For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord...

I found this photo today (notice the date)

This transfer broke my heart.  I was so sure that it would be the cycle that worked.  He had other plans. 

Exactly 1 year later...

For, He knew the plans He had for me. 

What a loving God we have.  I should not be surprised that the transfer that almost broke me was the same date as the day we were so abundantly blessed with Molly.  For all along, he was carrying me when I was too broken to walk on my own. 

A serious case of the slacker...

I love the idea of the 30 day blog journal, unfortunately, the idea has been lost on me.  I am so bad about actually blogging everyday.  I was hoping the journal would help me, but, life gets crazy and I get slack.  I am catching up today and committing to finish the journal with more posts - hopefully not in catch up mode!

Day 7 - A photo that makes me happy...

Day 8 - A photo that makes me sad...

Our kitty Garfield and her kittens...We miss them all.

Day 9 - A photo I took...

I love Robbie's smile

Day 10 - A photo of me from 10 years ago or more...

with my Uncle Marlin circa 1994

Day 11 - A recent photo of me...

On Emma's 5th birthday

Molly these days

I've gotten so caught up in the 30 day blog journal (or not...) that I haven't posted really anything about my Molly Moo lately.  Bad Mommy.

First, I CAN.NOT believe it's been six months since that snowy day in Atlanta when our lives were forever changed when we heard that sweet, sweet cry.  WOW.  I can't believe how quickly Molly has grown and changed.  Every day it's like she is doing something new.  She is just about to be on the move...and I don't think we could ever be prepared for that!  Can you really, honestly, prepare your home for a crawling baby?  I doubt it.  We've had lots of firsts lately and I love my iPhone for my ease of documenting.  If I weren't such a slacker (and if I could figure out mobile blogging) I could post them here in a more timely fashion.

First time in the high chair:

First go with the sippy cup:

First time in a grocery cart:

First time in a high chair at a restaurant:

First time meeting George (Froggie had to check him out, too):

Sitting up for longer than a few seconds:

And, last but not least....

Molly's FIRST HALF BIRTHDAY!!!

Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things...

Wow - this one is easy peasy :)  I love lists...

1. Molly's smile and laugh
2. Waking Molly up - the absolute best part of my day
3. Molly's toes, fingers, booty, thighs, belly, chins, eyes (especially her eyes)...every.single.thing about her
4. Rob's laugh
5. The Beach
6. Sidda...and, ok, I admit it, Buffett
7. Emma's voice - especially when she says, "Tata, I love you."
8. Little Brooke Bear
9. Sitting on porches drinking cold "soda" in the fall and spring when there is a chill in the air and a bright blue sky (we call it soda in these parts...little ears have big mouths)
10. my car...I am obnoxiously in love with Rosey the Tahoe
11. Swinging on the front porch with...you guessed it!  Molly :)
12. Drinking coffee on the screened in porch early in the morning at the lake
13. Spending time with old friends that I don't see often enough
14. Cooking a really yummy meal completely from scratch
15. Baking birthday cakes for my Emma...and this coming year for my Molly Moo and Brookie Bear :)
16. Having my house filled with the people I love and who are most important to us
17. Being the hostess
18. Christmas - the most wonderful day of the year
19. My engagement and wedding rings...it reminds me of the hottest day of the year back in 2004 when Rob and I said our vows...and of how far we've come. 
20. Nursing Molly

I told you that one would be easy for me.  No kidding, I wrote that post in 3 minutes.

In other news, I was the 12th (wo)man selected for a jury today!  Lucky me :)  Mom and I made a dress for Molly yesterday, but it's a bit snug, so now it's for Brooke.  Molly's is already cut out and ready for me to work on!  I am so excited.  Yep, it's for Halloween.  Will she wear it October 1st?  Maybe :)  I also made her a UGA onesie this week....TO.DIE.FOR, at least I think so!  I love making things for my baby girl.  It is so fun.  I wonder if she will do the same for her babies one day?

I promise to post new pictures soon.  This whole being gone from the house all day is HARD!  I am not used to being gone all day since I work from home.  It makes it really hard to (a) spend time with my girl, (b) get any kind of dinner cooked (explaining the Panda Express bag in our garbage tonight), and (c) upload my pictures and get them on my blog :)

Good night all!

30 day blog journal - Day 5

I screwed up and skipped Day 3's topic and used Day 4 and 5 as Day 3 and 4.  Are you still even reading this???

Day (3) 5 - Favorite TV show

I must admit, I don't watch a ton of TV.  Rob watches A LOT of TV.  We fall asleep with the TV on, but mostly just for the noise and the light (for me).  Most nights, I'm the last to bed and the last to sleep, so I'll put the TV on Lifetime - Will and Grace is on 10 - 11 and Frasier is on 11 - 12.  Yes, I know.  I have a new baby.  I should be going to bed before such hours.  I don't know what my problem is, but I just can't do it.  I should, especially considering my work day starts at 7 (4 days/week) and Molly is up at 7:30 every day.  I do enjoy me some Law and Order, mostly the SVU kind, and HGTV - especially, Sarah's House.  Love her style!

I'm cheesey, but my favorite show is probably Private Practice or Grey's Anatomy.  I guess I like keeping up with who is currently shagging who - ha!  I'm upset that "Izzie" isn't on Grey's anymore...and I LOVE "Addison" - are real people really that pretty?!

In other news....

Molly sat up for several minutes today!  She is so sweet.  I was so proud of her sitting ability!  She is also pushing up on all 4's and I'm sure she will be on the move sooner rather than later.  It's crazy.  Just 6 months ago she was brand new to this world!!!  Crazy. 

I've been serving Jury Duty this week.  It is less than thrilling.  It has really screwed up my schedule...work and life.  I have to report again tomorrow morning.  However much I'm complaining about this, though, I am so grateful to live in this country and thankful for this great nation - civil service and all :)

Day 3 & 4

We went to a friend's birthday party Saturday afternoon and had a great time!  Well, probably a little too much fun, hence the reason I'm behind a day on my blog journal. 

Day 3 - Favorite Book

If you know me, then you don't even have to think twice on this one.  Our first dog is named Sidda.  Still need help?  OK.  It's Rebecca Wells' - Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.  LOVE IT.  Could read it over and over. 

Other favorites include To Kill a Mockingbird and Good in Bed by Jennifer Wiener.  I'm a sucker for Chic-Lit and good beach reads.  I read Tori Spelling's "Stori Telling" at the beach in August and loved it.  I liked her before, but even more after I read her book.

Day 4 - Favorite Quote

Whoa...I don't really know where to start with this one.  I have lots of quotes and bible verses that seem to get me through tough times and some quotes from movies that make me laugh every.single.time.  Some of those include:

If God brought you to it, He'll get you through it.

It's always darkest before the dawn.

I'm just not sure if you would hire someone who may or may not be married to someone who may or may not be a dangerous criminal.

Yes, Annelle, I pray.

Here, hit Weesa.  (Yes, these are all Steel Magnolias...)

You get what you get and you don't pitch a fit.

Suck it, Trebeck.

Kung pao Chicken

(Rob says anything he says instantly becomes my new favorite quote...)

My current absolute favorite...compliments of my friend Amy...well, actually compliments of the Bible, but Amy made it my favorite...

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord.  "Plans to prosper you and not harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future."

It's been a long Monday.  I had Jury Duty, which means I sat in a room with strangers all day and didn't get asked one question by an attorney.  Luckily, I get to go back tomorrow, too!  Yay...I'll make an extra $50 this week for only, oh, 12 hours of my time.  WELL.PAID.  Off to bed...all that sitting around is so tiresome!

Day 2

My Favorite Movie....

This is a hard one.  I have several movies I could watch time, after time, after time.  Those would include (and the quotes that come to mind when I think of them):

• Top Gun (Talk to me, Goose...)
• Steel Magnolias (Yes, Annelle, I pray...)
• The Sound of Music (So long, farewell...)
• The Devil Wears Prada (oh my word at the FASHION!!!  That isn't a quote from the movie, but that is the first thing I think of)
• Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (Siddalee!! (my first dog's namesake))
• The Shawshank Redemption (I don't think of a quote, I think of Morgan Freeman's character reading the postcards)
• March of the Penguins (weird, I know.  I watched this movie like 1,000 times during the last month of my pregnancy.  NOTHING is on TV in the middle of the night and I couldn't sleep.  Morgan Freeman reminds me of my Pawpaw...and his voice is soooo calming.  I bet Molly would fall asleep to that movie...)

But, my all time favorite....

FIELD OF DREAMS!!!! 

If you build it...he will come.

Now that I think of it, it's kind of metaphorical about our journey to pregnancy and ultimately, Molly.  We had to have faith and believe.  Wow - just made that connection!

We are off to a birthday party!  I am so excited!  This is Molly's first "friend" birthday party!  Happy Saturday!

30 day blog journal

I am soooo late to the game on this one, but I loved the idea, so I am starting it today, August 20th for the next 30 days!  I saw it first on my friend Amy's blog, but it started here.

Here is the list of topics for the next 30 days. (copied from Ecstaticaly Pregnant)


Day 1 (Aug. 20) - your favorite song
Day 2 - your favorite movie
Day 3 - your favorite television program
Day 4 - your favorite book
Day 5 - your favorite quote
Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things
Day 7 - a photo that makes you happy
Day 8 - a photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 9 - a photo you took
Day 10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of you
Day 11 - a photo of you recently
Day 12 - something you are OCD about
Day 13 - a fictional book
Day 14 - a non-fictional book
Day 15 - your dream house
Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 - an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)
Day 18 - my wedding/future wedding/past wedding
Day 19 - a talent of yours
Day 20 - a hobby of yours
Day 21 - a recipe
Day 22 - a website
Day 23 - a youtube video
Day 24 - where I live
Day 25 - your day, in great detail
Day 26 - your week, in great detail
Day 27 - my worst habit
Day 28 - whats in my handbag/purse
Day 29 - hopes,dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 - a dream for the future  

So, feel free to go ahead and join me (late) to this 30 blogging!  Let the fun begin!

Day 1 -
My favorite song.  Do I have to pick just one?!  I love all kinds of music.  All time favorite....the song that keeps coming to mind is Bright Side of the Road by Van Morrison.  My friend, who is also named Tara, introduced me to this song the day of a college friend's funeral.  He has lost his battle with cancer.  I heard this song and knew that Brad was on the bright side of the road.  It's a very happy song.  It's in our wedding "montage" that was played at our rehearsal dinner. 

August 18th

Mark it down in your books, ladies and gentlemen.  We have solid poop.

Yes, yes.  I know I said that I hate the words cr@p and f@rt....that doesn't mean we don't discuss poop and poots!!!  We discuss them at length when it comes to Molly's bodily functions.  I like to know when, how much, what color, etc.  It's important.  I don't want my baby feeling bad because she hasn't had a BM in a few days.

So, today, we have solid poops.  Two of them.

Maybe teething has subsided for a bit and my sweet girl can catch a break from that for a minute.

One day Emma will get me for this...

But, it's just too cute not to share. Can you guess what Mandie and I did at the beach while we ate lunch?

Tempus Fugit

My baby is 6 months old today! WHAT?!

From this...

To this:

Catching up

Oh my...I am feeling so unorganized. I have had a tough time getting and staying organized since I went back to work. I'm working 4 days/week with Wednesday as my day off. I love it - it is so nice to have 1 day off during the week to be with my girl. However, I'm beginning to question if Wednesday is the best idea. At first it seemed ideal - work 2 days, off 1 day...work 2 days, off 2 days. I may need to re-think and pick Monday or Friday instead. It seems like I get going and productive and then I take a day off! I keep thinking of things I need to blog about and I keep pushing this to the back burner, as well. It's making me go crazy!! So, here is my bulleted list of random thoughts to purge my mind...

• Molly and I met a girlfriend and her son for lunch a few weeks ago. We were strolling through Lenox (Pottery barn, actually) and I looked down. Molly had poop and pee EVERYWHERE. I'm talking...fancy pants, dress, stroller. EVERYWHERE. I don't think the PB bathroom has ever seen that much action. Thank goodness I have a shopping habit and had bought her a new outfit at Gymboree a few hours before.
• On the way to my sisters house to leave for the beach...same thing happened. This time in her car seat. Lovely. Also, it happens when she is wearing Huggies diapers. Note to self: only wear Huggies diapers at home.
• The Pampers rewards are way better than Huggies rewards anyway!
• Rob is the sweetest Dad in the world. He loves his little girl and is so good with his nieces, too.
• I've been sewing a LOT. Sometimes, it stresses me out, but I really enjoy it.
• Molly is doing better with the baby food. We are introducing her to lunch today!
• I hate the words crap and fart. I also hate poo. Just say poop and poot, OK? :)
• I've been having these crazy dreams lately...crazy. Like that my dog from childhood was still alive, barely, and living in a closet at my parents house - but it wasn't my parents house. Weird.
• Law and Order SVU has always been one of my favorite shows...the other night it kept me awake long after it was over and I was supposed to be in dreamland. I guess Special Victims hit too close to home when you have a baby girl and worry about her.
• I think I've started to grind my teeth...and it HURTS.
• Molly is so lucky to have 2 sets of grandparents that adore her. I was not that lucky...I never met my Dad's parents. I am so thankful for the years I had with my grandparents...and so happy that Molly already has such a wonderful relationship with all 4 of her grandparents. I miss my grandparents every.single.day.
• My niece started kindergarten this week...it makes me cry at how grown up she is...but it is so fun that she is such a big girl now, too!
• My baby niece is such a cutie...but, it's hard to get one on one time with her. I think in a few months Mandie and I should switch babies for the day.
• I hope Molly and Brooke (baby niece) will be best friends.
• Being a working Mom is so much harder than I imagined...and I don't even go into the office very often (translate - only under extreme duress do I go into the office!)
• Work is different now that I am back from maternity leave. I'm much more easily distracted and my priorities are so different.
• Molly's nanny starts this week - MC. She is french and I'm excited to have her! She really cares about Molly and Molly always smiles and laughs when she sees her!
• I hope Molly will pick up some French with MC. That way, when she is a teenager, she can talk about me in French and I won't understand it...maybe it will hurt my feelings less.
• I'm working to set some personal financial goals for myself - not just for our family. An example is - "no clothes purchases for myself of Molly for the month of August." Let's see if I can do it.
• Rob and I are also working on our family budget. I feel like we eat out entirely too often...he loves to eat out. It is going to be a challenge.
• We hit a new thousand dollar mark in our savings account this week. That always makes me excited.
• I get really excited and feel proud each month when I make our deposit into Molly's college account.
• I love blogging, but I miss the comments that I used to get. In another life, I would write a post and have 20 or more comments within 24 hours. I would give up all comments though, for the rest of time, to never struggle through infertility.
• I'm already planning Molly's first birthday party. Anal? Yes.
• Molly has a million nicknames - Moo, Moo Bear, Molly Kate, Moo Goo Gai Pan, Googley Bear, Moo Moo, Molly Moo, baby girl, pumpkin, pumpkin pie. Hopefully, we won't confuse her too much!

The best part of my day...

Ok, I feel better to have purged some of my brain's activity. Now back to work!

Family Vacation

Molly and I spent the past 2 weeks in St. Augustine with my family. Rob and Dad went the first week with us and Mandie and her 2 girls spent the first 10 days with us. Mom, Molly and I came home this past Friday. We had such a great time! Molly LOVES the pool and really liked the beach too, except one night when it was too close to bed time!

We started feeding her baby food while we were there...it didn't go so well. It's getting better now that we have the high chair at home...the Bumbo allows for a little too much movement on her part. :)

Brooke thought Molly was being a little dramatic. We'll see how much she likes food in a couple of months!

Surfer girl...

hum...sort of like my bath tub...

Wow - all of this sound machine noise really wears me out...

Eating a lime at Emma's birthday dinner

maybe that wasn't so bad, after all...

with my Lulu at the World Famous Oasis....

I have a lot more pictures to post. Like I said, we had a wonderful two weeks. Thanks so much, Nanny and Pop, for having a beach house for us to enjoy!