Memorial Day Weekend!

The funny thing about holiday weekends is that although it's great to be off work and have the time to hang out with people you don't see as often as you'd like, many times you spend so much time socializing that you return to work even more tired than you would have been after an ordinary weekend.

Our weekend was packed with festivities. Friday night we had dinner at my parents' house with my grandparents. Nana and Grandad met Oliver and everyone had a great time! Nana and Mom even had surprises for him. Nana had bought him this adoreable bumble bee harness and leash and mom bought him his new favorite chew toy (which Grandad called his cigar), some treats and his very first "Pawda" bag. He was too cute with all of his new gear.

He loves his fancy bag!Little Bumble Bee!

Grandad really wanted him to look like he was smoking a cigar too!

Saturday was much calmer. Brad and I spent some time around the house hoping to get Oliver into a potty routine, but needless to say, we were rather unsuccessful. We needed an afternoon break so we took a trip to Toys 'R Us to find Kathryn the perfect birthday present. The Cabbage Patch Kid I wanted to get her so badly was unfortunately not in available in the light skinned variety, so I had to settle for a "Mommy Make Me Better" doll set. We met up with Kathryn and Brad's other nieces and nephew and their mom's at McDonald's Saturday night to celebrate Kathryn's big day. Happy 4th Birthday Kathryn!

Sunday we had a fantastic time at Lake Martin with our neighbors, Carl and Nicole. Carl's family was so hospitable and their friends couldn't have been nicer. We had a great time and regretted having to leave early to get home to Oliver (BIG thanks to Mom for watching him all day--he wasn't very well behaved). Monday was filled with more family celebrations--lunch at Mom and Dad's and dinner at Brad's dad's house. We took Oliver and he got to meet his cousins for the first time. I wish I had taken more pictures of him and the kids--they were adoreable! I was very impressed by how well they all played together.

Oliver and Kathryn

Oliver's Adventures

Playtime!

Aunt Allie helped with his first bath...too bad he already needs another!

After a long night at the vet...sweet boy!

He's getting bigger already... 4 lbs. maybe?

Oliver's first week

We've officially had Oliver for a week and a half and to be honest, I had no idea how much work he would require. I also had no idea how quickly I would fall in love with him. I love it when he snuggles up next to me and gives me kisses, or when he decides to take a nap on my feet. It's nice having him to look forward to coming home to (not that I don't look forward to Brad, that's not what I meant, it's just different). We've gotten into a nightly ritual of the three of us cuddling up on the couch and watching episodes of Two and a Half Men until we can barely hold our eyes open (which isn't too late, obviously). It's so so nice--Brad and I laugh "it's our family time."


I realized on Monday just how in love with Oliver I've become. We had our first big scare. I got home from work and he clearly wasn't feeling well (I'll spare you the icky details); he looked absolutely pitiful. I knew he needed to go to the vet, so I decided that even though Brad wasn't home I was going to take him myself. This would be a good time to point out that I'm usually quite afraid of dogs and don't do very well with animals in general, so a room full in random pets and loud barks and meows is not my idea of an even mediocre evening. However, I stepped up, like all good mommies would, and took him immediately to the vet. We waited for over two hours (he was miserable) and they finally took us back. They ran some tests and had to watch him for another while--the end result, he has coccidia, a parasite that is potentially life threatening for puppies his size. The source can't really be known, it could have come from his breeder's kennel, or simply from grass or dirt. I was terrified and did not expect anyone to use the phrase "potentially life threatening" when I took him to his first vet visit. Fortunately, Brad had arrived in time for the news so he was there to comfort both me and Oliver. Sweet, sweet, Dr. Wilson sent us home with strict orders to watch for behavior changes and to give him a big dose of antibiotics every night. So far, I haven't noticed anything major. He definitely isn't acting sick.

Speaking of not acting sick, Oliver is a bit of a mischievous boy. He's into EVERYTHING! He chews bedspreads, rugs, the couch anything he can get his mouth on before we tell him "no!" We constantly have to watch him and are trying to learn how to read his "signals." We officially had ZERO accidents this morning, so I'm feeling optimistic. Brad will get home early today, so if there are any surprises to be found this time, it's his turn.

I'll post more pictures soon--he needs a haircut. Perhaps that will be our Memorial Day weekend adventure, Oliver's first hair cut--wow, we're exciting aren't we?

Hangin' Tough!

Okay, today, driving to work I realized just how excited I am that New Kids on the Block is making a comeback. It took nearly twenty years, but I'm super pumped! I've heard the gossip, but it wasn't until I heard Rick and Bubba play their new single and callers phone in about their love for the group that I remembered just how much I liked these guys--talk about the good old days!

I was a New Kids obsessed kid. I had the sheets, Barbies, t-shirts, school supplies, pretty much anything I could convince my parents to buy me. My mom even took me to the concert! That considered, I had to call her this morning and reminisce about the good old days of New Kids on the Block. She of course remembered that I absolutely adored Jordan (I wonder if he'd still be my favorite now?) and how Allie thought Donny was super cool (I think it was the rebellious rat tail that drew her in). We would play with those dolls for hours and then sing their songs into hairbrushes in front of the mirror--yeah, we were cool.

I'm pumped about a reunion. Let's hope we can still call them the New Kids on the Block--I'm not a fan of the NKOTB idea. Gracious, I surely hope I like them as much this time around as I did back then! Even if I don't, simple nostalgia will keep me interested.

Thew newest Stripling...just in time for Mother's Day!

When Brad and I woke up yesterday morning we had no idea that by the time we went to sleep last night we'd be new parents!! We had been thinking a lot lately about adopting a puppy and last Wednesday we thought we found the perfect one. It was a baby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in Georgia that had been rescued from a puppy mill and we applied to adopt him. Late in the day Saturday we found out that he'd found a family closer to home and we were so disappointed. I wasn't going to be a mom for mother's day after all.

However, you never know what's just around the corner. After a fabulous day of celebrating Mother's Day with my mom Brad found our new baby in the classifieds. We had been looking at different breeds online all afternoon and I was laughing showing Brad how cute malte-tzus were and I told him we should start looking for one. Not even five minutes later, he found one in the classifieds. We called the sweet family in Cullman and they offered to let us see him immediately. We didn't arrive at their farm until about 7:30, but it was well worth it. A little over an hour later we were on our way home with the newest addition to our family. We haven't decided on a name yet (suggestions are welcome), but we're sure we'll find one that fits him perfectly. We love our sweet little boy!

Look at that face!

Happy Mother's Day!!

So sweet!

Fiesta Ball Pictures

So glad these girls were there!

Exhausted...to say the least

Wow, what happened to the weekend? The last three days (clearly, I count Friday night as part of my weekend) have been so insanely busy that I can hardly hold my eyes open this morning. The concept of getting rest over the weekend, was completely inaccurate this time. I'm exhausted and lacking a lot of motivation this morning. However, despite the craziness and insane schedule the weekend was a great success.

Brad played in the Inverness Country Club Member-Guest tennis tournament this weekend. It was his first tournament in YEARS, so taking that into consideration, he did really well. I missed his match on Friday, but I did make it in time for dinner and drinks, which was really fun. We got to hang out with his aunts, uncles and cousins without it being a holiday for once--it was nice, they are super sweet people. He played again on Saturday, but I had to miss those matches too (no, he didn't win) due to Fiesta Ball preparations. However, yesterday, I was able to spend the whole day out at the raquet club watching him. I was so proud! It was mixed doubles day and he and his aunt made it to the playoffs--way to go! Carson and Charles also came out, so Carson and I decided we were Brad's good luck charms for the day. Coincidence that he didn't win until we watched him? I think not.

Saturday night's Fiesta Ball turned out really well. We had an incredible crowd and despite all of the nonsense leading up to the event, it was a success! I am so so happy that so many of my friends came out and supported the Cancer Center. It was interesting having my work world collide with my outside of work world. It was nice having my friends there though. By the end of the night we were all on the dance floor having fun, as if I wasn't at work. :) I'll spend the next couple of days wrapping up the "thank yous" and collecting outstanding money and then I'll have a total. I'm thinking we're way up from last year. Yay!

Okay, time to stop putting off work. So much to do...
Love!