2009 ornament addition

Ok folks, this is officially my last post before Christmas.....get excited. I just wanted to share our newest ornament addition. Every year we get a special ornament for Libby. We try to get something that represents some sort of milestone or meaningful event or moment from the year. This year's choice was obvious since Lib has started taking (and fallen madly in love with) ballet. She was thrilled with our selection, as the "I'm smiling so big you can't see my eyes" smile indicates.

What is your family's Christmas tradition? Whatever, it is I hope it's as special to you as this one is to us.

With that being said:

Happy (early) birthday Jesus and a very merry Christmas to you and yours! :)

My year....according to facebook

Lib's special day

So, before the arrival of Sissy, as Lib likes to call her, we really wanted to do something special for our little girl. We told Libby we could do whatever she wanted for the day. I realize we were taking a risk here...I mean, what if she'd asked to go to China? She has, in fact, mentioned this before and has made it very clear that going to China is at the top of her list of things to do. Anyway, we lucked out; she wanted to go eat at the Hibacchi grill and to see The Princess and the Frog. Well, we took that idea and turned it up a notch. :) Lib is very fortunate to have the best aunt ever, Aunt Ellie. Aunt Ellie (and Uncle Brad too) offered to let Lib spend the night with them prior to our big day. They took her to see The Nutcracker, which you know was a hit considering she only asked to go to the bathroom once during the entire show. Then Ellie, aka Best Aunt Ever, made ornaments and gingerbread houses with the Libster. As you can see, Lib has mad gingerbread house making skills. The Hibacchi grill and the movie were both big hits, and overall her special day prior to being a big sister could not have been more special. :)

Libby's love letter

Hi everyone. Hope you are getting all your last minute shopping done. I just wanted to share yet another funny Libby story with you. Meet Brandon. He's one of my favorite kiddos ever. He's really more like a little brother/bff than a kid who once served as my first period helper. Anyway, Libby is in love.....with Brandon. Did I mention he's in college, and she's five? Needless to say, Lee is not so thrilled about this idea. However, a few weeks ago, Libby wrote this 'love letter' to Brando. I knew we were in trouble when she asked me how to spell the word 'wedding'. In case you can't tell, the stick figure to the left is him, and the one to the right is her....in a veil and wedding gown. Notice how she drew a 5 beside her to remind him of how old she is, I guess just in case he forgot. :)

Libby's big news

I guess finding out at thirty-six weeks is better than not finding out at all if you want to know what you're having. :) We are all super excited and can't wait to meet her!

Zip code

That's right folks. After thirty-three long (and I do indeed mean long) weeks of pregnancy, my belly is so big that I do believe it warrants its own zip code. It's funny though how everyone has his or her own opinion on JUST HOW pregnant I look....by funny, I mean it was funny about twenty weeks ago. To some, I apparently don't look like I'm more than half way there....to others, I apparently look as though I'm carrying twins. I don't mind though...and I'll admit-- at my doctor's appointment this week, I had gained a total of nineteen pounds. That's a lot when you take into account that I'm only five feet tall, but it's not a lot when you talk to other pregnant ladies, including my mother, who will kill me if I tell you how much weight she gained with me, but let's just say it was significantly more than nineteen pounds by week thirty-three. We still have no idea what we're having, and I'm hoping that by the time the baby actually gets here I will have accepted the fact that he or she is meant to be a surprise. We're bound to find out soon, right? As soon as we officially decide on both a boy's name and a girl's name, I think I'll be able to sit back and wait patiently for the little one's arrival....ok, so probably not, but I do think it will help make the wait more bearable.

Giving Thanks

This is what I'm thankful for-- my precious five-year-old. If you don't have one of your own, you should consider getting one. They are good for hours of entertainment and giggling...and mine even likes to snuggle. :)

One mighty cute little witch

I'm a little late posting, but we did indeed have a good Halloween. Libby painted the cutest painted at her best friend Lily's birthday party. She wanted to be a witch for Halloween, and what a mighty cute little witch she was! :)

Lib's little adventure

As you may know, my precious Libby was born with a very severe milk allergy. In fact, her allergy was so severe that she had an epi-pen until a year ago. Well, over the past year, after the doctor gave us the big ok, we've slowly been introduicing milk products...still no milk yet, we're working up to that, but Libby has discovered the world of cheese, yogurt, and--as of yesterday--ice cream sandwiches. Her fifth birthday is tomorrow, and my mom was itching to be the one to give Lib her first ice cream treat. At first, she wasn't too sure about this whole ice cream thing, but she reluctantly agreed to her first bite........

As you can see from this next photo, her first bite did not disappoint. :)

In fact, she enjoyed every bite of her new-found favorite treat.

And, I think it's safe to say, that the Libster is now an ice-cream lover for life.

Oh, the joy that can be found in the simple things in life.

Movin' Miss Molly

This is my Molly. She is literally one of the funniest, fun-loving, original people I've ever known. Not only was I blessed to be her teacher for two years, but I have also found a true friend in Miss Molly Dee.

Well, seeing as how life isn't always sunshine and tulips, Molly's family is going through a really rough time right now. Early this month, Molly's dad, Tim, found out that he has a very aggressive form of brain cancer, and last week he had surgery to remove a tumor the size of a large lemon from his brain. I wish I could express to you how amazing her family is and how inspiring they have been about all of this. Her dad is really trusting God right now....even though things are scary and they face many unknowns in the near and distant future. I pray that should I ever be faced with a trial such as this, I will be able to handle it in such a way that my life inspires others and draws them nearer to the One is always in control and Whose will is always perfect...even if it seems impossible to understand sometimes.

Lee and I were able to move Molly into Mississippi State last weekend and had so much fun. It made me think three things:

1. I was so very jealous. I LOVED my college experience at the W and would be overjoyed for a chance to travel back in time and do it all over again.

2. It made me think about the day when Libby will go to college. Although (thankfully) this won't happen for another fourteen years, I know it will be here before I know it. I can't wait to see the person she will be when it's her turn to leave home and face her own set of adventures.

3. I am so proud of Molly and my very special group of former students now friends who are beginning a new phase in their lives this month. They are so amazing in so many ways, and I literally can't wait to see all the things they will accomplish.

If you'd like to keep up with Tim and his progress and to read his inspiring words, please check out his Caring Bridge site by clicking here. Also, please pray for him and his fantastic family as he begins chemotherapy and radiation in the days ahead.

Summer summed up

Ok, so due to the fact that I am with child and have been essentially sick to my stomach for the past two months, our summer has been the epitome of 'low-key'. We did, however, manage to squeeze in a few highlights and make a few memories.
This is a pic. of Libby and Jordyn. Jordyn is the daughter of my very best high school friend, Jennifer. They had a great time playing together...until it was time to share the one pair of dress-up shoes, but what girl wouldn't argue for a good pair of glitter shoes, right?

It was literally imperative that Libby take swimming lessons this summer. Why is that, you ask? Well, in case you've never had the pleasure of meeting Libby, she is fearless. By this I mean she will run and jump into a pool, knowing good and well that she can't swim yet but arguing with you that she can swim just fine. So, it was either give the child swimming lessons, avoid the pool entirely, or super glue floaties to her little arms. Once she realized that maybe she wasn't the swim champ she thought she was, she did great and learned a whole lot during her swimming lessons....oh, and she LOVED being in the pool so much.

This is Janelle. She was my saving grace when I taught at Southaven Middle and is one of the truest most genuine friends I've ever been blessed to have. We went to see 'Wicked' together in Memphis and had THE BEST TIME. If you haven't seen it, you should consider it. It was truly amazing. I've seen several shows, but nothing has compared with this. I'm currently reading the book....it's a bit slow to start and rather unusual, but I'm staying hopeful. I'll let you know how it turns out when I finish it.

And let us not overlook the glorious cat bathing experience. This is Libby's cat, Sally the Camel Has Four Humps. Yes, you read that correctly. Seriously, what DID you expect Lib's cat to be named? Needless to say, we enjoyed the expression on her face much more than she enjoyed the bath.

I can't believe this summer has so quickly come to an end. I start my new teaching job on Monday, making today my official last day of summer. Bummer, bummer, bummer.

One of my favorite things...

So, as many of you know, my grandmother has been in the hospital this week. She had surgery last Friday and then again last Sunday to remove some blood clots from her leg. Well, from Friday to Monday I was there to help in whatever way I could and to offer support to my mom while she takes care of my grandmother. Well, in case you have never had the hospital stay experience, it can be quite dull. So, I did what any good English teacher would do- I read...and I read...and I read. I love to read, but it's so hard to find books these days that aren't filled with worldly views and bad morals. That's why I'm thankful for these books. They're by a Christian author named Karen Kingsbury. She's written a ton of different things- some children's books, a few series stories, and some novels. I've read about ten of her books, and I'm currently suffering from an addiction to the Redemption series...it's about the Baxter family, whom I've come to feel like I know personally. They are by no means literary masterpieces, but they are good, sweet, easy reads. They kind of remind me of Nicholas Sparks books, except her characters make good, Godly decisions consistently....not always the case with ole' Mr. Sparks. So, if you're looking for a quick pick-me-up, give them a shot. They work for me. :)

My, how they grow!

While Lee and I were in Louisiana last week, we made the trek almost to Texas to see the precious LeBlanc babies. Mary Louise and David are both doing so well, and I can't believe how they've grown! They are both over two pounds these days and both are officially breathing on their own! Don't believe in the power of prayer? Well, you should. We had a wonderful visit with Heather and Brent (the proud parents). If you want to know more about their story, you can visit them at their blog site. Please keep the prayers headed their way!

Home sweet home

This past weekend, Lee, Lib, and I visited my cousin and her family in Lousiana. We had a great visit, the kids played well together, and the weather was beautiful. However, it did make me a little homesick. In fact, the thing I miss the most about living there is this:

Howdy, cowgirl!

Here are some long overdue pictures from Lib's end of school program. She was quite a little hoot and did a great job.

Surprise, surprise, surprise

So, I am a firm believer in the idea that if God doesn't give you want you want, He will give you something better. Well, that's definetly the case at the Aldridge house these days. As you may know, Lee and I have been asked approximately 900 times if and when we are having more children. Well, to be quite honest, we are perfectly content with our one. Libby is plenty to keep us busy. We have toyed with the idea of adoption but are really just happy having our one little girl. Again, God obviously has other plans. So, we're pregnant. Surprised? We certainly are. I've thought long and hard about it though, and I've come to the conclusion that God knew good and well that if He'd waited for the day that Lee and I prayed to have a second child, He'd be waiting for quite a while. So, here we are. While the idea has taken some getting used to, I can't say that we are anything but thankful. Fortunately, I learned a long time ago that God's plans are always way better than anything I can come up with, so how can I not be excited? I will, however, be more excited when the non-stop morning sickness marathon is over. Baby Aldridge will be here sometime around January 9th, according to the doctor. But I'm thinking more like mid-December. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. Oh, and in case you're wondering, Libby is thrilled. She's set on the idea of naming the baby Corn on the Cobb. Yes, you read correctly. She likes it because, according to Libby, it will be a great name for a boy OR a girl. Nice, right?

That one little thing....

Ok, so starting very early in life, girls start to compare themselves to other girls. They start to notice things like another girl's cute dress or her pretty bracelet or her cute pink toenails. I've already noticed this trend amongst my four-year-old and her little friends at 'school'. In fact, it's for this very reason that I was almost late to work not once but twice last week-- Libby just HAD to find her pink 'diamond' necklace before we could possibly leave the house.

Well, in the midst of comparing ourselves to others, we start to realize there are things we just don't LOVE about ourselves. In fact, I believe that as the time passes, many girls will come to focus on that one little thing they dislike the MOST about how they were made. For me, this is.....no, not my height. I've come to accept the fact that God wanted me to be short, and I am completely fine with the fact that I'm three inches shy of needing a booster seat. No, for me the only thing I just simply don't like about myself is my hair. Stuck somewhere between straight and curly, it has a mind of its own, and to be completely honest-- we just don't jive. Although my mother tells me time after time how beautiful it is, how much she loves it, etc. (aren't moms always great at that sort of thing?), I think this is somewhat of a grass-is-always greener scenario. You can try to sugarcoat it all you like, but the point is- I'm just not a fan.

Well, I've come to realize in my twenty-nine years that in order to be happy, we have to find ways to work around those bumps in the road. So, in order to settle a peace treaty between the two of us, I've decided to make some lemonade from the rather unpleasant lemons I've been dealt in the hair department. So, for the second time in my life, I donated eight inches of my hair last week to help an adult woman who has lost her hair due to breast cancer. I donated through an organization called Beautiful Lengths, sponsored by Pantene. And this time, I donated with a former student turned friend, which made this lemonade twice as sweet. :)

And the responses I've gotten this time have so closely reflected the ones I got last time.....wasn't it hard to cut off all of you hair? This seems to be the question on everyone's mind. Well, the answer is: no! Not one little bit! In fact, the hard part for me is waiting for my hair to get long enough TO donate. This go round took me about two years of growing to reach the donate mark. The cutting to me is the best part. It feels really good to know that I'm doing something to bring help to someone else, someone who is undoubtedly hurting and suffering. The best part to me is that it's someone I don't know and will probably never meet. I love the idea of helping to make the day of a complete stranger. I also love the fact that one girl's 'junk' can become another girl's 'treasure'.

Oh so very friendly

One more thing for today, and then I promise I'm done. So, earlier I told you about how funny Libby is. Did I also mention that she's friendly? So friendly in fact, that she can find a friend literally anywhere. She's not picky....she'll even be your friend if you're made of plastic and don't talk....or move.....or breathe, for that matter. Don't you just love kids?

A person's a person, no matter how small

Many of you have heard me talk lately about my friend Heather and her triplets. In fact, if you are in my address book, I've probably asked you to pray for her. I want to take a minute to tell you a little bit about her story, in the hopes that it will touch your heart the way it has touched mine.

First, Heather is literally my oldest friend. We met when we were four, the age my daughter is today. We then attended the same school and were in the same classes from pre-kindergarten all the way through seventh grade. She was, and still is, one of my most cherished friends.

There's just something special about the friends that share your history. You know, those friends that you don't have to provide any background to or describe your relatives to when telling a story because they know exactly who, what, when, and where you are referring to, possibly even before you get to that part. Heather is one of my few friends who knew me before my parents got divorced and whom I have shared so much of my life with for the past twenty-five, yes twenty-five, years.

Heather is the kind of person who was born to be a mom. She comes from a big family, and if we choose to have (or are given anyway) another child, I will model my household after hers. Yes, they had their share of chaos, but I always felt welcome at her home. I always knew that her parents would take whatever it was in stride and even laugh about it later. Her house was always warm and inviting- a true home, if you will. And Heather, the only girl amongst four brothers, was always a mom to someone. I think this is partly why she chose to become a nurse...she's a natural fixer and comforter.

She will be the kind of mom who lets her kids fingerpaint....on the carpet.....twice. She'll make the fingerpaint herself, from Earth-friendly ingredients and natural dyes, and then sit back and watch while her kids paint everything in sight, smiling the whole time. And then, when they eat the paint (trust me- they ALWAYS eat the paint), Heather won't get mad or frustrated. She'll just say, "Well, what does yellow taste like?" (Needless to say, this is the kind of mom I would LOVE to one day become, but I would have a long way to go.)

She won't be picky about how straight their rooms are or if their hair looks perfect. She won't get caught up in worrying about them having the slightest bit of dirt on their shirt or all of her dishes being done before she goes to bed. But, her kids will always feel loved, know they are special, and be taught as much as one kid can be taught. They will be amazing, she will be amazing, and it will be amazing to watch the whole thing unfold.

Well, twenty-four weeks and five days into her much anticipated pregnancy, after facing problem after problem after problem, Heather has officially become a mother. Her three miracles were born this past Sunday. I literally cannot wait to meet Mary Louise, David Oliver, and Kuylen Stafford.

Being born so prematurely, I know the three of them (as well as Heather and Brent, her beloved hubby), have a long road ahead of them. But, you know, if anyone can handle this and come out smiling, it will be Heather. She will take each day in stride, rise to meet this ultimate challenge, and be made an even better, humble, wise, and wonderful person when all is said and done.

So, with all this being said, please pray for Heather, Brent, her family, and of course, three of the luckiest kids I know. If you'd like to stay up-to-date on their progress, please check her blog http://www.leblanctriplets.blogspot.com/ . I can't wait to share "when your mom was little" stories with them all and to celebrate another twenty-five years of being her friend....ok, well maybe I can wait on the twenty-five years part.

Our Little Libby

As many of you know, Libby Baker is quite the little hoot. She's literally the funniest kid I've ever known. She's not funny in the normal way kids are funny, like when they make a funny face or try something new for the first time. No, Libby is truly a natural born comedian. She has the best comedic timing and is quite the entertainer. If I were even half as funny as Libby is, I believe life would be just a little bit sweeter.

A few weeks ago, we were at Lee's parent's house and were trying to decide where we wanted to eat. We were torn between Mexican and Chinese. Well, Lib's Uncle Brad decided that the easiest way to decide was the flip a coin. He gets out a coin, flips, and tells Lib to call it. She looks at me......she looks at Lee......she looks at Brad......and then, in her best hide and seek style of voice, she says,

" Penny......oh Penny.........."

The best part is, it was a dime.

And it was right around this time last year when I quit my beloved Lewisburg job to move. I went to pick up Libby after a long day of quitting the best job ever and was beyond down in the dumps. Well, Libby, the fixer, asked, "What's wrong, Mommy?"

I replied, " Mommy is just sad becuase she won't get to teach at Lewisburg anymore, Lib."

And then here's the Libby that I love, " Well, you know, the Indians KILLED Daniel Boone, Mom."

While doing my best to stiffle my laughter so as not to discourage future prophetic phrases from my daughter, I simply replied, "Well, when you put it that way, Libby, I guess today wasn't so bad."

Needless to say, she was pleased with my response.

So, point being, I cannot wait to see the sort of trouble my little one will get into in the years to come. And I don't think I will ever stop thanking God for giving me a front row seat to witness this very entertaining show I call Libby.

No turning back now......

Ok, so there's officially no turning back now: I have entered the wonderful world of blogging. But I must say that it's not without reservation. What if no one is interested in what I have to say? What if no one cares about my boring little life? Well, I've decided that surely SOMEONE will find my ramblings interesting, worthwhile, and maybe, just maybe, the slightest bit amusing. I guess only time will tell.