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).

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!