Ouch

No matter how cute the band aid, there's no overlooking what's underneath. The great debate - do baby shots hurt baby or mom and dad more?!

Addie went for her two month checkup yesterday and came through a survivor. Weighing in at 12 lbs., 4 oz. and measuring 24 1/2 inches long, our girl is growing. She also came through her first round of immunizations very well. Of course there was some crying, but by the time we got in the car she was her smiling, happy self. We initially thought we would space out this round of shots but we're glad we decided to go ahead and go with the scheduled doses all at once. She has fared very well in the couple of days since.

There is more news to come, as we have returned this week from being in Illinois and Missouri. Addie was finally able to meet grandmas and aunts and uncles and cousins and new friends. Those pictures and posts are to come. For now, she's talking to her friends hanging from her bouncer seat and I'm about to make dinner.

Today I am thankful for a happy baby.

P.S. - Daffy Duck was on Addie's other leg. Not that it really matters...

Pink Elephants

Three years ago today I was celebrating. I walked down an aisle, joined hands with my best friend, and said two of the most important words I will have ever said in my lifetime - "I do."

Thank you, Sabian, for making this three of the most fun-filled years I have ever had. I can't wait for what is to come. I'm glad we're still celebrating.

And The Thunder Rolled

Thunder Beach 2009! Woo!

Spring break in Panama City Beach is one thing...the Thunder Beach Rally is another.

Over the weekend we spent two nights in PCB for a youth leader's conference. The conference was really good and we enjoyed meeting and getting to know other youth pastors in our district. It was a little strange...it had been years since I'd stayed overnight in PCB and here I was, an hour away from "home" and spending two nights in a hotel right on the beach. It was a nice little getaway and we had a great view from the 18th floor.

As we got closer to PCB we noticed signs welcoming Thunder Beach and we began to see more and more motorcycles. By the time we got to our hotel we clearly understood why what we had entered was dubbed "Thunder Beach."

Bikers. Everywhere.

To be heard outside, one had to yell to the other standing right beside them. It was nuts. As we headed to our room I realized that the room doors opened directly to the outside, which made me a little nervous. As it was Addie's first couple of nights to spend away from home it was all we needed to be kept up by the all night "thunder"storm.

Working in our favor, our room was a studio that had two doors - one to the outside and an interior door that led to our room. On top of that, our bedroom was on the beach side of the building, not the street side.

Addie enjoyed her stay away from home.

Here she is, contemplating sleeping through the night:

And she did! We had two nights of 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. She did great the whole weekend. She was fairly quiet during the conference sessions and won over those in attendance. She even endured a little shopping on Saturday afternoon and dinner at a Japanese restaurant with most of the group from the conference that night.

Addie and I had our first hibachi experience together. We shielded her from the flames and had a good time...until she got hungry! No hibachi for her. Yet.

The sights and sounds of the Thunder Beach Rally were nothing short of interesting. We did have positive encounters with anyone we came into contact with, but I'm pretty sure next year the conference will be on a different weekend. A much quieter weekend.

Sunday afternoon we started for home (yes, we got a Sunday morning off!) and ate at this diner before we left.



I love breakfast any time of day and this restaurant serves a breakfast bar = perfect.

Here's to a good weekend, an encouraging conference, and a great first overnight experience for Addie.

Goodbye from Thunder Beach!I am thankful for a good weekend with Addie...a great trial run before we head for home!

I Never Win Anything & a Happy Birthday

Sabian isn't big on birthdays, so much so that he planned a youth retreat on his 30th birthday. While he may not be overly excited to celebrate his own day, I am more than happy to recognize the day that he was born. A week after his big day the three of us took the day to do what he wanted to do.

Our day started with stopping by Wewa's Electrical Co-op day. Our utilities come to us via a local co-op and they make a day of holding their annual meeting during which they offer food, free drinks, and a raffle, as well as some swell door prizes. We won this hanging plant for having the youngest person in attendance. Way to go, Addie! We actually beat out a one month old who had already left. Sweet victory.

We also ended up winning a $50 Wal-mart gift card. So much for never winning anything. I didn't even know about the co-op day until the night before but our visit was well worth it!

After a quick rest and some lunch, we headed to Eden Gardens, a Florida state park we've visited before. Sabian wanted to go back and take some pictures so we took advantage of the wonderful weather and headed out there.
Addie wasn't too impressed with the flowers that were as big as her head.

After the park we headed to Seaside for Addie's first trip to the beach. It was a very short trip, as it was pretty windy, but she managed to get a little sand between her toes. Her first footprints on the beach:


It was a good day, rounded out with dinner at Borago and a good night's sleep. The key to a good night with Addie is to get her out and about - it wears her out!

I am thankful that 30 years ago, my husband was born.