Aliens have abducted my baby!

I think this picture speaks for itself. This is the face we've seen most of the day for almost two weeks now! Where, oh where is my former, smiling child (below)?!?!

The Long and the Short of it.

As you probably know, the Tenney Family has one four-legged member....Bailey.

There are many advantages to having a little dog. She rides nicely in the car on my lap. She doesn't eat much. Her toys aren't big. She doesn't require a lot of space (although her "house" is large enough for a border collie!). She loves to snuggle, especially with ANYONE who is under covers. She is a free bed heater in the winter. And she doesn't need acres of land to roam, but I am sure she would like it.

I was reminded today, however, about one major disadvantage to having a little dog. Or more specifically, a dog with extremely short legs (see picture above). It was such a beautiful evening that I decided to pack Morgan up in the stroller and go for a walk. I thought Bailey might enjoy the walk, so I took her with me. She is overweight from all the steroids she had over the winter (medication to fix multiple problems, including bulging discs in her neck...another disadvantage to having a dog with a long back) and most assuredly out of shape due to being cooped up all winter. I didn't think, however, that she wouldn't be able to make the 1 mile loop around the neighborhood. 3/4 of the way around she decided she couldn't go another step. And I mean literally. She sat down in the MIDDLE OF THE ROAD and wouldn't budge!

Thank goodness I had the stroller (sometimes I walk the loop with Morgan in the Snugli). So what did I do? Yes, fair reader I did....I put the dog IN the stroller with Morgan! Morgan in front, Bailey in the rear with the stroller seat in the full recline position. After about 10 steps it was aparent that this arrangement was not going to work. Both Morgan and Bailey were fussing. So I switched them, putting Morgan on the headrest of the reclined seat and Bailey up front. Bailey rode the rest of the way home with her feet on the tray as if she was navigating some great ship, and Morgan rode the rest of the way home holding Bailey's tail in one hand and the leash in the other! The ONE time I don't have my camera, and I am sure we all looked like a bunch of loonies walking home.

But I guess from all of this I can take away one more advantage....if a little dog gets tired, she fits easily in a stroller with a near-9 month old!

One year closer to 30...

Happy Birthday to me! Today I turn 28. Do I feel older, wiser, weaker, stronger? Actually, I don't feel anything at all. I hate to be so apathetic toward my very own day of birth, but today feels like just another day in Small Town USA. It stinks that the fun of birthdays seems to wear off as you get older. Or perhaps it's just me....lots of people have tons of fun on their non-milestone birthdays. Perhaps it is more appropriate to think of every birthday as a milestone.





I had a great day...we had pizza for lunch and went for a little walk. I got a lot of really nice presents and cards from my friends and family. I got lots of phone calls (which were great!). The sun was shining and a few birds were singing. What a great day to be alive and celebrating another year. The only "downer" was that I "lost" an hour of sleep due to daylight savings time. But to me that just means that spring is almost here!

Daddy Day Care

This is Patrick's idea of babysitting.......

enough said!

In Like a Lion

Today, after a week of mid 50 degree weather, we got pounded with probably the worst one day snow storm of the winter season!!! In a little over 12 hours we got almost 8 inches of snow. The roads were absolutely horrendous. My office closed at noon, Patrick's closed at 3:00 (but he got to come home early with me). There was a slight panic at noon when we heard that the interstate was closed....panic because the interstate is my only way to get to my baby-sitter's house! Of course I am sure there is some back road to get there, but a) I don't know it and b) even if I did you can bet if the interstate isn't plowed, those back roads aren't! Luckily the wreck was further up the road and I was able to get to Morgan. It took over an hour to get to Morgan (a 12 mile drive from my work) and then to get to Patrick. God watched over us and got us home safely.

The snow was quite pretty once we got safely home. Morgan and Patrick went outside to measure the snow and Morgan got to sit in the snow for the first time. She really liked it and stayed warm in the snowsuit Mutti bought for her.

How deep is it?

SIX INCHES (with 2 hours of snow to go)

She's Mama's Girl

Isn't it funny that when you don't have kids and people always say that kids would rather play with the box than the toy that came in it that you nod agreement but think "Yeah whatever!". Well, I am here to tell you that IT IS THE HONEST TRUTH! Morgan is certainly not lacking in the toy department. She has a lot of toys that she regularly plays with. Even with all the brightly colored, singing choices, Morgan today decided that my new credit card was THE toy to play with! She played with it for over an hour....proving once again that you CAN have hours of fun with a little piece of plastic (thankfully her hour of enjoyment didn't cost me anything!).

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of the Tenney friends and family! We want you to know that we cherish each of you and hope that today you know how much we love you!!!

You Know It's Cold When....

You know it's cold outside when....

1. School is being canceled due to sub-zero wind chills. But you still have to go to work, even when the temperature when you leave the house is -7 degrees. Oh yes, it was that cold.
2. Your dog will actually allow you to put her coat on to go outside (yes, we put a coat on our dog...she's little and has very short hair!).
3. You go to open the screen door and your slightly moist finger sticks to the latch.
4. It takes you 10 minutes to get dressed for work but 20 minutes to take off your coat, hat, earmuffs, mittens, sweater, and fleece lined boots once you get to work. (OK so it really doesn't take me that long, but you get my point.)
5. Your daughter does not scream objections to all the blankets you have packed in her carseat to keep her warm.
6. Same daughter allows you to put mittens on, even after yesterday's protest.
7. Your newspaper (which is inside a plastic bag) is frozen to the driveway in the morning.
8. And my all time favorite....you KNOW it's cold outside when every breath in through your nose causes ice crystals to form in your nostrils!

I think old Phil got it wrong on Friday. I think his shadow said "Are you nuts?!?! It's WAYYY too cold to go outside today!" Of course, after a very mild December we should have known it wouldn't last long. So here's to warm slippers, a cozy blanket, and good cup of hot tea!

No More Excuses

Patrick and I finally made our "big" purchase for January....we got a new cross-trainer! We had decided that instead of wasting money on a gym membership that neither of us was using that we should put the money to better use and purchase a piece of workout equipment for the house. I figure I can find 30 minutes in my day to work out at home rather than trying to find 2 hours to drive to the gym, workout, shower, and get back to work during the day. We are trying to work out while the other person is bathing Morgan so it's not time away from her. But last night I put her in her Jumperoo and we "worked out" together! Now that the machine has been successfully put together, I guess we have no more excuses for not working out!

Putting on the final touches (please excuse the total mess in our room!)

The Happy Work-Out Queen

All About the Tenneys

In the spirit of a little fun and a lot of wasting time at work when I really should be working, I created this quiz about the Tenney Family. Have fun, waste a little time of your work day, and perhaps learn something you didn't know about life in small town USA!

http://www.quizyourfriends.com/quizpage.php?quizname=070116124753-686053&

A New Profession??

On Sunday I gave my first haircut. My guinea pig was in desperate need of a new 'do and I stepped up to the challenge. Actually, I was a nervous wreck, but Patrick assured me that everything would be OK and if I screwed it up too much he could just shave it off (OH NO!!). There was no blood when I was finished and Patrick still has both ears. I don't think I did too bad for my first try...what do you think?

Life Goals in 2007

It's a new year...time to re-evaluate where you are and where you want to be. Instead of making New Year's Resolutions, as I have done in the past, I have decided to set life goals that I will work on starting this month. I hope that these life goals will be more successful than my past resolutions, which usually are over by February! So, here they are, in no particular order:

1) Have a more positive attitude about work. It's been so hard for me to transition back to work since Morgan came along. Although I want to be a stay at home mom, it's just not something that we can do right now. I want to focus on being positive about working because I can't change my situation. Focusing on how much I don't want to be working has been harmful, so it's time to see the good in working and continue to pray that one day I will be able to stay home with Morgan.

2) Eat healthier and mostly at home. As you probably know, Patrick and I love to eat out. Neither of us enjoy cooking and I am not the best cook. My food is edible, but not spectacular. Along the typical "lose weight" resolution, I want to focus my family on healthier eating. I feel it's important for us to instill good eating habits in Morgan and we can't do that if we aren't being a good example. Also, eating at home will save us money and will allow us more time as a family. And in the end, I am sure that we will both drop a few pounds.

3) Take 20-30 minutes every day to do something for myself. As a mom, wife, and professional in the workforce, I hardly have any time that is not accounted for during the day. If there is spare time during the day, I almost always focus on doing things for others. While that is a great trait, I think my mental health will be better if I focus a little bit on centering myself and doing things that I enjoy...even simple things like taking a bath or reading. I always feel better if I get a few minutes of down time. This can also include exercise, which I am looking forward to getting back in to.

4) Be diligent about going to church and deepening my faith. With all that has been going on in my life over the past year, I admit that I haven't been going to church as much as I need to. I know that I always feel better when I do attend church. I want to focus on my relationship with God so that I may show my daughter how wonderful it is to have a relationship with God.

I have also set some goals for my relationship with Morgan and her growth. Here are our goals:

1) Start teaching American Sign Language in January. Many professionals advocate for parents to teach their children ASL because it allows kids to communicate before they can form the words that they want to say. Also, because Patrick and I both work with the disability community, I feel it is important for Morgan to have some basic knowledge of ASL so she may be able to communicate with all people.

2) Get a set nighttime routine and stick to it. We have been pretty good about doing a routine with Morgan so that she knows when we are transitioning to different events through the day. Over the holidays we got away from that and Morgan was a lot more cranky. We have set a nighttime routine of arriving home from the sitter, playing until about 6:30, dinner, bath, play time, nurse, read a story, bed. It has been working well for the past 4 days, so I want that to continue.

3) Focus on teaching manners. I think it's really important to teach Morgan how to have good manners. There are too many children and young adults today that do not know the meaning of the words kindness, respect, share, and others. When I grew up, every adult was Mr. or Mrs., it was yes sir and no ma'am, and adults were never argued with. She also needs to learn to use words to resolve problems and that she won't always get what she wants. Because I don't know if she will have a sibling, I don't want to have the spoiled stereotypical only child.

It's hard to set too many other goals at this point because of where she is developmentally. I am sure that when she turns one I will do an update on goals we will have for her. But for now, that's what the Tenney girls are focusing on for 2007.

Happy 2007!!

The Tenney family really hasn't fallen off the face of the Earth....just into vacation bliss for a couple weeks! We rounded out 2006 in Florida with my parents, brother, and sister-in-law, came home on the 29th, spent Morgan's 6 month birthday in Pittsburgh with mom's family, and saw Nannie and Big Pop on New Year's Eve. We rang in the new year watching Dick Clark as a family (Bailey included) in our bed. It wasn't exciting by most people's standards, but it was the best New Year's Eve I have had in 27 years.

New Year's Day found the Tenney family up until about 1 AM with a fussy 6 month old. After we all got in bed and got some sleep, we got dressed and went over to Aunt Becky and Uncle Rodney's house to watch the Gator Bowl. Our Mighty Mountaineers pulled out another upset over Georgia Tech to start another new year with a win (they beat Georgia last year in the Sugar Bowl...ironically by the same score, 38-35).

Instead of reviewing everything that has gone on in the past few weeks, I have posted some pictures in a post below with some comments. Check out Morgan's website for a longer narrative on what we did the past few weeks. Of course...it may take me a while to get that all up on her site!

We want to wish everyone a prosperous 2007. May God be with you all.

Christmas Celebrations, Vacation, and More!

We're on our way to Florida!

First Airplane Ride

Christmas Eve

Morgan's First Christmas

Morgan and Mama at Bonita Bay

Daddy golfing at Tyndall AFB

Morgan is 1/2 year old!

Christmas at the Susallas

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is Patrick's 28th Birthday. Morgan decided the celebration needed to start early....and I mean REALLY early. She kept her Daddy up until 3:30 this morning! She woke back up at 7:00 to sing to Daddy and help him open his presents (Morgan gave her daddy the hat he is wearing in the pictures). Tonight we are taking Patrick out to eat. I wanted to take him to the Olive Garden for lunch today, but alas my plans were thwarted by work plans that came up. Oh well....guess I'll have to put off lunch for another day.

Singing Happy Birthday to Daddy

Helping Daddy open his presents

Happy Birthday babe....Morgan and I love you very much.

It's Beginning To Look A Little Like Christmas

It's been really hard for me to get in the Christmas spirit this year. I finally managed to get in the attic and get out a few decorations for the house. Since we are going to Florida this year for Christmas, Patrick and I decided not to go "all out" with the decorating since no one will be there to appreciate them. But I did put out a few things, including our very tiny, not so grand Christmas tree that really is my office tree. Artie Jr, the Christmas Stick, who plays the normal role of Tenney Christmas Tree is still packed away in the attic. It's sad, but it's as festive as I can get this year.

Even so, we do have a few presents under the tree, and the rest are packed in Santa's sack to go to Nana and Big Pop's this weekend. Santa will be making a second stop in Florida on Christmas Eve with the rest of the gifts.

We have been enjoying our friends' Christmas decorations, however, and Morgan really seems to enjoy Christmas lights. She has already received a few Christmas gifts, and she really loves tearing the paper! Of course, all she really wants to do is eat the paper, but we pretend that she is trying to get the gift inside!

Santa's Baby

Ever since I read my friend Catherine's post on Christmas music and her distain for the song "Santa Baby" (you know the one...where the woman sings breathily to Santa about what she wants, like a '54 convertible, light blue), I haven't been able to get it out of my head! (Thanks a bunch Catherine!) And since I don't know all of the words, I can hear that woman singing just the few snippets of verses that I do know. So since I am doomed to sing that song for the rest of the year (unless, of course, I hear "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"), here are some pictures from Morgan's 5 month photo shoot that I thought turned out adorable.

We are debating about whether or not to have Morgan's picture taken with Santa this year. I hate to deprive her of such an experience, but I am having issues of putting my precious baby on Santa's lap after a million other kids have drooled, snotted, and done goodness knows what while telling Santa their deepest desires for Christmas. I guess if the line isn't long and Santa looks clean, we'll do it!

Morgan is 5 months old

My little girl is 5 months old today. Today I read 25 things that change when you have a baby, and thought it would be appropriate to reflect on these things given today's milestone.

Happy 5 month-a-versary Morgan! We love you so much.

1. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.
2. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid.
3. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.
4. You respect your body ... finally.
5. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.
6. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.
7. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.
8. You lose touch with the people in your life whom you should have banished years ago.
9. Your heart breaks much more easily.
10. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.
11. Every day is a surprise.
12. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)
13. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.
14. You become a morning person.
15. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.
16. You discover how much there is to say about one tooth.
17. You finally realize that true joy doesn't come from material wealth.
18. You now know where the sun comes from.
19. You'd rather buy a plastic tricycle than those shoes that you've been dying to have.
20. You don't mind going to bed at 9 p.m. on Friday night.
21. You discover an inner strength you never thought you had.
22. You no longer rely on a clock — your baby now sets your schedule.
23. You give parents with a screaming child an 'I-know-the-feeling' look instead of a 'Can't-they-shut-him-up?' one.
24. You take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means you'll be late.
25. You realize that you can love a complete stranger.