Paducah trip extended

Our plans were originally to leave Paducah today. Those plans were changed Sunday morning when my grandfather passed away unexpectedly. He has been in the nursing home for a few years, but nothing new had changed. So, although we knew his health wasn't well, we also thought we had more time. It even surprised the nurses that were looking after him.

We got to town on Saturday morning and had plans to visit with him on Sunday afternoon after lunch. Since he passed away on Sunday morning, we didn't get to. He didn't get to see how Sydney has grown. Maybe he can see her now...who knows. It is sad & we are trying to keep our spirits up. Sydney is helping with that quite a lot. She is keeping smiles on every one's faces. It is funny how much she is helping & she doesn't even know it. She will one day when I tell her how much she helped us through this time.

Please keep our family in your prayers. My grandmother has been with him since she was 15 years old! I can't even imagine what she is going through at this moment. Thanks to all.

New Definitions

I received this list in an email from BabyWeekly today. It is a list of definitions we get after having kids. I thought some were hilarious, but all were funny!! I hope you enjoy.

Amnesia: The condition that enables a woman who has gone through labor to make love again.

Feedback: The inevitable result when your baby doesn't appreciate the pureed carrots.

Full name: What you call your child when you're really mad at him.

Grandparents*: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure
you're not raising them right.

Hearsay: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.

Impregnable: A woman whose memory of labor is still vivid.

Independent: How we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.

Ow: The first word spoken by children with older siblings.

Puddle: A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes and socks into it.

Show off: A child who is more talented than yours.

Sterilize: What you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it.

Two minute warning: When your baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.

*I have to say that Sydney's grandparents are GREAT! They in NO way make us feel like we are raising her in the wrong way. If they think it, they sure don't show it. (Just wanted to throw that disclaimer in!) :-)

Oh...here is the tag I was suppose to do several days ago:

5 Things You Don't Know About Me:

1) I can turn my tongue upside down.
2) I LOVE the big city, but long for peaceful weekends in the country.
3) I can only sleep if my hair is not in a pony tail, socks are off, and bedroom door is closed.
4) I long for a vacation on a beach.
5) I think the cutest thing in the world is my daughter's smile. (Ok, you probably already knew that one about me.) :o)

Have a GREAT Friday!!

Good Quote

I'm quoting my dad on this one, but I'm also taking it as my motto. Thought I would share. Hope you enjoy.

"Although I still have a host of decisions to make and bumps in the road thereafter I am at peace I am on the right path."--my daddy

Plane ride

We fly out Saturday morning to head to Paducah to see family. I have to say that I am quite apprehensive about it. People are not very tolerant of a screaming baby on a plane. I completely understand why. I was one of them . Now having to do it, I have much more sympathy for mom & baby in that situation. There is NO way to calm a baby if they flat don't want to be calmed. Luckily, Sydney doesn't have those moods very often. I also feels sorry for the baby. I'm sure many times with young babies they are crying because of the pressure in their ears. I would cry, too! Anyway, I pray for everyone involved that the flights to and from St. Louis go well. Keep your fingers crossed!

Thoughts at the moment

While growing up, I heard many women say that being a stay-at-home mom wasn’t easy. I heard them say how hard it was to feel equal to a husband who has a paying job. That when times were tough financially, it made it hard for them because they would feel responsible for the hard times. I COMPLETELY relate to that now. I am not a full-time stay-at-home mom. I have a part-time paying job, but we have had to cut back quite a bit so that I could stay at home part-time. I know that we could save more money and be better off financially if I was working full-time. So, right now I am dealing with those emotions.

I’m also trying to figure out who I am. I know that sounds silly. But, just like getting married was an adjustment, becoming a mom is too. I LOVE my little girl. She’s the greatest thing! I don’t mean any of this in a bad way. I’m just trying to figure out how this new aspect of me fits in to the old me. It is not sounding on this blog like it does in my head. Hopefully those of you who have been here before will understand what I mean. Those of you who haven’t, just know I love my little girl & am figuring out this new path that I’m on.

As for the 4 days a week that I get with her, they fly by!! I guess it is true that time flies when you’re having fun! Right now, she’s hitting Ryan in the mouth while he acts like he’s going to eat her hand. Either she’s telling him to hush or having fun! They’re cute together…off subject. Sorry. Anyway, I wish those days with her would slow down a little. They probably never will.

I hope the rest of this week flies by. I can’t wait to see family this weekend in Paducah!!!

Oh, we are boarding Sam (our dog) at the PetSmart Hotel. The only reason that we are boarding him there is because he goes to the vet at PetSmart. Anyway, one of the things they offer as a free service is a Phone booth. Because they know how much you miss your pet while you’re gone, they will allow you to call and check on them. When you call, they will go and get your pet, take him/her to the phone booth & let you talk to him!!!! They said they know that hearing your pet meow or bark will let you know that they are ok. How crazy is that?! Do you think people actually use it? Ah…our society. If you are one of those that would call in…please forgive me for not understanding.

Sorry for the long blog today. Thanks for reading it all if you got to this point!

Playin' with Daddy

Here are a couple of pics of Ryan and Sydney. They were having fun tonight. She was mimicking Ryan. It was too cute to not take pictures.

New Look & Paducah

So, I had the little one asleep...well, Ryan did really. I've been tired of the look of my blog, so I decided I would give it a change. We'll see if this new look sticks around.

Ryan and I decided last night that we are heading to Paducah next weekend!! We got tickets from American Airlines for $79 round-trip to St. Louis!!! Once we saw that deal, we just couldn't pass it up. Sydney will be 3 months old tomorrow & has changed so much lately. It has been two months since we have been in Paducah, so I think she's due a visit. We can't wait to see our family and friends. It will be a quick, quick trip in. I am thankful that we will be able to go to Reidland while we are in. That will let us see those friends that we don't always get to see. I love worshipping there while we are in. That is HOME. It always will be. The people there are as much my family as my own blood relatives...more really. So, I'm thankful that we will be able to worship with them. We look forward (can't wait, really) to see you all!! Paducah, here we come!

Snow Day!!

Today I woke up to sleet & snow. We have a Texas snow, which means the accumulation doesn't amount to much. It did however close schools, our office, & the daycare. So Sydney and I are home chillin' for the day. Ryan had to leave a few minutes ago to get to his store an hour away...which will probably take him 2 hours to get to!! Us girls are planning on lighting a fire & relaxing for the day...and maybe a little housework for one while the other naps. ;-) Here's to snow days! They're the best!!

12 weeks old!

Sydney is 12 weeks old today!! I can't believe it has been that long already. Here are a couple of pics from the last week.

We have almost made it our first week back at work/in daycare. I keep telling myself that I have one more day & then I get 4 with her!! Don't get me wrong, I do love my job. I just miss her so much during the day! I am thankful to the church for letting me go part-time & thankful to God for giving us the funds for me to be able to do so. Anyway, I have almost survived my 1st week!!

Prayer request

Wednesday is the day. I'm heading back to work after 12 weeks home with my baby girl. I am very lucky that I got 12 weeks instead of the normal 6 or 8 weeks. I have been blessed & have been tremendously thankful for every minute. BUT the time has come for me to return to work. I am lucky that I only have to work part-time, but that doesn't make Wednesday much easier. So, please keep both Sydney and myself in your prayers that day. I know she will be well taken care of. I just pray I don't ball the entire day! Thanks for the prayers!!

She slept!!!

This is a monumental day for both of us! She slept last night from 11:30 pm to 5:15 am!!! My loving husband took the feeding when she woke up at 5:15 since he was already getting up at that time. So, I got to sleep until 8:15!! Whoohoo!! I had almost 9 hours of sleep. I feel like a new woman! (Can you tell by all the "!!"?!) She was also in a much better mood this morning. She is normally happy, but this morning she wanted to P-L-A-Y! We had fun for the hour she was up after her bottle. She's now down for her morning nap and due up in about 15 mins. Hopefully this is a new corner & she will begin sleeping more. I start working next week. Granted, I will only be working part-time, but it would be nice to have rest before I go to work the next morning. Now, I know better than to think she will sleep great every night, but hopefully she will start at least sleeping more than she has been. I made it!! :-)

New Year in Review...Quickly

Year in Review

This year has been quite a year for the Hughes household.

In February we found out that we were expecting & planned our trip to Paducah to tell the folks.

In March/April we headed home to tell them the exciting news. I stayed for a week or so to hang out and enjoy the time with family.

In May, we moved from the Presley apartments to north Dallas with the help of my dad, brother, Kimberlins, Parkers, and the Morris family.

June was full of doctor’s appointments and anticipation for family coming to visit.

The Anderson folks came in July while the Hughes parents came in August. The visits were fun but the weather was HOT!

In September we headed home for a visit before the baby was born. It was great getting to go home, but the plane rides at 7 ½ months pregnant wasn’t much fun! They don’t make planes with pregnant women in mind!

October began with high blood pressure & being put on bedrest, but it ended with a cute bundle of joy. Miss Sydney Kate was born on October 20th.

November we decided to be “dumb” and head home (a normal 10 hour drive with an infant and dog). The trip went GREAT. Both baby and dog were well behaved on the drive to and from KY. It was great to see family that we wouldn’t normally get to see. Letting them all meet Sydney was so much fun.

In December, we celebrated Christmas with the Anderson clan. It wasn’t a normal KY Christmas, but it was great having some down time with family. This last weekend (New Year’s weekend) we mostly stayed home and hung out as a family. It was great having Ryan home for a few days.

Our year has been full of blessings. This year has definitely been a year where the blessings greatly outweighed the trials. Our family has increased as well as our love for each other. God has really smiled on us this year.

We look forward to this next year and all the great things that are to come.