American Idol

Okay, I've decided to divulge a secret to all of you...I am addicted to American Idol. I have been since the very 1st season. I still remember being in my college bible study leaders dorm room watching Kelly Clarkson win the coveted title of American Idol....the next Wednesday the band I sang with in college, Rev 7 performed in chapel and I admit...I did my very best to copy Clarkson's wardrobe from the finale! I know, pretty pathetic! Anyway, with the new season really just getting started, I've been doing some thinking and I've come to the conclusion that I'm jealous of these people. Everyone who goes out and auditions for this show has something I don't....guts. Who cares if most people who try out are awful, at least they took a chance, followed their dreams, took that step of faith....I cannot say that I have ever done that in my life.
This has started me thinking not only about myself, but like most things now days, it has got me thinking about Katelyn. I really want to be an encouraging mom. I want Katelyn to feel like she can do anything, try anything, be GREAT at anything that she sets her mind to. Now, this cannot go with out saying that I am going to be an honest mom, so let's say for example she wants to audition for something that she just isn't very talented in and she asks my opinion...I'm going to tell her the truth, because I love her. I just don't want Katelyn to miss out on something because she thinks she "can't". I am declaring that from this moment on the word "cannot" is no longer allowed in this house.
This brings me to an update on Katelyn's many milestones. Today, Katelyn cruised down the coffee table! She hasn't even got crawling down yet! My little girl is very strong, and she was pulling up on the coffee table and was about half way up, she looked toward me for some help the rest of the way...I gave her a little boost and then she was standing up holding onto the edge of the table. She was smiling and I was giggling at her and all of a sudden she took 3 little steps toward me! I was so excited and she was too that she let go and put her arms out and laughed, then I had to catch her before she hit the ground...but in the end, she had a very BIG day! Now, who knows if this will happen more regularly or not....as I said before she hasn't crawled yet, although she scoots very well!
I was so proud of her, that once I put her to bed and started watching American Idol, my mind started wandering to thoughts of all the other "firsts" that will come along in her life....and I thought I would share this one with you! I had her stand holding onto the coffee table one more time so I could get a photo to share as well...isn't she so BIG!
I hope this small "step" has brought a smile to your face as it did mine....and maybe, it will make you feel like you can do anything you set your mind to!! I believe in you and so does your Heavenly Father!

Happy New Year, Happy Valentines Day and all things in between!

Oh my goodness! I cannot believe it has been 2 months since I blogged! I am not that busy...I have got to get better about this! I don't want to make excuses for myself, but the past 2 months have been busy...busier than usual, so now that things are coming to a more normal pace I believe I will be able to keep my promise to blog more often! I will do my best to give you a quick update:
Our first Christmas with Katelyn was wonderful!! My Christmas Eve meal with family at our home went well...I unfortunately did not get to attend the Christmas Eve service because Katelyn was ill, but I sang worship songs at the top of my lungs as I finished all of the last minute cleaning and cooking! Jeremy and I read Katelyn "The Night Before Christmas" to start our family Christmas traditions and then settled in with all the grandparents to watch Polar Express! It was everything I had hoped the night would be! The rest of December and holiday season was full of family from out of town and running around from one gathering to the next...it was wonderful to be able to spend time with all the people we so dearly miss throughout the rest of the year, but boy was I glad when everyone went home....life could finally get back to normal-somewhat!
Jeremy and I let Katelyn have her first sleepover with Grammie Bee and Papa Bear on New Years Eve...it was a BIG step, but one that was needed. Jeremy and I spent the evening with dear friends from church and it was nice to have a night where I wasn't "on duty"...Jeremy did want to go pick Katelyn up when we were driving home at 1am, but I explained to him that it would not be good to wake our cutie patootie up just to have her home with us, he reluctantly agreed.
Thankfully and not surprisingly the sleepover went well, which eased my mind because on January 22, Jeremy and I left for a 5 day/ 4 night trip to the Dominican Republic! It was our Christmas gift to one another and it was so nice to get away and be alone for a little while! Katelyn split time between the grandparents and she had a fantastic time. We took a laptop so we could keep in touch with email, and that really helped me not to miss her too badly. Grammie Bee and NiNi did a GREAT job at keeping me updated and sending pictures. The only thing that happened while we were away that upset me was Katelyn's first 2 teeth came in!! Can you believe it! I couldn't!! I had noticed her gums having changed before we left, and I had made a joking comment about how they would come in while we were gone...if only I hadn't been right! Ohwell, I plan on not missing any other firsts! By the way, the are the CUTEST teeth I have ever seen! It just makes Katelyn even more adorable!(pictures will be coming, it's difficult to snap a photo before "lil k" goes and hides them!)
After our trip Jeremy's work has really been picking up and EMT school is keeping him busy almost all the rest of the time. I know it drains him, but he is doing so well and I am so proud of him! The Lord truly blessed me with an amazing provider and hard worker on top of everything else Jeremy is to me! It bums him out that school is taking his time away from Katelyn, but he always makes up for it when he can and I always remind him that it's better now than later.
Jeremy and I lost a dear friend on January 28th. Melissa went home to be with our Lord after an 18 month battle with Luekemia. This has been difficult for the both of us. She was the wife of Jeremy's best friend Ben and was a close friend to me since I was 14. Even with the tears, I have smiled because I know she is with her Father in heaven and I will see her again! Melissa was the one friend I knew would always tell me the truth, even if I wasn't looking for it...and that is a quality unfortunately that you don't find in many people. I have been praying that I will be able to raise Katelyn up to be a woman of faith like Melissa was. Lord willingly I will.
Life has been getting back to normal since February rolled around....Katelyn and I have been going to play dates and I have been trying my hardest to get her to crawl, I will keep you all posted on this milestone! Jeremy is taking me on an overnight date tomorrow for a late Valentine's gift! I was shocked when he told me!! We are going for a couples massage and then dinner and a movie, best of all we are going to stay at the W!! Am I lucky or what?!
I apologize for this long, probably way too informative post, but I wanted to fill in the 2 month blank! I will make more of an effort to let you know how Katelyn is growing...I cannot believe she will be 9 months in a week and a half!
Well, I will share more of our "happening's" soon...please don't be a stranger!