dress up

before i knew i couldn't stop what was coming, it was already set into motion. riley was becoming a fairy.

i started laughing.

riley started crying.

and sister was in heaven. she finally had her way with her brother. i have said it before and i will say it again...she better watch out.

pun'kin patch

three goals

riley wells met this big old world on september 22nd 2010. i don't know if it was before he was a "he" or after, but i made three goals sometime around his debut.

1. breast feed baby #2 for a whole year.

2. run a 5k.

3. lose weight.

three goals in one year. two of which i had never reached before. one of which i had only obtained when it meant losing 20 pounds...not 120 pounds (ok, slight exaggeration). but three goals, three HARD goals, i was sure i was going to fail.

i didn't nurse addison. she was a big, lazy girl. i wasn't convinced i could (cough, wanted) to do it. i was still working and the thought of saying "um, excuse mr. president of samford univeristy, i need to go pump". i am modest and having to pump at work meant me exposing a little much of myself to clients. so i spent a day feeling sorry for myself and then jumped, happily, on the formula train. with riley wells, i was staying home. no more work (and no more second income) and i wanted to nurse him. i had a desire. and a goal. for one year to breast feed.

goal #1 - accomplished.

i have never run a 5k. i don't know if i have ever really run long distances consistently. ever. i can remember one night my freshman year, kel and i were at ramsey on the track and we just started running and talking...and just kept on running. i remember thinking that it actually felt good to run but for some reason i think i convinced myself it was just a fluke. that for one night i just had super running powers that would never stay with me. when i lived on martha's vineyard one summer in college, one of my roommates was a big runner and i remember her telling me "anyone can run, whitney. it is just a mind game". so, however many years later, i finally told my mind i was going to do it. with the help of a certain amazing friend (who happened to run track for tennessee) and LOTS to talk about and keep my mind off of the pain, i ran my first 5k on oct. 15th.

goal #2 - accomplished.

which brings me to goal #3. the dreaded weight loss. if you are a long time reader, you have read my beginnings of many diets on here...and by the lack of posts, you knew my failures. i gained a TON of weight with addison. weight that i never really lost. i didn't gain that much with riley wells, but i didn't have much room to work with. and by the end i was actually about 18 pounds less when i had him as opposed to addison. but after the 6 weeks and settling in of postpartum, i was exactly the same with riley as i was with addison. and that was a LONG way from where i was pre-baby. and by mean LONG, i mean a LONG WAY.

the weekend we went to the masters in april, we also went strawberry picking and my stepfather took a picture of me. i did not like that picture. in fact i hated that picture. that night i signed up for weight watchers.

as of saturday i have lost 45 pounds. my goal is to lose 53 to reach goal weight. for the past 6 weeks or so i have been telling myself that if i don't lose any more, it is ok, i am happy with where i am. which is true to some extent. do not get me wrong, i am MORE than thankful to have lost the weight. i feel good. i am in shape. i am humbled and so thankful to be where i am. BUT i haven't reach my goal. and i finally realized this past week that i don't like it. i set a goal, i want to reach it.

i haven't written about my journey at all on the blog. mainly because in the past, when i wrote about losing weight, i failed. it is like i would hype myself up too much. does that even make sense? i know, weird.

so goal #3 - somewhat accomplished...but still not quite.

you would think after 45 lbs, 8 would be a piece of cake. instead the cake has been eaten. now is the time to put it back down and rev up the engines.

anyone there?

it has been way too long. i promised my aunt cindy, over a month ago, i would do better. oops. there is so much to update. so much that has happened. and by golly, i am going to post them all...one way or another. and when i do i will have to put up another post that says: to see addison's 2nd pumpkin patch go all the way back to 2009, october, post #3. no kidding - that post is still yet to be done. yikes.

in the meantime, i have been watching my little man grow, fallen in love with my crockpot, spent most of last saturday holding two precious baby girls (LOVE me some laney and helen claire), learning to like running, making a ton of tees, and well, just trying to hold onto the little moments.

little moments like watching riley wells open a birthday present. i saved what i could for him to open without the help of a certain 4 year old sister. this particular present (thank you miss leslie!!) he opened about as slow as he eats. and he savored the gift like he does his food. opening and closing the card, unwrapping the paper, and "reading" every page. my little guy. such an old soul. such a precious little guy. he would eat the wrapping paper but wouldn't touch his cake.

and i have learned, this blog, like so many other things in my life, once i get going, it just happens. often. like cooking, spending time in the Word, exercising, dieting, cleaning...if i just set it into motion, the wheels will keep turning and things will get accomplished. here's to setting the blog into motion...for the 103rd time.

pondering

it is overcast outside. and dim in my office...just a soft lamp glowing and a candle flickering. it is quiet, for now. there is a song playing, over and over, that i adore. trees and flowers from the chair and a microphone album vol 3 (i think)...how marverlous, how wonderful, in my song shall ever be. how marvelous, how wonderful, is my savior's love for me...and i am contemplative. and if you know me, you know i am anything but contemplative. but some days, about 2 times a year, i do indeed contemplate. and ponder. and the funny thing is i have no idea what i am even pondering...just...life. i guess.

my best friend's grandpa just passed away. hours ago. and i ache for her and her family.

my sweet friend/neighbor's daddy is battling brain cancer. and though i am at a loss for words or even encouragement, my emotions run deep and i just want to hug her. tell her i love her.

my daughter starts 4k on monday and her buddy starts kindergarden. just. not. ready.


riley is so big. and growing so fast. and the miracle of these babies, they overwhelm me.


my "2nd sister" is having twin baby girls soon. and i love them so much already. i cannot wait to meet them. cannot wait to love and adore them the way their mommy and daddy have loved and adored my kiddies.


terry is back at it. football. then wrestling. then...who knows. but i am holding on tight.


i miss my sister. i wish she was here. sipping on some coffee with me. talking. not talking. doesn't matter.

there is more. there is always more. but those are the ones at the surface.

cheeks

he got 'em honest. love 'em. just wanna squeeze 'em. and he hides little things in them really well. like rocks from the fireplace.

beach preview

the tingle and dobson crew headed to 30a for the annual vacay in june and and i am just down sifting through pics. here is a quick preview...

the outcome

it was NOT the cut i intended to get. not the length i intended to have. not the "do" i had envisioned. BUT i think i like it. like really like it, like it. soooo, here we go...

the adventures of a haircut

My appointment was at 2. I get to the salon a little early so I have time to pump in the car. Yes, you see, I am still nursing, and with that comes planning around a certain fellow. So when I made the appointment, I made it not only for MY availability or TERRY'S availability, but for the little man's demands {well, and lets be honest, the ladies' demands as well, if you know what I mean}. So how long do I sit?!? Waiting?!? 2 hours people. 2 whole damn hours. Pardon my french.

But I didn't give up. I haven't given up. I am still here. Blogging from my hi-lighting chair. Yep, you read that right. I am getting a cut AND a color, which means I will be here. All. Afternoon. Long.

I came in with a couple of ideas {thanks to valued input from friends} but my stylist and I talked and flipped and twisted my hair...and well, it might be a little drastic. But I can't tell yet. There was a lot of hair on the floor. And the color could be purple for all I know. But I am here. Sitting it out. Scared poop-less.

We shall see....

new do

i am so excited about tomorrow. tomorrow i am getting a HAIRCUT! now the pressure is on to find out what i want to do with this mop. goodness. i think i might start pinning some options.

lauren, brooke, carrie...all you other pinners...let me know which ones you like :) but give me a few hours to pin a few :)

goodbye old mop, ponytail and horrible "do"!

pillow talk

tonight terry and i took the divide and conquer approach to bedtime. i had riley, he had little miss. but as usual, she finds a way to get us both up there, in her room, laying with her, having a little pillow talk. this was my conversation with her tonight...

a: mama, who is Gi-Gi's mother? {Gi-Gi is my grandmother, addison's great-grandmother}

me: grandma pirckle

a: does she live far, far away?

me: she sure does. she lives in heaven.

a: oh! so, she asked Jesus into her heart?

me: she sure did. do you want to ask Jesus into your heart?

a: nope. i don't want to go to heaven yet. i want to stay home with you, mama.

so much to say and to be said about this conversation with little miss. but to be simple - she is getting it. getting the gospel. getting the love of Jesus. and that is sweet words to a mama's heart.

good morning

in the summer, i get to sleep late. oh, sleep, how i love you. it is no secret that i did not get the early bird gene that my sister and dad have. they wake up at 6, i sleep until 11. i love sleep.

i don't sleep until 11 anymore. but in the midst of mommy-hood, 8:30 is sleeping late. and with the hubs home for the summer, 8:30 is my daily wake up call.

and i love waking up in the summer. addison is already fed and watching her morning shows {bed head and all}. the hubs has learned how to make my coffee so it is piping hot and ready to be doused with my caramel macchiato cream {yum}. the today show is on. the babes are playing. the hubs is reading the news.

the best part is we are all HERE. together. no meetings. no work. just us. good morning.

summertime girl

i blinked and little miss is 4. and my four year old loves her some summertime. her daddy is home. she gets to sleep late and play even later. everywhere we turn there seems to be a summer treat...and she luuvs her some summer treats.

then there is the swimming. oh the swimming. she luuvs her some swimming. i am so proud of her. she is swimming, jumping, even diving like a champ. 60% is self taught, 39% big daddy taught, with the remaining 1% thanks to terry and i.

and her little tan. so cute. i see those tan lines and i see a little girl who is doing exactly what she should be doing. playing at the pool, playing outside, day in and day out, not a care in the world. just having fun.

a boy in his highchair

this boy. he is funny. not so much ha-ha funny. but serious funny. like what is he thinking kind of funny.

he is so easy going except when he takes his perch in his chair. when in this seat he becomes the driver. i put a bib on, he yanks it off. i give him bananas, he clamps those jaws and refuses to eat. i give him puffs, he gags at the texture. and at some point in the process he rotates. and rotates. and rotates until he can get the perfect position to hang one leg out. ghetto style.

i fear my battles in the highchair are only just beginning. after all, he is half of terry.

heaven help me.

annie bananie

aunt "winnie" loves her some annie. my niece. my beautiful niece. just look at her!

my annie. she is vivacious. spirited. lively. vibrant. so animated. so sweet. nurturing. friendly. unforgettable. i could go on and on. she is so, so many things.

she is also vital. vital to my life.

my sister and family traveled home for the 4th and the tingle clan met up with them in macon. to say it was fun is an understatement. we swam our hearts out, ate our stomachs beyond fullness, and laughed. laughed at ourselves. at each other. at our crazy offspring.

annie has what is called alopecia. when she was a year old, her hair began falling out and has since never grown back. she knows no different. she couldn't care less. i think it is safe to say my sister has carried the burden of the loss thus far. we worry about parenting our little ones so often. their snacks, their behaviors, their manners. my sister has a whole other set of parenting tasks to complete. annie's confidence, her appearance, her protection. but my goodness, my sister is amazing. already. so amazing.

one of the steps brooke took this week was to get annie-bananie's ears pierced. something so small yet monumental to annie. she might not have the bows or the braids. but she has the earrings. she was sooo brave. and SO PROUD of those little earrings.

as we drove away yesterday, from my sister, from my annie, a piece of my heart was left there. even as i sit here, i miss annie. i miss hearing the most friendly "HI" or her asking her mommy for "uh 'nack, i want uh 'NACK!" i love that little girl. as i said, she is vital. i need more of her in my life.

busy, busy.

it's been awhile. too long actually.

june has been a month of traveling, beaching, mountaining, swimming-pooling, tshirt making, vacation bible schooling, and well, just good ole summer-loving. it has been wonderful.

but we are back home. back to our life. back to the kids toys that they missed so much.

more to come. more to update. i promise.

easter

i remember when i was younger i knew easter was special. i knew it was a day to be celebrated. but i always felt like my soul couldn't conjure up enough emotion to truly "get it".

a little older now, i have learned and realized, this life as a believer is not about what i feel or the emotions i might develop. this christian walk is simple. we are called to simply believe. believe in a good God. in a loving Savior. in amazing grace. in sweet mercy. just believe.

7 months

riley wells. you had me at that toothless grin.

i was always baffled at how parents could love anyone more than their first born. i feared i wouldn't. or couldn't. a lot. oh boy, was i dead wrong.

riley wells...your sister was independent. you are my snuggler. your sister was so funny and animated. you are serious and contemplative. your sister could CRY, with power. you sob, with tameness. your sister was young at heart. you are my old soul.

i love you both so much it hurts. i cannot believe i get to be your mama. but i do. yay me.

you are now 7 months. not sure how that can be. and at 7 months you are as long as some 1 year olds. even some 15 month olds. you love to dance. especially when sister sings elmo. you get pissed, and i mean pissed, when sister takes a toy from you. but you also light up whenever she is around. you have dived deep into bath water and fallen from our bed, both head first. and both without many tears. you are tough {and that makes your daddy happy}.

happy 7 months baby boy.

big daddy

my dad and his grandkiddies. what a sight. i love it.

there is a long time friend of my parents that passed away yesterday. it was a sad day for many people in macon. and though i have not seen him or his family in a while, i was still troubled. his wife, his kids...they are all in my thoughts and prayers. but i think the thing that had me the most torn in the face of this quick and unfair death, was his grandchildren. his own set of grandkiddies. they lost a good granddaddy yesterday.

there is something about grandparents. to grandkids, they are perfect. they come with goodies and treats, patience and love. and no spankings. just hugs. big ole bear hugs that make big ole smiles. my papa snored like a bear, took me blackberry picking, made mud pies with me, and took us to the "corner" (aka the gas station down on at the fork in the road where we got to buy all kinds of candy...which probably means only 2 pieces but in my memory i am sure it was hundreds). they are simple memories. but lovely little memories.

addison has a million little memories already. a good many are centered around the happenings at each of her grandparents. i often wonder which ones will stick and which will fade away as more and more stories are created in her little head. either way, i know they will be sweet and precious, or maybe just plain funny.

summertime

nothing too profound to say. just a pic i love and a season approaching that i am so looking forward to. summer is upon us. the beach is around the corner. swimming, grilling, a little memorial day celebrating...birthday partying for my little miss, big sister visiting...all means summer is a coming (i try to chant that to myself when i see something yummy that i want in my mouth).

gi-gi and her babes

while thinking about all the blog posts i promised to do but haven't done, i found this...

my sweet niece annie, so peaceful, so loved, so soft. laying in the arms of her great-grandmother. i think it is safe to say no once else mattered to these two at this moment. they had each other. and that was as it should be.

i am not sure i even wrote about last november on here. my grandmother suffered a cardiac arrest. and survived a 3% survival rate. i always knew she was special. i love that woman more than i can even say. whenever she is holding one of our babes i snap a picture. i want them to look at these one day while i tell them a story of their Gi-Gi.

i had the pleasure of taking care of grandmother while she was in the hospital. when she finally got to come home, she, myself, addison and riley camped out at moms until mom was home from tulsa. riley was only 8 weeks old and still on that crazy feeding schedule and bedtime was just nuts for a few months there. grandmother offered to lay down with addison while i put riley to bed. she was so weak, still recovering, but so willing to help. about 45 minutes into her "helping" i was still hearing giggles and whispers dancing about in the guest bedroom. not just from addison, but from both of them. i knew right then not to go in. they needed that memory. i needed that memory. my grandmother was still alive and kickin...praise the sweet Lord.

4 months

riley wells turned 4 months on saturday. i was ok with him being 3 months but 4 months just proved to me that he is growing up way too fast. life with 2 seems to fly by so much faster.

today while laughing with my kids, smiling at them and loving them...i was reminded how lucky i am to be home with them. i am so thankful i get to wake up to them and go to sleep to them. yes the days are often long but i love them. i am thankful for the tired because the tired means i am doing my job as a mom. a job i love.

so buster, at 4 months you are the longest little kid. as aunt sha-sha said, you seem to be able to wrap all around me. you sleep like a champ - from 7 at night to 8 the next morning. i love our little conversations of "coos." loud noises and sudden movements startle the mess out of you...and for some reason your daddy's voice really gets you. your little smile is just like your sisters. i love that you share that. your ears, however, appear to be mine. for that i am sorry. blame the mcpeters genes on that one. your hair hasn't grown much and i am dying to see what kind of hair you will have. you still like to be swaddled when you sleep but you no longer like to be rocked. you love your mama...and i kinda like it that way. happy 4 months sweet boy.

empty wine glass

in case you didn't get that...

there is no wine in the house...and tonight called for some partaking of wine. terry is still at his match, georgia just lost to florida in double over time, the state of the union is on where i should be watching parenthood, and i. have. no. wine.

i do have champagne. but that just seems wrong to drink champagne alone. maybe i will invite henry-dog in to toast with me.

monday, monday

nothing special happening today (except the bachelor...oh how i love the bachelor). more laundry. more shirts - 43 to be exact. i poured sippy cups, made snacks, changed diapers, kissed boo-boos, read books...just another monday. we did decide to have a georgia pep rally in riley's crib. we might live in this state but georgia is being etched into their little souls. along with Jesus, that is. at one point, after she choked the buster, addison decided she was tired of holding riley. and down he went...humpty dumpty style.

monday is also ballet day. it pretty safe to say addison would rather take gymnastics. she likes dance ok but it is often a struggle to get her to go. her comment is always "but i want to go to 'nastics, mom." she is more of a free style dancer...not a first position dancer. she likes to shake her hiney and ballet really isn't for hiney-shaking now is it?

mt laundry

the hubs and myself get one day week together during wrestling. you know what we did?

laundry. loads and loads and loads of laundry.

we had so much laundry, addison's only choice of attire were bathing suits. ok, not really. she just loves wearing them even when it is 40 degrees out.

today

i saw my people. and as usual, my heart is now full.

riley and i loaded up (again) and this time headed to lagrange, ga. i feel like i live in my car these days and i thought car and i needed a pic together. nice.

we went to celebrate the sweet life of audie nixon muse, kel's great-grandmother. better known as bigmama. this gracious southern charm lived to the age of 102...an age that graced her life with not only great grandchildren, but three great-great grandchildren. not many people can have that honor.

i honestly wish everyone could experience the muse/spinks/woodward family. it is overflowing with love. they invite you in and make you feel like one of them. they stuff your belly full and send you off with a goodie bag. they have smiles that are contagious. they have hugs that are endless. and it all started with the tender spirit of bigmama. she taught them all how to love. and she taught them well.

today, us girls came together to support our kel. that is what you do when you have people. you hold each other up at times like this. but i am not gonna tell a lie...it so nice to just see my girls.

quickly after exchanging hugs with kel, shan, haley and i bombarded the nursery to see her babes. it was so sweet to see nat-nat and meet handsome john.

kel's fam was sweet enough to invite us to eat with them. it is almost impossible to say no to mrs. gail. and well there was cake. you can't say no to cake. while eating we got to just watch nat is action. she loves cake, too. and cookies. and chocolate. she is her mommy's daughter, alright. i like to think dave was telling nat "don't you even think about taking a bite until you eat your lunch." and then, well, so much for lunch.

the little guys got to meet each other, too. john is the sweetest, most smile-ly little guy...and riley, well, he is a very serious man. with very serious things to think about. or cry about. what can i say, he is his mommy's son :).

aunt sha-sha got some good bonding time in with the boys. riley was having a blast.

and we arrive at the parting photo (dave didn't tell me i appear to be shielding my sons pee-wee from an atomic bomb). but here we are - another year older. another year sillier. another year just thinking we are still 20 years old.

kel, we love you so much. thank you, thank you for letting us into your world. into your family. we are each better for knowing you, your family and bigmama. xoxoxo

lunching...

...is good in theory.

we mommies have baby brain. and baby brain causes you to make completely insane decisions. like "hey, let's go eat at cracker barrel with 6 kids in tow." yes, good in theory. in reality...well, fun chaos. i don't know what was more fun...seeing addison throw back a biscuit and cornbread the minute she sat down, keeping elly from swiping the forks, brookes little squeals and grins, or trying to have a conversation with every other sentence being "sit down. eat your lunch. i will knock you into next week if you don't obey." or maybe it was the marching and singing around and around the table.

regardless of the chaos, it was just nice to see these girls. it is hard to believe i have been in birmingham for 8 years now. wow. 8 years. when you get older friendships develop differently than when you are in college. but they still happen. and i am so glad they happened with these two women.

even if they are auburn peeps.