2009 Peachtree Roadrace

Jeremy and I woke up at 6:30 this morning so that we could register for this year's Peachtree. After about an hour of frustration with the online process we were both signed up! We are so excited! Neither one of our families have ever participated in this Atlanta tradition, but Jeremy and I have always wanted to. It wasn't until Katelyn was born that we decided to actually do it. We are pumped about beginning a new tradition for our family...too bad Katelyn won't be able to run with us until July 4, 2019!! I will definately be posting pics once July 4th rolls around...until then, we will be busy training ourselves to run the 6.2 miles!! I'll let you know how that goes!

The verdict is in...

At today's 9 mo. well visit Katelyn weighed in at 21 lbs. 14 oz. and measured 31.5 inches long!! The doctor made a comment as he always does about her daddy being tall....and I always have to tell him that Jeremy is 5'7 and I am 5'3...then our pediatrician always asks me where Katelyn came from...it's a very silly conversation that we have every well visit! Dr. Arnold said Katelyn looks great and so healthy! She is just growing very fast!! The doctor told me she was the "average size of a 15 month old!" I could not believe it! After the nice visit with the doctor, Katelyn had to have some blood work done...I will not go into it, it's just too painful, but trust me-it was horrible! Katelyn now has a big bruise on her arm, but thankfully that is all that remains from that horrendous experience! I told Katelyn that if she was bigger, I would have taken her for ice cream because she was so brave!
Well, that's all the news for now! I hope you are enjoying God's beautiful creation as it is slowly becoming spring! I think Katelyn and I will go for a walk today, so we can enjoy this wonderful gift the Lord gave us!

Happenings in Harmony Update!!

*FYI* Exciting news! I have a very talented friend who designed a new header for our blog! She will also be putting a new background together too!! I am so very excited for our blog to look so much better!! I cannot tell you how thankful I am for Becca!(www.thestanleyclan.blogspot.com) She is a new mom too, and definitely stays busy, so I know what a sacrifice of her time it was! Please let me know what you think...I want to be able to tell Becca how much people loved her work! The changes will take place as soon as I decide which family picture I want to use...ugh, I can be so indecisive!! I digress....

9 Months!

Katelyn is 9 months old today! I cannot believe it! Time sure does fly by when you're having fun!! Unfortunately I slipped a disc Monday afternoon, so I haven't been able to play with Katelyn the way I normally do...she's noticed and has been a bit fussy the last two days, but I've been bummed too...I love kissing on her and holding her...it will only all end too soon. Katelyn's 2 top teeth have started coming in which is very exciting! I can already tell she is going to have a BEAUTIFUL smile! I will post a pic as soon as you can see them really well when she grins! I took her to get her 9 month picture today and it went well....a little too well, because I had a very hard time deciding which pose I wanted. If only I had all the money in the world, then I would not have had to choose. Anyway, I will see if I can scan it and put it up so you all can see her in the prettiest Easter dress ever! I really cannot believe that 9 months ago at this time 8:48pm, she had not entered our world yet!...she was definitely on her way though...it was at 9:04pm that she took her first breath and changed Jeremy and I's world forever! I thought I would share a few pictures from that wonderful day when Katelyn was born...isn't she sooo small!

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!

Christmas Chaos

Well, I definitely did not think it would be almost a month until I would blog again, but the month of December always seems to sneak up on me and pass me by all at the same time!!
I love December because it is so full of celebration, but seem to dread the stress all the preparation "celebrating" brings. With Katelyn here this year, I have tried to not allow the stress to get to me...and I must admit I have failed miserably! At the same time, I now have this "too cute for words" face that looks at me and reminds me that in the end it really doesn't matter how much money I spend on gifts, or how much time we will spend with each family, all that matters is celebrating the birth of the first baby that came and changed our world forever...and this year our family will not only be rejoicing the birth of Jesus, but the birth of Katelyn~the second baby that came and changed our world!
Besides having Katelyn to diffuse some of the stress, we have had lots of Christmas parties to enjoy! The month started off with a bang, 2 parties the first weekend. The second party was with our neighbors and Jeremy and I had a blast! I am so thankful for where we live....it truly is a blessing! Not only do we have fun neighbors, but we have neighbors that believe in the Lord, and I am so glad Katelyn has the opportunity to grow up in the same type of neighborhood I had the privilege of experiencing because today they are few and far between.
Another reason I haven't blogged in awhile besides parties is family. My sister Melanie and brother in law Patrick came in town from London last week! We only get to see them once a year, so when they are here it almost feels like the world stops. I love my sister and miss her so much when she is gone that when she is in town I try to spend as much time as possible with her.
Because Jeremy and I are blessed to have both of our families living in Georgia, it makes for a busy holiday season going from home to home...but we make do and this year that meant celebrating Christmas this past weekend. Jeremy was not too thrilled as he is still a child at heart and doesn't understand how this is the only holiday people celebrate on a different day~"nobody trick or treats on October 28th and no one has a 4th of July barbecue on July 5th" he proclaimed!~I love that man, always brings things into perspective!! :) We were more than spoiled this year...we received our dream gift, a Nikon D60!! We both had really wanted to have a good camera to capture our cutie patootie with and boy did we get one!! Katelyn was more than spoiled of course, which was very nice. It was so fun to watch her pull at the wrapping paper and eat the bows, but most of all it was wonderful to hear her laugh at new toys!! Oh how I wish I had that child like excitement still!! I cannot wait to see her on Christmas morning when we have our private little family celebration...I won't spoil what Santa will bring, all I will say is that mommy sure did have a lot of fun being the "helper" in selecting the perfect gifts for our little one!
As I look forward to Christmas Eve and Day I cannot help but hope that all of you are making as many wonderful memories as my family is! I promise to be more vigilant in keeping you up to date with the happenings here in our home and I also will try not to make it too long before I post some awesome pictures that we have taken with Jeremy and I's new "toy"!
I will leave you with my favorite quote from The Polar Express~"Though I've grown old the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe!"