Chattanooga

Earlier this week, Clay, Lilliana and I packed up and went on a little impromptu trip to East Tennessee. Clay and I have never been that way before and decided that we needed a quick little getaway before our lives got a little more hectic this Summer. Clay is scheduled to take his LSAT review course starting in June and Lilliana starts ballet that same time. We decided to just take advantage of Lilliana's week off from school and enjoy some time as a family.

We left early Tuesday morning and decided that we would go the scenic route which was through Savannah, TN and over instead of the interstate up to Nashville and down. Although, it took quite a bit longer the scenery was nice and Lilliana was really good in the car. We stopped in Savannah at a fun little restaurant called, Uptown. The food was really good and I enjoyed a fabulous strawberry and chicken salad with vinaigrette dressing. L enjoyed their wonderful chicken fingers and fruit and Clay got an Italian panini. It was a great start to our vacation and then off we headed to Chattanooga.

We did stop again at Sewanee to have a look at the beautiful campus. Clay had always wanted to go by there so we decided since it was on the way, we would have a look. I was also able to get some great pictures of Lilliana while we were there. At that point, I wish I had our favorite photographer in my pocket and I really could have gotten some fabulous shots!

Once we finally arrived in Chattanooga, we stopped and ate at Mellow Mushroom and enjoyed a yummy pizza and cheesy bread sticks. From there, we headed to our hotel, the Chattanooga Choo Choo and got settled for the evening. Well, although we had been in the car all day, we attempted to get settled but Miss Priss was a little more reluctant than she normally is when sleeping in "Bobby's Bed" at home. I think this is the first time we had her in a hotel, in the same room as us and it proved to be difficult. She was wild as a horse and flipping all over the beds, laughing and just being plain crazy. She finally settled down just before 10 but, she did sleep all night.

We woke up and ate at the restaurant that was connected to the Hotel and then headed for a fun filled day at the Aquarium. It was so great and we were glad that we had decided to split it up into 2 trips with a nap in between. There was so much to see and after just one-half of it we were ready for lunch and naps. We enjoyed lunch at a nice Mexican place downtown before heading back to the Choo Choo. Although, L fought us again for a nap, she gave out a little more quickly than she had the night before and snoozed until 5:00.

Afterwards, we headed back downtown, this time on the free electric shuttle that picked up right outside our hotel. Lilliana thought she was so big and liked to sing "Wheels on the Bus" while we were headed down the road. Needless to say, she was a hit, and everyone was listening to her before long. :)

We finished up our evening enjoying the second half of the Aquarium and then decided to eat dinner again at The Mellow Mushroom. Lilliana was requesting pizza again and we figured it wouldn't hurt.

On Thursday morning, we enjoyed breakfast again at the hotel and then met my friend Amber down in the lobby to get a coupon for the CDM and allow the kids to play for a bit and explore the trains. Unfortunately Will fell and skinned his knee shortly into their visit and L was shortly there after so out visit was short lived. L and I then rode the shuttle back downtown to enjoy the Creative Discovery Museum while Clay packed the car and took a little tour of the city. We had a fabulous time and probably could have stayed all day had we not needed to get back to Memphis. On our way out, we stopped and enjoyed a late lunch at Mt. Vernon's and then went by Lookout Point.

Lilliana fell asleep shortly after getting on the road back to Memphis and enjoyed a good nap before watching a few episode of Mickey Mouse for the remainder of the trip. We stopped in Jackson on the way back for dinner at Los Portales, and then stayed on course for the next hour.

It was a great trip and I definitely think we'll be back. Lilliana had such a great time and I really enjoyed our little escape away from Memphis. Chattanooga is such a beautiful city and there is just so much that appeals to all.


our quick stop at Sewanee


the campus was gorgeous!


the 2 loves of my life :)


fun with Dada at the TN Aquarium


being silly with Mama


cheesing with Dada


looking at the sea lions with Dada


the penguins


measuring how tall Lilliana is in front of the penguins


Dada being silly at the penguin exhibit


the butterflies were gorgeous, although Lilliana was scared of them :(


Lilliana in a divers cage


Dada and Lilliana climbing up the steps outside the Aquarium


the electric trams


Mama and Lilliana about to ride the tram, proof I was there :)


playing at the CDM


she loved splashing in the water


craft time!


wearing her bunny hat and playing in the little kid area


blowing bubbles on the roof!


at Lookout Mountain with Dada


posing with Mama and making Dadda nervous :)


Dadda and Lilliana


the trains outside our hotel

Happy Birthday Emerson!!

Friday afternoon, Lilliana and I headed to Pump It Up for a fun 4th Birthday Party for Emerson. It was a Strawberry Shortcake themed party and the kids had such a blast. She had a great time and Emerson got some great gifts. I can't believe how quickly these kids are growing up. I remember when Emerson was born and I just can't believe 4 years have already passed.

Happy Birthday sweet girl, hope you have a fabulous year as a 4 year old!!


my little love has NO fear, she went down the big slide with all the big kids without any assistance, I was in shock!


time for cake, isn't this cake just precious!!


Lilliana and Amelia, love them both :)


the birthday girl riding her new bike!

Easter Festivities - Trinity Baptist

On Saturday we headed over to Trinity Baptist for their Easter Festival. It is so much fun and Lilliana had a great time. She was able to do her first Easter egg hunt this year, ride the train and do lot's of fun games indoors and make crafts. There was also a petting zoo but she was not interested in getting too close. We just looked at the animals as we rode by on the train and from afar. She is still really skiddish of animals up close although she LOVES the zoo. Who knows. I was so thankful one of our friends sent us a heads up about this fun even because it was a gorgeous day and we both enjoyed ourselves.

Cleaning Tips

Today over at Kelly's Korner, she is hosting, "Show Us Your Life - Cleaning Tips". I like to try and keep a neat and organized home, I would say a must with a busy 2 year old and working mom, and for the most part I am able to accomplish that. Of course, it helps a ton that I am off 5 days a week and only work on the weekends. I try and get most of my work done Tuesday and through Thursday because I feel like Monday's are hard after working all night and on Friday's I just like to enjoy the day before starting back to work. And, since Lilliana goes to school on Wednesday's, this is by far my most productive day. Of course, I also try to schedule any appointments; hair, doctor, dentist, on these days too so that I don't have to worry about dragging her along. But. for the most part I can get most things done on those 3 days. I have been currently working on more of a cleaning schedule, just because I'm OCD like that so I'm looking forward to reading some new blogs linked up over at Kelly's Korner for some great tips.

Lilliana usually wakes around 7:00 and our day starts. I typically try and get up around 6:30 to have some quiet time by myself but that doesn't always happen. I do think y day is so much better though when I am able to do this. Anyways, after L wakes, we eat breakfast and I typically clean up the dishes and wipe down the counters and load the dish washer with our dirty breakfast dishes before she gets out of her chair. Then, we typically have some kind of educational play time for about an hour and do our letter of the week, puzzles, read books and so on. I then typically head to the gym for the morning when is at about 8:30 - 9:30, just depends what time my Body Pump class starts and what I am going to do while there that day. After we get back, L has a snack around 10:00 and we play some more or we may still be out if we had to run an errand or 2 after the gym. I try to get all my outings done while we are out so we don't have to get back out after arriving home. Lilliana still takes a great 2-3 hour nap so that is when I can be most productive, bathrooms, vacuuming, never ending laundry! I typically do laundry throughout the week because I can't stand for it to pile up, which usually means at least one load a day! I won't lie, I am trying to work on this. I hate doing laundry everyday because I feel like it's not DONE until it's folded and/or ironed and put away. Luckily, Clay loves to iron so sometimes I can leave him a pile to do that evening when he is watching TV.

After nap, I usually let L watch an episode of Mickey Mouse or Little Einstein's and I try to get dinner started and figure out a game plan for the next day. Like I said before, we typically go by more of a daily routine than a weekly cleaning schedule but I would like that to change. Any great ideas are welcome!

As far as specific cleaning products go I love the following; clorox bleach pen, clorox wipes (always buy in bulk during my Costco run); confession: I went through a tub of these a week when L was little, I was just a little OCD about germs! I have come a long way :) and my Mr. Clean cleaner. I use the Mr. Clean for everything from the toilet's to the sink, shower and floors. It is a great all purpose cleaner, if you ask me :)









Well, these are a few of my tips, would love to hear yours!

11 weeks

This week I had another check-up with my fabulous OB Dr. W. It was a great appointment as they were able to hear the heartbeat by doppler this time and I just love that. It just makes things seem so much more real and so reassuring.

Nothing really to report at this point, besides the fact that I have already gained 3pounds! I wouldn't be so bothered by it besides the fact that just over a week ago, I hadn't gained any weight yet and then BAM! I go back on the 8th for my PAPP A which is a 1st trimester screening test with an ultrasound and I hope that Clay and Lilliana will be able to come with me. It is in the morning so I hope it will work out and then all the girls at the office will be able to see the little miracle they helped to bring into this world. :)

I am still nauseous most of the time but I haven't been sick so Zofran is still my BFF. I am hoping this will end in the next couple weeks but I'm ok if it doesn't. It helps to remind me that I have a precious miracle inside me and that things are going well so far.

Pure Joy!

Lilliana and I went shopping yesterday in search of an Easter dress. She was such a trooper and stuck with me through 3 little boutique stores and Marshall's. I was hoping to find something at our first stop but it was at our last that we were successful. She was so helpful and tried on a few choices for me so that I could decide on my favorite one. While we were looking around she decided that she was going to try on a some shoes that were out on display. She was so funny because I didn't prompt her at all, but the girl just loves her some shoes! Daddy is going to be in trouble in a few years :) When Lilliana tried on a pair of these shoes she just became so joyous! I pondered about this purchase for a really long time because I thought they would drive me CRAZY, but, the joy she exhibited when she placed them on her little feet was just so childlike and precious. I love the way Lilliana loves life and how easily she is amused. I guess we'll just have to see how long the little squeakers will stay in these things before they may go missing :)



So far she wants to wear them everywhere and when she walked in the door with them on yesterday, Clay told me to take them back. I told him how excited she was and that she just wouldn't take them off in the store. Of course the fact that they were a total of 40% off really helped my decision too! He then proceeded to ask if she took out her money and paid for them and how they got out of the store. I will say, so far, I like them because she can't get too far from me, and I can hear her coming from across the room!!

I could just eat her up!!!

Lilliana has turned into the most loving, affectionate, precious child I ever could have imagined. I hope in part, it was due to my non baby-wising attitude when she was little. :) She is constantly telling me she loves me, giving eskimo kisses and just wanting a hug or to snuggle. I absolutely LOVE it! I am loving every minute with my little family and I can't imagine our days getting much better. Of course, we have our moments, just like most 2 year old mom's can attest to but I have felt pretty confident so far in her rearing. We have been working diligently on our bible verses from school and Miss Sha told me on Monday that Lilliana was doing great with her's in class. She has started to recite her "God Our Father" song / blessing they taught her at school before family meals and it just melts my heart. Tonight while we were walking out of church she told me she sang "Jesus Loves the Little Children" at church and I asked her if she sang it loud, and she proceeded to belt out the song all the way through the parking lot. She just makes me laugh all the time with her silly antics. :)

I bought her the ABC Bible Verse book back a while ago and we have been integrating that into our weekly letters. She is doing really great and this week we have been working on choosing to be a 'peacemaker' vs. a 'troublemaker'. She seems to really get it now and I love that. Makes all this hard work or parenting worth it. On Saturday, one story I left out in my Dora and Diego post was the abrupt manner we left in. Lilliana had been playing so well and doing so good but then she just had a meltdown which ended in her slapping me. Well, me without sleep just decided there and then we were going to leave because I didn't want to reward her bad behavior. When she got up from her nap, we talked about the reason we had to leave and she said, "Momma, I sorry, I want to be a peacemaker". It's just the little things that make you feel all warm inside and just makes my heart melt.

I really need to work on getting some video to put on here because she is talking non-stop and so many people comment on how well she speaks. Of course I can understand her, but I'm with her all the time so it's nice to hear that every now and again.

I love you my little love and can't wait to see you each morning.

Spring is coming ....

The last couple Sunday's, we have had gorgeous weather around here. After leaving church we have headed home for a quick lunch and then walked over to the park that is just around the corner from us. I am so ready for warmer weather around here, especially after the long winter we have had, and I know Lilliana feels the same way.

She just loves going to the park and has gotten so independent lately and will play really well by herself. A couple weeks ago when we went, Clay decided he was going to point out a lady bug to Lilliana just after we had arrived, and that was mistake number 1. She has recently began to be afraid of almost anything! She is such a sassy little lady and has definitely been portrayed a lot lately. Well, as soon as Clay mentioned the lady bug, it was all down hill from there. She didn't refuse to play and was by no means ready to go home but she wouldn't touch anything! Anything I tell ya!! She kept her little hands folded and asked Clay and I to help her up the stairs, down the slide and up from the ground if she would fall. We felt it was somewhat comical by this point and just couldn't help but laugh and help her along her way.

She is turning into such a little lady and I just love watching her grow up.

Meeting Dora and Diego

On Saturday Nana and I took Lilliana to the Children's Museum to meet Dora and Diego. We started off by Nana meeting us at our house and bringing us a yummy breakfast from Chick-fil-a topped off with some Oh Suzannah's donuts. They were divine! Then we headed off to the Children's Museum and Lilliana did much better than I had anticipated and we had a great time. She loved bouncing in the Dora and Diego jump house and she was able to meet and have her picture taken with both characters. It started to get pretty crowded around lunch time and I was glad that we had already had the opportunity to meet both Dora and Diego by that point because the line's to meet the character's were really starting to pick up. Lilliana was able to get her fill of the 3 and under play area, playing on the cop car and fire truck, along with brushing her teeth and working on the tooth puzzle in the dentist area.

The event was from 10-1 and I was so glad that we had chosen to show up when it opened because when we were leaving at 11:45, the line was wrapped around the outside of the building, and it wasn't warm and sunny outside either!

Overall, it was a great day and Lilliana and I were both in desperate need of a nap by time we arrived home.

We're still here ...

I have just been lazy uploading pics to the computer and I know lot's of words without fun pics aren't much to look at! I promise to work on it this weekend. I am getting ready for work now, and then tomorrow we are going to see Dora at the Children's Museum. It should be interesting, not sure if Lilliana is going to freak out and cry, we have been really struggling with fear lately, or if she is going to faint with excitement! Nana is going with me since I have to work all night and Clay has some work to do for school. Hopefully it will go well, promise to update soon :)

today I headed to Dr. W's office for my first official OB visit with Baby #3. I had an ultrasound before seeing her and everything looked great! The heartrate was 124 and I was measuring 6 weeks 1 day. After the US, I waited to see Dr. W and was able to ask her lot's of questions that I had thought about over the last couple weeks and we agreed that I would go ahead and see Dr. S the high risk OB in the next few weeks. She said she felt that I could continue with my normal activity at this time but since I had so many restrictions last time, pelvic rest, light duty at work, 8 hour shifts instead of 12 hours, no exercise and so on and so on, she recommended me seeing him and allowing him to make the final decision. I have an apointment with him on the 17th and I am quite nervous about it. I really enjoy my time at the gym and I know that I CANNOT stop working at this point so I am just praying that at this point we will play it by ear. I definitely want to do what's best and Clay and I will make whatever changes are necessary, but I am just trying to keep my spirits up and have faith that God's not going to give me anymore than I can handle.

I think the things I am most nervous about is how this is going to change things for Lilliana. I mean, of course I'm nervous about the preterm labor and contractions but I just don't know where the love is going to come from for another child. I love Lilliana more than I ever thought I could love someone. She is my everything and I can't imagine a single day without her.