up?" phone call. It never came, but neither did a good night of sleep.

When I picked her up, she informed me she was going home and going to bed. Sounds good to me. Pregnant women do not need an excuse to go back to bed :) So, we went to bed, I got up a few times for a drink or to "dispose of" the drink. When we finally got up it was 4 p.m. That's right, 4 p.m.! Yikes! I have never, ever, ever slept that late.

Needless to say, it was not a productive Saturday, but a very restful one :)

Happy (belated) Easter

2008-03-24T09:48:00.001-07:00

Easter Sunday was a wonderful day for us. Though, I was a little bummed about not having an "Easter dress" to wear, I got over it. Maternity dresses are crazy short this year. Hoochie mama short.

Olivia looked beautiful, she loved her Easter basket and was even good at church. Her best friend Morgan has been coming to church with us, and that's really good for both of them.

Our church service was beautiful and I hosted an easter egg hunt for the kids after church.

Olivia went over to Morgan's house after church and Mike and I enjoyed a nice dinner at Cracker Barrel with Mom & Dad.

All day, I kept thinking, "Next year, we'll have two kids at Easter. Next year, there will be two Easter outfits, two Easter baskets, etc". I am SO excited!!

Well, it's been a while

2008-02-29T09:50:00.000-08:00

Well, color me embarrassed. All it takes is one little pregnancy and all of a sudden I don't do anything for a month. Seriously, though, I have been so tired. As the first trimester nears an end, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. My energy is slowly returning.

One new thing for this pregnancy is VERY VIVID dreams. My entire adult life I have had a recurring character in my dreams, my high school boyfriend. The dreams are never "adult" or romantic, he's just there. For instance, I'll be on a trip and turn a corner and see him on the sidewalk. I'll say hello and move on. Weird. He makes an appearance in my dreams at least twice a month. I harbor no longing or desire for this person. I haven't even seen or spoken to him in over 10 years. He could be a belly dancer in Berlin for all I know. But, still, he appears.

Maybe it's because things ended so badly with him. Maybe I wish for an opportunity to "run into" him and make things right. I don't know. All I know is I see him, circa 1997 or so, twice a month. He was my first love and I guess he'll always have a home in my subconcious. Maybe one day I really will be on a trip (to Berlin, maybe), turn a corner and see him. If I do, I'll be sure to say I'm sorry so that I can move on to different dreams.

My college boyfriend makes frequent appearances in my dreams also. This makes more sense, since he is sleeping next to me. Lately, I watch him sleep a lot, since I wake up in the middle of the night, wide awake, for an hour or so. Hormones, they are a crazy thing.

So, tell me, do you have recurring dreams or characters in dreams. Are they my high school boyfriend :)

Umm, table for four, please

2008-01-27T17:40:00.000-08:00

Wow, did I get some exciting news this week. After four years of trying and then giving up, I am pregnant! Another medical marvel is residing in my womb. Fertility drugs didn't work, different diets, techniques, etc. didn't work. God worked! God did it. He waited until I was done trying to control everything myself and then he gave me my miracle.

My miracle is due Sept. 16, 2008. We go for an ultrasound on Thursday, Jan 31 to make sure everything is okay, but it is, I know it is!

Well, that about sums it up!!

Oh, my back!

2008-01-20T19:16:00.000-08:00

Here in our silly little town, we have a super annoying radio commercial in which this guy screams "Ohhhh, my back". Well, that's how I feel. I have been completely bed or couch ridden for two days. My lowerback is completely seized up. Oh, the misery. It's really making me GRUMPY

In other news, the Hannah Montana concert was SUPER! We had the best time. Although, I'm a little worried about sweet little Miley Cyrus. She is getting a little flashy, a little mature. Gone are her sweet little tween outfits, replaced with low cut, strapless dresses, and barely butt covering dresses. Please Billy Ray and ex-Hooter's waitress mama whose name I don't know, don't let her grow up so fast. I know she's paying the bills and all, but keep her young a little longer. Please, the mama of this 7 year old is tired of explaining teen pregnancy. So tired.

That being said, we had a wonderful time. I found myself cheering and dancing as much as the little girls. Here are a few pictures, check out the purple hair.

For only $3.99 and a quick trip the Sally Beauty Supply, you too can have purple rock star hair.

Sunday, glorious Sunday

2008-01-06T19:58:00.000-08:00

Today was a great day, my friends. It started out with me oversleeping about, oh, an hour and a half. I woke up at 9:30, I had to be at church to do the bulletin and calendar by 10:30. Needless to say, Livi and I didn't look our best.

After I did the bulletin and calendar, I snuck into the sanctuary just in time. Our church only has one service, at 12:30. I won't say it's the #1 reason I chose this church, but it's in the top ten. Anyway, we had a beautiful service, commenorating the beginning of a new year. We had communion and a candlelight service. I had the drippiest candle ever, but otherwise it was great.

After church, I went to lunch with my pastor, his wife, and a friend of ours. We discussed a huge conference we have at our church in April. I'm the coordinator of said conference and it takes alot of planning. It is so worth it though. We have over 1500 people come through our little hamlet in three days, 800 in one night.

Olivia went to mom & dad's while I was at my meeting/lunch. She was in foul mood when I picked her up. We played Wii for a little while when we got home and she pitched a fit when I won at baseball (I'm not a believer in letting kids win, they never learn how to play well if you do). Well, I was sitting her on the couch talking to her about being a sore loser and she was crying and carrying on, and then she bit me! Needless to say, it went downhill from there.

Tomorrow, she goes back to school. Order will help. She doesn't do well with organized chaos, which is what the last couple of weeks have been.

Well, now that I've bored my 2 readers to tears, I'll sign off. Maybe tomorrow will bring more interesting stories.

Ugg..

2008-01-01T17:56:00.000-08:00

My laptop is sick. It may be dead. I'm on my husband's laptop right now. Ihope mine is okay, since I haven't backed up the Christmas pictures yet...Say a prayer.

On a brighter note, I gotmost of my Christmas decorations down today. I have to go back to work tomorrow after 12 days off, so I wanted the house to be neat when I drag my butt in tomorrow.

Oh, well, I hate Mike's laptop, so I'll sign off. Keep your fingers crossed that the computer guy can fix my computer.

A few of my favorite things

2007-12-31T20:45:00.000-08:00

Gracie the "fat" cat

My baby, Lucky, who patiently scrunches under the table every night, waiting for scraps.

Mike's baby, Wiley, who still doesn't like me after 9 years

My "three" snowman family

My three family sculpture from Cancun. We like things in 3's

I was walking around the house tonight, taking a few last pictures of my Christmas decorations. I decided to take pictures of some of my favorite things. Enjoy!

Dinner with the fam

2007-12-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

Olivia, being Olivia

Good ole' Mom & Dad

Such a cute kid!

OMG, they are in the same picture!!

Mike and Olivia reading, they got bored...

Well, dinner with the family went well. One of dad's brothers (the youngest) couldn't make it. My uncle Bryan (the oldest) and his son Kevin were there. His wife, Aunt Rhonda and daughter Laura couldn't stay. Laura has a stomach virus. Kevin's fiannce went with them. My aunt Beverly (the bad choice maker) and her two sons, Thomas and Tyler were there.

My grandparents were civil, we even got them in the same picture. Big change! We used to have separate birthday parties (for the grandkids) and Christmases so that they didn't have to be in the same room.

The tickets are HERE!!

2007-12-30T14:02:00.001-08:00

The coveted, much anticipated, highly difficult to obtain, Hannah Montana tickets arrived today! Well, actually, I guess they arrived yesterday, but I didn't check the mail until today. We are super excited!! Only 16 more days!!!!

P.S. I have no idea why the picture is so yellow.

Family Ties

2007-12-30T11:55:00.000-08:00

Tonight we are going to have dinner with my dad's family. My dad has one older brother, one younger brother, and one younger sister. I am the oldest of 10 cousins. I supplied the first great-grandchild, but my cousin Ashley is expecting a little girl, so soon there will be two.

I was the only grandchild for four years. They were a good four years, I was spoiled rotten. My dad's parents are divorced, they have been for over 30 years. They still fight like it was just yesterday. Both remarried and divorced. They are not good at being married.

A couple of years ago, my grandmother's health starting declining and she moved into one of the rental houses that my dad owns. It's a duplex. At the time, no one lived on the other side. Soon thereafter, my brother decided to move out of my parents house and move into the other side (so very independent). He met his now wife and moved to Nashville and guess who moved in? My grandfather. Yes, the ex-husband. He had been living with my uncle Brad. Uncle Brad had recently remarried, and three's a crowd.

So, here they are, after 30+ years, living under the same roof. They have taken turns chauferring each other to the doctor and ER (very dramatic people). They fuss and fight like always. They are still rasing kids together. Their youngest, the girl, has made some not great choices in life and they are usually stuck with her kids. They are 21 and 17 now, but still require a lot of attention.

We just think it's hilarious. I wonder if they will ride to the restaurant together tonight? I'll let you know.

Don't want it to be over

2007-12-29T21:59:00.001-08:00

I don't want to take my Christmas decorations down. I am enjoying the house looking festive. How late is too late to take them down. Here are a few pictures, just to keep the memory alive.

Our "main" Christmas tree

My Christmas village

Christmas dishes-one of my favorite things

The view into my dining room (I hate my table and chairs)

The playroom tree-done in lambs, Olivia's favorite thing

Maybe I can just transition the decorations into Valentine's Day decor. A heart tree maybe...maybe not. Oh well, Merry be-lated Christmas.

Well, I forgot I had a blog

2007-12-27T15:10:00.000-08:00

Well, Olivia' birthday has come and gone. She turned the big 7 and had a Hannah Montana birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. The wig really made the outfit, it lasted about 7 minutes...

Christmas at the Bell house was blessed beyond measure. Olivia scored a lot of stuff, including a Wii and Hannah Montana tickets. She's one spoiled little princess. She also got a huge doll house, an American Girl Bitty Baby and MUCH MORE!! Approximately 24 hours after Christmas, she was making all the empty boxes into a time machine. Never fails, I could have saved some serious money and picked up free boxes at the liquor store :)

Here's a sweet picture of Christmas morning.

Well, my New Year's Resolution is going to be to remember to blog. It's a great outlet and another great way to waste time online.

Back in the land of the living

2007-08-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

I have been without internet for almost (gasp) three weeks! I cancelled my Verizon wireless card (because it was a piece of poo) and ordered high speed internet for the house. Then I waited, and waited, and waited. Then the modem arrived and the line was down!! Finally, yesterday, it was restored! Praise Jesus, I've been online ever since.

Today, Olivia's best friend is spending the day with us. They have been completely smitten with each other since the first day of kindergarten. This year is the first year they haven't gone to the same school, so we're trying to get them together often. I took them to lunch at McDonalds, then we ran into the Dollar General Store and Big Star (have I mentioned that I live in a tiny town that doesn't even have a WAL-MART?!?!) It was in these stores that I realized two things: 1. I only have one child because God is smarter than me. 2. My child isn't as badly behaved as I once thought, she has a lot of company out there.

We're back at the house now, so they are playing beauty shop. They have already put on their pajamas in anticipation of the slumber party tonight. Super cute! I'm thankful for good friends for Olivia, the life of the only child is a lonely one.

Last weekend was a lot more relaxing than this weekend. Mike and I spent three luxurious days and nights together, just the TWO OF US! We returned to the city of our wedding and honeymoon and had a wonderful time. It was the first trip we've taken just the two of us since Olivia was born (except a couple of business trips), and we realized that we needed to do it more. And we will. Soon. Very soon. Is next weekend too soon?

Today, I have at least 500 loads of laundry to do and I promised two VERY EXCITED little girls that they could make cupcakes.

Because I'm silly that way.

Seriously, what was I thinking?

If I survive today, I'll update on all that has happened tomorrow...

Age is just a number

2007-08-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

I just really like this picture, no other reason for putting it here. It makes me happy. Love that girl!!

Anyway...

The old adage "age is just a number" is supposed to be a comforting one. It is supposed to reassure you that even though you may be 117, if you feel 40, that's all that matters.

In my case, however, it works the other way. I am completely convinced that inside I am a 60 year old woman. Case in point, I love old lady TV. Give me some Murder She Wrote or Matlock over Sex in the City any day. My 70 year old mother-in-law and I can watch TV together for hours. Is this normal? I'm only 29. Oh well, I yam what I yam.

On a related television note, my husband has started watching a program on Spike called The Kill Point. It's a gory, boring show about bank robberies or something, but...it stars none other than Donnie Walberg. That's a blast from the past, huh. NKOTB, baby! Actually, he's a better actor than boy band member, he was my second least favorite NKOTB member. Danny was my least favorite, he looks like an ape. Joey was my favorite, just in case you care.

Well, I guess I should talk about something else beside television, lest I seem uncultured. Oh, one more thing. Whoever invented TiVo should be hugged and kissed. How great is TiVo? Okay, that's all, I promise.

I went to church today. Nothing unusual about that, I spend a lot of time at church. I enjoyed myself, but it was a little odd. None of my family was there. Mom and Dad had a business commitment and couldn't make it. Mike had to work. Keith (my baby brother) and Bethany, live in Nashville, making it hard to make it to church. So, it was just me and the kid. We decided to mix it up a little and sit in a different part of church. Well, it was a whole new world. Not really, but it was a little different. Olivia took a nap during church, for like the first time in months, possibly years.

The rest of the afternoon has been spent doing much of nothing. I did a little laundry, cooked burgers for dinner (97% lean meat and wheat buns, so very WW friendly), and hung out with a cute little girl. Life is good...