Lord, forgive me for exposing my child to such music! Amen.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day...Can I just say that for the first time in nearly 10 years I cried for all the right reasons.

This breathtaking photo of anna, as well as the one in the post below, was taken by Mandie Newsom. www.facebook.com/capturedbymandienewsom

Thank you Lord that this school year is wrapping up! The last few months have been really tough with AnnaBelle being so sick.. It seems like every time we'd turn around she was running fever and one of us was having to miss work. We have become regulars at the after hours pediatric clinic in Hattiesburg! Anna knows every Dr and every nurse there like they are family! So sad!!! But finally, we are getting some relief! Anna will be getting tubes in her ears on Tuesday! I am so thankful that my little doll will feel better, but I am very nervous about it too! I am just a Nervous Nelly by nature, and i hate the thought of her having to go through this! Just say some extra prayers for us Tuesday morning if you will.
ON a happier note...I am so excited that i am about to finish up this school year that has been not-so-fun, and get to spend every waking minute with my sweetie! I will cherish those moments! Anna has grown SO fast! I can't get over the fact that I am planning her one year birthday already! Too much for this sentimental girl to handle!!!

Did I mention Anna FINALLY GOT TEETH!!! Hooray! Anna teeth, mommy more gray hair! Coincidence!?!?!

you have GOT to be kidding me!!!

It has finally happened! I knew that it was inevitable, but I prayed that these days were far into the future for me.
For those of you who know me, and I mean who REALLY know me, know that vain is not a word that one would use to describe me. Don't get me wrong, I like nice things but I am way too cheap to by them for myself! And now that Anna Belle is here it is ALL about her!
My roots are showing, my eyebrows haven't been waxed in goodness knows how long, I havent had a manicure since before she was born, nor do I see the point, and if you work with me, there IS a reason I have not broken out the flip flops yet!!! Seriously yall, I just care way more about other things.
I have never been one to freak out as my birthdays rolled around. I was thrilled to turn 30! I thought it was so cool to be a 30 year old for some very strange reason. I have friends who really struggle with this. I mean they dread their birthdays for months, start examing their face with magnifying mirrors, taking before and after pictures as they try their newest wrinkle creams. (You know who you are;) ) I have never been that girl...until now!!!
It was just last week that it happened. I was getting ready for school. Yes, I know! That is bad enough, right??? And then I spotted it. It was shining like a beacon in my newly darkened hair! gray..."Say What????" Yes, a gray hair! It was hideous! I kinda freaked out! I mean, really freaked out. I contemplated on whether I should tell douglas or not, as if it would change something. But there I was, standing in the bathroom, a month shy of my 31st birthday having my vain, oh-my-gosh-not-me moment!
Worst part...found another one 3 days later!!! Let the dye jobs begin!!!

You know you want it!!!

So, I have this AMAZING friend, Dawn who has incredible talents! She sings beautifully, she is a great teacher, an amazing mother, and now add artisan/entrepreneur to the list!
Dawn recently started a business called "Hello Dearie"! They make the CUTEST bunnies you have EVER seen out of the funkiest fabrics! Anna and I are serious fans! Anna has 2 Hello Dearie originals already, Elenor and CoCo. (They are her faves!!!)
But to add to her fabulousness, Dawn is now teaching sewing classes and making these really awesome things!!! Like this ruffle apron! YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT!!!


So check out all of her cuteness at http://www.hellodearie.com/

Goodbye Rebecca

This has been a long and difficult journey for our friend and aunt, Rebecca Neal, but last Monday, April 12, Rebecca said goodbye. Rebecca fought a 7 year battle with cancer. She battled with class and grace and tenacity! So many were inspired by her and her response as she stared death in the eye.

Douglas and I actually lived with Rebecca for about 2 months while we were building our home in Columbia. At the time, I was frustrated because we were cramped and I didn't have my space, not to mention that I wasn't to happy to be living in Columbia at all anyway. However, I am so grateful that I had that time with Bec. We had a lot of fun together! She had the BEST skin products and she ALWAYS wanted to share! She was a free spirit and I might not have caught on to all of her lessons then, but I do appreciate that it is a nice way to live your life!

Rebecca was never able to hold Anna because the cancer had spread into her backbone and she was not allowed to lift anything over 5 pounds. She hated that! She always looked longingly at Anna as everyone else got to love on her. Well, the last few weeks, we have visited Bec several times a week and our last visit with her, which was the Saturday before she died, Rebecca said, "I AM HOLDING THAT BABY!" and she grabbed Anna and they played and laughed for quite a while. It was beautiful! I snapped about 30 pics!!! I loved it! It meant so much to all of us.



After weeks of unbearable suffering, God gave Rebecca a few good last days! God is so good. Goodbye Rebecca! We'll miss you always!

Poll: Bunny Photo Contest

Anna was selected as a finalist in a photo contest! Pleases help her win by voting daily for number 4! Thanks!


Poll: Bunny Photo Contest