Back to Reality

Today was my first day back to work after giving birth to Sadie. I actually started a new job, too! I'm now working at Premiere Global, a telecom company in Buckhead, as a tax analyst. My first day back went as well as possible. The hardest part was getting up at 5 am! Sadie and I have been sleeping until 10 all summer. Sadie wasn't too interested in getting up early with her dad and I - she slept until her customary 10 o'clock.

Leaving Sadie behind was hard, but it was good to be back at work. I really love what I do - I guess I'm a bit of a dork! Ok, I know I'm a dork - I got kind of excited about getting new office supplies today. God's provision has been amazing over the past couple of months. When I found out I was pregnant we weren't quite sure how everything was going to work, but God had an awesome plan. I ended up getting a raise with my job change that allows James to work for dcf full-time. Thankfully, he can work with Sadie by his side and I'll be working at home two days a week if he has duties that require him to be stroller free. We thought it would be years before James would be able to work in the ministry full time. God is so good! James is such an amazing pastor and I am so glad he is now getting to use the gifts God has given him to love people and share the gospel. I'm also getting to use the gifts that God's given me in the business world.

James ended up finishing up at the hospital two weeks ago, so we got to spend two weeks together and home with Sadie. It was wonderful! James spoiled the fool out of me Friday since it was my last day. He took me to lunch at Marti's - my favorite! We ran into Rachel, Kim, Erika, Melissa, Abby, and my fifth grade teacher, Dr. Ward there. After lunch he humored me and we rode around town and looked at houses. Then we dropped Sadie off at the Miller's and went on a date! We had dinner at Carrabba's where we sat at their "pizza bar." We had a great time watching the chef's cook - it was like the Food Network up close. James was in heaven! It was a great way to close out my 12 weeks of maternity leave.

Wow - this is a really long post!! James is going to post about his first day with Sadie later - but I just want y'all to know that he blew me away! He got up with me this morning and made my coffee and kissed me before I left. He tried to take a picture, despite my protests, but the camera didn't work. He kept me updated throughout the day and sent the following pictures to my e-mail account at work. He also wrote a couple of rap songs with Sadie. He wouldn't video their performance, though. He went to the grocery, worked on material for the Advance, fed Sadie, changed diapers, made the bed, made phone calls, and cooked an amazing dinner. I definitely think he worked harder than I did today!

One more thing - as soon as I picked Sadie up when I got home, she pooped all over me! I'm serious - all over me. I had poop on my shirt, in the chair, on the floor, and up Sadie's back. It was pretty gross. I'm not sure what she meant by that - but James thought it was pretty funny and then dressed her in her "I love my Daddy" onesie.

Now its time to iron my clothes, feed Sadie, go to bed and do it all again tomorrow!

Lunch at Marti's

Sadie working the phone for Daddy

Date Night

James and I left Sadie with Olan, Nancy, and Elizabeth Friday night so we could attend Melissa Pepin's studio grand opening without a diaper bag! I kind of wanted to take her with us, but James said he wanted me to himself, which made me feel special. Being a mom is time consuming and I haven't had as much available attention to go to James. It was fun to to spend time together without being interrupted to feed Sadie or change her diaper.

Before the opening we had dinner at the Last Resort with Jessica and her sister and brother-in-law - Jacqueline and Ray C. We probably see them about once every two years, but we always have fun catching up with them. They are a fun couple and great parents - we have a lot to learn from them.

The party at Melissa's studio was a lot of fun - the space is definitely her style. I love the new backdrops she has and can't wait to get some pictures of Sadie there. Melissa's business has grown so much and I am so excited for her. God has given her so many talents and she isn't selfish with them. As a matter of fact, she's already loaned her space to dcf to hold a service in. Tasty World is remodeling and we were homeless Sunday night until Melissa opened up her space.


It was fun to get dressed up - too! James looked so great!

This is Melissa - she's so photogenic!

Sadie's Ready for a Tricycle!

This is too cute - and I think Papa's right - Nana's a little bit crazy! I can't believe Sadie was actually responding to her. We are enjoying her so much.

All About Me

My friend Lydia tagged me on her blog. This was kind of fun - feel free to send me your answers. Sorry it took me so long Lydia!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Kind of - my aunt had a friend named Lindy and my mom liked the name.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I boo hooed through "PS I love you" a week after Sadie was born. It was embarrassing!
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Not really - its kind of messy - sometimes I can't even read it!
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? I'm with you Lydia - Pimento Cheese - Marti's recipe
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? One - Sadie - she's 8 weeks old now
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I think so
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? No - people normally don't get it when I try
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No way!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Frosted Flakes with fresh peaches
11. Do YOU WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO QUESTION 11? Nope
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes, but not physically (I had to clarify because James looked at me like I was crazy when I typed yes)
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? A new favorite - Mayfield's Blueberry Cream Pie (It totally beats Chet & Robbie's Blue Bell homemade vanilla with strawberries)
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Hair
15. RED OR PINK? Red with everything except clothes, then its pink (I have a red mixer!)
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU? I can be judgemental
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? John - my brother in Japan
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Yes
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? khaki shorts and no shoes
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Cookie dough ice cream
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? This is embarrassing - Tori & Dean Home Sweet Hollywood is on the tv.
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? red
23. FAVORITE SMELL? a clean baby
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My sister
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yep - I miss you too Lydia and can't wait to see you when you get back home
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Definitely football - I can' wait for football season to start
27. HAIR COLOR? brown
28. EYE COLOR? brown
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
30. FAVORITE FOOD? This is hard - I love calzones, pasta, and chocolate
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Juno
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? white, yellow, & brown
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Chocolate stuff from Barbara Jeans
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Nancy
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? my mom
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Innocent Man by John Grisham
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? no mouse pad - laptop.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Army Wives
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Laughs
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? I don't really care
44. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Russia
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? nope
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Athens
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOkNG FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Everybody's.
Consider Yourself Tagged:
Nancy
Melanie
Kelley
Jessica

The Guest Blogger: Uncle Paul

For a single blog in possession of a good space must be in want of a visit from the uncle. Uncle Paul. Pardon me for navel-gazing but the phrase has not wholly taken root in my psyche. I keep repeating it to myself, under my breathe, and sometimes out loud to others. It has meaning in the sense that I am "Uncle Paul". Yet, I do not believe it will truly be so until I hear little Sadie grace me with the joy of hearing it spoken.

I am currently at the domicile of the new parent-al units. James is asleep in the recliner with Sadie who is lying on his chest asleep also. She takes after her father, apparently, and James takes after ours. (A friend of ours, a blond one in high school mind you, once asked if our dad ever moved out of his recliner. She swore she had never seen him any place else.) Lyn is folding laundry and packing to get ready to the beach. Rather cheerfully, she is packing and sorting all things James and baby to get off at the crack of 9 in the morning. I think the warm CC cookies we consumed are the source of her cheerfulness. Mine is cheap PBR.

She let a slight complaint slip about the entire laundry basket being filled with Sadie's clothes. Sadie is barely 2 months old and she is already a clothes horse (I have no idea where that phrase comes from). A Nonnie who has been buying clothes since her youngest left for college and a stylish Nana who manages at the Polo outlet will keep her outfitted till at least her 5th birthday. Who knows what the teenage years will bring.

I think I am supposed to be blogging about the baby but my baby tonight, aside from my cute niece, was a fine mostly homemade pizza. Thanks to Parade magazine for the recipe. Not just a rag for reader's digest regurgitations and celeb news, we were gifted the recipe of a fine pizza of fresh tomatoes, basil, Mozz, and feta. I would recommend it but I would also recommend not trying to find phyllo dough at the Ingles in Madison. James kicked in his Pistachio and Lime Salad Dressing for our side salad.

I have used up the allotted space and time that Lyndie has allowed me. My parting thoughts were going to be on the development of the intellect and consciousness in babies and whether the capacities and power of our brains increase or just take form as we mature. But I apparently have to go. No pics this time. Just the hiccups of my muse.

Ciao:

Fourth of July

We went to Nana's lake house for the 4th of July. Olan had the whole week off and he and Nancy had a couple of days of quiet before we joined them and stirred things up a bit! I love spending time at Nana's lake house - it is always so relaxing, and this time was no exception. Nana, Nancy, and Olan always out due themselves when it comes to food! I think I gain 5 pounds every time we go up there. This time they fixed the best homeade ice cream I have ever had. The consistency was perfect! I think I'm going to have to buy a new ice cream maker! We went to see the fireworks in Washington, GA Friday night. We were pleasantly surprised - the fireworks were really good. Sadie didn't mind the noise at all. She slept through most of them. We took plenty of pictures! This weekend was also nice because there were plenty of folks willing to help me with Sadie. I think I only held her when she needed to eat. I actually read a whole book and took a nap. I needed the rest. Here are some pictures from the weekend!

dcf Swim Party

We had a cookout/swim party last Wednesday for house fellowship. All of the groups met together and it was good to have time to talk to people we normally don't get to hang out with. I had fun watching Violet Brockmann crawl around - I know it won't be long before Sadie's crawling around trying to get to Lexie! Lexie is my sister's dog and she is such a chicken - so far she's been scared of every small child that can move. She's not scared of Sadie yet because she doesn't move a whole lot.

It was a great night to be outside and enjoy the yard and pool. It was also Sadie's first opportunity to wear her swim suit. Unfortunately, they don't make swim diapers small enough for her so we've just put her feet in so far. She likes her baths, so I'm guessing she'll enjoy the pool once we figure out how to protect the water from her poop!

I was reminded Wednesday night how wonderful our church family is. We're such a diverse group and I love every person there. Our church family has been such an encouragement to us over the last couple of years. They've been there to help us as we've moved, painted houses, reeled from a serious back injury, and had a baby. We couldn't have done it without their love and support. We are so blessed to have them in our lives. I'm so glad that Sadie is going to grow up around such wonderful people!