Twelve....

August 20, 1998, my oldest daughter's first day of kindergarten. I'm an emotional wreck. 9+ months prego, very large and in charge, emo to the hilt. It's 5 p.m. or so and we are heading to the hospital to be induced (I had gestational diabetes and this was the day for my induction had I not yet gone into labor on my own). We get there, all is good. Meds started for the induction and they send me into the hallways to walk....and walk we did. Seemed like hours.

We progress and the evening goes well. My oldest daughter heads to my moms for the night. The nurse and my husband are talking about my plan for a natural birth...."she's doesn't want any pain meds," he tells her. I agree, but shiver at the thought. When things get farther along, I decide maybe that was not a wise choice. It hurts. The nurse makes a deal. "I'll go get a shot ready, check on the other moms in the unit and be back. If you want it then, I'll give it to you." I don't see her face for an hour! When she returns I'm magically too far along for any pain meds to help me. "Too late in the game," she says. I know she "left" for so long on purpose. The thought of wringing her neck was fleeting. Oh well. No turning back now.

Time to push. No doc in sight. Nurse says he is on the way. When he finally gets there, I SWEAR he slid into the room he was running so fast. He got there in time (was stopped by the po-po on the way for speeding then escorted to the hospital by the police officer when he found out why doc was speeding!)....got there JUST IN TIME to catch. She had the cord wrapped around her neck. Doc stopped what he was doing, looked me straight in the eye and said "DO.NOT.MOVE" His poker face was left at home in his rush to get to the hospital. I was scared. My husband looked and turned white.

Doc got things back under control and at 12:25 a.m., August 20, 1998, my sweet Taylor Elizabeth was born. She was beautiful! Within an hour of her arrival I was up walking around. In fact, I was tired of waiting on the nurses to move me so I packed up my stuff and moved myself. I felt that good from not having any pain meds. The rest is history....

She was my easiest pregnancy, my easiest labor, I felt the best after she was born. Now that she is a pre-teen, though, I hope she doesn't decide to make up for that in attitude now!

Taylor started 7th grade this past Tuesday. My, how fast time flies. Children literally grow up in the blink of an eye. {tears}

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET TAYLOR!!! You are a huge blessing to me. Your future is so bright and you have grown into such an amazing young lady. I so look forward to watching you grow into God's plan for you. You are everyone's biggest cheerleader, the one every goes to for fashion advice, the one with the longest legs (my little giraffe!), the one who digs her church group and Jesus, the one who hugs me the tightest (when I get hugs...you're slackin' in that area these days, kid. Pick it up.). I love you with all my heart, baby girl.

My three favorite words when it comes to you?

THAT'S MY DAUGHTER....

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." ~ John 15:16-17

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUG!!!

Taylor is 11....going on 30....today.

We made eggrolls and watched old home movies from when the girls were BABIES last night. I laughed and then I cried a little. I miss them being so little with funny voices and funny faces and they way they thought about things. I love who they are now, but I miss who they used to be. I know....all parents do!

I didn't get many pictures of her last night as she totally avoids me or just makes faces so I don't get anything good of her, but I did get these.

This is her reaction to the card Mark & Sarah got her. It was a dancing hamster and the card plays some funny song I've never heard but evidently is all the rage based on her and Carli's instant break dancin', bustin' a move type of reaction.

Then she got a new black scarf from her sisters. She did this with it 'cuz...ya know...she's 11. And old now.

Then this is her this morning at 6:30 a.m. Bright eyed and bushy tailed! Not. It's the fourth day of school and it's just now hitting them that this getting up early thing stinks! Shoulda listened to mom when I told them to practice getting up early last week and they wouldn't be so tired this week! :0) (oh...check out the scarf being worn properly by an 11 YEAR OLD and not an old lady!)

And so....the ignoring begins.

HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY, TAYLOR!! I'm so proud of who you are and what you are becoming!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO!!

OH...MY...GAWD...Becki, look at those girls...they are SO big....

Title creatively brought to you by Sir-Mix-A-Lot and his infamous tune "Baby Got Back". Yeah...wait 'til you look below and you'll get what I'm talkin' about.

I'm cheap. Have I told you all that yet? I am. Can't stand to buy the school pictures the girls get taken TWICE a year. I know. TWO times the misery of horrible, posed, never gonna use except for the player cards for soccer, pictures. You know the ones. No offense to any of those people who take school photos but...yuck.

So I have taken matters into my own hands. It's about time. I know.

Yesterday was the first day of school for my kiddos. They are gettin' SO big. Makes me laugh and cry and clap my hands and giggle then cry again.

With this one, my work is almost done here, people. She is a JUNIOR. Yeah, I know. Just last week she was standing in the kitchen butt naked, but for the saggy diaper and her curly white blond hair, I swear.

And when I said..."Hey Y'ALL! Momma wants to run outside a take a few pics of her precious babies!" in my best southern accent, she failed to understand that her paint splattered soccer t-shirt, worn and tattered and lived in would need to be changed for something much more fancy lookin' for SCHOOL PICTURES. Oh well. I happen to think she's gorgeous anyway. 'Cuz she's MY baby.

Corn is so pretty. It is. Just took these while the girls dog piled each other between shots. Thought you might enjoy something farm-ish in this post too. Yep...I'm nice like that.

Oh, my sweet Taylor. My work with this one is headed into its "busy season". She started 6th grade yesterday and is officially in junior high. I seriously would NOT go back to junior high to save my life. And I really like my life but it just ain't happen.


Of all my girls she is the most camera shy. She really just freezes up as soon as I put it to my face. She gives me a goofy smile or closes her eyes...anything to get out of taking a picture. But she is gorgeous. Wish you could see her how I see her....crackin' jokes, laughin', tattlin' on her sisters, trying to be a friend to everyone....even the girls at school who have hurt her. She has learned to love them anyway while guarding her heart. Check out her all natural, God-given mole just below her lip. I so know....very movie-star-ish, don't ya think?

And then comes this kid. Too smart for her own safety, more energy than Alli and Taylor put together, athletic, musically inclined, super photogenic and loves to "pose" as soon as she sees my camera come out of the bag. Carli started 4th grade yesterday and can DO ANYTHING she tries. She is just that girl.

My little corn nuts....

Wow. I really don't have words for the next few other than it's sooooo awesome when I actually get to capture them lovin' each other. :0)

OH....MY....GAWD. Who is their mother?! So rude. Wait. I AM!!!! Hee hee!! LUCKY ME!!!

So our fearless search for the perfect school photo replacement is still in high gear. Just wanted to share round one with y'all. You know....'cuz I can.

My girl Taylor....

Taylor will be turning 11 in a few days. Headed into 6th grade and all the drama that goes along with being a girl, being a pre-teen in junior high and all the life changes that will come in the next few years. I took this photo in her favorite jeans. For her birthday, I'm planning to put it in a cute frame to remind her that she is who is is....the only approval she needs is God's.

Pray for her (and me!) to get through these next few crazy years and that she remembers all of God's promises to her.....

Snooze-a-pooloza turned party town.....

Found myself slumping down in the seats at Taylor's 5th grade music concert last night. Typically these things are somewhat bearable as they go very quickly, but last night it was a long show (I am NOT a music hater....really. I just dislike these functions). I was whining about having to go to the bathroom while sitting center row in the middle of a million people (I kid....I was only in the middle of a half a million), but that's neither here nor there.....just adds to the drama of my displeasure, don't ya think?

We listened to the 5th grade band...they were ok. We listened to a trumpet player knock her number out of the park.....kid had talent. We listened to a few other soloists who did not have talent. We listened to the boys choir and the girls choir....they were both mildly entertaining.

I started to perk up a little when the full 5th grade choir hit the stage. Yeah....they ROCKED. Literally.

They sang a ton of old school songs from the 60's and 70's like Hard Days Night (I love me some Beetles, baby), Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, Hound Dog, Blue Suede Shoes, The Twist, Dancing Queen and on and on. They danced like crazy with tons of disco moves and they even square danced!

See pictures below.....by the end of the concert an hour and a half later, the whole crowd was into it and clapping along. Good stuff right there. Started out slow, but ended strong. I even forgot how badly I needed to pee. :0)

That's my kiddo dead center (the blond).

Here she is again with the girls choir....

Full girls choir.....

The full 5th grade doing the twist....they rocked the house.

This kid was the Purple People Eater.....he was hilarious.

Best number of the night? Elvis. He sang Hound Dog while dancing Just. Like. Elvis. The old lady behind me nearly fainted. Not even kidding. She was screaming so loud I thought my ear drum would rupture. In this picture it's at the end and he is saying..."Thank ya. Thank ya very much." (notice his left hand pointing) :0)

Lots of talent in this 5th grade. Nothing like making sure the next generation knows what REAL music is all about. My hat goes off to the very grumpy music teacher!!!

A few random thoughts.....

First: I saw a miracle this morning. With my own two eyes.

Taylor and Carli are best friends although neither will ever admit it. They truly love each other but fight like cats and dogs at least once a day.....usually bed time. You see....they share a room. I know. I'm a mean mom. :) At bed time, one of them will yell at me "SHE WON'T BE QUIET!!! Ugh! I want my OWN room!" It's our nightly ritual.

Here is the miracle.....this morning, Carli is in the kitchen getting cereal and Taylor is in the bathroom doing her hair while her oatmeal is in the microwave. I hear Carli yell "Taylor! Your oatmeal is done!" Taylor responds "Thanks SISSY!"

NOT. EVEN. KIDDING.

Taylor walks out to the kitchen and Carli turns around to her and says "You look cute in that shirt."

Again. NOT. EVEN. KIDDING.

God was in that house this morning. I drove to work praying that whole scene take place a little more often.

Second: I learned something VERY important last night.

I was sitting in a bookstore coffee shop with Mark and we talked about a lot of things. Over the course of the evening it became very clear to me that my relationships....until yesterday....have been played out in a dark room. Meaning I've spent a huge majority of my adult life fumbling around trying to understand and put things together without being able to "see" what I was doing or what was around me. Simply stated, until the right person came along, the room would be dark. I wouldn't know how to do it right and would continue to stumble along. God directed me to the light switch and He turned it on. This relationship with Mark is filled with light. A light that gets brighter and stronger every day. I'm starting to see the things around me and understand what it takes, what I want, what I need, how to be a good partner. It's funny how when God is involved it all comes together so easily and so much better than when He is not. For the first time in my life, I'm figuring it all out and enjoying the journey. God is good and I am very blessed to finally have the light ON.

Third: I need some prayer.

Mark does a 40 day fast every year during this time and I have decided to join him. Will be the hardest thing I've ever done (I think....I have no idea what to expect). RELAX. It's not a starvation thing.....it's a reduction thing. It is a healthy decision and I know in my heart it will be exactly what I need during this spiritual journey I am on. God told me so last night when I asked Him if I should do it. I plan to blog about it so you can follow along if you'd like. We begin March 4th. Until then, pray for me and Mark. I'm taking a leap of faith and following God's direction here.....I need you to pray for my ability to REDUCE.

JC is my BFF!!!

Taylor, Sponge Bob and photography....

IT WAS SO FUNNY....I walked in the house Tuesday night after writing my bog about getting Taylor watching Sponge Bob and possibly putting her in a Memory mate. You know what the first thing that kid said to me was? "HEY MOM! GUESS WHAT!?!? Sponge Bob is on and it's a TOTALLY NEW EPISODE!!' I almost peed my pants. Went and got my camera and here is my baby watching Sponge Bob. No Memory Mate....sorry.

NO....she does not normally sit next to the TV like this....I made her move there so YOU could see SPONGE BOB!!!

Playing the clarinet....this is a rare sighting of a clarinet playing little girl!

Then, I saw a blog a few days ago about handing your camera to someone and having them take a few pictures to see the world from their viewpoint. All my girls love to take picture with my camera so last night I let Taylor have a go of it. Here is what she took. She is actually a pretty good photographer!

I guess the guys head is not important. Hey....it's what see shes in the world, remember?!

Pretty trees and leaves. She gets art, I think.

Happy Friday everyone!!!

JC is my BFF....