Cheers

2008. A year of so many “firsts”. A year that we knew would be special, however the term special has a whole new meaning now.
We rang in the New Year in bed. Yes, we were in bed at about 10pm Central time. For those of you with minds that are wandering right now, we were sleeping. Yes, I said sleeping. I was nearing the end of my first trimester and I was tired. I was pretty fortunate to bypass morning sickness for the most part. I ate crackers like crazy first thing in the morning and unless I smelled something foul I was generally okay. Except for that one time…well, let’s not get into that. What I didn’t avoid was the sleepiness.
Okay, so Todd and I were sleeping. We went to dinner with Steph and Bryce at Haub’s Steakhouse and then we came home. Woohoo! It was time for bed for sleepy girl Audrey. I asked Todd if we could just kiss at 11 like my Louisville peeps do, but I didn’t even make it until 11! He kissed my belly then kissed me. We talked a bit about how much fun this new baby was going to be and off to night-nights we went.
So, as 2008 rolled in Ty Baby was a bun in my oven. He cooked until July 9th (well, he tried to come the 7th but I was in denial I guess). That was the day that our lives were changed for forever. We have no clue what we did before he was here, and now we have no idea where time goes. He is absolutely our pride and joy.
With that being said, here is a list of things that have changed, things that I LOVE even more now, and things that I am grateful for now that I’m a Mommy:

-Baths. Long, hot, baths. I have always been a shower girl. Not anymore. If I have time for a bath, I will soak until I’m shriveled.
-Wine. Wine in the bath. Not everyday, but wine makes me happy.
-Time. It flies. Cherish every moment. Every smile, every tear, every everything.
-Cameras. Always have one with you, and there is no such thing as too many pictures.
-Don’t save a “cute outfit” for something special. Ty has grown out of things way too fast to save them for a special occasion.
-My single friends without kids think I’m a nerd. And, I don’t really care. Their idea of fun now is my “been there, done that” and now my idea of fun is cuddling up with Ty and playing with him. And, going to bed right after he does!
-Baby songs and lullaby’s are the songs I sing in the shower and while I’m driving. Yes, I’ll admit it. Todd does it too. I caught him humming the “itsy bitsy spider” not too long ago and if I could have recorded it I would.
-Baseball. The Cards. Ty’s shoes. I’m obsessed. It’s not about Audrey’s clothes, shoes (Todd and my family would disagree). I hope it’s “first baby syndrome”, however I’m not sure it’s going to pass anytime soon.
-Spit up, slobber, pee, and poopy. At least 2 of the 4 get on me daily. I’ve learned that clothes don’t get put on until right before I walk out the door. And, baby wipes will clean it up if need be. It’s kind of funny how it doesn’t really bother you when it’s your own kid.
-Snotty noses and boogies. I never thought I would wipe a nose with my hand and stick my fingernail up Ty’s nose. No, I do not do this if I have the proper equipment with me, but it’s not gross to me anymore when he needs a clean face.
-Hand sanitizer. Every room in my house has it. My desk at work, my purse, my car, Ty’s diaper bag…it’s everywhere!!!
-Poopies. Oh GOD they still make me sick and this baby food thing we started is making them awful. I dry heave and use half a box of wipes on #2 dipes. And, until I’m finished wiping little boys bottoms I will not have long fingernails. YUCK.
-Girlfriends. Married girlfriends, single girlfriends, all girlfriends. They make me sane. I’m lucky to have so many and I’m fortunate to have great relationships that make me happy. Dinner’s out, phone calls, lunches, emails, Facebook and Myspace, playdates, wine nights, rita nights. Oh, the power of girlfriends. I’ve been very lucky to have experienced Mommy girlfriends, Dr. and nurse girlfriends, and of course my own Mommy and sister to help me with my Ty questions. It’s all about being resourceful and I’m surrounded by great friends near and far. We may live in cities far apart, but our friendships remain strong and our hearts fonder of the time we do spend together.
So, here’s to a new year and many firsts that are going to come our way soon. It’s going to be a fun ride…I just know it!
Cheers!

Traditions

Since graduating from Bellarmine, I've lived in Owensboro. Yes. Audrey who wanted to live on the beach or in Cali is in Owensboro, Kentucky. It was supposed to be a temporary thing. 2 years for Grad school and coaching and then I was on my way. After about 6 months, Todd came along. Now I'm "stuck" and am probably going to be a lifer. While it's hard to say it's HOME, I'm working on that. I still say I'm going home when I'm going to Louisville. Home is where my family is though. It's where my Mama is (I saw a quote one time that said home is always where your Mama is). However, I want Ty to tell me Home is where I am as soon as he can talk. I want him to feel that his HOME is our house and that is his comfort zone. I want him to wake up at his own HOME on Christmas and open his own presents and play with his own toys all day long.
However, Mama is going to have to get used to this!!!
My entire life, Christmas worked like clockwork. Christmas Eve our family opened presents before going to Memaw and Papaw's. We had Christmas there, went to bed, Santa came, breakfast at either my Mom's or my Aunt's and then vice versa for lunch/dinner. We always spent it with my Mom's side of the family. My sister and I always dressed alike, my Mom always wore a Christmas jumper (hahahahahha) or sweater, Dad usually had camera/camcorder duty, Amy always slept way too late for me, and Mom and Dad wouldn't let us come downstairs until we went together. Grrrh, the impatience I had with that. We usually played some sort of game both days and for some reason having my teenage boy cousins play Mall Madness with me was probably one of the funniest years. One year a candle caught on fire at Memaw and Papaw's while we were downstairs opening presents (yes, we caught it luckily). I can remember several years the impatience I had trying to get downstairs for presents but Mamaw Beams (my great-grandma) had to be carried downstairs and it took forever. We watched her at the top of the steps and were bursting at the seams to get down there. And, every year Memaw has peppermints and candycanes that she swears she just put out. We all know the truth though and we take one and then toss them out. It's just another Memaw-ism.
We also have an extremely funny to us, embarrassing (well, it used to be), video tape that my Dad titled "Audie's Christmas". We still watch it and laugh at the hairstyles and clothing, my tights falling down and me mooning the camera while going up the stairs (I was 2!), me reading a Sesame Street book backwards and upside down, and last but not least the Cannon famly piano playing section. We seriously sat around the piano like the Clever's and sang Christmas carols. Now, if you know my family you know that is SOOOOOO not like us but I guess my Mom and Dad got new camcorder happy or something. Anyhow, all these laughs make watching the people who are no longer with us a little easier to see. The memories of how my grandparents, while still with us physically, actually were able to comprehend Christmas and Family. I sat on my Papaw's lap on that tape and I can't hardly stand to see it now. Alzheimer's has taken him away from us and it's so incredibly hard to see him now as we all want to remember Papaw as his happy-go-lucky self. Well, this tape is a tradition for us. We have done some corny things over they years, but now we laugh and cry and make fun of ourselves for them.
This year I want new traditions. I want Ty Baby to have traditions that he'll remember and tell his kids about. We've started a few...cookies at Mimi's with Ethan (although we spent most of that time at the ER), pictures with Santa and Ethan with matching outfits, Mom and Dad's for presents then to Memaw and Papaw's. We'll watch Ethan open his Santa gifts Christmas morning and then head back to Owensboro for Christmas with Nana and Pop. Sadly, this will probably be the last year for us staying Christmas Eve night because Ty will probably be too excited to see his own Santa goodies out our house.
Yes, we'll leave out cookies for Santa this year at Mimi and Papaw's (he told Ty his favorite was chocolate chip) and we'll leave milk out too. I'm on a mission to continue the traditions that we've always had and maybe add a few! You know my camera and camcorder will be charged and ready. I've got to start working on some blackmail for Ty's girlfriend's one day!

The Answers...

to the 10 most popular questions I've been asked since I've became a Mama!

10. No, we didn't name our child Tyler or Tyson. It's Ty. Ty Cannon actually. We named him that because we wanted to name him what we'd call him.  So many people assume it's "Tyler" or "Tyson" and no, it's not.
9. Yes, I attempted to breastfeed and no he didn't like it. I pumped for 3 months day in and day out and was on the verge of an emotional breakdown when I decided to stop cold turkey. Yes, it hurt and I looked like Dolly Parton, but it was worth it. Todd like the Dolly part, but I wasn't letting anything get within 10 feet of my girls. Yes, I will try it again next time but if it doesn't work out OH WELL!
8. Yes, I had every drug Dr. Smith let me have at the hospital. I think that God allowed science to develop these wonder drugs for a reason. 
7. No, you are not a bad mother if you have a night out with girlfriends and let your husband have control. Wine can make stress go away. It may be temporary, but that night out will probably lead to a better night's sleep, which will probably make you a better Mommy the next day anyway.
6. Yes, I think organic baby food is best for babies. No, Ty doesn't have it everyday. We live in KY and it's not at our local grocery in abundant supply. So, we try to stock up and if we don't have it I'm sure Ty will be just fine.
5. No, I haven't lost my baby weight and probably never will. Yes, I do try to get to the gym 6 days a week but that doesn't always happen. Ty comes first, Mommy comes second. I learned that the day I found out I was pregnant. And, that's not really so bad.
4. Yes, I think Ty has made me reevaluate my life. My family is my life. I am with the people I work with more than I am my own family. While it's sad, it's life. And, unless magic happens that's just something most of us are going to have to deal with. So...if my house is messy and I don't feel like cooking because I want to play with my boys OH WELL!
3. Yes, I talk about my child all the time. He is my "favorite thing" and pretty much everything I do ends up in a Ty discussion or thought. You probably have or will do the same so just bear with me!
2. Yes, Todd and I will try again for another baby. No, we don't care what it is. We just want a healthy baby. We'll probably celebrate Ty's first birthday before we say okay, however if it happens it happens.
1. Yes, I do believe that babies are miracles. After you have a child it's so evident that children are God's gifts. If you do not believe in God after witnessing the miracle of life something is seriously wrong with you.

Ty's a Little Sickie

Well, Ty's had his first sick day today. He started vomiting pretty much all of his food up yesterday and he also had a cold. Todd took him to the Dr. this morning (it's kind of sad that his own mother can't because of work!) and he has an ear infection, a cold, and maybe a stomach bug. Poor little guy! He's been a little trooper and he even smiles in between his spit up's. He's on an antibiotic so we hope he's feeling better soon. It almost makes me feel sick for him!
On the other hand, it's icy and trying to snow outside. I'm sure it's not going to be enough to cancel work which is pretty much the only thing I'm wishing for. If it's going to snow I want to be snowed in and cuddled with Ty Baby all day long. We're stocked up on formula, dipes, wipes, baby food, and cereal. That's all that matter's now anyway!
Ty weighed 21.5 pounds today at the Dr. They did weigh him with his cute fleece outfit Taryn, Ricky, Ethan, and Aiden got him and his little Nike's which probably added a little bit. I have tons and tons of pictures to add but for some reason they aren't working right now.
I've only got 2 more days of work and then I'm off until the day after Christmas. WooHoo! I cannot wait until our fun-filled trip to Louisville.
Ty's First Christmas...coming soon!

He's So Going to Be a UofL fan!

Ty Baby and the Cardinal Bird. WOOHOO! I've been awaiting this day for a long time. Finally, his introduction to the Cardinal bird...his idol! He was decked out and dressed to impress for the game and Todd couldn't stand it! I'm not sure what Amy and I were thinking. We both did really good finding our husbands. We screwed up in the UofL fan "check" department!

He enjoyed the game and we won! I've got the scrapbook paper ready to go and it's way too cute. This was his first game...but definitely not the last! C-A-R-D-S, C-A-R-D-S, GO, Cards, GO!!!!!

No more Turkey...We Want Christmas!

Thanksgiving has came and gone and now we're 100% in Christmas Mode. This picture is of my little, I mean BIG bundle of joy and Ethan. Ty looks like a butterball and Ethan looks like he's hurting. That what happens when you have them sitting on Santa's lap for 25 pictures because the Elf is waiting for a smile (we knew her thank goodness!). Mom got them their little plaid shirts for a Santa pic on our trip to Edinburgh and they looked so cute together. Ethan totally hooked up Aunt Audie with Santa too. He couldn't get out "Dooney and Bourke" but he did get out Aunt Audie wants a Giraffe purse. Ethan told Santa he wanted "everything", Ty Baby wanted money, and his Mommy wanted "lots of stuff". Poor little kid. He did all our dirty work.

Last week Todd and and I enjoyed a much needed night out by ourselves to Jeff Ruby's. We LOVE that place and it's a good thing there isn't one any closer because we would definitely become regulars. It was our 2 year anniversary (WOW!!!) so we felt a night out would be fun. We ended up talking about Ty the entire night which is what we typically do every day anyway. However, this night we didn't have Ty at the dinner table listening. Mom had Ty...but we didn't know she was starting to feel bad. My sister had been avoiding us in hopes of not spreading Strep. Mom ended up with Strep while we were in Louisville. And, Diane had a stomach bug after the night after she kept Ty all day. My finger's were crossed that none of us would catch anything from the "sickies". Ty and I have a cold, but that's it thank goodness!

This last weekend I started having some back pain. It got gradually worse and when I fell with Ty in my arms I knew I needed to do something. Todd actually had to help me get up a few times. We spent Sunday at immediate care and it turns out I have a nerve issue in my lower back. The medicine they gave me was about as good as nothing because I spent Sunday afternoon and evening getting sick. I also had a cold and couldn't breathe and didn't sleep. I called the chiropractor Monday morning and went to see him first thing. I felt so much better afterwards, and if I could afford their big water massage table I would have one at my house. That thing is like the wonder drug. I've been back twice so we'll see how this does. I'm not big on taking medicine for pain because it makes me feel weird so hopefully this works out.

So...other than that we're still recovering from eating all day on Thursday. Owensboro shopping is pretty much non-existant so I did some online shopping and that was my excitement for the weekend. I'm off this Friday for Christmas shopping and then Saturday we're going to Ty's first UL game. WOOHOO!!!