Baby Noah

This is me and Jeff's newest nephew, Noah Franklin.

Merry Christmas!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

It's a Girl!

I had my second trimester ultrasound yesterday and found that we're having a girl - Bella Mae. Here are a few of baby's first photos. These are the best ones. She apparently is laying on her stomach, with her face buried in her arms. Figures she'd be stubborn!
This is her face. From what I can tell, you can see eyes and a nose, even her spine and heart there to the left.

Don't even ask how they know it's a girl.

I'll be back soon with more updates - promise!!

Gone but Not Forgotten

I often wonder how many readers I have out there. I'm sure it isn't many, but it's nice to know that however few there may be, they do keep up with me. I can't tell you how many times Katrina has asked me if I'm ever going to blog again. Just recently she asked if I was just going to delete my blog altogether. Ha ha....

Jeff has asked me several times recently when I was going to blog again, also. I think he wants me to update it with some pictures of our recent outings with the kiddos. As soon as I upload the pictures on the computer, I will do that.

So...to the two or three of you out there still reading...I'm not gone. Just keep checking back :)

Bath Time

This afternoon when we got back, I gave Elvira a much-needed bath. After our lunch and candy shopping spree, we went to Wal-Mart to pick up a few items we needed for the week. We also picked up some dog treats (for the encouragement of potty-training), a collar and leash, a puppy tote, and some dog shampoo.

The bath did not go as well here as it did previously at home. At home, our older bathtub provides higher tub walls that make it more difficult for Elvira to jump out while bathing her. Here - not the case. As soon as I poured water on her she was halfway out of the tub. Jeff had to come hold her down while I finished shampooing her, otherwise me and the entire bathroom were going to get a bath as well.

Respite

Jeff, Elvira and I are on the first day of a much-needed vacation. I was trying to think of a word to describe exactly what this is that we needed: respite.

res·pite

a delay or cessation for a time, esp. of anything distressing or trying; an interval of relief

Over the past few months, our life has become increasingly busy, stressful and busy. (Did I mention busy?) There isn't a day that goes by that we don't have something to do, or somewhere to be. Even though most everything we do is positive in nature, it can become very tiring. So, when Jeff's spring break came around and my parents condo in the Smoky's was open, we hit the streets and got out of town for a few days.

As of yet we have no plans for the week. I can't think of the last time we woke up and didn't have a clue what the day had in store. Even the days that started out with a clean slate didn't end up that way - something always comes up. We're enjoying doing absolutely nothing. Jeff is winding down quite well, and it makes me happy to see him relax. I think it's taking me longer to unwind - but I'm trying :)

Today we decided to get in the car and just see where it took us. We ate lunch at a restaurant called the "Sagebrush." It's sort of like a Texas Roadhouse. Jeff ejoyed a giant serving of banana pudding for dessert. After that, we headed into the small town of Valle Crucis, which is home to the original "Mast General Store" and a wonderful store called the "Candy Barrel." The "Mast General Store" is your typical small town, original general store. The "Candy Barrel" however, is what I think heaven will be like ;) It's a room full of old-fashioned candy, the stuff I remember from when I was a kid.

We filled up a bag - everything from candy cigarettes, Cow Tales, and Cry Babies to Pop Rocks.

And we, of course, had a sampling of our purchases in the car! Don't worry...there is plenty left for Zeke and Yana.

Photobucket

I hate it.

I uploaded photos to it that I want as my blog header and it says they aren't there. Whatever.

Potty Training and Stomach Flu

So...here is an update on the past two days.

Wednesday morning I woke up nauseous. I wasn't sure why (and no it's not what the general public out there is thinking...) so I got in the shower, brushed my teeth and then puked. Good times.

I went back upstairs and sat for about 15 minutes trying to decided if I really should go to work or not. I decided that I would not, called my boss and laid back down. Jeff laughed about the fact that I sounded not sick at all. Whatever.

He left for school at 10 and that began the madness. I was sick at my stomach all day. Nothing stayed down and what did came out in not so fun ways. The few oyster crackers and ginger ale that I ate for lunch came up all over the bathroom. I finally decided to call the doctor who told me to take Imodium and sent me phenegren. I was knocked out for the next hours or so, and today I'm feeling better. Although, I feel like I've run a marathon every time I climb a flight of stairs.

On top of it all, Elvira does not want to be potty trained. She pees everywhere BUT the potty pad, and when you put her on it she lays down for a nap. If anyone had any suggestions on how this could work better, please let me know!

That's all I have for today - check back later!

Elvira

On Monday night, the McCarty household gained a new family member - Elvira.

Elvira is an Imperial Shih Tzu (tiny toy). She is from Campbellsville, KY, and has 3 siblings. Jeff attends nursing school with a girl who knew someone (who knows someone, who knows someone - you get the point) that had a litter and she was trying to get rid of the last one. She mentioned something to him, and after looking at pictures of them online I was sold.

Elvira was originally supposed to be "Violet." But, when I saw her she just didn't look like a "Violet." She is mostly black with some brindle running through her fur. Brindle a bronze-brown color. She has a white stripe running from her chest all the way down her stomach. On the way home, Jeff suggested Elvira and I knew that was the right name for her. She is definetely a daddy's girl.

No, she doesn't drink Diet Coke.

Humor

Man gets probation for threatening to blow up city with TV controller

CANBERRA, Australia - A drunken man's threat to blow up half a city with his television remote control forced Australian police to declare a state of emergency at a luxury golf resort, a local court heard Thursday.

"One push of the button will blow up half of Brisbane," Fryatt shouted in the standoff last May before police in the Queensland state capital opened fire with rubber bullets.

Stay Tuned...

For the past two or three days, I've been sorting through my digital picture catalog.

Here is your warning: if you are currently friends with me, have ever been friends with me, or have even on some occasion hung out with me sometime since December 2004 - you're about to become a victim.

Over the next few weeks I'll be posting various pcitures from the past 3 1/2 years or so. I realized that I've got some good stuff, and it's time to share it with the world...

It's okay. Don't be skeered :)

Humor

GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING

Don't swallow gum.

Humor

Artist plans to unveil controversial Barbaro statue near Central Park

January 24, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) -- An art gallery wants to unveil a memorial depicting fallen Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro near Central Park this spring, close to where a carriage horse died after it was spooked by a street musician's drum and ran into a tree.

Humor

Arachibutyrophobia, is a fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.

Meet Baby Harrison

After four boys, Heather has FINALLY had a girl. Check her out on my AWESOME wedding photographer's blog here.

Humor

After finding this hilarious video, I've decided to start a section of my blog called "Humor." We all love it. We all need it. Here it is. Enjoy :)

Reworking

Incase you haven't noticed, I'm reworking the layout of my blog a little. I got bored with it.

For those of you who frequent The McQuirky's - the neighbors driveway is FULL of cars. However, there do not appear to be any in the yard.

Later...

The weather outside is frightful...

It's snowing outside.

I'm bored.

This makes me laugh.

Therefore...it's on my blog. Enjoy.

Do You Believe in Magic?

I love, love, LOVE the Magic Eraser. I had to let it be known. It is the ONLY thing I have found so far that has gotten rid of the hard water stains in my bathroom. It doesn't take much for me to be exicted.

Just a daily rambling...