Category Archives: Family

life has changed so much

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Around 1:30 in the morning last night, I woke up with a child staring at me in that creepy way children insist on waking you up in the middle of the night. I jumped and sucked in my breath (because even in my subconscious fright I’d never let out a yell that would wake the kids!) and then realized it was just Rory. Too exhausted from being up with ear pain to put her back in bed, I just threw her in the middle of us. She snuggled up and immediately started snoring and I smiled in delight over it.

That is when it hit me. Life has changed so much.

Rory has officially, until last night which was honestly totally not her fault, slept ALL NIGHT BY HERSELF IN HER BED for a month straight. No waking up. Sleeping until 6 or later.

I don’t know if you realize… its not like I have ever talked about sleep issues here, ha!… but this is the first time in her life that she has slept so well.

And it is life changing.

I realize that sounds dramatic to those of you who have never had legitimate sleep issues with kids, but it really is.

What is funny is the first week this all started, Andy and I were SO TIRED. We went to bed at around 9 each night and would wake up more tired than ever. Our bodies (especially mine) were so used to no sleep that it took well over a week to adjust to sleeping all night. I swear I had a sleep hangover big time.

And since Rory is sleeping, so is Ryder, especially now that she has zyrtec every night. That has been such a relief too because she’s finally not miserable.

It’s crazy how sleep makes life more bearable.

Last week was Rory’s last week at her “preschool”. She only goes two days a week, but just those two days changed her life so much this year. She wasn’t labeled the “problem” anymore and her confidence SOARED. What an answer to prayer and a burden lifted off this momma’s shoulders. She LOVED going to school to see “Miss-us” Sharon and Miss Bonita.

Here she is first day of preschool and last day of preschool. My, my , my how she has changed. She’s taller, she’s losing that baby face, and SHE IS SLEEPING. Things that are the same- same bow, same sassiness (but with that pose, seems to be growing), and still bruised up legs from playing hard!

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Tuesday was her last official day of school because Thursday was Preschool Fun Day. Tuesday we went for our favorite after school treat to get frozen yogurt! Rory loves the catfish out front!

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Then Thursday we had a wonderful day with all our school friends! I wish I could’ve gotten a picture of the entire group.

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This past weekend I was invited to a (very southern) Sip and See for a dear friend from Starkville, Kathryn and her new baby Mattie Grace. I was so excited to go, and everyone was bringing their kids, so I decided to bring Rory and Ryder along too. Well the day before I realized I’d be in the car for 6 hours for a two hour shower and that made me a little crazy to think about so I decided to get a hotel on Friday and spend more time with friends. Then after booking hotel I went a little crazy because I was SO WORRIED about how the girls would do since their track records for hotels isn’t the greatest and I was going to be BY MYSELF. So insert panic attack moment.

But, much to my surprise, the girls were DELIGHTFUL. Their behavior, sleeping, and their mostly calm car riding SHOCKED ME if I’m being honest. It was the most fun weekend I’ve had in a long time. I loved getting to be able to take the girls to Starkville and letting them meet all my friends and their little kids.

hotel fun (they insisted on sleeping together and it worked well for half the night, then Ryder wanted to sleep ALONE…)

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We met up with my sweet friends Kristen and Lydia at Chik-Fil-A first and the kids all had a blast playing in the playground area and eating together. Then we somehow managed to get all five children down for a nap at the same time.

JUST CALL US MIRACLE WORKERS/BABY WHISPERERS/SUPER MOMS.

After nap we went to our hotel and swam our little hearts out and ate some pizza! It was such a fun day and night!

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As you can see, Ryder became OBSESSED with Reed and the feeling was MUTUAL to say the least. Bless their hearts, they were down right smitten. It was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. Guess we will just have to arrange a marriage or something. HA!

Saturday was the shower for Kathryn and y’all it was the best time ever. I loved getting to visit with my sweet friends from way back when we were in college.

This group of girlfriends have been through so much together. Incredible joys and incredible losses, devastating divorce, infertility and miscarriages, cancer, job losses, extremely sick babies, and I could go on and on. But even in MY darkest times, these girls have always been the first to tell me they are praying for me and I know they mean it. I’m so blessed to have them, even if we don’t see each other as often as I would like, I love knowing they are there no matter what.

Top picture- left to right: Ashley, Kristen, Lydia, me, Emily, Amanda, Martha Ann, Kathryn

Bottom picture- left to right with kids: Lyda (Jake and Reed), Ashley (Peyton- not pictured?), Kristen (Collette), Me and the stinkers, Emily (Olivia and Riley, Sam not pictured), Martha Ann (Emma), Kathryn (Mattie Grace), Amanda

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Ryder, Riley, Olivia, Rory- these girls had the best time together. Riley and Olivia were like little babysitters. They did such a great job watching the girls during the shower and at lunch! Rory has asked for them every day since!

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I just had the best time in Starkville. On the way out of town Rory said, “Momma, I just love Starkville.” Oh me too baby, me too.

Since Ryder was so insistent that she sleep ALONE in the hotel room, I decided to go ahead and take the dive into a big girl bed. I was so worried she’d wake up scared or wake up not wanting to be in it since she is already such a good sleeper in a crib as long as she is feeling good.

Well. Easiest transition EVEERRRR. (I’m using the word ‘ever’ a lot in this post, yes?) Anyway- seriously, she loves it. She has slept so good in it, sleeping all night and later than normal. So thankful! Doesn’t she look so tiny in that big ol’ bed?!

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The other big news associated with the new bed is that I’m able to just lay her down again and walk out and she goes right to sleep. AMAZING! Isn’t she precious?!

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I’ve always hated the guard rail things but had to break down and get one because the daybed was higher up than I expected. Well, little miss was just like this and sound asleep when I went to check on her this morning! So much for guard rails! ha!

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It was an awesome weekend with my girls and we loved coming home to Andy on Saturday. This week has been busy too, I will post more later on that. Right now my kids just went down for nap without a fight and I’m heading to bed myself for once!

Happy nap time!

I am my mother.

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For Mother’s Day we headed to Jackson to spend some time with my mom and dad. My sister and her family came over too and we just had a great time. It was a totally stress free time for me because Rory is at an age where I don’t have to worry about every move she makes anymore and Ryder was so totally obsessed with Jacks that I was basically kid-less!

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God blessed me with the best mother. She, along with my dad, has always been my biggest cheerleader.

247520_10100655693077876_1641463328_nBut more than all that, I think the most important lesson my mom has taught me is to laugh. Laugh through the hard times, the good times, and all the times in between. I’m so thankful that my parents weren’t rigid and too serious. I grew up in a house where my mom said things wrong (for example: she was asked once, “what did you do while Tiff was in surgery?” and she replied, “oh, I just read a good boob!”… you can imagine the laughter that followed. in fact, I’m still laughing about it.) and had funny blunders. (don’t worry- my dad had them too!) Instead of crawling away in a hole and acting crazy about it, she just always laughed. In fact, she laughed harder at herself than anyone else could. There are so many more hilarious things she did- I will tell you about the time she believed she found “the marijuana” in my car another time, it is a personal favorite of mine …

So, when last week I had a major blunder, I couldn’t help but think of how I AM MY MOTHER.

You see, I went to Lowe’s to get some paint, and was texting a friend on the way to the car. I threw my paint in the car and walked around to get in the driver’s seat. When I went to open the door, I was startled because A MAN WAS SITTING IN MY CAR!!!! So startled, in fact, that I screamed in fright.

Only… it wasn’t my car.

So, naturally, the guy is DYING FROM LAUGHTER and I’m still so shocked at everything I have no idea what to do. I walk around (WALK OF SHAME) to the passenger side, get my paint, mutter “have a great day!”, and basically run to my car. I glance back and the dude’s car is shaking so hard and he’s wiping tears from his face.

And I start crying.

As in, I CAN’T BREATH BECAUSE I’M LAUGHING SO HARD TEARS ARE SHOOTING FROM MY FACE.

I literally am laughing right now writing it again. (I know a lot of you already have heard this story…)

And that is why I love being Debbie McIntire’s daughter. Because I have the upmost confidence that laughter heals and makes everything so much better thanks to her.

Now, my choir director might not be so fond of this giggle gene, but that’s another story for another time as well…

So, yes, I am my mother. And I couldn’t be happier about that.

Love you, Mom! Don’t be mad at me forever for exposing your boob blunder to all your bookkeepers. (PS- Hi bookkeepers!!)

the felon.

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I don’t know if I ever told y’all this, but yours truly has recently had a run in with the law.

You see, several months ago, I was on my way home from my parents’ house and entered a tiny town here in West TN and was trucking along nicely when all of a sudden I realized a cop was behind me with the lights on.

So I got a ticket for going way too fast in a 35 zone.

Well, sometime later, Andy and I were on a date when I realized that I had missed my court date. As you can imagine, I was a bit freaked out about this.

And, of course, I realized this in the middle of the weekend when there was nothing I could do about it.

So that next Monday I called and said I was so so sorry but had totally forgotten about the court date and was there anything I could do???

PLEASE OFFICER … PLEASE PLEASE FORGIVE ME?!

The guy kindly rescheduled my court date.

Before I hung up with him I said, “Sir, can I …. drive now?”.

He chuckled loudly and said, “Yes, your arrest warrant will now be canceled.”

ARREST WARRANT!

So, you see people, you are dealing with a felon here! I’d watch out!

Today is said court date and rest assured I will be there EARLY to avoid any mishaps.

Because momma can’t go to jail… ain’t nobody got time for that.

The reason I forgot my last court date was because I was getting my hair done.

Which is hilarious because I got it done today as well.

Look! I’m practicing my mugshot!

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No, honestly, that is a picture to demonstrate the new hair. I got bangs! I haven’t had bangs since the 90s! For real!

Which, BY THE WAY, makes me feel old.

Yesterday was my dad’s birthday and him and my mom came and spent the day with us and the girls were SO EXCITED. I didn’t tell them they were coming so it was a total surprise. Rory’s been asking if Mimi and Papa could come to her house for about a week, so she was showing out like crazy. It was so fun.

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Last night I tried Zumba and I will have to admit I didn’t have high hopes for it…

but.

I ended up LOVING it. I got to revert back to my cheerleading/school dance days. I thought my rhythm had left when I had kids, but I still got it y’all!

Ok, the rebel here has to get ready for court!

Do I say “Guilty.”??? I’m a wee bit nervous.

MIA and a photo dump.

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 Well, as some of you may have noticed, I’ve been a bit MIA. It is really hard to a) find the time and b) find a place to get on here right now.

Things have been hectic but are going well. I’m so thankful for my parents letting us stay at their house. Rory and Ryder are loving all the extra love from grandparents and aunts and cousins and I am loving that they get to experience that.

We’ve kept busy and are having a bunch of fun. I am uncertain of the whereabouts of my “real” camera so I’ve been taking all of them on my phone. I will now just dump a bunch of pictures at you to show what we have been up to!

cousin fun

Rory’s new buddies, Wilder and Bailey

trip to the river

my favorite views from date night at the 360 Grille in Florence

sister fun

Rory’s favorite time of day has been early mornings with Papa drinking his famous “Papa coffee”.

Rory also jumped off the diving board for the first time this weekend!

Today we went to a water park type thing in Paragould, AR and it was so much fun! It was the perfect size place (not too big, not too small) to take Rory. She had a blast And believe it or not, Ryder LOVED it too! She crawled all around in the shallow water. It was hilarious watching her being so silly.

We also have two newsworthy events that have happened in the last week!

First, Ryder is officially pulling up! She’s still a little shaky but she’s getting better all the time! Its so cute!

And the biggest news of all, Rory no longer has a paci!

Woohoo!

Last week I told her that Clayton needed to take it home with him because he was a baby and she totally fell for it! She cried for it ONE time… that’s it! I still can’t believe how easy it was! Now it is time to tackle potty training once we are moved into the house! I’m actually excited about it, ha!

Alright, that’s all for now. I will try to blog more now that we are semi-settled into my parents’ house.

But I’m making no promises.

I’d hate to let all (two) of you down.

Adios!

the long goodbye.

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Once we told everyone we were moving, it seemed like every day I was wondering if I’d ever see that person again. Or if that’d be the last time we did that particular thing. After a month of doing that, it seemed like we were saying goodbye for ages already and I was so emotionally exhausted.

It has taken me so long to write this post because I just haven’t wanted to “go there” in my mind and write it out. To write it is to feel it for me, and I just don’t want to feel it anymore.

But, I’ve waited long enough, so I thought today would be the lucky day.

Before I left I made sure to see my friends as much as I could and I loved that. We had play dates and girls’ nights and had a blast.

And I’m pretty sure thats made it even harder to be shocked into the reality of being without my friends in Paris because I’ve realized how wonderful they were even more so now that I’m away. I seriously feel like I waited a lifetime for those friends. I have friends from TN, MS, LA, etc, that I am still close with, but we’ve been away from each other for forever and haven’t all been in the same stage of life most of the time. So I finally found friends in the exact stage of life who were moms who want the best for their children and also are constantly on the brink of losing it because of the kids like me. I discovered how wonderful and precious that is and how much it means to have people in the same stage as you are in life that you can cry to and have a good laugh with.

And oh how we have laughed and cried together this year!

This week I have ached from missing the play dates, coffee dates, swim parties, late night WalMart runs, and dinners out that were always on a whim.

So, playdate on Friday in TN???!!! I’m giving y’all enough notice to pack and drive up tomorrow! HA!

-4th of July with friends-

The Welch’s

The Offutts

- last playdate-

from left: Bubba, Emma, Peyton, Haydon, Ace, Rory, Annalise, Ryder

Kayla, me, Cassidy, Misty

Know that I miss all of you so much and can’t wait to see you when we come back in August!

the winner.

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Obviously this is late because, hello, its how I do everything…

but we have a winner of the 585 Boutique giveaway! I used random.org and it generated comment #4.

Kayla C!

Kayla, you will get an email from Sarah soon!

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Today we had a birthday party for Ryder and had so much fun. I will do the post on that Monday. Its been an awesome day and we are pooped!

Tonight was date night at our church and we ALWAYS take advantage of it. I’m going to miss our church so much!

This past Monday we did one last photo shoot with our amazing photographer/friend here in town, Jennifer. She never ceases to amaze me. I just had to try and fit in a family picture before we left Paris. We decided to do it at the infamous Eiffel Tower here with the giant cowboy hat.

When she posted the picture I completely lost it. I feel the weight of the move with this picture and the weight of so much we are losing very soon. To some people, we will be forever frozen just like that- two small little girls and us in our late 20s. For some reason it just totally gripped me and I sobbed for a good hour.

Yes, I absolutely realize we are gaining so much with this move closer to our family, but we are also leaving family behind. And right now while we are still here waiting for move day, I’m just plain sad. It will get easier and better especially once we are there, but right now is hard. So I’m spending as much time with friends and now with Andy since he’s “unemployed” for a few weeks and enjoying every second we have left here.

Hope y’all are having a great weekend!

a Friday post.

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This has been quite a long week and I have found myself unable to write any sort of blog all week. I have so many things floating around in my head but have no idea where to even begin to put them down coherently.

We’ve had a good week though. Rory started a new Mother’s Day Out and has had a blast in her new “big girl” class. Where is the time going? She’s so grown up these days. Ryder is in the same class she’s always been in and, of course, adores Miss Nora and Miss Anna.

Here are the girls before school Tuesday and Thursday- can you tell Ryder is a complete stinker?! How did I get two little precious heifers?!

On Wednesday night I went out with a group of my friends and had the best time! We were celebrating mine and Regan’s birthdays. I am going to miss these girls so much.

(From Front Left: Regan, Kayla (hiding), me – Front Right: Misty, Cari, Cassidy)

Cassidy and I on the way to Chili’s- we were so giddy to get out of the house finally! I’ve been stuck inside with shingles (yes, I have shingles) and Cassidy’s little girl can’t go outside because of a cut so we were SO READY to get out!

Right now in our stage of the big move is the hardest, I think. Everyone knows we are going, WE know we are going, but we are still here. So plans are being made past our timeline of being here and I get overcome with sadness that I can’t be apart of it. My friends here have been amazing and I can’t imagine not getting to go, quite literally for most of them, right down the street and let the kids play and laugh or cry with them.

I’ve been weepy and on an emotional roller coaster that I didn’t quite expect. And I also feel like I’m disappointing everyone. I have responsibilities here at church and plans with friends that we didn’t get to yet and I feel like I’m letting people down by leaving.

But more than that, I feel like everyone is expecting me to be so over the moon and ecstatic about moving “home” and so far, I’m just not. Don’t get me wrong, I am excited about our next adventure and that we will be closer to our family and friends in TN, but I’m also so sad that I can’t get to the excited part just yet. I feel like I’m stuck in this place of not knowing how to feel because if I’m too excited that will hurt people here, but the fact that I’m not quite showing excitement as everyone seems to be expecting from me is also hurting people.

And, to be honest, TN isn’t necessarily “home” anymore. We have been away 8 years, and all of our marriage, so THIS is home.

Which also means THAT will be home too. Because no matter how many friends I have here and no matter how extremely sad I am to leave my wonderful friends and church family here, I know that this move is the best for our family. And I have learned through all the moves in our marriage that I can be happy and make a home anywhere. I made a commitment to Andy when we were married eight years ago this past Tuesday and I am always excited to follow his dreams (and mine) and I will always hold true to that commitment. I don’t care where I am, if my family (meaning Andy and the girls) are there, nothing else matters. I will be happy wherever they are.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about marriage in our eight years together, its that my life is made better by being with Andy. I have a partner to go through all these exciting yet disappointing times. I am lucky to be married to someone who is passionate about his goals and dreams and I knew before we were ever together that he was going to do great things with his life. And I’m just more than privileged to be apart of it and to help with making OUR dreams come true for our family.

Happy Anniversary, Andy! I would pick you every time, even if I had a million chances and a million choices… I’d always pick you.

 

the move, wrestling, and some videos.

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Well, we broke the news to our family and friends, and then everyone on facebook, so I figured it was time to do a post on it.

Andy and I have lived away from “home” for eight years now. We grew up for the most part in Tennessee and eight years this week we have been away. We’ve lived in six cities and three different states over these eight years. We have had an absolute blast moving and getting to know new people and new places. Some we loved more than others, but we were happy because we were together even in the poor times and the friendless times.

And now we are moving again, probably for the final time, to Pickwick, TN (or that area depending on where we find a house). Andy has been offered a great job opportunity with PCA (Packaging Corporation of America) and he is so excited about this new job.

We will now be just an hour and hour and a half away from our parents, closer to our siblings, and closer to extended family. There have been times where it was hard living away before kids, but now that we have kids I know the importance of living near family. I want my kids to grow up knowing their grandparents and aunts and uncles. And, selfishly, I want help. This year was obviously very hard on us and it made it even more difficult on everyone because everyone was so far away.

But, oh, how I will miss Paris. I have the most amazing friends here. Last week I didn’t know if I’d make it through having to tell everyone that we were moving. It.was.rough.

So, keep us in your prayers as we try to sell our house, find a house, and everything else that comes with moving.

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So my precious little petite girls have taken up wrestling as their new hobby.

It’s intense.

 I can no longer leave them in the room alone together because I’m afraid of what they’d do to each other. I feel like I’m on permanent referee duty already!

It always starts as an innocent-looking hug or game of Ring-Around-The-Rosy.

 

Then, BAM!, they are in an all-out wrestling match.

Gotcha!

Aren’t they precious?! ha!

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And now I will leave you with two videos. The first is of Ryder getting into trouble and laughing about it. The second is just me talking to Rory. I love having little videos of her at different stages to remember what she sounded like and things she was saying.

I will explain the paci thing in another post.

Let me give you a hint though: Rory is smarter than us.

hello, again!

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Why, hello!

Its been a while since I’ve updated the ol’ blog, but we have been out of town and crazy busy!

 Rory’s school year ended! She had a great year and learned so much. They had an end of the year program and she sang her little heart out. It was SO CUTE.

Here’s the video I got on my phone- sorry its not the best quality, but I don’t have time to upload the better version right now! (Rory is in the very center!)

 We went to TN for Memorial Weekend!

We spent the first part of the weekend with my family. It was so great to be together. I haven’t seen them in so long!

We went to Papa’s church…

and did a lot of swinging…

and rode the “tractor” A WHOLE LOT (like, starting at 6:00 am!).

Then we made our way to the river (TN river) to see Andy’s family!

Rory LOVED every second on the boat. She loved the beach and riding the tube for the first time too!

She conquered the castle!

As for Ryder… well she’s been her usual happy, crazy self. She loved every minute of being in TN too!

Hope everyone had a great Memorial weekend as well!

I’m back!

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Well, it seems as though I’ve taken an unexpected blog break. Honestly, I haven’t had the energy to use my brain enough to put a post together since last week.

Not to mention that I’ve had some major technical difficulties the past couple of days.

So, you’re in for a giant post now.

You’re welcome, Mom.

Since I last bored you with every detail of our life talked to you, we’ve been on playdates, threw baby showers, had a lot of family time, been embarrassed at the WalMart, and went to the doctor.

First up for discussion, playdates.

Last Wednesday, my friend Misty invited us over for a playdate. We let the kids play in the water and they had a blast. Well, all but Ryder anyway. The kids are all older than Rory by a year or two but she fits right in and thinks she’s their size and its so cute. (PS I was going to blog about this last week, but my friend Kayla never blogged about it and therefore I had no pictures because I left my camera at home that day. So really its her fault for my blog break!)

One of the bigger kids that was there brought a frisbee from home and all the kids eyed it all day. Well he sat it down for a minute, so Rory sprung at the opportunity to play with it!

He was not too keen on her plan of sharing and decided to get it back. Well, Miss Little Rory is quite the determined two-year-old and put up a major fight against this six year old. In fact, she almost won! Look at the look of determination in her eyes! ha!

Ryder, on the other hand, hated pretty much the entire playdate.

She hated getting lotion on and being outside in general.

She wasn’t really a fan of her hat.

She was absolutely furious when I put her in the pool.

Needless to say, I think Rory is our tomboy and Ryder’s going to be our girly girl.

At least one of them had fun!

This weekend I helped throw a shower for a sweet friend of mine, Stephanie! It was so much fun! We have been praying for her and John to have a baby for as long as we’ve known them (about two years!) and are so thankful God has answered our prayers! They are going to be wonderful parents!

On Sunday I tried to get pictures of the girls in their cute dresses before church but they were not having it.

So I decided to get just Ryder. Well, she wasn’t into either and just kept pointing that little finger and me and shaking it at me. Little stinker.

On Monday morning we had another playdate at my friend, Angela’s, house! She had all the supplies for us to make homemade sidewalk paint and Rory had so much fun! They also played in the sand and did a bunch of fun stuff. I somehow lost the pictures on my camera of them painting the sidewalk ? who knows what happened.

Ryder DID enjoy this playdate! I put her in Angela’s wagon and she played in there and had a blast the entire time! She relaxed and played and was so cute.

So I’m definitely getting a wagon as soon as I can!

Today I took Rory to the doctor to see what to do about our sleep… or actually our no sleep. So we have a plan of action and hopefully it’ll work!

She was a sweetheart today for sure. She pointed out every letter for Dr. Cutrell today and sang lots of songs.

Oh, and didn’t even call anyone out for tooting which was a first!

My friend Lori kept Ryder while I was at the doctor forever and I’m so thankful for her! I’ve been so blessed with great friends in Paris and I don’t know what I’d do without them!

Happy Wednesday!

PS: Check back tomorrow for a giveaway!