I can tell there might be more to blog about in the future. JJ is getting into everything and that should create some stories. One day this past week he decorated his chin with mascara and the next day he "painted" his potty chair with my lipstick. I can see which drawer now needs a lock.

Halloween was uneventful. JJ was a Lion. We went to Robert's office and got lots of candy that I love. We passed out candy at home and JJ learned how to drop Starbursts into trick-or-treaters' bags. He got so excited everytime the doorbell rang.

He has learned to say "thank you" when he receives something. Sometimes he has to be prompted and other times he says it on his own. I'm impressed when he says it because I forget he knows how. He still needs work on 'please' and 'you're welcome' but it is a good start.

He plays a lot in the backyard and we live close to a local airport. He gets very excited and animated when a small plane flies overhead. He points skyward to identify it. Just a note that his breakfast staple is an egg sunny-side up. Don't you dare break the yolk or he will let you know that he likes to do it himself. I've learned!

We went to two different pumpkin patches last month. He LOVES the little animals. The first visit I had to drag him away twice. We went on a hay ride and just loves the outdoors.

We are headed to OKC this Friday for a visit. Robert was originally going to hunt with my dad but the weather may be too warm. We will be there until next Wednesday so we should get lots of good visiting in. I'm excited to see people.

On the new baby front, he is growing and doing just fine. I feel good just a little unmotivated. He is much more active than JJ was. He is kicking much more although I can tell he is still small. Coming up with a name is proving to be a challenge. JJ's name came so easy. The sooner the better so I can start calling him by name. Check the photo website as there are pictures from October up.

The results are in...

We went to Little Rock today to get our 'level 2' ultrasound. The doctor had an excellent report...no abnormalities, a healthy baby boy. We are most happy to have the health. The top picture to your left is a profile and the one on the bottom shows his little package between his legs if you can make it out. The medical field tries to freak you out if you will be over 35 years old when you have your baby that there are all these risks of down syndrome, etc. JJ is starting to "talk" much more. He can run fast but even the doctor today guessed he was 13 months old. So, he still has some growing to do. He is up to 22 lbs. He is getting more teeth in on the bottom. He has started his tantums when something is taken from him that he should not have. He throws himself to the ground as if the world is over. It is quite amusing and I laugh to myself. He gets over things fairly quickly though in a minute or two. That is all to report on this end. Later.

Old habits die hard

Sorry again for not blogging. There's just not much going on. JJ is teething - bit molars in the back and he has been in a lot of pain from it. Nothing else new with JJ. The triathlon was to be last Sunday. Irony is great because it was cancelled due to Hurricane Ike. It felt like sweet justice for me. It would not have mattered anyway because I have not been training because I am 15 weeks pregnant. I haven't announced that on the blog until now. It still doesn't mean anything exciting has been going on. I am past my first trimester and feeling much better. I was tired and nauseous but that is subsiding. The doctor says everything looks good and has a guess on the sex but we will be for sure in three weeks when I have the official ultrasound. Everyone always asks what I want to have. I think I would miss out if I didn't have a girl but I think I am more suited for boys. We just pray for good health. The due date is March 10th - 11 days before JJ's birthday. I'd say we hit the mark getting them two years apart. It is exciting to be going down this road again. We are excited for what the future holds. As for the triathlon, they may reschedule or just apply our dues to next year's race. I hope for the latter because that would be a great goal to help me get back in shape. That is all for now. If nothing else you can expect me to write in three weeks after my next appointment with the doctor.

I'm here...

Sorry for the long delay. There just hasn't been anything going on to report. I can go ahead and share the news for those who don't know that JJ is going to be a big brother. I am 11 weeks pregnant. I guess this would be a reason for the long break. I have been nauseous and tired. I dealt with nausea with JJ but not so much the tiredness. I went to the doctor Monday and he had all good reports. Baby peanut is about 5 cm long. It was very exciting to see him/her on the ultrasound. He was very active. We won't know what it is for 8 more weeks but I just call it a he. Of course, everyone asks what do you want. I'm cool with whatever. Part of me wants another boy but another part of me feels there would be regret or that I would miss out by not having a girl. Girls are just drama. Either way we just pray for a healthy baby. Needless to say, the triathlon training is off. There is no way I can do it. I have not been able to train because of my condition. I expect that things will be better in a few weeks but still it will not be enough time to get in the condition I need for the race. I just want to stay healthy and look forward to resuming regular workouts. We have had a lot of rain here lately. I welcome it compared to the 105 degree heat we had just before. We are flying to Midland, TX this weekend for one last Hoorah at Robert's grandmother's house. All of the family is meeting there to claim stuff and have one last celebration in the house. I am looking forward to seeing his family. They will not believe the changes in JJ. I think he is going through a growth spurt as he is sleeping much more and eating more. It is about time! Everything else is fine. Robert still likes his job and is excelling in his current position. I think that gets you caught up. Now that the big news is out I will keep you updated.

SO HOT!!!

I can't believe this HOT weather we are getting with the humidity to boot. I can't wait for a break! I've got pictures from camp. Make sure to check out the pic website for more if you like. You can see from the pics that the area was beautiful. It did not look like desert at all. It got up to 90 degress in the day and down to the 60's at night. There was a reunion party for our camp group last Friday. Four of the girls were not there. It is hard to get everyone together. Anyway, we are gearing up for a new year of YoungLives and will work on recruiting new girls.

My dad was here last weekend for a quick visit. There was not much to do since it was 105 outside. It was still fun to have him and he always loves seeing JJ.

AWESOME in ARIZONA!!!

So sorry for the long delay. I can' believe all the travel I've done this summer. Saturday I returned from the YoungLives camp trip in Williams, AZ. It was so great! I hope to have pictures from others soon to post but I did not take a camera myself. There was such a difference between the girls from the first day to the last. We were concerned about division amongst our group (high school stuff) and that was never an issue. I admit that before going I was not embracing the week to be had. I did not know many of the girls and was forecasting a battle with bad attitudes. One of my girls, Jessica, had the biggest transformation in the group. YoungLife did an excellent job with their camp. They are so good at meeting kids where they are and transforming their lives through music, messages, and skits. We had some emotional 'cabin time' meetings when we were able to discuss openly and the girls' walls came down. It was a real pleasure for me to watch them love their kids. Despite what may be the stereotypical thought on young teen moms, they LOVE their kids without question. It is clear that they want the best for them. Their tactics may not always be my choosing but it was a joy to see the closeness between mom and baby. It was also great fun getting to know the girls. They were so fun to be around. We had lots of good laughs and created many memories. There were about 200 campers there and it was so sad to learn of the dysfuncation that many of them come from: molestation, alcoholism, abandonment, rape, drugs, and theft (often from within their own family). Society is quick to blame teen moms for thier situations but the true blame goes to the generation before them that failed to raise them. Many of them to well for what they have to work with. It was a great learning experience for me. I am still recovering from the trip. I will add more later.

1, 2, 3, 4.....18, 19, 20!!

Congratulations to JJ! He has finally reached 20 lbs and we have pimped his ride. He now faces forward in his new car seat and can see where we are going rather than where we have been. He even has a cup holder now! I look at him and can tell he is growing. It's exciting but sad because my little baby is growing up. He's only 15 months!! What am I going to be like when he leaves for college??

Rest in peace Frodo. Our cat Frodo passed away last Wednesday night. He was an old cat and it was just time for him to go. He was not suffering and died naturally on the back porch. I took him in as a stray five years ago and he has had a good life since then. I miss him around the house even though all he did was eat, sleep, and poop. Jimmy is glad to be the only feline ruling the house now and Scout doesn't seem too sad. Next pet purchase will be a playmate for Scout.

JJ and I leave for Oklahoma City tomorrow. We will be there until Thursday. We are going to see my cousin's new baby Blake and visit with friends and family. JJ has changed so much since people last saw him. It will be fun to see what they say about him.

I ran a 5k race tonight in Little Rock. Robert had to leave town on short notice to go to a funeral and so I took JJ with me. He had fun and posed well as my coach. Now, I'm off to bed for our travel day tomorrow. See you soon.

Tiny Traveler

Mark another one down in the books for JJ's travels. We had a great trip to Michigan! JJ did great flying even though not one of our four flights was on time. Since he is mobile now so it was much easier to let him walk around the airport then fight him to stay put in our laps while we waited for flights. It was very entertaining to follow him and see where he went in the airport and who he wanted to visit. He would walk up to strangers and crawl in their laps and put his head on their shoulders. Or he would quickly spot someone his size and try to engage them in playtime. It brought joy to see adults watching him and the smile that JJ would bring to their faces. I think people were refreshed by his presence. He loved the people movers/horizontal escalators. He got very frustrated when he would get going one way and try to go back and was not able to make any ground. People were amused. He did well on the flights and we had no mishaps.

We flew into Detroit and stayed in Flint most of the time. Robert went to school there and lived there for almost 10 years. I know he was refreshed by seeing familiar sites and catching up with old friends. We had a nice time at the wedding and JJ LOVED the dance floor. It was so funny to watch him. He had such a good time walking circles and watching the other children too. Again, he would work the crowd and go up to strangers and try to crawl in their laps. He is beginning a collection of bumps and bruises, however. He gets ahead of himself, or his feet I should say, and runs into things or falls regularly now. He recovers quickly and is very tough. He was so excited to be home yesterday. He especially liked seeing Scout. We too were glad to be back in our own beds.

I have not updated on the garden lately. I am happy to say that it is looking much better. We are getting tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions and okra. The squash plants are doing great as well. There are a few carrots and strawberries from time to time. It is so exciting to see things growing. We have definitely learned some things to do and not to do next year.

Now that we are home it is time to get back in shape. I ran once on the treadmill while I was away but still feel like I am already out of shape. JJ is napping well today and then we will head to the gym to make up for lost time.

Countdown to Michigan

We leave for Michigan in two days. We are excited. Robert has not seen his friends up there since the wedding and beyond. Did I mention we are going there for a wedding? I guess you want to know about the race Saturday. Well, first it was a tour not a race (Tour de Oink - only in Arkansas). I was not aware of the difference but a tour is just a ride that many people go on and is not timed. I'm not sure of the point of that but apparently it is common. 5k or 15 mile?? Well, I was convinced to do the 40 mile but it rained Saturday morning so I did nothing!!! I was completely ready to go at 7:15 and could see the clouds moving in. I checked the weather report and it did not look good and by 8:00 it was raining. I went back to bed. So, next up is the 5k on July 12th after I get back from MI. My running has not improved and that is frustrating so the race should be interesting. Hopefully there will be something to say about adrenaline and how it can help performance.
We 3 went to the farmer's market Saturday morning and spent the rest of the day inside due to rain. The sun was back out by Sunday and we went to Lake Beaverfork just north of Conway. That is where the triathlon will be held and I wanted to swim in the lake to see what it would be like. First, it was nasty; so dirty. Not pleasant at all. Second, there are rocks on the beach leading into the water so I do not know how people just run in. I have sensitive feet and will be asking around to get the scoop on that. Third, I swam out and back to this buoy about 50-60 yards out. I almost freaked out approaching it the first time thinking about getting bitten by something or just touching an unknown object in murky water. I had to get that out of my mind. When I got back to Robert I asked, "What could get me out there anyway? It's not like there are sharks." He said, "water moccasins/snakes". Oh lovely! I feel like I did a decent job with the current and my siting. With no blue line to follow like in the pool I have to get my head up from time to time to keep on course. I plan to get a few more swims in before the race. I don't look forward to it after the time it took to clean all the silt out of my suit. I almost barfed when I saw what I was wearing!! Training is still a great challenge that keeps me going although I have had to take it easy lately so as not to get burned out.
On the JJ front nothing to new to report. He is walking faster and interacting with Scout much more. It is fun to watch them play together. I almost got a video uploaded tonight but am missing a cord. It will happen eventually so stay tuned to see JJ in action!

15 months

JJ is just past the 15 month old mark. He is still small for his age. We ordered the next step up for a car seat but he's one pound shy of qualifying to sit in it. We have noticed some slight manipulation techniques he is starting to use. When it is time for bed he will conveniently tell me he would like something to eat before bed even after he was just offered milk which he pushed away. I'm sure this is a precursor to fun times ahead :). There has not been much to report. I went on a 26 and 35 mile ride in the past week with a group of people here. I enjoy the camaraderie and making friends with people who share the same interests. There is a race this weekend close to Conway. I can't decide a) if I want to do it and b) will I do the 5k run or 15 mile bike race. I've never done a bike race so it would probably be good experience. I have 5k race coming up in July. Running is my weakest link right now. I feel strong in swimming and biking. I rotate my workouts incorporating all three. I haven't run in a few days so I'm anxious to see if my biking will make a difference in my running. It is supposed to help. Before we know if we will be heading to Michigan. I'm trying to plan a visit to OKC but it is not a convenient trip to plan not to mention the gas. July will be a busy month with two out of town trips. We'll get there eventually.

Two more coming in...

Finally! JJ has two more teeth coming in on the bottom on each side of his existing two teeth. He is growing so much. He is a full-time walking machine. He is so cute to watch as he takes itty bitty baby steps. He is "talking" much more too.
Karen was here for a week and the time passed quickly. It was nice to get out a few times on my own.
I am officially going to the Young Lives camp in Arizona toward the end of July. There are four mentors, including myself, and nine girls with their babies. We all fly to the camp and stay there for the week. It will be a fun, challenging time and I am looking forward to it. My only worry is being away from JJ only because I will miss him so much. I've never spent a night away from him so it will be a first for us. Karen will come back and take care of him with Robert. He will be in good hands, I will just miss him.
In early July we are all going to Michigan for a wedding. I went there to meet Robert's close friends when we first started dating. He lived there several years going to school and working with GM. It will be a good trip and Robert will get to experience JJ on the plane. How nice to have back-up for once.
JJ has had one week of swim lessons. He is the youngest in the class. There are two other 20-month old boys. No matter, JJ is the only one who goes under the water. He loves class. I continue to train for the triathlon. It has been a great journey so far.
Robert comes home tomorrow from being away two weeks. He has missed his family greatly and we too are looking forward to having him home. His birthday is the 16th and then Father's Day. He'll be home just in time!

Vistor comes to town

We are almost through our first week of no Robert. He is having to study a lot for this class he is taking for work. I'm so glad I'm not reliving that nightmare of school. JJ has been upgraded to "walking" so I got an extra hour of working out today. I was elated so after spinning I swam 700 yds. Each time I swim I am more and more comfortable doing it. It makes me excited for the race. I know I still have a lot of training to do. I feel real good about things since I have cut down/out sweets, chips, eating out (fast food), and soda. I have a bit every once in awhile because I have bad cravings and gosh darn-it I think I've earned it! I'm enjoying the transformation.
Robert's mom Karen is coming in tonight to stay for a week. She is coming to help out while Robert is away. It will be so nice to have that help. She is going to come to the fitness center with us and take water aerobics. I will finally get to attend the cycling group next week. That is all we have going on here. We have another softball game tonight and then off to the airport. JJ and I start swim lessons next week. He is going to LOVE it.

Much more friendly skies!

As the title suggests, coming home from Oregon was much more successful. JJ partially slept on each flight. It was still a long day but we arrived last Monday after 11pm. Our time in Etna spent with Freda and Bob was wonderful. We didn't do much really but it was time spent together. On our last day there, Bob, who was a mountain guide, took us to the peak of the valley for a great view. We set foot on the Pacific Crest Trail (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Crest_Trail) and walked on snow. This was ironic since I knew back home Robert was in hot, humid weather. Northern California is very beautiful. Staying with Freda and Bob was very enlightening to me. They live a simple life and eat very healthy food. This observation continued in Portland. JJ and I ended up taking the short flight from Medford, OR to Portland to avoid the long drive. My friend Caroline from high school picked us up from the airport. She is a law professor there and also litigtes cases with the students. There was one nice day in Portland and it rained the other days. We mostly shopped. There is no sales tax there and there are many outlets for all the popular outdoor brands (a.k.a. Columbia). I got some great deals on clothes for Robert and myself. I went to a couple of grocery stores there and love how healthy the options are. It is a huge difference from the Midwest. All produce is organic and other choices lean toward a healthy lifestyle. I wish that kind of choice was available in our region. There are bike lanes everywhere and this positive way of life is mainstream there. That is not to take away from the many good things about where we live - just a noticeable difference. We were gone a total of 9 days. It was a long trip and we were glad to be home. JJ did great with the time change on both ends. He's so flexible! It took several days getting settled in here for me though. Robert did some great work on the garage and other organizing but clean the house he did not. Since being home I have tried to adapt a Freda-like diet into our home. My biggest revelation is how bad High Fructose Corn Syrup is for our bodies. I really want to cut soda out of my diet. That is enemy #1 with the HFCS. I feel safe to say at this point that I am training for a Sprint Triathlon here in Conway in September. Training daily and cutting out the sweets I have already dropped 5 lbs. I'm really excited about the challenge. It is a 500 yd. swim, 15 mile bike and 3 mile run. I can do each of those segments individually now but am training to gain the endurance to do them consecutively. I was reading a magazine in the dentist's office about this lady who did her first tri. I thought, if she can do it I can. The more thought I gave it I was sold on the idea. So that is what I do each day and JJ enjoys his time socializing in the playcenter. He is taking steps now in longer and longer stretches. He is not a full-time walker but so close. He continues to be such a joy to both of us. Robert left today for two weeks of training in Albuquerque, NM. Karen, his mother, is coming here Friday for a visit and to help out while Robert is gone. I think we will have fun together. Sorry for the long blog and distance between entries. Check out our trip pics on the Picasa album site. Be sure to participate in the poll on this page!

Not so friendly skies....

Greetings from Northern California - Etna to be exact (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etna%2C_California).  It has been a long journey to get here and this is how it went down:  Saturday Robert dropped JJ and I off at the airport in Little Rock to begin the day.  It all started at check-in when my bag was 5 lbs over the limit.  Instead of paying $25 I took out 5 lbs of stuff and stashed it in the stroller.  I got a plastic bag from a vendor to store it in giving me a third bag to keep up with on top of JJ.  The flight was booked so I checked his car seat at the gate with the stroller.  Upon boarding, I eye-balled two grannies towards the front of the plane with an empty seat between them.  I knew it wouldn't get any better than this.  They loved JJ and freely allowed him to crawl all over them.  With 45 minutes left in our 3 hour flight JJ was so tired not having had his morning nap and began to get fussy.  I walked the aisle a bit and we found another grandmother with her five small grandchildren to which JJ took a liking.  JJ sat in her lap and eventually she was fine with holding him for a few minutes.  This was the only thing keeping him calm.  I went back several minutes later and she says, "He peed on me."  His diaper leaked and sure enough, made a deposit on this nice woman.  It wasn't much but enough to get him kicked out of seat 16D.  The grannies helped me change his diaper and we stuck out the remainder of the flight as he cried restlessly.  Upon landing in Las Vegas, I went to the restroom and air-dried his pants.  I was in a hurry to meet my friend for lunch during my three hour layover so I tossed the pants on his stroller and off we went.  I met my friend Chris and we headed out for lunch at Chili's.  It was nice and quiet and a good break.  I got back to the LV airport and had to go through security.  Remember the extra 5 lbs.??  Well it came back to haunt me as they pulled me aside to work through my medicine bag of lotions, hairspray and the liking.  This was never an issue in LR so I never gave a thought to encountering an issue in Las Vegas.  They took my lotion and JJ's special eczema lotion.  I was really irritated considering I already had to wake JJ from his slumber to go through security (send the car seat and stroller through the x-ray machine) and now they were TAKING MY THINGS!!!!  What could I do?  Nothing so I carried on.  It was around this time that I realized JJ had no pants.  They are either in the Las Vegas airport parking garage or the Chili's parking lot.  We definitely looked like we were from Arkansas as JJ fashioned himself with shirt and diaper attire.  I never thought about packing an extra outfit for him.  Anyway, I felt like the second flight would be much better.  JJ had had some milk and seemed more rested.  Our 2:10 flight took off at 3:00.  Nice to have that extra 40 minutes to occupy a one-year old.  It was actually a good flight until just over half way through.  JJ's morning poop came through with flying colors.  It was of guacamole-type consistency and poop smells bad but really even worse SMEARED ALL OVER MY PANTS!!!  I thought, "Jump into my nightmare, the water is warm."  All other passengers were oblivious to my struggle.  We had an empty seat to our left and the guy in the window seat was sleeping.  I had to think fast because poop was spreading to his hands and feet and my arms and really starting to smell.  I was in the front row, glad to be close to the bathroom.  I hustled there and got his diaper changed and cleaned him as best I could.  I was now poopier than he.  I stuck my head out and asked the flight attendant for some assistance.  She took JJ in a blanket and sat in my seat and gave me some ginger ale.  I pored it on my leg and started wiping.  I was working fast and to my delight it came out pretty good.  I got back to my seat and took JJ and worked him over with some more wipes.  My pants dried in about 10 minutes and I felt like I had survived.  I looked around and the passengers did not miss a beat.  All the better I suppose but I really wanted a medal for what I had just gone through.  JJ never fussed this trip and we landed and found Aunt Freda.  I felt so much relief to have some support.  It had been a long day.  We spent the night in Portland and headed to Etna the next day.  It was about a 6 hour drive.  Portland was so beautiful of what I saw.  It was like a city plopped down in the middle of a rain forest - so lush and green.  That rainfall pays off in the spring I suppose.  We've had one full day in Etna.  It has been relaxing and JJ and I have now recovered from our travels.  We will enjoy our time here until we go back to Portland Thursday.  We are driving to Medford, OR and then flying to Portland since the drive was so long.  It will be much quicker that way.  I have already begun to plan my attack for those travels!

No place like....home?

JJ and I returned from OKC yesterday. We arrived Thursday for my dental appointment. Long of the short of it is that I ended up having to stay until Monday for a root canal. It was no big deal. I even drifted off to sleep during the procedure! My mouth is a little sore today but no cold/heat sensitivity. Now I just have to get a crown. Grandpa Joe LOVED his visit with JJ. He babysat while I was at each appointment. They went on walks, worked in the yard, played, etc. It was good bonding time for them both. I went to my cousin Stephanie's shower on Saturday. She will be having her third baby in two weeks and it is their first girl. At the shower I saw my friend Maggie and this is her shout out - I found out she is another reader of my blog. A few of us got into a discussion about who really reads what blogs. So, for all I know there is a total stranger out there following my life story. Anyway, I successfully sold some items on eBay and made about $46.00. Not bad for junk around the house. Robert is glad to have us home. We went on a bide ride last night and enjoyed the cool whether. Now I have a few days to prep for our CA trip, two softball games this week, workout, and a YoungLives function. While I was in OKC it was the first time I started to feel like Conway is now my home. There is a big difference between the two places and even though life is slow in OKC, it is SLOWER in Conway. It made me appreciate the life we have here and the pace at which we live. Conway is home.

Toad Suck Daze

We had a great weekend here. It was beautiful weather and Conway was hosting it's annual Toad Suck Daze festival (www.toadsuck.org). Robert and I rode our bikes to the festical four miles away and pulled JJ in the trailer. It was lots of fun and yesterday we got to hear Natalie Grant in concert at the festival. The most intriguing thing for me was the Stuck on a Truck competition. It started Thursday at noon and went until last night at 1 amish. 24 contestants have to keep at least one hand planted on a truck and the last one standing gets the truck. They had a webcam and everything to watch (http://www.stuckonatruck.com/) . It was amazing to me that people can stay awake for 85 hours straight with only minimal breaks and no sleep.
This is going to be a busy month with the CA trip and this weekend a quick trip to OKC. I am having problems with one of the fillings that was put in last time I was there and I need to get it fixed. I've started listing some things on eBay again to get rid of some boxes around the house. It's more fun to do with less pressure riding on the outcome. See you later.

A look at YoungLives

Things are really looking up around here. I have three main outlets and this has been the key. I can't say enough how much I enjoy working out. It makes me feel so great. We won our softball game last night and I am making friends there too. The other outlet is my involvement with YoungLives Ministry. Today I went with another mentor to Conway HS to see some of the girls during lunch. It is amazing to me the contrast in the way they (these pregnant teens) see things. I was shocked as we walked around looking for specific people in the YoungLives program and then we saw another pregnant teen, and another, just popping out in the crowd. This doesn't even count the ones that already have little ones and don't look pregnant. The other mentor said that there are 83 girls in the Conway school system that either have a child or are pregnant. Imagine the number in a larger city! Many of the girls come from homes with absentee mothers or mothers that verbally or physically abuse them. It is heartbreaking. It is easy to see how this issue is so cyclical with no easy answer. It is hard for someone in my shoes to understand why the girls let this happen. We hear about teen pregnancy all the time but when you come face to face with the reality of it, it is mind-blowing. We have a meeting tomorrow night. This past Sunday we served pancakes at a fundraiser and it was fun.
There is life in our garden!!! I see sprouts from the seeds planted for carrots, okra, onion, and cucumber. I bought seedlings of tomatoes, strawberries, cilantro, and basil from the store since our seeds for those did not really work out. It is so exciting to watch the progress. JJ and I go out and water each morning. Anyone who wants to visit this summer will receive good eats from the garden! That is all that is going on. It's a different picture than a couple of months ago. It's nice to feel like we are making a home here.

JJ and then some!

Things are really looking up here. I'm starting to feel like I have some roots here in Conway. We played our third game yesterday for softball and lost. That puts us at 2-1. It was still fun and the girls are really warming up to me. We play again tomorrow. JJ and Robert are supposed to come out and cheer me on.
I did an unofficial weigh of JJ on my bathroom scale and to my calculations he weighs 18.5 pounds!! That means he's gained almost a full 3 pounds in one month! I did it twice to double check. I'll have to do it again because I almost don't believe it myself. I've signed JJ up for swim classes at the gym. It should be lots of fun. In the bath JJ sticks his face in the water so he will be a natural in class. I signed up for May but may change it to June because we (JJ and I) are traveling to the west coast mid-May for 10 days. We are visiting Robert's aunt Freda who lives in Etna, CA and my friend Caroline in Portland, OR. Ironically, Jay and Tiffany will be on vacation in Portland during the same week. I am looking forward to the visit but a little nervous about flying with JJ. They are long flights and he is less content to stay in one spot like he was at 5 months. I just have to go for it and trust that there will be help along the way. In the past I've found that women are quick to lend a hand when they see me traveling by myself with JJ and needing assistance. I'm also nervous that the time change will mess with JJ's sleeping habits plus coming home we don't arrive until 11:20 pm. I trust that he will conk out on my chest sleeping most of that flight.
This Sunday there is a fundraiser for YoungLives. It is an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the local favorite diner joint here in Conway. I'll be working it from 8-11am. It should be fun and more opportunity to meet people. The flip side to that is that we won't be going to that church until the next week.
Next weekend Conway hosts its annual 'Toad Suck Daze'. It is a three day festival with food, entertainment, games, etc. I'm really looking forward to it. I can sense the increase of activity in the community with the warmer weather. Like I said, thing are looking up.

2-0

We won our game Friday night. It was a nail-biter too! Robert, JJ, and I had a great weekend working in the garage and on the garden. It was beautiful weekend weather-wise. We went to a new church Sunday and really enjoyed it. It was smaller than we are used to but we were made to feel so welcome. We plan on going back. JJ is so fun. Both grandparents were able to join us for bathtime via the web cam we gave them for Christmas. They really enjoyed seeing the little man in action in the tub. He loves to say, "Uh-oh" after tossing his food off his high chair or dropping his sippy cup. He gets a kick out of himself when he repeats after us, "BOO!". His version is more like, "Buh" - so cute. He layed his head on Frodo's belly today. It was cute too....until JJ grabbed his tail real hard. He is able to stand longer each day on his own before falling. I know walking is so close.

1-0

Sometimes I get busy and forget to blog. We had our first softball game Tuesday and won. It has taken some time for my teammates to warm up to me since I do not know anyone on the team. With the games starting I can tell it is bringing everyone together. Our next game is tomorrow/Friday.
I have really been enjoying the gym (fitness center). I have been taking the spinning classes and they are great. I can tell that my body is getting in shape. It feels good. JJ is lots of fun. The women at the gym in the childcare love him and say he is so good and such a flirt. I can tell he is getting bigger or at least older. He has been a pretty good eater so I'm sure he is gaining some weight. He loves to play 'chase' in the living room. He giggles so much when he sees you come after him. He is real close to walking. He will walk when we hold his hands and uses his toy walker and walks on his own with that. Not long now and he will be on his own. He can stand on his own for several seconds.
I almost forgot to report on the garage sale last Saturday. It was great. We made about $250 but the best part was clearing a bunch of stuff out. I can now park in the garage. That is not to say the other side is organized but that is Robert's side to handle. That is about all that is going on here.

Feeling Fit!

Robert and I finished up work on the garden Sunday. We loaded in all the dirt. It was a lot of work but we are excited for the next steps. Monday I had a good workout at the gym and softball practice. I've been sore the last two days because of it. It's a good feeling though to know you are getting in shape. I was so winded rounding the bases at practice I stepped up my workouts to run sprints. When I want to run fast it's like a delayed response getting the rest of my body on board - rrreeeaaalll slow out of the gate. Sure makes you miss the days when you could run fast and jump high. I feel like a load of bricks when I try to jump shooting hoops. I hope to work on that too. Anyway, JJ's appt is at the end of May. I guess they don't feel it is urgent. It will be here before we know it. We went to the city today (Little Rock) and had lunch and bought some shoes. JJ loves playing on the floor. I crawl around with him and he laughs a lot. I'm getting prepared for our big sale day on Saturday. It should be fun.

the Mer-Man lives!!

So far the fitness center has been great! I've been three times. I played basketball and racquetball (both with myself) and Friday JJ and I went to the indoor pool. He LOVES water so we call him the Mer-man. The water was pretty warm and JJ hung out in his tube. There are so many classes at this place I can't wait to try them all: spinning, water aerobics, yoga, etc. It feels great to be active. JJ has a fine time in the nursery. Other moms are the caretakers. He usually hangs out in a highchair and eats crackers. He's very observant so I can see him just watching everything going on around him. JJ's doctor has referred us to the growth and development doctor. I was told that they would contact us to make an appt but I called Friday and got their number so I could call since I still have not heard from them. At his 12 month wellness he was only 15 lb 13 oz and measured 3%, 3%, and 10%. He is developmentally great, just small. He continues to be such a joy to me each day. Today he was standing near one of his toys. He triggers the music and shakes his booty. It is so funny. I videotaped it and hope to post it if I can figure out how.
The three of us worked outside most of the day in the beautiful weather. JJ has new sand in the sandbox. It is great sand like CanCun beach sand!! Robert gets it free at work. Tomorrow we will get a tiller and be one step closer to having our garden ready. I am also working on the landscape in front of our house. Next Saturday is a neighborhood-wide garage sale. I am so excited because it is an opportunity to rid our garage of so many things. My neighbor told be that a lot of people drive through so I hope the right ones will stop by our house. I still can't park the car in the garage and it is a dream of mine to do so. It will be my first garage sale. Hopefully it will be a good one.

April Fool's Day

Well, we are not starting this month off very well. I was in a bad car accident earlier this morning which practically totaled my car. JJ was shaken up a bit but we were fine. The good news is that it is April Fool's Day and there was no accident. I warned you in the title to look out for tricks today. On to other business....It has been raining the past several days. Despite the weather we did get our garden borders in the backyard. We are using railroad ties and they are so heavy. We are waiting for the weather to pass and we will then till the ground and add soil on top. Check out our seedlings in the pic.

We took our cat Frodo to the vet Saturday. He has had symptoms (I'll spare you the details) that tell us he is not well. The vet was really nice and gave us two types of medicines and new cat food. Frodo is not enjoying the intake of medicine (it is a reminder to us that he is still very stong in his old age with very sharp claws) but I can already tell that I think he is doing better. We will go in for a follow-up visit in a week or so. Other than that there is no news to report. There has been no softball practice due to rain. No word from the doctor yet about the next move for JJ. No results from Robert's MRI either.

I guess there is one other bit of exciting news (for me anyway) that we are joining a fitness center here in Conway. It has everything including raquetball, swimming, and most importantly daycare. So, I can go workout now and JJ will be cared for. This will be awesome. I'm excited about the pool so JJ can swim. It is an indoor pool and they offer swim lessons for babies so that will be fun. I have not played raquetball since college and can't wait to play. I also plan to shoot some hoops. I was just telling Robert that I thought we should get a basketball goal. I can see signs of spring showing outside. I look forward to the changes that will come with the change of this season.

Back in Conway

JJ's birthday party was great. It was a beautiful day and everyone came and enjoyed themselves. JJ enjoyed his cake but did most of the work with his hands - no nose dives or anything. It seems like yesterday that we were bringing him home from the hospital. Now, it is hard to believe that he will soon be walking and talking like a little toddler. We have great memories from the past year and I know they will just continue.

We made it back to Conway Sunday and it has been life as usual here. We bought a trailer for the bikes with which to pull JJ when we ride. We look forward to fun times being active this summer. JJ had a low-grade fever that was just a roller coaster from Sunday through Wednesday. It peaked a couple of times to 101 and 102 but also went back to normal. He is fine now so he either fought something off or was/is teething. We went on a day outing with four other moms on Wednesday to Wye Mountain for the Annual Daffodil Festival. We missed the peak time to be there but it was still pretty and I took some great pics of JJ. It was nice to be with some other moms too. Today JJ had his 12-month wellness check. He is doing great in all areas - he is just a little guy. We may do some tests just to make sure there are no issues with his growth but I am waiting on further word from Dr. Roach. We should know the next step by Tuesday.

Robert came home from work at a normal hour today. It was nice to have some help with JJ and I was able to finally give our lawn its inaugural mowing for the season. I did most of it in the dark but it is done now. Robert is getting an MRI done tomorrow for his back from the injury suffered last August when he fell off the platform at work. He still feels that his back is not fully healed and it has been a battle to get the attention of the doctor caring for him to order the MRI or even physical therapy. He is relieved to get some answers from this test. We have plans to set up our raised beds this weekend for our vegetable garden. I am very excited. It is our first year to have a garden even though we have wanted one for years. There is so much to learn about how to do it right. It is hard to find information about it too because apparently it is much more popular to do flower gardening. We will learn a lot be doing it and that is usually the best teacher. One thing is sure, I know it is going to teach me patience because the process (sowing, planting, caring, tilling, etc.) is long. I can't wait until our first harvest!

Update

Time got away from me since I last blogged but I have also been in OKC. Last Friday, we went to the nursing home and it was a nice gathering. I met some moms and two older ladies we sat with that lived there. I let them hold JJ and they just loved that. I plan to take him back there and visit the two women we befriended, Dorris and Clara Ann.
I had softball practice last Thursday. It was great to be playing again. It is an all-women's team and they all seemed to have past experience playing. When I signed in we had to put our age and I couldn't help but notice all the numbers starting with 2's. I was one of only three women over 30 and it really hit me that I am getting older. Anyway, I think I was one of the better ones out there so that proves that age doesn't matter. The practice did show me how out of shape I am but that is also very motivating to get in shape - something I need. Lindsey, the babysitter that watched JJ during the practice, was GREAT! I was so pleased that she played with JJ the whole time other than a quick nap he took. He really loved her too. The only bad part was having to pay her but that is the way it goes. I know I have to get out on my own so it is worth the price.
So, we are in OKC now and Robert's family gets here tomorrow. We had a quick one-night stay in Lowell visiting Megan and it was great to reconnect with her and her kids. I had not seen them since my wedding and they were so big. I was able to get in to see my dentist while I was here and found out I had cavities! I was so bummed but the doctor said that happens a lot with pregnancy so I felt better about that. I had the fillings put in this morning and my mouth is a little sore. It has been about a year and a half since I last went. During QuikDROP days we had no dental insurance and I did not go. I now firmly believe in the six month check-up. I don't think I will ever miss another one. I got my hair cut as well so I am getting all fixed up before I go back to Conway. Tomorrow will be a big prep day for JJ's party. I am looking forward to having all of JJ's family and friends together. Happy 1st Birthday JJ!!

What a difference a day makes

I am pleased to report that all sick symptoms are subsiding. I hope they are gone for good this time. It is so nice to be able to taste and breath through my nose! The MOPS group Monday was much better than the first group I attended in February. I wasn't feeling my best Monday so I laid low the whole time but there seemed to be many neat moms that participate. I'm going to plan on being a regular to this monthly meeting. The mom that runs it also organizes a playgroup each Friday. This Friday they are visiting a nursing home to sing and color. I know JJ would be welcome even if he can only clap. It is his new thing that is so funny. As soon as he hears music he claps. This means that if he is standing leaning against something he sits quickly so he has both hands available since he cannot stand on his own yet. He also wiggles his body back and forth to the rhythm. So cute! On another positive note, I found not one but THREE babysitters! Two came as recommendations and the third is a friend of one of the other two. They are all three good Christian girls. I only know that two of them are roommates at CBC here in Conway (Central Baptist College). So...Lindsey is coming tomorrow so I can go to softball practice! YEA! She was a nanny for a 6-month old two summers ago. I will visit with her more tomorrow. What a relief to have people I can call to watch JJ. When I get nervous about it I just think about what they will have to do - pretty much just be here. JJ is so easy and all the girls have to do is make sure he stays out of trouble. My practice is only an hour so no worries. This is all new territory for me. I am so excited to play softball!
Saturday we 3 will leave for Lowell, AR to visit my buddy Megan and her family. I have not seen her kids since they were in my wedding!! Then onto to OKC. Robert has training classes Mon-Wed in OKC and we will stay, of course, for the big event Saturday - JJ's birthday party. It will be so great to be home with friends and family.

Strike that from the record!

JJ has made a comeback! The day I last wrote he ate a banana and oatmeal. So, he is back in the highchair fashioning his bibs. I think he's going to do well with the time change too. On a lower note, I am sick again. I have no idea how but everything has come back. So, hopefully the doctor will send a refill in so I don't have to revisit him. I also missed softball practice today and am sad because I really don't know how I am going to be able to participate in that with JJ. Robert is my only support here and he is always gone. I do not have an answer for someone to care for him while I go play. I may try to find a babysitter I can trust and that would be the only answer. I know a couple of trusted sources who could recommend a sitter and so that may be the route I need to take. I think it is necessary for my own sanity - to get out and meet people and be active. Tomorrow is the other MOPS group. So, MOPS and doctor visit - the highlights of Monday.

Moving toward a milestone

JJ's 1st birthday is getting close. Invitations went out today and we are looking forward to a fun celebration. Nothing much has been happening here. There was snow here Tuesday and then there wasn't. We are supposed to get more this evening and through the night. The only thing I can report is that I am seet to join a softball team from Robert's work. I haven't played since Robert and I met so I am excited. Tapping into another source to meet people. Day in and day out I just hang with my buddy JJ. He has been on formula for about two weeks and has gained two pounds. He loves the formula but has lost all interest in baby food. Maybe a good dose of CAKE will get him back on track in a couple of weeks.

Life after 34...

Another page turned yesterday in my life as I turned 34. It was just a regular day - nothing special. I'm not big into celebrating for myself so it was fine. I received many phone calls of well wishes which was very nice. I made myself a chocolate cake, also very nice. I ended up having to go to the doctor Friday due to a sinus infection that came on with a vengence Thursday early AM. It was so painful and I recognized the pain from the infection I had when I was pregnant with JJ. I told Robert I would rather have another baby than go through that again. Thank the Lord for drugs. By Saturday morning I was beginning to feel much better. I'm still blowing my nose today but am able to get things done around the house finally.
Last Thursday I went to the YoungLives Club. It was a small showing according to all involved but a good experience. There were four teens and four volunteers present plus myself and two other observers. I did not feel my best so I did more observing than anything. I need to talk to the head coordinator about my next step. I can see they need volunteers badly. There are three women to minister to around 15 teens. Not much chance for one-on-one interaction. I believe if I make the committment to help out than God will work out my time issues. I know He will make a way if this is His will. So, it's nice to turn that over and not worry about it.
Robert has been working long hours lately. He went three days without even seeing JJ. When he is finally off he is so tired he cannot do much but rest. I hope this schedule is just for this rotation of his training.
JJ continues by to a joy to me each day. He is a full-time crawler now on his hands and knees. He is getting more vocal and more fun all the time. He loves to put things from one "pot" (so to speak) to the other. If I'm not on my toes he will gladly put Scout's dog food into the water bowl piece by piece. He loves to chew on my cell phone too and hates when I take it away. It's all about diversion tactics. I am starting to plan his birthday and do not like all the decisions to make. I think I'm making it harder than it has to be so I'm just going to simplify. It's JJ's first big shin-dig so I don't want to disappoint but as long as loved ones are near it is a no-miss deal.

Hump Day

We are already half way through the week. JJ and I arrived home just fine and it was weird to be back here. Robert had dinner waiting for us. Monday when I awoke I felt like I might be coming down with something, courtesy of Oklahoma City friends. I rested all day and woke up Tuesday feeling much better. I've had other symptoms but nothing that is keeping me down. Tuesday afternoon JJ and I went to a meeting for YoungLives. It is a branch of YoungLife; a ministry for young teen mothers. JJ was in the nursery and I attended the training. It is definitely an area in which I could serve and I believe I could contribute alot. There is a big time committment which is the only thing that concerns me. Well, it is not that demanding but more so than how things are now. I am going to their Club meeting tomorrow so wee will see.

No place like home!

Much time has passed since my last blog. I was in Arkansas and since Tuesday I have been in OKC. JJ and I hit the road Tuesday afternoon and made it to OKC in time for dinner at my aunt Sandie's house with her family and Joe. It was a great meal and Stephanie made a great chocolate cake! I have been busy since then visiting friends and buying some things here that are hard to find in Conway. I was only going to be here a few days but now I am going home Sunday so it was almost a week's visit. Robert encouraged me to stay because he has been busy working. Everyone asks if he likes his job and yes, he does. He is learning a lot! He has odd hours sometimes spending the night out on the rig. Right now he is in a supervisory position. His next rotation starts in April and he will have completed a year in August. Everything is going well at the house in Arkansas. Tomorrow JJ and I will go to church and then head out shortly after. Scout came with us on the trip. She got to play with her buddies that lived on 48th street. I went and visited a friend who just had her baby. It's so hard to believe how small they are and how fast they grow. I'm starting to make plans for JJ's birthday and can't believe it has been a year. It went by fast. Sometime next week I will post some more JJ pictures. Thanks for checking back!

Great game, rough crowd...

The Walkers hosted our first non-family function Sunday at our home. Robert had two men from work come over with their family and girlfriend. It was six people but the perfect amount. I made meatballs, chili, 7-layer dip, cookies, and queso for the event (basically a heart attack). Everyone loved the food and I made just enough. Plus, it was a great game. I wasn't sure who I wanted to root for: the Giants and Eli Manning or the Patriots and Wes Welker. As soon as the game started though I was rooting for the Giants. I think it was the underdog factor. JJ had fun too with two little girls who came and played with him.
We have had great weather here the last two days. Great as in the 70 degree temperature. JJ, Scout, and I went on walks both days and incorporated jogging today in the walk. I got out and voted and Robert and I made plans for dinner tonight. One guy from his work, they call him "Juice", came over Sunday and we made a plan to go out to dinner tonight with him and his girlfriend. The tornadoes hit her town so she couldn't make it and so five other work buds joined us for dinner at Outback. This is where the 'rough crowd' bit comes in. So, I was the only chick sitting there with seven dudes. They are all drillers, oil-men, ruf-nek type guys ranging from 23 to 60 in age. It was eye-opening to say the least. They are all big guys - strong, some fat, and just burley. They were drinking and feasting on bloomin' onions when we got there. It was the first time I ever had someone sitting next to me during dinner dipping with a spit cup on the table. I guess guys don't care about this sort of thing. Then, five young ladies walked by to get to their table and the cat-calls started. I heard a howl (seriously) from the end of our table and then necks started breaking. One man even changed his seat to get a better view. I didn't have to say, "hey, don't mind me..." or "don't let me get in the way of your normal activities". I just told Robert across the table in a low voice, "you know I am going to have to blog about this." It was comical and interesting and meets the stereotype of what you might think of when you hear 'rough around the edges/unrefined type'; an official "welcome to Arkansas moment". At least the food was good and paid for by someone else. I'm glad they weren't all at our house Sunday!
There are no other plans for the week. I hope to get started on making some curtains for our bathroom. The black sheet covering the window is getting old and ugly.

Little Man

We went to the doctor yesterday in Little Rock. I like the doctor but still miss Dr. Albiek in OKC. JJ had a flu booster shot and didn't even cry! I was so proud of him. He's a tough little guy. He had a good report from the doctor but it still small for his age. He weighs in at 14lbs 4oz so he is barely gaining weight. When the girls visited last weekend they couldn't believe how much he ate so I know I'm feeding him enough. The doctor wants to see him in a month to monitor his weight. All of his measurements (head, weight, height) are proportional, just low on the bell curve. I'm not that worried because he is still strong and developmentally on track. You know what they say, big things come in small packages. I feel good about going here for JJ's care. It is much better than the "now calling number 59" service in Conway.
We did go to lunch Monday with Michael and Heather Anderson of YoungLife. It was a good meeting and I think there are definitely opportunities to get involved. Primarily, Heather runs a ministry for teen mothers. I plan to help out there and make a difference in a young woman's life. JJ and I were supposed to go to Heather's house today for a play date with her three kids but one of them got sick. We took a rain check.
Robert is planning to have some of his work buddies over for the SuperBowl. It is a great first entertaining option since guys do not care about details like women. I will probably be planning the food today and tomorrow. Everything else around here is as usual - kind of boring. I think I may go home for a visit in February. A friend of mine is having her baby on the 7th and my birthday is on the 24th so somewhere in there would make for a good visit. We'll see what pans out.

Good times

Yes, 'Good times' is synonymous with JJ Walker but also the visit we just received from our OKC friends. Carmen, Courtney, and Kacey all came with 4 kids total in tow. It was a very quick visit (one night) but so great. They gave thumbs up on the new house and JJ was real excited to play with the big kids (2.5 to 4.5 years old). We did not do too much last night but this morning we decorated the house. It looks so good! They helped with placing pictures on walls and displays all over. I really appreciate their efforts to get here and the extra effort it takes traveling with kids. They left today at 3 pm so they were here just under 24 hours. It is normally a 4:45 drive but on the way here it took them 6:15. They made better time today.

Robert and I are having lunch with the YoungLife guy on Monday so we will see where that leads. Also, Robert's company is starting a softball team and we are going to look into it so I might be able to do that. Opportunities are starting to come that would make it easier to make friends. JJ and I are going to the city (Little Rock) on Thursday for his 9 month wellness check-up (he is just over 10 months). We nixed the appointment here that we were supposed to go to yesterday. I had a referral for this doctor in LR and plan on a better experience. There are four doctors in this office. Sadly, I will be looking forward to Thursday all week to go to the big time city. It is fine here and everything but LR is the environment that I am used to. I hope JJ and I can make a day out of it and go shopping a bit after the appointment. Robert and I finally received some $$ for the tv from the moving company and went to Best Buy to purchase it. It was not in stock, as nothing is for this small store, and that is what you get in a smaller town like this one. You always have to wait to get big items shipped in.

Robert is still doing fine with his job. He shaved his beard last week so he has a new look. JJ continues to be great. I must brag on my little dog Scout. She was so well behaved with seven extra people in the house. The girls were so impressed with her and said she was a great dog. Scout had a rough start her first year of life but she is a great pal to have around now at the ripe 'ol age of almost-4. I love to watch her and JJ play together. JJ will rummage through Scout's play basket and Scout sits patiently to see what JJ will pull out for her to play with. What a good girl!

The last straw!

Well, a few things have happened since the last entry. Tuesday we called the doctors' office to make an appointment. She had an opening for 1:15. Great! Then I advised her that it was his first time to come in. Then she had to find a new patient opening. At that point, JJ could not get in until Wednesday, the next day, at 9:20. I asked if under the circumstances he could not go ahead and come in since he was sick. No, policy rules over sick children. I was totally irritated. I called the only other option in Conway - the OTHER pediatric group and got in there but from what I understand, they operate the same way - I was just lucky. So, I canceled the other appointment and we went to see, not a doctor, but nurse practitioner. It checks out that JJ just has a common cold. He just has the runny nose and cough but it fine otherwise. All this to say that I am ready to seek out a pediatrician in Little Rock. I believe it is worth the drive and time it will take to get good care there and have choices to say the least! Outside of that, Robert and I had our third wedding anniversary on the 15th. The three of us went out to eat. Robert bought me my favorite flowers - Gerber daisies. Good job Robert! Our lives are carrying on as usual. I made a great homemade ravioli recipe this week that was excellent. That is always exciting to me. AND...I got it off the healthy section on Foodnetwork. com. that's all for now. Later.

Cough cough....wipe

Poor JJ. He is unofficially sick. He has had a small cough for a couple of days and just tonight I think it has gotten worse. It sounds like he is coughing up flem and then there is his constant runny nose (which is clear but still). He has no fever and it hasn't really slowed him down but he is more clingy than usual. His first Conway "doctor's" visit is in two weeks but I plan on calling tomorrow. I think he needs antibiotics. I am anxious to see how the visit will go. At this point I am a skeptic so it shouldn't be too hard to meet my standards. It's like my visit to the library today. I always leave frustrated because their system is so antiquated. It sure makes me appreciate what I had in a library in OKC. It was like royalty! WAKE UP!! Oh, sorry... I was lamenting on the good 'ol days. Here is the good news: My gal pals are coming to visit in a week and a half. Carmen, Kasey, and Courtney with their eldest children and a bonus 2 yr old Anna May. They will only be here one night but it will be great to have friends here again. I can finally get a second opinion on hanging pictures now that I am in that phase of the move-in. I took Robert across the street to meet Margaret and Bob, Maggie and Leck. They will watch JJ in the future so Robert and I can go out on a date. Tomorrow is our 3rd anniversary. He may have to work tomorrow night so we ate out tonight instead. The neighbors already had plans and since JJ wasn't feeling well we just got take-out. Anytime we go out it's fun because we get to try a new restaurant. There are lots we want to try. I am cooking healthier food and cutting out the sweets so eating out is a treat to cherish. I'll let you know how the doctor situation comes out.

Life in Conway

I haven't been posting very much lately mostly because there is nothing to write about. It is pretty mundane here. Still getting the house organized and just caring for JJ. I did go to a Bible Study yesterday at Fellowship Bible Church in hopes of meeting some people. I didn't visit much with anyone but it was only the first meeting. It is only a four week study on one of Beth Moore's studies called 'Loving Well'. I think it was a great time for JJ who was in the nursery while I was studying. He is so social and has no problems on his own. I peaked in on him during our break and enjoyed watching him.
I had another visit with my neighbor Margaret across the street. They are grandparents living with their grandchildren whose mother died last year in their old house. The mom fell down a flight of stairs and broke her neck and the son found her. Very sad. The two kids are Maggie, 12, and Leck, 20. Maggie met JJ before when I first went to meet them and Margaret said she has not stopped talking about him. I shared with Margaret about my own mom and that I would like to be a friend to Maggie. It excited me to think that God may have me here to help her. Margaret agreed that they would be glad to watch JJ since it is getting close to the time I need to go to dentist, hair, etc. I can tell they are great people and it will be nice to have them as neighbors.
On another note, I talked to the leader of the Young Life branch here and he wants to meet with Robert and me later this week. This could be a great place for us to make good on our 2008 goal of getting involved somewhere and volunteering. It is also just another starting point for us to start meeting people and becoming part of this community. My friend count here is still 0, zero, goose-egg. I'll blog sooner next time.

2-Double O- 8

Start your engines....here we begin another new year. It's so nice to be able to start over in 2008; A fresh start! The New Year's holiday was uneventful for us here in Conway. I still have no friends here (other than the realtor). Hopefully with the holidays coming to a close some regularity will bring some activities our way that will provide opportunity to meet people. I can't believe JJ is only two and a half months away from his first birthday. We will be making a trek to Oklahoma City for the celebration. It is a ways off but I am looking forward to it. He has a fourth tooth showing on top. The teeth are coming on quick. It is a new phase for JJ. I feel like saying goodbye to my baby as the teeth come in. He's great.
Still unpacking here. Progress is being made slowly. Pictures are beginning to be hung, etc. We still love the house. The only bump in the road has been with the moving company who today wrote denying our claim on our damaged and missing items. I think everything will work out but we were both very upset finding out that they were not going to honor their original statements.
OU plays tonight and I have my flag hanging on the house, albeit with duck tape. Robert says that is true Arkansas fashion. We have made our goals for the coming year and hope to see great things happen in the future.