Playin' Catch-Up!

Phew!  We've been busy the past couple of weeks!  But it's been the good kind of busy.  So, I am going to try to catch up.... (Warning!  Long, random, and rambling post ahead...)

Last Monday was my birthday...I'm 28!  Twenty-eight, y'all!!  It's so funny how I still feel like I am college-age.  (Sigh...)  Do you want to see what I got?

A clothesline!!  YEA!  I have had this on my wish-list for about three years.  I love it!  There is nothing like line-dried sheets.  I have been using indoor drying racks to hang-dry a lot of our clothes and everything of Amelia's.  I am so excited about my new outdoor line.  Mike had to dig through the rock-hard Georgia red clay for the posts.  I refrained from re-enacting a scene from my favorite movie (Gone With the Wind) with this handful of Georgia clay...."That's all of Tara you'll ever get!"

Amelia was daddy's little helper...

Thank you, Mike and Amelia, for my birthday present!

I hung some of my brown transferware dishes in the dining room...(The top dish was a gift from Momma for my birthday.)

I've been scrubbin' in the house.  Can you see the difference in my windows?  I know...not the most exciting of news, but I love having sparkly clean windows!  So I have to show them off.  "...I can see clearly now..."

Ta-Da!  I don't keep the screens in my windows because I certainly am not opening them...not in this 90-plus heat!  Even though, I do love to sleep with the windows open... 

Just for fun...a silly sleeping picture of Amelia...hehe!...

Now, for the best part...  We got to go to church this past Sunday. 

Let me give a little background, so that you'll know how truly exciting this is for us.  Several years ago, I had signed a contract to work every weekend, save four a year...night shift, that is, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.  At first, I thought I would be able to stay awake in order to go to church on Sunday.  Then, we moved even further away from our church, making our drive an hour each way.  I just couldn't stay awake.  When I was pregnant with Amelia, I would get migrains if I tried.  And after having her, phewwww, I was too tired to even think about it.  We knew we wanted to go back, we just didn't know how we could at that time.  We tried churches that were closer, but there was just something missing.  And without family close by, I needed to be home during the week to take care of Amelia, and Mike could watch her on the weekends while I was at the hospital working.  After a lot of thinking and praying (and financial figuring), we decided that I would come home, and just work a couple nights a month.  This past week was the first weekend I didn't have to work.  We spent all day Saturday together as a family, instead of me having to sleep to go back into work that night (we felt so normal!!!), and we got to go to church on Sunday morning.  I am beyond thankful for this, more than I can say.

We ate lunch on Saturday at Bugaboo Creek.  Have y'all ever been there?  The animals talk.  And there was a giant buffalo directly over our table.  Amelia was completely enthrawled...

For the remainder of the meal, she kept an eye on him, waiting for him to come back to life and ask for a cookie...

After lunch, we went to the fabric store where Amelia made the rounds, with Daddy trailing closely behind...   (I might add, these ladies are strangers to Amelia, but ladies at the fabric store are always the good kind of strangers, right?)

Note to self:  Now that Amelia is walking, shoes are a must!

But, c'mon, it's summer!  And grungy toes aren't nearly as cute when your older.

Then, it was church on Sunday morning!  :o)

This little sailor dress was mine as a baby.  I know I've said it before, but I am so happy Momma saved so many of my baby clothes and dresses.  Isn't it sweet?

Oh, mercy!

Such a big, big day for a tiny girl...

Oh...and this is a lizard that was on our front porch the other day.  I asked Mike why he was taking a picture of it, and he said he figured I'd want to put it on my blog.  Sooo, here he is.  At any given moment, I can go outside and find no less than ten of these little guys. 

Y'all have a great week!   

Comments

[GRANDMAMA]

Finally, pictures of my baby!!!

They are adorable. I can't decide which one I like best!!!

Thanks - you all are a beautiful family.

[Lindsey]

So much to say...
Love that you get to stay at home. It is worth it. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Love your clothesline....I might just have to copy you. Love that you referenced "Tara"! I'm a huge "Gone with the Wind" fan.

And lastly, that Amelia is SOOOOOO adorable!!!

[lucinda]

I was 28 when I had my first little girl she is now 17 and officially a senior!

When I saw your fist full of that red dirt I thought of GWTW!

Gerald O'Hara: Do you mean to tell me, Katie Scarlett O'Hara, that Tara, that land doesn't mean anything to you? Why, land is the only thing in the world worth workin' for, worth fightin' for, worth dyin' for, because it's the only thing that lasts.

[Bobbie]

Love that brown transferware. I am contemplating hanging plates myself. I have never done so, but yours looks so good. Its inspiring!

[Bri]

Oh what a wonderful catch up post!! I just love seeing fun photos of Amelia. Sounds like you guys have been very busy and I had no idea you had been working the night shift! What a strong person you are...whew. Hey - I sent you an email about making your own baby food to the address at the top of your blog. Did you get that?

PS - Isn't it sweltering outside?

[Shannon]

Yea!! Another post! Keep them coming! :) Your clothes line is so neat! How fun. I love all your transferware and it looks so good how you have it hung up! Your windows are so clean! :) Of course your little girl is soooooooooo cute! Love the dress!

[Antique Therapy]

Love the brown transferware. I collect it too. I was wondering if you would like to participate in a game I am having over at my blog antique therapy? Come on over and check it out. Thanks, Keri

[Elise]

Happy Birthday!! Love the clothesline-so charming! I was wondering if you could possibly go to my church but then I saw what y'all were wearing and knew you couldn't possibly. No one dresses up like that there, not even our pastor.
Glad you got to finally go...
Elise

[Elise]

Happy Birthday!! Love the clothesline-so charming! I was wondering if you could possibly go to my church but then I saw what y'all were wearing and knew you couldn't possibly. No one dresses up like that there, not even our pastor.
Glad you got to finally go...
Elise

[Kelly]

So glad for the update:-) Looks like a happy birthday, and a wonderful weekend. So glad you are able to have those family weekends together- what blessing.

[Chris]

What a fun post! I am so happy you were able to get to church! I know what a blessing that was.

I love that you have made a committment, however difficult or inconvenient, to stay home with your beautiful little girl.

Thanks for your wonderful blog! Chris

[Leigh @General Ramblings]

I loooovvveeee your clothesline. It takes me back to my mother drying clothes on ours. Until, I got to an age where I begged her not to put the underware on it any longer. LOL!
I love it. I just looks "southern".
We do not have a bugaloos. Sad. But sounds cute.
And you my dear, are so beautiful in your Sunday best with your equally as beautiful family.

Happy Birthday!

[janae]

Hapy Birthday!! Isn't funny how the simplest things make us the happiest? I can totally relate to you about the overnights...I was a hospital operator with the shift of 11pm - 7:30am...I was SO grateful when I quit that job. It was very hard to be with the kids and get my rest.
Janae

[Kelly]

Happy 28th birthday, Katie!!!! :o)

Amelia is such a little peach...I love those bloomers! Sailor dresses for little gals are my weakness. They're just the cutest things. How sweet that your mom saved yours! My MIL saved some suspenders and plaid pants of my husband's...not too sure if I want those passed on if we have a son this time around, though, LOL! ;o)

And one more thing...yay for clotheslines! I am ADDICTED to mine! I will seriously handwash one thing and hang it out there just to have it smell good from the country air. And what went and happened this weekend? My line snapped!! I guess it was overworked. That's Ed's project to finish THIS weekend. Enjoy your fresh sheets...heavenly!

[Angie Seaman]

Love your blog. Great pictures! Keep up the fun work!
Blessings, Angie Seaman
www.angelicagracedesigns.com/blog/
www.angelicagracedesigns.com

[bs honey]

Hey there. I'm new to your blog. Found you on...thesouthernbella... wonderful post you have going. I so enjoyed reading it and I will surely return.

I love the birthday clothesline. I would have one now, if not for the little pesky {can hardly see} biting bugs that get on the sheets, and then on me.

Amelia is beautiful. She is at the age where she is a handful and a heartful, all rolled into one. I know she is a joy.

Thank you for sharing,

[kari & kijsa]

What a fabulous day!! So exciting about church, laundry, clean windows, talking animals, and, our favorite, special dresses now filled with memories of the next generation!!

blessings,
kari & kijsa

[Susie Harris]

You are a busy girl! I love your clothesline and would love to have one. I miss those days. Not that Im old and had to use one but I remember my MawMaw hanging clothes in the sunshine. Bless her heart, she lived to be 100and1/2. Now thats a life! Glad you made it back to church. Take care and loved your photo's... even Mr. Lizard... Susie H

[Kristyn]

I have recently found your blog and LOVE it. Happy birthday, I love your clothesline. Looks like you had a great weekend. I can relate to your schedule, I'm a nurse, too and work every weekend night shift 7p-7a so I can stay home during the week with my little girl. Thanks for your great posts.

[row.]

I just had to comment on how CUTE it is that your hubby took a picture of the lizard because he figured u would want to put it on your blog-aweeee hes a keeper!-lol
it's these little things that let us know they are thinking of us.
and also so glad u got to go to church-doesnt it feel nice-a Sunday without church doesnt feel right, I love how the day has meaning when you go to church!
oh and your baby girl is a DOLL!
psst...came over from nester

[row.]

I just had to comment on how CUTE it is that your hubby took a picture of the lizard because he figured u would want to put it on your blog-aweeee hes a keeper!-lol
it's these little things that let us know they are thinking of us.
and also so glad u got to go to church-doesnt it feel nice-a Sunday without church doesnt feel right, I love how the day has meaning when you go to church!
oh and your baby girl is a DOLL!
psst...came over from nester

[row.]

I just had to comment on how CUTE it is that your hubby took a picture of the lizard because he figured u would want to put it on your blog-aweeee hes a keeper!-lol
it's these little things that let us know they are thinking of us.
and also so glad u got to go to church-doesnt it feel nice-a Sunday without church doesnt feel right, I love how the day has meaning when you go to church!
oh and your baby girl is a DOLL!
psst...came over from nester

[Rhoda]

Hi, katie, I'm so glad you stopped by! I don't know if I've ever visited you before, so if you've stopped by before & I haven't been by here, please forgive me. I really try to get by & visit everyone who leaves me a note. I love hearing from all of you!

What an adorable family you are..and you are in GA?! I'm a GA girl myself. Your hubby is so cute & so is your daughter. Y'all make such a cute couple, loved the wedding photos. Happy Anniversary. I will have to come back & read more. That's my biggest regret that I cannot stay up with all the wonderful blogs that are out there.

Wish we could go antiquing too! That would be so much fun.

Rhoda

[Rhoda]

Oh, and Happy Birthday too! Enjoy them all.

Rhoda

[Kimberly]

Happy Happy Birthday to You!!!

Love your clothesline--I've wanted one for years as well, but they are banned in our subdivision. Grr. I love hanging out clothes and linens!

Your daughter is such a cutie pie!