Avery walks!

Hello friends! Avery finally decided to take her first steps today. She got really brave, really fast. I'm sure we're moments away from her skipping this altogether and taking on running instead. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Baby!

Today is my sweet husband's birthday. I noticed Phil Wilson's blog yesterday about his wife Sheryl's birthday and thought it was so sweet the way he spoke of their budding romance in college.

Chad and I met in college, too. He and his roommate were throwing an Alabama football outside the dorm during his freshman year (yes, I'm robbing the cradle) when I was walking by from the far parking lot. One of them missed the ball and it came rolling my way. We introduced ourselves and briefly discussed our mutual affection for Crimson Tide football (in the good years and bad). We were acquaintances through the next couple of years and our paths crossed again in the Spring of 2001 for a Sigma Iota Delta function when Chad was pledging. Our first date was at the Jack Daniels Distillery!

I really enjoyed his company and found myself sorting through my feelings when he was at the beach for Spring Break. When he returned to campus, we started spending more and more time together and then had the dreaded DTR talk (define the relationship.) We decided to start it off with prayer and we prayed every day (even when we broke up for a couple of weeks in 2002.) Then our relationship came full circle when Chad asked me to marry him after the Iron Bowl in November 2002.

I am so blessed by our marriage. Chad is the best friend I could ask for. We truly enjoy spending time together. We get along. We laugh a lot. We have a wonderful daughter together. Chad is my world.

So Happy Birthday Sweetheart! I love you.

Lent

On Tuesday after Women's Bible Study, I sipped on some Mickey D's Sweet Tea while Avery and I wandered around the auditorium refilling the encouragement cards. (Side note: If Tim asks you to use an encouragement card for anything besides a note of encouragement, try to share with a neighbor!) I didn't remember that it would be my last sweet tea for quite a while.

You see, I decided that for Lent, I would give up soft drinks -- all of 'em: tea, Coke, juice . . . everything but water. Ouch! I've given up Cokes for Lent the last few years and managed to survive. Those of you who know me know that my mouth waters at the sound of an aluminum can being opened. I'm not Catholic, but I think it's important to give something up for a season to commemorate Jesus' withdrawal to the wilderness. It's a time of contemplation, reflection, and repentance.

Already, I feel better. I've only been drinking water. My energy level is up. My joints feel good. I even survived a challenging hour of Kickboxing with Joy at the Y this morning. (Thanks Amy!)

As I've been learning more about Lent, I've found out that it originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism.

Not many churches still observe Lent. In the 16th century, many Anabaptists discarded Christian holy days on the theory that they were Roman innovations. Today, we know that they were wrong (as was discovered 300 years later), but it was too late for the groups who had already wiped them from their calendars. So I know it isn't exactly the norm for Christians to observe Lent, but from up here on my soapbox, I'd just like to recommend that you use the next 39 days to reflect on what Christ did for us. Wow! Okay, I'm stepping down now.

On a completely different note, Avery had an eye exam today. It was with the InfantSee program at Donelson Eye Care. Nothing is wrong with her, but since it's a free program, I thought I'd make sure Avery's eyes were healthy. She loved watching the little flashlight and playing with the toys, but she was NOT a fan of having drops put in her eyes or being held down. When it was all said and done, though, the worst part was afterward when she realized that she couldn't see very well up close due to the pupil dilation. I hate that part, too.

Girls' Night Out

We had a really great weekend. On Friday, Chad, Avery, and I grabbed dinner and then went to see Baby Elijah Norman. He's precious. Congratulations Bart & Kristen!

On Saturday, we woke up to snow! And it was still coming down. Avery got a cute little stepstool for her birthday from her buddy Jay, so she's been sliding it up to the window to climb on so she can see outside. Saturday was a lazy day filled with lounging in front of the TV and folding laundry. I even got a little nap in.

Saturday afternoon, I bundled up and headed out - ALONE! - to meet my friend Keeley for a matinee and dinner. Keeley and her husband, Gene, just moved back to Nashville from Charlotte, NC. Her mom and my mom were college roomies, so we've known each other all our lives. We met up at the movies and saw Music and Lyrics. It was pretty cute. Definitely glad I saw it with Keeley instead of Chad. He doesn't exactly appreciate chick flicks.

Then we headed to Smokey Bones for dinner. Gene is the manager there and I'm a HUGE fan of their ribs. We got in some good girl chatter and gave the snow time to finish falling. It's really nice to have a close friend here now. We were able to pick right up where we left off. I'm going to enjoy spending time with her again.

On the way home, I saw several pileups (I assume due to ice.) Some people don't know how to drive in adverse weather. STAY OFF THE ROAD!!!!

Sunday morning, our neighborhood streets were a skating rink (that one's for you, Gene!) We drove carefully to church and had a great morning. We wasted the afternoon away napping and then returned to church for the Baby Blessing. Otter Creek is full of little munchkins. Janet and Melanie, our children's ministers, must put something in the water to affect the congregation's fertility. Job security, I'm sure.

Well, so it's Monday, and a holiday at that. I love a fresh start. Have a great week, everybody!

Last night at Bunco, our newest player Heather Miller accused me of being a bad blogger. I don't profess to be a great blogger, nor do I promise to blog every day, but I'm not that bad. A few days ago, I even blogged about how infrequently I blog. But I'm not a bad blogger. All that to say, I'm going to be better about posting.

I haven't posted much lately because I don't have photos on this computer. I feel guilty when I don't include a picture with each and every entry. (By the way, this computer is the same one from my freshman year of college, I think.) Chad's work laptop archives all our photos, but he's been shopping around for a new computer for me. Hooray! We're searching for a laptop I can use for my business -- public relations and marketing, for those of you who don't know -- that also has enough memory to keep up with all our priceless pictures of our adorable little girl.

I spend hours in front of the computer each day working on PR campaigns and writing proposals. I'm also on the phone quite a bit. So when I have free time (Who am I kidding? I don't have any free time!) I don't usually want to spend it in front of aforementioned computer.

I really do enjoy blogging. It's a fantastic emotional outlet. Of course, let's be honest. Sometimes what I really want to say shouldn't ever be posted for just anyone to read. You don't want to hurt feelings. You don't want psycho stalkers to know every detail of your schedule. You don't want in-laws to have a cow about your still-unrefined parenting skills. You catch my drift.

So it's Valentine's Day. I TOLD Chad not to do anything special or buy anything for me. Money's pretty tight around here since I left Nelson to stay home with Avery. However, this morning, I woke up to two dozen incredibly gorgeous hybrid roses -- without thorns!!! They are the same kind we had in our wedding, but quite possibly even more beautiful.

Thank you, darlin', for being my best friend. I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

Spoke too soon

Thank you for all the congratulatory comments on my last post about Avery's tremendous bathroom accomplishments, but you have jinxed me. Tonight, I stripped off Avery's animal-cracker-crusted clothes and stood her up next to the tub while I drew the water. She relieved herself all over the floor. Are you happy???

The proof is in the potty

I kid you not. My 12-month-old actually peed in the potty today.

After Bible study today, Heather, Darci, and I took the kids to Wendy's for a quick lunch. We'll never go there again -- at least not together -- because there are only two highchairs in the entire restaurant. After Avery stuffed herself, she got this look on her face like, "Just leave me alone because I'm really working on something here." I didn't check her diaper because I couldn't change her there anyway. There's no changing table at Wendy's, either. (Another reason NEVER to go again.)

On the way home, she was giving me "the look" again. When we got home, I almost couldn't get her out of the carseat because she held her body as stiff as a board. She was pushing so hard that she wouldn't bend. I took her upstairs to change her, but she hadn't done anything yet.

Chad and I got her a potty for her birthday and I had put it together last night. (Quick disclaimer: I don't expect her to use it yet. I just wanted her to get used to having it around for when the time is right.) But since it was up, I thought it would be funny to see if she'd do her business in it (since she was pushing anyway.)

I sat her down on it and she relaxed a little but never pooped. (Wow! Am I actually using bathroom words in my blog?!?) Then she started smiling and got up. She had peed in her potty and she was SO PROUD of herself -- as was I. Maybe we've got something started here.

I don't think it would be appropriate to post pictures of this feat on the blog, but I did leave it in there so Chad can see it when he comes home from work today. Won't he be thrilled?