Not Even In Nashville

Its Official...

2009-08-23T16:33:00.002-04:00

We have moved. Please keep up with us at

http://dandelionsinthedesert.blogspot.com/

Saying Bye For Now

2009-08-19T13:43:00.003-04:00

This will be my final post to my Nashville Newcomers blog. Seeing as how we are no longer in Nashville, much less newcomers, it seems only appropriate to move on. I will post a link to the new blog as soon as I actually put something on it.

It seems strange to say good-bye to Nashville. It was harder than I thought to lock our front door for the last time. We made so many great friends there, had some fun adventures, and most significantly we had a child. I suppose the city of your birth will always hold meaning, Parker's birth certificate will always be from Tennessee no matter we end up. Our two years there were great, the city was welcoming, our children changed dramatically, and of course Hailey's twang will hopefully stand the test of time. But it was time for us to move on, more adventures to be had, new friends to make. Thank you Nashville for bringing us in with open arms...we will miss you but we will be sure to visit!

Packing and Playing

2009-08-19T13:22:00.005-04:00

So, back to Nashville...

When Mom and Dad came to help us in July, they took the kids to a hotel so Jona and I could pack, pack, pack. It was the most amazingly helpful thing that anyone could do. Packing with Hailey and Parker was not easy. Hailey 'helped' by putting whatever she could find into open boxes- her dirty clothes, sippy cups full of juice, snack wrappers...you get the idea. Parker 'helped' by taking things out of the boxes that I packed and dumping the then empty boxes over onto his head. And of course, he gave us the added extra assistance of learning how to crawl at full speed right before the real packing began. Thanks guys for all that you do, but I think you will have SO MUCH MORE FUN with Gammy and Grampy!

My brother, Chris, and his family came up for 4th of July weekend along with my sister Kim and her kids heading over for the festivities. So along with packing came lots of playing! After Jona left for his first drive to AZ, I moved to the hotel and we concentrated on the fun. Carly and Laney spent the summer with my parents so we were able to spend some extra time with them.

Parker went on his first carousel ride. He didn't like the idea of sitting on his own horse, but the spinning in my arms was GREAT!

Carly and Laney have grown up so much. They are two beautiful young ladies!

They were both HUGE helpers with Hailey and Parker- I miss the extra hands :)

We took them to the Aquarium Restaurant where you can touch and feed stingrays. Everyone talked a big talk before we arrived, but both the girls totally wimped out when it came to feeding time! Grampy was the only brave soul in the bunch.

We also spent our last day on Old Hickory Lake. This place was one of our favorite spots in Nashville and sitting here in 105 degree weather, I MISS IT!

These girls are just too cute.

Its weird to think that I can't just climb in the car and be there in 20 minutes. Such a great spot...see ya later Old Hickory.

She doesn't ever stop...not even for a minute

2009-08-08T23:46:00.002-04:00

Me: "Do you remember the little girl at the mall?"

Hailey: (gesturing flamboyantly with her hands) "Oh yeah, she was totally upset and being very unpleasant to her daddy."

Me: "Did you just age a year?"

Hailey: "Mom, I remember things. And it totally bums you out."

She does remember things, a lot of things. Sadly those things rarely include what I have asked her to do or told her not to do.

__________________________________________________________________

While driving to IKEA and listening to a toddler sing a long CD...

Hailey: "Mom, its Bobley Marlin singing."

Perhaps this is Bob Marley's wife, I'm not entirely sure, but there was a lovely woman singing. Stir it up little darlin', stir it up.

_________________________________________________________________

And then there are conversations with Parker...

Me: "Good morning precious little man."

Parker: "Dadadadadadada."

Me: "No P. Diddy, Mamamamama."

Parker: "Dadadadadada."

Me: "Dude, just try it. Mamamamama"

Parker: "That."

Me: "MAMAMAMAMAMAMA!"

Parker: "Hailey."

Me: "Good night."

Not Even A Real Posting

2009-08-06T14:37:00.002-04:00

Sorry guys, no internet at the house until next week. And I haven't even downloaded any of the pics I've taken. Get over it, we're busy!

4th of July

2009-07-17T23:29:00.002-04:00

It rained on 4th of July in Nashville. And I don't mean a little sprinkle, I mean a downpour. Short lived, but lively. And we were all outside. I should start by mentioning that my brother Chris and his family came up from Mississippi and my sister and her kids came over from North Carolina for the weekend. We all planning to go to Crockett Park for the outdoor concert followed by fireworks, same thing we did last year. As we parked the cars, the automated warning system began announcing that lightening had been detected in the area and everyone should seek shelter. There is no shelter, not an option. And the hundreds of other people didn't seem to be bothered so we wandered to a great viewing spot, settled in, and then decided to move the cars. As I was re-parking, I could see the lightening flashing off in the distance and the thunder started. And although the hundreds of others did not mind it, I decided that in any other circumstance I wouldn't allow my children to be outside so this should be no different. None of the other adults agreed, so I took Hailey & Parker, and Carly & Laney to mom and dad's car (the Johnsons weren't there yet) and my mom joined us just because I think she felt bad for me! And there we sat. In air conditioned luxury, for about 30 minutes. Only a few sprinkles fell, so we hopped out when it looked better and found our blankets.

About 5 minutes later, when all the sandwiches were unwrapped, everyone had drinks in their hands, and the roll of paper towels were being passed around, the heavens opened up. We had 3 umbrellas, one of which was Hailey's Dora umbrella.

I don't have a picture that really captures the moment. I took this when all had settled down. During the real rain, Bryce was holding tight to Dora.
Mom broke her toe about 2 days into being in Nashville. Then Kim stepped on it. I LOVE these faces!

Chris and Sarah after the rain. Ready for the show!

Don't they look festive?? We won't let a little storm get us down.

Hailey adored being with her cousins. Every once in a while, probably once a day, she gets a little sad and says she wishes her cousins were here...me too!

This picture was a total mission on my part! Bryce does not enjoy photos- such a boy. I had to threaten posting a worse shot on facebook to get him to smile at me.

Parker was exhausted well before the fireworks started but he was a total champ about it. He fell asleep on Jona's shoulder about a minute before the first big BOOM but didn't flinch. Just opened his eyes and took in the show.

And proof positive that I AM IN THERE SOMEWHERE!! A little curl action to honor the mamasita.

Hailey's Story

2009-07-17T23:23:00.002-04:00

Hailey has been working on her computer skills and getting very proficient with the mouse. While we thought she was entertaining herself with Elmo and Dragon Tales, she was actually conducting a massive internet search for her dream job.

After an extensive search, she found just the right fit, found a place with a view, and moved out...

and never looked back.

Parker is heartbroken.

I know they aren't Arizona pics, but you have to admit, they are pretty cute :)

Holy Heat Waves...

2009-07-07T12:31:00.013-04:00

We have arrived in AZ! And good lordy it is HOT. And I don't mean slightly warm, or a tad toasty, I mean melt-your-skin-off-like-you-are-swimming-in-a-pot-of-boiling-oil HOT. It was 114 degrees yesterday. What did you say? I said 114 degrees. I'm sorry, I must have misunderstood you. No, you heard correctly, I did indeed say 114 DEGREES.

And yes, I know that I will need to change the blog name, but I'm just not there yet. I mean in reality, all of our belongings are still in Nashville so this isn't quite home yet. But I have learned a few things since we left Nashville...

1. 10 month olds do not enjoy 4 hour flights in mommy's lap.

2. Mommy doesn't enjoy them either.

3. 3 year olds with explosive diarrhea are not so much fun in airplane bathrooms while holding aforementioned baby.

4. 114 degrees is hot no matter how you slice it. Humid or dry, you're gonna sweat.

5. Black on black was a very poor choice for car colors.

6. Small children don't really enjoy looking at houses. But 3 year olds love the wide open spaces to RUN around in.

7. Just because there is gravel out front does not mean that it is new construction.

8. I feel pretty good about being here. Sort of feels right. The people are very friendly and I think we're going to fit right in...once it cools off.

But I didn't blog before we left, I ran out of time before Jona took the computer. So here is a photo recap....

...or not. The computer won't let me work with pictures so I will do that some other time.

We miss you Nashville and all of our wonderful friends and neighbors. Thank you for being so good to us! Come see the desert some time, we think you'll like it out here :)

More conversing...

2009-06-29T10:54:00.002-04:00

Hailey in the car on our way home from an outdoor concert last night...

"Dad, you make me want to pull all my hair out of my head, and mom you make me want to scream."

Seriously, I have to remember that she takes in and repeats EVERYTHING I say!

Conversations with Hailey

2009-06-25T03:08:00.002-04:00

Sitting at the table eating lunch...

Hailey: "Mama, I have the perception of animals in trouble and they think I am an animal rescuer but they don't realize that I am only pretending."

Me: "Did you just use the words perception and realize correctly in a sentence?"

Hailey: "Yep, pretty sure I did."

__________________________________________

In the car...

Hailey: "What does operated mean?"

Me: "What?"

Hailey: "What does operated mean?"

Me: "It depends on the context."

Hailey: "What does context mean?"

Me: "They way you use a word in a sentence."

Hailey: "This station is owned and operated by..."

This girl doesn't miss a beat.

Happy Birthday Angel

2009-06-21T22:21:00.004-04:00

Introducing....

KILEY FAITH HAJIMIHALIS

Born June 20, 2009 at 4:50 pm

6lb 8oz

19 3/4 inches

....beautiful.

Life changes...everything

2009-06-10T17:16:00.003-04:00

There are big things happening here in the Maupin household. Things that have been in the works for months but for some reason I haven't blogged about it. The only reason I can come up with for that is my need for denial as a defense mechanism...I use it to keep me sane- does that make me crazy??

So the big news around here is...we are moving to ARIZONA!! Yep, this Florida girl is headed to the great South West, desert land, scorpions, cactus, a severe lack of grass, adobe houses, etc, etc, etc. Jona's contract with Vanderbilt ends this month so he spent the Fall sending out resumes and interviewing all over the country. He was offered every job he was flown out to interview for- such a smart guy- and Arizona State University made the best offer. This is THE job. The one he has been working towards. The department is very impressive, the potential for research and advancement is ideal, and he can't be more excited...and nervous!

We leave Nashville in the beginning of July. YIKES! That's right around the corner. While I'm not the biggest fan of change, I really am very excited about this move. I very knowingly gave myself the month of May to live in denial and decided that June 1st I would allow the panic to set in. But it hasn't. Not yet. I'm trying very hard to keep myself positive and remember what a great move this is for our family. So, I've started packing. One box a day until my parents arrive July 1st to take the kids and let us pack til we drop.

That's our skinny. Moving on up...or over I guess. Send me great stories about Arizona (the Phoenix/Tempe area to be more specific) and tell me how much you loved the time you spent there :) And if you feel the need to pack a box or two, come on over!

Growing up WAY too fast

2009-06-06T23:29:00.007-04:00

Hangin' in the backyard while Hailey swims.

STANDING in his crib.

Gooping herself...thanks Hailey.

Crazy drivers.

Preppy man in his pocket tee.

He loves the water.

Pulling up, such a big boy with such tiny feet!

Mommy is madly in love.

And for his grand finale....

It may not be graceful...but fat boy is mobile!

Rooster Rant

2009-05-28T08:57:00.009-04:00

In our yard there lives a rooster. A real rooster. But not just any rooster. We have a mentally challenged rooster that is the spawn of Satan himself. At first it was funny. Strange. Amusing. Now it is horrifying. Terrible. Makes me think evil thoughts.

The rooster first appeared in our neighborhood in February. My Dad and I were driving home from Publix and Dad said "Is that a rooster under that car?" as he pointed to the driveway at the end of our street. And yes, yes indeed, it was a rooster...in South Nashville...nowhere near farmland...under a Range Rover. Since that day we have had more than one nighttime temperature below freezing and multiple severe storms, some that caused major damage in neighboring areas. But Satan's Spawn is strong. He remains. He is not one to be brought down by simple acts of nature.

I fed him once, I think in March. I gave the turd some old bread, I didn't invite him to move in. But I think he misunderstood my intentions. For a few months now he has inhabited the magnolia bush that grows two stories high between our house and the neighbor's. And I hate him. I hate him so much that I am rethinking my anti-hunting, anti-gun outlook.

This brings us to the animal's clearly diminished mental capacity. Maybe its just a story we tell our children, that roosters crow when the sun rises. But my stupid rooster starts his cockle-doodle crap at about 3:30 every morning and then, as though he has a snooze button, 'goes off' every 10-20 minutes for a couple of hours. Seriously. Every morning. Right outside my bedroom window. Could it be possible that I am not sleep deprived enough?!? Are you kidding me?

Animal control has been called but they can't catch him. We've tried to chase him away. I no longer put out bird seed. The neighbors trimmed the bush. We talk smack about him all day long. A crazy dude who lives across the street chased the stupid bird for hours trying to hit him with a snow brush...really??? I even tried to run him over with my car. Satan is strong. His spawn is resilient and not easily defeated. And now he is punishing me by pacing on my back fence crowing until his throat his hoarse and pooping all over the swingset. This is not a normal problem to have. My life is entirely too busy and chaotic to deal with this sort of ridiculousness. Fried chicken anyone?

Seriously...there is a rooster in my yard...and I hate him.

Just for fun...

2009-05-01T15:05:00.005-04:00

I'm not feeling all that witty. I hurt my back lifting fat-boy-fluffer-nutter. But I thought you'd enjoy some pictures...

Poor Parker. This lovely pink puffed sleeve with fur jacket is from Hailey's Snow Princess Build A Bear. Next comes the pink toenails.
But darn he's cute...and secure in his masculinity I'm sure.

Sometimes its hard to poop after oatmeal.

And totally exhausting. Yes, this is how he sleeps. Face covered- check. Toys in crib- check. Its always safety first around here. But look at his feet, how cute is that?!?

Moving on to Hailey Beth. These pictures crack me up. This was during an especially silly tub time.

Doesn't even look like her, but I love the hair- looks like mine after a good rain and some serious humidity :)

Hailey's friend Kathleen had a princess b-day party. All the girls had to dress the part.

But when we got home, the real party started!! Ahhh, Flashdance, here she comes.

_____________________________________________

I leave with you with a story by Hailey...

And an interpretive dance...

Crying it Out

2009-04-15T17:28:00.002-04:00

In honor of my friend Erica, I feel inspired to blog about "Crying it Out"...

Parker was a great sleeper until we moved him into his crib in his own room a few months ago. In his cradle he slept soundly, 7 hours, no waking up. Then he moved into his room, across the house from our room, and there was no more sound sleeping. In its place there was screaming, hollering, restlessness, hunger, kicking, hysteria. Very bad trade. Lots of walking across the house for binking, feeding, snuggling, rocking, tucking in, and frustration. Lots of it. LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF IT! I work the night shift and then sleep the next day, but never for long enough. And I wasn't sleeping at night. So very very tired. And, I will admit, rather grumpy.

Last week Jona decided we needed to let Parker "cry it out." He is old enough to sleep through the night. He isn't really hungry, just spoiled. He doesn't really want to be soothed by anything other than the boob, which brings us back to me being completely exhausted since I am the only one around here with the right equipment. We never let Hailey cry anything out. Everyone said it was because we were first time parents, but really I'm just not the cry it out kind of mama. Its hard for me to commit myself to letting my child be unhappy when I know I can fix the problem. But I was tired. I mean really really tired. The kind of tired that leaves you in a fog and has you waking up in the morning with a yawn. So I agreed.

I work Monday nights, so last Monday was Parker's first night of self soothing. Jona said he did well, I think he turned the monitor off. Either way, he survived the night and was smiling in his crib when I got home in the morning. Tuesday night I had to participate. And no, I was not committed. But I was tired, beat down, and LORD KNOWS I needed some sleep. So I did it, I let him cry. It was not easy. Jona says he needs to "cry is out" all casually like its no big deal. Let me tell you, it is one very big deal to this mamasita. Its an uphill battle. Both ways. In the snow. Barefoot. Seriously. But the Little Man did surprisingly well. Only woke up twice. The first time was 10 minutes, only 5 of which was crying, then he was just pissed off. The second time was only 5 minutes of anger and then joyous sleep.

So its been a week and a half. That is 10 nights of NOT walking across the house to self soothe the baby who can do it himself. 10 nights of sleep, glorious sleep.

So Erica, it works. And it gets better. And its worth it.

Now Hailey wakes us up to sleep in our bed ....@#$%&*!!!

Portrait Innovations

2009-03-27T09:07:00.005-04:00

Last weekend we had portraits taken of the kids at Portrait Innovations. They are all TOO cute! And thus, we spent TOO much money :) How could we possibly resist these faces??

(sorry I can't flip this, just turn your computer sideways!)

Things that Hailey says that make Jona VERY nervous...

2009-03-18T09:55:00.003-04:00

Conversation at the dinner table...

Hailey: "Gotta go, the boys are requesting me."

Jona: "What?"

Hailey: "The boys are requesting me, they want me to go to work."

Jona: "They want you to go to work?"

Hailey: "Yep, they want me to go to work and spin, and spin, and spin like a bee."

Maybe we shouldn't listen to FloRida anymore, perhaps she understands more of the Apple Bottom Jeans song than I think.

Take me away...

2009-02-28T16:44:00.007-05:00

Two weeks ago, Hailey and I took a vacation. We only traveled 10 miles south, but it was a much needed reprieve. Jona had traveled every week for the four weeks prior to our escape, and not having had a real night of sleep since Parker was born, I was on the edge...of reason, of a meltdown, of my sanity. Hailey has been in prime three year old form as of late, (I mean that as both a good and hideously terrible thing) and we were having a tough time getting along with each other. So I decided we needed a vacation. So I found a great deal at a nearby hotel and off we went.

There was a fabulous king size bed covered in a down comforter with a multitude of fluffy, feather filled pillows, but she liked "exercising" on the floor with these. Whatever works.

Jona and Parker drove us down and played for a little bit before we had our girls night out.

We had a little photo shoot on the bed. I mean seriously, do you just love this face??

The main reason I chose this particular hotel was the INDOOR POOL!!! Parker looked mighty fine in his surfer dude attire.

And Hailey is pretty cute herself. Gotta love that face too :)

In the elevators the floors were filled with oily stuff so when you stepped on them you left a print. Totally entertaining for young and old alike.

The pool room had one wall that was solid windows to the great, incredibly freezing, totally nasty outdoors. It was in the 30s I think, and raining and gross. But we were warm and toasty and very humid. They had this awesome half circle chair/couch with this huge wicker back. I took a lot of pictures on it. I love the way Parker is checking out his big sister in this one. He thinks she is the coolest kid ever to walk the planet earth. She doesn't have to do anything but be in the room with him and he laughs hysterically. It will be interesting to see how that plays out in later life. She is a rather cool chick.

Parker's first dip. And he loved it. Kicked his feet, flapped his arms, had a grand ole time. His skin didn't like it very much I'm sad to say, but that is what Aquafor is all about.

Dang we're cute!

Why am I the only one looking at the camera in every picture with my children??

Post swim play time must always involve one's feet. I can't even touch my toes and he can suck on his.

Put a fork in him, he is D-O-N-E! The Little Man slept for 4 hours after his swim. Gotta love the pool.

And Hailey and I were left to our own devices. In her lap is a container of Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream, and a strawberry-banana smoothie. Dessert of champions. We munched out and watched The Tale of Despereaux on our flat panel tv hanging on the wall. Adorable movie. When it was over, no nap girl was ready to fall on her face. I tucked her in and snuggled next to her and watched her quickly fade out. She slept like a rock...directly in the middle of the bed.

This is Hailey after a great night of sleep....

and mommy after my first night of uninterrupted slumber in who knows how many months between being pregnant and having to tinkle every 2 hours, to then waking up with Parker. Dear lord it felt good. Hailey took this one, not too shabby. But seriously, what is it going to take to get rid of the circles under my eyes??

We swam again that morning and played a little before Hailey's meltdown over having to check out. If we're being honest, I had a little meltdown too, I just didn't let the people in the lobby see it!
And one of Parker's newest tricks...

TA DAAAAAA!! Goodness gracious this boy is cute.

PS- We went for his 6 month check up this week and he is now 26 1/4 inches and 16 lbs 13.5 oz. Not such a little man anymore.

Big Man

2009-02-28T16:17:00.003-05:00

Parker is growing so quickly it is amazing. I thought time flew by with Hailey, but this is ridiculous. I swear it was just yesterday that he was a newborn and we were struggling to get into a routine with a new addition. Now he is almost 6 months old! Crazy.

He outgrew his baby tub and now gets to splish splash in Hailey's tub. She isn't so sure about sharing that space with him, so last night she jumped in too. I think she feels better now that she realizes that he only gets about 2 inches of water and no toys!

We brought the exer-saucer down about a week ago and he loves it! I would say Parker's only complaint is that he can't get all the gadgets in his mouth.

We started oatmeal last week and it is NOT going well. Please note the tongue thrusting in all these pictures. I really don't think a single grain has been swallowed!

The third night we tried it, Parker discovered his tongue. Now he just sticks it out when he sees the spoon coming and creates a blockade of sorts. I think we will give up for a little bit, stick with the boob juice for now, and try again in another week. I mean, obviously the kid ain't starving (please refer back to the thigh rolls in the first picture!!).

OLIVE

2009-02-19T13:25:00.004-05:00

It is with great joy an excitement that I would like to introduce to the world, making her Blogger debut....

BABY GIRL HAJIMIHALIS!!!!

Little Miss Haji is the first child of one of my very best girlfriends in the whole wide world, Kristy Spade Hajimihalis. When Spadely and I have talked about her children, we wondered if they would be blonde haired blue eyed little ones (like she is) or little greek olives (like Nick, her hubby). Thus, I am calling this miracle, Olive.

Dear Olive- I am your Auntie Leslie. I live in Nashville, TN, too far away from you and your mommy. But I want you to know that even now, when you are still growing in your mommy's tummy, I love you dearly and can't wait to meet you. You are blessed with loving parents who are already madly in love with you, a Grandma Spade who is sure to spoil you rotten, and a guardian angel Papa Bear who will always protect you and surround you with his love. Plus, two quirky Aunties, me and Malinda, who will spend our days teaching you things your parents won't and sugaring you up before sending you home. I love you Olive and I can't wait to snuggle you up.

Catch Up

2009-02-08T10:01:00.004-05:00

Hailey, ever the deep thinker, was saying the other day, "Its been quite a while since a good blog update."

Parker was too busy admiring his toes to think much of anything.

Not sure if the breast milk is enough for him as he is obviously wasting away to practically nothing.

"Geez mom, don't even talk about it."

We had a lovely Saturday lunch with Miss Kerri, Miss Dionne, Abbey, Grant, and Baby Joy. Parker was blown away by Joy's beauty...and her hair :)

We had mini eclairs as one of our desserts. Hailey ate hers like corn on the cob.

Gammy and Grampy just came for a wonderful visit. Jona has been travelling for job interviews so it was both a social visit and I worked them pretty hard!

Of course, they had to be here to attend the marriage of their granddaughter.

It snowed a little one morning and Gammy was able to make these mini snowmen...their names were Mokey and Dokey (Hailey's other mommy and daddy. They apparently live at her other house. They must really miss her cause she seems to be here ALL the time!)

Jack was not a big fan of the cold...Grampy either although I don't have a picture of him snuggled in the boppy.

As it turns out, I am a bad daughter and don't have a single picture of Gammy and the kiddos on my camera. She was too busy working her fingers to the bone to have any fun.

But seriously it was a fantastic visit. We miss them terribly.

Parker's Pipes

2009-02-04T22:38:00.004-05:00

We had so hoped Parker would be quiet...not so much.

Take a Moment and Enjoy

2009-01-20T21:14:00.002-05:00

Today I find myself inspired. Hopeful. In awe of a man and his amazing story. Today I am truly proud to be an American. Proud to be part of a generation that has "chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord." I anxiously await the day I can tell Hailey and Parker about this special, defining moment in our country's history. Today does indeed prove that every child can be whatever, whoever they choose to be. We can all have the lives we choose to lead. And if we all work together, towards a common goal, we WILL live in a country we can all be proud of.

I know its long, but its worth the read...

"I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sanh.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. Those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers ... our found fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America."

2009- Three Years Old and Almost Growed Up

2009-01-15T16:47:00.010-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! I apologize for how long it has taken me to post my first 2009 message, but life has been busy...again. We spent New Years and Hailey's third birthday in Idaho with the Maupin family. It was a wonderful trip- busy, fun filled, and went by entirely too quickly. This was Parker's first time meeting his aunts and uncles and cousins, and I'm pretty sure he captured all their hearts. Hailey was fabulous, proving that she is indeed a professional performer.

We celebrated Hailey's big THREE on New Years Day with a party at Blast Off. This is the same place we had her first b-day party, and the only place open in Idaho Falls on New Years.

Of course we started the day with TONS of presents!

Each of our three suitcases gained 10 pounds on the way home :)

She really is a princess!

Parker and Mom are ready to PARTYYYY!!!

I could barely even get her to stop to look at the camera she was having so much fun.

Monkey child.

Matthew has gotten so big since we last saw him. Hailey had a great time with him.

The birthday girl. Time for more presents, lots of sugar, and tons of smiles. I can't believe my girl is three. Sometimes I am sure she was just born yesterday and then other days I'm confident she must be a teenager already...lord help me.

It was all too much for Jona and Parker.

On Sunday, we had Parker dedicated in Papa and Grandma's church. We did the same for Hailey when she was little. Jona and I are asked to dedicate ourselves to raising Parker surrounded by God's love. We pledge to teach him to live in the lord's image. And we get to say thank you for such an amazing blessing.

And is he ever a gift. This little boy is amazing, laid back, happy, fluffy, simply wonderful. We are so lucky to be given the opportunity to teach him how to be a good man.

On the way to lunch with everyone, Hayden asked if he could babysit Parker.

Not sure if that's going to work out.

We finally got some good snowfall, after it just being RIDICULOUSLY cold. So Hailey, Jona and I headed to the local park for some sledding. Hailey was the only one with snow pants and boy were we jealous!

The hill was solid ice under a shallow layer of snow. Getting up it with two sleds and a slippery, but well padded, three year old was not easy.

First she went with dad...

then she went with mom...

and then she was totally over us and wanted to go by herself. Little daredevil couldn't get enough.

She would climb on the sled, lay down, grab on, and go, go, go. And then she would roll off the sled and sink up to her knees in snow and ice and laugh her frozen fanny off.

Jona and I went to dinner, just the two of us. Amazing, I know. And we came home to an impromptu jam session in Papa and Grandma's room. There was singing,

dancing,

and all together wowing of the crowd.

Actually, there was a lot of singing.

Parker could only take so much.

But the party continued.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-28T11:13:00.004-05:00

We leave for Idaho tomorrow so our day is rather chaotic- filled with packing, cleaning, taking down the Christmas tree, entertaining the kids, etc, etc, etc...As a result I don't really have time to narrate these Christmas photos. Lets just leave it at 'Christmas was AWESOME! We were all very spoiled. Life is good!'

Oh Santa...

2008-12-23T09:27:00.001-05:00

I already have all I want for Christmas...

I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup is overflowing.

Who is in charge around here?

2008-12-16T20:56:00.001-05:00

Me: "Hailey, what do you want for lunch today?"

Hailey: "Mommy, I don't know why you feel like you have to ask me so many questions."

Again I ask, are you serious?!?

Oh Christmas Tree...

2008-12-11T23:25:00.007-05:00

We bought our tree last week at Lowe's. We tried to support the local market where we bought our tree last year, you know support the local economy. But as it turns out the local economy has experienced some steep inflation over the past year and our tree was half priced at the nationwide chain. Hey, we're all hurting in this economy ok?!

It was awfully chilly, but that didn't stop us.

Hailey, ever the adventurer, soon found the wild animal petting zoo.

Hailey went through each and every ornament and wanted to know the fun details behind every one...every SINGLE one!

For some reason she wasn't very interested in putting the ornaments on the tree. She wanted to talk about them, touch them, approach the tree with them, but very few were actually hung on the branches. I was feeding beefcake buddah boy, so Jona ended up decorating the tree mostly by himself- but we did watch enthusiastically.

Night on the town

2008-12-11T22:22:00.003-05:00

Last Friday we had a Maupin family date night out. We were going to go to dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory, one of Jona's favorites, but Hailey reasoned that old spaghetti would be disgusting and probably make her throw up. So instead we went to the New Spaghetti Factory- a lot like the old one, but no throwing up. After dinner we watched the downtown Nashville Christmas parade. It was 28 degrees.

While the parade was fun to watch, the Christmas lights on the light posts were rather beautiful too.

Who is that???? Riding on that sleigh???? Could it be?????

SANTA!!!!!

Every other float in the parade was playing traditional Christmas carols, Santa's sleigh was playing Beyonce. Sometimes I don't get this city.

Hello Lover

2008-12-11T22:03:00.003-05:00

Too smart

2008-12-03T15:45:00.002-05:00

In the bathroom at the local library changing Parker's diaper...

Hailey: "Blah, blah, blah, blah........."

Me: "Hailey, why do you have to talk ALL the time?"

Hailey: "Just making conversation mommy."

Are you serious?

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T09:37:00.003-05:00

We spent Thanksgiving here in Nashville. And let me toot my own horn by saying that I cooked THE ENTIRE DINNER MYSELF! We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, creamed onions, cranberry, rolls, and sparkling apple cider. Ok, I didn't make the cider but I refrigerated it, I didn't can the cranberry but I put it in the pretty bowl, and I didn't let the yeast rise for the rolls but I did bake them. And it was all pretty good. I learned a few things from my first turkey: a) don't believe everything you read on the internet. Slow roasting a turkey doesn't work even though the author said it was "the very best way to cook a turkey ever." b) 9 pounds is entirely too much turkey for 3 people, especially when one of those people is 2 years old and only likes a food for a matter of minutes. c) there is more than one body cavity you must search for totally gross and completely creepy baggies of turkey insides. I am convinced that the extra bag of giblets negatively effected my cooking time thus slightly over cooking and drying the turkey. Seriously, THREE bags of nastiness, who knew?!

Hanging out on the couch while the turkey cooks itself.
Hailey dressed herself for the special day.

Parker thought she looked hysterical.

A Maupin family Turkey day.

Parker may not sit at the table, but he sure did look cute and I'll be feeding him turkey later!

Such a big boy! Hailey has entered the room in this picture so Parker will no longer look at me. That big sister of his is a riot!

Hailey would only eat turkey, refused to even try the side items...so sad. But the large amount of turkey she ingested knocked her out and she was in bed by 7:30. Got to love that tryptophan!!

Hunting for the perfect leaf

2008-11-28T09:28:00.003-05:00

Last week we took Hailey and Parker to Loveless Cafe for lunch and then drove part of the Natchez Trace hunting for fall leaves. Sadly we missed the peak of colors as most of the leaves were on the ground instead of the trees! But that just meant that we could collect them, along with acorns, to take to Hailey's school.

I've got more than just junk in my trunk :)

Now I know why they have the emergency escape hatch in there.
"Are you people serious..."

Hailey always makes me feel so pretty

2008-11-26T21:49:00.002-05:00

The other day Hailey was 'cutting' my hair. In essence, she was rubbing things on my head, making me a frizzy mess. At the end of our session she stood in front of me, held my face in her hands and said "Mom, put your neck up so I can see your WHOLE chin." Thanks honey, I feel so pretty.

La Leche League

2008-11-21T16:15:00.002-05:00

I walked into Hailey's room and found her in this position.

Please notice the accuracy of her technique. This is the cross cradle latch, although I fear she is offering a little too much head support. Thank goodness she has a Boppy pillow (in reality that is one of those pillows you wrap around your neck when you travel), it really helps make nursing so much more comfortable.

When I walked in she was just sitting there swinging her legs and she said "Mom, Charlie is hungry ALL the time." Its tough, really tough.

Awwwww, Miami in November

2008-11-17T16:58:00.014-05:00

As I type this, it is about 42 degrees in Nashville. Less than a week ago, I was wearing my bathing suit.

We arrived in Ft. Lauderdale on Wednesday afternoon to the sweet sound of my girl screaming "GO OBAMA!!!" to my Republican father down the terminal of the airport. Yep, taught her well...no, I'm not a good winner :) That evening the Renfroe kids joined us for dinner at Grammy and Grampy's, dad probably enjoyed their more conservative outlook.

Parker meets cousin Payton, with Hailey looking on and giving instructions.

And then on to cousin Marshall, or mac daddy cabbage patch.

Hailey and cousin Chloe enjoyed the local dining (caramel rice cakes) and a little TV down time.

Thursday morning Auntie Kimmie arrived for her snuggles!

In the afternoon we drove up to Boynton Beach to visit with the Rick Perrin family. There was an unreal amount of dress up, play time in Jade's room, swimming in the jacuzzi, and then the tub to end all tubs. All followed by a complete meltdown in the car on the way home. Great fun comes with a great price.

Auntie Mef lovin' on the little man.

This was taken during the aforementioned bath. Let me just say there was singing, dancing, and water flying. I have a fabulous video that will resurface for future blackmail purposes.

Friday we made it to Grammy and Grampy's pool. And never fear, my girl is still a fish.

Parker's first visit to the pool was met with much enthusiasm...and a whole lot of sleep...

and some bonding with Grampy who also fell asleep! Parker does seem to cause an outbreak of narcolepsy everywhere we go.

After a long and refreshing nap, we all headed to the Johnson's for a family dinner. Hailey continues her love affair with cousin Bryce. She just adores him, its too cute!...and Parker loved on cousin Shelby, but it is currently 5:30am my first night at work with NO NAP and I just accidentally deleted her picture and will have to upload it again at home. Sorry Shelby!

"Hey Auntie Kari, see how grown up I am holding my head up like a big boy? I'll be chasing my sister around in no time!"

Saturday morning Jona ran a 10k with Mike out on Key Biscayne. Made them feel manly. We met up with them at the park later that afternoon for a picnic lunch and to see Bryce's football game. However, there was a kink in the plans when we ladies (and Parker) went to the wrong park thus missing the game and delaying lunch!

That evening Parker got one of many baths in Grammy's bathroom sink. Such a fabulous chunk monster! Next visit he will graduate to the kitchen sink.

Sunday the boys (aka Jona, Mike, Keith, and Ricky) went fishing on the Renfroe's boat. No girls were invited. Next visit its our turn! No doubt we would catch bigger fish boys :)

Instead of fishing, we went to Pinecrest Gardens and played our hearts out. They have a little water park section, playground, petting zoo, and a family of the biggest iguanas I have ever seen. This is Bryce and Hailey being way too cool.

After holding it for way too long, Marshall finally had to let loose :)

Monday we tried to take Hailey to the beach by mom and dad's, only to find that it is closed on weekdays because they don't have a lifeguard. We were told we could play on the sand but could not get in the water. I wasn't sure who was going to explain that to Hailey so we opted for the pool instead. Parker snuggled.

and snuggled...

Tuesday we finally made it to the beach. It was incredibly windy and kind of stinky weather most of the time we were there, but that didn't stop anyone from having fun. All the kids were out of school for Veteran's Day so we got one more day of cousin playdate extravaganza.

Parker is in the stroller and didn't come out much because it was so windy. He'll enjoy it more next time!

Geez we're cute!

All in all it was a wonderful trip. Now we're home, I'm back at work, I have a cold and its freezing outside. Can't wait for the next vacation!!!

2008-11-07T13:30:00.000-05:00

Parker says, "I'll give you something to smile about..."

The Winds of Change

2008-11-04T23:11:00.004-05:00

Amazing. Simply amazing.

Bring on the change President Obama.

Buddah Beefcake

2008-11-03T13:51:00.004-05:00

Parker had his 2 month check up today. He is now 12 1/2 lbs and 24 1/2 inches long! The glutton has gained 2 lbs and grown 2 inches in the past week and a half!!!

Perhaps his content personality can be attributed to his big sister's great attitude...

Sugar Rush

2008-11-01T23:30:00.004-04:00

The Maupin family Halloween was a sugar filled extravaganza of fun!

Hailey's class had a party..."A classroom party for everyone" as it was described. Apparently there was some confusion among the students as to who the party was for. Was is Kathleen's birthday party? No. Was is Ella's birthday party? Nope. Was it Bryson's birthday party? No sir. This was a "classroom party for everyone." And don't you forget it!

The kids were all adorable in their costumes. And the parents were rather cute too, all running around with their cameras eating pigs in their blankets (not sure how to properly make that plural) and rice krispie treats...oh wait, that was just me :)

Hailey was of course the cutest one there. No doubt, hands down, the smartest too!

Parker dressed up too- as the fluffiest, most lovable baby on the block. He was quite a hit with parents and kids alike.

Ahhhhhhh. We are so sweet.

The party proved too much for the little man who slept through most of trick or treating in the bjorn! No Mr. Goodbar's for him.

Hailey on the other hand was a master trick or treater. She had every household wrapped around her little finger as soon as they opened the door. According to Hailey, everyone was waiting just for HER. Just for the honor of seeing how beautiful she was. People stayed up late just for the opportunity to put candy in her pumpkin bag. Lucky girl...lucky neighbors.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T18:14:00.001-04:00

Second Time Around

2008-10-26T16:01:00.000-04:00

One of the major changes I see in myself as a second time mom is my ability to pack a minimalist diaper bag. I no longer feel compelled to pack for any and all possible situations we might face on a trip to the grocery store. Gone are the days where I heft a monster bag filled with Mylicon for gas, Tylenol for fever, 12 diapers, a full pack of wipes. 6 binkies, 3 changes of clothes, 4 burp cloths...you get the idea. Now, for the little daily outings, I frequently just carry my purse, toss in a few diapers, a travel pack of wipes, a binkie and pair of panties for Hailey. Unfortunately, the merits of my streamlined packing were called into question today at our local McDonald's. Hailey, Parker and I headed out, purse in hand, for lunch and playtime down the street. Upon our arrival, someone must have mentioned to Parker that it was time for me to eat because he became highly agitated and inconsolable, as he can only do when I want to enjoy a meal. So I picked him up, rocked him, tried to appease him with his binkie, but all of my attempts were met by screaming grumpiness. The last resort is always a shot of the good stuff- a little boob juice to calm him down. Sadly, breastfeeding in the play area at McDonald's is not the easiest, most discreet thing to do, especially with my mini mom pack which did not include a blanket. But I figured it out, latched him on, quieted him down, and ate with my other hand. As it turns out this did provide adequate relaxation as it was met with an explosion of epic proportions. A little grunting and groaning, all without letting go of me, and out came an avalanche of poop. It vibrated my booth. It filled his diaper. It ran up his back, out of his huggies, onto his gymboree onesie, and into my hand. I guess I should be thankful I was eating with the other one. All that, and of course he wasn't finished nursing. By the grace of god, the people Jona was supposed to interview didn't show so he was on his way to meet us for lunch. He stayed with Hailey while I took the super dooper pooper to the bathroom to clean him up. And then I remembered that the NEW me didn't over pack. The NEW me brought only the essentials. The NEW me failed to bring a change of clothes for her 7 week old infant. The NEW me suddenly entered a new class of women who bring their babies to fast food restaurants with no shirt on. AND did I mention I didn't even have a blanket! So the poor little poopin' machine had to sit there with a burp cloth, the only one I had, over his chilly little boobies, wearing only pants and socks. We're high class all the way baby.

Hailey and River Get Down

2008-10-26T15:43:00.004-04:00

The video is a little dark, sorry. Hailey and her best friend River were shakin' their money makers last night. America's Got Talent!

But seriously mom, where is my bear skin rug??

2008-10-23T15:32:00.002-04:00

Still Groovy

2008-10-23T15:26:00.003-04:00

As a sign of her increasing maturity, Hailey has slowed down the dance moves and is now focused on perfecting her "shake it don't break it" routine.

Back to Sleep

2008-10-21T17:10:00.002-04:00

(Hailey @ 2 months) (Parker last week)

Why do both my children choose to do this to me??

Pictures Galore

2008-10-18T21:19:00.005-04:00

It may take me a while, but I do make up for my absence...

Sizing Parker up for October. Such a big boy we have!

Hailey & Parker cruisin' in style.

The World's BEST Big Sister

Enjoying some fresh air. Livin' it up- Parker style.

Our neighbors have a walnut tree. Let me say, its a damn good thing we love these neighbors. If we live here next year for walnut season, I'm cutting down the f*%#ing tree! This is only a small portion of the nuts on the ground- family not included.

Oh, poor daddy is so tired. You'd think he was the one breastfeeding. And NO, I'm not bitter at all.

People put shoes on their babies here in Nashville. As a native Floridian I am an extreme hater of all things with closed toes. But Parker does look awfully cute- and I think he knows it! So, here's one for you Dionne.

Today we visited Walden Farms for our annual pumpkin patch visit. With visions of last year, we didn't expect much (last year there had been a huge drought so there was no corn for the corn maze, very few pumpkins, lots of dry hay, etc, etc). Boy were we delighted to find this little gem. Hailey had so much fun she could hardly contain it. There was the mini hay maze, the corn maze, the hay mountain, animals to feed, corn in the sand box, and pumpkins GALORE! AND she let me put her hair in pigtails so she was totally the most adorable girl there. Top it all off with sunshine and 65 degrees, it was perfect.

Parker is sleeping and I'm going to try to finish watching Iron Man. I seem to make it through 30 minute increments before falling sound asleep.

THIS ONE HAND

2008-10-18T10:01:00.001-04:00

BY: RICK PERRIN- brother extraordinaire

Its raining, its pouring, man I WISH I was snoring!

2008-10-15T20:42:00.006-04:00

Have you ever had a moment where you are forced to wonder what you put out into the great space-time continuum that would result in your karma being so totally screwed? A moment where you must ask to the vast unknown "WHY????" I am SO there. Since Parker's birth, while we have absolutely reflected on how lucky and blessed we are, we have also had a whole onslaught of crap rained down on us. We have seen the kids' pediatricians at least once every single week since September 5th. Lets review:

Week 1: After coming home I noticed Parker's coloring on his face was strange when lying on his left side. I panicked, sure he had some cardiac anomaly. Called the dr, told to come in, educated about Harlequin Syndrome, a completely benign baby thing that affects their coloring. No big deal, will go away, stop stressing out.

Week 2: Parker's regular 2 week check up. Healthy baby, back up to birth weight. All is well and good.

Week 3: Hailey leaned her arm on Grandma Maupin's curling iron over the weekend and had to be seen to make sure it was healing well. It was, looking good, keep treating it like we are doing.

Week 4: Hailey woke up from her nap crying hysterically that her privates hurt and refused to go to the bathroom. Kept saying she had to tinkle, kept running to the potty, kept trying to go, but as soon as she would start she would cut it off and cry. Finally had to sit her in a warm tub to get her to go, saw the dr the next day.

Week 5: Parker got a stuffy nose and low grade fever. We were told to call the dr if he had a temp before he was 2 months old. Dr said we had to go to ER for work up. 48 hours in hospital- you know that story. Came home from hospital and mommy got a stomach bug.

Week 6: Sunday evening the stomach monster attacked me AGAIN! Started barfing in the afternoon, the other end soon followed. Lasted through the night. Tuesday morning Jona's stomach started. ALSO Tuesday morning, Hailey started coughing. Middle of the night last night Hailey woke up barking like a seal with a fever of almost 102 degrees and a leaky diaper. Lets also mention that Parker is having some sort of growth spurt that requires him to firmly believe that he should eat ever 1 1/2 to 2 hours ALL NIGHT LONG. MOMMY IS SO VERY VERY CLOSE TO LOSING IT!!!!! So today, we were back at the dr. They love us there.

Luckily, we already had an appointment for this morning for Parker's overdue one month visit. And the little man is quite the chunkster. 22 inches long, 10 lb 14 oz!! LOVE IT! That means he has gained 12 oz in a week, go mamasita. I do feel compelled to point out however, that despite the very effective breastfeeding in addition to the bodily explosions I have been experiencing, the weight is not just dripping off of me. Nope, prepreg clothes still don't fit. So, there are no pics attached to this message simply because I am too darn tired to hook the camera up to the computer. Get over it. I'll put some on soon. Don't worry, my kids are still the cutest things ever created!

Updates...FINALLY

2008-10-09T12:01:00.003-04:00

Let me start by saying how happy we are to be home. I have slept so soundly in between feedings the past two nights, it has been glorious! Nothing like a hospital pull out couch to make you appreciate the comfort of your own bed! Parker obviously agrees.

Now a recap of the past couple of weeks I have gone without blogging...

My friend Kerri from work came to visit and brought a delicious lunch. Parker snuggled away and Hailey entertained. We are so lucky to have made such good friends here in Nashville!

We have all been keeping a close eye on the election and watching the many debates. After thinking it over, Parker has decided that all politicians are full of bologna (you know its ridiculous that I just had to sing the Oscar Mayer song to spell that right!) and all the debates in the world won't teach us anything if no one decides to be honest. Nonetheless- GO OBAMA!!!!

We found out at the hospital that Parker is now 10 lbs 2 oz! The boob juice is clearly doing its job as his rolls have started to fill in. He has started to really enjoy lounging in his boppy- man I love that pillow.

We spent Saturday- the day before the dreaded fever- at Cheekwood Gardens. This is a huge estate that has been developed into a botanical garden sanctuary and it is BEAUTIFUL! You will recall pics from last year's visit with the giant scarecrows. This was the same event, new scarecrows and all, but this year things were actually in bloom as we have had rainfall this season. We met friends Miriam, Rob, and their son Theo (Hailey's new buddy) for the day and had a great picnic on one of the lawns. The kids ran like crazy, and I don't know about Theo but Hailey took a GREAT nap that afternoon!!

Last night Parker had his first bath in his tub. I've been using the sink but it was just too challenging. He LOVED being in the water...I LOVE HIS FLUFF!

I will end this post with something for you all to look forward to...

As the embodiment of Ariel, this Halloween is going to rock!

Forgive me, I've been busy

2008-10-08T14:27:00.005-04:00

For all those who have e-mailed me complaining about the lack of updated pictures, please allow me to explain. I have a bunch of new pics all ready to be uploaded to the blog. Stories all ready to share and make you smile and giggle and get all sentimental. However, instead of enjoying Hailey's nap time blogging away on a cloudy, relaxing day, I spent Sunday at the emergency room with Parker Daniel. The poor little guy hadn't slept well Saturday night, very restless, and woke up all stuffy. While Hailey was napping I took his temp and sadly he had a fever so I called the pediatrician. She informed me that a fever in a child under 2 months is considered an emergency and we needed to head to the ER for a work up. What she failed to mention- something I find extremely important- is that going to the ER for a work up did not just mean blood and urine cultures, which I expected, but also a lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis. Also worthy of noting to frightened parents is that once you are there you are admitted for at least 48 hours of IV antibiotics. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? Why she would fail to mention this on the phone I have no idea as apparently it is standard practice. So what I thought would be a little blood work, turned into two days of me and Parker in the hospital with his poor little IV for the yucky meds being pumped into his system. Needless to say, it was not restful for me, although Parker did extremely well. Thank goodness they don't remember the things we put them through as infants.

We were allowed to leave before the 48 hours was up as I promised that as a nurse I would surely know if my child suddenly became REALLY sick and under the condition that we would return should anything suddenly appear on his blood or urine cultures. I did not receive that terrible call so I am assuming that no news is good news and that our little man just has a cold.

We came home last night and upon our arrival I started feeling terrible. Chills, body aches, queasy stomach. I figured it was just because I was so exhausted so I left Jona with the kids and went to bed. Unfortunately, Parker was grumpy and wanted to eat every hour so there was no real rest for the weary until 7ish when I ran to the bathroom to toss up my guts and everything I had eaten all day. Joy of joys. Its tough to breastfeed when you really want to barf. My upset stomach lasted through the night but seems to be better now. Parker is blissfully snoozing in his boppy and Hailey is napping (or at least she is being quiet!). And I am going to pay bills :)

I will put pics on later- I promise.

Just because they are entirely too cute!

2008-09-25T19:20:00.002-04:00

Grandma and Papa arrive

2008-09-25T19:06:00.003-04:00

After Gammy left, Grandma came to continuing the spoiling of the Maupin family. And we love it! Aren't we lucky to have such wonderful grandmothers?!?!

Lots of snuggling has gone on. And now Papa is here to play with!

Exercise for everyone :)

In Awe

2008-09-21T18:22:00.008-04:00

There are many times each day that I look at my kids and think "man am I lucky" or "geez am I blessed." I think this picture really captures those moments when I look at Parker and think "gosh he is one cute kid!"

I'm going to use his teddy bear...his first bear...to give a little perspective on how big he is getting for our out of town following. This will be the first picture...'Parker- in the beginning.' I will try to take a picture with the same bear monthly so you can track his growth as he becomes a big boy!

La Fashionista

2008-09-19T12:00:00.007-04:00

When asked to dress herself, and left to her own devices, Hailey's unique fashion sense comes shining through!

Which child is this???

2008-09-19T12:00:00.006-04:00

They don't just look alike folks.

2008-09-16T12:57:00.002-04:00

Before...

After...

Hailey is the best big sister ever

2008-09-12T12:34:00.005-04:00

I am truly amazed at how wonderful Hailey Beth is doing with Parker. From the moment she walked into the hospital room she has taken over as mama protector. She wants to hold him and talk to him and love on him as often as we will allow it. There doesn't seem to be too much jealousy, though I know she would really like to run and play more with me but my body won't quite allow it at this point! She even worries about me and my tummy and keeps wanting to kiss my belly button to make me feel better. Hailey really is a very special little girl. We have obviously done something right, although I think a lot of it is just her nature. We certainly could not ask for a better big sister for our little man. What a pair I'm sure they will turn out to be!!

Maupin...Family of FOUR

2008-09-10T15:49:00.006-04:00

So, so much for a "scheduled c-section". Mr. Parker Daniel Maupin has a mind of his own and he is not afraid to use it!

After being given the boot on Monday, we allowed as how another week for the little man to grow was not such a bad thing. We were able to get some last minute items and spend time with Gammy without the complete exhaustion that comes with a newborn. We were cruising along, happy as can be, growing, kicking, hiccuping our way through the week until I woke up to go to the bathroom at 2:30am, Friday morning. Just couldn't stop going...and going..and going. Yep, water is broken, free trip to the hospital. On our arrival things moved rather rapidly. The midwife came in to check me, the radiologist came in for an ultrasound to confirm that he was still indeed footling breech, and from there it becomes a bit of a blur. Apparently they don't mess around with women in labor carrying footling breech babies. All at once there were 8 people in my room talking to me about anesthesia, c-section risks, taking my history, starting my IV, giving Jona his OR gear...WAY overwhelming. They wheeled me into the OR, did my spinal (which is an experience I hope to never repeat and certainly don't want to relive here on my happy blog), strapped me down, draped me up and made the first incision. This was when I thought it might be a good idea to remind them to get Jona. Darn good thing I mentioned it because he had been forgotten! Anywho- after what I swear was nothing more than the blink of an eye, Parker was here- FOOT first! Jona got to watch them pull him out and see him cry and you could see it on his face, the instant love. The transformation really is amazing.

September 5, 2008 at 6:19am

8 lbs 2 oz 20.5 inches

Parker is superb. He is an absolute clone of his father, even more so than Hailey I think. And he is covered in blonde fuzz.

Hailey is madly in love with him and wants to help with everything. I fear that as time progresses I am going to frequently find Parker naked in the throws of having his diaper changed by his big sister. Mickey Mouse was also delivered without incident and Hailey is recovering quite well. No pain meds for her. But don't think she is all crunchy granola- she is NOT breastfeeding but has instead opted to give Mickey the bottle. Good call I think!

Gammy is here until Sunday and is getting in as much snuggle time as possible. She has been a godsend, making sure Hailey is taken care of and having fun, cooking, cleaning, and all in all being the wonderful mom and Gammy that she is. Thanks mom, I can't tell you how blessed I feel to have you here.

Parker is adjusting to being home like the laid back little man I hope he turns out to be. Other than believing he needs to be nocturnal, and thinking that if he is awake it MUST be time to eat again, we are doing incredibly well.

He is quite the lover of bath time. I had to wash his hair yesterday because it was getting oily from all of us touching it. He sat back and let me wipe him down and wash his hair and he never made a sound. I very vividly remember Hailey screaming bloody murder with every bath time until she was 3 months old, (I'm sure you remember too Auntie Kimmie!) so this is a huge improvement!!

I feel really good. I have surprised myself with my recovery, doing much better than I expected. I was up and walking as soon as they let me and all my systems seem to have bounced right back into working order. Knock on wood nearby please :)

So here we are. A family of four. And there is no doubt that we are blessed beyond measure. I will try to post new pics when I can, but my computer time is currently limited- I'm sure you understand. Hugs and love to everybody and thanks for all the happy birthday wishes and support!

Cruel Joke

2008-09-01T12:48:00.003-04:00

Ok, so just kidding. Apparently, today is not D-Day (delivery day of course). My midwife called this morning to inform me that the attending physician who is on call today was refusing to perform my scheduled cesarean because I am 38 weeks 3 days, not 39 weeks. Now lets be fair, he offered to do it if I would first consent to an amniocentesis to confirm lung maturity. Cause really, what I want in addition to my spinal anesthesia and major surgery is a ridiculously long needle inserted into my belly. Sounds like a rockin' good time. So, obviously we did not agree with that, which leaves us with the only option of rescheduling for when I turn 39 weeks, which will be this Saturday. We are the first section that day, 9:30am which is nice because I won't be nearly as hungry at that time, and it means that the little man has another week to grow and who knows, maybe he'll turn around...positive thinking, positive thinking.

So, for all of you who sang happy birthday over your cheeseburgers and hot dogs at lunch time, thank you. Consider it a dress rehearsal and lets meet again Saturday over coffee and danishes :)

The Little Man Cometh

2008-08-29T10:55:00.002-04:00

After all my plans for a natural childbirth with a midwife and lots of support, it turns out that Little Mister Maupin has plans of his own...and sadly he wins out. The little guy has been breech (upside down- or really right side up if you think about it) for quite a while now and apparently has no desire to flip over at this late stage in the game. So, I am now officially a scheduled cesarean section and we will be welcoming our son into the world Monday, Sept 1st. Yep, Labor Day with no laboring required. We are scheduled for Monday at noon, so please take a moment on your day off to stop and sing a boisterous round of Happy Birthday at lunch time! Jona will be in charge of posting pictures and hopefully will get some out Monday afternoon or evening so we can show off our newest addition....oh, and Mickey Mouse too who will be born the same day :)

Preggo Shots

2008-08-29T10:47:00.004-04:00

Let me start by saying that the following photos are not for the faint of heart. If you are in any way offended by or squeamish about a big ole pregnant belly, do not look any further. Avert your eyes. Look away. Turn around and never look back...etc, etc, etc.

All that being said, here are a few of our family pics taken by Allen Manus before the baby shower. I think we are one mighty cute family if I do say so myself :) And I LOVE my belly!

Dance Lesson Part Two

2008-08-20T17:53:00.003-04:00

Another day, another dance lesson. Today, we will be focusing on some new moves...

The Cabbage Patch

Raising the Roof

And The Twist.

So wonderfully spoiled

2008-08-19T18:26:00.004-04:00

This weekend was our baby shower thrown by my wonderful friends at work. When I say "our baby shower," I certainly do not mean a party thrown for me and Jona. Nor do I mean to insinuate that the party was for all of the Maupin family. Instead, this party was planned and executed all for Hailey and her impending delivery of Mickey Mouse, with a little love for mommy thrown in for good measure. We had a fabulous time and all of us, daddy included, were spoiled absolutely rotten.

Hailey and Miss Dionne

Hailey got hugs and kisses from all the ladies...not to mention presents GALORE!

Hailey, Baby Joy, and Miss Abbey

All our goods!

Auntie Kristy drove over from NC for the party and spent the weekend with us. On Sunday we had a picnic at the park before she had to make the long ride home.

A family that plays together, stays together.

Another one of my shirts that fell prey to shrinkage in the laundry. So sad.

Hailey's Newest Talents

2008-07-27T11:44:00.005-04:00

Just another lazy Sunday morning in Nashville. Hailey shows off her newest gifts on our bed.

She is so graceful isn't she?!

Her god given gymnastic talent was a suprise to all of us. Especially considering I can't even touch my toes.

And she LOVES to get her grove on...and "give her big fanny a slap!" I have no idea who teaches her these things :) What must they think of us at school?!

Joy Danielle Brady

2008-07-27T11:18:00.003-04:00

My co-worker and good friend Dionne Brady, welcomed her first child about a month ago and Hailey and I were lucky enough to visit with them last week. Joy was by far the most beautiful newborn I have ever seen. Dionne delivered on the night shift (such a good night shift nurse), so we were blessed with the chance to be there for her delivery. I have to say, I am in awe of the process in every delivery I attend. Its amazing what we as women are capable of creating, we make life. Its awesome. But to be there with my friend, this woman I have watched carry her first child from beginning to end, it was a moment I will never forget. Dionne was incredible during her delivery, Joy came into the world as beautiful as a porcelain doll, and I got to be there to witness it all. I consider myself very lucky.

Hailey loved her. Couldn't get enough of reading her stories, singing her songs, and telling Dionne and I to be quiet because Baby Joy was sleeping. Gives me immense hope that she will be the fabulous big sister I know she wants to be!

Gammy & Grampy's Visit

2008-07-06T21:51:00.006-04:00

We had a fabulous visit but I'm not feeling all that witty right now so I'll let the pictures do the talking :)

Prayer time is all that much more fun when everyone is involved.

Fun was had by all at Percy Priest Lake. No fish were harmed in the filming of this father-daughter moment.

Jack met the neighbors. He tinkled on her fence, she squatted back...a love affair is born.

Dog wrestling for our daily workout.

Hailey's own private Woodstock where the Cracker Jack was shared right out in the open.

Lots of kisses, plenty of BIG hugs, good food, great company, and all kinds of fun for all.

Father's Day

2008-06-23T10:37:00.002-04:00

We spent Father's Day at Percy Priest Lake. It was perfect weather, primarily because we were able to find a spot in the shade and the water was cool! The beach we really like was full, but we found this spot right before the masses arrived and were able to have a great picnic and swim our little hearts out. My belly enjoyed hanging out in the sunshine and floating in the lake. I see a lot of lake visits in our future!Hailey decorated a special cookie cake for Jona at Publix for dessert. She especially enjoyed picking off the icing :)

Now, don't worry, I am fully aware that I hve skipped over their fabulously wonderful trip to New Orleans. This is partially due to the extreme jealousy I am still coming to terms with, and because I want Jona to decide what pics to post and what to say about them. I wasn't there after all...

We are now anxiously awaiting the arrival of Gammy, Grampy, and Jack (the dog). They are driving up from Uncle Chris's house today and should be here this evening. Hailey has been talking about it for weeks and has planned many fun filled activities for all of us, many of them including Jack either on the swing set or in the pool. We'll see how that goes. More pics to follow, I promise, but I'll leave you with this beauty...

Ahhhh, summer

2008-05-31T14:50:00.003-04:00

It seems that our cool Spring weather has just about head on out of town. Of course, after being 95 on Tuesday it was 62 on Wednesday, but the chilly nights and need for long sleeves seem to be on the decline. So we brought out the pool, turned on the sprinkler, bought a grill and called it Summer! And we're loving it :)

I am now 25 weeks and although I am excited for summertime fun, I am dreading being as big as a house in August. I'm already almost the size I was when I delivered Hailey, in fact I have outgrown some of my maternity wear...I'm SURE they shrunk in the wash.

This morning the three of us attended a crawfish boil for Tulane Alumni. The crawfish were delicious, the keg was flowing (no, I did not partake), and the king cake was the perfect dessert. Hailey had a great time playing with new friends and we had fun reminiscing. Jona and Hailey leave this afternoon for a week in New Orleans with Grandma and Papa and the Lousiana clan. I am a little nervous about being away from them for a week, but I'm also incredibly excited about cleaning my house and having it stay that way for more than an hour! They better bring me back some etouffee and pralines!! I mean really, I've got 4 more months of growing to go and we want this boy to appreciate cajun cuisine :)

I'm a big kid now!

2008-05-18T17:53:00.003-04:00

Yesterday marked another major milestone in my precious little peanut's life. Hailey Elizabeth Maupin graduated from crib (enclosed and trouble free) to big girl bed (FREEDOM- channel Braveheart here)! She was totally thrilled with the new addition to her already rather crowded and completely fun filled room. In fact, its all she can talk about.

First the crib came down. Hailey was so very, very helpful, using her own tools to be daddy's talented assistant.

Then the big girl bed assembly began. There was only minimal stress on dad's part, and luckily no swearing from either of them :)

The finished product is adorable and oh-so-big-girl. She loves it. And I am happy to report that she was exhausted enough on her first night in it that she knocked right out and didn't escape until morning. What a champ!

I do have to admit, that although I am excited to no longer have to lift her into a crib, I'm a little sad that she is THAT grown up. And I know the reality of it is that most kids her age have been in big beds for a while, my baby girl has loved her crib and I have loved having her in it. But, its time to prepare for the new addition. So the white crib (THANK YOU JOHNSONS!!!) is already in the attic and the new crib is in the office/spare room/nursery. Yep, there is lots and lots and lots to be done...

Springtime breezes make GREAT bubbles

2008-05-18T17:49:00.002-04:00

Saturday was another glorious spring day here in Nashville. 70 degrees, sunny, and "super really windy," as Hailey described it. FANtastic bubble day. And a big shout out to Target for their $1 section filled with outdoor playthings. Gotta love a bargain :)

Cinco "day" Mayo

2008-05-10T20:15:00.003-04:00

Nope, its not a typo. I am simply illustrating the phonetic way the holiday is pronounced here in Nashville. Despite our large Mexican population, someone decided that the radio commercials for the Cinco "day" Mayo fair be done by someone clearly born and raised in these parts. Oh, and quite a festival it was.

First we arrived an hour after it was to have opened only to find that we were one of the whopping two families in attendance. None of the rides were running, none of the food was cooking, and the only thing available was the option to pay to have Hailey throw darts at a wall of balloons with the promise that she would win a prize. Really? Does she look like darts are a good idea? And why did they not tell us that nothing was running when they charged us our admission fee? All good questions, for which I have no answers. After being there for about an hour, visiting both petting zoos (by which I mean tortured bored animals- mostly goats- in tiny pens begging for your attention) things were plugged in and we could ride. And ride we did, the we being Jona and Hailey. I tried the carousel once and thought I was going to throw up.

Putting her on the helicopter ride with her daddy made me nervous until I realized it only went about 2 miles per hour for a total of about 2 minutes. Living life to the fullest, living it on the edge...that's our motto.

The main attraction of the fair was the monkey on dog-back race. Yes, the monkeys rode little monkey sized saddles on the backs of two unsuspecting dogs. Neither the monkeys nor the dogs seemed to be enjoying themselves, and neither really ran. Instead they slowly sauntered around the circle two times and then back into their air conditioned trailers. Divas.

All in all, Cinco "day" Mayo was quite a thrill. But we walked enough and sweat enough that Hailey still took an awesome 3 hour nap, and no one was killed by a stray dart. And really that's all that matters in the end.

Little Mister Maupin

2008-04-29T14:30:00.002-04:00

Its a...BOY!!!

Yep folks, that's right, the Maupin clan is expanding by one very tiny but totally adorable little man!

The ultrasound was great. It was the same lady who did my scan at 6 weeks and she was very nice and informative. Explained everything she was doing and even switched over to 3D mode for us at the end which was AMAZING!

He is measuring just what he should, weighing in at a whopping 13oz! Its amazing that little person can grow in my belly and kick me hard enough for me to feel it. Very, very cool!

This is the proof of his manhood, which I'm sure will totally mortify him later in life that I posted that on the internet! You are looking at his two legs (top and bottom) and that extra manly appendage in between ;)

So we are officially accepting name suggestions of the boy variety. Bring it on. Hailey is already excited about her little brother, although now that she has seen pictures she is angry at me because she can't have him RIGHT NOW. We'll see how she feels when he really arrives.

Preggo Part II at 20 weeks

2008-04-28T16:34:00.001-04:00

We go tomorrow for the big ultrasound. And speaking of big...

My dad runs SUPER fast!

2008-04-28T16:27:00.003-04:00

This past Saturday Jonathan, along with more than 30,000 other crazy people, ran the Country Music 1/2 Marathon. This was Jona's first marathon experience and he did GREAT! He ran the 13.1 miles in 2hrs 14mins and 29 sec. Hailey and I met him at the finish and brought him home to ice his knees. I got my workout pushing Hailey up the ridiculously steep pedestrian bridge, only to realize there was an elevator. He has recovered remarkably well, with only a sore foot to deal with. Go Daddy!!

More spoiling...

2008-04-28T16:22:00.004-04:00

After our trip to Miami, Grandma came to visit from Idaho. More time for Hailey to be spoiled, and boy did she love it :) Unfortunately Hailey got a terrible cold that turned into what the doctor thought was pneumonia so she was out for the count for a bit of the visit. Feeling terrible in addition to being on Amoxicillin which makes her a psycho child and getting her two year molars made for some rough times. On Carol Ann's last day here, they were able to head out for a beautiful day at the dragon park and Jona took some really cute pictures.

Spring has sprung

2008-04-21T13:52:00.004-04:00

Again, its been WAY too long since I wrote anything on the blog. Sorry folks, time flies when you're havin' fun! These are pictures from our trip to Miami at the end of March. Sadly, this is not all of the pictures as my camera died quite quickly and I forgot the battery charger (bad mommy!), but I have these to upload for all to enjoy :) Hailey and I had so much fun I can't even describe it. The weather was beautiful, we swam everyday, we saw all the cousins and aunts and uncles, we had such a good time with Gammy and Grampy, we were spoiled rotten...and we came home to 50 degrees and rain. Yes, I was most definitely depressed!! But spring appears to have arrived in Nashville, though I fear that just writing that down may jinx us back into yet another cold front. Please Mother Nature, spare me! The three of us spent ALL day in the yard yesterday, planting flowers, raking, spreading grass seed, and praying to all things holy that our grass will grow and take over the brown wasteland that is our backyard. Do a little dance for us PLEASE!!

I am now 19 weeks preggers. We have our big ultrasound next Tuesday when we will find out what we're having. I am big bellied and beautiful now, no more doubts for the general public whether I am pregnant or just rather rotund. I am feeling great, lots of kicking going on which is fun, I can't wait for Hailey and Jona to be able to feel it.

So, all is well here, I hope the same is true for you. Happy spring time to all!

We're Becoming Four

2008-03-09T10:39:00.003-04:00

That's right folks, the Maupin clan is growing! Or is it just my belly that seems astronomically large these days?!I'm only 13 weeks and I feel HUGE! This is definitely different from my first pregnancy. Clearly my body has experience and is now more than happy to expand at an alarming rate.

We are due September 13th. A lovely day when you can ignore the fact that I am going to be the size of a house in August when it was 106 degrees last summer. We are all super excited, especially Hailey who doesn't really understand but nonetheless gets quite a kick out of yelling "hello" to the baby in my belly- through my belly button of course, the porthole to all babies :) Luckily she and I are having similar experiences as she is carrying Mickey Mouse in her ever growing belly, just ask her. Frequently we have to be belly button to belly button so the two little ones can talk. Its quite a moment!

I have finally stopped throwing up (one week and counting since my last barforama) which thrills me to no end. Tossing your cookies is a lot less enjoyable with a toddler standing next to you with her head over the toilet mimicking every sound you make. She calls it my "cough-cough-spit" and she does a great rendition. Then she tries to wipe my nose, which I know she means to be helpful but having a wad of toilet paper shoved up your nose while you are still heaving is just a little distracting! But I'm all better now. I have passed that glorious 12 week mark and haven't thrown up since. Do a little dance of joy baby!!

We will be accepting name suggestions for boys and girls as we found that the most challenging part of having Hailey. And of course, her name is just too perfect so how can we possibly live up to that?!?!

Growing..its all a little scary while being totally exciting. So- here we go!

Snowy Saturday

2008-03-08T15:00:00.004-05:00

We had quite the snowfall last night. It started at about 8:30pm and was still falling this morning. I'd say we got about 4 inches, which is perfect for playing! Of course, Hailey doesn't have any snow clothes, so we had to layer her up to prevent her from getting wet to the core, but she didn't mind.

We started out sledding down our little hill in the backyard. It isn't much of an incline but her 90th percentile in weight was enough to propel her along :)

Then we headed out front to build a snowman. Of course, Jona did all the actual building while Hailey ate the snow off her gloves and I took pictures. I think thats a perfectly fair work arrangement!

The grand finale was snow angels. Most kids would love rolling around in the snow. My dainty little princess however was totally stressed out about getting covered in the white stuff and after the angels were complete she promptly announced it was time to go inside. After a snowball fight on the back deck, we stripped off our wet clothes at the door and defrosted in the heat with some hot chocolate and marshmellows. Gotta love it :)

2008-03-05T14:53:00.003-05:00

Lots of pictures to add seeing as how once a month seems to be my limit for blog updates!!

I thought this was a great picture of the girls to add to the collection. This is Hailey introducing Katie to the joys of Diego. Great for all ages :)
We took Hailey to see her first movie, Veggie Tales: The Pirates Who do Nothing. And she loved it! She actually sat still almost the entire time, and like her mommy ate every last bite of her buttery popcorn.
Jona's birthday was Feb 11th, and Hailey helped me make him a delicious german chocolate cake. We went out to dinner to a Japanese steakhouse where the cook on the table and Hailey enjoyed the show with the exception of the onion volcano. Not a fan of the big fire- she covered her head with her blankie and kept yelling "no more candles mommy, no more candles!"

These are to prove that we do get some good snow here. I took these when it first started when I got home from work in the morning. It continued all day and we actually had some stick for a while. Yesterday it was 72 degrees, today its 40. I hate this weather. Where are my FLIP FLOPS?!?!
Although this seems like some strange, inappropriate photo of our darling daughter, I just thought you'd get a kick out of what she does to herself when she is trying to avoid taking her nap. We let her talk and sing and play, usually until she falls asleep. This particular day she started calling for help and when Jona went in to her room she was stuck in her shirt with her diaper down around her knees! Please keep in mind that she went to bed fully dressed :)

Well, she is in her crib bouncing around like a wild woman as I finish typing...I suppose I should go check on the status of her diaper. Hugs to everybody.

Its been so long...

2008-02-07T14:04:00.001-05:00

Wow. It has been over a month since I last blogged. How terrible of me. We have had quite a few house guests and a tornado scare since then.

First Uncle Ricky and his good friend Boris came to visit for the weekend. It was so fun to have them here and to finally meet Boris after hearing stories about him for so many years. It was a whirlwind visit, but we all had a great time together. The boys hit the town on Friday night and Saturday Jona stayed home with Hailey and I got to go out. Geez, we really need a babysitter! I think Rick and Boris had fun and were impressed by all our music here in Nashville. Hopefully that means they will come back!!

The next weeking the Walshs came into town. Manus was willing to put Malinda and Katie on loan so they stayed with us for the weekend while Manus and his parents stayed downtown. It was so fun to see how big Katie has gotten since we moved. She is a beautiful little girl who smiles all the time and cuddles like a master! Hailey quite liked her, but had a hard time sharing her space and her toys. Of course, as soon as they left Baby Katie was all she could ask for! We met the gang downtown for dinnner Saturday night where Hailey was lucky enough to sit next to Nana Kay who was quite taken with our blonde haired beauty. They played and danced and hugged and kissed and now every time we look at Katie's blog Hailey loves to see pictures of Nana Kay and talk about seeing her again.

This past Tuesday night we had quite a storm blow through TN. I'm sure you have all seen the pictures of the devastation, mostly west of us. We were very lucky. Our area did get some heavy storms and some hail but no tornados thankfully. I was at work and Jona and Hailey were snuggled together in our bed just in case they needed to hide in the closet. It never did come to that, in fact the storm woke Jona up but Hailey slept through the whole thing. Please keep our Tennessee neighbors and all those effected in your thoughts and prayers.

Ok, theres a little update to hold you over for now. I'll try to do better. Hugs to all.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, & Happy Birthday-- Phew

2008-01-01T21:12:00.001-05:00

Oh so very much to blog about. I think I will keep the narration short and let the pictures speak for themselves. First Christmas...

Our friends from Miami, Deborah, Alex, and Ben Christensen, came to visit their family in Nashville for Christmas so they spent the day before with us making cookies for Santa. I am still finding flour and sprinkles which obviously means it was fun!!

Christmas Eve at church with dad and then home to open one present.

This Santa guy ROCKS!

I don't know what you're talking about. I am NOT spoiled!

Isn't this what dump trucks are for??

Happy 2nd B-Day Hailey Elizabeth

Oh-- and Happy New Year too :)

I don't know why you bother buying me presents, these balloons are all I really need.
Oh man, I need a moment.

My own little escape. (Dad thinks its pretty cool too!)

Holy cow, I am now officially THE coolest kid in the neighborhood!! THANK YOU GAMMY, GRAMPY, GRANDMA, & PAPA!!!

I think Mommy looks pretty good on my first bike, the Dream Dazzler.

To watch Diego, or go to Chuck E Cheese...should I stay or should I go??

Go ahead and try to tell me that I'm not the cutest Birthday Princess you have ever seen.

To Chuck E Cheese!

Kentucky Derby here I come!

You don't mind if I lick that do you?!

What an amazing couple of weeks this has been. So many new toys to play with, so much sugar, no naps, complete over stimulation...can't wait to do it again next year. And to top it all off- it snowed for her birthday. Now this is extreme swinging...

Who-ville

2007-12-30T19:14:00.000-05:00

Before Christmas we visited Whoville at Opryland. Yep, we met all the Who's and even said hi to the Grinch. The entire city is made of ice and the building is kept at a frigid 9 degrees to keep it from melting. That being said, let me add that my adorable yet incredibly sassy little lady refused and I do mean REFUSED (screaming, flailing, kicking on the floor and all that jazz) to wear her gloves. So then she was horribly grumpy the whole time because her hands hurt. Well HELLO- its 9 degrees put on your stinkin' gloves! But no, and yes I do mean NO, I will suffer but definitely not in silence.

The ice was really cool. The child was not.

2007-12-20T21:42:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry I've been so lazy about updating the blog, but life has been a little chaotic. Jona made it home from Mexico without amoebas and without fleas so all in all a safe return. Carol Ann arrived after my parents left to continue the grandparent spoiling of Hailey and we had a great week together before Daddy came home. Then Tony arrived a few days later and stayed to play until last Friday. Hailey had such a fun time with all the grandparents, I'm not sure that Jona and I are entertaining enough for her anymore!

So since I haven't updated in so long, this post will include lots of pictures. We start with a Diego reading session with Grandma her first morning in Nashville. Diego has completely consumed our lives, and although I often feel terrible that she is watching what feels like an endless amount of television, I can honestly say that she is learning from him. She can now count to 10 in english and in spanish, and knows an amazing number of spanish words and uses them appropriately. Her spanish vocabulary is just about as good as mine at this point!

The next pic just cracks me up because Hailey was quietly playing in her room when I walked in and found this scene. Please note that every baby doll has her own blankie, book, and cell phone...what else could a girl need?!?

Daddy's arrival home means lots and LOTS of running, playing and tickling! It really is astounding how much weight these children's toys can hold! This particular car was purchased with love from Gammy and Grampy and sings a variety of lovely, catchy, sing along tunes that are oh-so-fun to hear over and over and over again. When you hit the horn button it honks, next time it whistles, and then it plays what we refer to as her 'travelin music'. Whenever she is pushing you or she is being pushed, the movement must stop until she hits the button enough times to find her theme song.

Which brings us to Christmas tree shopping. We went to a little market just down the road from our house and picked out our tree in a matter of minutes. That is absolutely unheard of for us. It usually takes us multiple trips and at least one large argument to purchase a tree and get it in the house. No fighting this time. Walked onto the lot, picked the third tree we looked at, got it home, put Hailey to bed, got the tree in the house, adjusted it once, and VOILA- Christmas arrived in Nashville! Amazing. Hailey came out into the family room the next morning and stood in awe and said, "Mom, its beautiful." No lights or ornaments required, just a really cool tree in her house is all the girl needs. Decorating has also been fun. We put all the breakable ornaments on the top half so little hands wouldn't get to them, so the tree is rather top heavy. But we left a bunch for Hailey to hang and she did a fabulous job. She took so much time to find just the right place for each one and couldn't hang any of them until they got a hug and a kiss. She really is just too precious.

Well, that's enough for now. I'll try to do better, especially with Christmas, New Years, and her birthday rapidly approaching. And never fear, although we won't be with the rest of our families this year, Hailey will be more than adequately spoiled rotten :) Love to all.

She may be sick, but she is still adorble

2007-12-01T13:46:00.003-05:00

Just cause she doesn't feel good doesn't mean she shouldn't look good!

2007-11-27T10:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Turkey Day

2007-11-23T21:56:00.000-05:00

I am so behind on my updates, sorry. Life has been a little crazy. Jona left for Mexico and my parents arrived to help with Hailey and to spend Thanksgiving with us. There are no words for how helpful they have been! Last weekend we all drive to Mississippi to visit Chris Perrin and family and while we were there Hailey chose to share her latest daycare bug (for her it was double ear infections) with everyone. Lots of tissues flying around and the constant noise of coughing children...a lovely time together, really :) Gammy got it first and still has the constant throat tickle, but Grampy got hit the hardest with pneumonia. Yep, thats right folks, I said pneumonia. See if they ever come visit us again! So we've been a snot filled bunch!

I worked Thanksgiving, so we just did our turkey day today. Gammy fixed quite a feast and Hailey is quite the fan of turkey smothered in gravy...and I mean floating in it. I am ready to fall sound asleep on the couch but I wanted to share the latest pics first. Let the holidays begin!!

Late Halloween Entry

2007-11-03T22:16:00.001-04:00

I forgot to talk about our pre-Halloween adventures in my last post. The Sunday before Halloween we went to Gentry Farm which advertised it's pumpkin patch and 4 acre corn maze as the best in Nashville. Apparently they hadn't updated their ads post summer drought-please note the dead corn and lack of pumpkins. Sad, sad, sad times had fallen on Gentry Farm, but they had no problem with charging us to get in and go on the hay ride that involved NO hay and a few cows for our viewing pleasure. Not the best Sunday outing thus far.

So we bought our pumpkin at Publix and carved away. Hailey loved it and dug right in. We went with the cat theme for its face and for our first pumpkin I think we did a pretty darn good job.

Happy Halloween

2007-11-02T09:51:00.000-04:00

There have been major developments since our last posting. Hailey started school two weeks ago and loves it! From the very first day she took over the joint and is now queen of the classroom. Her teacher loves her and there has not been a single tear shed over being left there. Apparently she really was ready. She asks everyday if she is going, and Jona says when he drops her off in the morning he can barely even get a kiss good-bye! Such a big girl. She is only there part time, but of course by the third day she already had a snotty nose...taking her antibodies!!

Halloween was great! Hailey was a kitty cat and thought she was pretty hot stuff when we trick or treated in our neighborhood. Of course, the best part was not the candy, it was the fact that almost every house had a puppy or kitty in the doorway, one even had a Great Dane- it was tough to pull her away.

I started work and can't decide if I'm going to like it or not. The hospital is very small and has a totally different feel from my last job, which is both a good and bad thing. I am in the newborn nursery, so I don't really get to work with moms as much anymore and I do miss the education part of things. We don't have neonatologists in house, unlike in Miami, so we the nurses are pretty much the be all and end all for the newborns. That both excites and terrifies me with every delivery I attend. I guess only time will tell which emotion wins out.

Jona leaves for Mexico in 4 days. He will be gone for a month to a town with no phones, no cell service, and no internet. Its going to be quite an adjustment for all of us and he is already dreading how much Hailey will grow up in that short amount of time. He is trying to convince me not to teach her anything new while he is away...don't think that's going to work out for us :)

Fall seems to have finally arrived. Our days are lovely and the leaves are starting to change. Hailey and I went on a walk this morning in Radnor Park and although this time we only saw one deer (the first time we saw 13!), it was still fun to have to wear our coats and have chilly fingers. Gammy and Bampa arrive next week and we're supposed to have our chilliest weather yet...I'm sure Dad will love that!

So, that's the skinny from Nashville. Hugs to everybody!!

What to do today...

2007-10-20T10:45:00.001-04:00

We're not sure what we're going to do this afternoon, but I wanted to remind everyone how adorable my little girl is...

Now this is some serious multitasking- putting on make up while Dora flies like an eagle.

And clearly this meal included ranch dressing and she must consume every last drop.

Another busy Saturday

2007-10-14T21:36:00.000-04:00

Well, so far Fall in Nashville is great! Its fun that every weekend we have to pick between so many different things to do. And they're all FREE! This Saturday we went to Biscuits & Bluegrass at the Loveless Cafe in the morning.

Nationally acclaimed and frequented by celebrities, world travelers and local appetites alike, the Loveless Cafe serves up award-winning country ham and red eye gravy, real Southern-fried chicken, and Nashville's favorite scratch biscuits with homemade preserves cooked right in the kitchen. (www.lovelesscafe.com)

There was a live Bluegrass band pickin' in the sun with fried chicken and your choice of sides being served on the porch. I mean really, can you beat that? Ok, yes. You can add pony rides in the back, face painting, and quaint little shops filled with everything from jam to Christmas ornaments! Sadly, Hailey was Grumpy Grumperstein so we didn't stay long, but we were there long enough to say that the biscuits were indeed the best we've ever had.

In the afternoon, after Sleepy Von Grumpybum refused to nap, we headed to Germantown for Octoberfest. What an adorable part of Nashville this turned out to be. Almost reminded me of New Orleans with the front porches and friendly people. Of course, instead of etouffee there was bratwurst, and instead of jazz there was polka, but the similarities were there nonetheless. If we're being honest though, Hailey's favorite part was the incredible number of puppies running around. Everyone had a dog and I think Hailey was sure she'd found a little piece of heaven.

Next week I'll be reporting on either the Music & Molasses Festival or Harvest Fest or Ghoul Days at the zoo or the local corn maze & pumpkin patch...so many options, so many Saturdays to fill.

Sometimes it seems like the only way out...

2007-10-14T21:35:00.001-04:00

Poor guy. He is so tormented, this is what its come to.

Celebrating Fall in the heat

2007-10-07T18:13:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was another great Nashville day. The three of us started the day at Cheekwood, a historic site that is now the home of an art museum and botanical gardens. This season they have decorated the grounds with a variety of scarecrows designed by various groups and artists. We only covered maybe half of the estate and it was beautiful. I would imagine that in the Spring when everything is in bloom it must be breathtaking. As for the weather we've been having, plants can't decide if they should blossom or die so there weren't too many flowers! But the scarecrows were fun and Hailey had a great time running up and down the pathways. We ended our morning there with a little adventure in the art room. Apparently every Saturday they do arts and crafts for kids, something different every week. This week was fish painting. And no, we weren't painting pictures of fish, we painted an actual fish. Yes, a dead fish. And then we used it as a sort of print to make our picture. Hailey thought it was a riot just to play in the paint, I think it was kind of gross, but the picture is hanging on the fridge either way :)

After that we headed to Centennial Park for the annual Celebration of Cultures. We expected something a little bigger, but it was still fun. There were a couple of stages set up with different kinds of music and dancing and an area where local organizations had booths set up with info and crafts of their respective countries. All that and international fair food too! Entrance to the Parthenon was also free for the weekend. The Parthenon is in the middle of the park and is supposed to be an exact replica of the original. Strange that it is in Nashville, I agree, but there it stands. Inside there are replicas of different statues and an ENORMOUS recreation of the goddess Athena as it stood in the Parthenon in Athens. By enormous I mean 42 feet tall and decked out in a gold robe flanked by a serpent. Even stranger I swear. I'm glad I've seen it so now I don't have to wonder, but I'm even happier that it was free.

The only downside of the day was the oppressive heat. I mean, we moved out of Miami, why is it 90 in October. We went through many popsicles at the fair and Hailey passed out cold as soon as we put her in her air conditioned car seat. Bring on the seasonal shift PLEASE!

She is so Britney

2007-09-29T15:36:00.001-04:00

Backyard driving is a dangerous sport. Children should not be permitted to sit in the front seat with their mothers. Crazy driver.

Harvest Days

2007-09-26T18:51:00.001-04:00

This past Saturday, Hailey and I attended Harvest Days at the Nashville Zoo. There is a pre-Civil War mansion on the zoo grounds (I have no idea why the zoo was built around this place but it is so there you have it) and once a year they open it up for tours and set up tents all around the property with people dressed up in clothes from the 1800's doing things like quilting, rubber stamping, making yarn from wool, etc, etc. Its real hands on for the kids and Hailey even got to decorate one of the pieces of the quilt they made and drink freshly pressed apple cider! We saw horses and cows and talked to the chickens, and Hailey tried to pick a squash from the garden...clepto. It was a great day despite the oppressive heat, its fun to think that fall festivals have started and perhaps the weather will cool down again at some point!

2007-09-20T22:56:00.000-04:00

Last night we went to the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center. We had heard about it over and over again, but couldn't really imagine what could be so great about a hotel that it was considered a Nashville 'must-see'. Let the following quote from their website explain...

"Gaylord Opryland is recognized around the world for its extraordinary service, luxurious accommodations and first-class entertainment. Under majestic, climate-controlled glass atriums, you'll be surrounded by nine acres of lush indoor gardens, winding rivers and pathways, and sparkling waterfalls where you can unwind, explore, shop, dine, and be entertained to your heart's content. Highlights include a 44-foot waterfall, fountain shows, and tours aboard our Delta Flatboats - right inside the hotel."

Yes, thats right folks, a boat tour inside ONE of the THREE atriums in the hotel! They are currently wrapping up their Summerfest which includes nightly shows in the atriums. We arrived in time for HydroponiX, Plants that Rock, which exlains the pictures of the man with the plant on his head. The atriums are amazing, enormous, and perfect for small children with lots of energy. This certainly was a completely free, Nashville 'must-see' event!

Ambidextrous or Starving

2007-09-18T22:36:00.000-04:00

Obviously we are not feeding her enough as she has had to resort to using two spoons, one for each hand. Or maybe she is just showing off. Either way, meal time goes much faster this way!

Fall Fashionista

2007-09-18T22:32:00.001-04:00

As the cooler weather has set in we have had a couple of days when long sleeves and closed toed shoes were requirements. Seeing as how Hailey and I only own the open toed Florida version of footwear, shopping needed to be done. And can I just say, in a totally unbiased and completely neutral manner, Hailey Beth is by far the cutest kid I have ever seen wearing Fall fashions! She rocked the playground in her green jogging suit and the sweater from Gammy was an instant hit with both Daddy and the neighbors. Good looks and gifted, she really is the total package.

Because normal is boring

2007-09-08T14:19:00.001-04:00

Is this a premonition of a future need for reading glasses? Or perhaps this is her subconscious way of letting me know that she is going to be on the swim team. Either way she is pretty darn cute!