School's out!!

It's hard to believe that Jada has already completed her first year of preschool. I can only imagine how I will be feeling this time next year when her preschool days are over and we are gearing towards kindergarten...I am going to be a COMPLETE MESS!! The photos above were taken on her first day of school back in September (left) and again on the last day (right). Look at how much my baby grew in just nine months! Boy, do little girls grow up fast! Here are a couple more pictures taken that day...

Jada with her teachers and another classmate

Jada and her BFF Saige

Tag...I'm it!!

I was recently tagged (thanks Amy!) to write a hundred things about myself. This could be really boring so feel free to scroll down to a previous post or just wait for a new one! For those of you who are interested, here goes...

1. I was born and raised in Louisville, Ky.
2. My parents are MaDonna and Rex.
3. I have an older brother named Tim.
4. We are four years apart.
5. He tormented me as a child!
6. When I was little he told me I was adopted.
7. I believed him.
8. I am pretty gullible at times!
9. Tim is one of the funniest people I know...
10. except when it's at my expense!
11. I have a sister-in-law named Kendra (Tim's wife).
12. I couldn't have picked a better person for my brother.
13. I broke my pelvis when I was 13 during cheerleading.
14. I still favor it to this day.
15. It was the first and only bone I have ever broken.
16. I was a cheerleader for ten years (ages 8-18).
17. I still miss it!
18. I have been married to Jason over 13 years now.
19. We initially met when I was only ten.
20. I rode the school bus, and Jason was a safety patrol over my bus line.
21. He had a girl in his class ask me if I liked him. I said no. Ouch!
22. But...two years later, I was OBSESSED with Jason!
23. I used to come home every day from school and tell my mom what he was wearing that day...all the way down to his matching socks!
24. I used to beg my mom to drive me by his house to see if I could catch a glimpse of him.
25. I was a bit of a stalker back then!
26. Jason made my year by asking me to our school's annual homecoming banquet.
27. I was so nervous, I didn't utter two words that night!
28. I got us lost trying to get me home.
29. I wore big glasses back then, and of course I didn't wear them that night, so I couldn't see where we were going!
30. I still get teased about that night. I WAS ONLY TWELVE, PEOPLE! Not to mention, BLIND!
31. Unfortunately, my sense of direction isn't much better today.
32. We "broke up" the following week because he decided he was too old for me!
33. We didn't date again until I was a sophomore and he was a senior in high school.
34. He was my first love and my first major heartbreak!
35. I wish I knew then what I know now.
36. I married Jason when I was only 19 and he was 21.
37. I am glad that we have beaten the odds so far!
38. I never thought I would be married to a pilot or a military person.
39. Turns out, it's a great life...except for long trips and deployments to Iraq!
40. I survived Jason going to Afghanistan last year.
41. It was so hard watching his plane leave and not knowing when I would see or talk to him again.
42. I love to watch Jason fly...unless it's to go to Iraq!
43. I graduated from the University of Louisville with a BS degree in May 2001.
44. It's one of my proudest accomplishments.
45. I hated college.
46. I just wanted to be a stay-at-home mom!
47. My sweet Jada was born on our ninth wedding anniversary.
48. She is the light of our lives!
49. I love to dress her in long smocked dresses...
50. and giant hair bows!
51. I love Gymboree!
52. I love the sound of Jada's laughter.
53. I love to watch her when she sleeps.
54. I hate to cook...
55. but I can make a mean meat loaf!
56. I am horrible about returning people's phone calls...
57. and R.S.V.P.-ing.
58. I would rather e-mail instead.
59. I don't know the states on a map...Jason tells me to not admit this!
60. I am afraid of heights,
61. and I am closterphobic!
62. I love to blog!
63. I didn't think I would, but it has quickly become one of my favorite hobbies!
64. I love to read other people's blogs, even if I don't really know them!
65. I am a picture junkie!
66. I love Reese Witherspoon!
67. I love to read People Magazine.
68. I couldn't live without concealer,
69. I never get enough sleep!
70. I love to eat!
71. I LOVE chocolate!
72. I guess it's good I also love to exercise!
73. I once participated in a three hour aerob-a-thon. It was GRUELING!
74. I talked Jason into doing it with me.
75. Our prize for doing all three hours was a t-shirt.
76. We were hoping for money.
77. He still hasn't forgiven me for that one!
78. My favorite music tends to be either pop or country...
79. but when I exercise, it's always to AC/DC (Back in Black)!
80. I love Greys Anatomy
81. and American Idol- -Go David Cook!
82. I love polka dots!
83. I don't like to scrapbook.
84. I love iced tea--half sweet and half unsweet.
85. I don't really like cokes except for when I am eating pizza or Mexican food.
86. I love Starbucks!
87. Iced caramel macchiatos are my favorite!
88. I am a Brighton floozy!
89. I love purses!
90. I love shoes!
91. Target is my favorite store!
92. I love to decorate.
93. Fall is my favorite season.
94. I love to go to Brown County in Nashville, In.!
95. I love a pretty yard.
96. I would love to live in a big southern house that sits on a lot of land...
97. as long as I didn't have to mow it!
98. I am very close to my mom--I couldn't function without her!
99. I love that my dad still calls me "kiddo" even though I am thirty three!
100. I am getting grey hair...I blame it on Jason! Ha!

Well, there it is, a hundred things about me. That was really hard! If you read all one hundred, congratulations!

Four years ago...

I used to be Tracy. I was a wife, daughter, sister, friend, cousin, etc.. But four years and four months ago on January 7, 2004 my sweet Jada was born, and I received a new name. Mommy.

It's all I ever wanted to be. I never had big career aspirations. I went to college because it was expected, but all I really wanted to be was a stay-at-home mom. Now here I am. Living my dream.

Dear Jada,
I am so glad that God chose me to be your momma. I love you more than words could ever express...you are my special gift from Heaven. Thank you for the joy you bring me each and every day. I love you sweet girl!
Momma

To all the mom's who are reading this...Happy Mother's Day!!

Here are a few Mother's Day photos...

Family photos

I recently put together this slide show of some of my favorite photos from August 2007 until now. There will be many more photos to come!

Welcome to our family blog!

I finally decided to take the plunge and create a family blog! I hope it will be entertaining to read while keeping our family and friends updated on our lives. That, and it will keep me from clogging everyone's inbox with numerous pictures---how can you ever just pick a few?! Because I do not scrapbook (or even put my pictures in an album most of the time) I hope that this will serve as some sort of photo journal to capture the moments that seem to be flying by. Thanks for visiting, and please know that I am new to this so it may take lots of tweaking to get it just right. Enjoy!!