Busy as a Bee

I always have good intentions to update my blog on a regular basis. And then somewhere along the way and the millon other things I have to do, I just cant seem to sit and write.... much less upload pictures.

I have a new home away from home. The beautiful Rossview Elementary. I think I am the only one crazy enough to have opened new school two years in a row. There is so much to do. My gym is still not completely finished, but it is getting there. This is where you will find me for the next 30 years. I do not ever plan on leaving this beautiful school. And the best part is that I will get to bring Audra-Grace with me in a few years and then she will be right here on this camus for her entire school career. What a great thing. 

Other things that have been going on .... the YMCA annual dinner/dance was held this past Saturday night. I am proud to say that we raised a lot of money for this great organization. Now I am busy working on Hillbilly Ball. That is the annual party for Junior Auxiliary and I happen to be chairing it this year. So please please please call me for tickets. It is Sept 26 at waterstreet events center. The dress is casual and we will havve BBQ and beer.... plus sides and desserts.

Besides all of that it is just the everyday hustle and bustle that keeps me busy. Usually by October I start to slow down a little. Just to pick back up in time for the holidays.

I know most of you only read this to see Audra-Grace so let me give you an update on her. Wow!!! Could I love that girl any more. I just dont think its possible. She is growing into such a little girl. My baby is gone forever. She is starting to sing hr abc's - which makes me very proud. She loves A-B-C---L-M-N-O-P--- X-Y-Z. she always sys those parts LOUD. She also amazed me the other day when she was taking a both. She has some pool toys that we are now using for bathtime that is a bag of about 12 animals that squirt water. She handed each one to be and wanted me to tell her what kind of animal it was. She then took it and studied it for a minute and would then set it down and hand me the next one and repeat the process. She could then tell me exactly which animal was which. Amazing that she took the time to study them!

Well, back to the craziness!!!

Recent Pics

      Wow. That one is hard to see. But Audra-Grace loved her first ride on a carasal
          Popsicles are great in the summer time.
              We love Kate and Izzy and are so fortunate to have the Heggie family in our lives. They                  are so wonderful. Happy 2nd Birthday Izzy.
                                                      First pony ride. We are at the rodeo.
                         Great Granddaddy Charlie thinks our little girl hung the moon. And we feel 

                         the same way about him. Love Love Love this man. 

I'm Back

Today Daniel informed me that I need to be updating our blog more often. He says he likes to read the things that I post. Funny - because ha has already lived it. But, I guess he likes seeing it from my viewpoint. 

We have been busy as usual the past few weeks. Somehow, even with me being off work for summer vacation I still feel like there is never enough time. We have been visiting the pool a lot lately. The first couple of times were awful. Audra-Grace was so excited and wound up because it was so new to her. She did not want us holding on to her - not understanding that if we let go she was going straight to the bottom. That sent us on a search for a flotation device that would allow for her to be in the pool on her own (of course with us right beside her). First we tried a bathing suit with a build in life jacket - that kept her on top of the water but did not keep her head from going under. Next we tried a actual life jacket that has a big piece that goes around the head. That is the safety feature. It immediatly flips her on her back. This would be nice if we were on a boat and I needed it for safety only.... but we want her to be able to move around in the water and learn to kick her legs and move her arms. Not to mention --- several of our friends were over for a family swim night and they all laughed at her in it and said they could not bear to see her continue to wear it all summer. They said she looked like she had just come out of some sort of neck surgery and was wearing this to keep her head from moving. Finally we have found the perfect solution. Daniel found this thing called a swim trainer at Walgreens and it has worked out great but we have to pair it with floaties. She is now able to move around on her own and is learning to motor around the pool. It is so fun to play with her in the water. We are trying to take her several nights a week after dinner to keep her used to the water. The more we go the better she does.

Thank goodness for this solution. I am already an overprotective mom but I am especially anxiety driven around water. I was a lifeguard, swim instructor, and pool manager for years. Water was always a part of my life. I grew up loving to swim, spending hours the the pool perfecting all of my strokes. And then grew up to make a job of it. After becoming a lifeguard I was never able to go to a pool and not be in full out lifeguard mode. This is terrible at times - I wish I could just relax. And then about 6 years ago one of those things you never forget happened. I was at work managing Beechaven pool and I heard a scream I will never forget. I look up and see a women holding a little boy. I knew from the sound of the scream what was happening. I ran over and took the little boy in my arms and started CPR. Thankfully he was OK. However it has totally changed my feelings of the water. I am now a nervous wreck around water when young children are involved. This being even worse with my own child. Needless to say I will be very glad when she is older and swimming like a fish and I dont have to worry so much. 

Well, that was long ---- sorry. 

I will try to do better about updating the blog. I promise to add more pictures soon. The worst thing about my iphone is that I now use it to take all my pictures and they never make it to the computer.  I will dig the camera back out of the bottom of my purse and take a few shots to put up. :)

Far Too Long

OK, I have been neglecting my post lately. I will try to do better. I think this has to do with the fact that I got an Iphone. Now I don't even hardly touch my computer. 

Things have been  great here. Staying busy. The past two week I have been out of school. I LOVE summer vacation. However, it has not slowed things down. For some reason I over commit myself all the time so I have had meetings almost everyday for all of the various committees and organizations I am involved in. One thing I am enjoying is all of the lunch dates that come along with this. I am now seeing what the rest of the world does on their lunch break while us teachers are stuck in school. I think I am going to pack my schedule full of lunch dates this summer so I can make up for all of the time I loose during the school year.

Daniel has transitioned into his new job very nicely. For those of you that don't know. His is a consultant for the City of Clarksville. He will be helping out with the marina project and the rails to trails project, among others. Architecture is his passion but this is the next best thing. He really truly loves this community and wants to see great things for it -- so this is a perfect match. We have been so blessed and have learned that things always work out, no matter how bad they seem. I am very proud of him and feel so lucky everyday to be his wife.

Now on to Audra-Grace.  I love that child, she is getting her own little personality and becoming a little girl. Gone are the days of my baby. That makes me sad and teary just to type it. But it is so true. When I look at her now I do not see that same colicky tiny baby that I brought home from the hospital. It seems like overnight she grew into this cute little girl. As much as it is hard to see her grow up so fast it is also pretty amazing. She is a stubborn little thing. I have no idea where she could get that from. (wink wink). Her new favorite word is NO and although I hate hearing her say it --- it is so cute. She has this little southern drawl on it. I love being her mommy for all of the sweetness and even the moments when she is showing her "abby" side.

Lots to do over the next few days. Flying High is this Saturday and we are looking forward to it. I will share pictures later. Also, Sunday is Daniel's birthday so we will have lots of fun for him. And my little brother and my mom will be here this weekend. Fun Stuff!

Its Been Awhile

I have been so busy I have neglected my blog. Somehow, I had a feeling that would happen after the newness of it wore off - as with everything I do. 

Last weekend I spent my first night away from Audra-Grace. Yes --- for all of you moms who can't believe I waited 18 months to do it. I have never been apart from her over night for 18 months. I had to go to a Junior Auxiliary conference in Franklin so she stayed home with daddy. The only way I was able to do it was because I knew she was with her daddy. We both survived. It was good for this nervous anxiety filled mamma to be forced to do something I did not want to do. Speaking of Junior Auxiliary if any of my readers are interested in joining let me know. It a a group of women who work to help the less fortunate in our community - with a focus on children.

I am going to put up a few pictures of Audra-Grace, Daniel, and Granddaddy Charlie on the farm. She loved the horses. That is another one of those things that terrifies me - Daniel and Granddaddy Charlie cannot wait for her to get big enough to ride. 

Saturday night we had a great evening out with friends. Of course we went to The Pub. Our regular meeting spot. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and am very thankful that they were all put in my life. 

Mothers Day was great except for the fact that my mom was off flying. She will be in tonight so we we celebrate this week. Audra-Grace even took a 3 hour nap --- so of course that meant mommy did too. I love my little girl so much and am so fortunate to be a mommy. She is my whole world and I cannot imagine my life without her.

Here is to all the mommies!!!!!!!

13.1

                                                     Andy, Abby, and Katie before the race

I did it. I managed to walk 13.1 miles this past weekend in the Country Music 1/2 Marathon. I have such a short stride that my fast walking is slow so I was very worried about making it in the time limit. All I wanted to do was make it in 4 hours. I did it in 3 hours and 54 minutes. So I was happy. I had also been very worried that I would be the last one out there with the pace car following behind me. But I was FAR from the rear. I kept looking back and seeing what looked like thousands of people behind me. Several of my friends also did the 1/2 marathon, it was such a great experience to do it with other people who were all encouraging and supporting each other. Even though we were all at different levels and different paces just knowing they were there made it easier. I look forward to doing another one soon.

Big Event

Wow. I am so nervous and excited. Tomorrow morning at 4 am I will be heading to Nashville for my first 1/2 marathon. I am just one of the walkers bringing up the rear of the 30,000 that will be on the course. But 13.1 is 13.1 no matter what locomotion you use to finish. Hey, I may even be crawling by the end of it. I was feeling really good about the whole thing until last week and then ---- I get sick. Started as a head cold and has worked its way to my chest. With my history of asthma this is the part that worries me. I hope my lungs will allow me to keep up a good pace. People have said "you done have to do it, its not to late to back out" but those people forget my stubborn nature. Once I say I am going to do something you better believe I am going to do it. I am so proud of all the folks that have been training with me. Can't wait to see you at the finish!!!!!