Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Holiday Season. I hope you all enjoy the fun, food, and time with family and friends!!!!

A message from Nadia

Hello everyone!

I thought I'd give you all an update on what's happening in my house. My mommy brought me this t-shirt and insisted on taking pictures. She kept mumbling something about me definitely being my father's child because I kept giving her a hard time. I kept trying to tell her that pictures are not my thing and that I just wanted to play...she still wouldn't listen to me. *sigh*

Anyhoo, for some reason I feel like my life as I know it is about to be forever changed. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing (hence my expression in the picture). Even though my mommy seems extremely tired all the time, I can tell she's happy. My daddy's happy as well but he says that younger siblings can sometimes be a pain because they always follow you around and take all your toys. I just look at him because I have no idea what a "sibling" is and plus, I like to share my toys with my dogs. Hmmm...I wonder if siblings are like dogs.

Well, either way something big is supposed to happen on or around July 15th, 2009. Please pray for my mommy and daddy and this "sibling" thing and I will be sure to keep you all updated.

Love
Nadia

I'm Kenya McClanahan and I approve this message :)

I'm being attacked...

And I have no clue where it is coming from. I have these red spots all over my legs, feet, thighs, arms, nose, and eyebrows. I think I have an idea of why my face and feet are breaking out but I'm not sure about the rest of my body. I first noticed it about 3 weeks ago and didn't think nothing of it because it wasn't bothering me and it was just tiny bumps. Since then, they've gone from tiny red bumps to thin, dark red bruises. I thought I had chicken pox, then I thought maybe we had bed bugs. Once Corey told me that he didn't have any marks I ruled out the bed bugs and I had the chicken pox when I was in elementary school so that was a no go. They don't itch or anything, it's just gross to look at. I would post pictures but I think it's disgusting looking. I get embarressed going out because I feel I look like I have some type of disease. I don't wear any make-up, so it's not like I could cover it up or anything.
I have an appointment on Tuesday and I'm hoping the doctor can give me something to clear up whatever it is I have. I'm also hoping that it's nothing serious. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Christmas cards

When doing your holiday cards this year, send one to this address. If we pass
this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful
special people who have sacrificed so much would get.

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington , D.C. 20307-5001

The new addition

We finally got another car. It's a 1991 Mini Mayfair. Well, I should say Corey got a car. My chances of driving it are slim to none. The reason being that it is just too dog-gone small. We jokingly call it his hotwheel. LOL I'm about 6 feet and Corey is
6'4 and he looks like a giant in this car. I mean, it's a cute little car, GREAT on gas, and gets from point A to B, but I feel a little claustrophobic in it. Corey has really gotten into this car. He plans to rebuild it and tinker with it over the years and maybe give it to Nadia when she's able to drive (oh wow, I can't even wrap my mind around my baby being 16 years old). We paid cash for it and had to dip into our savings more than I wanted to but it's a whole lot better than having another car note!
NO MORE GETTING UP AT THE CRACK OF DAWN TO TAKE COREY TO WORK. Okay, I need to say it again...no more getting up at the crack of dawn to take Corey to work...Thank you JESUS. Haha It's not fun having to depend on someone else when I need stuff done.
Now if I can just figure out how to drive in the snow, I'll be set. Haha

This is the best we could do

My sister and her children came to visit a couple of weeks ago and we decided to get pictures done. This was the FUNNIEST experience I have had in a long time. I know the photographer thought we were crazy and he was praying until the session was over. I knew it was going to be a little tricky getting Nadia and Josiah's (my youngest nephew) attention but I think the two older ones were the ones who didn't want to smile or didn't like the way they were positioned. Once we finished and we saw the proofs, this was the only picture where we all looked half-way decent. Getting a group picture was a lot harder than I thought. Some of the other pictures were just priceless (not necessarily in a good way). If they weren't so expensive, we would have gotten the "crazy ones" just so we could pull out whenever we need a good laugh. I mean, the facial expressions children can give. I'm sure all of our friends and family will love it no matter what we look like. Oh, the memories...

History has been made!

I can not believe it. I hoped it. I wished it. I prayed for it. But I still had my doubts. Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States of America. As I listened to his speech, I thought about how many people have fought for this. I thought back to when women and minorities were not allowed to vote. I thought about how my great-grandparents and grandparents would be/are proud of this very moment. I am deeply moved. The emotions that I feel right now...I really can't explain it. It's one of the moments that I will NEVER forget and I am so proud to be a part of.
I have and will continue to pray that God gives him the strength and guidance he needs to run this country and that He continues to protect him and his family. President Barack Obama...music to my ears.

My Little Monkey

We took Nadia trick-or-treating and we (atleast I did) had a ball. Again, the little kid in me came out and I was smiling just as big as some of the little children. The only thing I didn't like about the whole ordeal was how the older kids would practically knock down the younger kids and their parents not reprimand them. First, we took Nadia to get her picture taken and then we went to the Youth Center for, what we thought was a party for the younger kids. The games and toys were geared toward older children so we only stayed about 10 minutes. Nadia could care less...they had a DJ and she was trying to get her dance on. I'm trying to figure out how to download the video to my computer but as soon as I do, I'll post it.
After we left the youth center, we decided to take her around base housing for some candy. I think after the first house, she was over it. There were so many people that she kept getting side tracked. She was more interested in playing in the grass than going door to door to get candy. It was actually pretty funny. We also got to take a picture with Mcgruff the crime dog. In the pictures she was looking at him like "what the heck are you?!" I think we walked about 2-3 miles tonight. It was worth it though...even though my baby had NO clue what was going on. LOL

random pictures

I thought I would post some pictures of my baby. I'm making a 2009 calendar for myself and Corey and wanted to share some of the pictures. I'm not a photographer by any means but I think these are really cute...maybe it's the GORGEOUS subject. :)

Duh

Our cable has been out all week. We were told that the system would be out on certain days for about 30 minutes or so. Once we got the signal back, there was no volume. We would get the picture but we couldn't hear anything. Then the next day the volume returned but we weren't getting a picture. At first it was no big deal because our TV is usually on for background noise. I know, we could save a whole lot of money by simply turning the tv off but for whatever reason we don't...I'm working on that.
By the third day, I figured Nadia had done something to the TV since she likes to push the buttons on the remote. So I start trying to fix the TV. Nothing I do works and I'm not technologically savvy. Corey insists that the system is still down but of course I think it's just the television. I beg Corey to call the cable hotline and they work with Corey. Come to find out that all we needed to do was unplug and plug the tv back in. Simple as that. We felt really stupid after that phone call.
The more I think, I get a good chuckle. From now on that will be the first thing I do before I make any phone calls. And to think, I put all the blame on my baby.

It's about that time

MUST. GET. ANOTHER. CAR. This is really starting to get old. I'm either stuck at home during the day or I have to get up at the butt crack of dawn to take Corey to work. At first getting up wasn't that bad because I could just come home and go back to sleep...that is, if Nadia let me. lol But since I've been doing strollerobics, it makes more sense to just stay on base since we live about 20 minutes away. Corey gets dropped off around 6:30 and the class doesn't start until 9. We already fill our gas tank up about every 10 days or so, so in order to save on gas I go to the gym and sit in the parking lot and read. Then I do my work out, take care of any errands that I may have, come home, do the mommy thing, then go back to pick up Corey at five. Lately he hasn't been getting off until later, so again, Nadia and I will sit in the car until he gets off. It was okay during the summer but now that it's getting cold I hate just sitting in the car risking Nadia and I getting sick.

Corey doesn't like being with out a car either. He feels bad asking for rides to and from PT (if it's at the gym) and he hates that his supervisor can't depend on him on certain days to go to another shop for supplies or something. We have somewhat worked out a schedule on who gets the car when but I'm always thinking about the "what ifs". What if something happens to Nadia on the day that Corey has the car? What if Corey finds out last minute that he has a meeting to go to and I have the car?

I think we are gonna get something reasonable...just to get us from point A to point B. I HATE the idea of having two car payments but I don't want to spend money on an older car and then it turn out to be a piece of crap. I guess we'll look until we find something we can agree on...

Wow...

7th-Grade Teacher to Students: Obama is a ‘N’-Word
October 8th, 2008


7th-Grade teacher to students: Obama is a ‘N’-word. Angry parents in the northwest Florida community of Marianna want a middle school teacher fired after he put the “N”-word on the board to describe Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama. The Marianna Middle School teacher, Greg Howard, is now serving a 10-day suspension after writing an acronym on the dry-erase board on Sept. 26: “C.H.A.N.G.E. - Come Help A N*gg*r Get Elected.” But many parents want the 17-year teacher fired. The seventh-grade social studies teacher’s class has 17 White students, six Black students and one Asian student. Initially he was suspended for the day without pay, but that was elevated to the 10-day punishment. He must also write a letter of apology to students. “We feel like the punishment is sufficient,” Larry Moore, superintendent of the Jackson County School District, told The Detroit Free Press. “We did not feel he had to be fired.” NAACP officials say they will reserve their actions in the case until their investigation is complete. Audrey Wad, who has nieces and nephews at the school, didn’t need any more information before expressing her outrage. “To me, it’s hurtful,” she told the Free Press. “The idea that he would impose his political opinion on the children is wrong to me. That’s where he crossed the line

I don't understand how he could not be fired and only get a 10-day suspension. I'm speechless. Again, wow.

So far, so good

Nadia has been sleeping in her crib at night for the past week. YAY! We were having the hardest time getting her to sleep in her crib. It's crazy because she doesn't have a problem taking her naps but it's only at night that she would scream. We tried crying it out and Corey and I don't have the heart for that. I mean, we could handle the whining but when she would start screaming to the point where she would choke herself we couldn't take it. So for the past couple of months or so, she has been sleeping with us. We wouldn't even try to put her in her crib.
When we took her to her year appt. the doctor kinda made me feel bad when I told him that she was sleeping with us. He basically told me that I was weak and that Corey needed to be the one to put her to bed. Thanks for the word of encouragement. So being a first time mom, I starting thinking that maybe the doctor was right. Not that I'm weak but maybe she does need to start sleeping in her own bed. I really didn't have a problem with her sleeping with us but I figured that it will be easier getting her to sleep in her room now than if we started trying later. Well, so far it has worked. Granite, I do have sit in her room for about an hour before she falls asleep but atleast I don't have to deal with the screaming. Hey, we gotta start somewhere.

It's a conspiracy

The USPS doesn't want me to go back to school. I've mailed reference letters out three times, yes, three times and finally after express mailing them they have been received. My transcripts were sent out Aug. 19 and 21 and they still haven't reached University of Maryland. I've applied for financial aid but my application can't process until the school has officially accepted me. I can't be officially accepted until all my paperwork is complete (reference letters and transcripts). I've called and called and called and all I can do now is wait. I was told by the financial aid office that my application will be closed down if the paperwork isn't received ASAP. Well, what else do they want me to do? I can't make the paperwork get to the school any faster. Now I'm worried that it's going to take forever for my reference letters to get to the school once they are mailed. I was planning on starting in October but now I guess I'll have to wait until January. Stupid post office.

I've got the fever

Baby fever that is. I've been feeling this way for a couple of months and I think it has really hit me hard. Corey doesn't care one way or the other if we have any more children but he did remind me of the fact that he and I are both getting up there and he doesn't want to be an old dad.
What's really crazy is that I desperately want to have twins-boy/girl. I've always pictured myself with three children but I only want to go through one more pregnancy. I would LOVE to adopt an older child (preteen) but Corey's not sure he could handle it. So twins seem to be the only answer. I'm putting it out there and "speaking it into existence" as my mom would say. Of course I would be just as happy if I got pregnant with one child.
Hopefully next summer sometime I will be holding my beautiful babies for the very first time. Wish us luck!

He really does work...

And sometimes hard. Last night Corey's squadron had sort of an open house where family members could go and voice any concerns, questions and/or comment on anything that has been going on (good or bad). Afterwards, we were given a tour of his shop.I was pretty impressed. My eyes were really opened and I think I owe Corey an apology.

Since moving to Germany, Corey has been pretty much the "go-to-guy" when something needs to be done. He'll sometimes come home starving because he was in a meeting during lunch time and didn't get a chance to eat. Someone from his job will call him in the evenings looking for answers to a problem. Me being me, always asks "So, why are they calling you? You just got here. You don't know everything". And he'll jokingly say "Cuz I run things round these parts" or something to that affect.

Last night I got to see what he does and see that he really is in charge of a lot of things that go on in his shop. For some reason, I was really proud of him. I wanted to stick my chest out and say "yeah, that's MY man". LOL

Going to the open house has opened my eyes in a lot of ways. I mean, I know he is sacrificing a lot by being in the military but I will no longer take that for granted. A big standing ovations for all the men and women of the Armed Forces for risking their lives to keep us safe.

It's good to be home

Nadia and I spent last week in England visiting my sister and her family. Despite Nadia getting sick, we had a blast as the Hall family is very entertaining...I swear they need their own reality show. There were a couple of days where I laughed until I cried, my stomach burning from the pain. It was really good being around family, (it's still a little hard not being close to family and good friends) sitting around doing nothing. My sister and her husband still went to work and the kids went to school and daycare, so Nadie and I chilled during the day and counted down until the "clan" got home.

I was lucky enough to take my five year old nephew to the bus stop each morning and be there when he got off. It was kind of sad putting him on the bus the first day of school. All the other mothers were crying and taking pictures and then it started to to affect me as well. Last year he went to a British school and some of the kids gave him a really hard time about him being black and American. I mean, it was to the point that he didn't like being black anymore and he didn't like going places where there were "too many white people". This year, after only being in an American school for a week, he's getting his confidence back. Saturday he went to get a hair cut and he came home with a mohawk. It really looked cute on him and I was just happy that he felt that he was able to express himself without thinking what others will think of him.

I was also able to go out to a club for the first time in about 6 or 7 years. Yeah, it's really been that long...and I really wasn't missing much. What is it with some females going to clubs naked? I was thinking back to my club hopping days and I don't remember it being like this. I mean, we wore somewhat revealing clothing but these girls (young and old) were leaving NOTHING to the imagination. I felt both old and overdressed. Nontheless, I had a good time despite leaving my baby with my brother-in-law for the first time. I had to take a moment to myself at the club and cry and then it was PARTY TIME. Haha

Spending time with my twin sister is something that I always look forward to. We laughed, vented to eachother, and was just in awe that we both have our own little families. Growing up, I didn't like being a twin because we were always looked at as being one instead of individuals. Now I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING in this world. I love her to peices!!! It's crazy now, because I hope to one day have twins.

Although I miss my sister and her family dearly, it's good to be back in my own home and sleeping in my own bed. Now I must do some serious cleaning...what was I thinking leaving a man home alone for a week and expecting the house to be sparkling clean when I returned? :)

Let's try this again

here's the link for viewing full size. my blog doesn't give it enough room, and cuts some off.


My Montage 8/26/08

My baby is gone

Here is a montage I did for my baby's first year. It took me forever because I couldn't decide what pictures to use. Each and every picture takes me back to the day I took them. I'm so blessed to be a mommy and I'm more blessed to be Nadia Siobhan's mommy.
Although I'm sad that my baby is growing up, I look forward to watching her grow into a toddler, little girl, teenager, young lady, and a woman. She makes me so proud.
Now go get some tissue and enjoy!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I'm in denial

My baby will be one in exactly 8 days. She is starting to get presents in the mail and it's like time as gotten away from me. At first, we (the three of us) were planning on just going to the zoo, open her presents, and eat cake. Now I want to decorate the house and have a small get together. I don't know if I'm in denial because none of our family will be here to help her celebrate or just the simple fact that I'm not ready for her to grow up. My precious is turning one! What am I going to do? How am I going to get through this? I asked my mom how mothers do it and this is what she told me,

"You look at their pictures to hold onto them being little and dependent on you and then you

smile at what they have become! You let them crawl into your lap/bed even as teenagers

when they work your next to last nerve; you cry at their weddings, your cry when they

move away, you cry when they move away with your grandchildren-I guess tears are the

cleaning mechanism."

I cried when she first told me that and I'm getting teary eyed typing it. I can only imagine what I will be like on August 27. I must go now and cuddle with my little, big girl.

Our fun weekend

We went to a pig roast Saturday and Nadia had a blast. It was in a town called Wittlich, about an hour north of here near Trier. The story goes that the gate guard lost the iron pin to keep the gate closed, so he used a carrot to secure the gate. A pig ate the carrot, the gate came open, and the enemy ransacked the town. Afterward, they (the towns people)gathered up all the pigs and roasted them. So annually, they have a pig roast in honor of this tradition.



There was also a parade and carnival. Nadia went on a merry-go-round, a Ferris wheel, and she road a horse. I was one proud momma. She wasn't too sure of the horse but she rode it anyway. All in all, we had a great time, and the pig was delicious.



Sunday was a BEAUTIFUL day so we decided to put Nadie in her little pool. Of course she loved it and she cried when we put it up. Corey swears she is going to beat Michael Phelps' record in swimming. lol His expectations are soo high...poor child.

The longest 5 minutes of my life.

I locked myself out of the house with Nadia inside. I had just put her in her high chair and given her her bottle. I don't strap her in any longer because she knows how to get out of it. She has figured out that she can stand up in her high chair so we usually sit in front of her while she's eating.
It's garbage day and I hear the truck outside getting our trash. Without thinking I run outside to put the garbage can up. I don't think to unlock the door. I don't think to grab my keys. I don't think to put Nadia on the floor. I just get up and go. As soon as I remember that the door is locked, it shuts. I immediately start to panic. I run to the back door. Locked. I run to the basement door. Locked as well. Thankfully our landlords lives right behind us. The only problem is that they don't speak English and I don't speak German. We normally communicate through their son and he's hardly home.
I knock on the door and the daughter answers and I ask for Jacob (the son) and she shakes her head. I ask if they have an extra key to the house and she looks at me for a moment and then shrugs her shoulders. As I'm walking back I see the dad. I run to him and start motioning with my hand keys starting a car. He points to the car and I say "No. House". I walk him to the door and show him it is locked. He says "Baby?" and I point inside the house. At this point I think he can tell I'm panicking and he runs to the house. He comes back with a young boy and a ladder. I'm just praying to myself that Nadia hasn't decided to stand up and I'm imagining the worst. I look inside the window but I can't see anything. I don't hear her crying which lets me know she is okay. The young boy climbs to the window upstairs and somehow manages to get inside. I thank them about a million times (which is one of the few things I know how to say in German) and run inside. Of course Nadia is looking at me like I'm crazy when I pick her up. The father jokingly pats his pants pocket and does the key sign as to say "Keep your keys in your pocket". Lesson learned!

Strollerobics is the devil!!!

In my billionth attempt to get in shape, I enrolled in strollerobics. It's one hour, twice a week for 6 weeks. I'm in so much pain, I don't even know what to do. I'm talking sprints, lunges, sit-ups, push-up, leg lifts, squats, suicides and all other kinds of running exercises all while pushing a stroller (minus the sit-up and push-ups). The instructor really pushes me to the point that I just want to yell at her. But I guess that's her job. And when I think about it, I really need someone to push me no matter how much she gets on my nerves. I didn't think it was going to be so intense, especially with me being a beginner. We even worked out in the rain! Now you know I wasn't too happy about that. I have muscles hurting that I didn't even know I had. Plus, I'm still riding my bike and we try to ride for about 30 minutes a night. I guess it really is true- No pain, No gain. Nadia gets a kick out of watching me struggle and sweat like a pig. Hopefully soon, the soreness will subside and I will actually look forward to going to class. For some reason that really made me laugh. LOL

It was a good day

I woke up to breakfast in bed and Nadia taken care of. It must have been a special occasion. And it was...my birthday. Yep, I'm 32 years old. Corey baked me a carrot cake (my favorite) and he got me a bicycle with a child's seat. Then we kinda just drove around Germany (this area anyways). Later that night we went riding. I haven't rode a bike since I was in middle school and I'm feeling it. My thighs are on fire! Nadia didn't like the helmet at first but once we started riding she got used to it.

Here's the carrot cake that Corey made for me. He tortured me by making it on Sunday and told me I couldn't have any until Monday. That cake was calling my name but I respected his wishes and wanted until Monday night. YUMMY!! Now the hard part is not eating it all in one weeks time.

Also my niece and nephews sent me a birthday card. They sent me the same card that I sent to my twin from Nadia. Last year we got the same card for each other and a couple of years ago we sent out the same Christmas cards. It's funny how that happens. I guess great minds do think alike. :) When I called them to thank them for the card, Jada responded, "What card? I didn't get you a birthday card". She really speaks her mind. She's only three years old but I don't think she is gonna let anyone run over her. They make being an aunt the next best thing to being a mommy!

I was trying to find a picture of my sister and I together but I don't have any recent ones. I guess we are always the ones behind the camera. Here are some pictures of us when we were younger.

All in all, it was a very good day. I look forward to celebrating many, many more!