Pregnancy Brain + Open Door = Police!!!!

February 1, 2008
Well let's just say that "pregnancy brain" is in FULL swing! (Although what you are about to read is NOT all my fault, only 1/3). Yesterday I copied a grammar paper, lost it, and found it all in less than 5 minutes. (If you know me at all, you know I do NOT lose things!) Today, it was a little more serious. Abby and I left home early afternoon to go watch my niece play in a basketball tournament. She's a senior and we want to see every game we can. I got in the car first (problem #1)....closed the garage door (or did I?...problem #2) and off we went. My niece won her game and we were off to celebrate at McDonald's. (No, I was NOT going to eat, just hang out for the fellowship.) As we were pulling into the parking lot, my cell phone rang. It was my neighbor. The conversation went something like this....
"Wendy, are you at home?"
"No, why?"
"Well, Nick said the police are walking through your house."
"WHAT?"
"He said your garage door was open, your house door was open, and your phone was off the hook."
"Oh my gosh! Is Scott there?"
"Well, I tried to call him but couldn't get him."
"I'm on my way!"
In the meantime, I have to tell everyone we're leaving the police are at my house. I call Scott and got him...."Get home, " I said. "The police are at our house."
With flashers on I drive hurriedly to see what in the world is going on.
When I arrive the 2nd and 3rd police cars (the "backup") are leaving. Scott is grinning from ear to ear and says..."Honey, I think you left the garage door up."
"I'm pretty sure I closed it."
Then the officer begins to unfold the scenario....He was regularly patrolling the neighborhood when the door of one of the model houses was open. He got out, checked it out, and locked the door. Then he sees my house. Garage door standing wide open(see problem #2). "Um, that's odd" he thought. He steps in a little further and hears what sounds like the phone off the hook. He assumes someone is upstairs needing to call 911 and can't. (Actually, when someone calls my house, lets it ring 4 times and doesn't leave a message, it makes an AWFUL buzzing noise for what seems like forever! Guess who called, let it ring, and DIDN'T leave a message...that would be Scott!) The officer begins to climb the stairs to the kitchen and finds the interior door "cracked" (see problem #1...Abby was the last one out of the house and "thought" she closed the door!) (All 3 of us had a small part in this "emergency" situation...ha ha) All this adds up to a major problem in the officer's eyes. (Sidenote: you must know that this particular officer just transferred from Tarrant where in his words, "an open door meant everything in the house was gone!) He calls for backup, my neighbor calls me, and I call Scott. In the meantime my sister had called my mom and dad (who had left the ballgame and were on their way to Alabaster) and they beat both of us to my house.
So, once the officer explained the "scenario", we put the pieces together. Abby forgot to close the door, I forgot to close the garage door, and Scott called the house and hung up at exactly the same time that the officer is walking through the basement. Abby's exact words when he said he found the kitchen door ajar..."Oops...my bad!"
OK, so what can we learn from this story:
1. It pays to have good neighbors who look out for one another. We love Lauchlin Lane!
2. ALWAYS close the doors and check them...then double check them!
3. Don't be in a hurry and beat your child to the car...check the door behind her!
4. WAIT in the driveway until the garage door is down!
5. Thank every officer of the law you see. They are willing to put themselves in danger at any time for us regular folk. God bless 'em!
6. This may be the most important....if you call Wendy's house and she doesn't answer...hang up before it rings 4 times or LEAVE A MESSAGE!!!!)

I'm only 13 weeks and this pregnancy has been quite a ride already!
So if I have "pregnancy brain," what's Scott and Abby's excuse????????????

A great day...

January 21, 2008
I know it's been awhile since I posted (but it's kinda hard to type and vomit at the same time!)
I have been extremely sick (nausea, dry-heaves, cramps, exhaustion, headaches, you name it).
So how do you say all that when someone says "how are you?" My new answer is "I'm pregnant!" That should cover it! I am so thankful for the sickness (which everyone says is a good sign!) I had another doctor's appointment today. Scott had to work, so Abby and I went together. I had a sonar scheduled, but didn't think Abby would get to join me. The sweet nurse said she would try to do a "tummy" sonar and Abby could come in. So we called Scott on the phone and held our breath until we heard that strong heartbeat! (167) Abby was so excited to see the hands, legs, etc. But then we got a huge surprise. We saw that little baby (only 2 inches!) start kicking and flipping. What in the world? The nurse started laughing and said the baby was putting on a show for us. I looked at Abby and asked her if this baby was going to be a tumbler like her. After our visit we headed to TCBY (which you all know is my favorite treat!) That's my ritual now...visit the doctor and get a treat! So all in all it was a great day. No school, slept late, great doctor's report, chocolate yogurt, and now a long afternoon nap.........

The Voting Tally

I am NOT technologically advanced (like reformed grits), so I'll give you an updated tally on this blog title daily. Here's what we have so far:

Ava- 1

Ana- 5

Lily - 9

Alivia - 1

keep voting!

Baby Name controversy!!!

December 30, 2007
So everyone has their "ideal" baby names picked out way before they ever get pregnant right?
Naming Abby was no problem. I knew from the beginning that her name would be Abby (fountain of great joy, the Father's joy) Grace (full of grace and mercy) Christine (she of the Christian faith). I have 2 middle names and I wanted her to have 2 middle names too. Scott did NOT like Abby. (He thought it was the ugly tom-boy sister on Eight is Enough-if you don't remember that show you are too young to read this blog! Actually, he was thinking of Mary. Abby was the beautiful step-mom.) Anyway, I did not give in and eventually he came to love the name. Well, my next "girl" name had to start with an A (for several reasons) and I wanted something that wasn't too common...."Ava". Guess what my precious neighbor is naming her new little girl (due in February)? You guessed it...Ava Katherine. We left our neighborhood Christmas party and I was totally distressed. I said you can't have 2 Ava's on the same street and you definitely can't take someone else's baby name. Scott said "hogwash!" You can name your baby whatever you want and we are not guaranteed to live by our neighbors forever. (Good point). (Sidenote: at the party I made the comment I loved that name and was going to use it if I ever had another girl. Poor Lori felt terrible because she didn't know I was pregnant at the time. As soon as she found out we were expecting the first thing she said was "I don't mind at all if you name your baby Ava too! I thought that was incredibly sweet! So we have her official approval.) So we've been throwing baby names around and I thought it would be fun to take a poll. You may NOT leave unkind comments if you don't like my choices. (I'm way too emotional to take criticism right now. ha ha) Please vote for your favorite. And if you have any other suggestions, leave those as well! (*Note: the middle name is definitely "Scott" whether it is a girl or boy so at least that part is settled!)

1. Lily Scott (my current favorite and Abby's ONLY choice-so she says. and yes- I know it doesn't start with an A, but that's ok. Scott hates it, but he is outnumbered right now 2-1. This also has "spiritual" meaning for me because this whole baby experience was quite a "valley" and I thought of that old hymn "Lily in the valley". This baby is definitely a beautiful blossom from a long, desert journey!)

2. Ava Scott (two Ava's on the same street?)

3. Alivia Scott (call her Livi for short!)

4. Ana Scott

Any other ideas? (By the way, the boy name is set and we all agree on it.)

OK people, let the voting begin. I know "reformed grits" will be first!!!!" :)

Big News!!!!

December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas! It is with GREAT joy that I write these words:

"I'm expecting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Or as Alice from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever would say...I'm "Great with child"

I don't have words to express what I'm feeling in my heart today, so we'll just save all that for another day. But I do rejoice that on the greatest day of the year, God allowed us to share with our family this wonderful news. God bless us everyone!

Ding Dong the "B" is dead

December 23, 2007
I came home from church today and the "B" was lying on the ground. So my question is:
Was it the wind? or Do I owe Gayle a prize? ha ha

The "B"

December 17, 2007
(Sorry I've been away for so long, but it has been a BUSY Nov/Dec.!)
I couldn't decide on a title for this blog. So many choices went through my mind like:

"Where are the vandals when you need them?"
"Honk if you hate the 'B' !"
"SERIOUSLY????"

Anyway, our neighborhood is great! Many perks, great neighbors, terrific pool, etc.
As with any neighborhood there is always a con or two. Ours happens to be....Christmas decorations! I love Christmas and I love to decorate. I appreciate beautiful lights and displays.
What I don't like is tacky or gaudy....and this year....our neighborhood wins the tacky/gaudy (throw-up) award! Last year, my neighbors and I really freaked out when we saw how the "designer" was decorating. Gold boxes (that really looked like cardboard boxes that had flown out of the back of a furniture truck), NEON green ribbon (not classic Christmas green), red, straw like garland sticking out of rocks, and to top it all off...a one-armed nutcracker! (I am NOT kidding). Well, I went to the home-owner's association meeting in February not to discuss sidewalks, lights, pool issues....no no no... I wanted to talk about the decorations. I read the budget and are ya'll sitting down..... $22,000 for decorations! Oh my gosh! Somebody TOTALLY got ripped off. I was soooo mad, my neighbors were mad, etc. We all somehow settled down until Dec. 1 when the decoration started going up again. Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse.... the lady brings out the "B". There is a giant wooden B at our neighborhood entrance. At first it was filled with red poinsettias on the outside and white on the inside. And then it rained....the white flowers became pink (are you feeling the gaudiness people?) I would get infuriated everytime I drove by. I begged Scott to let me stand by the B with a sign that read "Honk if you hate the B". I even asked him if I could start a petition! (he said no). After about 2 weeks of the "pink" flowers, the "designer" (I use that term loosely!!!) decided to change the flowers to ribbon and lights. (ok, a slight improvement) So now instead of looking like a bad Jr. College homecoming float or a giant funeral spray, it just looks like a giant budweiser sign! Seriously ya'll....not one person, friend, or family member has seen this B and didn't think it was the WORST thing ever! I mean, we have a 1 armed nutcracker and a B. Do you think I would go to jail for vandalism if the B mysteriously "disappeared"? I will be at the associational meeting in February to AGAIN discuss the decorations, only this time ALL my neighbors will b e there with me. (right neighbors?)
Ya'll your Christmas will not be complete until you ride out to my neighborhood to see this for yourself. If you do and you happen to loose control of your steering wheel and ram into the B, there might be a little reward for you!