thanks!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa and Nana and Pop-Pop for letting me hang out with ya'll practically all weekend!!

I missed my mommy and daddy, but it was really fun spending time with my grandparents. Thanks for the cookies and the animal crackers and the fun baths and the car rides and everything else. I think Mommy and Daddy appreciated being able to go out by themselves last night. They told me they went to Dialog in the Dark. Sounded kinda weird to me, but I guess they enjoyed it. I'm not really sure why any one would pay good money to walk around in the dark but apparently it was fun and mommy didn't have any panick attacks so that's good. And they went with some friends and even got pizza afterwards. And I'm also glad I got to stay over through today - otherwise I would have been in church childcare just about all day. Mommy and daddy were able to go to church and volunteer in the nursery and help set up for some really big conference and go to a leadership meeting and then student ministry (although I think mommy must have snuck out early because she got to Nana's so fast, I think she missed me lots!).

So it worked out really well for everyone. I got to see my grandparents and get loved on and spoiled. My grandparents got to see me and maybe they won't harass my parents for at least a few days about seeing me. And mommy and daddy got a night out and a productive and rewarding day at church today. Everyone wins. It's great to have such a wonderful family that all wants to spend time with me and love on me. You guys are the best and I'm super lucky to have ya'll in my life!

Love, Ryan

what a life

Our Nellie kitty enjoying the sunshine. She leads a hard life, can't you tell?!

48 Things

I stole this off of Facebook. Coleson has a Facebook, but I'm just not that cool. Maybe someday, but until then this looked fun, so I figured I'd edit it for those of us untrendy, old fashioned folks like me. Sorry, I noticed a few numbers were already missing and I took off a few that didn't apply to my blog version, so it's not quite 48 things, but you'll just have to deal! :)

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE: my middle name is an acronym for my grandma's names
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I don't know, I don't cry much
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? nope
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? the cutest baby in the whole world!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I like to think so
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? not often, but my husband is fluent :)
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? nope
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? probably not now that I'm a mom
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Oh's
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? yep
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? choc chip cookie dough
14 WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE ? I'm the most unobservant person ever. I may meet you five times before I remember you, it's nothing personal.
15. RED OR PINK? Georgia Bulldawg Red
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? my knees
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My Nana
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? grey pj bottoms and slippers
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? nothing except Ryan playing
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Red
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? fresh cut grass and vanilla
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? no one yet today, Coleson last night
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Hum, I stole it off of Facebook...
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Braves baseball and UGA football
27. HAIR COLOR? blonde, people, blonde!!
28. EYE COLOR? green
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? I'm blind as a bat
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Mexican or Pizza
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy endings, I'm a wuss
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Fireproof - a super early bday present!
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? my grey Mickey sweatshirt
34 SUMMER OR WINTER? summer!!!!
35. HUGS OR KISSES? depends on who from, mostly hugs
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? cookies or brownies with ice cream
37. IF YOU COULD MAKE A WISH? world peace?
38. WHAT (in general)BOTHERS YOU THE MOST? people who don't take responsibility for themselves
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Total Control by David Baldacci
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? don't have one
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHt? Brothers and Sisters on the computer, we don't have any tv at all
42. FAVORITE SOUND(S): summer- lawn mowers and airplanes
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? I'm too young :)
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? South Africa
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENTS? nope
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Titusville FL
48. WHERE DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER? the Walton High School Marching Raider band - not only are we hs sweethearts, we're band geeks!

Chick-fil-a

I have always liked Chick-fil-a. It was my first job as a 16 year old high schooler and I have fond memories of it. They treated us well, we had Sundays off, the food was good, we even had a Christmas party at the owner's house one year. And I know they're a good company. They are guided by Christian values, they do camps and scholarships, and all sorts of wonderful things in the community.

But now that I'm a mom, I have to say that I love Chick-fil-a. The way they treat moms and kids during the day is amazing. If you've never taken a child there during the week, you really should. Just borrow a kid from a friend and see what I mean. In addition to their regular staff, they always have one employee dedicated just to the dining room and caring for customers. Last week we went with our friend Farah and her two boys. I ordered my food and since I was holding Ryan the man at the register not only carried my tray to the table, but he stopped and got me napkins and a straw. And then the lady working the dining room greets us, loves on the kids, refills our drinks, etc etc. Ryan's been given balloons in the past, they have placemats for the kids, and mostly they are all just genuinely nice people. You don't see that often in fast food. And it's that way at every Chick-fil-a I've been to. Combine the cows and the eat more chicken campaign and the best customer service anywhere, and Chick-fil-a is amazing. And oh yea, they have good food too. And the cookies and cream milkshake, yum! :)

enjoying the sunshine

We have absolutely loved the beautiful weather the last few days. It's been in the high 60's and sunny! Yesterday we took a quick trip to the park. Ryan had a blast on the slide. He did great climbing the steps up and even sitting himself down to slide, hard to believe he's growing up so fast!

spring cleaning

Ryan is really excited to meet his new cousin. Tonight he helped us go through his clothes and clean out all the ones that are too little. His cousin is six months younger than him and is small for his age, so Ryan wanted to pass down his old clothes. Okay all he actually wanted to do was sit in the drawer and throw clothes around his room. And he totally hammed it up when I pulled the camera out. But anyways, he is still happy to have a cousin and to be able to share his stuff.

it's a ...

... 10 month old baby boy!!! Yay!! We really would have been happy either way of course, but Ryan is excited it's a boy. It'll be so much fun for them to grow up together and do boy things and get dirty and play baseball and catch bugs and whatever else it is that boys do. We're so happy and we can't wait to meet our nephew. Unfortunately, it will still be awhile before he comes home, so please pray that the adoption is finalized quickly and smoothly!

Russia

So Sarah and Christian are in Russia safely, and they should actually already have their referral. I'm eagerly awaiting any news from them as to whether I have a nephew or niece. I'm also anxious to know the age, because the baby's likely going to be very close in age to Ryan. It's going to be so much fun for him to have a cousin! We are super happy and excited. Hopefully we'll hear the good news soon!