Our Adventure called Life

The end of the year brings with it a look back on the past 365 days. This year will go down in our family history book as being one heck of a roller coaster ride. From surprise to elation, to excitement and fear, to dread and anticipation, to hope and relief. Some of you have been with us from the beginning. For you, I write this blog… This year has been a learning experience. To name a few; I learned how to be a stronger person, how to be a better friend, and how to support the ones you love, and I learned these lessons from some of you. When complications from my pregnancy first arose ; -For those of you that met me at Starbucks and helped quiet my fears -For those at you that would come into my cube and pray with me for health and peace -For those of you that brought fruit to my desk “just because” -For those of you that dropped your work to sit with me when I couldn’t stop crying THANK YOU During my six week of bed rest at home ; -For those of you that st...

He loves his blocks! My favorite gift wasn’t wrapped in a beautiful package or nestled down in the toe of my red fuzzy stocking. It was found in my bed, snuggled between his father and me, breathing deeply, with arms stretched out. Watching the rise and fall of his chest beneath his soft polar fleece sleeper was mesmerizing. A little further across the sheets was a larger version of my tiny sleeping angel (minus the polar fleece sleeper). My two boys, breathing in unison, completely at peace, safe and sound and within arm’s reach…this is all I need or want…better than any gift that can be purchased in a store. I whispered Merry Christmas to my husband and the littlest angel’s eyes flew open as if he had been patiently waiting for us to wake up. Morning hugs and kisses followed before we gathered around the Christmas tree. As P’s eyes fell on his colorful blocks, I put him down and his hands immediately went to work grabbing at them. I sat him on his push-n-ride and pushed him arou...

 Sometime during that Christmas Eve night, a jolly little man brought gifts for all. Christmas Eve has always been the most magical night of the year. Growing up, every Christmas Eve we would drive through Lincoln State Park on the way to my Grandparents house. Perhaps it was coincidence or something more, but we would always spot enough deer in the woods to make up Santa’s team of reindeer. Their long driveway took us past their Christmas tree farm and up the hill to their home. It doesn’t get much more Christmas-y then owning a Christmas tree farm. My grandfather would always put Christmas lights around the pine tree in their front yard. We would burst into their home and be greeted with hugs and kisses and a variety of 12 different Christmas desserts. My cousins would arrive and we would eat like kings and queens. There were H'orderves of every type, my favorite being my mother’s little chicken salad sandwiches. In the family room they had a large sliding glass door that...

 Image courtesy of Google  May today there be peace within May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you May you be confident knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones and allow you to be at peace It is there for each and every one of us *The author of this piece is unknown.  I felt compelled to share it as it is uplifting, hopeful, and true.  May it touch each of you.   Like this blog? Leave a comment! Feedback makes me happy! :)

 Great Scott! I'm 4 months old!  Didn't I just write about our boy turning 3 months?  As quickly as the month has gone, we have squeezed a ton of activity and life into those days! There has been more growth in our boy in the past month than any previous month.  In just 4 months, he went from a 6lb. baby that had zero idea of the world around him to an almost 14lb. baby that loves talking and actively tries to be a part of this world.  Birth Stats                4 Month Stats 6lbs. 5.9oz               13lbs. 15oz (25%) 19 inches long          26 inches long (89%) This month, Paisley has; Had his first slumber party!  Scott went out of town for work so P and I packed our bags and off to grandmother's house we went.  P slept like a...

Pictures tell a better story than words...here is our vacation:

Some passengers looked at us with pride while others prayed we wouldn't be seated near them.  I admit, prior to my days as a Momma, I dreaded flights that contained children under the age of 15.  Now, here were my husband and I...holding the infant in 32D on a flight from Louisville to Atlanta.  We thought about this trip long and hard.  Do we travel with our 3 month old or sit this vacation out?  It had become a tradition to spend every other Thanksgiving in Florida.  If we decided on going, do we drive or do we fly?  So much to think about and with the price of airfare rising by the second, we purchased our airfare and prayed Baby P enjoyed the trip.  The drive to Louisville wasn't bad.  P slept the entire way.  As we got comfortable in our seats on the plane, I quickly pulled out my Hooter Hider and let P enjoy a mid-morning snack.  My plan was to do whatever it took to not have a screaming baby.  Down the runw...

An 18lb. turkey is probably a bit much for 2 adults and an infant, but who doesn’t love a leftover turkey sandwich? It was a bit nerve wracking baking my first turkey because I didn’t want to waste a perfectly good bird. I threw on my apron and threw caution into the wind. I was bound and determined to start some traditions for our babe and having his Momma bake a turkey was going to be one of those traditions. Here is the step by step process I took to bake our delicious Thanksgiving bird -I removed our 18lb. bird from the freezer and let it thaw in our refrigerator for 3 days. -The night before he went into the oven, I stuck him in the sink and gave him a bath. At this time, I removed the packet of gizzards and giblets that were stuffed inside him. After drying off the clean bird, I rubbed olive oil over the body. I sprinkled Black Pepper and Garlic Powder over the bird. My rubber gloved hands massaged the oil and seasoning into the birds skin. (I tossed the packet of innards...

What does my little turkey say? Gobble Gobble!! Thanksgiving was around the corner and a large turkey was sitting in our freezer. I had never had a turkey in our freezer before and I was contemplating what exactly I should do with it. The Fisher family had plans to spend Thanksgiving in Florida, but I wanted to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal before we headed south. Scott was out of town for a few days and I thought it would be nice for him to come home to a pre-Thanksgiving feast. With that thought, I removed the turkey from the freezer, popped it in the refrigerator and headed to bed. The next morning while dropping Dumplin off at his Grammies, I casually mentioned to my father-in-law that I would be baking a turkey that night. Me : I'm going to bake my first turkey tonight! FIL : Did you already thaw your turkey? Me : Yeah! I took it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge last night. FIL : That turkey isn't even close to thawed. Did you pull the inside...