Wordless Wednesday - Summer Fun

Sorry there is only 1 picture of Addy! She doesn't like to look at the camera any more so its hard to get a good pic of her!

Pour Your Heart Out

Okay so this a little (maybe a lot) off topic than my normal family posts, but its just something I have to get out there!

My weight!!

I don't know what to do! It's not that I am that overweight, but I look like I'm still 4/5 months pregnant and my baby is 13 MONTHS old!! I told myself that I would really work on it this summer because I don't know about you guys, but its too hard to work out while you have a full time job AND 2 kids to chase around!

So I have now been working out (not consistently, but way more than I was!) for a little over 3 weeks and I have not lost a pound! NOT 1 FREAKING POUND!

I don't watch what I eat, but I have been eating less because I really been running around doing things with the kids. I know me and if I stay in this house all day I will graze all day long!

I know its not going to magically come off, but a little help from above would be nice.

My only real problem area is my stomach! I didn't gain as much weight with Stone as I did with Addy. And I've almost lost all of the weight I did put on with him (only about 3 pounds shy). But I still look pregnant!

I am really (REALLY) starting to hate all of my friends and others that I know that are back down to their size and don't even look like they have had a baby. I guess the real reason this is bothering me so much is because it's summer and I have to wear a bathing suit! I'm also getting really sick and tired of people asking me when I am due and I have to tell them I'm not. Then they give me that pity look, like "Sorry you fatass!"

Thanks for listening!

5 Question Friday

1. What is your favorite summer time activity?

My favorite summer activity is laying out by or in the pool. However we don't have a "real" pool! We did put up our "redneck" above ground pool yesterday! So floating around here I come!!

I don't get to lay out too much because the kiddies keep me pretty busy around the yard. Stone is always trying to get into everything so I have to keep an eye on him!

Even when we go to friends' houses that have pools I have to make sure Stone is taken care of! I can't wait to get to that point where he is able to be more independent like Addy. And NO I am not wishing my cutie pie little boy grow up faster, I just want the independence back! There's nothing wrong with that!

2. Do you have one laundry soap you stick to, or do you buy whatever's on sale?

I only stick with Tide! A vary scents of Tide, but Tide only for us! Of course for the kids I still buy Dreft. I just love the smell of it! It smells so baby like and I want that smell to stay around forever!! I wish they could bottle that smell and make a room spray because I would invest in that!!!

3. What is your favorite dinner to make in the summer?

I don't actual cook very well, so the favorite dinner is burgers from the grill!! And I actual don't grill, the hubs does that! I love me some cheeseburgers! I also love the smell of the grill! What is up with me and smells?!

4. Do you have any talents?

My obscure talent is directions! As long as I go somewhere once I usually can get back there easily. I'm also pretty good at giving very (VERY) detailed directions to people. I can remember what landmark was by the road you turn or what you will see. Don't ask me distances though! I am TERRIBLE at measurement unless you give me something to measure with!

5. If you could instantly be an expert in something, what would it be? Why?

I don't know if I would want to be an expert at anything because then people would want to know stuff from me all of the time!

But if I had to choose one thing I would choose ..... teaching! And I know your thinking, wait aren't you a teacher and shouldn't you be an expert at that anyway? I feel that I am a good teacher, but I am always wanting to find new ways and better ways to do things! So I guess I would want to be an expert teacher so that I would be the best I could be at my job!

Hope I didn't bore y'all too bad! Catch you on the flip side!

2nd Baby Bump

Linking up with Shell from Things I Can't Say to Rock my Baby Bump!

Here is my baby bump with Stone!

This was the night before my C-Section. This was they day he was supposed to arrive!

And I still haven't lost all of that baby bump! :(

Mother of 2 Again

Well, I'm now the mother of 2 (AGAIN)! Addy came back home today from being at my parent's for a week. She went to GiGi's and Grandaddy's because my mom wanted Addy to go to VBS at her church. She had a great time. My brother came in on Monday to my parent's with my nephew, Jude. Jude ended up staying the rest of the week with Addy, so she had a partner in crime for the week.

Of course Jude is only 14 months old!

She got to visit my mother-in-law and sister-in-law and her cousin, Aubrey. She had a blast with them! She talked all about how Aubrey cried when she left Addy and had to go home!

My mom and dad took her and Jude out on the lake for a boat ride.

The week before Stone went to my parent's house and stayed with them while Addy stayed here for her dance camp. She had a great time at dance camp. She learned 3 dance routines in 4 days. She did really well for a 4 year old!

Of course I let her stay out too long at the pool one day and she got extremely burned! No, I'm not a bad mother! I promise I sprayed her, but she is just so fair skinned!! Her face is still pink now even after more than a week!

So now I have both of my kiddies back! It feels like normal life again! Laughs and yelling!! ;)

The Sprinkler Park

I took Stone to the sprinkler park for the first time. Addy is in Lexington this week for VBS at my parent's church, so it was just Stone and me. He was very hesitant at first, but once he found out what he could do there was not stopping him! He was all over the place! He ran back and forth each time a new sprinkler came on. He is a lot braver than Addy was at his age! I remember taking Addy for the first time the summer after she turned 1 and she wouldn't get near the water. Its so funny to see how two kids for the same parents can be so different! We will be going back next week (the 3 of us) to see both of them playing out in the water.

Yes, he put is face right in the water and there was no crying!

Missing my Baby Girl

Addy is finally coming home today after being gone for 11 days! I have missed her terribly! She went to my parents last Thursday (along with Stone). They went because Tim was gone to a conference in Tampa for his grad school and I was going to go "party hard" with my Chi O girls in Martin for the 50th reunion.

Pledge Class 97

Stone came home on Monday afternoon, but Addy stayed in Lexington with Grandmama (Tim's mom). The reason she didn't come back was because GiGi and Grandaddy (my parents) were taking Addy on an Easter Egg Hunt train ride that was leaving out of Nashville yesterday. Since they would have to come back at the end of the week to pick her back up, they decided to keep her in Lexington and bring her back today.

It was nice not having to rush every morning. You soon forget what it was like just to wake up and get yourself and ONE kid ready every morning before work! Also I did not miss fighting with her every morning about trying to get ready! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, my baby girl is a bit of a drama queen and wants to take her time on EVERYTHING in the morning!

Her friends at the sitter's missed her and asked me every morning while I was dropping off Stone "When is Addison coming back?" Where I would reply "Monday". This went on every day too!

Who knew 4 year olds didn't have time down yet?

Wait a minute... some of my 5th graders don't have time yet!

Addy missed her Easter party at the sitter's on Friday. I have her basket and goodies waiting for her in her room and haven't let Stone open his yet (like he even knows!). So this afternoon they both can open their things together!

Addy has had a wonderful time at GiGi and Grandaddy's and at Grandmama's, but Mommy and Daddy are ready for her to come home. My mom said that Addy had told her that she missed her Mama, Daddy, and Stone!

Whenever she is gone for a period of time, she looks like she has grown up even more on me! My baby girl is not so much a baby anymore! Somedays I wish there was a way to slow down time, but I know they have to grow and learn!

Can't wait to see her!!!

Addy, GiGi, Grandaddy, and the Train Conductor

Summer Reading List: Teacher Style

Well this is the first time I have ever linked up with another blog, but I wanted to try it! I am linking up with Kelly's Korner for Show Us Your Life.

I love to read, but rarely find time with two kiddies, a hubby, and a full time job as an educator of today's youth! The only time I find time to read is in the summer.

So what is on my reading list? I love to read books that my students read. I find them very interesting and very easy reads. The summer after I had Addison, I really got into the 39 Clues books. I LOVE them, and so does our principal! I have read all the way to #7. I have #7-10 on the bookshelf, but I haven't read them yet so they are on my list first!



A more adult book that I want to read is The Help.


I borrowed this book from a good friend of my about 2 months ago. I planned on reading it during Spring Break. Of course I got very busy and didn't get around to it!

I love reading everyone else's reading list to find great books. Maybe someday I will be able to read more often (or at least thing I want to read!).

Stone is 11 Months

Stone turned 11 months today. Here is all of the things he has done in the past month and the things he likes.

He is walking around everywhere. He has been walking for a few weeks now and he has gotten more balance lately. He is almost running!!

He is starting to bend down pick things up and stand back up again on a regularly basis without falling.

He can wave and say bye-bye.

We think he can say mama, but he doesn't use it very often.

He loves to eat when anyone else is eating.

He will try almost anything to eat, but sometimes textures get to him and won't eat whatever it is! (he is too much like his daddy!)

He goes to bed by 8:00 and is up by 6:30 or 7:00.

He loves to stick to a schedule. (He is a lot like his mama!)

He is starting to use a sippy cup for milk only in the morning.

He loves going outside to play in the grass and dirt! (Such a boy!)

He has 7 teeth: 4 on top and 3 on the bottom

He is such a happy little boy that loves life!

To Eat or Not to Eat

We have been really struggling with Addison eating. I never thought that a 4 year old would not want to eat, but she DOESN'T! She never wants to try anything new because in her words "It's too yucky!" Of course we ask her "Have your ever tried it?" Her response "No, because its yucky!" The the rebuttal to that comment is the quote from Yo Gabba Gabba, "Try it, you might like it!" Nothing ever seems to work. For the past year or more she has lived off of mini pancakes (plain), chocolate chip waffles(plain), and chicken nuggets and fries. Now the chicken nuggets have to be from certain places or she won't eat them either!

For her birthday, I told her we could go where ever she wanted to go. She said "Charley's" (her name for O'Charley's). Then she proceeded to ask me could she only eat rolls and butter and nothing else because that is all she wanted. I told her it was her birthday and that was okay with me. At O'Charley's she ate 4 rolls!! Then she ate a cheese stick from one of our friends plates. I told the waitress that it was Addy's birthday and could we get a brownie and ice cream. Addy ENGULFED all of the brownie and ice cream all by herself!!!!! Right after she looked a little too full. Tim asked her if she was going to get sick, but she said no. But I knew deep down it was about to happen. I took her to the bathroom and it ALL came back up!! This was the 2nd birthday that she had thrown up on!

How do you get a very picky 4 year old to eat some healthier food? We have tried to get her to eat other things by telling her she wouldn't get anything else to eat. But she just doesn't eat! Luckily for her and us, she is gaining weight and the doctor said everything was fine!

Just a frustrating part of being a parent!!! Hopefully one day it will get better and hopefully that day will be before she starts school!!!

Impromptu Zoo Trip

Well this morning started out like any Saturday morning when Tim is gone to class. Stone woke up at 7:00 and I fed him breakfast and made some coffee for myself. I was trying to run through the list of everything I wanted to get done today while Tim was gone. I have to do this because if I don't make a time line for myself its too hard to do things with 2 kids by myself for 8 hours! Iwas going to clean up a little around the house, finish the laundry, run out to Target and Hobby Lobby, and sit around here enjoying the beautiful day with my kiddies. Well, then Addy got up. While she was eating breakfast, she looked outside and said, "Mama, it looks like a perfect day for the zoo!" I tried every excuse to get out of going even though I knew it would make her happy. I just knew I would be too tired by the time I got everyone ready out the door and spent time there and my list that I made myself would never get complete!

So I took a very, very quick shower while Stone was in his highchair and Addy was still eating. My plan was to leave the house by 10:00. And guess what? We were all ready and everything was packed! I was shocked! So we were off to the zoo which Addy was THRILLED about!

We had a wonderful time while we were there. There wasn't too many people and it was GORGEOUS! Stone was great which I thought he might get a little tired while we were there. He did take a nap on the way there which probably helped.

After about 2 hours there, Addy was tired and ready to leave. When we got home everyone had some quiet time or went to sleep for about an hour (even Mommy!). I'm really glad that I got to share this beautiful day with my two babies at the zoo even though I didn't get anything done on my list! I guess there is always tomorrow!! :)

Addy and Stone when we got to the zoo. She was so excited for her and her brother!

Cute little boy!

Addy had to bring her camera to take pictures too. Hopefully I can find the cord for her camera and post them on here one day!!

So Many Differences

I can't believe how many differences there are in my two children. I wonder sometimes if they are even related! Everyone tells me different things like, "Well one is a boy and one a girl" or "It's a second child thing." I have no idea what itis. When Addison was 10 months old you could sit her somewhere and she really wouldn't get into anything, Stone however is into everything BAD! His favorite thing to get in is the dog food. He is constantly in it! Of course every time I get on him, he just looks at me smiles and keeps on playing in it. Of course on the other hand, I have Addison who has become a DRAMA QUEEN! She cries over everything! And when I say everything I mean EVERYTHING! Sometimes I wish I could give her back and get another child, but of course I love her and she will say the sweetest and funniest thing!

Addison at 10 months old (January 2008)

Stone at 10 months old (March 2010)

Such sweet kiddies and I love them so much!!

Hectic Times

Well, I'm going to try to be better about blogging and get back into it! These are hectic times around here lately. Tim and I are both trying to get our students ready for TCAP. There doesn't seem like there is enough time in the school year to squeeze everything in. I'm just ready for the test to be over and behind us! Only 1 1/2 weeks left until then!

Tim and I both applied for the assistant principal pool. We both were accepted into the pool and now we are having to wait to see if we get any interviews. I'm really hoping that we get interviews. I really would like to get a job as assistant principal even though I do love my job at Sycamore.

As for the kiddies, they have been great and into everything! Addy's birthday party was a success. We had it at Build-A-Bear this year and the girls loved it. I am now preparing for Stone's 1st birthday party. The theme is going to be Mickey Mouse. I'm going to try to be crafty and do a lot myself, but we will see. I want it to be cute, but I don't know if I'm going to have time to do it all.

Fall has arrived!

Sorry I haven't written in a while, but its been very busy around the Strickland household. Stone is almost 5 months! He has been growing fast! He has made an awesome addition to our family. Addy loves him and loves to show him off. He has begun to roll over. He can get from his back to belly, but then gets stuck. And he has such a temper that he becomes really mad and screams until someone comes and turns him back over. Of course he flips right back over!! Stone has also begun on solids. He has been eating cereal for about 2 or 3 weeksnow. We have tried apples, bananas, peas, and squash. He really doesn't like the vegetables, but he is starting to get used to them. As for Addy, she hasstarted gymnastics and dance. We have gymnastics on Mondays. She goes with two of her friends from Martha's. She really enjoys it even though she hates the balance beam! I guess she got her mama's fear of heights! She has dance on Tuesdays. She has ballet and tap shoes. She gets so excited to go to dance!

As for the grown-ups in the house, Tim is still in grad school finishing up. He will be done in May and have his administration degree. So his

time is spent doing two kinds of school work. I have a wonderful class this year, of course still waiting to get an interview for assistant principal somewhere! Maybe next year will be my year! We have Fall Break in one more week and we are really ready for it! I plan on taking the kids to the zoo and taking Addy to the Children's Museum. I also am planning on trying to start looking for Addy a preschool for next year. I can't believe my baby will be starting preschool next year! Time sure is flying by! Hopefully I will have pictures from fall break on here and let everyone see what's been going on.

I will let you all enjoy some pictures that we got made a couple of weekends ago.

The Pink Princess Room: The Final Product

We finally got everything finished in Addy's room this past weekend. She calls it her "pink" room. Of course she loves it! Here are some pictures of it. I also have included some pics of Stone's room, but everything is not quite finished and we have all of his stuff packed in there right now. So please over look the clutter!

2 weeks and counting!

Well we are only 2 weeks away from Stone's arrival! We have been very busy around here trying to get ready. I realized quickly that, unlike with Addy, I don't have as much time during the week to get things done so most things have to be done on the weekend. Nursery is still not exactly finished yet so I can't post any pics quite yet. We have to put our glider back together and put a couple of things up in the attic. I finally got most of the things up in Addy's new room. I finally finished painting her letters so my plan is to get those up this weekend.

I haven't been getting much sleep here lately which of course has led to me getting sick this week. Luckily I have the best mom and dad that have come to get Addy and take her to GiGi and Granddaddy's until Monday. Addy was extremely excited to see them.

Tim has his last class of the semester this weekend. I know he is ready to be finished at least for a month! I'm excited that I get to rest quite a bit this weekend since both Addy and Tim will be gone. I know I need as much as I can get because I have a feeling Stone is going to be keeping me up alot! :)

We have scheduled my c-section for May 11th at 12:00. I don't think I will go into labor before then. My last doctor's appointment was yesterday and I had not dilated or he had not dropped at all so it really doesn't look like he wants to come any time soon! He and Addy are two peas in a pod!

Hopefully I will keep everyone up to date with baby Stone's arrival. I will let everyone know when he gets here!

This is Addy at her sibling class making a birthday card for Baby Stone!

Busy Times

I'm sorry I haven't written in a while. It has been very busy this past month. The biggest things was Addy turned 3!! We had her birthday party on March 5th at Chuck-e-Cheese. Let me say that it was a birthday we won't ever forget. It all started with the cookie cake incident. I had bought her a cookie cake for her party and picked it up that Friday afternoon. Well, Dave, Lisa, Jonas, and Caleb spent the weekend with us to celebrate Addy's birthday so they came down on Friday night. Addy was WAY too excited about Jonas being here. As we were all talking in the living room, Addy comes in and has icing all over her hands and says something about her cake. Tim and I go in there to find that she had taken the cake off the stove and flipped it over and it was now in several giant pieces. Lucky for us, it still landed in the box and not on the floor. We assume she was trying to show Jonas when the cake was a little too heavy for her and she dropped it. Needless to say I was a little distraught! We pieced it back together and took it to the party anyway! All the kids had a blast as Chuck-E-Cheese for the birthday party. At the end of the party, Addy and I were trying to spend her tokens so we could get ready to leave. All of the sudden (right in the middle of the floor), Addy begins to throw up! Now this is the 1st time we have had to deal with throw up from our child! I lost it! Tim had to take her to get her cleaned up and I went to the bathroom to get myself cleaned up. It was way too stressful for me that day. Of course after Addy comes out of the bathroom, she asks for some cotton candy! Kids! She enjoyed the whole weekend because she got to have a pajama party with Jonas, even though they didn't sleep very well at all!

The next weekend we had our family birthday party at my mom and dad's (GiGi and Grandaddy). We had a princess party and the girls had a ball! She spent most of the next week in Lexington because we were having rooms painted.

We got Addy's "new room" painted and the furniture moved over. Her room was our guest bedroom/office. She now has a pink princess room! We also got Stone's room painted cream, blue, and a stripe of brown. Right now his room is nothing but junk and her toys we haven't moved. Over our Easter break I plan on getting the nursery completely finished. I will have pictures of their rooms when I get everything done this next weekend.

I have being doing well. Stone's really been hurting while he is moving around here lately. I've also become very tired. I have to keep reminding myself the reason I'm tired this time is that I have to chase a 3 year old around too! He seems to being doing great though. I'm a little worried about the schedule he keeps though. He is awake alot from 8 to 11 pm and he always wakes up when I wake up during the middle of the night. Usually during the day I hardly feel him, especially when I'm walking around at school. The only thing I can thing of is the walking puts him to sleep!

Tim has been busy with school and grad school. And I've been busy with school. We have TCAP coming up in two weeks. I know both of us will be glad when its over! I will try to keep everyone update with the Strickland's a little better during the month of April. I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day! A lot has been going on here at the Strickland house since my last post. Last Monday we had a big snow here in Collierville. It was very exciting because we got to take Addy outside and build a HUGE snowman. We had so much fun that morning. But of course things had to be ruined by that afternoon when the rain came in!

We are slowly working on getting this ready for Addy's new room. Tim fixed our bedroom closet last weekend while Addy and I were going to Lexington. It was a wonderful surprise for me! Addy got a surprise last weekend too. She got to go home with her Grandmama which she was overjoyed about! I went to pick her up when I went into Lexington for Erin's (my sister-in-law) baby shower.

This weekend has been busy. Saturday Tim and I went to celebrate Valentine's Day at Texas de Brazil. Addy got to go over the the Hauss's house and spend time with Kathy, Emma, and Sydney. She had a blast and we got to spend a few hours without her!

I am slowly getting things together for Addy's birthday party. I can't believe she turns 3 in 3 weeks! It blows my mind how big she has gotten! We are having her party at Chuck E. Cheese which she has not stopped talking about since I told her!

As for baby Stone, I am now officially in my 3rd trimester. We have around 12 weeks before he gets here! It is going by very quickly. I went to the doctor today for a check up and my glucose test. I failed my test, just like I did with Addy so I have to go back Friday for a 3 hour test! Other than that he is growing and doing great! He is a little over 2 pounds and over 14 inches long. He is head down right now and I hope he stays that way for the rest of the time. I start going every 2 weeks now so more doctor's visits!