Sunday, July 31, 2011

Boating Babes

These kiddos LOVE nana and poppi's boat and so does their mama! 
The kids and I spent 2 days up at the lake this past week while Daniel was working out of town. Avery loved having three adults at her every peep to pick her up and Parker certainly loved having his beloved ducks within seconds of his request. Parker is a water rat and Avery has been going on the boat since she was 2 weeks old! In fact, we told my family we were pregnant with her while boating! 
This particular day, the ducks dined on animal crackers

OK, not a great picture of Avery but I look pretty good in this one... and by I, I mean my hair. bahaha, This Jillian Michael's video is clearly going to my head.

Parker showing poppi where he has located a duck. I swear this kid has a radar.

I told you she loves the boat! Look at that face!

Parker's beloved.

Me and my daddy!

Peyton "Pate" and Parker on the hunt for more ducks.

I LOVE when he wears his shades!

Drawing "i's" in the sand. It's the only letter he knows how to draw!

Parker and Pate taking a dip

She crashes about halfway through every boat outing. It must rock her to sleep!

Stuffing the ducks full of animal crackers. No. He didn't jump or fall in. He came close, but didn't. If he had... no big deal. The ducks would scatter and he can swim with his puddle jumper. :)
I'm dreading fall when my parent's pull the boat out of the water for the fall/winter. Poor Parker is going to go in duck withdrawals. Today I was going through his pants from last fall and found a pair of Janie and Jack mallard pants I bought him last year. They were size 12 months and bless his heart he did his best to put them on. Daniel and I were cracking up so I jumped on ebay and found a 2T and snagged them and a matching mallard sweater. If they came in the mail today, I swear Parker would have worn them even though it's in the high 90's.

Hopefully next week we have some days in the mid 80's. That would be PERFECT boating weather. Unlikely, I know... but I can wish!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Dear Jillian Michaels, I hate you.

OK. Not really but my arms and thighs do!

Today is day 1 of my 30 day shred! I'm not super excited to do it as I've not REALLY worked out consistently since college BUT the time has come. I still have 5 pounds of baby weight to "shred" but more than anything, I need to TONE UP!

At first, Parker was down for a nap and Avie was WIDE awake! So I started with doing some leg work on the floor with Avery on my legs. She loved and giggled up a storm! THEN, I flipped over and did push ups with her on the floor. I'd lower myself, kiss her, then do it again on the other side. Once again, she thought it was hilarious which was precious but counter productive to my "Avery needs a nap so mommy can work out" plan. Eventually, I laid her on her mat and kept putting her paci in until she sucked herself to sleep. SCORE.
But MOM... I was enjoying our play/exercise floor time!

Meet Jillian, body. She'll be kicking you into shape. 

Jillian is super boring, mom. I'm O-U-T!

First day review: It was hard but not un-doable. (I made that word up). There was never a time that I wanted to turn it off and I only modified the push ups so I'll consider day 1, better than I was expecting. I'll do level 1 a few more days then up to level 2! WOO HOO!

So.... 30 days (29 to go) Goal: 5 pounds that should be totally obtainable. BUT if I don't loose actual weight but I fit back in my size 4 clothes which is what I was before Avie, I'll consider it a great success! Wish me luck!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Look who DOES exist!

Guess what.... I DO exist! See for yourself....
I almost NEVER hand off my camera. BUT today at TCBY, I was feeling rather chipper after shopping, finding an ADORABLE dress, drinking a little SBUX, and eating Qdoba AND sorbet (wow... that's a lot of calories when you write it down) SO I gave my mom my baby camera and let her snap a few. I'm so glad I did!
I know I'll cherish this sweet picture forever!
While I still prefer to be behind the lens, I am making a concerted effort to be in front of it more often! Now, if Parker would only sit still long enough to get one of us together! Baby steps.....

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

SWAMP PEOPLE!

Remember Alicia  Sutton Photography? Alicia took Avery's newborn pictures. WELL... Avery is entered into her mini session giveaway and I would LOVE to win! Would you help us out? Can you please go to facebook and "like alicia sutton photography" then comment under Avery's picture? You can vote daily from now until July 25th. Thanks so much!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=182392395158257&set=a.182174621846701.50081.137425496321614&type=1&theater

So.. what's up at the Wise household?
DUCKS. Thomas the Train. Diaper changes. DUCKS. Eating. A little monogramming. DUCKS. Diaper changes. DUCKS..... you get the picture ;)

Parker is still SUPER into ducks but I have good news... we've expanded our viewing options past Curious George (duck episode) and Thomas and Friends (the Lion of Sodor). We can now watch Thomas and Friends Misty Island Rescue and... SWAMP PEOPLE! YAY! There is an episode with ducks (yes people are shooting the ducks but it doesn't show that!) so now he scans the swamps for ducks which is a MUCH needed break from "choo choo" and "uh uh UHHH (George's monkey sound)" We stick to season 2 with Parker since they don't actually show the alligators being killed in season 2. Honestly, he really just plays trains on the floor and when he sees the water, he jumps up and looks for ducks. It's kinda cute.

Let's discuss Swamp People.... every time I mention my new guilty pleasure, I get a version of this reply "Oh my goodness, I LOVE that show! My favorite person is...." Men and women both. How many of you just said that? I love human interest stories and these are just good, Southern, "livin' off the land" folks. Here are my top 10 reasons I love Swamp People (in no particular order):

1. I think it's hilarious to read captions of people speaking the same language I speak. Close your eyes and try to interpret it without the captions... especially the brothers who hunt bullfrogs and rabbits. Next to impossible.
2. RJ's impecably braided rat tail. I need him to teach me to braid.
3. Willie... all of him. I love that he hunts potentially deadly snakes for $2 a snake. Bless his heart. I love his accent. I love that he weighs 150 pounds and almost every alligator comes close to pulling him in. I love his attitude... just an all around good Southern Cajun.
4. The extreme usage of phrases like "son of a gun" (I think I'm going to have to adopt that one) and "honey hole".
5.When Liz shoots an alligator and Troy says "see ya lata allagata!" haha
6. How they name the alligators and just know when they got "big Poppa" as if there is no other 11 foot alligator in the whole swamp that could be that one that they saw last hunting season and failed to capture.(ie. Moby, Big Poppa, Loch Ness, Hannibal)
7. Bruce's overall's and American flag bandanna. By far my FAVORITE moment in the entire show has been when Bruce fell out of the boat, wrestled the alligator and shot it with his "protection pistol" in the zipper front pocket of his cut off overalls. He's a good guy, proud American, and loves his Zebra cake eating dog, Tyler. 
8. That EVERY person on the show wears the same outfit EVERY day of the 30 day season. That HAS to stink!
9. How the alligators still move after they die. That would TOTALLY creep me out and yet they sit on top of them! I would have to put them in another boat!
10. That RJ moonlights as the #1 arm wrestler in America. The way these people make money is just amazing to me! I love how they're so family oriented and find a way to provide outside of a stereotypical job.

Alright, Swamp People fans, why do you like this show? For those of you who have missed out on this jewel, the season 2 finale is on Thursday night on the History Channel but you can check season 1 on netflix. Are there any other non network "jewels" that I'm missing out on? I can't believe I wanted until season 2 to discover Swamp People!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Night Night!

Parker was not always the easiest child in the world to put to bed but now... he's CAKE! Since he's been in his big boy bed and we've set a routine, it's been a breeze! He has a bobby (sippy cup of milk) in the den while winding down then I say "Parker, pick out what you want to take to bed tonight." Tonight, this was the line up:
It's hard to see but here's what he put in his bed and lovingly lined up.... 4th of July ducky, fireman ducky, police ducky, mallard stuffed duck, plain rubber ducky, stuffed goose, percy, wiff, 2 Thomas the trains, his Thomas flashlight and his singing/quacking duck. WHEW! That's 12 items! haha He meticlously lines them up then climbs in bed.
 We say our prayers
He tells us "Night night mommy. Night night daddy. Night Night Avie." ...my heart melts.
Then it's light's out! Easy peasy! Bed time is between 7:30 and 8pm and he usually sleeps until about 7am. Now if we could just get Miss. A on that schedule! SOMEDAY, right!?

Friday, July 15, 2011

Friday the 13th

July 13, 2007, Friday the 13th,  I was diagnosed with cancer. It's been 4 years and 2 babies later and I couldn't be more delighted about where I am in life!

I have a folder in my email account of 108 emails of encouragement. I didn't save them at first and I wish I had. There were moments in my cancer journey that I wasn't receptive to encouragement or discussion of "the c word" at all and other times when I relished it. Anyone who describes cancer as a roller coaster journey emotionally and physically is right on the money!

Tonight I went back and read through them and this time, they were different. What I noticed this time, 4 years removed, was my mom's desperation in her update emails she sent out. My mom campaigned for prayers like politicians campaign for votes. Now, as a mom myself, I understand her emails on a deeper level. The poor grammar, the misspelled words, the incomplete sentences... poor thing was a wreck but she did a pretty good job of putting on her cheery Mary Sunshine face for me. I can only imagine if either of my babies went through cancer I would just fall apart. I'd go through it 10 times over myself so neither of my babies ever had to experience it. I'm so grateful for the updates she sent so I didn't have to, the people she rallied around us in prayer and the sores she developed on her knees petitioning for my healing.

I found an email I wrote that I wanted to share with you that I feel reveals more about me and my journey than pretty much any other post I have written or will write. Sorry this post is looonnnng and not super funny or picture filled BUT, it is a part of me that I do feel is important to share. A little background info. I was diagnosed on July 13, 2007, By January 31st, 2008, I finished my last chemo treatment. In May, I went for a routine scan and was shocked to know the cancer had returned SO quickly. I wrote this email and sent it to my mom in hopes she would send it out to our prayer warriors. She did. They prayed. God healed!

Mom, Thanks for forwarding this to everyone who has been on your update list. I know God heard their prayers and I want to make sure everyone knows how thankful I am for that. Sorry it’s long but it’s so hard to shorten such joy!
 
Mark 9:23 states that God can make anything possible to those who believe. I truly feel that we are living this verse.
 
Last Tuesday when I got the confirmation that the cancer was back, I was devastated. No 23 year old, newly wed wants to hear she has less than 50% chance of beating this cancer again. Having just lost a friend’s wife to the same disease only one week prior, I felt like I was given a death sentence. I was told I would likely never have children and if I beat this and it came back a 3rd time, there was really nothing they could do. The treatment would include nasty chemo, radiation, a bone marrow transplant and week living at Duke. I already felt defeated. After taking it in, I knew I needed to be strong for my parents so I put on my game face and decided that “I” could beat it again. For 3 days I kept reassuring myself that “I” could do this, thinking that I was having a positive attitude until I went to my small group and rediscovered 2nd Corinthians 4:16-18. Even though I thought I was being positive, in actuality, I was trying to take control of my own destiny. You all began praying and believing with me that God still heals and He has 100% control of this situation. It was so difficult at first to ignore the 2 PET scans that 3 doctors had confirmed were reoccurrences of the cancer but we all kept our eyes not on what we saw on the scans but what we believed God could do.
 
May 12th I went into a biopsy truly believing that the doctors would find nothing. At 9pm that night, my doctor called me with the “unfortunate” news that despite taking 6 samples, they must not have gotten it and she’s sorry that they would need to do another one on Thursday (tomorrow morning). I know God healed me. I was awake for the biopsy and I watched them take GREAT samples out of the tumor. I can’t wait for this biopsy tomorrow to prove to the doctors yet again that God works miracles! I know He also heals through doctors but I truly believed that He has healed me as a testament of everyone’s faith so that I can be a living example of Christ’s compassion, grace, mercy, wisdom, power, love, and all other characteristics that He has shown me. Thank you so much for each of your faith, prayers and words of encouragement. You will never know how much I appreciate each of you and what you have invested in my life. I would like to ask for continued prayers that each test bewilders the doctors and that they will eventually realize that I am healed and not a human pin cushion! Tomorrow’s biopsy is a little riskier as it’s with a bigger needle which increases the chances of deflating my lung.  I also pray that God gives me the words and boldness to continue to share my message of God’s miracle in my life and that people’s hearts would be open to receiving it (95% of my co-workers currently think I’m crazy).  I’ll leave you with the words of the popular Christian song “Praise you in this storm” by Casting Crowns which has been my anthem this time around and I hope they remind you, as they have me, that God has never forgotten or left us. Everything is for a reason, hardships are a temporary season of life that builds character and strength and nothing is ever as bad or scary as it seems. Praise God!
 
I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

My hope in sharing this is that you are encouraged by God's faithfulness, His power, compassion, love and vastness. Please feel free to share this with anyone who you think may benefit. I truly believe that I have been charged with using my experiences to encourage others or help others walk through their cancer journey. Know that I'm an open book to talk about my cancer and am always willing to talk with "your husband's cousin's best friend's sister." I was introduced to a friend, Kimberly, that way and she was a huge help to me throughout my cancer journey.

Can you believe that 4 years ago, that was my life? ...And now my post and emails are filled with pictures of the children I'm not supposed to have, trips to the beach, play dates and baby giggles!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Friday, July 1, 2011

Sullivan's Island

I am SUPER DUPER sleepy so this will be quick but I wanted to upload some pictures from our mini beach vacay! My friend, Anna and I took Parker, Lily and Avery to Sullivan's Island on Tuesday and Wednesday. We spent the night at my children's godparent's (Dean and Tabitha's) house and then got up the next morning and headed to the beach! It didn't take much arm twisting to get Tabitha to watch Avery for me so I could focus on Parker for a bit!
Ready for the waves!

Taking his ducks for a swim

Look! I exist! I finally remembered to jump in a picture!

We found a tide pool so Parker's mallard duckie didn't get swept away

I L-O-V-E these pictures of Parker and Lily holding hands!

Parker wore these glasses the whole time we were at the beach. I thought it was precious!

Smitten! If they go married, would these not be the cutest pictures for their wedding DVD!