She's Gone...

I bought her in April of 2000, after the 'Twister of 2000' killed my previous Honda Civic.  She had about 80 miles on her when I drove out of the dealer lot, and over the next 10 years I managed to rack up over 191,000 more.  In those first years, we spent A LOT of time together on the road...driving from Fort Worth to Denton for school then on to Dallas for work and finally back home to Fort Worth EVERY DAY.  We drove her to Cali once after Michael and I got married.  You would think a 10-year old car would feel like a 10-year old car, but it's a Honda... it was still in fabulous shape.  Had a few dents/dings/one big scrape in the back from the little accident I had November 2008 and the passenger side window motor was out, but other than that... she was still a great car.  She still is... only now she's someone else's great car.  I hope they treat her well.

So, yep, we're a one-car family now.  At least for a while... till we find that perfect mini-van.  Mini-van?!?!?  The two-door coupe just doesn't cut it with two kids in car seats.  Yikes, just call me Soccer Mom!

Two Months, already?

Callen was officially two months old yesterday.  Geez, it's flying by!


I was trying to get him to smile for me, but got this hilarious 'nervous' expression instead.  I'll take it.

He had his two-month check up today, and now weighs 10lbs, 4oz and is about 22.5 inches long.  He's low in the percentages a bit, but who really pays attention to those things anyway?  Preston was (and is still I guess) a little guy and was always in the low percentiles, but perfectly healthy.  Anyway, everything else checked out just fine, right on target with his milestones (smiling, cooing, etc). 

Yesterday also marked my first official day as a Stay-At-Home-Mom.  I took a two month maternity leave, then went back last week to work Share-A-Thon and say g'bye.  I'll still be on call supposedly... like if they need someone to fill in or help out, especially Share-A-Thons to come.  So I shouldn't be a complete stranger, and I'm still considered a part-time employee, but for the most part... I don't work anymore.  That's so crazy to me!  I worked at Power FM for 9 years! I intend to write a more in-depth blog about that in the near future (haha, we'll see!).

World's Best Mama...

Not sure how to start this off, so I'll just jump right in.  My mom is amazing!



Just over a year ago we found out my mom had breast cancer.  She went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.  Despite being sick and weak a lot of the time, she continued watching Preston several days a week (just as she has for the past four years).  That in addition to taking care of her own mother, who lives with them.  It seems like she never missed a beat.  Never took the time to stop and feel sorry for herself.  Never let it get the best of her.  She is the most selfless person I've ever known.  She completely spoils me and my kids!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!  I love you so much, and am so grateful for everything you've done for me and my family.  I know I don't always say it or show it, but you are my hero... you are too amazing and beautiful for words.  Thank you for being you!

Sweet Preston Memories...

PrI'm really just posting this stuff so I don't forget...

- A few weeks after Callen was born, Michael was chopping down the huge bushes beside our driveway.  Preston really wanted to go out and help (the neighbor and his son were helping too).  I had him get his shoes on and thought he could go help move some of the branches out of the way.  Once he got out there, there wasn't much he could do and the chainsaw was loud, kind of scaring him.  Michael told him to come in so he didn't get hurt.  He went into his room and I thought he was just there playing quietly.  I went in to check on him after just a few minutes, and he was sitting on his bed crying so quietly, like he didn't want anyone to know he was crying ('cuz, well, normally he cries loudly).  I went in and asked him what was wrong and he told me "I just wanted to help my daddy."  It made me so sad that he went in there all by himself to cry (he usually came to us or was loud enough that it seemed like he just wanted attention).  This was the first time he tried to keep it from me, and it made me cry 'cause I realized he's getting so big and mature even though he's still so little. 

- The other day we were sitting on the couch and he was looking at me very intently.  We weren't doing anything, saying anything, totally unprovoked... he said to me, "Mommy, I just like looking at your face, 'cause it's so pretty."  What a sweet thing to say, completely outta nowhere. 

- Since I have been holding and carrying around Callen so much, when I pick up Preston he seems soooo big.  Like a grown person.  Getting him outta my bed once he's fallen asleep and trying to put him in his is a giant undertaking, I know he's still a little guy (around 35 pounds still!), but now he seems like a big man.

- Preston does a good job of trying to help soothe Callen when he's fussing. He'll go over to his little brother, tell him "it's ok, brother's here... there's nothing to cry about"... he says it in this tiny, sweet caring voice.  It's really precious.  Sometimes when he's trying to do something he'll ask me to make sure Callen is watching.  Like out on the swing set if he's going to slide, he'll say "Mommy, make sure Callen can see me!"  He loves his little brother!



- Every time Callen gets fussy Preston says "He needs his diaper changed!!!"  Every.time.

- Callen was laying on the couch, doing just fine, perfectly content.  Preston came by and was showing him his pacifier... "Look Callen, this is your paci, it's sucky!  Sucky, sucky, sucky!" He put it in Callen's mouth and held it there (Callen still lets it pop right out most of the time).  Then he took a burp cloth and put it on Callen and said "he needs a blanket."  It was just sweet watching P 'take care' of his little brother.