Welcome to the THOMAS Channel

It just amazes me how much my daughter has grown since the day she was born.  When I hold her in my arms I remember how tiny she was and now her legs hang off the side of the chair when I rock her.  It is hard to believe that my little lady is two years old! *Big tears*

We celebrated her birthday with friends and family in our backyard.  Our theme was ladybugs. Hot pink ladybugs. =)  Katie’s big present from us was her swingset/play place outside.  She loves the park and never wants to leave so we decided there would be less crying involved if we had our own mini park in the backyard!

Many of her sweet friends came to play and have ladybug cake with us.  We are very blessed to have so many people love on our daughter.  Katie had so much fun and she didn’t know what to think about all these people in the backyard!  Her party couldn’t have been on a better day.  The sun was shining and the weather was beautiful.  I am so glad you were an April baby!! =)

February has been a big month for us.  Katie turned 22 months old on the 2nd.  I can’t believe my baby is almost two! I know I keep saying it over and over but I just can’t believe it’s true.  She is such a big girl. We have started potty training.  She saw some Elmo panties in Target and fell in love!  We bought her a princess potty seat and a princess step stool hoping to entice her.  And of course, there’s always M&M’s!!

It took me a day or two to realize she was holding it on purpose.  20 minutes and three books later no action on the potty made me wonder if her bladder was really empty.  Then we got fully dressed and downstairs on the hardwoods her bladder exploded making me aware that I have to ASK my child to let her tee-tees out!  So next time she was on the potty I asked and she did.  I think the angels in heaven were singing with us!! =)

We joined a playgroup near our house for children 3 and under.  We have been twice and Katie really enjoys playing with the other kids.  She should have been a twin!  She is a bit shy at first but when she spots an Elmo toy she is all about it.  When we get in the car to leave she tells me everything about her playdate.  I can’t understand half of it but I know by the look on her face she is excited.

It snowed here last weekend and we bundled Katie up in her snowbunny outfit and braved the cold wind.  Katie loved the snow and loved catching the snowflakes in her hands.  Just like everything Katie loves outdoors her free spirit enjoyed watching the snow fall and running to catch it.  It was not a happy time when she had to come in and warm up!  I think she would have stayed outside for hours.  Thank goodness her Grandma and PaPa were there to cheer her up. =) They watched her while Russell and I enjoyed some time alone for Valentine’s.  Ahhh, the joys of grandparents living close by!!

Many wonderful events fill our calendars from now to kingdom come…. or maybe till the end of April!  I am having a Mardi Gras party tomorrow.  Come eat yummy King Cake from Edgar’s with me!  Russell’s birthday, our anniversary, Katie’s birthday and Easter are all in one week of each other this year.  I have already been planning Katie’s birthday for fear I will get distracted and miss something.  I feel like Tori Spelling planning a ridiculous party my two year old won’t even remember but hey- we will love it anyway! =)

So what do you get a two year old for her birthday? I swing set perhaps.  We have been researching it and they don’t come cheap.  Four major celebrations in a week makes me think I need a job!  Her birthday theme this year is ladybugs.  Pink and black polka dot ladybugs!  Edgar’s is going to make me a strawberry cake in the shape of a ladybug.  I hope she likes it!

I realized today that I haven’t blogged in awhile….okay a LONG while!  So much has happened to our family this year and the year is nearly over.  In one more day we will ring in 2010.  Just doesn’t seem possible.

So catching you up from May…..In June we went to Savannah, GA and spent a week falling in love with the city.  It has everything a tourist could want.  History, culture, the beach, ghosts, and some of the finest food the South has to offer.  Yes, I said ghosts.  We went on a ghost tour at night and visited Savannah’s most haunted house.  People actually live in it.  It was fun to experience but glad to leave the ghosts in GA. =)  On the up side Paula Dean has THE most fabulous food, you’ll eat your heart out!  Her mac and cheese is divine.  Thank you Paula for the extra added butta on EVERYTHING!!

We took Katie to an outdoor wildlife  center.  Once you get past the heat it is nice to be able to walk through the woods and see all the animals in their habitats.  The alligators were a little bit scary.  I think if they wanted to come after us they could have. haha The petting zoo was the most fun but Katie fell asleep before getting to enjoy it.

The beach is absolutely beautiful!  Only 20 minutes from where we stayed and so many areas to choose from.  It wasn’t crowded at all which is shocking for June.  Katie wasn’t so big on the water.  The waves were so loud it frightened her.  I can’t wait until she is old enough to enjoy it with me.  For me, the ocean is home. =)

We had a fourth of July celebration at our house with some friends this year.  It was fun until Katie had to go to bed.  The fireworks kept her awake for hours and the firecrackers were especially scary for her.  Took months for her to get back into her sleep routine after that.  Won’t name any names but just remember, firecrackers aren’t welcome at our house next year!!!

In August my parents came to stay with us while searching for a place to live.  They moved from Texas, or the capital of heaven my dad says, to Birmingham to be closer to our family.  Katie has loved playing with her Papa and Grandma and their frisky dog Oscar.  Frisky really doesn’t do him justice but you’ll have to find out for yourself. haha  Every morning when Katie would wake up she would look at me and say “Papa?” wondering where he was.  From one child who has never really had involved grandparents I am so excited for her to experience it.

In September we celebrated my mother’s 61st birthday.  I made her a strawberry shortcake and it was delicious.  We hunted for Katie a Halloween costume as they sell out early here but I couldn’t decide what I wanted her to be.  I finally came across the sweetest ladybug and bumble bee costume for a little girl I had ever seen.  It had a tutu!  Russell decided on the ladybug and boy was it perfect!  Katie loved it.  We even found her shoes that were sparkly everywhere to match.

When Halloween came around Katie was sick and we only got to visit one neighbor. =(  We put her to bed early.  It is tradition that we sit outside with both our neighbors and hand out candy.  At some point I usually eat too much candy and want something salty and order pizza….when no one else is still open.  It was freezing outside this year but we took out the chairs and heaters (yes, I made Russell bring me a heater) and parked ourselves outside in the cul-de-sac with Blair.  Jason had to go to work so he had an excuse not to freeze.  Richard and Jennifer had taken the kids on a hayride and were due back anytime.  So we waited….and waited….and waited, until we decided we had sat outside freezing for long enough with no snotty kids begging for candy.  We put up our chairs and heaters and thought of a punishment for Richard and Jennifer since they didn’t have to suffer outside with us.  Yes, we would roll their yard with toilet paper!!!!  Turns out we throw like a girl but we finally got the paper high enough in their tree to be satisfied!  Shared some with the bushes cause we didn’t want them to be nekkid. =)  Fearful of them finding us, we packed it up and went inside.  About ten minutes later they arrived home.  Their 7 year old son scanned the cul-de-sac to see who could do such a thing.  We watched out the window as they took our masterpiece down…..but not before we got pictures!  Love you guys!!  Don’t miss again next year. =)

Since my parents were here we didn’t have to go to Texas for Thanksgiving.  Wow- our first Thanksgiving at home.  It was so nice to be home.  I guess this is what grown ups feel like?!  We had my parents over for dinner and made all the fixins.  Katie was trying to come down with something again but made it through the day.  We went to visit Russell’s parents over the weekend and Katie started to feel worse.  Of course, this always happens on a Friday and by Saturday she is worse and say it with me folks “the doctor’s office is CLOSED”. We brought her home and took her to see the doctor, which was probably her fourth visit that month since she had shots too, and she had strep. =(  Sweet baby I felt so bad for her.  November was not a good month for Katie bear.

Being home for Thanksgiving gave us the opportunity to put up our Christmas tree early this year.  Me happy….Russell…not so much!  I love decorating for the holidays but over the years I have acquired so much stuff that we had to sift through it before bringing it in the house.  Katie was my special helper.  I would hand her something at the garage door and she would take it to her daddy and come running back.  What a great game!  She was actually a big help.  We took our time but got everything up and Katie only bothered the tree the first day.  Then on Christmas Even she messed with every single present under that tree.  I thought I was going to hang her on the back of a door like an ornament!  She was so good not to mess with anything all month long…guess it had to happen sometime.

We took a few days and went to Gatlinburg looking for snow.  My prayers were answered as we were driving up the mountain with snow coming at me!  It was so beautiful.  We stayed in a log cabin which was very nice and spacious.  The views from our cabin were amazing.  The snow was so pretty but only lasted a day.  Next time, we need to stay for a whole week.  There is so much to see and do especially during the holidays.  I found a donut place which is heaven to me and of course there were the outlets. =) What more could a girl want?  We really had a lovely time!

Russell had vacation time saved up for the holidays which I have enjoyed having him home.  We spent Christmas Eve at our house with my parents, and we went to Russell’s parent’s house on Christmas night. Guess what happened? Katie got sick…again.  Say it with me folks “the doctor’s office is CLOSED.”  So we hurried to Greensboro for nothing.  We packed up and came home the next afternoon and took Katie to the Children’s after hours clinic.  She has the croup. =(  Katie is doing much better but this sickness has lasted for 7 days….and counting.

So, as we look forward to saying goodbye to 2009, the year filled with holiday illness, we look ahead to what life brings us in 2010.  We are blessed with wonderful friends and family who have loved us and supported us through this year.  For better or for worse, you are in our hearts and in our prayers.  Love to you all and happy New Year!

Several of my neighbors go to a Mom time bible study at their church and one of them was kind enough to invite me to go.  I thought it would be neat to meet some other moms.  I decided I would go and scope it out and I made my friend Jenn go with me. =) 

I knew what kind of group I didn’t want to join (anyone doing a video series- love you Beth Moore but I am not interested) but I wasn’t sure what to expect.  After meeting two ladies who were planning to do videos I met Melissa.  I remember I couldn’t get the words out fast enough “So what are you planning on doing?”  Melissa looked a bit nervous and said she was thinking of getting different speakers to come and talk to us.  I thought that would be fun and interesting even though I truly was looking for someone to just read the bible with me.

We have been meeting for several weeks and I love my group of ladies.  I look forward to it every week.  We are all different but we are all in the same boat.  I love how God is using each of us to help another lady find her way.  I love how I can finally say I hate that I went through that but I am glad because I am able to help another person who was in my shoes.  Maybe it wasn’t to teach me something but just to glorify Him. =)

I found this verse I wanted to share and it made me realize that God had planned all along for me to be in this bible study.  When I least expected it God opened up another door for me even though I was being choosy and didn’t deserve it.   “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16  We have a few more weeks of speakers and then we are doing some kind of study in the word.  I am so excited!!

I can honestly say we are some lucky people to have such good friends invite us to the beach every year.  Of course we cancel anything we have planned (like my hair appointment knowing fully it could be months before M has another opening) because we love the beach so much.  =)  It was Katie’s first trip and I was looking forward to getting some fun photos of her in the sand. 

We ended up celebrating alone as our dear friends became ill and weren’t able to make it.  Okay, okay we were at the beach not a hole in the wall and yeah we enjoyed it anyway…sorry M&J!!  hehe  We’ll take a rain check though so our kids can play together.  =)  The beach was BEAUTIFUL in every way.  The more we visit the more convinced I am that I belong at the beach for life.  Yes, we are saving our money now.  We’ll be on that vacant spot across from the Belmont Mansion.

It took some time for Katie to get used to the beach.  The water was so loud.  It was never still or calm but constant roaring.  She clung to me for dear life!  I got her to walk in it some but she really wanted Mommy to hold her.  We did play in the sand and the first time I set her down and put sand on top of her foot she raised her foot and looked at me.  She was such a priss!  She did not like the sand getting her foot dirty thank you very much.  She did however like Russell’s beach chair.  Check out these photos of her chillin on the beach!

Day two of our beach trip went much better.  She was a pro at the sand thing now and had a shovel- one for each hand.  =)  She found her first seashells and enjoyed walking around.  I can’t wait to take her back.  Russell isn’t much of a beach person, he just goes for the seafood!  That is the one thing I don’t miss.  The awful smell of crab legs and steamed shrimp.  You can keep your seafood just give me the ocean!!