Happy Friday Dance!

This is for Garyn, my college roommate. We always talked about how one of the best parts of having kids one day would be to do funny things to them. I'm sure my"Parents of the Year" trophy is slowly slipping away now.


Sorry for the not-so-great video quality and for embarrassing my son, but I think it's too funny and cute not to share.

September 19

Today is a strange day for me. This was the original due date of our first baby that we lost from a miscarriage in 2005. It’s strange because it’s such a combination of emotions and thoughts.

My heart still aches as I remember the excitement and joy we were able to feel for several weeks before that quickly changed to devastation. I still remember the feeling of complete shock as I was getting my 10-week sonogram only to find out that there didn’t appear to be a heartbeat anymore. The next 7 days of just waiting to see what would happen were torture. Complete torture. I still felt pregnant, and I desperately wanted to be pregnant. Yet in the back of my mind, I was already accepting what would come to be. Then an outpatient visit to the hospital made it much more final. Throughout the next few months, it was such a roller coaster of emotions. It seemed that after September 19, I kind of felt in a better place to move on and forward. This is a letter I wrote that night two years ago:

To my sweet baby,
It’s hard to believe that it was only 7 months ago when we found out that we had lost you. That was one of the hardest and saddest weeks of my life so far. Your Daddy and I were devastated.

It’s already the day that at one time I was so excited about. Now it’s the day I dreaded the most. I wish that tonight was different. I wish that instead of sitting at home writing this letter, I was rushing around the house finishing the last touches on your nursery. I wish that I was packing the special bag to bring to the hospital. I wish that I was picking out which onesie to bring you home in. There are lots of things over this past year that I’ve wished for…most importantly, I wish that I would’ve been able to know you.

Even though it still hurts and I wish I could do something to change things, I just have to trust and believe that God works all things together for good somehow. And I know that I’ll be with you again one day.
Love, Mommy

So now two years later, I look at my adorable, healthy 9-month-old son, whom I love beyond words. I see and hear stories all of the time of those who have also lost a baby, those who can’t get pregnant, or those whose babies are faced with health problems. I am reminded not to take him for granted.

I was heartbroken over losing the first baby, and the sadness is still there. But at the same time, the sting seems a little softer as time goes on, and I fall even more in love with this little blue-eyed boy. I don’t ever pretend to fully or even somewhat understand God. In fact, I have a hard time when others tell me exactly why God let something happen a certain way. How do we know? How do we really understand? So today, I’m going to remind myself that I don’t have to figure it all out. I still grieve for that little one who won’t ever have a name, but I also delight in and thank God for the gift of my little man Tate.

First Timer

So Friday was a "I'm-going-to-pull-my-hair-out-how-can-I-make-you-happy-my-dear-child?" kind of day. Tate was just a bear all day. It wasn't ever a full cry, but he fussed ALL day long. Since he loves getting out and about, I figured the Circle of Friends 30% off sale @ Gymboree would help the fussies go away. Not so much. We didn't last long at all, which in the end, is probably good for the checkbook.

So after a few near tears of frustration from me, I got him home for a nap. Then low and behold what do I find...his 2 bottom front teeth cutting all the way through!

At first, I was so excited that he really would finally have teeth. I had been getting a little concerned and was wondering if he was a new "no teeth version baby." Then, I felt really bad for getting so frustrated with him all day.

After some Baby Tylenol, I leaned over and kissed him and reminded him once again..."Sorry buddy, you've got a first-timer here for a Mom. I'm still learning."

He just smiled back with his new little teeth smile.

The End of the Road

This marks the end of the road with what ended up being my favorite purse of all time (or at least of 31 years so far). I've had 3 good summers with this purse, but it's time to let it go. The inside lining is coming undone, the edges are worn down, and a new hole on the bottom has begun. I need to let it go. But to be honest, I'm a little sad. I love this purse.

Happy 9 Months Baby Tate!

I really can’t believe it. My little baby is not that little anymore…9 months old!

I have been surprised lately that he was outgrowing so many of his clothes, and I figured out why at his check-up today. He’s already 29 ½ inches long. No wonder! His hair has also been growing fast. I’m actually at a loss of what I’m supposed to do with boy hair. It’s getting a little out of control and sticks straight up unless I wet brush it down. Quite a sight.

He is still quite the kicker. If you’ve seen it in person, you know exactly what I’m talking about. This guy kicks his legs non-stop. In the last week, I’ve had 3 complete strangers tell me they’ve never seen a baby kick like that. Of course, my Dad thinks that means he’ll be a swimmer, and Wade thinks that means he’ll be a cyclist. The nurse at the pediatrician today said maybe ballet…huh?

Although he’s growing like a weed, he’s still maintaining the pace of being a late bloomer with some of the big milestones. He still has no teeth and is nowhere near crawling. So, we’re just enjoying these days of a stationary, bite-free baby. I know that won’t last forever.

It’s so interesting to see his personality develop more and more. It seems as though he is a people person already. He’ll smile at just about anyone, and we haven’t seen too much of the separation anxiety yet (I’m sure I’ll eat those words one day). And he is a talker. Not sure what he’s saying, but he still wants you to hear it, along with anyone else in a 2-mile radius. We haven’t quite learned volume control yet.

We love finding the things that can really make him laugh. So far, those are: The Wheels on the Bus song, the Barnyard Dance book, the line “the old lady whispering hush” from Goodnight Moon, when Mommy does a fake cough, when Daddy does anything involving tickles or zerberts, the dog puppet from Baby Einstein videos, the game peek-a-boo, and when Macy runs around the house. So much fun!


I’ve had several moments lately of just being completely awestruck of how much I love this little person that has been in our lives for such a short period of time. So in love and so thankful!!!

8 Randoms

I feel like I’m already an open book on this blog and have probably revealed a little too many of my idiosyncrasies (that is the correct way to spell it by the way) already, but just for the fun of it, here are some more. I was tagged by Paige P. to list 8 random facts/habits. Please don’t hold any of these against me!

1. I pretty much have the exact same breakfast every single day: wheat bread, reduced fat crunchy peanut butter (used to be Peter Pan, but I chose the brand Skippy over getting E Coli), and a Diet Coke in a glass with ice and a straw. I love it and don’t ever get tired of it. Some of my really close friends and family know this about me and even have “Kelly’s breakfast” ready if I ever stay the night. How sweet is that!

2. Much to Wade’s eye rolls, I’ve always said that I have both 6th and 7th senses. The 6th sense is that when there’s a restaurant/fast food place under construction, I can usually figure out what it is before there’s any signage. We used to live in Valley Ranch when they were building new places just about every week. For me that was a fun game to see how quickly I could figure it out. My 7th sense is that I have very sensitive hearing and can instantly walk in a room and hear the buzz of a TV that’s on with no volume. Are you impressed or what??!!

3. I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve turned into Ralphie from A Christmas Story, when he saved up for his Little Orphan Annie decoder ring. I’ve been a mad woman saving all of the Pampers Gifts to Grow codes off diapers and wipes. Why???? My ultimate (like Ralphie’s decoder ring) is the Kettler Kettrike. 78 points down, only 322 to go. Maybe Tate will get it by the time he’s out of diapers.

4. I’ve blogged before about how I love getting the mail. But, I didn’t fully elaborate on the fact that I get giddy, excited when Newsweek arrives. How dorky does that sound? I love that magazine. I read every night before I go to bed, so I have a whole process of how I get through Newsweek, which is typically a 3-night ordeal. The first night I start with the beginning articles and make it up to the editorial cartoons. The second night is the cover story. Then the last night is for the fun Tip Sheet section. I know…wild and crazy!

5. My famous ACU story is that I broke my collarbone my sophomore year. That’s not really what made it famous. I broke it while sleepwalking. Yes, sleepwalking. I lived in the University Park apartments and woke up at 2:30 a.m. on the floor on the other side of my little room with a collarbone completely snapped. I don’t remember a thing except waking up in horrible, extreme pain. Everyone said I should’ve made up a much better story. Unfortunately, that’s all there is to it.

6. I have milk issues. Wade likes to drink milk…as in a big ‘ol glass of it. It completely grosses me out to see just a little bit of milk left in a glass after he’s done. And, it grosses me out to have even one-day-past-the expiration-date-milk in the fridge. Yuck!

7. Sadly, I think I’m subconsciously trying to re-live my teenage years. I love Justin Timberlake, The Hills, and American Idol. And, I read US Weekly every time I wait in line at the grocery store.

8. This may not be a big surprise. But the intensity of it may be. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE cute stationary, wrapping paper, and greeting cards/invitations. I love sending them, wrapping with them, and writing notes with them. But, I’m not a complete snob as far as certain brands go. Anything cute. No pressure if you’re giving me a gift anytime soon.

Wow, I can’t believe I’m really putting all of this out there. The word Loser is faintly echoing in my head right now.

So now, I need some others to join me in my loserness, I mean randomness. Go for it Wade, Shannon, Deana, Tara, and Mario. I know y’all will have some good ones!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

We survived all three! Although I’m a born-and-raised-Texan, I have a ton of family on the West Coast. So every couple of years, we make the trek out to the Bay Area in California to visit family, have them laugh at our use of the word y’all and “southern” accent (which isn’t really that southern), eat yummy sourdough bread and In-and-Out french fries, and catch a CAL football game.

The trip began with Tate’s first plane ride. Unfortunately, the first part included a 20 minute delay and then 30 more minutes of sitting in an airplane with a baby that wanted a bottle and a nap….and with NO air conditioning. All I can say is “Baby Einstein” may be the name of our next child. That DVD saved the day. I’m sure the people sitting by us were glad as well. Tate actually did great and by the end, he even charmed the flight crew and got to have his picture taken with the pilot’s cap while sitting in the cockpit seat. Pretty impressive!

We had a great time catching up with family that we don’t get to see that often and introduce them to Tate and my niece, Mallory. Here’s some of the group at dinner. Not sure what my Dad is doing in this picture?


The next day was the big CAL/Tennessee game. Wade covered most of the game on his blog. The game really was a lot of fun, and we won! Here are all of the guys including Tate, Wade, my Dad, and my grandfather sporting their CAL hats. Thanks to my Mom, we were able to go with everyone and enjoy the game child-free.


So the train part of the trip was when we decided to meet my cousin, Amy, in San Francisco. The Bay Bridge was shut down for repairs, so Wade, Tate, Shannon, Mallory, and I braved the city’s public transportation system. Braved is the key word here…at least when you have two babies in two strollers with you. The BART rail and the Muni street cars were packed. People were crammed in like sardines, and it was hot. Enough said. But we survived and made it without too many meltdowns.

We had a great day in the city. It was the 40th anniversary of the “Summer of Love” concert in Golden Gate Park. We stopped by to check out the music and 50,000 hippies. We quickly realized that we didn’t quite fit in, even with my attempt of putting Tate in a tie-died T-shirt. It definitely made for some interesting people watching, though.

The next day was the automobile portion as we drove to visit more family in Roseville. Along the way we stopped at the Nut Tree. As a kid, I grew up going to the Nut Tree with my grandmother when we would come to visit. It shut down for about 10 years and then recently re-opened. So we had to go back and revel in the nostalgia. Tate got to go on his first carousel, and Shannon and I got to take more pictures with the “animal heads.” I think we have the same picture of us from every other trip there. It was pretty neat being there with my own child this time.


Thanks to all of the CA Enrights for the visit. We had a great time and can’t wait until the next trip…and the next time y’all make it to Texas!