There is something in my attic!!!!

OK, so this morning I am feeding Emma but unlike every other morning I hear a very loud noise coming from the back of the house. Now let me see if I can explain exactly what I heard... It sounded like a baby calf being strangled! I think I jumped three feet in the air and then hid under the table. (Good to know I am concerned about my child's safety.) So, I start to investigate. I grabbed an umbrella out of the closet, grab Emma and start checking out the situation. The noise gets louder near the back of the house and in particular in our bedroom! At this point I can tell it is in the attic but what exactly I am hearing who knows. I am pretty sure it is some kind of animal and it is dying! This is an investigative job for my sweet hubby when he gets home but what am I supposed to do in the meantime!!?? I can't sit around here and listen to an animal die... I think I will go shopping! Oh, and whoever put a baby calf in my attic... you are in big trouble!

Time at home in Denison

I went home to Denison last Thursday for a visit. I spent a few days with my family and a few days with the Cassady family. Mom's Birthday was this past Saturday, Dylan was in CTW at church and Amber's baby shower for her sweet baby girl Rachel was Sunday. It is always fun to see Emma interact with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins! These are a few pics from the weekend. She is getting so big!!

Yearbook

Somehow I came across this site called Yearbook Yourself(http://www.yearbookyourself.com/ ) It is so hilarious... you log on and upload pics of youself or others and put their faces on old yearbook photos from 1950-1998. I of course had way to much fun doing this and thought I would share the results of my time on the site! Try it and I promise you will laugh out loud!

Charles and I in the Homecoming parade. (My brother driving)

Me in the early 60's

The good old band days!

Kickin it with the Fro!

Dad and Mom cheering in the 50's

The 80's were a rough time for me!

Cheering with my sister and sister-in- law

Ready for my debut on "Dallas"

Charles, Greg, Bobbie and Andy... chess team wouldn't be the same without them!

Emma is 6 1/2 months old!

I know I am behind on my daughters progress but all the craziness of summer is what I am blaming it on! So at the beginning of July Emma reached 6 months. (which would make her about 6 1/2 now) She is growing so fast... you always hear that happens but it is crazy how true that statement is. Everyday she has a new trick or hits a new milestone. She is now 26 inches long and weighs 18 lbs. We call her our chunky little monkey. :) She is reaching for everything, sitting up all by herself, rolling all over the floor and eating all kinds of smashed up foods. It is such a joy to be her mom and I am beyond blessed to call her my baby!

Ice Box Cookies!

So, I made some yummy cookies tonight and thought I would share this super easy recipe! Heat oven to 350 degrees. Buy a box of your favorite cake mix. (Strawberry and Lemon work the best) Take the cake mix and mix it with 1 egg and 1 cup of Cool Whip. (it is tough to mix but stick with it) Using powdered sugar coat your hands and roll balls of dough in powdered sugar. (the mix is really sticky so the sugar on your hands helps to keeps dough off the fingers) Place dough on the cookie sheet and bake for 9 mins. Store in fridge. They are moist, yummy and oh so easy to make! (Thanks mom for sharing with me:)

The past few months...

Ok, so I know it has been like two months since my last blog... you would think now that I am staying at home I would have more time to write but sadly that is not the case. So much has been going on with us. In May, Charles and I took a much needed vaca to Jamaica and then spent some time with family. We had the 4th annual Russell Family Reunion in May out at Camp Creek which was wonderful and I spent time getting use to a new job as a full time stay at home mommy. June was a crazy month for Charles... he went on business trips to Florida and California and then went to Wisconsin to see his favorite band Phish preform. While he was gone I spent some time with family... Mom and I went to my Nana's home to start the process of cleaning it out and from there meet up with Dad, Andy, Bobbie, and Shelby to spend a week at Camp Creek relaxing in the sun. Also, in those two months we celebrated our first Mother's Day, Father's Day and 6 year Anniversary! This past week was Capitol Hill VBS and next week I go to Ft. Worth for a mini reunion with Tricia and Joanna (my old roomies from college). Hopefully after that our lives will slow down a little so we can breath! I thought in this post I would attached a lot of pictures from the past two months... Enjoy!

Sunning on the beach!

Ostrich egg from the plantation.

Horseback riding on a plantation in Jamaica.

Relaxing at the Spa.

Charles doing some water skiing.

Water sailing in Jamaica.

1st Mother's Day.

Shelby fishing at Camp Creek.

The kids at Camp Creek.

Andy and superstar Emma.

A game of Settlers in the afternoon.

Emma poolside. :)

Fish dad caught at Camp Creek.

Emma and her toys.

Being silly with the girls.

Shelby cookin in the kitchen with Gabby.

Hammack time with Emma.

Regrets, I Have a Few! (Being a new mother means feeling a need to say I'm sorry.)

I got my"Parents" magazine in the mail this week. I ordered a year's worth because I thought it would be a good reference for me as I travel down this new road of motherhood. My first issue had articles on feeding baby, discipline of baby, and how to prevent painful Dr. visits for baby. But, the article I really related to and thought was hands down the best one was titled "Regrets, I have a few" (it is on pg. 82-84 of the magazine written by Merrin Dungey) My friend, Tricia, called me today to make sure I had read it... so, if you are a new mommy or are a veteran mommy you have to read the following! (So hilarious!)

Since I had my first child three months ago I've dealt with an endless string of sleepless nights, the relentless cycle of feeding and pumping and changing and comforting, and the slow realization that my life will never be the same again. Now that I've emerged from the fog of being a new mommy, I have a few things I need to say.
I want to start by apologizing to my vagina. I just... I just didn't know what was going to happen. I thought it would be easy. All my life I'd been told I have "child-birthing hips." That turned out to be a dirty lie. I pushed for three hours, and I put you, dear vagina, through hell. I did my best to protect you, and I apologize. I can only hope that the bad feelings between us can be healed. This relationship has gotten really painful, and it's been weeks now. Please let the healing begin.
I'd also like to say I'm sorry to my husband for all my inappropriate name-calling in the delivery room and the resentment I felt because I had to carry our child for nine months and you didn't.I will have sex with you again someday, don't hold your breath or anything, but we'll get there. I'll wear attractive lingerie again as well. These grandma underpants aren't forever!
And honey... about my boobs. While I appreciate your attempts to touch them, try to understand that they are not for you at this time. These are working breasts, they are under construction at the moment, and we appreciate your patience. It's funny: I can see a mixture of fear and delight in your eyes at the size of them. And trust me, they are something to fear. I never thought a boob could dwarf the size of my baby's head, but it is true. Little Emma's bravery in attacking them day after day is impressive. I must apologize to her as well. I had no idea they would operate in a sprinkler fashion, and I have sprayed her in the face many, many times. But the way she fights through it is quite something.
I apologize to every woman whose baby shower I attended before I became a mom. All those useless stuffed animals and baby booties I bought... well, I'm sure they might have come in handy at some point, but I should have stuck to the registry and gotten things you truly needed.
I apologize once again to my husband, this time for criticizing you about the way you dress our daughter. I know she's my very own personal doll come to life, and I like to play dress-up. But you make such weird choices. Why would you put her in a sweater when it is 85 degrees outside? It's the middle of the day-a night-gown really? It's bedtime, sweetheart, why is she wearing a hat? I recognize this is not America's Next Top Model, but I do ask you to think about what makes sense sometimes. That's all.
I must apologize to every new mom ever bumped into before I had a baby for judging your appearance. I mentally criticized your old sweatpants, your over sized T-shirts, and your haphazard ponytails. I figured you just hadn't taken the time to get ready before you went out or were in dire need of a makeover. Now I understand those precious minutes you savor when the baby goes down for a nap- the desperation to make the most of them. I could shower! I could eat! I could sleep! Check my e-mail! Work-out! Do laundry! Have sex! (Well, maybe not just yet, but...) I could do so much if she would just sleep a little longer. Then, inevitably, there's that sound through the baby monitor. (Stop.Wait.Listen.) Was it for real?... That was just a sneeze, right? ... She's not up,right?... Oh, please, I'm almost done eating, the coffee's finally ready, I thought I could shower. Just five more minutes please. Just... nope. She's up. She's hungry. She's wet. She's something. And once you've got her fed and changed and played with her, you're on the clock to get that errand done before it all unravels again. I get it now: There is absolutely no time for a blowout or blusher, I was a complete jerk, and I am sorry.
I see how people look at me- with that mixture of pity and disgust- in my old nursing tank covered in spit-up and the same maternity shorts I wear every day. I'm like the Elephant Man. I put my daughter in fancy clothes to compensate for the monster pushing her around. I see the stares. I know what you're saying. Well to heck with you, you small-pants wearing Miley Cyrus fan. I just had a baby. I am not always this fat!
I guess I should apologize for my anger but in solidarity with new moms everywhere, I'm not going to.
But I would definitely like to apologize to my former self, I always thought I had a few pounds to lose and could look better. I never knew how great I had it. What I wouldn't give to fit into my old clothes again! I look at them longingly day after day. Hi, jeans. Hello, Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress. You were all so good to me. (sniff)
I should have slowed down and enjoyed my freedom more when I had the chance. I used to beat myself up if I slept past eight or stayed out too late. I was a fool. A fool. What did I know? Oh, to do anything at all at a leisurely pace- shop, eat, read a newspaper- and anything without having to wear a monitor. Waiting. Listening. For her.
While I'm sending regrets I should apologize to my pre-baby boobs for not appreciating them enough. They were a great pair of boobs- not to big, just enough decolletage. And now... sigh... who knows what will be left of them once I stop nursing? I'm sorry, former boobs. I truly am.
I'll never be sorry about deciding to become a mother, though. There may be no going back to my old body or my old lifestyle, but having Emma is worth everything I've had to give up and then some. But you already know that. :)