No More Icees

 

This past weekend was the first time I realized how much more difficult it is having two kids rather than just one. We had our first "real" outing to Drew's softball tournament in Jacksonville. Sure, we've been to Wal-Mart, the dance studio, and out to eat once, but this was the first time we were gone all weekend.

I spent all day Saturday counting 1,2 - 1,2 - 1,2. #2 was a lot easier to keep up with since she was in my arms the whole time. #1 was a little harder to keep an eye on. I had told Livy that she could play with the other kids, but she had to stay where I could see her, and she actually did a good job but it didn't stop me from constantly worrying about where she was.

The day was going fine at the softball field. I had to go out to the truck whenever Charlotte needed a new diaper or she got hungry, but other than that we just hung out by the field. Abby had little Levi that morning, so I was dying to go get my hands on him! After Drew's 2:00 game, we had a little break, so we left to go see Brad, Abby, and Levi at the hospital in Little Rock.

We didn't get to stay as long as I would have liked to because we had to get back for more softball games. But we did get a picture of Charlotte and Levi together before we left!

We raced back to the field, dropped Drew off, and the girls and I went back into Little Rock to do a little shopping. I hardly ever go shopping for myself. Why would I when I can buy tiny little girl clothes?! But the time had come... I barely had anything to wear in my closet, and I also had a Target gift card that was burning a hole in my pocket! We got to Target around 4:30pm, and Livy and I were thirsty so I thought it would be fun to get an Icee. I bought a large red cherry Icee for us to share, and then we went looking for me some new clothes! It hadn't been 10 minutes when I heard Livy say,
"Uh-oh Mama, I didn't mean to!"

I looked down and she had turned the entire thing upside down in the buggy. Red cherry Icee was all over my phone, the diaper bag, the carpet, a little got on Charlotte's blanket, but thank goodness none actually got on Charlotte. I was furious! I just wanted to do a little shopping, but I can't even run in Target without having to clean up a mess! We made our way back up to the front of the store, leaving a red trail behind us, took the girls out of the buggy, got the whole mess cleaned up, and then went to go get a new buggy. As soon as I got both girls back in, Charlotte woke up and started crying. I knew there was no way I'd be able to calm her down because it was time for her to eat, so we paid for my one shirt I had picked out, and we left.

When I got out to the parking lot, Drew called and said the team was going to eat at Chili's. And since I was right beside the restaurant, he asked if I could go in and put our name down to get some tables. Sure, why not. So I drove across the parking lot, got the girls out of their car seats, and went in Chili's.

"Ma'am, you're gonna think I'm crazy since there's a ton of people already waiting outside, but there's a softball team of about 20 that's wanting to come eat. How long of a wait do you think that would be?"
"About 45 minutes to an hour..."
"Ok, let me see if that will work."

I went outside to call Drew, and he said that would be fine. So the girls and I went back inside.
"That will be fine. Just put it under Baker."

She gave me a buzzer and I was headed back to the truck to feed my crying hungry baby when Drew called again. He said the team was going to the Chili's in Jacksonville, not Little Rock, so I needed to take their names off the list. Seriously?! So we went back inside. Again.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry, I won't bother you anymore, but they decided not to come, so just take our names off."

I fed Charlotte quickly inside the truck, then we drove back to Jacksonville to eat with everyone else. We ordered our drinks, and after our waiter had brought them to us, I heard Livy say,
"Uh-oh Mama, I didn't mean to!"
"You didn't mean to what?"
"Drop my tea. I'm sorry!"

I just looked at Drew and said,
"You get it. I cannot handle it right now!"

Ha! I had reached my breaking point! I knew it would happen. Things had been going so smoothly since Charlotte was born, I knew we were overdue for some sort of meltdown. And this was it. Thankfully, it was nothing that a little skillet queso and online shopping couldn't fix. Online... I've concluded that's the only way to shop these days!

Amidst all the drama and drink spilling of the day, Livy did still manage to make me laugh. On the way to meet Drew for supper she said,
"It's hard being a big girl."

"I know it, baby. But I'm so proud of you when you act like one."
Then I started wondering where she was going with this, so I asked.
"Why is it hard being a big girl?"

"Mom, there's just so much macaroni."

Well, there ya have it.

Sometimes it's hard being an adult. And I wish it was because of the macaroni!

Labor Day Weekend

For about the first 16 weeks of this pregnancy, I was pretty worthless. Seriously, I did a whole lot of just laying around and trying not to barf. Laundry got way behind, dishes piled up, toys were scattered all over the house, the floors didn't get vacuumed (this actually had nothing to do with me... we had to send our Dyson off the get fixed and it was gone a month!), Livy played by herself or watched TV a lot, Drew didn't get the attention he deserved, etc.

Thankfully those days are behind me and hopefully they won't come back! So the past couple weeks (since I've felt like a normal human being again), I've been trying to play catch-up. Laundry is put away, dishes are clean, toys are... well, toys are still everywhere, I vacuum some part of the house at least once a day, Livy and I have been working on her alphabet/letter sounds/rhyming words, and Drew and I spent the entire Labor Day weekend together. And half of it was kid-free! 

Friday night, we had a date night. Pappy and Annie wanted to take Livy to Chuck-E-Cheese on Saturday, so she got to spend the night with them Friday while we went on our date. I miss my girl like crazy when I'm not with her, but I'll admit it was really nice not needing to be home at a certain time. It was like Drew and I were dating again! 

We ate dinner at Copeland's, went to Target, Old Navy, Academy Sports, and then went to a late movie and watched The Butler. We didn't get home until about 1:30am! 

Then Saturday morning, we woke up early and headed to Hope for a softball tourney. I spent all day watching him play ball and just hanging out with him. It felt so refreshing to just be his wife all day without entertaining Livy. I hope that doesn't sound negative towards Livy because I certainly didn't mean it in a bad way. It was just nice to be together like old times. 

 

Then Sunday night after church, we went to dinner with Pappy, Annie, Uncle Glenn, Aunt Bebbie, Gran, Nana, and Auntie Laura. Livy made her way around the table campaigning her plea for why she needed to go home with Pappy and Annie. She knows how to work a crowd. She spent one more night with them and Drew and I spent the night catching up on our shows we had recorded. 

I know I say it all the time, but I don't think it's ever too much... I love Drew. Really. I can't even describe completely and accurately how I feel about him. I look at him and 11 years worth of memories fill my head. 

I still see...

--that 17 year old boy who used to drive me through Sonic after school... and who would steal a kiss every chance he got...

 

--that 18 year old boy that would spend hours tubing beside me at the lake... and who showed me no mercy just because I'm a girl...

 

--that 19 year old boy who left me roses in my car when I was the Homecoming Queen with the sweetest note that said...

 

 

 

--that 20 year old boy who said I was beautiful even when my skin decided it wanted to act like a pubescent 13 year old kid when I was in college. I know I looked awful, but he told me I'd never been more beautiful to him. (A lie, obviously, but a sweet lie)...

 

--that 21 year old man who got down on one knee on a sandy moonlit beach and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him...

 

--that 22 year old man who held my hand and said I do at the most beautiful wedding I've ever been to...

 

--that 23 year old man who would peek through our blinds with me and laugh as we watched our crazy neighbors carry out their real-life soap opera drama in their driveway... joys of living in the ghetto...

 

--that 24 year old man who sat in the congregation and watched me get baptized when I joined his church. That had been a long road of tears and tough decisions for us, but we made it through, and Calvary is definitely our home...

 

 

--that 25 year old man who held his daughter for the first time. His heart melted a little that day, and having Livy here makes me love him even more...

 

 

--that 26 year old man who spent 4 glorious days with me on vacation in the Virgin Islands... scuba diving, exploring, swimming, snorkeling, eating, and enjoying the island life...

--that 27 year old man who stayed by my side and cried with me as we lost our 2nd little baby that we never got to meet...

 

--and that 28 year old man who works so hard for us, who provides everything we need, who prays for me and our children, who loves us and doesn't hesitate to show us, whose loyalty I never doubt, and who is about to become a father for the second time...

 

He means the world to me, and I loved everything about this past weekend with him.

 

Dad, Where Are You?

The other night we were all laying in bed together watching a little college baseball. Livy is so used to watching her daddy play softball that she just automatically assumed he should've been out there on the field too...

"Dad, where are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Where are you?"

"On the TV? I'm not on there baby. I'm laying right here beside you."

"Where are you on there?"

"I didn't play college baseball. I wish I did though..."  

"Well you can play football a big one tonight at baseball."

"I can?"

"Yea. Last night."

I love how she always knows what she's trying to say, but it just doesn't quite make sense to us!

 

Daddy's Office

We were driving by the High School girls' softball field today and Livy pointed at it and shouted,
"Mama!!!"
"What baby?"
"It's Daddy's office!"
"Daddy's office? The softball field?"
"Yes! That's where Daddy plays ball!"

Drew just wished that was his office! Ha!

This girl LOVES her daddy!

Just a Few Pictures...

Not much has gone on around here since we've been home because I've had an awful ear infection. But here are a few pictures of my cuties from this week...

 

 

Pretty Like a Necklace

Well, it's that time of year again... when softball starts to creep back into our lives. I love it. I love watching Drew play. There's just something about seeing him do something he's really good at, and knowing that that's my husband... it just makes me proud! I just love him. Ok, enough mushiness.

Anyway, Saturday, Drew played a tournament in Hope so we were at the ball field all day. The sun was out, mid-70's, with a light breeze... it was perfect! We got to catch up with some old friends and even made some new ones. It was a great day!

When we first got there, Drew was still out at the truck unloading all his stuff, and I had to take Livy to the potty. As we were walking towards the fields, she said,
"Whoaa! Look at all these boys!"
Haha! Girl, you are way too young to start that already!

Drew's team ended up placing 2nd in the tourney, and after the game Livy wanted to give her daddy a high-5. He met her at the fence, she gave him a high-5 and said,
"You did so good, Daddy! Two points!!!"
We all laughed. I asked her where she learned about points and she said,
"I watch basketball at Pappy and Annie's house!"
She's such a little sponge! She soaks everything right up!

She always wants to ride on his bag after the game... if I fit, I'd want to ride too!

 

This is just the sweetest picture. Drew will do whatever Livy wants him to... there's no shame in his game!
Baby doll and all :)

 

Who's the lousy mom who forgot to pack her daughter a jacket?! Me! So we made do with one of Drew's shirts.
She thought it was cool to wear a ball shirt like Daddy.

 

Even Kitty likes to watch Daddy play ball!

 

This little girl is the best. She played all day, just content as could be. She is so easy-going!

Then last night after church, Calvary had a scrimmage game against First Baptist. Livy saw a little girl who was a little younger than her and wanted to go say hi. I told her that was fine, but just to say hi and come right back. I watched her run over there thinking she'd just literally say hi and turn around and leave. But no, not my child. She walks up to the girl and gives her a huge hug! I'm sure that girl's mom was thinking who is this strange little girl hugging my daughter?! Livy never meets a stranger! Especially with kids. She thinks everyone is her friend.

She eventually came running back to our side of the bleachers and said,
"Mama, I told her hi!"
"Good, that was sweet of you."
"Yea... she's pretty like a necklace, but she's not a necklace."

Where does she get this stuff? That's the best pick-up line I've ever heard!