Gig em Aggies...or not.

Ok, so I feel like my blogs are getting very long and boring. I already wrote the blog about going to the Independence Bowl, but I feel like all those details are a little unnecessary. Here's what you need to know. (feel free to read the original blog found below if you are just terribly bored.).
1. Back in the car for 5 more hours.
2. Midway through the car ride, drop Kherington off at Mom's for her first night away from Mommy and Daddy.
3. Get to the hotel. Layer, layer, layer...it's gonna be cold.
4. Get to the game...diggin the atmosphere. Have a little "sweet tea."
5. First half + crazy Aggies = fun. Oh yeah, A&M is a bit like a cult, but a fun one.
6. Second half + lots of turnovers + sunset = freezing cold and losing
7. Got to see David, Kathy, and the kids.
8. Dinner at Saltgrass. YUM! "losers, party of four...losers, party of four."
9. Sleep on an air mattress...ewww
10. Next morning, Waffle House. "I sure hope this doesn't affect my tip," after we waited FOREVER to even order drinks.
11. Finally home!!!!

The morning after Christmas in Cleburne, we got up early to hit the road yet again. Off to Shreveport for the Independence Bowl to see A&M play Georgia. First, to Bogata we went to drop Kherington off at my mom's. She keeps Andrea's 2 girls overnight often, but now that we are adding another kiddo to the mix, it should make for an interesting night. The rest of the trip would be with Andrea and AD. We went straight to the hotel when we got there to put on our many layers for the cold night ahead and to meet Aaron. From there we went to the game. We got lucky and didn't have to fight too much traffic; however, we had to park forever away from the stadium. After the long walk, we were regretting all the clothes we had on. The atmosphere outside the stadium was awesome! We made our way to the stadium only to wait in a long line to get inside. While waiting, our cousin, David, and his family joined us in line. They live in Indiana, so we rarely see them. The line moved quickly and we found our seats. The first half was great! With such a close score, it looked like the Aggies might have a chance. Since I didn't go to school there, I wasn't really invested in the game. However, my sister is an Aggie, and if you know an Aggie, you know it's probably just best to cheer for A&M right along with them. They can get a little crazy about their school. :) I will admit that being surrounded by Aggies made for a fun time! As you probably already know, the 2nd half got a little out of hand. As the spread between the two teams' scores became larger, the crowd got smaller. This gave us a chance to go sit with David, Kathy, and the kids. After an excrutaiting 2nd half, the game ended and we got to the car as quickly as possible to thaw out. To make up for the loss, we went to Salt Grass for dinner. There we met David and the fam yet again. While waiting to be seated, we hear "Losers...party of 4, Losers...party of 4." With confusion, we all looked around to see who exactly the "losers" were. A group of 4 Aggie fans made their way to the front of the crowd to go to their table.

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During our trip, Andrea and I talked to Mom a few times to see how the girls were doing. At one point, Mom txt me a picture of Kherington's bathtime. The pic says it all. Nothing like a night in Bogata...

What has the world come to?

Am I seriously at home blogging on New Year's Eve?!

Christmas in Cleburne

Dec. 27, 2009

On the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again...

It seems like we just got back to Tyler, and we have to leave again. This time it's Christmas with Brad's family in Cleburne. Up and at em early again. On the way to Brad's parents house, Steve (the middle brother) txt Brad telling him to hurry and get there. We were only about 30 minutes away, but Brad just had to txt and say it would be a few more hours. Christmas just isn't Christmas without Brad making some kind of joke. Of course, when we got there they were shocked to see us so soon and excited to see Kherington. It was another full house. Brad's parents, all five boys, myself, Kherington, and Megan (Brooks's wife). With that many hungry boys, of course lunch came first. Afterwards, we opened gifts. This is always a very eventful time in the Baca house. They have a tradition called the 'Dollar General Christmas.' It started as an inexpensive way for the brothers to buy gifts for one another and has turned into gag gifts and it's good for quite a laugh. I'd say the prize goes to Steve for his gift this year. He got Brooks a locket. If you know Brooks, it's funny enough that he got a locket for Christmas. He's about 6'5" 230 and not really the locket type. We were all already laughing when Steve told him to open it. Inside he would find a picture of himself in one side and a picture of Steve in another. It was priceless! After the DG gifts, we all opened the real deal. I got a new George Foreman grill, more scrapbook stuff, and some money. Kherington got even more cute clothes and a cute teddy bear.

The rest of the night was full of football, Kherington fussing (imagine that), even an impromptu talk show in the living room. If I can figure out how to upload videos from my video camera, I'll put it on here with a little better explanation.

Finally it was time for bed. One more night on the air mattress and an early morning ahead of us.

It's our First Christmas as a Family

How many of you have seen the ridiculous commercial for the jewelry store where a mommy is up in the middle of the night rocking her baby. The dad comes in, and she says "It's 2am, what are you doing up?" He replies in his sweetest whisper voice, "It's not just 2am. It's 2am Christmas morning. It's our first Christmas as a family. I couldn't wait." Get real! That's pretty much exactly NOT how anyone's first Christmas as a family goes. There are several things wrong. 1) If it isn't your turn to wake up with your baby in the middle of the night, there's no way you would go voluntarily. 2) The baby is way too calm. 3) The mom is WAY too alert. 4) The daddy turns on the Christmas tree lights right next to the sleeping baby. I could go on... Here's a little of how our first Christmas as a family has gone so far.


Christmas Eve started at about 7:30, which is still a little early for me and Brad on a vacation day. We did a couple hours of cleaning. How festive...I know! Next, came packing which happened according to Jo Jo's (that's her new nickname) mood and naps. We were sure to have everything ready to load in the car before she was ready for her next bottle. With a two hour trip ahead of us, we needed her to have a full belly. The drive, thank goodness, was uneventful. We got to mom's at about 3...let the fun begin. We had a couple of calm, quiet hours before Andrea and the girls got there. They are always full of energy and excitement, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Since Aaron had to work, we did a lot of snacking and hanging out while we waited for him. While we waited, we also let Kherington "open" her gifts since she was getting a little cranky. (She is the most even tempered baby in the world, until we go to someone else's house. Then, she acts like a dang fool. Crying and whining...only wanting to be held...being very particular. Our families are going to start thinking we are lying when we brag about how good she is.) Anyway, she "opened" her gifts. She got lots of cute clothes and some diapers and money from Mom and Andrea. Mom also got her a glowworm. Glowworms have come a long way since we were little.

Finally Aaron got there, so we all opened our gifts and played the white elephant gift exchange game with gift cards. Our family always seems to do things a little different...maybe even wrong. Other families usually live to steal someone else's gift, even if they don't love it. It's just fun to take it from someone. Not us. We went through the entire game with not one stolen gift card. The game ended in about 2 minutes. I got a gift card to Olive Garden (Aaron, here we come) and a ticket to the Independence Bowl. Once all the presents were opened and the piles of reindeer paper were picked up, it was times to play games. Andrea and I kicked some major tail at Catch Phrase and Guesstures! And...that's pretty much all we played. The other game doesn't even deserved to be mentioned as far as I'm concerned. :)

One of the best things about Christmas this year was Mom getting up with Kherington for the night since we stayed at her house. Jo Jo sleeps through the night for the most part, only waking up for her paci, but it is still annoying to wake up in the middle of the night. It's nice to have a night of uninterrupted sleep.

Christmas morning came too early...8:00. We got up, fed Kherington, and headed to Dad's. Their house was packed, just as on any Christmas morning. Dad, Mary Lynn, her three kiddos + one boyfriend and one friend from the Marines, and us three + 2 husbands and 3 kids. For the first time in YEARS, Andrea beat me there! There is something so wrong with that picture. Not long after we arrived, we opened gifts. Kherington got a cute stuffed bunny, a pretty quilt, and lots more cute clothes. I got money (ummm hmmmm) and stuff to start a scrapbook for Jo Jo. After gifts, we had breakfast and sat around the dining room table listening to AD's antics as usual.

After going back to Mom's for a few hours, we came back to Tyler, but not for long...

I am the big loser whose camera died during Christmas. To see pics, visit Andrea's Blog. :)

Seriously?!

Why is it that Brad hears Kherington before me at night?! When we first brought her home, I heard and woke up to the slightest sound she made. Now, Brad will wake me up to go get her. I'll say "Why don't you get her this time and I'll get her next time?" To that he replies, "I already got up with her." How is it that he not only hears her cry, but also gets up to give her her paci, and I never even wake up. One of two things is happening. Either he is lying and not really getting up, or Kherington and Brad have some kind of morse code they are using at night. Better yet, maybe her cry is like those sounds that only dogs can hear. Maybe Brad's ears are the only ones that can hear her nighttime cry. Seriously?! What kind of mother has to be woken up by a daddy to get her baby?!

Kherington's First (and hopefully last) Teacher Workshop

I started this blog a couple of weeks ago but just finished it. This was actually on Dec. 10th. Another warning: I do a lot of 'blah, blah, blah' with no pictures, so if you're like me you may want to skip this one. Anyway, on to the story...

I got to school Thursday morning ready to give it one more try with hopes that a few more kids would catch on. I was in a pretty good mood. It was Thursday which is the next best thing right behind Friday, and we were getting to wear jeans. Right when I sat down at my desk I remembered that I had training after school from 4:30-6:30. Pre-baby, training sucked bad enough, but now I am even more anxious to leave work in the afternoon. At that same moment I remembered that Brad was driving the basketball boys to their tournament and would be working later than usual too. Who in the heck was going to keep Kherington? I called Brad for suggestions, but more so, for someone with a level head to tell me that it wasn't the end of the world. We decided that the best bet would be for Aaron, yes my little brother Aaron, to keep her if he didn't have to work. If he had to work, it was looking like it would be Kherington's first teacher workshop. Since it was before 12 noon I knew he would still be asleep, so I just txt him to see if he could do it. Unsure of when he would get off, I just decided that she could go with me.


With a plan in mind, I felt a little better, until...I realized that we have tutorials after school on Thursdays until 4:00. That would mean that I had to leave the school at 4:10ish, pick up Kherington, go home to pack a diaper bag, and make it there by 4:30. Late is not an option for me, especially when I need to be somewhere early and get a seat in the back. Luckily, Dena (another 2nd grade teacher) offered to take my tutorial kids for the last 15 minutes of tutorials, so I could start my rat race. I rushed out the door. I got home and threw together a bag with a few diapers, a bottle and a bib or two. Next, off to get Kherington. Whew...she still has on the clothes I put on her this morning, I thought to myself. She won't have to go with me looking like an orphan. Now, for the drive across town. I made it there on time, maybe even a few minutes early, only to find that our class was not in the room it is usually in. This time we would be in a packed room with no tables, only rows of chairs. No problem, we'll just sit in the back to cause as little of a distraction as possible...not an option. The only empty chairs were in the front row. Isn't that lovely. In I walk, carrying the carrier that now seems to have grown to the size of Mt. Everest. Getting to the front with the big awkward thing was a sight to see. Finally to my seat....let's get this thing started so all eyes will be off of me and this will be over with! Oh it couldn't be that simple. The presenter had to make her way over to me and ooh and goo about how cute Kherington is. Don't get me wrong, I love to hear it as much as the next person, but when you are trying to draw as little attention to yourself as possible it's not ideal. I was really hoping for a back row seat, so I could play with Kherington and it wouldn't feel as rude as it would feel on the front row. Well, here I am on the front row. It's either pay attention and maybe (I said MAYBE) learn something new to use in my classroom, but have Kherington whine because she's not getting enough attention, or...play with Kherington and not hear a word that's said the entire time. I went for the latter. At least that way the people sitting around me could hear. The presentation started, Kherington was being an angel, and I started to feel relaxed, until I remembered that right about now every day is when Kherington 'shooeys in her panties.' (That's what we call it in our house...not sure where it came from.) Sure enough, there she goes and there I go with my first trip out of the room with yet another huge distraction. It didn't help that the presenter announced, "Isn't that the cutest baby you've ever seen?" Needless to say, that was not the last time I had to leave the room and cause another commotion. It' was a l-o-n-g two hours!

Gotta love 2nd grade....

One of the stations in my classroom is the "Dear Mrs. Baca" station. Each of my students has a journal. They write letters to me, and I write them back. I hear lots of kind things like "You're the best teacher ever," and "You are so pretty." I recently read a letter that was a little different, still sweet though. One of my kids wrote..

Dear Mrs. Baca, If your hilter ever runs out of hilt I will get you some more.

I was so confused about what he meant. I went next door to Ms. Gaines who teaches 2nd grade with me. She taught kindergarten for years before teaching 2nd grade, so who better for the job of decoding the writing of a child. Even she could not figure out what he was saying. The next day I called the student to my table while the kids were in stations and said, "I loved your letter. Can you read it for me?" He said, "Dear Mrs. Baca, If your highlighter ever runs out of highlight, I will get you some more." How precious is that? Is that a sign that I need to put the highlighter away?

Here's a poem that I got from one of my kiddos. I'll translate for those who don't teach elementary school. :)

rosis are red (Roses are red)
bluw bonis are blu (Bluebonnets are blue)
the owe I cair (The one I care)
abowt is you (About it you)
I cair abowt you (I care about you)
mor than flowers (More than flowers)
so hav haqqy owrs (So have happy hours)

Thanksgiving Traditions

A few years ago my family started a new Thanksgiving tradition. Most families use the last week of Thanksgiving to spend time with loved ones and have lots of warm fuzzy moments. Not us. We go to the boats in Shreveport. Nothing like saying thanks at a blackjack table with a drink in your hand. It's not as bad as it sounds. We don't go on Thanksgiving day, just a few days before. This past Tuesday when Brad got off work we hit the road. Earlier that day I realized that this would be Kherington's first overnight trip and her first time in another state. I wanted to stop and take a picture at the 'Welcome to Louisiana' sign, but it was already dark at that point in our journey. We would have been there a little earlier if Brad and I had not been too busy talking to see I20...not exactly the easiest thing to miss, but we managed. Our mishap went unnoticed until we were entering Gladewater (that's a good 15 miles past our turn). Drive, drive, drive, music, music, chat, chat...all with fingers crossed that Kherington would sleep until we got there. She did just that. Finally, we were there. Let the fun begin, for Brad that is. I'm not a real big fan of throwing money in the trashcan, so I didn't do any gambling. I stayed in the room with Andrea, Ave, and Addison watching "So You Think You Can Dance." Brad, on the other hand, is a huge fan of that, so he went to play blackjack. It's a real fun game, but he has not honed his craft yet. :) His time spent at a blackjack table is why we get coupons for 'free' hotel rooms in the mail and why they give 'free' drinks while you gamble. While the night was winding down, the girls were not. They built a tent for a movie theater in the corner. In that tent Addison decided to write on a pillow case with a pen (Sorry Sam's Town), scratch Avery in the face, and spill an entire orange soda in the floor. Gotta love her! Finally Andrea got them calm and in the bed watching a movie. Mom offered to keep Kherington in her room, so Brad and I got a full nights sleep!!! After a wild and crazy night in Shreveport (yeah right), we spent the day shopping at The Boardwalk in Shreveport. Trying to fit clothes on this new mommy body I've got wasn't fun! Somehow, those 5 pounds that I have left prevent me from wearing anything that they sell in any store on the entire Boardwalk. Kherington and Brad got plenty of new things. Luckily, no matter how big you get, shoes still fit, so I got a new pair of tennis shoes to run in. That has yet to happen, but they sure do look cool. After a delicious lunch/dinner at Salt Grass we came home and unpacked just to pack all over again for the next morning.

Rise and shine! I got up the next morning to finish packing and get ready to go to Cleburne. Let the traditional Thanksgiving festivities begin. We had a 2 1/2 hour drive ahead of us and needed to stop by a grocery store for the rolls. Thank goodness that's all we were in charge of bringing since Brad failed to tell me. Luckily his mom predicted that and text me the day before to let me know. Kherington was a doll again and slept the whole way there waking up just in time to scream as we walked in the door. Nothing a little formula won't fix. She was in heaven for the rest of our visit. Never a moment without the attention of someone, usually several people at once. She got to meet several people that she had never met before, a few aunts and uncles, several cousins, and her great grandmother. She spent a lot of her day awake with out much of a nap, so I was looking forward to a good night's sleep. That was not the case! She didn't go to sleep until 12, woke up at 1, 3, and again at 7 to get the day started. You gotta be kidding me! I was good for nothin' the next day. After more family time and lots more football, we headed back to Tyler. On the way back the Heavens opened up and the angels sang as I ate a meal from Taco Cabana. Oh the delight!! When we got home Kherington was snoozing in her car seat. She woke up and had a little play time in her bouncy seat and a bath in her tub. Once again, I was sure Kherington would let us get some sleep. Boy was I ever wrong...again. Maybe it's the snotty nose and cough that she got along the way. I'm SO not ready for a sick baby. Let's just hope that tonight is better!! Overall, Thanksgiving was a success. One holiday down, one to go. Now I have to start getting gifts...

Track Star

Here's a video of Kherington playing in her bouncy seat. When I watch it I think, 'How precious is that. She's learning how to play.' When I showed Brad he said, "She's gonna be fast. She's got good form." That's a coach for ya.

Country Girl

I never thought I'd have a country girl... I guess I was wrong. For a while the only way to get Kherington to go to sleep anywhere other than in her swing was by listening to the blow dryer. It still works for the most part, but when it doesn't we have a back up. She l-o-v-e-s 'Big Green Tractor' by Jason Aldean. She will go from fussy to sound asleep in seconds if you play that song for her. What has the world come to? Why, of all the songs on her sleep play list, is that one the one she loves? Here's a before and after pic of her listening to her song.

So much to say...

Disclaimer: Before you read this, if you are anything like me you may be disappointed. I like to look at pictures that go along with a story. (Maybe that's why I teach 2nd grade. The books still have more pictures than words.) There are no pictures to accompany this entry. I am pretty sure I didn't even have time to turn my camera on much less take any pictures. :)

This week has been crazy...where do I begin?!

Well, I started back to work on Wednesday, So I had to drop Kherington off at daycare. All along I had been saying that I was going to make Brad take her because I knew I wouldn't be able to do it without crying. Who was I kidding? I had to take her on her first day! Brad and I went together. I probably needed the moral support. I made it out of the daycare without any tears. Well, at least no tears streaming...they were still in my eyes. The tears came later when I got to school...thanks LeAnn and Adam. When 7:45 hit and the kids came in the room, I didn't have much time to think about it. Luckily the day went by quickly. Of all days to have meetings after school, it only makes sense that today would be the day. We had to take a test about technology on the computer after school. I had it all planned out that I was going to rush to the library, take the test FAST, and go get my doodle bug. Too bad we had to wait for everyone to get there, and then we had to wait for directions on how to do it. The directions were clearly stated on our handout, so I couldn't quite understand why I couldn't just get started. Now I know how some of my kids feel when I make them wait to get started on their work in class. "We'll get started when everyone has their name and number on their paper." I've said those words too many times, followed by step-by step directions, while a few kids stare at the ceiling thinking 'I could be done by now.' I may have to change it to, "If you understand what to do you may get started. If you would like directions..." I finally got to get started and finished in record time. I left immediately after. 'I wonder what I'm teaching tomorrow?' Guess we'll find out in the morning. When I picked Kherington up she was sleeping in her pack 'n play. The girls in her room went on and on about how cute she is and how great she did. Even if she cried and cried, they are smart girls for saying she had a great time. It's exactly what I needed to hear. I felt much better dropping her off the next morning.

I didn't think I had missed my kids or my job while I was at home, but I found out quickly that my thoughts weren't completely accurate. It had been too long since I got to read a book to 20 kiddos all crisscross applesauce in their rows. I also missed all the funny things they say. Here are a few examples from this week.

One first grader said, "Ooohhh, Mrs. Baca baby done camed out and she got skinny." Did I mention that he's my favorite now?

I saw one of my former students who is now in fourth grade. He is way too cool to acknowledge his 2nd grade teacher so he tried to walk quickly and not get trapped talking to me...not quick enough. He said, "So where you been anyway?" I replied, "I had my baby. Can you tell." "Yeah." "How can you tell?" The look on his face was priceless. You could tell he was worried that he could hurt my feelings depending on his answer. He said, "I don't know how to say it." Now I have to know what he's thinking, so I asked again. Looking at the floor, he cut his eyes to my stomach and pointed. "She ain't in there anymore." :)

Daddy in Action

Our day started with Kheri Jo's first time at church and lunch at Bodacious. It was delish! I've missed going to eat there. Brad has brought it home a couple times since she was born, but it's just not the same as actually going to the restaurant. At home, you can't drown your BBQ sandwich in their sauce like you can if you actually go there. Church and lunch was a great outing, but I needed to go shopping for some stuff that Kherington needs for day care. (She is starting Wednesday...sore subject...let's don't even go there) We didn't want to push our luck, and I knew Kherington would be eager to stretch out at home. I dropped off Aaron, Brad, and Kherington at home and left for Babies 'R Us. Brad is so great with her when I'm at home, so I didn't think to tell him anything before I left. While I'm shopping (the trip for formula and diapers turned into a baby clothes shopping spree. It's hard not to look at clothes at B.R.U. They have Amy Coe clothes which btw are the cutest baby clothes ever!) I get a call. I can hear Kherington crying in the background, and Brad asks in somewhat of a panic, "What time did she eat?" I tell him that it's been a little over 2 hours, so she might be hungry since she didn't finish her bottle from earlier. Problem solved, or so I thought. We hung up, and the phone call didn't cross my mind again. You may be thinking that the panic in his voice should have lit a fire under me and sped up my shopping trip. However, if you know Brad, (bless his heart) you know that he tends to get frazzled in situations like that. He can be a bit uptight, and is a huge non-fan of Kherington's pitiful little cry. I knew that everything was really ok, even if he didn't. I finish looking at clothes, grab the necessities, and head home. (Side story - As I lay my things on the counter to check out, the girl asks, "Would you like to save 10% today?" My answer is always, "No, thanks." That conversation always makes me feel like a total snot. Who wouldn't want to save 10%? I know it's not gonna be that simple though. It's going to be some form I have to fill out or a credit card. I don't have time for that, even if I will save 10%. They shouldn't be allowed to ask it like that. They should have to say, "Would you like to waste 10 precious minutes of your busy day to fill out a form, only to save about 2 bucks?") Whew...I feel like my ADD just kicked in. Back to the story. Finally home, I walked in the door to find a puddle of partially mixed formula in the dining room floor. I immediately died laughing. Why is it that in the 8 weeks that I have been at home with her there has yet to be an entire bottle spill in the floor? I walk a little further to find Kherington and Brad sitting in the recliner and Aaron sitting on the couch. Aaron and Brad look a little stressed, but Kherington is looking fat, dumb, and happy. (That is Brad's saying for "Man, I really enjoyed that meal". I would never think of that on my own! I guess he is rubbing off on me.) I get a little closer to see that Brad is covered in spit up. How in the heck could such a disaster have happened so quickly?

I have since gotten Brad's version of the story. What I wouldn't give to hear Kherington's side. I'm sure it was a funny sight to see! I'll try to relay it to you just as he told me. Evidently when I left, Kherington was already fussy and headed on a downward spiral. "She had a wet diaper and was due to eat." NO! Not both of those things at the same time. What ever will he do?! So, next he changed her diaper. Good start! Now, it was time to fix a bottle. I had recently washed her bottles, so there were a few left in the pot on the stove from me boiling them. There were also a few dirty bottles here and there. He found a clean bottle and the ring that screws on the top, but no clean nipple. He says he looked 'everywhere,' while she was screaming. While his frantic search continued, Aaron picked up Kherington because the crying had intensified. Maybe there's a nipple in the diaper bag. While Brad was digging through the diaper bag like a pregnant woman digs in the pantry, his hands got a little crazy and knocked the bottle into the floor. It finally came to him to check in the pot on the stove. There they are! He made a bottle, and they finally had one happy baby! The disaster was over..well, aside from the massive amount of spit up that was on the way. I asked him later why he didn't just rinse out the nipple from the dirty bottle in the living room. He said, "I've never seen you do that, so I didn't know it was an option." Bless his heart! How precious is that?! With this episode under his belt, I think he is ready to brave bath time.

Best Day

Thursdays in the Baca house are pretty dang good days (lots of our shows are on), but yesterday was pretty much the best day ever. Well, aside from the day Kherington was born, my wedding day, blah blah. Anyway, the day started with a visitor. Kim came to spend the day with us, so I got to have some adult conversation and someone to shop with! We had a great day! Brad got home at 5 something which is a breath of fresh air, since Thursdays are l-a-t-e days during football season. The first thing he said to me when he go home was, "I think you need an iPhone." I've been moaning about my phone for a while now, but I am not the kind of person that is going to buy something unless I really think I need it. I can't begin to count how many times I've picked out a dress or a shirt at Target and carried it around the entire time only to put it back because 'I don't need it.' It drives Brad crazy, especially when I gripe the following week about having nothing to wear. He knew that if it was up to me I would just use my phone until it fell apart or I dropped it in a glass or tea or something (oh, it's been done). I wasn't about to argue with him, so we loaded up and went to the store to get my new phone. Buyers remorse was just around the corner, but Brad convinced me that I should get it and that it would be worth it. It definitely was! When we got home, let the TV watching/playing with my new phone begin. While learning of all the cool things that it does, I found out the real reason Brad wanted me to get the phone. Besides the fact that my old phone was a total piece and he couldn't hear me when he called me, he wanted to buy the 'I am T-Pain' app that has auto-tunes. I'm pretty sure T-Pain is his idol...sad, but true. It won't be long before Brad records a song and sends it to his brothers. Believe it or not, there were more good things to come. Aaron called me when he was just getting off work at Olive Garden. He brought me one of their fabulous salads after I did a little begging. Little brothers are good for something! Now...for the best part of the day. Kherington went to sleep at 10:30 and slept until....wait for it...6 freaking 30. Good TV, Kim came to visit, new phone, Olive Garden salad, and a good nights sleep. Does it get any better than that?!

Blowdryer

Kherington had a long weekend. Football game on Friday, baby shower Saturday morning, pictures at Sears Saturday afternoon, and a day with her cousins. Needless to say, by Sunday morning she had a bit of attitude. Sometimes her fussiness can be cured by walking around with her, so we were strolling through the house. Her Nannie (my mom) was here since she stayed with us Saturday night so me and Brad could go out. She was in the guest room blow drying her hair. I walked into the room with Kherington and as soon as she heard the sound of the blow dryer, she stopped crying. I stayed for a few more minutes and she went to sleep. She very rarely falls asleep in someones arms without a bottle, and if she does it isn't without a fight.

Sunday night as Aaron, Brad, and I were watching the Cowboys game, she was following her normal evening routine of fussing because sleep is drawing near. It's really hard to hear the announcers with a crying baby in the room, so we busted out the blow dryer. As soon as I turned it on, the crying stopped. Minutes, maybe even seconds, later she was sound asleep! I was all prepared to buy a new blow dryer every month, but to cure fussy/sleepy baby syndrome it would be worth it. Before I burn out my blow dryer or catch the house on fire, I decided to look online for a noise machine or CD that might serve the same purpose. I found a CD that is 1 straight hour of blow dryer noise. I started to order it, but waiting 3 days for shipping was not something I was prepared to do. Could I be lucky enough to find it on itunes? It was worth a try. Believe it or not, I found the same CD on itunes, bought it, and uploaded it to my ipod. It has been working like a charm!

Attn: New Dads

My brother, Aaron, spent the day with me and Kherington today. At one point he decided that he'd change her diaper. This is a rare occurrence! He swears he's changed Addison's (our niece) diaper once or twice, but I never witnessed it. Aaron is the kind of person that asks about a thousand questions before doing anything new. Before he could start with the questions, I told him that the only thing he needed to know was to wipe her hiney from front to back. I guess that was not easy for a guy's brain to remember, so he said front to back, belly button to crack. Really Aaron?! How can anyone make changing a newborns diaper sound so gross? I guess he needed a little rhyme to remember what to do. So, for all of you new dads/uncles with baby girls, just remember front to back, belly button to crack.

Somethin' Bout that 2nd Quarter

So...we (meaning me, Kherington, and one very brave Uncle Aaron) were going to leave the house at 6:30 to make a second attempt at a football game. Being the new mommy that I am, I started getting ready at about 5ish. I packed a bag for her that looked like we were going on a six week hike across Antarctica, put on my blue and gold, and left to cheer the Bulldogs into the playoffs. They had to win by 7 to make it in. We got there early enough that we didn't have to fight much of a crowd to get to our seats. At this point she was asleep, and I was crossing my fingers that it remained that way for a while. It was then that I realized that the cute outfit I bought at Babies R Us today was probably not necessary since not one inch of her body would see the light of day because of all of the blankets. (One day I will learn that there aren't many events that call for a cute outfit for a newborn.) One of the other coach's wives/my friend, Katie, and her daughter sat with us. Her daughter, Kobie, is fascinated with Kherington and would give anything to get her hands on her! :) Maybe next football season, she'll be a better friend for Miss Kobie. The first quarter was uneventful with regards to us, aside from the air horn and noisemakers nearby. Eventually, the noise got the best of her, so she woke up to have a bottle. The first quarter ended 16-6...not in our favor. Kherington was a trooper for most of the 2nd quarter. With 4 minutes to go, one of the boys got hurt (he's ok now), so the game stopped. Evidently she didn't like the stall in action, so she started getting a little fussy. I wanted to at least make it through the first half, so with a little bouncing and rocking she went back to sleep. At this point, the noise and chilly air was frankly enough for me. I know it wasn't bothering her, but you can't help but wonder. I was afraid that she was getting too cold and that the noise was too much for her little ears, so we decided to hit the road. At this point in the game, it was 22-12 with Gladewater still leading. Luckily Aaron was there to do the heavy lifting and carry the carrier to the car for me. After a stop by Taco B for a little snack, we went to the casa. Kherington was pleased as punch to lay on her play mat and stretch out. After a little playtime, she had a bath, a bottle, and she crashed hard. If we had a TAKS accountability rating, but for our trip to the football game, we would probably be considered acceptable verging on recognized. For those of you who aren't teachers, that means we did ok, but there is mos def room for improvement. Maybe next time, maybe with nerve meds for me, we'll do better and be commended. :)

When the game was over, Brad called to tell me the bitter/sweet news. They won! But only by 6, and they needed to win by 7 to make the playoffs. This led to another realization about myself. I am turning into one heck of a coach's wife. In our conversation, Brad said, "Well we ended the season 5 and 5," sounding a little disappointed. I replied, "Well, they are a young team." Seriously?! Who says that? I need a break from football season before I start talking football plays with him on Sunday afternoons.

2nd Attempt

We're going to try another football game, but this time we are going to actually sit in the stands. Wish us luck!

Realizations

As I get older, I am coming to many realizations about myself, some bad, some good.

1. When Brad and I sat down to watch a movie and he had to use three different remotes and change the input, the channel, and some settings on the TV, I realized that I am not as independent as I once was. How are my independence and watching a movie related? Well, for my entire life the words, "Let me do that for you," automatically translated to "I don't think you're capable." I wanted to, and did for the most part, do everything by myself and for myself. That night I realized that I would not be capable of watching a dad gum movie without Brad turning it on for me...eww. Guess I'm not Mrs. Independent like I thought I was. How pitiful is that? My goal this week is to figure out all the contraptions that go with the TV!

2. With my independence disappearing, so is my youth. I realized this past week that I am no longer 21. It came as quite a shock. ;) Recently I went to Walmart to get a few groceries and just couldn't help stopping by the clothes, yes Walmart clothes. Hey, they're cute! After having Kherington and somewhat getting my body back, I needed at least a new shirt. I bought the cutest blue and black flannel shirt to wear with my tights and boots. I showed it to Brad, proud of my purchase. Like I mentioned before, he's a smart man, so he said how cute he thought it was. We all know that he could not care less, but it is still nice to hear. For some reason, I felt the need to share the fact that the shirt was part of Miley Cyrus's new clothing line. The look on his face was priceless. In that moment I realized that it might be a little ridiculous that a 27 year old wife, mother, and teacher was wearing a shirt made by a teenage pop star. Just because I realize that I'm not 21 anymore, doesn't mean that I'm not wearing the shirt, with my tights might I add. It may be designed by Miley Cyrus, and it may not be long enough for a mom to wear with tights, but I'm going to rock it! As long as I'm self aware it's ok, right?

New Plan

In 18 days, I will have to drop Kherington off at...day care. The thought makes me cringe. I'm a pretty reasonable girl, so I have come up with a reasonable plan to solve my day care woes. This means I have 18 days to become one of those famous bloggers with thousands of followers and so many ads on my page that I don't have to work. I know, I know, it's a brilliant idea, especially considering that I have 3 followers (2 being my mom and sister) and no ads. All I need is a hook. Everyone with a blog that people love has a 'thing.' What can mine be? Help!!!

If you know me you could probably sense the sarcasm there, but you also know that I am partially serious. I know that it is completely ridiculous, but it's kinda like when you get a lottery ticket or go gambling. You know you're not going to win, but deep down you think if you just want to win bad enough, you'll win a million dollars. Andrea, I know you know what I'm talking about. :)

Waiting...

So...It's 1:22 AM and I am waiting for Kherington to wake up to eat. I know, I know...you need to sleep when she sleeps. Yeah right! She fell asleep at 10:30, so I thought, 'Ok, she'll wake up at 12:30ish, I'll feed her, and we'll go to bed.' I like to stay awake for that first nighttime feeding. It's better to stay up late than to wake up after being sound asleep. She'd probably rather me stay awake as well. I'm not exactly coherent when I feed her during the night. You could probably compare my daytime feedings to driving a car, and my nighttime feedings to driving that same car...with a few drinks in me.

Usually when I sit down to blog, I have in mind exactly what I want to say, and it serves some purpose. This one is in no way meant to entertain anyone, it's for more selfish reasons. I'm just trying to pass time until she wakes up. Luckily I had "Annie" recorded on my DVR for this exact reason. I knew it would come in handy one day. "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I'll love ya tomorrow..." I love this movie. Ok, Kherington's stomach is growling like a freaking bear. Seriously?!?! Am I going to have to wake a sleeping baby? I may regret it, but here goes. You may hear about this tomorrow. If there is no blog, consider that good news.

Random Pics

Kherington has been smiling for the past few days, but I finally caught it with my camera today. Here's that colgate smile! (Except, as Addison says, "She don't have any teef.")

Maternity leave is turning me into a crafty, blogging, cleaning, organizing, online shopping fool. These are all things that I was not likely to do before. As a matter of fact, these things are all opposite from me pre-baby. Here's a pic of one the crafty things I've done. I had lots of cards welcoming Kherington into the world. I didn't want to throw them away, but I knew if they got stuck in a box in the closet they would be as good as trash because I would never find them again. My sister, Andrea, told me about something that she saw on another blog. It's called a blessing ring. I hung it in her room where we can read them anytime, and it's a cheap decoration!

Attn: Coaches' Wives

New baby + football season = bad timing :)

If you are reading this, you probably know that my husband is a football coach at Chapel Hill. Having a baby during football season was not my smartest moment. Not only am I home by myself 90% of the time, I have also missed out on going to the games on Friday nights. During the week, weather is perfect, and without fail, every Friday has either been rainy or cold. Earlier in the week I started thinking about going to the freshman game on Thursday. It's at 5:00 as opposed to 7:00, like the varsity games, so it shouldn't be too cold yet. The weather was predicted to be a comfortable temperature but rainy. Even though Brad told me that Kherington and I could sit in the press box, I still didn't want to have to walk to or from the car in the rain. I checked the weather all day hoping that it would change, but I wasn't that lucky. Reluctantly, I decided to brave the weather and go! When we arrived, the weather was pleasant. Brad met me at the car and walked us up to the press box, let us in, and turned on the AC. Watching a game in an air conditioned room...I could get used to this. Right behind us, walked in a high school student. Soon I figured out that he was there to film the game. Immediately I pictured a room full of coaches watching game film on Saturday afternoon and hearing Kherington scream in the background. No pressure, but 'that baby better not cry.' I could see it on his face. At this point Kherington was still sleeping soundly in her car seat, so I was able to enjoy the game.
We made it through the first quarter without incident. As the second quarter started, so did the monsoon. Bring on the rain, in sheets as a matter of fact. I can handle a little rain, but can the boys? Fumble, missed snap, blocked punt, fumble... We only made it through the first few minutes of the 2nd quarter before, BOOM! Lightening cleared the field and bleachers as Kherington and I sat in the press box. I thought "What in the *^$# am I going to do?" I can't walk to the car with her, she'll get soaked. I can't just stay here, we'll get struck by lightening. Brad is a smart man. Evidently he could read my mind, because in he walked. He borrowed a poncho from another coach and pulled my car as close as he could. He draped her car seat with the poncho and off we went. Kherington's first football game was one that I will always remember.

Learn something new every day...

That saying has been true more than ever before since having Kherintgon. This past week I have learned a few new things that I wish I had thought of 4 weeks ago.

As I mentioned before, I have googled everything there is to know about a new baby. (I am probably a google-aholic.) Since she's been consistently going to bed after 1 each night, I looked up ways to change that habit. I decided to change our bedtime routine. Our new routine (compliments of my internet search) is to take a walk, weather permitting, at about 6 or 7 and have her bath time between 8 and 9 followed by a bottle and hopefully s-l-e-e-p. Another idea was to walk with the baby in a sling during the day to soothe them and get them ready for a good night's sleep. Sounds ridiculous, I know, but I'm desperate to get her to go to sleep earlier before I start back to work. On Wednesday I tried all of our new tricks. During the day when she started getting fussy, I put her in the sling while I walked around tidying up the house. I no more than put her in and looked away for one second before looking back at her to find her sound asleep! Why have I not been using this thing all along?! I'm pretty sure it was the soundest sleep and best nap she's had. That evening we went for a walk using her new stroller for the first time. She loved that as well. Next came bath time which is our favorite activity of the day. That night she went to sleep at 9:00!! Not only did she go to bed hours earlier than normal, she only woke up once for a bottle and went right back to sleep! Now let's just hope that continues!

The other thing that I learned this week is probably a little selfish. I am SICK of listening to the songs that her swing and bouncy seat play, but she LOVES them. That annoying music is probably the best medicine for her crying, but it is going to drive me to drinking. :) Her swing plays lots of songs along the lines of 'Twinkle Twinkle' and 'Rock a bye Baby.' It sounds exactly like a polyphonic ring tone from 2001. It's a bit sad that it took me four weeks to come up with such a simple plan, but I finally had a solution. I downloaded (legally might I add) several soothing songs that I like, made a 'sleep' play list, and added it to my Ipod. He swing is quite fancy and has a place to plug an Ipod and play the music on it. Luckily these songs sat well with her, so now instead of sleeping to the high pitched version of 'Hush Little Baby,' she snoozes to the sweet sounds of John Mayer, Sara Bareilles, and Jason Mraz. Thank you technology!

Night Owl

During Kherington's first three weeks, we have already learned that she is a night owl. I can't imagine why she likes to stay up so late. I refuse to believe that it has anything to do with the Payday and Coke that I craved every night at 10 or 11 while I was pregnant with her. Not only did I crave it, the craving was fulfilled. My wonderful husband made many late night trips for my little snack. (All that sugar is probably where those extra pounds that are still hanging around came from too.) All of this to say that last night as Kherington and I were having a little tiff about whether or not it was time to go to sleep, I took this picture of her. She thinks if she opens her eyes REALLY wide they won't close, and she won't fall asleep.

Things every new mommy should know...

As a first time mom, I've googled just about everything you could possible need to know about a baby. In my many searches I found lots of lists, "15 Ways to Soothe a Baby," "New Mom Must-Haves," "New Mom Survival Tips," "Things Every New Mom Should Know." No where did I see a list of things a new mom should NEVER do. I'm going to try to help you by making this list as I learn these things the hard way.


1. Never put up the foot rest on the recliner when trying to put your baby to sleep. During our first week home, Kherington and I were in the living room getting ready for the night ahead of us. She had just finished a bottle and fallen asleep in my arms. She was asleep, but I wasn't ready to put her down yet, so I put the foot rest up to get comfortable. We had a little mommy/daughter bonding time before I finally thought she was sleeping soundly enough to put her down. I pulled the handle to put the foot rest down, and it made the most atrocious sound and propelled us out of the chair. Kherington's arms shot out to the side and instantly started crying. Back to the drawing board...


2. Never try to hold your baby to get their PKU test. On the day that Kherington turned 2 weeks old, I had to take her back to the hospital for them to do do the 2nd heel stick for the PKU. Luckily my mother-in-law was visiting that week, so she was there to help. As we walked into the hospital, I was nauseous thinking about the germs. It was as if I could see them floating around in the air. The walk to the 4th floor was a long one. They filled out the paper work and took us into a room. Kherington was still in her car seat, so the nurse told us that it would be better if one of us would hold her. She was locked in her car seat as secure as a murderer at Alcatraz, so it took a hot second to get her out. I held her in the position that the nurse instructed and they stuck a lifesized needle in her foot. If that had been the end of it I would have been fine, but they had to squeeze the blood out of her foot for what seemed like an eternity! A 'wave of nausea' (as Mama Jane would say) came over me, and I started feeling hot and very weak. I'm not one to ask for help so I tried to stick it out. I finally realized that I was on the verge of passing out and I pictured Kherington and I laying on the hospital floor...not a pretty sight. "Somebody's got to get here!" I finally said. Leslie quickly grabbed her and I sat down on the bed. You may be thinking 'what a drama queen,' but I'm telling you that I literally almost passed out!

3. Don't waste your time dressing your baby in her cutest duds to go to the doctor. The night before Kherington's 1 week check up, I got her bag all packed and picked out a cute outfit for her to wear. I just couldn't wait for the nurse and doctor (and anyone else who noticed or cared) to see how cute she looked in her brown onesie with big flowers and her pink pants with ruffles on the hiney. Trust me...she looked adorable. Once at the doctor, we were pointed to room 4 and told to take everything off of her except her diaper. In my head I'm thinking, "Are you sure you don't want to take a look at her first. She looks really cute. :)" Reluctantly I took off her clothes. Not long after, the nurse came in to weigh her. Next, the doctor came in, Kherington still in her diaper only, and took a look at her. Just like that, her check-up was over. So, the moral of this story is...I know that you have tons of cute outfits that your bundle of joy has to wear before they outgrow them, but the doctor's office is not the time or place. The awful outfit that's in the back of the dresser drawer that you never intended on putting your baby in (since it's so u-g-l-y it's probably really easy to get off and on) will probably be the better choice. Here's another helpful hint. Since it may be the only time he/she dons the outfit, make sure you take a picture and email it to that well meaning person that bought it for him/her to show your appreciation for the hideous thing.

That's all I have for now, but that's just from Kherington's first three weeks. I'll keep this list going as I learn more. :)

Road Trip

Monday, October 12, 2009 - Rise and shine! Kherington and I have been sleeping in together since we came home from the hospital, but we actually had plans and had to set an alarm. That's one thing I have NOT missed! I'm still a novice at getting another person ready in the morning, but we were successful for the 2nd time at getting out the door on time. As I was putting Kherington in her carseat, she did not seem pleased. The whines started to turn into a cry, until I cranked the car and backed out of the driveway....silence. Could I BE any luckier. She loved the car ride and slept most of the way. We picked up my mom in Mt. Pleasant, and she rode with us to Paris to go see Mama Jane. We spent the afternoon with Mama Jane, Lisa, Sue, Janee, and Kenzie. I don't think Kherington went without being held except for during a few diaper changes. That's just the way she loves it! I hadn't seen my family in a while, so it was nice to get to visit with them.

The ride home was interesting. Mom rode with us from Paris to Mt. Pleasant, but we still had a 1 1/2 hour journey ahead of us. I knew if Kherington were to wake up, she'd be ready to eat. She thinks 'waking up' is synonomous with 'time to eat' no matter how long it has been. We made it to Gladewater before I heard a whimper in the back seat. That whimper quickly turned into something a little louder. Tyler was just too far for me to let that pitiful cry continue. We stopped and had a bottle, but she was still not satisfied. I found the CD from our wedding to listen to. It has very soothing music, and music helps calm her sometimes. Luckily this was one of those times. (Thanks Sue and Murray for that CD.) The rest of the trip was peaceful! We survived our first long trip in the car!

Meeting Family

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 - On the day Kherington was born, Brad's mom had the flu, so she and her family were not able to come to the hospital. Luckily, she was feeling better the following weekend, so they came to meet their new grandbaby. After raising 5 boys, they deserve a granddaughter! :) That day, Kherington met Grandma (Brad's mom, Leslie), Grandpa (Brad's dad, Eddie), Scott, and Brian (his brothers). Uncles are definitely something that Kherington is not lacking! She's already met three and has two more to go.

While she enjoyed having many pairs of arms ready to hold her, Brad cooked hotlinks on his new grill. We ate hotlinks and watched football for the rest of the evening. Of course it was a Saturday, so we had two games going at once. We watched college football on the TV, switching back and forth between all the games, and we watched Stephen's game on the computer. One game at a time is just not enough! Kherington successfully napped through her first Saturday of football. Her daddy tends to get a little excited when he watches Stephen play, but it didn't bother her. :) Family, food, and football...just your average Saturday at our house, only now there is a baby here. It still blows my mind sometimes. It was a great day!

Lots of Firsts

With a new baby at home, it seems like there are tons of 'firsts' that happen each day. First day at home, first time in the car, first bath, first doctor's appointment... The list could go on.

Coming home from the hospital was obviously her first time in her car seat and first time in the car. When our journey home began, she was asleep, so she was perfectly content. We had to make a stop at CVS to get some things the doctor suggested for my recovery. Mom went into CVS, and Kherington and I waited in the car. By the time Mom got back to the car, she was quickly becoming fed up with her car seat and ready to be napping in a more cozy place.


Kheri's first day at home was full of firsts. One of my favorites was her first bath. I remember seeing my neices getting their sponge baths when they were newborns and it was torture. They hated it! I was expecting the same from her. Luckily, the opposite was true. She looked a little confused about what was going on, but seemed to enjoy it. Thankfully my mom was there to bathe her, so I was able to video and take pictures.
If every week goes by as fast as the week after she was born, she will be starting school far too soon! On Sept. 29, it was off to the doctor for her 1 week check-up. Brad took off of work so he could come along and help. I have a hard enough time getting myself up and out the door in the morning. Being responsible for another person as well was quite a job. What do I need to pack in her diaper bag? What if I forget something important? What if there are sick kids in the waiting room? What if she's hungry when it's time to leave? I had tons of questions that I'd never had to think about before. Some of my worries were resolved when we got in the car on time (with a happy, sleeping baby none the less). Not long after we walked in the door, the receptionist told us to go ahead and go to the room so we didn't have to wait in the waiting room with the kiddos that were not feeling well. Two worries down, several to go... When the nurse came into the room, I was told to get Kherington into a diaper only. So much for anyone seeing that CUTE outfit. ;) The nurse weighed her, which made her fuming mad, and she was almost back to her birth weight. Next, the doctor came to take a look at Kheri and said she looked perfect! I asked about giving her more formula at each feeding because she had been acting like she wanted more. Dr. McRae told me to follow her lead and that she would let me know when she was full. I'm not sure if that's true. I think this little one would drink as much as one would offer! She's a little pig! Just like that, our first visit with Dr. McRae was over, with no major disasters!

Kherington Jo

My sister, Andrea, has followed many blogs for a while now. She recently started her own, with much grief from me. After months teasing her about her blog, here I am with my own... I guess having a new baby will bring out the blogger in you.

On September 22 at 6:00am, Brad and I loaded the car with my bag, a pillow, and soon to be baby Baca's bag. We headed to the hospital for the induction of my labor. It was just one day after my due date, but it felt like ages! After checking in to the hospital, we went to the 4th floor to labor and delivery. Once, we were in the room I took the first (and only) picture of my pregnant belly. Not long after I changed into that fashionable hospital gown, a nurse came in to start my IV. Let the fun begin...

All of the details between the start of the IV and Kherington's arrival are really not necessary. Just know that the drama queen in me came out, along with Brad's inate coaching voice, and Mom's emotional side. It was a looooong day. However, it's not fair to make the day seem so dreadful. Most of it was spent hanging out with family and laughing at Avery and Addison. They are always good for some comic relief.

Finally, after hours of labor, Kherington made her apperance into the world...fashionably late. :) She was born at 9:19pm, weighed 7 pounds 15 ounces, and was 20 inches long. After the nurses weighed, measured, cleaned, and swaddled her, they gave her to me. She was wide awake and locked eyes with me for what seemed like forever. It was the most surreal moment of my life. I fell in love with her instantly!