Happy FIRST Birthday Morgan!

Please check out Morgan's website for many, many more pictures, videos, and comments about today. I can't believe my baby is one!

It's Monday

This is the perfect descriptor of my day....enough said.

Crying over spilt milk

Today a tragedy of gigantic proportions happened at our house. A few weeks ago I had gone out to the deep freezers in our garage to prepare Morgan's weekly allotment of breastmilk. One of our freezers is notorious for frosting over and I noticed that some milk had become completely encased in ice. Not to worry though, if it was covered in ice, it was cold, right?

Today I asked Patrick to go out to that freezer and de-ice the milk so I could figure out just how much milk I have left since we are going to start the slow transition to cow's milk next week. As I am sure you have guessed by now, when Patrick opened the door to that freezer, water came gushing out and ALL the ice and milk was defrosted. And I am not talking a few bags. Over 150 bags of breastmilk was lost. 600 ounces. Enough milk to feed Morgan strictly breastmilk for over 4 weeks.

I cannot even begin to describe how devastated I was once it was discovered, or how immediately my heart sank to my toes and my eyes welled up with tears. Or how even hours later it still upsets me. I still have 5 weeks worth of milk in the other freezer that remains frozen and drinkable. And I am going to start mixing her breastmilk with cow's milk next Sunday. But that is not the point. The hours spent pumping, bagging, sterilizing, and more importantly the intense love and motivation of best nutrition behind my intent to freeze all that milk was all gone. In a gush of water and milk.

You know the old saying from your mother, "Don't cry over spilt milk!". Sorry Mom, today I cried over spilt milk. I just couldn't help it.

Happy Father's Day!

Although it's Patrick's second year as a father, technically, it's his first OFFICIAL Father's Day! Morgan gave him a golf practice net, a golf bear, T-shirt, picture frame, and a collection of pictures of the two of them in a pretty collage frame. All of the pictures are of the two of them napping together (something they do frequently)!

We also went bowling today and Daddy helped Morgan roll her first ball, knocking down 5 pins.

Best of all, Morgan gave her Daddy (and Mama) the gift of allowing us to see her first unassisted steps! It was such a joy to watch her, and she is so cute! Now she's officially a toddler!

Happy Father's Day Patrick. You are such a good Daddy. I see the love for your daughter in the light of your eyes every day. I could ask for a better man for her to grow up with.

You eat the peas, I'll eat the Milk Bone

Morgan and Bailey have become the best of friends over the past few months. They play together, Morgan often racing the dog up the hallway toward one of Bailey's toys. Morgan will take toys out of Bailey's mouth, or they will play tug-o-war, and Bailey will bark at Morgan, causing Morgan to laugh and laugh like it's the funniest thing she has ever seen!

Bailey has also figured out that when Morgan eats, food gets dropped to the floor, so she takes up permanent residence under the high chair during meals. Last night Morgan was eating peas and some pork chops cooked in mushroom gravy. I had mixed some of the peas in the mushroom gravy, which apparently was not the correct thing to do. Morgan was picking out the peas that had gravy on them, looking over the side of her high chair, and dropping the rejected peas to Bailey! She was eating the peas that didn't have gravy on them though. It was funny to watch, but I had to teach Morgan that food on our tray needs to stay on our tray, even if we don't eat it. After dinner Morgan got to sample a small bit of Mama's chcolate ice cream. Traditionally Bailey always gets to finish off the bowl. Below is a picture of what happened next:

Since Morgan's newfound mobility and independence, Bailey has been having to deal with a lot of invasions to her way of life. As I mentioned on Morgan's website, Morgan has discovered the dog's food and water bowls, which for 11 months have been untouched by the baby. Morgan also spends a good deal of time in the dog's "house" or swinging the door to the cage open and shut, with the poor dog inside wondering what the heck is going on! Yesterday Bailey left a Milk Bone on the carpet in the foyer just outside of her cage. While cooking dinner, I glanced down to see Morgan eating the Milk Bone! So apparently nothing of the dog's is sacred anymore, although we are really going to work hard on keeping Morgan out of the dog's food, treats and water!

A sad day, but the good kind...

Today, after much thought over the past week, I have stopped nursing Morgan completely. We had been down to one nursing a day, in the morning before our days started. Recently she has been crying after only nursing for 2-3 minutes, and I finally figured out that she was probably not getting enough milk. This morning I gave her a 4 oz bottle of frozen milk, which she drank quickly, and she didn't cry when the feeding was over.

It's a bittersweet day for me. Many of you may be laughing because before I had Morgan I swore that breastfeeding was gross and not for me. I was only going to "try" because it was cheaper than buying formula. However, Morgan took to it pretty well and it really helped us bond through my intense period of post-partum depression. Even though I am looking forward to actually sleeping IN one morning and letting Patrick take care of the morning feeding, I am going to miss our special time where it was just me and her, and I was the only one who could give her what she needed.

On the positive side, Morgan is growing up and doing more things on her own. I don't have to lug the breast pump with me everywhere I go, nor am I having to wash and sterilize breast pump bottles and parts every day. I also don't need to pack the Boppy on vacation. I don't have to worry so much about feeding schedules and being somewhere that I could nurse privately. Even though it's an added step to now put the frozen milk in a bottle, and makes more bottles to wash, it's a step toward Morgan being completely off breast milk (and the bottle). I am not going to rush her weaning from the bottle, but I hope that by 15 months she is completely off the bottle. Then we'll tackle the binky!

Smithsonian National Zoo

Over the weekend we went to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Maryland. Their company was having a picnic at the zoo for it's employees and Jeff thought Morgan might like to go. We had a really wonderful time! We got to have two animal encounters (a tarantula and a tenrec), and we got to see the gorillas get fed! It was funny because they were actually tossed brown bags...to which either Patrick or Jeff made some comment about the original brown bag lunch!!

On the subway

Next Stop...the National Zoo

Tenney Family at the Zoo!

Morgan liked the tarantula.

Just eating my brown bag lunch...

Joann the Tenrec

Watching the Oranutans

Tai Shan (we think)

Totally Wiped OUT

It was really hot, but all in all we had a wonderful time and Morgan seemed really fascinated with the animals that we did get to see. She was sleeping through the elephants and pandas and slept a good bit of the way home, but I think she had a good first zoo experience!

Welcome Jack!!

My dear friend Catherine, who I went to high school with in Germany, and her family welcomed their second child, Joshua Ellsworth Gillespie Jr., "Jack", yesterday at 11:58 AM, weighing in at 8 pounds, 12 ounces. He is such a cutie!

Happy ONE DAY birthday and welcome to the world Jack! We are glad you arrived early and in good health. Congratulations Catherine, Josh, and Hannah. Your family is beautiful.

Morgan is 11 Months Old

Today we begin the last month of of having a "baby". In 31 short days our little girl will turn ONE, and will be officially a toddler. Be sure to check out Morgan's website for a much longer post on how she's growing and developing.

The past few weeks have been trying for me with Morgan. It is nothing that she is doing, or isn't doing. She's a kid, plain and simple. I have just been struggling with her seemingly constant need for me to be holding her....her struggle for independence....her increased mobility. It has seemed that I have had much less patience for little fingers to pick up food, for heavy eyes to finally close for the evening, for a curious mind exploring things that aren't meant for babies.

However, I never fail to thank God every day for her. I recently saw this post on another website. Please take a moment to watch the 6 minute video. It was so moving, and really brings home how thankful we should all be with EVERY day we have with our children.

Thank you, Lord, for Morgan. She is a blessing and a joy. I see You in her every day. Thank you for the past 334 days. I pray for many, many more days to spend with her.

Remembering Those Who Have Gone Before

Even though Memorial Day is a rememberance of those war heros who have died defending our nation's freedom, most Americans take this day to remember all of those in their lives who have passed away. While we didn't actually visit the cemetary today, Morgan and I did take a moment to visit my grandparents' gravesite very near our house. Morgan has been there once before, but she really liked feeling the stone and touching the flowers.




To all the American heros who made the ultimate sacrifice, thank you.



To those who continue to fight for those who cannot, our family prays for your safety.




And to Grandpa Hiram, Granny Evelyn, Grandma Lee, Grandpa Rege, and all the rest of the family members who are with the Lord, we miss you.

Woodchopping Festival

This weekend is the annual Woodchopping Festival in Webster Springs, WV. Men come to qualify for the world championships in wood chopping, they have a car show, gospel singing, crafts, and of course there are some carnival games and rides. We didn't attend much of the festival this year, but we did see the parade and the fireworks.

Morgan at her first parade

Watching the parade go by

Parade Marshall--Josh Stewart

(a Webster County native, he is an actor who has had roles on Criminal Minds, Dirt, Third Watch, and CSI:)

Watching the fireworks with Daddy

Welcome Brady Thomas!

Patrick's best friend from college, Pete Allen, and his wife Andrea welcomed BRADY THOMAS ALLEN yesterday at 5:48 am. He was born about a month early (originally due 6/25/07), but still weighed in at 6 lb, 1 oz and is 19.5 inches long. Mama and Brady are doing very well.

Morgan got to visit Brady today for the first of what promises to be MANY times. Congratulations Pete and Andrea....he's so handsome!

Note to Self: Do NOT feed prunes to a baby wearing a dress!

I learned a very valuable parenting lesson today, the hard way...as if there is any other way. While searching on the internet last night for a pair of shoes (I know, such a WONDERFUL way to spend my time) I happened to glance over at Morgan, who was standing at the baby gate wearing a cute pink dress with a matching diaper cover that her Grandpa Teagarden bought for her.

To my complete horror I saw that she had a major diaper explosion. And I mean MAJOR. The diaper had reached maximum capacity without my knowledge and failed to hold back the flood. She had eaten prunes for lunch, and apparently they worked well! Poop was pouring from her diaper, down both legs right onto my light beige carpet!!!!! Of course I shot like a rocket off the couch to get her, never thinking what the next step would be. I couldn't take her to the bathroom/tub because it was currently being occupied by my husband. (Why oh WHY is he always "unavailable" when we have poop explosions?!?!) So we ran to her changing table, dripping as we went. It was a total mess, as I am sure you can imagine. Not only had both legs leaked, but poop was pouring out of the top of her diaper as well! I can honestly say this was the worst diaper explosion we have had to date. And I HOPE it remains the worst!

Thank goodness we were already scheduled to have the carpets cleaned today, and thank GOODNESS this explosion happened yesterday (before the carpets were cleaned) rather than today!!! So, take some advice from a now learned mother: Do NOT feed prunes to a baby wearing a dress!

Weight Watchers Update

Weeks until Morgan's birthday: 6

Pre-baby pounds to lose: 9

To reach Weight Watchers goal weight: 16

Panic Level (on a 1-10 scale): 10!

Apparently I missed the memo that I should be LOSING weight instead of gaining it!

Happy Mother's Day

Today is my first official Mother's Day, and I can't help but look into my daughter's gorgeous brown eyes and be so thankful that God has given me the privelege of being a mother. Being a mom has changed me in so many ways, and I am a better woman, and I hope a better wife, because of it.

Today I reflected a lot on what it means to me to be a mother, on mothers who have lost their babies too soon, on my wonderful mother, and on mothers who have gone on to be with God (including both of my grandmothers). I remembered how much I longed to be a mother and prayed for a child. I remembered how happy I was when I found out I was expecting, and how that joy continues today. Even though today was filled with cranky cries, I am glad that Morgan wants to be with me so much that she will cry for me.

My hope is to remember how great it is to be a mother, even through the hard times that are sure to come. Every day is worth the smile I get when I go in to see Morgan in the morning, the hug and pats on the back I get when I pick her up, and the quiet time in the evening when my drowsy/sleeping almost toddler is laying against my chest.

Happy Mother's Day, to all mothers! Here are some interesting facts about births, in honor of today.

Weight Watchers Update

Weeks until Morgan's birthday: 8

Pre-baby pounds to lose: 8.5

To reach Weight Watchers goal weight: 15.5

Panic Level (on a 1-10 scale): 9

Honey, Do These Pants Make My Butt Look Big?

It appears that my case of the "Mondays" has rolled over into Tuesday! I am about to share a most embarassing story....but it's really funny (after the fact) so I thought if I could get one person to snicker at this, it might make them feel good. So here goes.....

Let me preface this story with some minor background. As some of you know, I am trying to lose the last 8 pounds of my "baby weight" before Morgan's birthday. It seems that these 8 pounds are going to stick around forever (I've had 8-10 pounds to lose since DECEMBER), but I have been going to Weight Watchers meetings and trying (currently unsuccessfully) to follow the program that helped me lose 20 pounds before. I mean, it's 8 pounds! My goal was/is to lose all of my baby weight by Morgan's birthday. So, 8 pounds, 8 weeks. Sounds doable, right? Well, after going to WW for 9 weeks, I have had a net weight loss of ONE pound. Seems my stomach has yet to figure out that I am not pregnant, thus do not need to eat like a pregnant lady anymore! But I digress...

After my crazy Monday (see yesterday's post), I woke up Tuesday groggy, but feeling pretty good. I was feeling especially good when I got dressed, putting on a pair of khaki pants I have not been able to wear for a while. They looked good, and they were loose. I was thrilled. As normal, we were running late getting out the door to work. As I bent down to fasten Morgan into the carseat, I hear a VERY LOUD RRRIIIIPPPPPPP! That's right, my pants had split from seam to seam, exposing my rear to the world! Thank goodness I was wearing cute underwear. I sat, stunned, for a couple seconds realizing what had just happened. Then I thought "Thank GOODNESS this happened at home!" and ran into my bedroom to get another pair of pants. With a covered rear, we bolted out the door to work.

All went well in the morning....work was crazy as normal but nothing horrible. At 11:30 I decided to call Patrick because I had a craving for a taco salad from Rio Grande. He said he'd have to see if his friend was ready to go and he'd call me back. At ONE o'clock he finally called back and said things were crazy at work and he couldn't come. By this point I was getting cranky from lack of food. So I decided to finish unpacking my boxes from last week's conference and then fix a salad (thinking maybe I could trick my tastebuds with lettuce into thinking it was a taco salad). As I bent down to get the last few folders out of the box, I heard another LOUD RRRIIIPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know, I couldn't believe it either, but yes I had split ANOTHER pair of pants! And this rip was even larger, spanning not only the seam of the pants, but down one leg!

My immediate reaction, sadly, was to cry. So that is what I did. I sat on the floor of my office and cried like an idiot. THEN I called Patrick to cry to him about the huge hole in my pants and the fact that my rear must have ballooned overnight and that it must be the size of Texas to split two pair of pants in less than 6 hours! He was kind enough to suggest that the pants were very old and that is why they split, but that didn't make me feel any better. And I had to deal with the fact that it was 1:15. What was I going to do for the rest of the day? I couldn't go shopping for a new pair of pants...not with the gaping hole in the current pair. I didn't want to drive the 30 minutes home and then back to work (not only wasting an hour of work, but at $3.00 a gallon, the gas). I happen to keep a long white sweater in my office for days when it is chilly. So that was my solution. I shut my door for the rest of the day and when I did have to leave my office, I wore the sweater. Many of my co-workers looked at my funny, since it was 88 degrees outside on Tuesday, but I managed to get through the rest of the day without exposing myself, and when I got home I was so disgusted I promptly threw both pair of pants in the trash!

SO that was Tuesday. I haven't ripped any pants today. I told Patrick if I split another pair of pants I was getting back into bed and not going anywhere, ever. Let's hope that those two pair were threadbare and dry-rotted, and my butt really isn't the B'donk-a-donk butt that comes from eating too much fast food (I hope you have seen this Subway commercial!).

A Case of the Mondays

I think I just had the definition of a Monday....after being gone all last week in Charleston, I returned to work to find 14 phone messages and some e-mails (thanks to my Blackberry, it wasn't as many as it could have been). In addition, I also forgot that I had a mountain of client files that had been left on my desk chair, and conference material to unpack. The Jeep's air conditioning wasn't working, the belts were squealing, and the muffler was hanging on just barely. So I had Amanda run me over to the garage to have the Jeep fixed.

It's always painful when you have to have car repairs done, and I am sure you all know the woes the Jeep has caused me over the years. I am looking forward to finally getting a new car in July! Anyhow...at 10:00 the garage called to say they had the parts and give me a quote to fix the Jeep. Included in that quote was a new muffler. I told them I didn't want a new muffler (mine has a HUGE hole in it) but that I just wanted them to reattach the one that is currently on there. After fighting with the guy for 15 minutes, I finally convinced him that it would be OK if they let the Jeep go without a new muffler. He said they were recharging the A/C right then and it should be done soon. I said "Great!" and went on with my day.

At 1:30 I still hadn't heard anything about the Jeep. So I called and was told it was done (to which I thought...well if it's done why didn't anyone call me?!?!). So Amanda and I jumped back in the car and ran out to the garage. When we got there, the Jeep wasn't sitting outside. That's never a good sign. I went in and the guy at the desk said the Jeep wasn't done. I said "Um, I was just told it was done". The woman who runs the garage then came out and said that one of the guys mistakenly put my slip in the "done" file. The guys had ordered the wrong belt for the car. BUT they had the belt and they would put two guys on it and it would only take 10 minutes. So I said I would wait and I sent Amanda back to work.

15 minutes later the Jeep was done. I went to the counter to pay for it, opened my purse, and discovered that my wallet was sitting on my desk AT WORK. I had no way to pay for the Jeep. So I had to call Patrick (and hope he answered the phone). He did and I explained that I needed him to give a credit card over the phone. I was told by the shop that they don't take card numbers over the phone, but they could fax him a paper to fill out. SOOO....they faxed the paper and Patrick said he was going right to the fax machine. We waited, and waited, and waited. After 10 minutes I called Patrick back to see what was going on. He said he just got the paper (apparently he was held up on his way to the fax machine) and he needed help filling it out. We got it filled out, faxed back in, and I was finally able to get in my newly cool, non-squealing, non-rattling car. It was nice.

On my way back to work, I was thinking about all the things that needed to be done. I saw a gas station with gas for $2.89 and decided that I really needed gas AND a soda. So I pulled in and had to parallel park between two cars to get to the pump. I get out of the car and reach for the gas pump. Thank GOODNESS it was a pay at the pump, because, if you remember, I HAD NO WALLET! I had to get back in my car, no gas and no soda, and go back to work.

When I got to work I decided I still needed that soda, so I rummaged around in my desk to find the money (just barely, but I had enough). I walked upstairs to get my Diet Coke, and the machine was OUT of Diet Coke!!! I couldn't believe it. So I got a Mello Yello and went downstairs to drown my crazy day in caffeine!

So that has been my Monday, so far. I hope it doesn't get any worse!

"Let me ask you something, when you come in on Monday, and you're not feeling real well, does anyone ever say to you, sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays?" --Peter Gibbons

A Simple Expression

I don't really want to comment on the recent events that have affected the entire nation, and Blacksburg especially, because frankly, it's overwhelming. You may or may not know that West Virginia University and Virginia Tech are bitter rivals in sports. And I do mean BITTER. However, my brother shared this with me today, and I felt it would be the best expression of sympathy for this post...

Campus Crusade for Christ at Virginia Tech is organizing a prayer day today....please stop by and let them know you are praying!

What Works for Me Wednesday...a safety tip

I was reading in one of my parenting magazines a few weeks ago about this really good idea for safety for your child in crowds. In the age of camera phones and digital cameras, most people have a picture-taking device on hand at all times (for those of you who know me, you KNOW I do!). The mother suggested right before going into a crowded place (mall, fair, park, or amusement park) to take a picture of your child. That way should the child get lost, you have a CURRENT picture, and a picture of your child in the clothing they are wearing that day. And if you are in the mall, you will probably have access to a photo development shop to have pictures printed and handed out to police, mall security, and search teams.

Although it's super scary to think about Morgan or one of her friends getting lost, we all know that it can and does happen every day. I thought this was a great idea and I plan to start doing that on a regular basis now so it's a habit when she is old enough to walk.

Please visit Rocks In My Dryer for more Works for Me Wednesday tips!

Child Prodigy

Last night while giving Morgan a bath, we were reviewing letters that spell her name and her initials with the foam bath letters Uncle Jeff and Aunt Cecelia bought for her for Christmas. Morgan had multiple letters in her hand and saw the brightly colored letter "E" floating innocently in the water (E for Elisabeth). She dropped all the other letters, snatched the orange "E" from the water and let out a very loud "Eeeeeehh"! I said to her "Yes, that is right!!! That's the letter E!!!" Obviously I should be calling Mensa to sign her up.






Naysayers may insist that it was simple coincidence since she makes that noise all the time....but I choose to think that she is a genius and knew exactly what she was talking about! :)

What Works for Me Wednesday

Inspired by my friend Catherine's occasional Wednesdays post on what works for her, I decided to go a guest spot on What Works for Me today. I was talking to a colleague who recently had a baby about doing laundry and how, as we all know, the washing machine will mysteriously eat socks. What has worked for me regarding Morgan's socks (which are so little the washing machine needed to eat more than one to be satisfied) is to take a sectioned mesh bag normally used for lingere and pin it on the lining of Morgan's laundry basket. When her socks come off, they go right into this zippered pouch, and when laundry day comes, the entire pouch (sans safety pin) goes right in the wash with her clothes. I haven't lost a sock since. So, that's what works for me this Wednesday!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! Christ is risen...Hallelujah! It is absolutely frigid today. However, I risked frostbite and wore my Easter dress and SANDALS to church this morning. I refused to wear close-toed shoes to church on Easter! Morgan also wore her lovely Easter dress, and was wrapped in a blanket and an afghan.

Over the weekend we have laughed and laughed over Morgan and my niece, Julia. With only a 3 month difference in age it was like having twins around all weekend. They are so funny. They had a double bath in Nannie's sink, played together, and opened Easter baskets together. I think they got more for Easter than they did for Christmas!!! Check out their websites for some really great pictures and video from the weekend.

Shouldn't it be April RAIN Showers?!?!

This has got to be the craziest weather week on record for West Virgnina. Tuesday it was sunny, and 81 degrees....yesterday we had a more normal 50 degree day, and this morning, this was the scene we woke up to....




Snow, snow, snow. That's right folks....it's currently 28 degrees outside. (For those of you who can't do math in public, that's a 53 degree downward swing in under 48 hours!!! Granted, it's not the blizzard other parts of the country are getting, but I NEVER expected snow in April, especially after an 80 degree shorts and T-shirt day two days ago! It's supposed to KEEP snowing all the way through next week! I guess Easter egg hunting is out of the question this year! Below is a current view from my office window (don't you just love my retaining wall view?!)...

The First of Many

Morgan's first Boo Boo (straight up from her temple)

Morgan fell the other night and hit her head on the baby gate, creating a lovely boo boo (her first one!). She was standing at the baby gate, shaking away, and stepped back onto a DVD case she had been playing with. The case slid on the carpet, Morgan's foot went with it, and her head went right into the gate. Poor thing....it doesn't look bad on the pictures, but it was really red and slightly purple only minutes after it happened. After many cuddles and kisses she got down and went right back to the gate (sans DVD cases which Mama picked up while cuddling her).