Lost in Translation: Haddie-isms

It has been quite a long hiatus from my blog. A lot has changed. Haddie especially. The last time I wrote she was turning two. Now we are only four months away from turning THREE!

This year has brought many new milestones and memories. She has grown over three inches and probably only put on three pounds. Long and lean with legs for days! I would say that we are 84.5% potty trained. She wears a diaper at night and has a slight hesitation for going #2 in the potty. Other than that, we are golden! She can count into the teens, sing her ABCs, knows basic shapes and colors. She also loves to sing. "Twinkle, Twinkle," "You Are My Sunshine," "Five Little Monkeys," and "Wheels on the Bus" are just a few of her favorites. She loves to name animals and do their sounds. She loves technology and cartoons/movies. Which I sometimes worry that we are doing a little too much of the TV, so I am working on a little less screen time. She loves yogurt, pretzels, green peas, Cheerios, and gummies. Always. Everything else is hit or miss.

One of my most favorite changes is her vocabulary. As she is learning (and butchering) new words, she continues to keep me laughing. I know that it is only a matter of time before she loses the "toddler accent," so I wanted to document some of my favorites:

Bristol - biffle
bear - beer
sausage - sawmage
biscuit - sibbet
playground - greyground
motorcycle - bicycle
bumblebee - applebee
jump - shump
cover up - keyed up
pizza - peesus
chips - sips
Cherrios - chedios
pretzels - tretsels
pajamas - jamas
Snoopy - schoopy
TV - TB
friends - fwends
lotion - ocean
medicine - mezen
bologna - whoaney
mosquito bites - ski bites
Goofy - goopy
something - sumpin
And if she isn't sure what to call something, she just makes up a word.

And here are some of her most popular sayings:

"Haddie Zo"
"My Haddie's turn"
"My Haddie do it"
"It too big"
"It too little"
"It too fit"
Instead of "No more milk," she says "No milk more"
When she has to potty (no matter if it's #1 or #2), "I poopen"
"No way"
"Cwiiiiis!!!"
"Bus yo butt"
"It hurz it"
"No touchable my booboos more"
"Mezen on it"

Sentences are starting to piece together and grow. She loves to pretend to snore. A majority of her statements are followed by "mama:" "I see, mama," "let's go, mama," look, mama," "where are you, mama?" and "what you doing, mama?"She also likes to repeat directions before we do something: "wait for mama," "no wunning in road," "cars'll get zu." She recently started squealing. About everything. She is a pretty good communicator now, which helps on many levels.

I know people always talk about the "Terrible Twos," but honestly, I am a little more fearful of the "Threenager" that I am already catching glimpses of. She is a fun-loving and full of life/energy, little lady that loves to test boundaries and isn't afraid to pitch a fit. Some days bedtime doesn't come fast enough. But those are also the days that I catch my self watching videos and scrolling through pictures as soon as she is in bed. The days are definitely long, but the years are going quick. Third birthday plans are in full effect....

#tbt Regrets on a Friday

Baby Ballerinas
2005

Hold the phone! This post has nothing to do with being a Mama or a tutorial! Almost.

If you have any access to social media, most likely you know what #tbt means. Normally, it causes giggles, maybe some blushing, and sweet memories. But lately, it has caused a little bit of another feeling for me: regret.

I have always been a little shy, a little introverted, and a little socially awkward. Teaching is a strange profession for someone with those qualities, but I feel like I have become a stronger person from it. Definitely still room to grow. 

Dance was a passion of mine from a very young age. All the shyness melted away when I preformed. When I was in 8th grade, I saw a group of beautiful dancers at a college in Alabama. It became my dream to be a part of the group. I busted my butt to do well in school, get accepted to college, and make that dream a reality. And I did it!

Life has a funny way of changing "your plans." I couldn't wait to graduate and leave my small town in the dust. I was going to go away and have the time of my life at college. 

Here is where the regret comes in. I did none of that. I got to preform with those beautiful girls for two great seasons. But I did not take full advantage of the experiences and friendships that were right in front of me. Instead, I spent my time making excuses and justifying that it was OK. I went to classes, practices, and other obligations. But I skipped out on the fun. I had so many opportunities to make stronger relationships, new relationships, memories, and reach bigger goals that I had ambitiously set. 

I don't have tons of pictures from mixers, parties, or trips with friends. I did not try out for additional performance groups. I didn't make many new friends. Seeing throwback photos from friends are reminders of that. I am sure some people knew why or at least had a pretty good idea about why I acted that way. Some probably just thought I was stuck up and/or a hermit. That is what hurts the most. I didn't get to know them and they didn't get to know the real me.

It is not important as to what or who caused me to make the choices I made. It happened. I can't change the past. All decisions and choices have lead me to where I am today. And I know if things had been different, I would not be in the place I am now. But I did learn a very important lesson.

Here is where the Mama comes in. I want to make sure that Haddie knows not to make the same mistakes. No one or nothing should stand in the way of her goals and dreams. I know that in many, many, many, many moons from now, she will roll her eyes and huff like all girls do when Mom gives advice. But I am gonna say it again and again. Don't let someone else stand in the way of what and who you want to be. That goes for anyone.

I don't want to dwell on the past. And I am making no plans to go crazy and sow my wild oats at almost 30. But it does feel good to get my feelings out and on "paper." I can't wait for football season to start and get the chance to see the newest generation of Southerners and Ballerinas. I am thankful that I got to be a part of such a great organization!

Band Camp
JSU 2005

DIY Oversized Ruler Growth Chart

First, let's start with a quick update. Haddie is rotten. Nothing new. She continues to grow, learn, and amaze me each day. The saying that "the days are long, but the years go quick, " could not be more true. Life is good lately. Summer is here. New relationships help the heart and the sanity. A fellow named Chris is responsible for that. And we can't forget Haddie's new best friend, Bristol, the golden retriever. I see a happy future in the works!

Alright. You know I love a great DIY! I love it even more when it's been forgotten on the to-do list and someone makes it happen. I had mentioned while cruising around Pinterest that I loved this project, and Chris took note. Haddie (and Chris) got me a board for Mother's Day. :)

I love the idea of this growth chart. It is charming enough for a kid's room, but sophisticated enough to display in the living area of the house. (Which is were mine is located). Plus, it is portable! We will not be living in our current location within a few years, and I don't want to lose those growth markings that would typically be on the door frame. And if you are stationed in your home permanently, then no worries about painting over during touch up or a remodel.

Before I got started, I chose a design and style that I liked. Some go for what looks like an actual giant ruler and some use colorful paint and decals to decorate the board. You can find many variations on Pinterest. I combined several components that I liked and created my own. I knew I wanted a rustic/distressed look, but I wanted a white surface instead of stained wood for better visibility on the markings. You will also need to decide how to number the measurement markings. Some different ideas include paint (my choice), vinyl, mailbox numbers, etc.

Based on my design plan, my supply list included:
a board (1″x8″x6′)
dark walnut wood stain
white paint
a multi-grit sandpaper pack
paint for measurement marks and numbers
number stencils
various sized paint brushes

I am the world's step by step picture taker, but the process is pretty easy. First, sand the board to make sure it is nice and smooth. I made sure all of the dust was blown away and stained the board using an old burp cloth by following the direction on the stain can. I did two coats because I wanted the rich color to come through for the distressed look. I let it dry overnight.

Next, I did one coat of white paint. I covered the entire board, but I didn't obsess over brush marks and complete coverage because I was going for a worn look. Because of the blistering heat and a single layer, the paint was drying fairly quickly. I decided to keep working. Using sandpaper, I began distressing the board. I focused on the edges and sides. Going with grain, I also chose a few interior places on the board. I went back and forth between sandpaper grit numbers. I sanded just enough so that the layer of paint was coming off and the stain could peek through. I think it is a good idea to work a little and then step back, so that you don't get too carried away.

Next, I made my measurement marks by laying the measuring tape down beside the edge of the board and placing a pencil mark for each inch. I used different sized marks for the inch, 6 inch and 12 inch measurements. Don't forget to leave off some room for the bottom. I began marking off my board at 9 inches because I wanted my board to have an 8 inch clearance from the floor. After all the pencil marks were made, I went back over the pencil with a dark brown paint. Once again, I wasn't going for perfection.

Next, I chose and downloaded a free font from DaFont. I created a word document and entered numbers one through six. I increased the size until my numbers were about six inches tall. Then I printed the document and cut out the numbers to make stencils. I like to think that may spatial awareness skills are pretty good, so I just eyeballed the placement of the numbers on the board. After some adjusting, I traced the numbers using pencil. Once the stencils were traced and removed, I painted in the numbers using the dark brown paint.

After the numbers were dry, I went back over board with sandpaper a few more times to give the measurement marks and numbers a worn look, as well. Then, I nailed a hanging bracket to the back and BOOM. I have yet to put any marks on the board. My plan is to measure her every six months. I am going to double check her measurements with the pediatrician at her next checkup before they are written in stone.

Not only are these great for your own home, but this would also be a great baby shower gift :) Thanks for stopping by!

2011: A Year End Review (with pictures)

Well, I can honestly say that 2011 was not my favorite year. Since 2011 is coming to a close, I think I am going to take some time to look back on some of the ups and downs of the year. Let's start at the beginning........

Bird House at Lee and Gordon's Mills

2011 started off promising: watched Snooki drop at Midnight, was still cheery from the White Christmas, lived through a Snowmageddon, and had an extra long break from school (we never even lost power). Here is a little snippet of our fun. You can tell we aren't experienced! Well, me anyway.

Finally, the snow melts and we get back into the swing of things. I was halfway through my first year of teaching and having a blast! We cashed in some of my "teacher perks" and visited the Tennessee Aquarium on Teacher Appreciation Day.

Sea Turtle at the Tennessee Aquarium

January turns to February. Our area was becoming quite popular thanks to Lauren Alaina on American Idol and the Extreme Home Makeover house. We celebrated our first Valentine's Day as a married couple. Job security got a little scary thanks to some PreK budget cuts/changes. In March, a dear friend of mine found out she was finally pregnant.....with TWINS! I also lost my Pawpaw, my Dad's father. Finally, we made it to Spring Break in April. Ed did not have enough vacation built up, so in lieu of a trip, I spent my free time lounging on the couch. We did take a quick trip to Nashville to celebrate my great niece, Rachel's 5th Birthday, and to meet my newest great niece, Regan.

Holding Regan at Rachel's 5th Birthday Party

 We finally got the good news that our PreK program survived the cuts. Also, I had my 15 Minutes of Fame (You can find me around the 1min12s mark). I had been sick, but luckily, a little voice in my head told me to fix my hair and put on some makeup that day!

Then everyone remembers what happened on April 27th....

What is left of a hotel in Ringgold after the tornado

Even though clean up is still going on today, we eventually stood back up and got on with life once again. Then it was May, and we were scrambling to finish school. Summer was in sight. I celebrated one wonderful year of marriage with the Hubby.

And said goodbye to my first group of students. We had a wonderful graduation ceremony!

Class of 2011

Finally, Summer Time! Spent much of June and July grilling out, on the lake, and just enjoying the wonderful, Southern Summer. Celebrated six years of being with my Ed! Also, got my first new car and took a little road trip to Jacksonville for my Mommy Ballerina's very own Baby Shower.

Relaxing on the Lake

Then it was August. The month that I will never forget. Ed had been feeling kind of sickly for a few days. At first, we thought nothing of it until he started to get worse and worse. A late night trip to the ER for some relief turned out to be the beginning of an eventful month.

Ed's Battle Wound

Turns out, his tummy problem was a giant, 5cm tumor that had eaten through his stomach and into his colon. After removing 60 percent of his stomach, a foot of his colon, and a benign verdict, we came home to rest up. But, it was now time to gear up for a new school year. I completely revamped the classroom and got ready for 22 new little angels.

September and School were in full swing. I made my own trip to the ER thanks to the giant mosquitoes that infested the school playground and attacked me.

Most Painful Mosquito Bites

September turns to October and we celebrated my 25th Birthday. We were a part of our good friends, the Wheelus', very special Wedding Day. I spent my Fall Break with Mamaw in one of our favorite places on Earth, Beaufort, South Carolina.

Sunset on the Bay, Beaufort, South Carolina

 Ed goes back to work, but is not 100 percent, so we took it slow. I found Pinterest and used all of our relaxing, down time to begin creating Pinterest masterpieces. The precious Brown twins arrived safe and sound, just in time for Halloween.

2011 was coming to a close with the start of the Holidays. "Breaking Dawn" hit theaters, and I was there at midnight! I some how managed to hold off on putting the tree up until after Thanksgiving. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, Mamaw spent a few days in the hospital, which resulted in yet another trip and sleepover at Memorial Hospital for me. Before we knew it, it is Christmas time, and Ed turned the big 3-1.

  

2011 was definitely a year to remember, and we will be saying goodbye to it in Gatlinburg! I cant wait to see what 2012 brings us......