In the Army

I was 8 years old when my brother Taylor was born. I was so excited! For me, it was like having a real life baby doll. I was big enough to help with the baby and I'm pretty sure I never let him out of my sight. The moment Taylor came home from the hospital I literally carried or drug him around everywhere I went. We were inseparable. I used to call him my little sweet pea. I have no clue where I got it from but that was my pet name for him. Once Taylor could talk he started calling me "Mama Nisey." He called me that for years and years....it was kind of sad when he decided he was too old and too cool for that. We still laugh about those nicknames but they are precious, precious memories for me.

On March 13th of this year Taylor turned 18 years old. Within a week of his 18th birthday he decided he was joining the Army. He "discussed" it with my parents, however, his mind was firmly made up and our opinions carried very little weight. It really all happened so fast. We have all tried to just accept it and be supportive but we haven't had much time to process this thought at all. It was a very serious and honorable decision.

This weekend all of the family gathered for a going away steak dinner at my Grandmother's house. It was a fun gathering as long as I wasn't thinking about the fact that this was the last time I would see my little brother for a while. I have never gone more than probably 2 or 3 weeks without seeing him. Taylor and I are obviously not as close as we were when we were kids but I have always felt a special and very strong bond with him. I think I'm a little more protective over him also. I have just always felt like his other mother. I love him dearly and I am extremely proud of what he is doing. I am also terrified and anxious about all of this for him. I know deep down he will only benefit from this and become a better man. I cannot believe that he is old enough to be in the army. I feel like it was just yesterday he was following my every move calling me "mama nisey." I guess I was hoping I could grow up but freeze my siblings in time...no such luck.


It was a pretty emotional weekend. My mom has been crying everyday since he broke the news of this decision. I've done good holding it together but I don't think I let myself really think about what was happening until this weekend. I cried during my dad's prayer at dinner, after I got a sweet text from a friend saying she was thinking about my family and when they started singing patriotic songs in church I really lost it. Then of course having to say good-bye to Taylor for good on Sunday afternoon was super tough for me. I hope that he knows that I will always love him and support him in any way I can. I just have a hard time letting go!

You are probably wondering exactly where he is going and based on this blog you probably think he must be getting shipped off to the front line in Iraq tomorrow. That is actually not the case....YET! He is leaving on Wednesday for his basic and advanced individual training. I don't know how I will deal with it when the time comes for him to actually be deployed. I can always hold out hope for the end of this war right? I have always respected and appreciated those who serve our country. My granddaddy and uncles all served and I'm always aware of the sacrifice that is being made for us. I've always admired those who are willing to serve and have admired the families that they leave behind. I've always said I can't imagine how it must be, unfortunately now we may have to find out. I have been in constant prayer about this for the last month and I know that is where I will continue to find comfort. I trust that God is in control and feel sure this is how I will deal with the absence of my little brother.

Finally it let me post my pictures!

My First Mother's Day

Some might argue that last year was my first Mother's day. Although I was pregnant which technically made me a mom, my pregnancy was fairly easy and I was getting plenty of sleep back then so I'm not sure that counts. The real mom work didn't start until the 26 hours of labor and every moment since has been nothing short of wonderful. I love being a mom and even though I am far from the perfect mom, I think it is what I was made to do.

So my first Mother's day was a great one. We had a busy, busy weekend in Prattville. Mary Selwyn and I went to Daphna's softball game and watched her hit the ball all the way to the outfield, it was very exciting. We also got to spend time with our dear friends the Underwoods. We haven't all gotten to hang out in a long time. The highlight of the weekend for us, of course, was just spending time with family. Shannon and Ben and Kate were in town also. Kate and Mary Selwyn looked so cute on Sunday in their matching dresses!

Being a mom now really makes me appreciate my mom. I knew it would. Not just what she has done for me for the last 26 years but having Mary Selwyn has made me realize how much I really need my mom. I have relied on her more in the past 10 months then I ever have before. I have learned nothing makes me want my mom more than being a mom. It is funny but true. She has been there for me without fail every time. Mary Selwyn has also given me a new appreciation for my Mother-in-Law. If you know her, you know I have the sweetest mother-in-law in the whole world. I could not ask for anyone better. She is precious and has always treated me like I am one of her own. I have come to really rely on her with the arrival of my new little one too and she has been so helpful. Both of my moms would drop anything to run to Dothan for whatever we may need them for. You would think by 10 months I might have this mom thing down but it turns out there is something new everyday that leaves me in need of some guidance. It is definitely a learning process that surprises me daily. I'm so lucky to have these two women in my life.

Finally, my sweet husband made sure that I felt appreciated on my first Mother's day. He bought me a nice dress and funny card and let me eat lunch while he followed around our munchkin so I could enjoy it. I have the most wonderful husband. I love him and respect him and appreciate him more than he will ever know! I'm thankful for this loving man and the adorable red head that have made me a mother. I'm blessed with sweet sweet family! Again, I'm one lucky girl!

A wedding weekend.....or not!

A few years ago our friends Ryan and Jill got married in Gulf Shores. Of course Shay and I were planning to attend a fun beach wedding. So I packed up all our stuff and I hung Shay's suit and my dress in the door way of our closet for him to grab as he loaded the car. We left Saturday morning and drove to Andalusia to carpool with another couple and then headed to Gulf Shores. We ate lunch in Andalusia and had left ourselves just enough time to make it to the beach to get ready for the wedding. When we were transferring our stuff to the other car I realized that something was missing. That's right, Shay forgot my dress. I went into panic mode! I had nothing to wear to this wedding and we were on our way. The day became complete chaos. We had about 5 minutes to stop at the outlets and find me something to wear. Then we rushed to our condo, which they were still cleaning, to get ready. I had to kick the maid out of my bathroom and the four of us were able to get fully ready and make it to the wedding in 15 minutes. I've never gotten ready so fast in my whole life. So what seemed like it was going to be a huge disaster was just a minor set back and we ended up having a great time and a wild wedding reception. However, I have never let Shay forget about the time he forgot my dress for this wedding. I have teased him about it and brought it up at every opportunity just to be funny. Well folks, this weekend that teasing came back to bite to me!!!

Friday afternoon Shay, Mary Selwyn and I all went home to Prattville. We were leaving Mary Selwyn with Shay's parents so that he and I could attend the wedding our friend Whitney at the lake on Saturday. Again, I packed all our stuff and even loaded it in to the car since we were having to make a stop by the DMV for the fourth time before we left town, don't ask! Anyway we finished our errand and headed home. It was going to take us about an hour and a half to get to the lake so we left ourselves just enough time to travel and make it to the wedding at an appropriate time. I was putting on the final touches of make up and that one last spray to hold my hair while Shay was getting dressed. He buttoned his shirt and went to the closet to get his pants and you will never believe what comes next! You guessed it, NO PANTS!! This time Denise forgot Shay's pants! Again, panic mode! He tried his dad's suit but it was too short and since we had left just the right amount of time to get there we didn't have the time to go scrounge up a suit from any other relative or buy one real quick. Needless to say we did not make it to the wedding and I was SO disappointed! That was the whole reason we traveled to Prattville. My hair did just perfect, and you know that never happens when you have somewhere nice to go. I was really looking forward to that wedding and there I was all dressed up with nowhere to go. The worst part is I can no longer give Shay a hard time for forgetting my dress because I did the same thing. Karma I guess. Looking back this story is funny and will continue to be so just like the story of Shay forgetting my dress. I did make him take me to dinner since I was all dressed up but the whole time I was thinking about what I was missing. So turns out it was not a wedding weekend for us!

The cure that left us wanting more!

This weekend Shay and I packed up Mary Selwyn and headed to Panama City for a little family beach weekend. We have some friends who own a condo down there and were so generous to rent it to us for an extremely great rate. We got there early Friday afternoon and hit the pool right away. The condo had an indoor pool which was so nice because Mary Selwyn, "fairest of them all," did not need to spend too much time in the sun. I'm proud to say she didn't get even the slightest of sunburn or tan. However, I feel sure I will be washing sunscreen out of her hair for the next month since she refuses to wear a hat. At least I feel like a good mom for not letting her get a sunburn.

I was scared that Mary Selwyn wouldn't like the water. She has been going through this little fraidy cat phase lately and has become scared of things that never bothered her before. I was relieved to see she wasn't scared of the water and she only cried the first five or so times that she accidentally stuck her face in the water. Then she got over it and I even dunked her one good time before we got out. I don't think she loved it but there were no tears. She enjoyed the beach for the most part. She even sat in the waves, I could kick myself for not getting a picture of that but I was busy making sure she didn't wash away. Her favorite part of the actual beach of course was the putting the sand in her mouth. She really enjoyed that salt water taste. I picked her up so she wouldn't eat the sand anymore and she began to lick my arm where there had been salt water. It was gross but I guess when your diet consists of formula and baby food salt water is a real treat!

We had a great time. It was relaxing to just be the three of us. I could have stayed for 10 days. I love the beach so much. Even being in the indoor pool was fun. So the cure to my beach fever was a weekend at the beach....problem is that the weekend wasn't long enough for me and now I'm dying to go back already. I'm not sure I can ever get enough of the beach. Luckily I have several more trips planned to look forward to. Here are a ton of pictures from our weekend.

Snacks by the pool. Oh I almost forgot, Mary Selwyn said her second word this past week. No not Mama but Ju-Ju. Ju-Ju is what Shay and I call "Juice, Juice" I don't know why we feel the need to say it twice but we do. So it took us a couple of days to realize what she was actually saying but we finally caught on. Ju-Ju not only refers to juice but also to cheerios and puffs. I guess the definition of Ju-Ju for her would be snack! Maybe one day I'll get a Mama out of her.

The sun was so bright! She had a hard time looking around outside but she wouldn't wear any sunglasses. This is part of the reason we stayed at the indoor pool most of the time.

This crab float was the cutest thing! Mary Selwyn loved her crab. She kept trying to bite and kiss the crab's eyes. Luckily I was able to keep her from using those little teeth to deflate him.

Out on the balcony watching the waves! You can't see them that well but she has the cutest little curls in the back. There aren't many but they are growing!

Mary Selwyn and Daddy enjoying dinner and some live music.

Ready to hit the beach in her little bathing suit cover up.

So lovable

Mary Selwyn is the most lovable child. I anticipated before I was even pregnant that I would love my child with a love that I had never experienced before or could even comprehend. I'm still amazed how much more I love her every time I look at her. She just flashes that smile or sneaky look and Shay and I both know we are in trouble. What I did not anticipate is how much others would love my child. I'm not talking about grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family. Obviously I expected them to love her. I'm talking about just friends, close and not so close.

I have been so overwhelmed to see how much people adore Mary Selwyn. Our friends from church absolutely eat her up. Our friends Jeremy and Lindsey have even offered to adopt her. Brad and Maile would be willing to take her on too if she ever learned to sleep. I realize that is not a serious offer but I appreciate them thinking that highly of her. We have come to depend on Mitzi and Lori to scoop her up for any long period of time and they are the best babysitters.

What really made me think about all this was the church picnic on Sunday. As soon as we got there someone grabbed her from us and we didn't touch her again until we were leaving. She was passed around amongst the whole church family and she sat on various laps the whole time. Oh and she definitely ate something off of every plate at the picnic. I'm pretty sure she was stuffed and Shay and I got to eat in peace. That has happened very few times in the last 10 months. It was so fun to watch other people enjoy our baby as much as we do.

I know I have said this before but God has truly blessed us with the most wonderful friends here in Dothan. This was just another reminder. They are so good to us and so good to Mary Selwyn. I don't know why I am so surprised by the love they have for her. I mean I love my friends children like they are my own too and would do anything in the world for them. I guess I just didn't anticipate how the way they love her would make me feel. My heart just swells to know they care for her so much. As you can tell, I can't even put it into words really. I'm extremely thankful for the blessing of our friends. I know they do not limit their love and adoration to just Mary Selwyn but they sure know how to make us feel special!

I'm not sure that any of what I just wrote made much sense but here are pictures from the picnic with Aunt Maile and Uncle Brad and some of Mary Selwyn and Brayden Hardy. Brayden and Mary Selwyn are becoming great friends! I wish I had taken more pictures.

Tagged

I've been tagged....I should have known my time was coming...so here it goes...

What were you doing 10 years ago?
I had just turned 16 and gotten my drivers license and was cruising in my mustang, '85 yellow mustang that is! I had a terrible boyfriend...but don't worry a couple months later I went on a blind date with Shay and the rest is history. I can't believe that was 10 years ago!

5 things on my to do list today?
1. Continue to entertain Cohen and Mary Selwyn.
2. Finish the laundry for the rest of the week and for the beach.
3. Make a Walmart run for supplies to take to the beach on Friday.
4. Exchange Shay's new bathing suit at Kohl's.
5. Make some baked potatoes for dinner, yummmm.

5 Snacks I enjoy
1. Sweets, Sweets and more SWEETS!
2. Sour Patch Kids, especially at the movies
3. Chips and Salsa
4. Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream from Baskin Robbins.
5. White Cherry or Blue Raspberry Icee's from any gas station...I cannot resist them, definitley an impulse buy every time.

5 Things I would do if I was a billionaire?
1. Tithe of course, lots and lots.
2. Donate a large chunk to the Autism Society in honor of my sweet little Ford Carter!!
3. Buy my parents a huge house and support them for the rest of our lives.
4. Build our house in Autaugaville, nothing too fancy but on the family compound we will start one day, hopefully soon...billionaire or not.
5. We would really give away a bunch of money but here is my list of selfish things I can indulge in because I'm a billionaire: set up Mary Selwyn's Auburn fund and wedding fund. We would have two beach houses, one near, one far. I would have a personal trainer and chef so I could be super skinny, fit and cute. I would also hire someone to wash, dry and style my hair everyday, and what the heck do my make up too so I could look nice without having to do it. And a maid would also be a necessity.

5 Bad habits?
1. Some would say biting my nails but I refuse to believe that because I love to bite my nails!
2. I become way too attach to people, animals, cars, things ect. ect. ect.
3. I'm way too emotional also.
4. I can be very obsessive and have a really hard time letting things go. If something doesn't sit right with me I will think about it, dream about, talk non-stop about it ect. I do not have the ability to let it go and put it out of my mind. Luckily I am a strong believer in prayer so God gets to hear me talk about things over and over and over. I'm pretty sure even He is screaming at me...LET IT GO!
I'm not sure if those last 3 are bad habits or bad character traits!
5. I tend to leave things out that I shouldn't, like my shoes that Mary Selwyn likes to play with and put in her mouth...yuck... and I never put my stuff on the bathroom counter away...for example my blow dryer, straightener, brushes, make up. It really drives Shay nuts.

5 Places I've lived.
1. Victorville, California. I was born there and lived in this area for almost 13 years.
2. Prattville, Alabmama. Moved here in the middle of 7th grade.
3. Auburn, Alabama.....for the most wonderful 4 years! Oh how I loved living in that pink house!
4. Nashville, Tennessee. Fun city, not my cup of tea!
5. Dothan, Alabama. Love it here!

5 Jobs I've had.
1. Gold's Gym in high school.
2. I've worked retail too at the Gap and Express
3. Patient Relations for a family medicine practice in Nashville
4. Patient Relations for a Chiropractor in Dothan.
5. I ran a Nextel store for some family of mine while I was pregnant to fill some time before I popped!

I added a category just for fun!

5 of my favorite things.
1. My Peanut Christmas ornament that Brooke gave me. I love this gold peanut. It is by far my favorite ornament on the whole tree.
2. Sun dresses and skirts.
3. The beach.
4. Auburn football. I love almost all sports really.
5. Reality Television....ridiculous, I know!

A Happy Birthday

Monday was my 26th birthday. It was kind of sad saying goodbye to 25 but I guess growing older is inevitable. On Saturday my sweet friend Mitzi had mentioned that we should go to lunch for my birthday and see if anyone else would be able to come. I invited Lindsey because she is on spring break and I was excited she could go. I was thinking it would be a fun little lunch with the three of us. I was so surprised that Mitzi put together a party of 8 made up of the sweetest women I know. I don't know why I was surprised....if anyone can gather a last minute group it is Mitzi. Anyway, we had a great time eating and visiting and Mary Selwyn loves to be out and about. I felt really special. I told Shay it was like my own little birthday party. It definitely made my day. It was also just another reminder of how blessed we are to be in this town. I am so lucky to have these amazing friends and christian women in my life. They have been so sweet to us and really taken us under their wing. They have loved us, supported us, mentored us and become our family. I know I can call any of them anytime for anything! That is such a luxury since we are away from family. I am so thankful for these amazing women the Lord has brought into my life. They have taught me so much, especially how to love your friends with such a sweet, sweet love.

The night ended with a nice dinner with Shay. It was a very nice 26th birthday. I couldn't have asked for a better day. I'm sure I will be shocked at just how quickly this year will also go by and I will be writing about birthday number 27!!!