Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Joining "Wear a Dress Tuesday"

So, I like to read what my friends read out here on the Internet. I mean, some of the BEST blogs I read are gems that I stumbled on! So, every once in a while I check out the people who follow this blog and see what they (YOU) are reading!

My SIL/friend has been blogging and reading blogs for a long time and I joined her in this Internet world several years ago. When I was active on Xanga, many of her blogging friends became MY blogging friends. She has really good taste in what to read! So, when I saw she was following a blog called The Strength of Faith, I knew it had to be good.

I read through some of the blogs about a young woman who is working as a Chaplain Intern at a trauma center in Atlanta. Wow. What an amazing job. Then I noticed this button on the side of her page, and I clicked it and it took me here to explain her movement to encourage women to wear a dress on Tuesdays. What an idea! Really? Yup. I am ALL over this. I immediately passed the link to one of my best friends who has really been struggling over the last year and I said we HAD to do this. You know what? It didn't change the world... it didn't bring me more money... it didn't make me popular. But it did ONE thing. It lifted MY spirits and I knew that there were other women who needed encouragement and strength that were all joining together for Wear a Dress Tuesdays. My best friend here at my new job in Southern Mississippi just HAPPENED to wear a dress last Tuesday, and when I shared the idea with her, she jumped in- she has an all or nothing attitude that I LOVE. Our daughters are in dresses, we are in dresses and we are telling all the women that we work with- ITS WEAR A DRESS TUESDAY! (Yes... later I will post a picture....)

I think its a wonderful thing! And if you can't wear a dress due to your work requirements, then wear one AFTER work. You will be glad you did!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Proper Mommy attire.

This post is going to take away from the usually blogs about our wonderful Superstar Cortlyn, and be a little more personal. I'm hoping to sprinkle the musing about our family life with some other stories from my day to day life.

Today, we will again return to the water and to the swim lessons. As I said before, Cortlyn has been taking Mommy and Me swim lessons and there were two other Mommy and Me Couples. T & K's mommies were nice women and our daughters were close to the same age.

Now, you have to understand. I'm living in a little Deniallandtopia. I have gained a few pounds since moving to Southern Mississippi. I credit that to Cortlyn weaning and from being slightly depressed about leaving all of my friends behind in Georgia- but mostly, I think that my clothes all shrunk in this Mississippi water. Therefore, I'd like to think that the fact that my pants no longer fit is because they have shrank and not that I have actually eaten too many burgers... or nachos... or ice cream. I know I'm out of shape, but I like to pretend that I'm still the same girl I was a year ago. And I'd like to be able to BE that girl without having to diet or exercise. Thankyouverymuch!

Back to our story. The first two days of the class, all three of the mommies wore tankini's. I felt confident standing next to these women, because, well, in Deniallandtopia, we all looked the same. Until day three. On day three, K's mommy wore a two piece that while not a bikini, was showing more of her mid drift than I was. So, I might have been a teeny tiny bit jealous. I mean, she had no noticeable stretch marks. And *I* had no stretch marks until my daughter decided to be stubborn and late. She didn't have a 6 pack, but her ab muscles were definitely there. I'm not sure if I have ab muscles anymore. I do have a nice cushion to hide them though- I see it as protection if nothing else. Pretty much, I wanted to poke her in the eye. And you know what's worse?? She's a really really nice young mom that I would love to hang out with.

So, I have decided that Mommy and Me classes should have a dress code of a MuMu. MuMus should be worn to protect the fragile self mirror image in another mommy's head. You think about this, while I sit here and eat my lunch and contemplate my dinner and dessert for the evening.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Water Fun

This week was Cortlyn's first swim lessons! The child loves the water, so we thought we better stay ahead of the game and get her in some lessons!

We are in a Mommy and me class and there are two other mommy and daughters. Cortlyn has done great this week. We have worked on floating, kicking and jumping in the water. Cortlyn was ahead of the game as far as jumping in and going under water. The other little girls don't like to get their face wet- but not Cortlyn! If you have ever been with us when we are near water, then you know how much fun Cortlyn has going under the water! She jumps in without hesitation... but more on that in a minute.

Cortlyn's weakness in the lessons this week had been floating on her back. She did NOT like that at all. Which I understand. I remember when I was little and trying to learn to float on my back. Its hard to believe that keeping your head back will make you float better- I mean you can't SEE anything that way! Cortlyn did finally get the hang of it, and I barely had to hold her booty or head... yay! Kicking has been pretty decent, sometimes she's really into it and sometimes she's not so much.

On Thursday, we were waiting for the instructor to tell us to get in the water so we could start the lessons. Cortlyn was standing RIGHT next to me and kept asking to get in the water. Then, all of a sudden, I heard a splash- yup. Cortlyn had jumped into the water by herself. I was so scared, but calmly jumped in and grabbed her. She came to the surface smiling and I had to get on to her. I had a hard time with that. It was really the first time that I was happy she was okay, yet knew I had to discipline her for her action. We got out of the water and I told her how sad (an emotion I know that she understands) and scared (one that I don't think we've quite gotten down yet) Mommy was when Cortlyn jumped into the water by herself. I told her that she is NEVER allowed to jump into the water unless Mommy is there to catch her. I also made her sit in time out, against the wall near the pool while the instructor started the lesson. I only did this for a minute- I AM paying for these lessons after all! Anyway, she told me and the instructor that she was sorry and she was very good for the rest of the lesson. Hopefully this will teach her to be more cautious around the water now!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Crazy Summer

Wow. Its been a year! We have survived our first year here in Hattiesburg! We are excited for the future and are on the downhill slope. The chances for Corey getting a great job next year seem pretty good, we already know of several openings in different states for the 2011 school year and we are sure that more will open up. We have a lot to consider as we gear up for finding a job! Of course, our first choice would be to end up back in the North Georgia area, but we are NOT being closed minded! If God opens doors in Texas, Florida or Arizona, that's where we will go!

On Father's day we ended up going to a local lake park. Nothing like Lake Lanier, but it was a blast. Cortlyn enjoyed swimming and playing in the sand and the adults got to go out on some jet ski's! Cortlyn got to go out in a tube for the first time. which was scary and fun at the same time. Of course, Mommy rode with her, but she seemed to have a good time!

We've been so busy lately! For the Fourth, we traveled to Birmingham to see our friends Stephanie, Scotlon & Alaina. It was a perfect time to rest and hang out! I would post pictures, but because I aim low, I left my camera! Stephanie is suppose to be mailing it to me... at some point!

Cortlyn is officially big enough to be turned around to forward facing. While the "law" says they can be turned at one year and 20 pounds, research shows that staying rear-facing to the limits of the car-seat is the safest! Cortlyn actually was sort of shocked when we turned her in our car. She is a tall little girl, with short legs (like her momma!) and we have her in the tallest carseat shell we can afford. She's growing up so fast!
Football/Marching season is quickly approaching. Just thinking about the football games and the excitement of the pre-game festivities makes me want to wear my Gold and black!