Between the Lines

No Use Cryin' Over Spilled Milk

2012-01-29T11:25:00.000-08:00

Who knew you could actually take for granted that your car smells normal?

I discovered this truth this past week. Mister Cooper drinks his "chachi mih" (translated: chocolate milk) and eats his "panies" (pancakes) on the way to Ms. Staci's house every morning. Yea, it's a terrible shame. We don't get to sit down together around the breakfast table four days a week. Instead we fly around the kitchen warming up microwavable pancakes, sloshing chocolate milk about. It's glorious in it's own on-the-go kinda way.

So. Coop drank his chachi mih on Monday. Monday turned to Tuesday. Tuesday turned to Wednesday. And before you know it it was Friday morning and I was driving to work (sans Coopie 'cause he was having him a daddy day), and out of nowhere a dead animal nestled itself somewhere in my car. Mysteries of mysteries. I dry heaved (hove? jk.) all the way to work. I rolled down the windows and contemplated opening the trunk. I applied peach scented hand sanitizer fifteen times and batted my hands around to mask the smell.

I screeched in the parking lot of work with my head clear out the winda and threw it in park. I spent all of 3 minutes scouring the car for the dead squirrel or spider monkey. There it was.

In the floorboard of the backseat.

Mister Cooper's chachi mih cup. FROM MONDAY. Slammed up against the door. Lid popped off. Milk ehhverywhere.

Oh my gracious. It's been three days. We have scrubbed and foamed and vinegared and baking soda-ed. We have googled horror stories of people trading their cars in after such nonsense. Heavens to Betsy. It. Is. Foul.

Wanna carpool with me this week? ;)

Out of the clear blue sky we got hit with an "unresolved matter" back from the days of kudzu this week. I have tried to resolve it three times now but for some insano reason, every single time I try to make a phone all about it, I end up a blubbering mess. It's not just the ridiculous left over financial reminder, it's really not. It's just that dealing with it brings up all that hubs fought through last year. It brings ugly tears just thinking about it, but within seconds, my tears turn to absolute JOY for what God has seen us through. I know the doctor's office thinks I am mentally unstable. I finally called Friday and spoke in a British accent and reported that I was calling on behalf of the Davis family. They couldn't take my payment info quick enough. Giggles.

Speaking of giggles, I am in full party planning mode for Coop's second birthday party. SECOND. Seeeeeeeehcond. Gesh. I'm having ridiculous amounts of fun thinking of ways to shower our little man with lots of love.

Think mustaches and bow ties and photo-opt props and little manwhiches and pretzel rod cigars. Ridiculous, and so much fun, no?

It's a good distraction these days from the oober hard time we are having on the baby front. We are so incredibly enamoured with Coop. We love him upside down and inside out. We would go to the ends of the earth for him. He has given us the best gift in all the world. He has allowed us to become parents. And we LOVE it. We LOVE him. And the ache in our hearts for another little Davis baby is just indescribable.

God's sovereignty in it all is so abundantly clear to us. Doesn't change the fact that I cry and cry and cry and we pray and pray and pray every single month. God has answered so many ginormous prayers for us over the past year. He gave Chris life. A second chance. He brought us insurmountable joy through the birth of Cooper. He has graced us with His strength and comfort and amazing peace. He is teaching us something these days. And we sure don't want to miss it.

I fell asleep last night praying my heart out about it. I prayed for God to teach me how to pray about it. You see, this fertility business has me stumped. That's how I know it's exactly where we're meant to be. It is one of the absolute most difficult things to "give up". You take this med on this day and this med on that day. You chart. You pee on sticks. You go for tests. It makes it super duper hard to a) "forget" about it and b) pretend that you have absolutely no role in it. We know that God will provide. That's not the question. We know that we get to have fun in the process. That's not the problem. It's just this bizarre journey that is teaching us SO much about our faith and about how big our God is and how small we are.

My friend Natalie blogged a few months ago about how thankful she is for her experience with infertility. I'm gonna have to second her. Without it, we wouldn't be drawn to Him. We wouldn't realize the amazing grace that comes through His blessings, no matter how big or small. We wouldn't be on our knees. Our little miracle to-be wouldn't be half as prayed for or half as waited on. In a way, I almost feel honored. I feel humbled. God's not through showing us His power, and that is a mighty beautiful place to be.

Bang! Bang!

2012-01-18T19:44:00.000-08:00

Ok. So I thought the Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity's had changed my life (and oh, it did), but tonight I discovered something that absolutely knocked my socks off. Get ready. Bang Bang shrimp. That you make at home. That's right at home. For less than ten bucks and in under ten minutes.

I know. I was skeptical too. I really was. But when I went to pick Coop up from his drop in class at Crimson Academy (cannot say enough incredible things about this place) and found him in the corner, on the floor, laying face down making "carpet/snow angels", singing "night night night night" while everyone else sat in circle time eating their snacks, I knew it was time to have a low key stay at home kind of afternoon. (Poor baby, Dada's out of town (STILL), Mama's been gone, he started a new weekday gig, and now a Wednesday big boy school gig too...he's absolutely EXHAUSTED and completely out of whack. In a throw the remote at your head and crash his car into the wall kind of way).

Lori told me about this Bang Bang recipe last week and I tucked the sticky note in the side pocket of the diaper bag for a rainy day. We stopped by her house today to give her and Coop's girlfriend Landree hugs and Great American Cookies and Lori reminded me of the shrimp.

I pulled the recipe out tonight, took Coop for a drive in the Kroger neon green Car-Buggy, and am SO GLAD I did.

Holy yummy.

I am a die-hard Bonefish fan. If you know me, you know this. We even had our wedding rehearsal dinner there. They are phenomenal. We go for $5 Bang Bang Wednesdays every week in the summer. Their House salad (with side of bleu cheese crumbles) is heaven on a chilled plate. Love them, love them, love them.

Still, it was a stay home in ugly pajama pants kind of night, remember? So we scooped up the ingredients...all THREE of them and headed home. Coop built with legos while we talked about notsomuch laying on the floor making carpet angels next week at big boy school and I whipped up these little babies in less than ten minutes.

Here's the run down:

Get yourself 1 box of frozen popcorn shrimp (I know, I know, but believe me, you won't regret it, I promise), a bottle of Kraft's Hot and Spicy Mayo, and a bottle of Franks Red Hot Sweet Chili sauce.

Go home and pan fry the shrimp on the stove top (I used a little olive oil to help get the shrimpettes golden brown and crispy). Mix 1/2 cup of the Hot and Spicy Mayo with 1/2 cup of the Sweet Chili sauce and toss the shrimp in it. You could skip the whole "tossing" part and dip them or drink the sauce with a bendy straw too, whatever suites your fancy.

I'm saying. [Mom, are you reading this????] This dish will change your life. Me and my ugly pajama pants ate one too many before building more legos, sliding down the bus slide 15 times, and soaking in the tub while rocking out to Chris Brown and Justin Bieber for 45 minutes.

Yes, he is wearing Santa Suit jammies. Yes, it is January. Psych! (Did I just say 'psych'? Must get sleep.)We're a total mess around here, but not that much of one. This pic's old but it made me smile today, so I thought I'd share it.

We ended the night Facetiming with Chris. Coop decided he wanted to show Daddy how he wrestles with me while he is away. Camera rolling. He did a spin move, spider monkey crawled his way on top of my head and promptly tooted in my face.

What. are. we. going. to. do. with. this. lovemuffin?? Heaven help me, being his Mama is the absolute best thing that has ever ever happened to me. Toots and all.

Home Sweet Home

2012-01-16T15:18:00.000-08:00

Welp, one more frozen hot chocolate (no shame) followed by a looong flight home and a disappointing drive through a big fat closed-Varsity (I got off the plane and all I could think of was a slaw dog, go figure), and this Vegas Mama is HOME SWEET HOME!

I couldn't wait to get my hands on our little Pistol Britches! Our convo on the way home went something like this:

Me: "I missed you so much baby! Did you have oh so much fun??"
Coop: "Poppy toot".
Me: "Oh Poppy tooted?"
Coop: "Ball go night night".
Me: "So Poppy tooted and your ball went night night?"
Coop: "More sweet tea mama?"
Me: "Maybe in a little while Coopie. So tell me, what did you do? What did you see? What did you eat?"
Coop: "Eat cookie?"
Me: "You ate cookies?"
Coop: "Tank you Mimi. Ollie go pee pee. -Breaks into song- Do Lord, oh Do Lord..."

Is it possible to love a little person so much it hurts? I think so! Now to survive the looooong days ahead until Daddy gets to come home. "Daddy eat Mellow Mushroom on airplane Mama?". Love.

PS. Emily had her baby!! Welcome Sweet Baby Rylan! Oh my word, what a cutie pie!!

Doll. Baby. Congrats Bell Family!!

These Boots Were Made For Walkin'

2012-01-15T22:11:00.001-08:00

Shoo-wee. I think I walked approximately 500 miles today (and I would walk 500 more, da-da-da-da-da-da-dumdididideedidoo).

This picture makes me smile. It's outside the Forum Shops at Caesar's, where I entertained myself for HOURS today while Chris worked. We swung by as we traipsed about the Vegas Strip late tonight. Who knew it was so fancy on the outside?

There's a whole lotta fountains here in Vegas. Coop would sure love them.

There's a whole lotta sparkle, glitz, and glam too.

Take this enormous Disco Horse in the lobby of the Venetian, for example. Glitz! Glam!

And a trip to Vegas wouldn't be complete without a Gondola ride through the ~~canals~~ casino/mall.

Love this man so much! Most especially because watched the Miss America Show with me and helped me recover from what happened when I tried to take a "spa bath" in the hotel room.

Ahem. They ain't kiddin. Front row seats to my very own Bellagio Water Show in the hotel bathroom. This trip just keeps getting better and better :)

Viva Las Vegas!

2012-01-15T22:02:00.000-08:00

I should clarify. The whole "faux cigs" and "table top dancing" did not actually happen last nght. The boots did actually happen, and they were oh so fun, I have to admit.

It's just Jill and I have this crazy habit of texting each other most inappropriate and outlandish things just to make each other giggle. I don't need an intervention or a week in rehab. Truly, promise.

Side note: there were actually half nekkid girls in cages in our lobby. I shudder.

What we did do last night was sip frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity's under these adorable lights:

Oh my gracious. Let's talk about this "Frozen Hot Chocolate" business. De. Lish. It was so yummy and so romantic. Think of a chocolate milkshake, a mug of hot chocolate, and a Frosty from Wendy's all wrapped up into one. Topped with dark chocolate shavings. Yes, it was that good!

We browsed the shops at the hotel and contemplated whether or not Coopie needs a tiny terry cloth robe or suit of armor. I have seen 128 men wearing aviator sunglasses and it still hasn't gotten old. Lots of lycra, sparkle heels, and also 80 year old women on scooters. It's glorious.

Oh, and I played the penny slots. Lost two dollars. That was enough gamblin' for me. Cha-Ching!

Hubs is working super hard, so today brought tons of shopping, people watching, and Gigi's Cupcakes (my first ever)!

Oh my gracious! This place is hilarious. Can't wait to see what we get into tonight!

Oh. My. Stars.

2012-01-14T07:59:00.000-08:00

I just typed the following text to my friend Jill:

"I saw half naked girls dancing in cages last night in hotel lobby. Don't worry, between my knee high boots and faux cigs, they were actually intimidated by me. Turns out they won't let muffin tops dance on tables, no matter how stellar your boots are."

One problem. When I went to hit "send", somehow it went to my mother in law instead of my friend Jill.

Totally. Dying.

Totally.

Oh, and totally having ridiculous amounts of (not so scandalous) fun!

Airport Observations

2012-01-14T07:56:00.001-08:00

1. There is a distinct difference between leggings and pantyhose. If you wear pantyhose in place of leggings with your tunic, we will in fact, see your panties.

2. Although tempted, it is not recommended to dance in the body scanners at security checkpoint. The not so chipper TSA man told me that doing so might result in an extra pat down. I feel that asking somene to place your hands above your head and spread your feet apart is like an invitation to break it down. I apologize.

3. Hartsfield Jackson, if you position a Krystal two feet from my gate, I will eat a Krystal Chik for breakfast. I cannot help myself. I am a victim.

4. If it looks like I am deep in thought with my sudoku book, do not be fooled. I am people watching and you might just end up on my blog.

5. A Pinterest subscription and a two hour wait at the airport is the perfect recipe for complete bliss.

6. Realizing that a single Krystal Chik wasn't enough to hold you over twenty minutes into a four hour flight can be crushing.

Having an absolute blast!

Skinny Jeans

2012-01-11T20:25:00.000-08:00

Today was ridiculous amounts of fun.

I am sitting here in awe and so thankful for sweet friends. I took a huge leap of faith this morning and started a {professional} journey I've been wanting to do for many years now. Details still in the works, but the whole shebang turned out super fabulous. Mrs. Lori invited Coop over for a play date and loved on him like crazy while I did my workin' mama thing AND she spoiled me rotten by giving me the afternoon stroller free at the mall.

I won't lie. I was lost without Mr. Picklebottoms and the jog stroller. I considered pushing it, empty, just to feel better. I digress. I sprinted off to the mall for marathon sparkle clothes shopping and Abby met me helped me sort through all sorts of fun fancy outfits. She sported the big mamajama double jog stroller with JB and his little buddy, so I instantly felt a-ok and at home surrounded by little people.

Our only rule: It had to be out of the box. I came home with a pair of Fergalicious leopard print flats (OMG-cute cute cute), a crazy cute belt with a gigantic burlap flower in front, skinny jeans, and tall slouchy camel colored boots. Oh, and also two fancypants tunic tops. Out of the box and oh so fun!

Coop and I came home and built tunnels and bridges and robots and buildings out of Legos for over an hour and then Ashley, Lorelei, and Baby Madelyn came over for a playdate. We had the best of times. We laughed and chatted and changed diapers and cut up chicken nuggets and caught up with each other while Cooper taught Lorelei how to ram cars and trucks into things.

I am truly so thankful for precious friendships! It's a great big blessing to be surrounded by a million and one fabulous girls who all seek to lift each other up. Monday night we visited our friend (she's actually a super hero) Melanie, who just endured a double mastectomy after fighting kudzu COURAGEOUSLY for the past year. As we stood at her bedside and cracked jokes about the most inappropriate (and fun) things, I thanked God for the awe-inspiring example she sets for all of us.

My best friend Jennifer recently moved to our neck of the woods and I couldn't be more tickled. We have missed impromptu trips to Target and cheese dip nights for the past 5-6 years and it feels so good to be so close again.

I work with a group of awesome girls with hearts of gold and have the best small group friends in all the world. Us Davis girls have the most incredible group of Ya-Yas who stand by us through thick and thin--we prop each other up when we want to fall down and rejoice with each other in the glory days. I could go on and on.

Past the point of ramblin', just wanted to stop offer up praises for amazing examples of Godly women. It's mighty special and I am oober thankful for each and every one of my sweet friends.

Chicken and Singin' and Whatnot

2012-01-10T20:15:00.000-08:00

Chickfila has come out with two new entrees in the last two weeks. It's almost more excitement than I can even handle. Almost. Woowee, the chicken tortilla soup is sure yummy and has a big fat kick to it too. The grilled chicken nuggets are good. Well, they are good for you, and good as long as you can pay a visit to a hypnotist first and erase all memories of the chicken fried goodness that existed before the little grilled nuggets.

Y'all are so stinkin encouraging. Several other good friends got totally equally brash comments on their blogs this past week too, so it makes me realize that there are just some wackos out there. My favorite was the four page rant on my bestie, Abby's blog about her visit with the pediatric cardiologist. For the love of Pete. She is a fabulous mama, doing the absolute best for her sweet Parker, no comments needed from the peanut gallery. Whatever happened to not saying anything at all if you don't have anything nice to say? "Dr V almost killed my daughter...", totally understand where this lady might have been trying to come from, but come on, zip it lippy.

Coop is all kinds of into singing these days. It cracks me up. There's something about hearing that sweet little voice hit notes twice his range that just melts my heart. I'm like really, really into acapella music. Like embarrassingly. He will sit and watch ridiculous (and random) YouTube videos like this one with me without flinching.

Tonight while he was in the bath he ~~asked~~ begged me to sing the "Heaven" song.

"I got shoes, you got shoes, all God's children got shoes. When I get to heaven, gonna put on my shoes, I'm gonna walk all over God's heaven". He sat there shaking his booty with his soapy mohawk, just stealing my heart.

I almost forgot to post pics of Emily's Pickles and Ice Cream shower Sunday! Oh what fun! We had ice cream sundaes and great big dill pickles and sweet tea and chocolate cake.

It was enough to send anyone into labor. Except sweet Emily. She's still hanging tough, toting that precious Rylan around and chasing two busy toddlers around all day. We are so excited to watch her precious family grow by two more tiny feet!

Confessions

2012-01-08T20:55:00.000-08:00

Confessions:
1. I watched three episodes of Dance Moms and two episodes of Teen Mom today.
2. I miss our sweet friends sitting in the pew next to us every Sunday at church.
3. We don't have pews at 12 stone. I was raised talkin about church pews, so I say it anyway.
4. My prayer for this blog has always been that it would bring more good than bad and that I might use this space to glorify God and His mighty presence in our lives. Last week was the first time I felt compelled to take it offline. I'm still struggling with it.
5. I ate three helpings of yummy sauce at Hibachi tonight. Fried rice soup has it's place on the food pyramid.
6. I miss my brother. I'm not sure I will ever hear from him again and it makes me lose sleep at night.
7. I have an eyebrow phobia. I have contracts with two friends stating if they ever, ever return to their pre-2001 status, they will be shaved in my sleep.
8. I am seriously addicted to playing Family Feud. I can sing the theme song in my sleep and eagerly await my free daily spin to obtain additional coins to support my habit.
9. Cooper still has his pappy. He might get to keep it til he is fourteen years old. Totally goes against all SLP recommendations. Totally.
10. I might have taught Coop the Macarena this weekend. And the Cabbage Patch. And the Roger Rabbit.

There, that's better.

I've been trying to pack for my trip for the past two days. My mom jeans and frumpalicius ruffle tops just aren't cutting it. I found myself standing in Forever 21 with the jog stroller and a snack pack of Goldfish crackers, sweating bullets and trying to distinguish thr difference between shirts and dresses. Yes, I actually thought I might find something fabulous in Forever 21. Yes, i tried to fit the jog stroller in between the overstuffed racks of jeggings and glitter tanks. That's how much I'm out of touch with reality. Thank heavens for Pinterest and those smashing outfit pins. Take two this week.

So tell me, what are your confessions tonight?

Do Lord, Do Lord

2012-01-07T18:07:00.000-08:00

There are just some moments that you want to savor forever and ever.

Our little Do Lord, Do Lord (and his horn honking and vacuum cleaner loving) baby:

Melt. My. Heart.

2012 Strive to Thrive

2012-01-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

January 1st. Such a humbling day. I love it oh so much because we are able to look back over the past year and into the upcoming year, all at the same time. We celebrate the triumphs, learn from the struggles, acknowledge the growth, and cling to the lessons learned.

What tickles me to no end is that God already knows the details of every single day, every single hour, every single second of 2012. Isn't that amazing!? I love the mystery and wonder that lies in this verse:

"God has given them a desire to know the future. He does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing." -Ecclesiastes 3:11

I tried to create a list of resolutions, but they just felt so silly. So I scratched the list and did some soul searching instead. I am praying over these things and can't wait to see how God uses 2012 to reveal more of Himself to us.

Seek: grace, happiness, surrender, joy, wisdom, courage, laughter, inspiration.

Run from: fear, worry, insecurity, impatience, perfection, busyness.

This year it is my hope to pray harder, praise louder, worry less. Be a champion for my husband and a light for my Cooper. Compliment and raise others up often. Eat more of what I love, just less of it. Celebrate others. Play more, work less. Drink a little less sweet tea (who am I kidding??) Give more than I receive. Run again. Increase personal accountability. Spend more time with my family. Check "statuses" in real life, not on Facebook. And be ok with going to sleep with dirty dishes in the sink.

"Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone else expects of you.

Never excuse yourself." -Henry Ward Beecher

What is on your heart to go after in 2012?

2011

2011-12-30T18:59:00.000-08:00

2011: the year preceding 2012, a year of abundant blessings, memories made, moments treasured, praises sung, thanks given.

New Year, New House!

Snow Much Snow!

The BIG 3-0!

First Steps, First Words, First Foods, First Boo Boos

Kudzu Kicked and Kept at the Kurb. Kah-ya!

Coop's First Easter (and subsequently his first experience with a irresistible golfer hat)

Whale of a Good Time, Coop Turns ONE!

Cowboy Coopie has Fun on the Farm

Coopertone Goes Coastal

Five (5!) Indescribably blessed years!

Bite of the Big Apple!

Coop, Chicken Coop!

Oober Thankful at Thanksmas!

Best Christmas. Ever.

It's amazing to see God's goodness unfold with each new day of each new month of each new year. As we look back over the past year, we are silenced by His mercy and sovereignty. As we turn the page on a new year, we thank Him, we praise Him, we bow to Him.

2012 sure looks swell! Happy New Years!

Christmas Bliss

2011-12-26T07:07:00.000-08:00

Oh my stars! What a Christmas! Full of wonder, full of magic, full of bliss.

An overwhelming sense of thankfulness and peace settled over our family this Christmas season. We have so much to sing praises for.

We have a different appreciation for life this year, a different perspective. Christmas morning I woke up whispering constant prayers of thanks to God for bringing us through the past year. For once I am stumped. I don't even know how to say what I'm feeling. I just know that the Glory goes to God, our praises unending.

"Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing." Psalm 34:10

Merry Christmas Y'all!

Prayers for Parker

2011-12-22T19:51:00.000-08:00

You know my sweet sweet friend Abby?

You might remember her...She was my Floormie in F5. She ~~was~~ is my car dancin' buddy (jazz hands) in Athens (and beyond). She's the one who was by my side when we took the leap into grownuphood. She's the one who agreed that we should indeed move apartment units just to get the cherry cabinets we so dreamed of. She's the one who played Supermarket Sweep with me in Target one night at 9:56 pm when we decided we needed to redecorate (again). She's the one who taught me the beauty of a 1am Krystal Chik and a small Dr. Pepper. She's the one who taught me about espionage. And debacles.

She has some mad dance moves.

She's the one who never refuses to dance The Devil Went Down to Georgia with me. Even if it's in broad daylight and she is wearing the most uncomfortable of shoes.

She's the one who welcomed sweet Jeremiah into her world and became a mama just a few short months after she lost her own mama.

She's the one who has been a rock for her family. And for her friends.

She's the one who sat with me in the Babies R Us parking lot while I cried my eyes out last year when our world was turned upside down. She's the one who hand-delivered a bouquet of hydrangeas the day Chris started chemo. She's the one who pours herself into creating edible masterpieces just to see others smile.

She's the one who came with me to meet Tony. And the one who giggled like a school girl when it was our turn to shake his hand.

She's the one needs YOUR mighty prayers. Her Precious Parker needs your prayers. Her sweet hubby Mike needs your prayers. And little JB.

Abby is an absolute blessing. God's grace is so evident in her. She is strong, she is courageous, she is faithful. And I am entirely blessed to have her as one of my besties.

Pray, pray, pray without ceasing. Lift them up every chance you get.

We love you Gidge! We love you Mike! We love you JB! And we love you Precious Baby Parker!!

Sleepy

2011-12-18T19:05:00.000-08:00

We went to meet Santa Thursday night. Oh my stars, Coop LOVED him. He loved the choo choos more. And the fishies. And the moose. Kudos to Bass Pro for a fabulous first Sittin'-on-Santa's-lap experience.

I've been in a drug induced coma for the past 3 days. We're on the final fertility med for this cycle and it's the first that has thrown me for a loop. Merciful cheesenips, it is most bizarre. I sleep and I sleep and I sleep and I wake up tipsy. It's hilarious. And terrible. All at once.

I dropped the ball on our Christmas cards. a) We haven't had any pictures taken recently that are Christmas cardy. 2) It's December 18 and we haven't even addressed them. 3) They printed all funky. Like totally unacceptable funky. Here's what they shoulda looked like.

I blame it on the Prometrium.

Chris had to drive for me today. The road signs were spinning. And you know it's bad when I can't even keep my eyes open to watch "On the Case with Paula Zahn". Apparently this is normal. So long as you have 10-12 hours a night to "sleep it off", it's not supposed to be so bad. 10 hours of consecutive sleep? I haven't seen that since my Millege Place days.

Coopster went down to the farm this weekend. We are so very blessed to have such fabulous parents who love that little fella inside out and outside in. He had a big time. Feeding the horses, playing checkers, drinking chocolate juice, eating chicken cookies, and playing Coopie Choo Choo. Thanks a million Mimi and Poppie Tots!

My heart is so heavy for so many incredible people right now. It's been almost a year since Uncle Stevie went to meet Jesus. How can that be? Oh how my heart aches for his sweet wife Dori and precious baby girl Ludi Mae. My soul searches for the right words to say but none suffice. My heart breaks for Chris and for his mom and for his dad and for his sisters and for his brother. What we'd all give just to hug his neck just one more time.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may find mercy and grace in time of need. -Hebrews 4:16

My sweet sweet Lori lost her mother-in-law Friday night. She has been such a rock for her family, and we just adore her so.

Our good friends Heidi and Ryan lost their Nannie early this morning. They're heading down to Florida for the services tomorrow.

I fell in love with a complete strangers this morning. I somehow came across this amazing family's story and I just can't get them off my mind. I have prayed and prayed and prayed for them all day long. You can see God's grace pouring from them. They are humble. They are courageous.

Can you imagine heaven this week? I mean, it's got to be just absolutely amazing. FULL of His glory. FULL of mercy and grace.

I'll leave you with my all-time jam right now. Turn it up loud. Raise your voice. Lift up your face. Abundant blessings to you all...

Elfis

2011-12-16T18:18:00.000-08:00

Because I'm totally fine with laughing at myself.

http://peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.blogspot.com/2011/12/over-achieving-elf-on-shelf-mommies.html

Read it. You will giggle.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

2011-12-13T18:48:00.000-08:00

These are some mighty sweet days around here.

Trimming the tree...

Chasing Elfis around...

You think our freezer is bad...you should see our pantry. Do Candy Cane Jo Joes and Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes stand alone as a food group?

Magical Nights of Lights at Lake Lanier...

We spotted the Ferris Wheel a mile away. I shrieked and ran off to the ticket booth doing the carnival dance. We skipped hand in hand up to the gate, handed over our tickets, popped our booties into the seat and I instantly had a panic attack. Weeee! Whirrrr! Realization: fertility meds + rapid motion + peppermint hot chocolate = party foul. Oh my soul. There we were whooshing through the air, Coop terrified, and me green as mistletoe.

Ok, so truth be told, it might have been a little bit fun. I call this one "FEARris Wheel". Look at those tiny white knuckles.

Coopster marveling at his first Carnie experience. Such a sweet toothless man. Or wait, was it a woman? Jury still out. This "gee up whore" ride ain't your Mall of Georgia horsey ride, y'all. We should have known something was amiss when Carnie tapped Mama here on the shoulder before "take off" and told me to widen my stance and lock my knees. Shoo. Wee. Gee up.

We had our Forsyth Flamingo's Christmas lunch today. I got the GLEE Christmas CD. The replacement one for the one I lost and will probably find tomorrow. We've been jingle janglin', Gingerbread man makin, Baby Jesus and "Tunnel Town" (Bethlehem) reading, wreath hangin (and picking up--how on earth do we make the ones on the upstairs windows STICK??), and squeezing each other extra tight.

Merry Chrimma Friends!

Thanksmas Part II

2011-12-04T20:19:00.000-08:00

Things I loved about Thanksmas 2011:

Front porch snugglin.
Hugs. Lots and lots of hugs.
Fresh Air barbecue.
Midnight rounds of Apples to Apples with my favorites.
Front porch rockin.

Sausage Balls.
Reindeer footy pajamas.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate.
Choo choo ridin.

Buffalo chicken dip. And wraps. And sandwiches.
College math fun and late night boy talk with my precious niece Pay-Pay.
15 of the people I love most in this world under one roof.
Front porch swingin'.

Pinwheel sandwiches.
Mini Coca-Cola cans.
Christmas tree huntin.

And more tree huntin'.

Glamor Shots by Deb with Sister.
Tanger Outlets.
~~Pass~~ Steal the present game.
S'mores and Marshmallows (ahem, Shaun).
Homemade chicken biscuits.
Big shoe walkin'.

Brunswick stew.
Pac Man.
Taco soup.
Chili.

Did I mention we ate...A LOT? Like we were there for 5 meals (I counted) and we ate approximately 13. My mom is the very best cooker and we just can't help ourselves.

Thanksmas 2011, you were mighty tighty good to us. Mimi and Poppy, THANK YOU times a million...we love you up to the moon and down to depths of the ocean. Now, go and eat a pinwheel sandie for me :)

Thanksmas Part I

2011-12-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

Thanksmas, sweet Thanksmas oh how we love thee.

We are all snuggled up in a lil cabin (built for 25), on the top of a mountain, just miles from an outlet mall. We have endless play time with Coop, time for round after round of Apples to Apples with the sibs and nieces and nephews, and more dips, casseroles, soups, sausage balls, sweets, and tater chips than you can shake a stick at.

My parents are absolutely AMAZING. Truly, there isn't a single thing they haven't thought about. They pour so much into this trip it just isn't even funny. The cabin! The food! The games! The toys! The food! The entertainment! The togetherness! They. are. just. something. else. LoveyousoverymuchMomandBill!!

So Coop and Hubs are napping and I am sitting here pinning :) Yes, the addiction continues. My mom is serving me buffalo chicken dip by the Frito full and I just ran across this amazing blog that makes me realize how awesome it is when people allow themselves to be vulnerable. Check it out: http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/

Can you believe I read it while chowing down on buffalo chicken dip? Sacrilegious. I know it.

So we are on Clomid Day 2. Rockin right along hiccupless. Except for the half hour I spent laughing so hard I almost tee teed in my pants while we were playing "What's Your Favorite?" (how could I help it, my sister has alligator arms) and the couple of tears I shed when we realized Cooper slept through the Dollywood choo choo (not kidding. I cried. Real tears), everything is just fine and dandy.

Elfis made the trip with us. He wanted to guest blog but he is stuck in the grandfather clock, swinging from the *insert word for pendulum looking things that swing back and forth in clocks*. Elfis, bad Elfis.

Bubbles

2011-11-29T19:49:00.000-08:00

ELFIS! Bad Elfis!

That stuff's limited edition. Shesh.

Grace and Peppermint Twist

2011-11-28T17:25:00.000-08:00

We read and re-read hubs' path report this afternoon time and time again, in absolute awe of our sovereign God. "No evidence of malignancy"..."no trace of tumor recurrence". Clean, clean, clean! Take that kudzu. Our God is bigger than you (again)!

"Do not fear, just believe".

Buckets of his amazing grace raining down.

So, have you heard about Bath and Body Works' Peppermint Twist? It's my all time fave. It's kind of like what might happen if Chick-fil-a's Peppermint shake found it's way into your bath tub. Christmas in a cup and Christmas in my tub. Don't be fooled though. It's a limited time offer. Seven days only. Starting today. And the stores only have about 12 bottles total on the shelf. Ready, set, go!!

5 whole days.

2011-11-27T18:42:00.000-08:00

We've had FIVE whole days together. F-I-V-E! No alarm clocks, well other than our sweet pre-programed Coopster, which we'll take over the cock-a-doo-da-doodling rooster alarm ANY day. No work. No worries. Just sweet sweet time home together. I've gotten to love on my boys super lots. They got to love on me ridiculous amounts too.

Tonight Chris and Coop sent me away to Spa Sydell to use up my 60 minute gift card. Ahhh. It was all lavender scented heated blanket bliss until the grey haired, ponytailed man rubbin' on me told me I have hunched over old lady shoulders. Hmrph. YOU try sitting criss-cross applesauce on the floor with little ones ALL day and not have old woman shoulders. Once he told me that, I might have tooted right there in the little room just to get back at him.

I got home and we chowed down on TURKEY (again) and piled up in the car to peruse the Christmas lights. Our neighborhood does it up big. Woo wee. We got to get to gettin here a la casa Davis.

I just about caught a case of the Sunday night blues when we got home and I realized it's back to work tomorrow, but then I remembered it was my night with Elfis :)

Something about a bag of mini marshmallows and a yellow school bus.

Look at his side profile. Smitten.

He was screeching around the island burnin rubber hollaring something about a campfire until he realized he forgot the graham crackers, so back to the pantry he went.

All better.

It's going to be a busy week for us. We get the results of the latest kudzu scan tomorrow, find out if we start Clomid Tuesday, Coop goes for his 18 month check up Wednesday, and we head to the mountains Friday for Thanksmas 2011. Barrels of fun, y'all.

**Oh, and would you, could you, please please please, pray for two sweet ladies tonight? Both are fighting the good fight with kudzu and both are absolutely amazing women. One is our good friend and super hero (seriously y'all, she is a ROCK) Melanie, the other is my sweet friend Kim's Mom. Kim's getting married soon and her reception site just burned down. Her mom got recently diagnosed with Lymphoma and her entire family is rallying around her right now. They need your unending prayers and so do their precious families.**

Thankful

2011-11-26T19:52:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving found us absolutely in awe of about a gazillion things. Thankfulness doesn't even begin to describe our gratefulness for all that we have witnessed and been a part of this past year. It has been a doozie, folks, but we each step of our journey has brought us stronger and closer together.

A year ago, Chris went to chemo and to radiation. A year ago we house hunted and prepared to purchase our first home. A year ago we could put Cooper down on a blanket and walk into another room without him moving an inch. A year ago I cried because I missed Mama Potts and Thanksgiving at her house, sittin' on the porch counting the cars go by. A year ago, we sat next to Big Steve at the Davis Thanksgiving dinner, laughing and cutting up and eating fried turkey and spoon cornbread, never in a million years dreaming it would be our last. Never, ever, ever.

This year is a year of new traditions.

Enter: Tradition Numero Uno: Elfis, ahem (sorry, Chris) Shamus McElfis. I wanted our Elf on the Shelf to be named Elfis, but hubs had his heart set on something Irish to give him an excuse to talk in an accent (like he needs an excuse), so Shamus McElfis, it is.

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

I'm serious. Is something wrong with me? Am I the only grown up who thinks this concept is the best thing ever?? I laugh myself silly every single morning. Even on the mornings where I am the one who "helped" Elfis make his rounds. Even when I crept downstairs twice after bedtime the night before to get a sneak peek and to belly laugh at him. He just looks so darn mischievous. And he's just so posable. I love it. And Coop and Dada do too :)

Happy Thanksgiving, from our families to yours...hug 'em all a bit tighter, stay just a little bit later, and tell 'em one more time just how much you adore them.

My apologies BCBS. God had a hand in that.

2011-11-20T09:13:00.000-08:00

We are habitual food eaters. We find a food, latch on, and hang on for dear life. We know in our hearts that the world is full of wonderful things, but we stick to what we know and we stick to it well. We are quite loyal, after all. Oh, and by we, I totally mean I. It just feels better to include Chris in my neuroses.

We go to Rico's on Kids Eat Free night every.single.Tuesday. I order the same exact thing, the same exact way. every. single. time. Fried Green Tomato Salad with a side of remoulade. When I was preggo with the Coopster, Chris trucked it up to Mimi's Cafe every.single.Saturday.morning. Breakfast Ciabatta, hold the tomato, extra remoulade on the side.

You did what, Mama? I knew there was a reason I crave that yummy sauce. You're crazy.

Before church every Sunday, we go to Bagels and More. SHAMELESS PLUG. The sweet couple who runs this place stole my heart from our very first visit where the wife apologized multiple times for being sold out of Swiss Melt bagels. We didn't even know what we were missing. Oh but now we do. Cheddar Herb bagel for me, chocolate chip ~~muffin~~ cake for Coop and Dada and Yoohoo drinks all around.

So Blue Cross got their act together on Friday afternoon at 2:40. Just in time to reschedule Chris' PET for tomorrow morning.

It's ok though because this morning at church we found out why it got cancelled in the first place. God needed to move a mountain. Ok, that's dramatic. He needed to move a mole hill. The week before Chris got diagnosed last Spring, 12 Stone did this crazy thing at the end of a Sunday mornin' service where people could go down front and be prayed over. Chris was out of town (you know the trip where he ended up getting the call). Coop was just an itty bitty thing. So itty bitty he was curled up on my shoulder snoozing as we rocked out in worship. Going "up front" for anything is SO far beyond my comfort zone. So far. Remember the time I played "Silent Night" for the offertory and blurted out "Oh Shit" when I missed a note? Or the time I made Colleen Gardner give my testimony for me because I couldn't even imagine getting up in front of our church of 50 people?

Before I knew what I was doing that Sunday morning last Spring, I found myself toting Coop up to the front and pouring out my cries for God's grace to the prayer team. We prayed for the biopsies and scans to be clean. We cried out to God to hear our pleas for Chris' health.

4 days later, we got the news that he had cancer.

We knew the entire time that the glory was going to go to God, we just didn't know how or when. He saw us through every single step of the way. He drew us closer as a couple, stronger as a family, humbler (is that even a word) in our walk. He poured strength over Chris, sweetness over Baby Cooper, and grace over me to be the wife He was calling me to be.

This morning our message was on Supernatural Healing. The words poured out of Kevin Queen and straight into our hearts. We sang praises to God over and over for bringing us this far and for never leaving us. We praised him for health and for hair and looked out into the congregation and praised him for two of Chris' kudzu nurses, who have since started coming to our church. At the end of the service, they did it again.

The message was geared specifically at those struggling with illness. Kevin opened the invitation for those of us going through difficult health related things to come down front and to be prayed over. Family after family humbly walked down front. Middle aged men, older women, itty bitty children. The tears just streamed down my face, knowing exactly what they are feeling. Knowing exactly the fears they are facing. Once the crowds stopped and the service ended, we made our way down front to thank our prayer warriors for their unending prayers and to pray for God's presence and continued healing as Chris goes for his PET scan in the morning.

The book of Mark tells us "Do not be afraid. Just believe".

So there you have it. God and Blue Cross Blue Shield are in cahoots. And I sure am thankful for that.

S'more Puffs and PET Scans

2011-11-17T17:42:00.001-08:00

Thank you, Pinterest. Without you, I wouldn't have eaten four of these tonight:

S'more Croissants, or S'more Puffs, as we call 'em. Drop and plop, warm and serve. Warm, gooey, delight, oh my goodness.

Without you Pinterest, I wouldn't have sucked my sweet husband into my world of unending craft-making. He's been drillin' holes, cuttin' boards, staplin' burlap, and distressin' picture frames all week. I'm telling you, IT IS ADDICTIVE. I would tell you more, but Christmas is coming and I sure don't want to spoil any crafty Christmas surprises. Contain your excitement.

Pinterest, sweet Pinterest, I adore you.

Blue Cross, Blue Shield, I do not so much adore you. Because of you, Chris' PET scan had to be cancelled tomorrow morning. Because the PET scan had to be cancelled, his visit with Dr. Szabo had to be cancelled. All this canceling made me want to eat more s'more puffs and cuddle with Coop in his new snowman jams. Sweet little love muffin.

I'm scheming on how to get this framed and hung in our family room.

Yes?

We are loving this chilly weather. Snuggle up, hunker down and watch some trashy TV. Oh, and if your shows not on, hop on over to Pinterest.

Wednesday's Post...5 days late

2011-11-14T19:05:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday, which means we've been to the bank, to Chick-fil-a, to Target, and to two doctors appointments.

I have been stalking cuteness on Pinterest for the past thirty minutes. I had to.

We started another chapter of our lives today. It has everything to do with our prayer to add another little Davis to our family. Before Pinterest, I was searching side effects of my ginormous bag of fertility meds (side note: I. Do. Not. Take. Drugs. Any. I won't even take Aleve for a headache. I came home from delivering Coop on sweet tea and prayers because I declined pain meds. So this is a little out of the box for me...)

Anyway, I was searching one of the drugs and forum after forum talked about how the med causes delirium, dizziness, vomitting, and the best: the feeling of intoxication. One girl took it, had to have her hubby help her to the bathroom to tee tee and slipped and fell and ended up in the ER with stitches. If you know anything about Chris and I, you know that we have far from normal experiences together. We are chuckling already about what the next few months are going to bring.

We are on our knees praying for God's continued grace. We can feel the showers of His mercy raining down and it sure is a beautiful thing.

Punkees and Prayers

2011-10-31T19:12:00.000-07:00

We sat on the porch tonight with our little chicken counting stars and counting blessings.

We are thankful for Dum Dum lollies, for "punkees", for 27 pounds of feathers and fun, for our first home, for Mimi's and Nanas and Poppys and Grandadas, for incredible neighbors, for wagons, for HAIR (can I get a woot! woot!), and for showers of God's amazing grace that rain down on us over and over again each and every day.

I let go of something tonight. Amidst the ghosts, and Lady Gagas, and groovy girls, and zombies, and giant marshmallow men, I took my fear of the unknown and gave it right ~~over~~ back to God. I have been so worried about Chris relapsing. SO worried. So worried that we might never get to experience the joy of adding to our family again. SO worried. Right there under the moon and maple trees, I let it go.

I took a deep breath and realized that Chris is going to have times where he is wiped out and feels terrible. He might even have night sweats and circles under his eyes. It doesn't mean that we are going to be back at the Cancer Answer sweating bullets and dealing with the Red Devil.

I realized that I can crave Chicken Fries from BK without having to imagine it being a symptom of being preggo. (I'm so super serious it's not even funny. It's been my phantom symptom for the past 4 months. I won't lie. I have enjoyed the heck out of every sweet and sour slathered chicken fry.)

I prayed relentlessly sitting there on the porch with my heart overflowing with love and gratitude. I squeezed my babies tight at bedtime and then was reminded (thank you Pinterest, I kid you not):

That's Proverbs 31:25, in case you want to highlight in your Bible right alongside of me.

It is my [Halloween] prayer that we go after this daily, with reckless abandon. God is good. And so are Dum Dums and punkees.

Punkin Carving!

2011-10-30T18:17:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning covered in a rash.

I think I ate too many Fun Size Butterfingers. Really.

That reminds me. Did you see the post on Facebook where my sweet friend congratulated me on my baby bump? Only one problem. I don't have one. I mean technically it is a baby bump. Leftover baby bump from this love bug.

Worth the "congrats on #2" comments? I think so.

Speaking of #2s, our sweet friends the Rogers had their precious baby Girl on Thursday morning. Introducing the beautiful little Eleanor Ruth.

Isn't she absolutely gorgeous!?

Today was the perfect day. We went to church, out to lunch with some of our besties, the Becks, played in the leaves, went to the park (ping dada, ping!--> swing dada, swing!), and had our very first punkin carving shindig.

We took a lot of PERFECT family pictures.

Lots of them.

If you think that one was right on the money, check this one out.

Halloween is supposed to be scary, right??

Dada's Home! Dada's Home!

2011-10-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

Shoo-wee! Hoop and holler! We made it!

Dada's H-O-M-E! Coop and I stayed up late watching "ant-ies" (airplanes) in the sky Wednesday night until we saw Dada drive up the street and back into our arms. We haven't stopped dancing yet! Seriously, Coop's got some new dance moves that will make you boogie down.

We've been busy having lots of fall fun this past week. We went to the "punki-patch" with Mimi and Poppy Tots...

Ran amongst the punkins, rode the giant slide (twice), went on the hay ride, and rode the cow train...

Ms. Lori hosted a Halloween Bash for all her itty bitties. Oh, it was so much fun! This is Aubrey, one of Coop's best baby buddies. Isn't she a DOLL!?

She was one fabulous flamingo! Look at all of those feathers! LOVE! This is Landree, Coop's girlfriend. She gives the best smoochies in all the world! She is just precious!!

And Brady Boo says "Moo!" Forever friends since they were lil' punkins.

Coop had a blast with all of his sweet friends. He ate cookies/chicken feed by the handful and had an absolute ball. We sure love Ms. Lori!

Happy Halloween Y'all!

Hair Blog and Drug Deals

2011-10-21T17:03:00.000-07:00

I just spent 57 minutes stalking a hair blog. Yes, you read that right. A HAIR BLOG. Ok, so it's ridiculously silly but I mean, how great is this? Love her sense of style (all things ruffled and all things scarves) and she has some of the BEST YouTube hair videos. Yes. I watched the videos.

Chris is out of town. We have almost survived the month marathon trip of the century! Almost. I miss him like crazy. To top it off, he has been feeling less than stellar and that's got me wringing my hands and pacing the floor. Coop asked me yesterday to "tit down". Just as I start to go off into loony tunes land, I remember how big our God is and how he reigns over every little part of our lives. In an instant, His grace washes over me and just like that, I let go and eat some Mini Oreos and feel a million times better.

Coop is down at the farm for the night. Hi Mimi! Hi Poppy Tots! I was all walking in circles wondering what in the hee-haw I was going to do with myself until I found the hair blog. You see? It's all coming together now. I also swang (swung? swinged?) into Old Navy at the Mall of Georgia after work to scoop up some little people britches for Pistol Britches. So super fun. I love buying him layered tee's and little man jeans. I passed by the Great American Cookie Company (gasp) and snagged a Great Wrap on my way back to the car. It was in an effort to finish up my "GetMyBootyBackInShapeBeforeWeHaveAnotherPistolBritches" voyage I embarked upon this week. The health kick, not the lets have a baby kick. That's been going on for a while now. Turns out Great Wraps are not so goodness great for you. Sigh.

Back to my wrap. I got the Chicken Caesar one. The one with the croutons hidden inside the wrap. Ah. Heavenly. Just as you are muddling through grilled chicken and lettuce, you get ambushed by a tiny crunchy little crouton. Knowing that driving while dipping (I had to get a side of Feta dressing for my curly fries) is not super swell, I decided to have a 30 second car picnic. Just as I was biting into my first crouton 3 teenagers came walking up to the car parked in front of me. One of them went to the driver side and popped the hood. Just as I jingle jangled myself free of my seat belt (always buckle up while engaging in car picnics) to offer to help, I saw the other guy disassemble the battery cover under the hood.

Then. wait for it. wait for it. I WITNESSED A DRUG DEAL MID CROUTON BITE! No lie. I couldn't peel my eyes away from them even though I tee-teed in my pants thinking I was going to get shot for (thankyoumama) "being in the wrong place at the wrong time". AHHHHHH. In broad daylight. In suburbia. I squealed out on two wheels and ate my Caesar wrap flying down the road. Probably best to forgo the feta dip anyway.

Lolly in the Tub

2011-10-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

It was a lolly in the bathtub kind of night. You'da have thought I'da hung the moon. 33 minutes of absolute bliss (oh, for Cooper too). He ate this sucker right down to the paper straw.

Mom, remember that time we went through the drive thru at the bank and you told me that I could hold my sucker, but that we would have to wait to eat it until we got home? You said "don't you take that wrapper off little miss". And so I didn't. I was quiet as a mouse, sitting in the back of the Putt-Putt on the way back home. Licked that lolly down to the stick with the wrapper still on. Was 12 before I learned that you didn't have to be sitting in the bathtub to eat a lollipop. Yep, this one's for you mom.

Manhattan Marathon Part II

2011-10-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

After we left Time Square, we got stuck in a Polish Parade. There was a lot of techno music, beaded denim jackets, and braided pig tails. We sort of lost 2 hours to wandering aimlessly, trying to find a place to cross 5th avenue.

We made it out alive (barely) and found Rockefeller Center. Whoa. It's tall. Really, really, really tall.

We were all "let's skip all the way to the top of the Rock holding hands and singing Broadway tunes!" and then I started to feel like I might ralph just thinking about climbing my way up there with a hot dog on my stomach. So we went into the Lego store instead.

Then we found Grand Central Station! First thing on my agenda, Flash Mob!

See the foot propped behind me all innocent like? Looks like I was behaving, but I SO was not. Turns out, a Flash Mob, is not so much a Flash Mob when you are the only one breakin' it down. All that practicing for nothin'.

See that girl standing in line over my left shoulder? She's a run away. From Cali. She tried to pick pocket me but I used my nunchuck in self defense. She ran away fast. Might have been my brown walkin' shoes that did it. We'll never know.

We left Grand Central and found LaCoste, my big brother's favorite store. I wanted to buy him something but a) I spent all of our money on homeless street performers and b) he posted nasty comments about me on Facebook for going to NYC without him even though I asked him to call me and he never did. Hmrph. Anyway, I still love him bookoodles and always will. He doesn't say "I love you" back to me anymore, but I always want him to know that I love him anyway.

After LaCoste, we found Magnolia Bakery (yes, more cupcakes), NBC studios, Radio City Music Hall and my ABSOLUTE ALL TIME FAVORITE (minus the smell of horse poop and sound of granola hippies chanting "There's no excuse for animal abuse..."):

So dreamy. Such a fairy tale to walk hand-in-hand with my love down the little winding paths hidden amongst the trees in the midst of the crazy-busy city.

I'd say this trip has been darn near the best trip I've ever been on. NYC is fabulous. It really is. But what's even more fabulous is that I got brave. I put on my big girl panties and left the comfort of the four walls that surround me and keep me safe and happy every other day of the year. I hailed a taxi. I navigated the subway. I flew allbymyself.

Chris has traveled for the past 8 years. He was gone for 6 weeks right after we got married. He has been to NYC, Chicago, Europe, Cali, Vegas, Boston, DC...up and down and all around. This month has been the hardest one yet. He is so sad that he is away from Coop. He is working like crazy and so super maxed out. I am worried about him. He starts to look so worn down and wiped out and I remember that he just finished chemo a mere months ago. He is my hero, he is my love bug. and I adored every second of the few days I got to be with him in the Big Apple.

Home again, home again jiggity jig. Target and Chick-fil-a are waitin' on this big city girl. I can see the glow of their neon lights from the big sky as I zoom home to my little love.

Manhattan Marathon

2011-10-03T17:10:00.000-07:00

So I might have fallen in love all over again today. With cupcakes. Tiny, mini, itsy bitsy cupcakes. Baked by Melissa. I ate 4 for breakfast, 2 for a mid-morning snack, 3 for lunch, and 2 more after our marathon day in the City today.

I mean, look at them. They taste every bit as yummy as they look. They are totally worth every single guilty calorie. My fave? It's a toss up between the cookie dough one and the mint chocolate chip one. My go-to, the red velvet, was delish, absolutely no doubt, but not quite as impressive as the others. The s'mores one had me thinking campfires and coyotes before I even took a bite. I'm not even sure we ate a meal today, just cupcakes. No wait, we did have some hot dogs.

I love this man so very very much.

Hot dogs in Time Square are almost as good as Naked Dogs walkin' from the Varsity back home. Almost.

Time Square, oh Time Square! We stepped off the subway and the very first thing I saw was:

Suddenly I forgot I was wearing my un-Godly brown Clarks Privos walkin' shoes and started to see all things ruffled and sparkly. Then I saw the enormous sparkly BOA and remembered the dreaded "budget" word. Sigh.

Toys R Us is exempt from all things "budget" related, so in we went! Here's Dada looking out for Super Coop in the big city.

I have to be honest, I shrieked with glee when I spotted the ginormous ferris wheel in the lobby. If only Coop was along to ride in the Cozy Coupe.

When we came out of Toys R Us, I all but ran into this guy:

Isn't he so cute? Before Chris could stop me, I sprinted over and went in for a full frontal bear hug. Then I had to give him 5 dollars. Turns out hugs aren't so free.

Chris got 1/8 of the way through his lecture on city safety when I spotted...WOOODY!

5 more dollars. Turns out, I blew our NYC budget on homeless street performers. Can't take me anywhere :) But isn't Woody SO incredibly fun?

Next stop, Rockefeller, Central Park, Grand Central Station, and Time Warner. I [heart] NYC! (But I sure do miss Coopie Baby.)

Betsey Johnson Fun!

2011-10-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

I made it safe and sound! I hugged Chris' neck a million times when I saw him. Then I made him take 42 pictures together and threatened to tap dance in the subway station. He sure misses me.

He picked me up from Laguardia in a humongo Ford F150. He's the only guy who would whip it into the NYC passenger pick up line Texas sized in a diesel truck. I kept looking for a Mini Cooper or a Fiat. Silly me.

My first NYC mission: accompany hubs to Betsey Johnson Breast Cancer Event at her Soho Boutique. Only problem was that hubs went early to set up, and I decided to take a big fat nap after all of my airport fun. This left me to 1) Hail a Cab and 2) Navigate the city ON MY OWN to 3) Arrive in one piece.

I slipped into my little black dress, shook my head at how NOT trendy and fabulaire it was compared to Betsey's little get ups, and almost had to pop and Ativan when I realized that the only purse I brought was my gold and BROWN Coach bag. Yep. I was going to be that girl. I considered sneaking some cash and my lip gloss into my bra but it instantly fell out and landed on the hotel floor, so I had to scratch that idea. I tried to Dolly Parton up my hair to make up for the brown handbag debacle, but ran out of bobby pins after the first 49.

Chris had reassured me that the Bellhop would hail the cab for me. I can do this. I can do this. (Why am I such a fraidy cat??) I scooted out the door of the hotel and promptly found the "cab line" which was (no lie) 26 people deep. I stood in the rain for 45 minutes waiting my turn and freezing my tushy off. I was feeling sassy and oh so independent...until...a fight broke out in the line. The NYPD paddy wagon showed up. The Bellhop (who tried to break up the fight) got escorted off the premises and I was left standing on the street corner ALONE, in the front of the line. I stood firm and fought every urge to sprint back to the hotel room, put on my favorite ruffle pj pants, and watch more episodes of the Kardishians. I hailed my own cab, thankyouverymuch, tipped him 150% because I was so scared he would drop me in an ally, and showed up at the most faboosh PINK party in all the world.

This is how Betsey pulled up:

She is one crazy lady.

I had a complete BALL looking through all of the wracks of super fun tulle dresses and 3 inch stilettos. I found a clutch that would have totally redeemed my brown Coach but couldn't decide between it or a black puff party dress so I left them both in the boutique and settled for a white "I LOVE NY" tee. Livin on the edge, y'all.

Leader and Yoplait did an incredible job. I've never had so much fun supporting a cause that is so near and dear to us, people watching, eating yogurt, and trying on party dresses. We just got back to the hotel and ordered a bacon cheeseburger. It's 1am. That's right. Jillian Michaels can whip me back into shape next week. Night y'all!

NYC! Departure Day...

2011-10-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

Hold the phone. This little mama hit the air for some big time travels this morning. It was "good bye Coopie (and yellow school bus that goes EVERYWHERE right now)"

and "hello Dada!".

I won't lie, I had to walk fast in the direction of the airport after kissin Super Coop goodbye. I started to cry but then I tripped over the threshold of the door to baggage claim and almost landed on my face. I don't travel. EVER. It's not because I don't want to, I'm just the queen of excuses and always have a gazillion reasons why I should just stay home and go to Target.

The last time I flew was over five years ago. The day after we got married.

Needless to say, this trip to NYC is a dream come true for me!

I found myself having a complete blast before I even made it half way through Hartsfield. A few tid bits I learned along the way:

Agyle mid-calf socks and black velcro sandals, do not in fact, coordinate appropriately. Stopping to rearrange your argyle mid-calf socks whilst in the midst of 200 people will in fact, make me stare at you.
Service men are BABIES. Tiny, little, itsy bitsy babies. With baby faces. And mama's and daddy's back home. So young. When did this happen? Am I old?
Leather bomber jackets are not in fact, out of style.
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine if a person is male or female. Just saying. This too might make me stop and stare awkwardly for a few minutes.
Stranger Man at Gate C, you may not take a nap on my shoulder. Please sit up.
Baby Bjorn's have a designated weight limit. I don't think this limit accounts for 3 year old Asian babies in zippy pajamas.

Y'all. I am having an ABSOLUTE blast! More to come. Next up, Betsey Johnson Soho Boutique. I'm supposed to get there via cab. By. My. Self. I can do this. I can do this.

Silence

2011-09-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

I have spent a week in silence. It's all because of this whole "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" business.

I'm all discombobulated. It started when Chris got to fly home for 24 hours this weekend but the notsotrustyold Jeep broke down on Metropolitan and then again on Freedom Parkway. He landed at 6:30 on Friday. It took him until 1:20am to drive the blasted hunk of metal home. If it weren't for Homeless Eddie and his magical bag of tools stashed behind the Atlanta Fire Department in the hood, he might not have even made it at all.

I got sick. Cooper got sick. My work schedule went topsy turvy. Chris' travel schedule is INSANE over the next two months. I'm talking like crazy insane. Like I need a golden retriever and mommy's helper insane. He's in NYC, Chicago, Minneapolis, DC, Texas. Everywhere but home. He's always traveled but all of a sudden it's lost its shimmer and shine. He's sad, I'm sad, and Cooper is walking in circles shrieking DADA! He walks to the luggage in the closet and says DADA. He stands at the shower door and says DADA. He hangs from the vacuum cleaner and says DADA (have I ever mentioned that Chris is the mack daddy vacuumer??! Without prompting he fires the Dyson up and swivels it all around making those pretty lines in the carpet. It's true. I am blessed.)

So, re-reading this has made me realize that I am a big old baby. Time to dig out the big girl panties and deal with it. Chris is healthy and we have our sweet baby Coop and the rest is just details.

Sad that I spent the week in silence, after all.

What I did not do, was spend the car ride home today in silence. Cooper hadn't napped all day, so I had to whip out my opera singing and flash dance car hands to keep him awake so that he would sleep when we got home. I sang the Wheels on the Bus for 15 minutes. He kept saying "moh!" "moh!", so I decided to make up some new verses. His favorite was:

The Dentist on the bus says open your mouth, open your mouth, open your mouth. The Dentist on the bus says open your mouth, all through the town. *Insert digression. When are we supposed to take little people to the dentist for the first time?? I've heard conflicting info. Suggestions?*

The zipper on the bus goes zip, zip, zip. Zip, zip, zip. All through the town.

The Butcher on the bus goes chop, chop, chop. Chop, chop, chop...

I <3 Wednesdays, remember?

Boc. Boc.

2011-09-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

We did a little Fall shopping this week. Coop's ready for cooler weather. We came out of Old Navy with a tiny pair of blue jeans, seven tops, a pair of pajamas, four pairs of socks, and something that looks a little something like this:

Boc. Boc. This one flew the coop.

I just had to. I couldn't resist. Halloween is 56 days away, afterall. The full get up is absolutely priceless but our little chicken is chicken and only wanted to share a tiny little preview for now. Don't want anyone thinking we're insane-o for going on and getting our Halloween costume early and all. But y'all, how great is this for this Chick-fil-a lovin' Mama?!

W

2011-09-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to love one day of the week more than all of the other days? If so, I am having an affair with Wednesdays. I simply can't get enough of them. They are my zen. My harmony. My entire rhythm of the week is set by gloriousWednesday. Besides being smack dab in the middle of the week and being spelled with that ironic "dnes" business, I just love them.

Wednesday means I get to sleep in. Coop too. (Sorry Dada). Wednesday means I get to snuggle and watch Chuggington and Dinosaur Train with my little Love. Wednesday means I get to feed Coop his pancakes and yogurt. Oh yea. Wednesday means pajamas til noon. Wednesday means I don't dry my hair after my shower because Coop, Woody, and Buzz need me for a skit and hair can wait. Wednesday means trips to the splash park, the store, the mall, the bank, the dry cleaners, the pharmacy, the library, the post office, and Chickfila (who'm I kidding, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mean trips to Chickfila too). Wednesday means Coop and I chase each other around the dining room until the garbage truck comes. Wednesday means pressing our noses to the front glass screeching "tuh!" "tuh!" as we watch the little men take away the weeks' mess in the giant, smelly truck.

Wednesday means a ride on the "whore". Um, Cooper. It's "HorSe", silly.

"Gee-uh, whore, gee-uh". (Translated: Giddy up, horse. Giddy up.")

Wednesday, I love you. I treasure you. I adore you.

When we heard that our small group was moving to Wednesdays, it was like the stars aligned for us. It's our best day of the week. We can count on all being together (and home) before 8pm. Chris is working like crazy these days and it's nothing short of a miracle when he pulls in the drive before bed and bath time. We were oh so happy. We LOVE our small group. They are just the best people in all the world. We missed out last semester because we had just moved (to the boonies) and we couldn't make the drive out to Harbins on a week/work night. We were so sad. Deflated. We just felt weird. Like we were walking around in our underpants. With no watch on. That kind of weird.

When we got word that the group had changed days back to Thursday, we sat and pouted. Kidding, we were crushed. Just crushed. But since we know egocentrism has it's place in preschool, but not in adulthood, we pulled ourselves together and finally took a hard look (and listen) at something God has been stirring within us for over a year now. It's not about us. It's not about what day of the week is cooler (gimme a W. gimme a E.) It's not about what's comfortable. It's not about what is easy.

We instantly knew God was moving us in a different direction. We had been wrestling with something for a long time. We kept pushing it away. Pretending it was a message for someone else, somewhere else, some time else.

We're grabbing the bull by the horns and starting a new small group this semester. We're calling it "When Big Things Happen to Small Groupers." Complete with Toss the Tissue Night and glimpses into God's grace in tough times and laughter and pizza rolls and prayer chains. We have been inspired by so many special people who have developed "blue jean faith" in the midst of chaos and we just can't miss out on this opportunity. We wrote and re-wrote the email we sent last night a dozen times. We kept waiting for God to tell us now's not the time. He never did.

We are praying for an incredible semester. We can't wait to see what He has in store for us. And I sure do thank him for Wednesday. (gimme a D. gimme a N.)

2011-09-06T20:42:00.000-07:00

So this pinterest.com business. It's got me all confused. I avoided it. Fought the urge tooth and nail. Lawd knows we've got quite enough time snatchers and I just wasn't going to do it. No siree.

So I joined last week. These pin boards. They are oh so fun, I totally agree. The joy, oh the joy! Snagging pictures, pinning them up to oober cute little boards. Craft ideas. Fashion ideas. Home ideas. Kid ideas. Gift ideas. Quote ideas.

But it's got me thinking. Is there any multimedia modality that doesn't encourage us to ~~stalk~~ network with one another?

Here's the thing. Say you find a super fabulous gift idea and you eagerly pin it up on your board labeled "gift ideas". Within ten seconds, fifteen of your closest girlfriends (marked recipients of said fabulous gift idea) have seen it on your board, liked it, and pinned it on their own boards. Am I lost? Have I gotten so distracted by the ribbon holding baskets and mason jar wall art that I don't, in fact, get it?

I still can't eat ice. And don't stroke, but sweet tea tastes funky. I know. What is this all about? I think I need a vaca. New York City in October? I think so. It's time. Have I mentioned that Hubs is doing several events for Betsey Johnson at her Soho store? It's true. I helped him pick out a pink polka dotted tie to wear to one of the shindigs. We chickened out before we reached the counter, but it was quite fab, in a doublebubble kind of way.

I'm a super slacker these days when it comes to posting. It has everything to do with the iPad. I'm not so much a gadget girl, but I LOVE this little gadget. Incredible is what it is. User friendly for blogging and uploading pictures, is what it's not.

My big bro came to visit this weekend. He's older than me. And always will be. *Love*

He brought his honey, Uncle Kevin. We love them so :)

They came for a food extravaganza down on the farm. The menu included all of Christopher's very very favorites: Buffalo chicken dip (v.1 Ranch; v.2 Blue Cheese), Fresh Air Bbq coleslaw, Mom's famous homemade potato salad, pinwheel sandwich roll ups (oh the pinwheels! oh the pinwheels!), ribs, chicken, hot dogs, hash brown casserole (ooh-wee), and about a million other things all baked up in 9x13s smelling all kinds of good.

Mom, are you reading this? I should have packed to-go boxes like you told me (twice).

Coop ate so much he puked. Sister says it's because he ate 2 spoon fulls of everything (and then some) and then ran around the kitchen table 14 times. I say it might have had something to do with the gallon of Blue Bell's we caught him eating.

Crockpots and Crushed Ice

2011-08-31T13:34:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning and cannot make myself eat ice. Can't even stand the thought of it. Tried to force a little chomp chomp with my morning tea and again at lunch, but have absolutely NO interest in it. How can that be??? Am I dying?

Emails marked with "high importance/urgent" flags make me giggle. The sheer fact that I am supposed to take them seriously makes me seriously crack up. Does anyone else have this problem?

We're chock full of randomness today. It's because the whole world's gone Crockpot crazy. I just lost 2.5 hours to grazing crock pot recipes and scheming my stroll through Kroger. I copy-pasted 15 recipes and signed a contract (with myself) to try one new recipe a week for the next 4 months. Then I asked our friends if they wanted to go to Rico's for dinner.

Domestic goddess, I am not.

Roll Tide. (And Gooooo Dawgs). We miss our Chel-Chel.

How can it be that Pistol Britches turned 16 months old today?

Had to take him out of his high chair. He stands up and shakes his fanny during dinner. Now he sits at the table like a big boy. As in a big boy who is strapped into a booster seat with a 3 point harness. It makes me smile to look across the table and see his little face peeking over the edge of his plate.

We met Brady, one of Coop's super best buds at the splash park today with Mrs Lori. They ran between these benches 47 times.

Coop and Brady have been together since they were just peanuts.

We are so blessed to have so many faboosh friends in our lives. Friends who love us even when we eat school buses.

To infinity and beyond...

2011-08-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

Buzz Lightyear, we salute you.

Because of you I was able to take a shower today. I even got to rinse the conditioner out of my hair without streaking across the bathroom floor to capture a little diaper booty taking off with a bottle of Tylenol or even worse, a bottle of Drain-O.

Oh, it's quite glorious. The APA tells us that a little bit of tv is ok. Everything in moderation. If it means a clean mama and a non-charred dinner, then we welcome it at la casa Davis.

Speaking of infinity and beyond...12Stone is doing a incredible series on heaven right now. It is SO thought-provoking. Today we were reminded that pain is real and temporary and we must endure it. Pleasure is also real and temporary and we are to enjoy it. Heaven is real and eternal and we are to live for it. Jesus told his disciples that this world would not be without trouble. Our hope comes in the promise of heaven. Rather than blame God for all the bad things in our lives and take credit for all of the good, we must remember that "every good and perfect gift is from above".

Confession. We just might have ended up here [again] tonight. Remember that all good things come from Him. Even naked dogs.

I don't know what happened. Those onion rings started talking to me. In church mind you. At 10:45 this morning. And they just wouldn't stop. And I'm not even preggers. Yet. Sigh. *Insert lots and lots and lots of prayers* The shadows of chemo leave a lot of unanswered questions but we know that if and when it's in God's will, it will be done. We sure would be tickled silly to have one more great big blessing to thank Him for.

Not to change the subject, but um, this little man cracks me up.

I promise he's not a hobbitt. He does in fact have clothes that fit. They're just not near as cute as these alligator trunks.

He's in this completely adorable phase where he says things like "tee tee" and "shoowee". This week he learned to meow-meow like a cat. We are so NOT cat people.

Have I mentioned how much we love a good day at the splash park? Top three reasons why I love it: 1) Yogli Mogli 2) Dress Up Boutique 3) photo ops like this one:

Totally and completely worth the soggy britches ride home.

Lymphin' Around

2011-08-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

I woke up doing cartwheels this morning.

Remember last October when 72 ah-mazing people surrounded Chris, Cooper, and I at the Light the Night Walk? Remember when countless others donated precious precious funds to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help fund research and search for a cure?

I love this picture because a) it's the only family picture we have where we are all wearing eye patches and b) it reminds me that God is bigger than baldness.

Well this year, I have the absolute honor of championing another team for the 2011 Light the Night Walk. I am teaming up with two of my most favorite causes, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the LLS and I couldn't be more excited!

Although we had SO much fun with our team "Walk with a Lymph" last year, and we all know "Chris' lymph nodes are bigger than ours"...we decided this wouldn't really fly with CHOA. This year we're going with "Always Have Hope and Will". A little more PC but just as much fun. Promise. (Eye patches provided).

We would LOVE for you to join us in the walk. Because of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and gracious people just like Y-O-U, Chris has hair now. It's true.

To sign up or donate, please visit: http://pages.lightthenight.org/ga/nmetro11/AlwaysKeepHopeandWill

Relentless for a cure,
Ali, Chris, and Cooper

What'll ya have?

2011-08-21T19:34:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been all about good food and good friends. Friday night we had the Varsity (junior).

What'll ya have?

So glad you asked. One naked dog. One large FO. One cheeseburger. One chili burger. An order of rings. And two cokes. Um, yum.

Saturday we met Chris' old rugby friend Doong and his sweet girlfriend down at the Cheesecake Factory for lunch. Woulda snapped a picture but Coop was a wild child. He ate a grilled cheese and two orange crayons. We ate a loaf of bread, two bites of a grilled chicken/avacado sandwich, and some dulce de leche cheesecake. Scrumptious.

Tonight we rocked it down at Mary Mac's Tearoom with the Bassett's.

Little G and Coop are the same age and are a hoot when they're together. They ate a red crayon, some applesauce, some fried chicken, and 24 yogurt melts. We ate fried catfish (oh. my. stars), some tomato pie (heaven), fried green tomatoes, okra (fried of couse, but started to get embarrassed about the amount of fried ____ in this list), and some cinnamon rolls. And my all time fave. You guessed it. Table Wine of the South. Slurp.

Chris and Big G used to tear up the town. Now they are two of the sweetest, funnest, bestest daddies in all the world. They still tear up the town. Just with toddlers in tow.

Next up on the Google Search: Detox Diet. Kidding, we all know I have zero, zilch will power.

Random ramblins: I might have gotten hooked on Words with Friends this weekend. I have been battling my boss and I am starting to think she is totally making up her own words. I mean "fatwa"? Come on now. Good thing I came back to (almost) tie the game with "tush" and "tramp".

We also just found out that two of our very besties are moving to our little neck of the woods. How fun is that!? Both great big surprises that have got us turning cartwheels and bakin' "Welcome Home" cookies by the dozen.

And if you haven't yet, you MUST go see "The Help". Run. Skip. Jog. Jump. However you must go, please go. Goodness gracious, it was EXCELLENT. Totally thought provoking. An absolutely beautiful (and horrid) tale of mankind and human nature.

At the end of the day, without fail, we must always remember to remind others: "You are kind. You are smart. You are important." And if not, welp, you might just end up eating pie. :)

Balloons

2011-08-16T19:32:00.000-07:00

Something caught my eye today. Made me stop and think about how much I need to thank Coopster for.

It was a red balloon. Tied to a Ben and Jerry's sign. Contain yourself. I nearly shrieked with glee when I saw the balloon dancing in the wind. (It wasn't until just now that I even thought twice about the fact that it was tied to a BEN AND JERRY'S sign. Some crazy phenomenon there.) I had to remind myself that I am a grown up (kinda) and that I was on my lunch break (not at the circus) and that the pediatric dentist man walking towards me might have peed his pants when he saw my lack of self control.

Coop is mad about balloons. Loves them to pieces. When I saw that single red balloon, I had to contain myself from reacting with childlike adoration. It made me think and thank. That little (ok, maybe not so little) 25 pound pistol britches has taught me, or reminded me rather, about how much joy we can find in the simple things.

"You will live in joy. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!" Isaiah 55:12

What happened after the balloon sighting was not so-much adult like. I might have gone into the Loft dressing room and danced like crazy for 2.5 minutes straight. My intention was to try on a darlin ruffle top, but when the music hit me, I just couldn't stop. Danced like a madwoman. Arms flailing. Fists pumping. Sprinkler sprinkling.

Nothin Runs Like a Deere

2011-08-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

It's summer time. Know what that means?

Ice cream on my cheeks, running barefoot in the grass, grass stains on my knees, and waitin' for the crickets to come out.

Why does Mama always make me go inside and take a bath?

C25k

2011-08-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

We are addicted to frozen cookie dough balls. Um, yum.

I'm sitting here savoring every single bite of mine tonight thinking about all the fun we had this weekend. We made it to The Melting Pot Friday night (holy goodness), had lunch at Ricos Saturday (first time eating two handed there to date), went to our good friend Jesse's 30th surprise party, ate dinner at Adam's Piano Bar (LOVE!), laughed our socks off at the comedy club, and lollygagged at the outlets. We have had the very very best weekend together but have missed our little fella like absolute crazy. How can it be that we have forgotten how to function without him?

He had an absolute blast down at the farm with my parents. My mom and dad are going to guest blog about all of their adventures as soon as dial up makes it's way down to the countryside :)

After we got Coop down tonight I decided to hit the pavement running. I know. Insane. I used to be a runner. Ran all the time. Fast. Slow. Long. Short. I loved it. I decided to give Couch to 5k another shot. My purpose this time? Quiet time. In 30 minutes I prayed for countless friends and family members. I thanked God for approximately a million and one gifts. I practiced being still and waiting. I asked Him some questions. He asked me some questions. It was just fabulous.

So here I am...eating my cookie dough ball (it's gone now) and basking in the glow of the weekend.

Chris might have surprised me with an iPad for our versary. I'm hooked. I won't dare admit that we just FaceTimed each other from across the foot of the bed. It's true. We lost our connection and for some reason he's not answering now. Guess I'll throw a pilla at him.

5 Years!

2011-08-12T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today is mighty special. 5 years ago today I married my love.

He was feelin' kind of lucky :)

We got married in the dark, without air conditioning, food, or proper music and had the ABSOLUTE time of our lives. Our cake melted. The preacher got stuck in an elevator. We didn't get to have our pictures taken. The heat got so bad that the sprinkler system triggered an alarm and the fire department showed up. The limo forgot to come and get us. We made it all the way to Savannah and realized that we left our passports back on the island. It was 2am and they were in our preacher's hotel room.

We will never run out of memories to laugh about and we absolutely love it.

We got married and Chris got sick. Really sick, but no one knew what it was. We dealt with a long season of unemployment when Chris' company unexpectedly shut their doors. We dealt with the silly gun case. Silly silly silly gun case. We had our first baby. We learned to savor God's grace. We got to know cancer. We kicked cancer to the curb. We bought our first home.

We have learned to love each other inside out and upside down. We have learned that you have to be able to laugh at yourself. We have learned how to change diapers and flush ports. We have learned not to take a single second of this precious life for granted.

Know what we love most about this particular anniversary?

Chris' hair.

Happy Anniversary to my love, my rock, my very best friend.

Wild Goose Chase

2011-08-11T19:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to "I am Mama-Hear Me Roar", I am on a wild goose chase.

I just fell in love with this fabric. And I've got to have it. Got to. It's absolutely beautiful and it's absolutely from Target. I am having trouble finding it. It's rectangular tablecloths made into drapes. Faboosh. BOLO.

I must admit. I've been known to run like the wind to Target 5 minutes before closin' time just to chase some crazy wild hair. Abby J and I redecorated our entire apartment one night at 9:59pm at Target on a crazy Waverly Whim. We drove home just beaming from ear to ear, eating our Krystal Chiks. Glory days.

I would sneak right out to Target right this very moment, but this snuggle bug's all tucked in dreaming of Puffs and Legos and lift-the-flap books.

Oh, and he loves his new jammie jams so much (thankyouverymuch Target for $5), that he sang me a song before he went to sleep.

Memory Lane

2011-08-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

Coop and I just got back taking our sweet friend Chelsea out to dinner. It was a going away dinner. And I might have boo-hooed the whole way home. Chelsea was two when I met her. She'll be 19 in October.

Two out of three of these little girls are off at college now. The third one's not far behind. Goodness.

Chelsea (pirouetting with hand on hip in the middle) is heading to the University of Alabama on Friday. Avery (far left sporting the sweet braided pig tails) is starting her second year at Georgia. Dana (cutie patootie on far right) just started her Junior year of high school. Courtney (the sweet thing below sitting in that itty bitty wagon) wasn't even born back in the beach ballet days. But she's starting high school this year.

Do the math. These girls are making me OLD! Love them all to pieces. They (and so many other young girls) have been such an incredible part of my life and I am forever blessed by the moments we've shared over the past 15+ years.

It wouldn't be fair to post these precious old pics without showing you how absolutely beautiful these girls all are still today...

Avery and Dana

Chelsea and Courtney

"One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." Psalm 145:4

Recycled

2011-08-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about blogging is being able to look back and remember what was happening exactly one year ago. For us memory-impaired folks, this is so much fun. It's like living recycled days for the very first time, time and time again.

Mama Potts used to be able to tell us all kinds of things that happened "one year ago today" or "five years ago today". I loved hearing her tell of the stories of the past (well most of them anyway, except that one time in 5th grade when Sarah Doberstein poked me in the eye with her umbrella on the school bus and my mom drove down the street to confront her mama and daddy about it.)

One year ago today Coop looked like this:

Our sweet friend Susan gave him this precious monogrammed blanket before he was born and now his toes reach past the end of it when he lays on it. How can that be anyway?

A year ago Chris and I were worried that Coop was going to be the only 4 year old who still required a swaddle blanket to sleep at night. We were debating whether it was acceptable to cut the bottom of the swaddle off since his toes were about to poke through it. Now we're shoppin for big boy jammies.

A year ago I had just finished my maternity leave (moment of silence please) and took a 5 minute "cat nap" in my car down at our corporate office only to wake up drooling on my seat belt strap with sleepy creases on my cheeks to find that I had drained my car battery by turning the key forward to have AC and tunes as I snoozed. Security officers had to jump start my car just so I could go home.

A year ago Chris had just finished ~~chemo~~, "juice" session #3. A year later I am still marveling at how much grace and strength he has. We're coming up on five years this Friday and mercy me, I fall more and more in love with that man every single day. (I won't lie, we sure are hoping that this year leaves us with nothin' much to talk about.)

He had some night sweats back in July but we are praying and praying that they were just because it's 164 degrees outside and that's all. Kudzu survivors out there, do you ever stop worrying about every little teensy weensy little thing? My faith tells me to take a deep breath and live in the now, but every now and then I start to sweat and have to fight the urge to let my noodle Google.

We broke our tradition of taking a trip on our anniversary last year because we had to spend it sitting at the Cancer Answer. This year we're having a jam-packed mega-date weekend (in town) complete with a trip to the comedy club, Ricos, the movies, the Melting Pot, and who knows where else. We are just beside ourselves we are so excited.

Pistol Britches will be spending the weekend down on the farm. I bet his Grammie and Poppy Tots are counting down the days until they get to spoil him rotten. My mom even says that she can't wait to see him throw a fit because fits don't bother grandparents like they do mamas. Only thing is, Pistol Britches probably won't throw a single tantrum down on the farm. He'll be sweet and sugary and my parents will wonder what on earth I've been talking about for the past week. :)

Laser Hair Removal, Jammies, and Tantrums

2011-08-07T15:55:00.000-07:00

Why is it so gosh darn hard to find cute little ~~baby~~ toddler boy pjs? Coop and I did laps around Macys until they closed Thursday night trying with all of our might to find something a little less plastic monkey-eating-banana applique or grafitti-graphic-tee with 3-feet-too-long-spandex pants ish. We love Walmart's $5 organic jammie sets, but I just can't bring myself to purchase anything with Thomas or Spider Man. Yet. I know the day's a-coming but for now I want something sweet and cute like his Little Crab jammies back when he was itty bitty.

I need new shampoo. I like to pretend that I don't use Pantene, but the build up and funkyness has started telling on itself. Suggestions?

I haven't been to Hobby Lobby in over two weeks. I was a craft-adulterer and went to Joann last week to pick up some fabric for the playroom. I still feel guilty and could really use some melodic wordless hymns in my life.

Haven't finished the curtains yet, but hubster made this little gem this past week and I L-O-V-E it so so much.

We started letting Coop sleep with 2 books in his bed at night. It's our latest scheme to land a few extra nanoseconds of sleep on the weekends. I've rolled over twice in the early early mornin' to catch him sitting there reading. "A told B and B told C, I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree." Oh my.

I heard a commercial for laser hair removal twice this week on the Bert Show. Both times I shook my head in shame remembering that I am sometimes guilty of shaving just my ankles in an attempt to avoid shaving my legs. It's true.

Mini Chris has had a total of 5 meltdowns this weekend. One happened while we were out to dinner at Chili's with some of our closest small group friends. Oye. Somewhere mid tantrum, a cup of applesauce grenaded itself all over me (and Adam and Madelyn sitting next to me) and our waiter tripped and dropped two baskets of bottomless chips. It was quite lovely. We've implemented a new rule. Eat at every restaurant only once. Not sure how this is going to work with CFA.

Another grand mal fit happened this morning when we made him come in from playing outside. He got so mad that he wedged himself under the couch and pounded his fists and growled at me. I had to walk away twice because I couldn't stop laughing. #mommyfail.

Oh Coop.

Show Us Your Life: Blogging Tips

2011-08-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

I've never done this before, but I'm in sweet tea coma from our emergency-our-AC-is-out-again-lets-go-somewhere-NOW dinner out at Monterreys, so here goes. I'm linkin' up with Kellys Korner to play along with her "Show Us Your Life Blogging Tips".

I don't really have any tips, but her blog got me to thinking about this blog and why I bloggity blog in the first place.

I started blogging when my sweet, sweet Mama Potts passed away. She was the QUEEN of diary keeping. She wrote daily for years and years and years. She had the 3 lines per day, 5 years per book kinds--decades of them. I treasure them so so so much. I miss her like crazy but knowing that her life is scribbled down in those old weathered books somehow brings her right back to me.

I reeeeally really started blogging when Chris got diagnosed with cancer. Oh the kudzu. And when Super Coop came along and hung the moon for us.And when Chris had his infamous gun at the airport incident. And when we had to go to that ridiculous sperm bank. Had I not had this little outlet, I would have spent millions of dollahs at Target and would have gone through 3 or 4 therapists by now.

I have zero zilch nada memory skills. I can't even remember the memory strategies I teach my patients. It's that bad. The other day we were talking about when Coop started sleeping in his own bed. I said around 6 months. Apparently it was around 3 weeks. Thank you Blogspot :)

My very very very first post explained why NOT to blog, but what I think what I've learned over these past years is that its totally ok to jump head first into blogland. Being vulnerable and honest with myself (and others) has helped me grow in more ways than I ever dreamed. I used to say that I don't blog for anyone but myself and our little family and I really don't think anyone reads this crazy banter, but God has brought us to and through so many things in the past year that I think He's doing a work in me and at times even through this silly little blog. Besides, it will give me so much to laugh at when I'm at the old folks home. That is if Obama keeps SSI around long enough that I can afford to put myself in one. (Ha-my first and ONLY ever ever ever political comment. That stuff's for the birds).

Blog on, blogtastic bloggers.

Update

2011-08-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

Thought a 24-hour-later update was in order. First, thank you ALL for your sweet words of encouragement and seasoned advice. Seems as though Coop's not the only little one who has ever mysteriously developed this bizarre seizure disorder. Apparently this ailment becomes significantly worse around age 3.

Woo Lawd.

So get this. He was an absolute ANGEL today. A doll baby. A champ.

I dropped him off at Lori's this morning sweating and praying and pacing the floor. I promised to come and get him the instant he growled or hissed or roared at her or one of his sweet friends. I grabbed my phone between patients just absolutely sure she had texted me to tell me that he was in a padded room awaiting my arrival.

Nothing.

And when I picked him up this afternoon, he gave me a big smooch and patted my back and spoke to me in Cooperese. He sang like a songbird as I scooped him up and put him in his car seat.

Thank you Jesus! We rewarded him with a spin around the merry-go-round (ye haw) at the mall and a big ol heaping spoonful of homemade banana pudding.

We know we aren't out of the woods yet (he's not 3 yet, or 30 as my mom reminded me through bouts of laughter), but for now, all is quiet and happy on the Cooperfront. Guess we can take back the helmet and knee pads.

Tater Salad

2011-08-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

I found two receipts wadded up in my cup holders this morning. $71.29 at the Shell Station and $69.60 at Kroger Fuel Centers. One was dated 7/30, the other 8/2.

Two receipts for two tanks of gas that have all but saved the day at the Davis house.

Something's wrong with Cooper.

I went to give him a hug yesterday and he all but fell out onto the floor. He screamed. He kicked. He growled. He hissed. He hollared. He threw himself on the floor and contorted his body into unrecognizable shapes. He pounded the floor. He wretched. He rared up. He scowled.

I, being a sensible and attentive mother, got right on the phone with the pediatrician to report that my child has suddenly developed a seizure disorder.

These episodes happened (no lie) 7 times within 30 minutes last night.

The only solution? Strap him into the carseat, blast big hair band music, and drive around in circles for hours. H-O-U-R-S.

It's. bad. I. mean. bad. Really. Bad. Just like that, my angelic little Super Coop has transformed into a crazed mad man. Capable of fits of epic proportions.

I drove around in circles last night, exhausted, drinking sweet tea, and praying that this will pass. And soon. My friend Jill laughed hysterically when I told her of this hope. Aye.

After several loops around Buford Dam and an unplanned inaugural trip to the public library (it was that bad y'all, that we ended up at the LIBRARY), he finally stopped bucking out of his car seat long enough to meet up for fam night at Rico's. We walked in, Coop's hair standing on end, my clothes half off, sweat pouring from my brow, to find...Ron White. And his mistress. Sitting right there. Watching as our freak show continued in the restaurant. Chris and I passed our relay baton back and forth with glee. We chased our monster around and around as he grabbed bottles of Ne-Hi soda from the drink display and banged on the front glass. To borrow from Kelly Stamps, I was CHAWED. Absolutely chawed.

Ron White walked up in his floral print shirt and old man sandals and told Chris "Now that right there's cute".

We are absolutely certain that we will be the topic of his next stand up routine.

So. Tell me, how in the WORLD do you effectively discipline 15 month olds???? We have ignored the tantrums. We have implemented time out. We have spanked (yes.). Other than purchasing a family set of straight jackets and hiding in our house until he turns 16, what oh what are we to do? I would so go purchase some ridiculous book on parenting, but I can't seem to corral him to the car without being hissed at and hollared at.

If anyone sees my sweet Super Coop, please send him right back to me.

Mission Unimpossible

2011-07-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

I am on a mission. I am ready to do something with the Empty Room. You know, the room on the front of the house that realtors call the "formal living room". The one that (in our house) sat empty for ~~six~~ seven months (except that one time that Coop and I played rolling logs and rolled from one side to the other 16 times before we stopped to have a snack and push his cars across the foyer floor 22 times).
We have debated on what to do with this space since December. An office? A playroom? A man cave? A lounge with neon signs and a beer fridge? A time-out safe haven for post epic tantrum times? An in-home gym (ha. right.). What do you do with this space friends?

It over looks the rockin chairs on the front porch, so I started scheming about making it light and airy and relaxing and fabulous.

I had my eyes on a coastal summer breezy living room set called the "Hilton Head Collection" for MONTHS. The couch is boring. Tan/Khaki with a thin blue pin stripe, but the chair, oh the chair! Every time we circled the furniture store, I did the happy dance.

It's festive and frumpy and vivid and vivacious. I wanted it so. bad. Chris did not share my love for this little beauty. He said it looks like someone puked on it. We were circling the floor for the 4th time on our 3rd trip to the store when I crawled into the chair and begged him to let it come home with us. Childish, I know.

Coop had been opening dresser drawers and climbing on coffee tables and a grumpy old man had fallen out of a recliner and was in the middle of initiating a law suit when Chris said "OK! Box it up, let's go, it's YOURS!". I beamed. He schemed. His scheme involves a set of golf clubs and a new truck as a trade off for letting me have the chair.

Golf clubs and new truck aside, the heavens opened up and the coastal-decor Gods rained down on me.

So now the Empty Room has a boring tan/khaki pinstriped couch and a mighty marvelous Hilton Head chair/ottoman in it. Oh, I just love it. I really do.

I have created, in my head, the need to find an old rusty set of shutters. I want them to be weathered and rusty and painted blue. I want to hang them over the boring couch (with the not so boring printed throw pillows on it).

I also need some driftwood. And a pickled coffee table. And about 16 salvaged textured frames.

And someone who wants to paint the walls a lovely light shade of Bayside Blue. (Chris swore off painting after the playroom makeover).

I feel like I need to go antiquing to find these treasures. I mean, I could go peruse the aisles of Homegoods again, but I really want this room to look rustic and authentic. Can't find that in retail.

Anyone know of a good place I can head off to? (Ending sentences in prepositions is sometimes ok). I know nothing. Natalie, I just know you know where I can go. You could complete this project in your sleep, standing on your head. (If you haven't checked out Nat's GORGEOUS home at "Our Old Southern House", you simply must. She takes the cake for sweet southern decor in classic hues and funky patterns. Her double decker porches are to die for.

For now, the Empty Room is just an awkward not-so-empty room but not-so-finished, work in progress. And if I ever go missing, you can bet you'll find me curled up in the ugly chair, sippin' sweet tea, and reading trashy beach paperbacks.

Beyonce the 5 Foot Chicken

2011-07-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

I can't stop giggling.

We just got home from splash-park-play-date (picture this: 8 moms, 10 babies). Coop's passed out in his crib with his feet wedged between the bumpers and the wall and I'm supposed to be cleaning our bathroom or folding the mountain of laundry piling itself down the stairs or scrubbing the gook off the floor under Cooper's highchair.

Instead I am laying in our bed, in my pajamas, at 2:35pm, laughing hysterically.

I just read this story about a 5 foot tall metal chicken named Beyonce and it's just got me all cracked up.

You should read it too. And then lay in your bed and ignore dirty sinks and crusty floors and wrinkled clothes :)

I heart Wednesdays.

Peace Like a River

2011-07-23T19:22:00.000-07:00

Super Coop and I have been tooling around town all week rockin' out to the Veggie Tales. It's true. We picked up their top 25 Sunday School Songs album on Wednesday and haven't stopped car-dancing since. Yes, this is what happens when an itty bitty wee-one waltzes into your life and steals your heart.

You can't not smile (the double negative felt good there--I had to just go with it) when you hear a classic VBS tune (Give Me Oil in My Lamp) with insanely creative mixed in lyrics like:

Give me gas in my ford, keep me tracking for the Lord

Give me gas in my ford I pray
Give me gas in my ford, keep me tracking for the Lord
Keep me tracking till the break of day.

I don't even drive a Ford and I still adore this verse.

And my all time fave:

Give me umption in my gumption

Help me function, function, function
Give me umption in my gumption, I pray

Give me umption in my gumption

Help me function, function, function

Help me function till the break of day

Seriously. Umption in my gumption. Brilliant. Love it.

I digress. We were listening to Peace Like a River for the 14th time through when I became overwhelmed with a sense of peace and washed with abundant joy.

I paused my jazz hands mid air and got to thinking about my job. It's silly to me to call it a j-o-b. It's SO much more. I LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do. I really do. When I am doing it, I feel completely in the center of where I know God wants me to be. It's crazy. I crave knowledge about what I do and savor every second of every session with every child. Even when I get slimed with yogurt. And scratched by lions. And sprayed with lizard lisps.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have a career that makes my heart happy. No doubt, I miss my Coop like crazy while I am working. I won't lie. I catch myself daydreaming about spending the day at the splash park and drinking Starbucks at 10am while strolling the aisles of Target, I really do. But I love that I can put my passion into practice and love on so many well deserving little people four days a week too.

When I am in the middle of it, up to my elbows in verbal apraxia and autism and language delays, I am overcome with a sense of humility. There is just absolutely nothing more humbling.

So tonight at Saturday night church (shameless 12 Stone plug AGAIN--guess who's gonna be chowing down at Dutch Monkey again in the mornin??) I praised God for allowing me the opportunity to work. To roll up my sleeves and to do what I love.

As I rocked Coop to sleepytown tonight, I sang (in my best Bob the Tomato voice, no doubt):

"I've got peace like a river, I've got love like an ocean, I've got joy like a fountain in my soul."

And for the fam, a montage of our day out on the lake...

Wawa! Wawa! Dada? Dada? Wawa.

More? More?

Zzzzz.

Dutch Monkey

2011-07-17T20:56:00.000-07:00

Today was full of faboosh things. We gave Saturday night church a go last night (and totally LOVED it) so we ended up with an entire day free today. We skipped around doing as we pleased and had so so so much fun doing so.

We slept until 9:30. Cooper too. It felt so incredibly indulgent. Heavenly.

Once we got over the giddiness of sleeping so late, we piled up in the car and took off for...wait for it....wait for it...DUTCH MONKEY DONUTS. Holy moly. Gracious goodness. Have you been?? Have you, have you? We had not.

Ohhh how we will SO go again and again. My top two reasons: 1. bottled Coca-Colas. 2. Buttermilk Cake Donuts.

Aaaaand, guess what? They have a Light the Night for Leukemia and Lymphoma Team. Even though we will be competing with them (Go CHOA, go!), we might just have to form a friendly bond with them to insure endless supplies of sugary goodness.

After Coop pushed the funky little kiddie table and stools around the shop 14 times, we piled back in the car and sped off to Ikea. Ikea: two floors of decorator delight. Today's mission: the playroom. And might I say, mission accomplished. Coop made out like a bandit. We got the funky little green table and stools mentioned above (he fell in love with this set twice in two days--once at Dutch Monkey and once at Froyolo--what were we to do?), one of those little bead/swirly wire thingamabobbers you find in waiting rooms of doctors offices, and a crocodile bath mat.

I'm not sure who's more excited about the bead thingamabbber, Coop or Babysitter Bill who has come to spend the night and have a play-day tomorrow.

After Ikea we might have stopped by Krystal. Shame. We are Krystal lovers. (Ryan, that was for you). I never ever ever even had a Krystal until college and whelp, since then, I might have become known for swinging through the drive thru and sneaking one of those Buffalo Krystal Chiks and a baby Dr. Pepper. Mmm.

We spent the rest of the day down on the lake with Aunt Lucy, Uncle Jay, the parents, and the Kusch's. We tooled around on the pontoon, ate yummo dinner, and had a dessert bar to boot.

So there we have it, a day chock full of faboosh things.

Did I mention you might love Dutch Monkey Donuts? Don't go tomorrow though. Closed on Mondays. You'll be sad.

10 in 10

2011-07-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

We put ourselves up to a mini challenge this past week. We are the champs of eating out. We have a list of favorite restaurants a mile long. Coop gets a strange confused look on his face when we scooch up our chairs to the kitchen table at home. It's terribly embarrassing. He prefers crayons and a maze menu over a casserole dish any day.
Mom, please don't be disheartened. There's still hope for me.

After being on the road for a week and eating the most incredible dinners out EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT., we decided to start eating dinner at home 4 out of 5 weeknights. For my domestic goddess friends out there--I know, I know this sounds like no big deal, no great feat. For us though, this was crazy insano out of the box.

My usual list of excuses as to why I cannot no-way, no-how fix supper goes something like this:

1. I remain in a constant state of idea-less-ness. I can't think of meals to cook (or lunches to pack) to save my life. I stare at the pantry. I gaze into the fridge. I peruse the grocery store aisles. Crickets. Nothin'. So much easier to order a combo #1 and call it a day.

2. Work. I take the workin' mom thing and run with it. Woe is me, I can't possibly cook dinner after working all day and chasing after Coop (loving every minute of it).

3. Eating out is our only hobby. Our only form of entertainment. Cough. Cough. Malarkey.

4. I am kitchen impaired. You mean crockpots, griddles, Kitchen Aid mixers and the like aren't just for kitchen decor?

5. I am addicted to Chick-fil-a. There are 2 on my way home from work. Why cook?

It's bad, y'all. But I digress. The challenge was (and still is): $10 meals that can be prepared in under 10 minutes (actual cooking time not included). We didn't think we could do it, but oh we did!

The week went something like this:

Monday: Parmesan Crusted Tilapia and Steamed Broc. The skinny on the tilapia...Go to Publix. Push buggy over to the seafood counter. Ring bell. Snack on cajun crab dip samples while waiting. Ask Seafood man to whip up a few parm-crusted filets (they do the nitty gritty slimy crusting work). Pay approximately $3.56 for 2 fillets, season and steam a bunch of broccoli and call it a day.

Tuesday: Fajita Chicken Nachos. Tortilla chips, bag of mexi-mix shredded cheese, tub of sour cream, can of jalapenos, and some cooked Tyson chicken strips. $7.29 and you've got a mound of nacho yummy goodness on a cookie sheet.

Wednesday: RICOS WORLD KITCHEN. And the angels sang. Fairy dust blew as we skipped from the car to our usual table over in the corner, close to the windows where Coop can see the choo choo trains as they whir by. I might have blushed when the waiter asked us where we were last week.

Thursday: Peppercorn Pork Tenderloin and Cajun Potato Wedges. $9.61 and mighty tasty.

Friday: Peppercorn Pork Tenderloin (eeek. leftovers. I cringe.)-n-honey butter biscuits. Don't judge. It's HEAVENLY. Slice up the leftover pork and sneak it between the flaky biscuit layers. Dip in Horseradish if you dare. Yum yum yum. Coop ate two of these suckers. And never once even asked for his crayons and maze menu.

So there ya have it. We did it. And (gasp) we LOVED it. We got to spend oodles more time at home playing with Coop after work, we saved a ton ton ton of moolah, and we ate 97% less fried horrible (but oh so delicious) goodness.

Your turn. What's your favorite 10 in 10 meal idea?

Beach Baby

2011-07-10T18:44:00.000-07:00

Ocean air. Ooh wee!

Feet sinking. Wah.

Dada's hand.

So fast!

Catch me Mama!

Got ya!

Silly boy!

Beach baby!

Mellow "Mush"

2011-07-09T23:12:00.000-07:00

We love Mellow Mushroom. LOVE it.

Even at the beach, we find ourselves sneaking in a little trip to MM. "Small-cheese-please-with-little-to-no-sauce-and-two-sides-of-Esperanza." The little-to-no-sauce and two-sides-of-dressing part is absolutely crucial. Thankyouverymuch. Dipping that crust in the little dish of their homemade dressing is dynOmite. M. Mm. Mmm.

Speaking of the Mushroom, Coop learned to say "mush" on this trip. And "wawa". And "splash". And "doo doo". NO clue where that last one came from. Seriously. We do not do the "doo doo" in our house. Ew.

Daycare? JK. We blame every single bad behavior on Coop's 4 week daycare rendezvous these days. :)

The only sure-fire way to top a solid trip to MM is to follow it with hours of basking in the sunshine.

We can do that.

Holiday Road: Day Two

2011-07-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

We found the ocean today!

And the pool!

And the cabana!

And the best seafood on HHI (Hellooo Black Marlin).

An absolutely perfect day.

Co-sleeping with a 14 month old in a hotel room is quite the experience. He is just so silly. Did I mention that he has to touch everything. Every. Single. Thing. Coffee tables and night stands and door knobs and curtains and plugs and mirrors. He ran from one end of the room to the other 31 times tonight. We just sat and giggled.

We could live here. We really could!

More later...gotta run (literally!)

Holiday Road: Day One

2011-07-06T23:29:00.000-07:00

We hit the road for Davis Family Vaca 2011 this morning. We were so excited we could hardly stand it. We stopped for lunch with Grammie in downtown Mac-town and were on the road by noontime.

We decided to swing by Savannah for a quick overnight at the Mansion at Forsyth Park on our way to the beach, and boy were we glad we did. Within 30 seconds of arriving here, you feel completely rejuvenated and relaxed. The absolute perfect place to re-cooperate (even with said Coop in tow)...

LOVE this place!

I had to stop to wipe a tear away when I realized how much this little fella has grown in just one year.

My, oh my. Super Coop was SO busy this time around. He opened every single cabinet and drawer, dumped every ice bucket over, and touched every single thing he could possibly find. He found it quite grand.

How does one keep a 14 month old happy and quiet in a hotel? Bubbles.

And elevator buttons.

We ate down on Riverstreet at One Eyed Lizzies. We love them because 1) they have enormous glasses of sweet tea-I'm talking ginormous, 2) they have the best crushed ice in town 3) they have the best best best grouper po boy sandwiches and homemade tartar sauce 4) they allow for hours of window people watchin'--view onto Riverstreet straight from your booth.

So, a girl sitting at the booth across from us had a total outburst during dinner. It started with a lot of angst, pouting, eye rolling, and hair flicking. I tried not to stare, but I couldn't help myself. She screamed and hollared at her mom, reminding her how much she hated her, and then (get ready for this...) grabbed a knife and threatened to cut herself. You read that right.

Her mom clinched her teeth and did that talking/growling thing without moving your lips thing that only moms can do and I thought surely NOT. Under the table the knife went and S-L-I-C-E. Then she punched the booth.

My jaw was literally on the floor. I was totally convinced that we were on the show "What Would You Do?" and kept waiting for John Quinones to pop out from behind the plastic palm tree. When he didn't, I wanted to call to have an inpatient intake completed on her but Hubs reminded me we were to mind our own business. Still, GASP. Her escapade ended with an 10 minute evil eye stare down at her mom (dad sitting silently) followed by "Just give me your car and I will pack my stuff and move out." Good idea, right? I worried about her (and her parents) all night long. Can you believe it?? Cooper is officially unallowed to ever be a teenager. Ever.

We came back to the room and went down to the pool for a night swim. Thanks sweet friends Abby, Andy, Liam, and Macy for the fancy pants swim trunks and flops!!

Have I mentioned Cooper's Propel Fitness Water addiction? Shrug.

The night ended with Coop making a big old splash in the big old bathtub. I might have snuck a 30 minute soak in there before bed too. Complete with a Cherry Coke on ice. Fizz.

Oh how we love this place--HIGHLY recommend it if you are planning a weekender in Savannah. Tomorrow's agenda: sun, sand, sea, and silliness! Hilton Head here we come!!

Recovery

2011-07-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

The best way to recover from Ridiculous-Big-Boy-School-Experience 2011?

1. Initiate playroom re-model (still a work in progress but we are having so much fun transforming this space. I always tell Chris that we can move into a trailer and I will still be as happy as a lark, as long as we can keep Coop's playroom.)

Hubs whipped up this fantastic artwork hanging piece and I just absolutely love it! So simple and I love walking into the room and seeing all of Coop's "projects". Next up, book hanging unit for opposite wall (same concept, just taking favorite little people paperbacks and displaying them to add color to the room).

Look at those itty bitty footprints. Who's are those?

2. Spend an evening with our besties from Australia. LOVE them! Oxford and Coop were instant buds! Learn to say things like "Time to change your nappie" and "Uh oh, come to mum love, you bumped your noggie" and "Give Oxie cuddles" and "Let's go pram shopping today!". SO cute!

3. Stay home with Dada. Lose your pants. Learn to vacuum. Love every second of it.

4. Spend a day down at the farm. "Ride" Spot and Sleeper, pull Woody Wagon, rock on the front porch and REPEAT. Oh, and eat yummy Fresh Air Barbecue for supper and ride home in our jammies.

Coopie says "A cowboy life is the life for me."

So there ya have it. All recovered from the trauma of daycare. Thank you all so much for your wonderful suggestions and words of encouragement. We are sure that something fabulous is just around the corner...Happy 4th of July y'all!

Big Boy School is for Big Boys

2011-06-28T19:15:00.000-07:00

Monday marked the 4 week mark of Coop's stint in Big Boy School. 4 weeks of CRYING, CRYING, CRYING. All. day. long. His little paper always says "What I ate today: NA" and "Nap Time Today: NA". 4 weeks, 3 teachers (red flag) , 2 directors (double red flag), and 1 crazy, loony mama bird over here. Every morning when I drop him off he SCREAMS. He chases me out of the classroom and I whisper prayers that he will love his class and his nonexistent-consistent teacher and the blocks and the cars and the spaghetti oh's and the slide out in the play yard. Every day I drive to work with my mind just a-racing. Every day I call at noon to check on my sweet Super Coop. Every day the girl answers the phone and tells me that he is still screaming.

Yesterday when I called to check on him and the girl told me he was still screaming, something inside of me snapped. I left work early (again), zoomed up there, and watched the closed circuit video feed of him to see what in the world was ruffling his little feathers. I watched (alone in the lobby) for 20 minutes as he sat alone in the corner, with his blankie and pappy, just a boo hooing. I asked to speak to the director and was informed that she quit 2 weeks ago. Hello? Is this not a "cute little note taped to the cubby" type of thing in the world of daycare?? I walked down to his classroom to scoop him up and take him home and was told that his teacher had also quit. Again.

Snap.

Crackle.

Pop.

I asked the pseudo-director to pull the video feed from the day so I could see for myself, why he is having such a hard time adjusting. She said no.

I asked again.

She said no.

We peeled out on 2 wheels and have not looked back. Sigh. Big Boy School=Total Fail. At least the hand print spider craft was cute.

Being a working mom comes with its very own sweet set of challenges. I wouldn't change it for the world--well ok, maybe I sometimes dream about working two days per week, but I digress. It's hard y'all. Question...what do you do? In-home? Nanny-share? 1:1? Daycare? Advice needed. Before 8am on Thursday, preferably. *Blush* [End Irrational Mommy Banter]

Dada!

2011-06-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

Super Coop and his Dada are the best of buds. Two peas in a pod. Silly. Gooses. Love them both to pieces.

Chris can make Coop giggle without saying a word. He gives the best monster bath in all the world. He takes his sweet time when he rocks him to sleep at night, and my favorite part of the day is secretly listening to the two of them over the monitor. He can get Coop to eat anything. Anything. I can't even get him to eat a peanut butter-n-jelly sandwich.

When Dada cuts the grass, Coop stands at the window and watches his every move.

He always gets the last bite of Dada's dessert. And the first.

When Chris is on the road, Coop plays with his Little People Airplane, yelling "DADADADADA". Melts my heart.

Father's Day 2010

Father's Day 2011

We love you Dada!

Zoo Pals

2011-06-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

It's been some kinda week folks. Yes, I totally and completely realize it's only Wednesday :)

I am most thankful for my stay-at-home mommy day that rolls around every Wednesday. It's like a breath of fresh air right smack in the middle of the week. Coop and I get to stay in our pjs until shamefully late, have lunchdates and playdates, take TLC naps, and splash at the pool.

We got some unexpected news on Friday. It's ok though because again, our God is bigger than any tough news we will ever receive. Right in the middle of our not-so-great news, I landed myself in the ER at Northside. Totally unrelated and totally equally not-so-great. It's just been a roll up your sleeves (and crawl into bed) kind of week.

Chris is the best best best hubby in all the world. He is a super dad/super husband extraordinaire. He takes the best care of me and Coop. He did the grocery shopping this week, wheeled Coop around the lobby of the hospital with animal crackers and fruit punch at 10 o'clock at night, picked him up from school early two days in a row in order to rescue him from the doom of preschool adjustment, and hasn't uttered a single complaint about any of it.

In other news, we've been battling a certain little 13 month old as he has mastered the art of food-slinging. Man, he is good. Drives us bonkers. Nutsos. Fling. Fling.

He's got the casual-over-the-shoulder drop, when he thinks no one's watching. He's got the wind-up-and-let 'em-have-it catapult that lands food in the living room. And in the foyer. He's got the let-me-give-mama-a-bite-fake-out that allows him to plop food right on my lap. But this one only happens when I am wearing white or khaki. He's good, I tell you.

Today, he met his match.

Hefty's Zoo Pals Plates. Oh, Coop. Mama got you on this one.

He LOVES his Zoo Pal plates so very very much that he won't DARE fling his plate. Or sling his food. He sits and eats his dinner like a good boy, admiring his frog or his dog or his hog. Bite by bite he gobbles his food up, cheese-ballin it as I praise him and sing him songs like "Our food goes in our mouth, our food goes in our mouth, hi ho the dairio our food goes in our mouth."

Love these plates so much that I even stuck a pack in the diaper bag. No more plastic table cover at Chick-fil-a for us. It's Zoo Pals all the way.

As a speech therapist, I get oober excited about the language stimulation wrapped up within these little beauties. We sit and make animal noises, point to the doggie/froggie/hoggie's nose, talk about where the doggie/froggie/hoggie lives and so on and so on. A product that helps control the goo on our hardwoods AND promotes language development? Get out of town.

My hat's off to you super-geniuses over at Hefty. Thankyouveryverymuch!

Super Coop

2011-06-11T18:11:00.000-07:00

This picture makes my heart skip a beat. It was taken right before Super Coop grabbed his briefcase and his pappy and headed off for a hard day at the office. I love his chunky monkey thighs. And his mischievous grin. And how he tucks his arms up under his cape so no one can tickle him. He's got work to do and can't be bothered with silly games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake. I want to freeze this very moment. Savor it for a while. Hold on to it until I am ready for him to outgrow more of his clothes and run away from me and drag his feet a little lower when I rock him to sleep at night.

He started big boy school this week.

And went on his first boat ride.

And ate a rock, some sand, and some teddy grahams.

Oh how we love him. How we constantly thank God for being so good and gracious and giving him to us. How he keeps us laughing. And running. And playing.

"I sing for joy at the work of Your hands". -Psalm 92:4

Brown Baggin' It

2011-06-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

I typically eat lunch out every day at work. Every. Single. Day. Shameless. I know. It's horrible.

I tell myself that it's my reward for working. I deserve it. I need it. It's my only hobby. I need fresh air. Chick-fil-a might risk closing their doors it it weren't for me.

Besides, I am brown-baggin-it impaired. When I attempt to pack my lunch, I end up with a Twinkie, a Cherry Coke, and a baggie of mini Goldfish crackers. So truly, Chick-fil-a's value meal #1 is a step in the right direction. It has to be.

I've made a pact with myself (and my pre-Cooper-khaki pants) to pack my lunch at least 2 out of 4 days. Baby steps.

Today I used my nifty little Ziploc brand sectioned lunch tote and brought my own little lunch. A BBQ sandwich (leftovers) and some pasta salad. I ate it in 7 minutes. We get 60.

I spent the remaining 53 minutes in Gymboree.

I think it was cheaper to eat lunch out ;)

Did I mention that our new center is located in the Avenues shopping center. Trouble? I think so. Oh how I love you, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Whoever made the executive decision to position us between the Loft, Charming Charlies, and Gymboree is an absolute mastermind. CHOA, you have my heart!

Pre-Super Coop Hope and Will fun. We marched 9 miles (ok, maybe just 2) uphill in a parade, wearing polyester. Chris failed to read the "Hope and Will Behavior Contract" and went around fist pumping and poundin' it with the kids. Priceless. Precious memories...

Lessons Learned

2011-06-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

This year we have learned:

1. How to pray.

2. How to praise.

3. How to shave a head bald and how to shave a bald head.
4. What a port is. And how to insure onset of a Staph Infection when going swimming post-surgical insertion.
5. How many people we love and how many people love us.
6. Why God brings us to our knees.
7. How to keep a baby quiet in an oncology office.
8. What it means to have faith as small as a mustard seed.
9. How important the double flush rule can be.
10. How to let go and how to hold on.

We cannot thank you enough for the outpouring of love you have given our little family over the past 365 days. You kept us going. Kept us laughing. Kept us strong. Kept us drinking sweet tea (oh the gallons that were left on our front porch!). Kept us remembering what a mighty God we serve.

Thank you, thank you, thank you from the very bottom of our hearts.

Pray

2011-06-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely heartbroken. I lost a very very very special little friend today. I am on my knees praying for her precious family.

I imagine that she playing with the angels right about now. If I had to guess, she's probably playing Pretty Pretty Princess. She's winning. And she's tickled pink that she doesn't have to practice her words between each turn.

She's chewing bubble gum and eating ice cream.

Please help me lift up her mama, daddy, and big sister in prayer. Her mom taught me something I will never ever ever forget. When she got the toughest news a mom could possibly receive, she told me with grace "You can choose to worry or you can choose to pray. What you cannot do, is both". Her words have resounded in my soul since the day she spoke them.

We serve a mighty God. He hears our cries and draws near to us in our time of need.

Love you sweet girl-

Mopeds and Fruity Pebbles

2011-05-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

I am anxious tonight. A year ago this week, Chris left for a trip to Arkansas and our lives were forever changed. I don't roll with a ton of anxiety anymore these days, so this has kinda caught me off guard.

I went to Super Target last night and bought some Fruity Pebbles to help me cope. Who knew Fruity Pebbles could calm the nerves.

It's been 3 (t-h-r-e-e) weeks since I've had AC in my car. You can bet I will never ever ever jump off my fuse box again. Ever. Ever. Here's hoping tomorrow's mechanic has better luck or we will be driving the Envoy into the lake and purchasing a moped. Only I'd still be AC-less, I guess.

I hope our Allstate agent isn't reading this.

Today I got so hot in the car, I considered taking off all of my clothes and driving home from work in my skibbies. I was so so happy to get home and cool off, only I came in and found our little digital thermostat blinking 85. Upstairs and down. I think God's trying to teach us something.

What I am MOST thankful for today TOTALLY outweighs my jittery nerves and sweaty brow. I have the best family in all the world, a job that I am beside myself over, the sweetest little baby boy who blows me kisses in the bathtub, the most fabulous husband in all the world who surprised me with a bouquet of hydrangeas (my absolute FAVE) this week, and a Chick-fil-a with unlimited sweet tea AND crushed ice within walking distance from my new office.

Mighty blessed. Mighty.

Rosco's Fish Camp

2011-05-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

We have a new love. It's called Rosco's Fish Camp. Holy goodness. It is just absolutely heavenly.

We love it because 1) It's approximately 2.2 miles from our house 2) The catfish is absolutely scrumptious (if you think the snack pack is enough, you will be quickly informed by your tummy, that you need the big girl platter because it is just THAT good) 3) You can wear your flip flops. And your swimsuit. If you're brave enough to eat catfish in your bikini, that is. 4) The folks that own it are just so darn nice and 5) hushpuppies. glorious hushpuppies.
We ate there Saturday night. And Sunday night. And we are most sad that they are closed on Mondays. Did I mention the Mia's Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches?
Ryan didn't want to be left out.

Aren't they just the cutest?

Ahhh, sweet summer time!

And because I am in a season of reminiscing (busybody 13 month olds will do that to you), here was our little pool boy exactly one year ago today:
and now...
PS. Has anyone seen my colander?

Letters and Phone Calls

2011-05-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

Two things happened this week. Random, bizzarre, blasts from the past kind of things. It's got us counting our blessings and taking note of God's goodness that surrounds us.

1. Hubs got a phone call from TSA's attorney Monday. For serious. Wanting to, ahem, "clear up some personal business". Enter: $3000 civil fine for the airport nonsense. Hilarious. So the criminal case has been completely cleared. Wiped clean. Erased for all eternity. But the lovely folks down at the TSA apparently still had a civil case in the works. After 30 minutes of rehashing the past 12 months of our lives, Chris and Mr. TSA Attorney were BFF's, the fine was reduced to $150 and Chris was being wished the best of luck in all he does. Not kidding. THANK YOU JESUS!

2. We received a beat up package in the mail from a certain medical facility. It was beat up and torn because we've moved since going to this blasted place 1 year ago and the package had to go through the US Postal Service's forwarding system. We stood on the drive way and opened the package-the TIME STAMPED package mind you- and realized that one year ago we were here: "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie". We giggled at the memories of our adventures back in 2010 and then realized we now have 30, no count them 7 (the time stamped letter doesn't account for forwarding of mail shenanigans), days to make some decisions. The best part, it's all in God's hands. We get to "pretend" to make decisions, but all the while, He's got this. He's carrying us and knows the plans He has for us.

They say things happen in 3's. We're hoping 2's a crew this week.

Flame On

2011-05-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

Gracious day. I ran across this story via Kelly's Korner tonight and I just can't help but to share it. God's grace and mercy is so very real and present in this precious family's story.

If you, like me, need a little perspective in your life, watch the video. It will be a lifechanging 41 minutes. I promise.

http://www.flameon.net (Click on the "watch" tab and sign up to watch the video. Absolutely awe inspiring.)

S pa cin g Prob lem s

2011-05-15T20:02:00.001-07:00

Blogger, dear sweet blogspot.com, can you please oh please tell me why all of my blogs end up with crazy wacky spacing issues? You are driving me quite batty. Thankyouverymuch.

Whale of a Good Time!

2011-05-09T20:59:00.000-07:00

We've been holdin' tight to our britches these past few weeks! Little man turned one on the 30th (although I still can't even wrap my head around the very idea) and we had ourselves a whale of a good time celebrating his big day!He's such a little ham bone.
So blessed to be surrounded by family and sweet friends on this very special day!

Uncle Christopher and Kevin came all the way down from Virginia just to splash around with Super Coop.
And Dear, Sweet Gidge (aka Loulu/Abby) whipped up yet another fabulous masterpiece-- I might have had a complete field day pulling together a few things for my sweet birthday boy...

Ok, so I totally stalked the Amy Atlas blog for approximately 1048 hours before the party getting ideas. Didn't help that Chris was out of town for 2 weeks right before Coop's big day. What's a girl to do besides find purposes for craft paper and mason jars? Mom came up Friday night and we had ourselves a total slumber party. She is the QUEEN of all things tasty (don't know how I missed the boat there??) From pinwheels to sausage balls to fruit trays to dips. Holy moly. Yum. Yum. Happy Happy Birthday Sweet Super Coop! We whaley love you, we whaley do!

And for the sake of documenting old school lock-and-key-diary-style. Did I mention what our week consisted of pre-birthday bash? Let me just say, when draining your car battery and attempting to jump off your vehicle, it is most important to make sure that you do in fact, have the jumper cables attached to the actual BATTERY. This rectangular box under the hood is not to be mistaken with the fuse box.

I will cut to the chase. I tried to blow up my car. For 4 hours. Thankfully a good Samaritan came along and informed me that I might want to re-attach the jumper cables to something a little less fuseboxish. Sparks. Smoke. Sparks. Sigh.

Over a week later, we still can't figure out the extent of the damage. Bat eyelashes. Smile.

525600 minutes

2011-04-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

Somehow I missed the "Happy 10 Monthaversary Super Coop!". Oh, and the "Coop Turns 11 Months Old Today" posts. Sheesh.

I have his monthaversary onesies laid out on his dresser. They've been there for the past 2 months. Right beside his froggie lovie, a nose squigie, and a stack of invitations I lost and then had to re-write.

So here's what happened: We woke up this morning and well, he is oNe yEArs old. Get back jack. It's pretty much crazy.

I'm confused, understandably, because I just had him yesterday.

He has been grinning from ear to ear ALL. DAY. LONG. Presh. It's like he's known it was his special day. Maybe it's because we've sang him Happy Birthday a gazillion times. Each time he blushes, buries his little face, and comes up squinty eyed and giggly. Melts my heart.
Somewhere in the midst of the daily doins I've lost track of time. I watch him toddling across the family room and wonder "Who has come to visit and forgotten to take their big kid home with them?" and "Has anyone seen my teeny tiny little baby Coopie?". Hubs keeps reminding me that Coop's a big boy now. Toothbrush, walking shoes, sippy cup, dinosaur jammies, convertible carseat and all.
I stopped today and thought back over the past year. Then I took a nap and thought about it some more. God has poured out his mercy over our little family this past year. We are still speechless as we stand in awe of His grace.
We haven't been rocking Coop to sleep anymore. Somewhere amidst his 4am wake up calls we decided it was because of our night night routine, so we started rocking during story time and sing-along-songs, but not all the way to sleepyland.

Not tonight folks. Rocked that little baby all the way to open-mouth-breathin, drool-puddlin', sweet-sigh-givin', floppy-arms-flappin' Land of Nod.

Then I watched him sleep with his tushie in the air and sang him bedtime prayers and thanked God 502 times for his precious little old baby self.

Lord, you are my God. I will exhault you and praise your name. For in perfect faithfulness, you have done wonderful things planned long ago. -Isaiah 25:1

33

2011-04-20T06:52:00.001-07:00

Today is a very very very special day in our house. Today Chris celebrates his 33rd birthday!

33 may not sound like anything special, oh but it is, it is! The 365 days between my sweet hubs 32nd and 33rd birthdays have been life-defining. We have more to celebrate than ever before. More blessings than we can count on our fingers and toes.

What you may or may not know about our birthday boy:

1. He has broken more bones than we can count. He shattered his elbow on our very first date. The rest was history :) He only gave up his love of Rugby when our insurance company threatened to drop him from our plan due to the number of orthopedic surgeries he had undergone.

2. He is flat-footed.

3. He won't eat tomatoes. Or pickles.

4. He sat in the chemo chair at the Cancer Answer for days on end and never ever ever complained. Not even once.

5. He is a crazy dancing fool, but he would never let you know. Ask him to show you his robot. Go on.

6. He is the best Daddy in all the world. He never once pretended not to know how to change a diaper. Or give a bottle. Or give a bath. Or clean the boogies out of Coop's booger-clad nose.

7. He was a baseball umpire. And it wasn't just for Halloween.

8. He loves the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. And Celtic Women. And River Dance. True story.

9. He was a bouncer in college. He once tossed a kid out of the bar, into the street, straight into a nearby fire hydrant.

10. He is a hero. A real life hero. He has the heart of a champion. The soul of a saint. He is the best husband a girl could ever ask for.

Happy birthday sweet Darlin! We love you to the moon and back and we are so thankful to have you in our lives! You are a rock for our little family, an inspiration to us all...now let's go eat some CAKE!

PS. You know what's super neat? It's his mama's birthday too! HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANA! We love you!!

Pappy Addendum

2011-04-17T04:50:00.000-07:00

I woke up with anxiety this morning friends. It's about the pappy comment in my last blog. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE know that I would never in a million gazillion years "judge" anyone for their pappy rules. Ever. Ever. Ever. I think parenthood is the most beautiful thing in all the world because there are no rights and wrongs when it comes to loving our little ones. Pappy, no pappy. Bottle feeding, breastfeeding. Crib-sleeping, co-sleeping. Pampers, Happy Heiny's. Giving a healthy dose of Benadryl to assist in sleep habits, not giving a healthy dose of Benadryl to assist in sleep habits. Truly, I think it's absolutely beautiful. Please accept my pappy apologies!

Questions

2011-04-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

So I have had approximately 174 mommy-questions pop up this week. No shame, so here we go:

1. How in the WORLD do we convince our little Super Coop that there is life beyond his pappy??I realize that I have made this recommendation as a speech therapist about a gazillion times, complete with step by step directions, but good googlywoogly. This is hard.

Coop sleeps with 4 pappies. Yes. 4. Mommy shame. When he loses one in the middle of the night (read: hurls one across his bedroom in an attempt at getting me and Chris to come rescue him), he is always within an arm's reach of a backup. It's been brilliant. Until now.

The first birthday is upon us, and it's time to say adios.

I snipped the tip last night. It was just cruel. He kept looking at it, talking to it (yes, with 4 hanging out in his crib, they have become lifelong friends), and looking at me as if I had taken his last Puff.

2. Will I ever be able to sit through church again without being paged again and again and again to come rescue a sobbing, snot-bubble-blowing, wailing little munchkin? Seriously. We have left Coop with various friends and family members since he was 3 weeks old. 3. weeks. old. He goes to Ms. Lori's house 4 days a week while I work without batting an eyelash. He has spent the night with Grammie and Poppy Tots and Nana and Grandada without so much as shedding one tear for us.

3 minutes in the church nursery and he is D-O-N-E.

*I will say, it has enhanced my prayer-life, as I pray fervently that no one sees me slip him bribes like "If you stay and sing songs and learn about Jesus with your friends, I will get you a sweet tea on the way home" or "If you stop crying and let mommy and daddy go back to hear the message, we will buy you a pony when we get home".

3. How is one supposed to channel AC to the backseat of the mommy-mobile with the monster mack daddy car seat turned rear-facing?? By the time we have hit the front of the neighborhood, Coop has sweat dripping from his brows. By the time we get to Hobby Lobby or Target or Old Navy or Chickfila, he looks as though he spent the afternoon at Whitewater.

4. Why must our children now be 13 before turning the car seat around again?

5. When planning a first birthday bash, is there a limit when it comes to the number of ridiculous arts and crafts you feel absolutely necessary to complete your little one's special day? Last night I was up until midnight making nautical flag rice crispy toppers. I mean, how could I resist?

6. The food pyramid does contain goldfish crackers, mini pancakes, and corn dogs, right?

7. Has anyone seen my keys? Or my wallet? Or my left shoe?

8. If one can no longer locate a variety of small objects (i.e. ponytail holders, door stopper tips, chap stick tubes), are you to assume that your child ate them?

9. How do mamas get to take showers once their babies are mobile? Did I miss the aisle in Babies R Us for contraptions that hold 11 month olds?

10. If my child is fascinated, I mean beyond words, with the vacuum cleaner, am I to be worried or is it ok to use the vacuum cleaner in order to take said shower?

It's so much fun being a Mama, it truly is :) The best part, making up your own answers and loving every tiny moment for what it is. Missing shoes and all.

Gratitude Overflowing

2011-04-06T20:06:00.001-07:00

Tears of gratitude are running down my face. My heart is just a-singin'.

Love. Love. Love.

Counting every blessing twice.

Savoring every single second of this dance. L-O-V-E

Danielle/Ella Rue Photography, we just can't thank you enough. Truly. Thank you a million times over.

Kudzu Frolicking

2011-04-03T19:03:00.000-07:00

My Dada is my hero. He went for a PET scan this morning. Mama and I went with him to cheer for him as he drank his "milkshake".

He wouldn't let me have any, but that's ok because Mama gave me some of her sweet tea instead. Tonight we had the pleasure of meeting a sweet little lady, Danielle, of Ella Rue photography as she showered us with love and blessings out at Sims Lake Park. She snapped picture after picture of us acting silly and having a good ol' time. What an absolute treat!! We climbed on rocks, played in the grass, sprawled out on our picnic blanket, and frolicked in nothing but...KUDZU. We realized halfway through those kudzu shots, just how symbolic they were. Somehow in all of our frolicking and gallivanting we totally totally forgot that Chris was radioactive and not allowed to be near Coop. Party foul. Next Google search might look something like: "What to do if your radioactive husband handles your 11 month old." Thank you SO very much Danielle for laughing at Coop's snot bubbles, traipsing around the freezing cold park with us, and mostly, for being so generous and giving. Truly, you are a blessing to our family! We just know that your dad is looking down on you rooting for you and beaming from ear to ear with pride over who you have become. Thank you for reminding us that "you can never lose if you don't quit". When we prayed tonight we thanked God for being so good and merciful. Next up: iron transfusion on Thursday. Lovin' every single second of our sweet time with Dada! "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Totally Unblogworthy

2011-03-31T19:12:00.000-07:00

True stories about this week:

-I got congratulated on being pregnant. Small problem: I am not pregnant.

-I earned yet another Mommy-of-the-year-award. Gave Coop whole kernel corn for supper last night. Who knew that was a no-no?

-I got the news that I will be helping to open our new CHOA site in Cumming. Woot! Woot! What an awesome opportunity!! And the best part? Two of my most favorite people will be there. Look out Forsyth, look out.

-Chris has been in three states in three days. Thankfully, one of those states was Georgia so I could love on him like crazy and ask him to check his luggage over and over again.

-A lady was robbed this morning at the spot Lori and I meet to pass off Super Coop. In broad daylight.

-I watched "Mobbed" for the first time ever tonight. I actually shrieked out loud at one point and teared up at another. I can't decide if it was the group of cloggers or the impromptu prenuptials, but something got me good.

-I ate Chick-fil-a four days in a row. Mental note: order chargrilled tomorrow in order to decrease "congratulations-on-your-pregnancy" comments.

-Our itty bitty baby boy turned 11 months old yesterday. E-L-E-V-E-N. 11. How is this possible again?

He gets his thighs quite honestly.

Hole in One

2011-03-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

Who knew the kudzu after-party would be quite so much fun? Chris had (another) follow-up appointment with Dr. Z this week. He was scheduled for a PET scan Tuesday but because of insurance shenanigans, we have to bump it out a week. The "trial" meds he started a few weeks ago turned out to be a bust. They caused migraines and made him want to yak. He (still) doesn't see it, but he is such a rock. He has been through more than most of us will ever go through, yet he stays focused and strong no matter what. Dr. Z thinks he is dealing with PCCI (a fancy name for the neuro-toxicity that follows certain chemo regimens). He came out of Tuesdays appointment with all sorts of, well, appointments. Little grains of sand in our once kudzu-clad underpants. Regardless, God's provision and sovereignty is ALWAYS first and foremost on our minds and in our hearts. He is SO good and SO merciful. He has blessed us beyond our comprehension and we know He is still leading us, every step of the way. We are thankful for: 1. The need for haircuts. 2. Coopie Doop and his newfound love for blowing kisses and clapping his little hands. 3. $5 Bang Bang Night at Bonefish. 4. This little darlin: Have I told you how much we adore this little sweet pea and her Mama? Isn't she just the cutest thing in all the world?

Friday is a quite a special day for the Davis girls. You see, Ludi girl will be swinging her tiny golf club in honor and memory of her Daddy at the 1st Annual Stephen Davis Memorial Golf Tournament. He's going to be so proud of her.

I often find myself sitting in awe of Dori Bell and her strength. She is a reflection of God's grace and mercy and we love her and Lu-Lu to pieces.

3-0 and other Tid Bits

2011-03-23T08:13:00.001-07:00

These two little love bugs helped me celebrate the big 3-0 'round here this past week.

Let me just say...What a BLESSED 30 year old little lady I am!

On Saturday 2 of my lifelong besties kidnapped me and swept me away to the spa! What an absolute TREAT! We ate yummo lunch at Harvest Bread Company, got sugar scrubs and pedicures, massages, partook in dainty little cupcakes at Starbucks, and perused the Forum for hours without a care in the world. It was a most marvelous day! I truly can't thank you enough sweet friends!!!

Chris was so super sweet (and so super sneaky) and planned a fabulous get-together at Grace 17:20 last Sunday. I was surrounded by people I absolutely adore and grits galore!After a year like this past one, we have come to realize just how fortunate we are to have so many wonderful people in our lives. Truly, to be 30 (yes, 30 friends) and have an army of loved ones like we do is just truly amazing. Although it was technically a birthday celebration, I just sat in awe of our friends and family. I might have shed a tear or two in the ladies room just thinkin' about how much each and every one of you mean to us.

And my sweet husband is just something else. He is a rock for our family and I fall even more and more in love him each and every day. There isn't a second that passes by that I am not whispering humble thank-yous to our great God above for bringing him into my life.

We finished off birthday extravaganza week this past weekend down in Savannah. Just the two of us. Coop packed up his rollin' suitcase and headed to Grammie and Poppy Tots for the weekend. He had an absolute BLAST (and I think they just might have too!)

We had oh, so much fun (even though we talked about Coop 95% of the time and counted down the hours until we got to see him again!) We didn't take a single picture. Not-a-one. Can you believe it?? Me either. Had we remembered to take our camera, there would be one picture down by the river, one behind an enormous plate of fried green tomatoes, and one out on HHI at, well, the Tanger Outlet Mall.

THANK YOU all so much for making my birthday so special this year. Truly, I feel so loved and so blessed!

Hacked

2011-03-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to blog for the past week. This is why I have not:

1) I am, apparently, training for a marathon and didn't know it. Go, mama, go! (He's fast. Really fast.) Whew.

2) We've been attending Driver's Ed classes with our 10 month old.3) We've been recovering from Coop's easy-breezy tubes/tongue clipping event.
4) We've been hacked.

Sneaky little hackers.

About a week before the whole bank fiasco a little bubble popped up in the lower right hand corner of our screen. It reminded me that we needed to update our antivirus software. Like any good blogger/facebooker/googler/hotmailer, I eagerly clicked on the bubble to insure that our computer stays virus-free.

Bleh.

APPARENTLY, I invited these ridiculous hackers into our lives.

*Hello, superhackers. Let me take this minute to ask you, "WHY on earth did you spend all of our money on gas?? Have you not seen the new line at Coach? Are you not interested in the latest at Tiffany's???" Gas? Come on now.*

Anyway, both of our home laptops are now boogered up.

I always like to belive the best in people, but alas, I am reminded that doo-doo heads do indeed still exist out there.

So this is my public service announcement. Do. not. click. on. anything. that. says. ANTIVIRUS ANTISPYWARE 2011. Do. not.

Heart of a Champion

2011-03-13T07:47:00.000-07:00

On my knees praying for the Landreau family this morning. Safe to say, this one's gonna be on "repeat" for quite some time in the Davis House. Absolutely beautiful.

To support Chris Landreau and his precious family, go to ITunes and download this little gem. It's sure to make you sing like a song bird, cry like a baby, and pray like a warrior.

Intervention

2011-03-12T17:41:00.001-08:00

I started getting crabby this past week. It just kind of snuck up on me. I blame it on the return trip to the oncologist and bank account debacle, but really, there's just no excuse. I found myself worried about silly things and forgetting just how many blessings surround me each and every single day.

So I decided to take action.

I thought about doing some retail therapy but remembered that all I have left in my wallet is my Old Navy card, and well, that just wouldn't do.

So I bought myself a teeny tiny little notebook. Oober doober cute, straight from the dollar bin at Staples.

In true geekazoid fashion, I gave myself a homework assignment. Each day I write the date on the top of the page and challenge myself to write 3 things I am thankful for, 3 "I wills", and 3 "to-dos".

It has been life-changing.

I am a list kind of girl. I just love them. I really do.
1. Because they are fun to write. 2. Because I love any excuse to use funky patterned note pads and Sharpie felt-tip pens. 3. Because I have the memory of a 90 year old. 4. Because I love to check things off and cross things out. 5. Because I was born Type A trapped in a wanna-be Type B's body. and 6. Because sometimes just making a list can just make you feel oh so good.

Today's entry looked something like this:

I am thankful for:
1. The word 'remission'.
2. Saturdays.
3. Fried green tomatoes.

I will:
1. Not go through the drive thru at Chick-fil-a for a tea.
2. Play on the floor with Cooper in the playroom past our bedtimes.
3. Not worry, talk about, complain about, or carry-on about the bank fraud. (Enough already. I only mention it here for the sake of sharing my list).

To do:
1. Clean master bath floors. Sidenote: *We moved into our house on December 30th. It is March the 12th and the floors have never seen the bottom of my swiffer pad. It is time.
2. Load dishwasher. *Must start somewhere, right?
3. Clean off dresser. *Confiscated items included: nail clippers, a Santa Claus onesie, 2 coat hangers, and 5 mix-matched socks.

Rules about this self-help intervention project:
1. You are NOT, in fact, allowed to put something on the "to do" list portion of the list simply for the sake of marking it off the list. I am queen of adding things to my to-do list that I have already done, just so I can mark them off. Blush.
2. You can be thankful for things both big and small. One day I was thankful for bellybuttons because, well, Cooper's is just so darn cute and I couldn't stop thanking God for giving him to us, bellybutton and all.
3. When it comes to the "I wills"...you may not make this another list of "to dos". These have to be personal goals for the day, not just 1, 2s, and 3s of silly things to get done.
4. You may not get so overwhelmed by your list of to-dos that you fill out that portion of the assignment ahead of schedule, for every day in the book.
5. If finding yourself crabby and thankfulness-less, you must complete the exercise twice for the day. Three times if you remain in the same state of disheveled-messiness.

So there you have it. My mood is a gazillion times better.

I am thankful. I am crabby-no-more. I am once again walking barefoot across our bathroom floor.

So tell me, what WILL YOU, DO, and be THANKFUL for?

4.32

2011-03-10T18:25:00.000-08:00

One day I am going to write a book. This particular chapter shall be entitled "$4.32".

I got a text message this morning. It was from Bank of America--a courtesy alert that our savings account had a balance of $4.32.

I prayed for God's grace and poise, I really did. Instead I found myself shrieking and flailing around for the next 24 hours. Faith: fail.

In a nutshell, my debit card number was stolen. We don't know how. We don't know when. We don't know where. The card remained tucked away, safe and sound in my wallet. My number was sold/distributed across the southeast and within 24 hours, every PENNY, every single PENNY was taken from my accounts. My checking account is linked to our savings accounts. Our savings accounts are linked to my bank credit card. By the time I got the alert and signed on to our online banking page, it read: Checking Balance: $0.00, Savings Balance: $0.00.

The list of deductions was mind blowing. Within mere hours, the checking account was completely depleted. All debits took place at gas stations. Truck stops at that. They occurred simultaneously, across 4 states. When the checking account balance hit zero, funds were pulled from savings.

By the time I got myself off the floor from the fetal position, fluffed a new brown paper yack sack, and drove to our local BOA branch, the suckers had cleared another $400.

I prayed for more grace and poise. In it's place came snot rockets and blotchy face patches. You know the ones.

The people at the bank were ever so sweet. They reassured me that everything would work itself out. The BOA fraud department jumped on the bandwagon, cancelled/froze all accounts, and filed claims to have the money credited back (in 48 hours).

In the meantime, my new past time consists of watching additional fraudulent truck stop debits trickle in one by one. Apparently scam artists purchase a lot of pork rinds and no-doz.

And so, I sit and pray for grace and poise :)