Things I Miss

I started this post about a month and a half ago.  I haven't had a chance to finish it, and truthfully it really made me think about a lot of things.  So today I'm not just going to finish it, but I'm going to post it too!

Look out world.  I'm making a return.

My students were all riled up and excited as it was the last day before spring break.

Ah, Spring Break.  In my formative years on that day I would be packed into a van on my way to Panama City Beach.  I would be eating Corn Nuts and Milano cookies with Jenny, scarfing down my Grandma's chicken salad, and oooooh, the Girl Scout cookies.  And I did it all while not worrying about my waistline.

Those were the days.

But then, as I was thinking about these things, I was also listening to a mix of 90's and 2000's pop music that was taking me back to the days of  nothing to worry about but whether or not we were going to be able to win at least ONE softball game that season.

And that's what brought me to this list.  A list of memories.  A list of things that I miss.

***Disclosure:  This does not in any way, shape, or form mean that I would change one single thing about my current life.  It is totally done for nostalgic purposes.  For me and you.

• The smell of the ocean in the morning (I haven't seen a beach in three years.  It's not right.).
• Eating myself silly and not gaining one...single...pound.
• Dinner at Carla Porter's house before softball games.  Fish sticks?  Pork loin?  Lasagna?  You never knew what it was going to be but you did know that it was going to be yummy.
• Ashley (Fisher) Ernstberger running up and down the halls of our house making up the stupidest, most hilarious songs that one could imagine.  I remember a particular one about a tornado.
• The salsa and cheese corn chips that they sold in the vending machines at WRV (I've looked everywhere for them, I don't think they sell them anymore).
• My 1996 Honda Civic.
• Destiny's Child.
• Jalapeno poppers from Honeybaker's.
• Incredible Yogurt.
• Sorority socials.
• Sorority sisters.
• Getting a sorority t-shirt for every...single...function.  Now they 1) Don't fit over my big prego belly and 2) look a little creepy on an old-timer wannabe who just looks like she wants to be back in college when putting them on.
• It goes without mentioning, Puerto's.
• That feeling in the evening when you're still on the beach (or by the pool) in your bathing suit and it starts getting cold and you know you should go inside, but instead you just wrap up in a towel and savor every last minute of warm, wonderful, fabulous sunlight.
• My Nokia cell phone with the interchangeable covers.
• Miss America parties.
• Birthday parties with my families.
• My Mom's chocolate sheet cake (hint...hint).
• Mamaw's scrabble.  And monkey bread.
• Mamaw.
• Thinking that driving to Terre Haute to get my acrylic nails filled was an absolute MUST. And the funkier the design on them, the better.
• The Backstreet Boys.
• Ja Rule.
• Mrs. Walton.
• My belly button ring.  Which would look pretty disgusting if it made a reappearance right now.
• Long, full, curly hair that reached halfway down my back.
• Ashley (Bingham) Harroll kidnappings.  You never knew where she would take you.  And it terrified you.
• Ashley (Bingham) Harroll kidnappings of other people.  Because you never knew who she was going to show up with at your house in her red 1978 Thunderbird.  She could fit about 15 bodies in that car.
• Being able to fly down the side road in Switz City when you were late to school.  And then they put in the speed bumps.  And if you didn't hit your head on the roof of your car when you went over them then you weren't driving over them right.
• The anticipation of looking for a prom dress.
• America's Next Top Model rerun marathons with my Bethel roomies. (By the way, do you think that now we would watch 16 and Pregnant or Teen Mom instead?  I say yes.)
• Driving to Chapter with my Bethel roomies while cranking the music and singing.  Usually making up new lyrics to the song, right Allison?
• Dancing to Justin Timberlake at every...single...sorority function with Laura (Hoesman) Sienkiewicz.  I to this day think of her every time I hear Dance With Me.  And then I sing my parts and imagine her singing her parts.  That's not weird, right?
• Being able to split a household bill with three other girls.  
• Only having one room to be responsible for cleaning.
• Walking on campus when the weather was starting to get nice after a long winter.
• Don't laugh, but I would LOVE to have a panini from Woodworth right now.  Turkey and onions with ranch dressing grilled just right.  Yum....
• Wednesday night dinners with Jennifer (Porter) Hancock when we had just started dating who would turn out to be our future husbands.  The conversations were classic folks.
• Summer league softball games
• Swimming so much that the chlorine burned your eyes and you had blurred vision.
• Running to TIS to find materials to make sorority paddles
• The Bethel house paddle wall
• Buy one get two free t-shirts from TIS
• Carrying my great big AOII canvas bag around campus
• Passing notes in class.  They were always full of really intellectual material.  We always talked about the class material.  Promise.
• Living two blocks from both sets of Grandparents.
• Josta (who remembers it?
• Having a free gym at my fingertips 24/7
• AOII family dinners at Panera
• Being in shape.  Like, really good shape.

Those are just a few of the things that I miss.  We all have things that we miss from our pasts.  It doesn't mean we want to change our present, it just means that we've had a really great life up to this point.

So, what are some things that you miss?

What My Dad Endured

My Dad was all boy growing up.  He played Cowboys and Indians, stayed up (unknowingly to my Grandparents) and watched Sammy Terry, and was known for his love of reptiles.  My poor Mamaw.  I cannot tell you the number of stories she told about lost and found snakes, the alligator in the basement, and snake skins. 

My Dad lettered in four sports in high school.  I'm pretty sure his favorite food is steak.  He adores his St. Louis Cardinals and he still sports a Colts jersey, even after the season is over. 

My Dad is a guys guy.  A guys guy who got stuck with a daughter as his only child.

I tell you this not because he ever felt sorry for himself or because he found it a struggle to raise me (or at least I think).  But since we recently found out the news that we are having a little girl, perspective has, well, changed a little bit.

On our way home from the lake when finding out that we were, in fact, having a girl, there was a slight moment of panic by both Nate and I.  The thought of the arguments over tiny tank tops and too short shorts.  She'll go on dates.  She'll buy bikinis.  She'll...well, she'll make us worry more than we ever thought possible. 

Of course, this is all speculation.  But I've heard enough from those of you who have boys and girls that the girls are just worrisome.

So this brought me to thinking about a list of the things that my dear Father endured, and quite possibly still endures.  Not only did he have a girl, he had a girly girl.  The worst kind!  My poor Daddy.

1) Slumber parties.  Whether it was our yearly Miss America party or birthday sleepovers, my Dad would have to put up with about 10 giggly teenage girls as we ate, gossiped, and laughed throughout the entire night.  Because we didn't sleep.  Unless you wanted to be drawn on.

I remember that Dad would leave the house and escape to my Grandparents for part of the night when all of the girls came over.  He never stayed the night because he was on hand for help should my Mom need it.  But we didn't see much of him.  Thank goodness for the capability of having cable television in more than one room in the house!

2) Losing softball teams.  And boy, was I on my share of them.  My high school softball team didn't win ten games in the entire four seasons that I played.  My Dad never missed one game (neither did my Mom for that matter).  He never yelled in the stands, he never got worked up, and he was always supportive.  After the game he would always give me advice that was both patient and helpful.  I know that sometimes it probably didn't seem like I was listening, but my batting stance came entirely from his directives.

3) Getting kicked off of the Internet at night (while we still had dial-up) because I wanted to chat with my friends on ICQ.  Yeah, you remember it.  It was before AIM became the thing to chat on.  He always got off of the Internet when I needed him to.  And he might not admit it, but I know he didn't like it!  That was just the kind of stuff he did for me.

4) Prom dress/formal dress/Easter dress/little black dress talk.  I'm that girl that started shopping for her prom dress when she was in middle school.  I kid you not.  I had magazine after magazine full of dresses that I just knew would hold my future prom dress.  My Mom, Grandma and I had the best times looking for those dresses.  And my poor Dad had to sit through conversations that were I'm sure miserable for him.  The trips that he took with us to find the perfect gloves or the perfect shoes or the perfect jewelry.  He did it.  And never complained once.

5) My many, ahem, failed attempts at driving.  I'm not a perfect driver, I'll admit it.  While I've never had any major fender benders, I typically find myself running into inanimate things.  Like, the garage wall.  Or that truck in the parking lot of Honeybakers that was a good 50 feet behind my car.  And you know what?  He never raised his temper when I would call.  In fact, when I told him about the truck I'm pretty sure he chuckled a little bit.  He knows how I am.  And he's accepted me for it.

6) Constantly running late.  Constantly.  This is something that I still do and now instead of driving my Dad crazy, it drives Nate crazy.  Both of them are very punctual.  If you're not ten minutes early then you're late.  I got this trait from my dear Mom, so my Dad hasn't escaped it totally.  But only having one gal to wait on rather than two has got to be a little easier.

7) Watching his daughter be a cheerleader.  My Dad is a basketball guy.  He loves to watch it.  He knows a lot about it.  He was pretty good in his day.  And his daughter became the cheerleader.  Luckily, he was able to go watch the basketball games and see me cheer at the same time.  So that one actually worked out pretty well for him.  Except that he never got the chance to teach me how to shoot the perfect lay up.  Unless you count that time that I tried to play in 5th grade.  We try not to talk about it.  It was pretty painful.  By the way, my folks never missed a game that I cheered in either.

8) Girls bring on a lot of drama.  I mean, it's just in our nature.  And my Dad had to tolerate all of the drama that I brought home.  Whether it was because I couldn't get the newest pair of shoes or I wasn't allowed to go to a party on Saturday night, he had to deal with me.  I've gotta say, he was pretty good about it.  I think he just let it roll right off of his shoulders.

There's so much more that I could tell you.  So much more that I could share that would make you see my Dad as nothing less than a saint.

And to me, he is.

Because even though I didn't play basketball except for that one failed attempt, even though I won't be able to pass on the family name, and even though I might be late to Sunday dinner, there are a few things that he did instill in me. 

I love the Three Stooges.  Dad once told me that I bleed Cardinal red.  I have a stack of Bibles that anybody would be envious of (for those of you who don't know, Bible collecting is one of my Dad's "things").  I can hold a conversation about IU basketball with the best of them.  I love my Mother unconditionally.  I wake up with the birds in the morning, which could only come from him. 

So while I'm not a boy, not even close, I still have an amazing bond with my Father that I wouldn't trade for the world. 

He put up with a lot from me.  Just like Nate will easily, wholeheartedly do with our baby girl.

I love you Daddy!

What I've Been Up To

I've been absentee for a while.  I feel like we've been in a whirlwind and we're finally starting to get caught up.

Sort of.

We've had a lot of stuff going on lately so here is a quick update on the lives of the Myers family.

1) I've been getting, well, large.  I'll be 22 weeks tomorrow and painting my toenails this morning was all but impossible.  In fact, I vowed to only have my toenails painted professionally until this one comes out.  This pregnancy is a whole lot different than the first.  I'm carrying more out front than I was with Cooper.  And I mean OUT FRONT.  Girlfriend is large and in charge folks.  I have a check-up on Wednesday.  As I try to stay off of the scales in between visits, I'm scared of what they might say.

Prayers are welcome.

2) Nate has started coaching an 8th grade baseball team.  In fact, we spent a large part of our day today at the ballpark for a double header.  It's so much fun to go watch.  He seems to be in his element.  It makes me wish that I would have known him when he was playing.

Well, kind of.  Because I tell Nate all the time that I never would have married him if I would have known him while he was in college.  There were a lot of shenanigans. 

3) Did I mention that we're having a baby girl?  The three of us went to see the ultrasound at 18 weeks.  We had the technician write down the sex on a piece of paper (without telling us) and then we made the long drive out to Lake Monroe.

Lake Monroe has a lot of significance to us.  Nate and I had our first date there, we were engaged there, and we found out that Cooper was going to be a boy there.  So it was only fitting that we find out the sex of baby #2.

We are excited and anxious about having a little girl.  We know boys.  We have a boy.  Girls are a whole different ballgame.  While I dread the middle school years, I can't wait to go prom dress shopping and plan a wedding and all of the fun things. 

But I'm a little concerned about my wallet.

4) Lola was given a new home.  Cooper has been a very sick little boy.  A constant runny nose and constant ear infections were just a few of the things.  We're trying to cut out everything that we can to make things better for him.  So we gave him to my wonderful friends Ben and Kelley McClain.  Folks, this girl is living the high life.  She is treated like a queen.  They take her on trips, she goes on walks frequently, she gets new collars for different seasons, etc.  I'd say she doesn't miss us too much.  I do miss her little smushy face though.

5) Speaking of Cooper, he's growing like a weed and he's a total doll face.  He loves to play basketball on the hoop that Nannie and Pa bought him for Christmas, and he throws a total fit when we try to bring him in from the outside.  He is an outdoors boy if I've ever seen one.  He loves to go on walks and he loves to ride in his little car.  He is currently learning ABC's and he will tell you the sound that any animal makes if you ask him.  Knock on wood, he has been free of sickness for quite a while now and we feel very happy about this!  Let's hope it stays that way!

6) School is out in just four weeks.  FOUR WEEKS!  I can't believe it.  But as soon as we're out, Mission: Nursery will go into full effect.  We have, well, nothing.  I mean, girlfriend's already got a ton of clothes, but she has nowhere to sleep.  Her room is full of scrapbooking things, old prom/bridesmaid/formal dresses, and stuff that we have no idea what to do with.  So, who wants to help? :)

Between school, being a Mama and wife, and finding time to eat (obviously) and sleep we've been pretty busy around here.  I've written down all kinds of ideas for this blog.  And hopefully, since things seem to be **kind of** slowing down, I'll have more time to sit down and write.  I love doing it.  It's such a release. 

Yes.  I need to blog more.  Yes.  I'm GOING to blog more.

Glad we got that settled.

My Little Secret

So I have a little problem. I tend to be a bit of a blabber mouth. And people don't tell me secrets because of it.

And I can't blame them. I mean, if you don't want something told then you don't tell somebody that's going to open their mouth.

It's not like I do it intentionally. I just don't always take the time to think before I speak and out comes information that wasn't supposed to come out.

Just ask my cousin Chris who found out about the yellow sweater she was getting for Christmas when I was about six.

What I'm getting at is that there is a little bit more of a reason than what I have been letting on as to why I have been absent from the blog lately.

I have a big secret.

And if I was to blog, I was going to spill the beans.

Because you see, this kind of secret is the best kind of secret. It's the kind of secret that you want to shout to the world. It's the kind that you want everybody to know.

You see, this secret is the best secret of all.

I'm pregnant.

I like to say that this pregnancy is unexpected, but definitely not unwelcome. As we weren't planning on trying to have another baby until the time that this one is due, you can imagine that it was a bit of a surprise to the husband and I.

My sister-in-law is pregnant. I was all prepared to let her take the reins on this one. I'd follow up after Baby B is born.

But you know what they say. If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.

So this year, around September 3, we will welcome a new blessing into our family. A little bundle of joy. Another little Myers that will take ahold of my heart.

And I get to take you all along for the ride.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Happy Valentine's Day!

The day has come.  That day where we get all lovey dovey, smell too many fragrant flowers, and eat too much chocolate.  Or I eat too much chocolate.  Is it sad when you tell your husband that the only thing you want for Valentine's Day is a box of chocolates?  And then you know that they won't last until the morning of February 15th?

Anyways, as I was thinking about the day I had a little reflection.  I'm lucky enough to have two Valentines this year.  Let me describe them to you.

The first has been my Valentine for seven years now.  He's my rock, my peace, my soul.  He is an amazing man that showed me what true love is the moment he took me on that first date.  Through our years together I've seen him become a strong man in his work, a decision maker in our house, and soon I will watch him for the first time become an academic mind.  But the role I love him in most (besides that of my husband) is his role as a father.  When it comes to our son, there is nothing that will stand in his way to provide everything for him that is possible.  He is selfless and loving and it doesn't matter what he's doing, he will drop it if the little guy walks up to him with a basketball and wants to play.  There is nothing that will make my heart swell more than seeing the two of them together.

Photo courtesy of Cornelius Photography

Photo courtesy of Ericka Hostetter Photography

Photo courtesy of Ericka Hostetter Photography

My second Valentine is the littlest man in my life.  He's adorable and cute and every other synonym for sweet.  He fills my soul with joy.  I never knew that hearing, "Mama!" would be quite so wonderful.  He is everything that a little boy should be.  He plays and runs and causes total chaos, but he also takes those few moments to lay his head on his Mama's chest.  He pats my back when I hug him and he leans in when I ask for a kiss.  I don't have a lot of years like this left, so I don't take them for granted now.  He is an amazing, wonderful, precious child.

Monthly pictures courtesy of Ericka Hostetter Photography

I was going to add Lola to my list of Valentines, but seeing as she's holding out for Blue II I didn't think that she would appreciate it.

Just imagine their babies...

God has blessed me so richly.  Not a day goes by that I don't look around in wonderment and wonder how I became so incredibly lucky.

Long Time No See!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  It's been a long time.  I get it.  I have several excuses.  With the holidays, illness, more illness, and a hectic schedule, the Myers have been quite busy.  There are many other things as well, which I will get to in the following posts.  I thought, however, that I would use this post to update you on the happenings in our life over the past, oh, three months.

Where to begin?  Well, we've found out that we are going to be an Aunt/Uncle/cousin again, as my sister-in-law Meredith is expecting a baby on August 8th.  Excitement is a bit of an understatement right now.  If she could just hold out for two more days maybe the little munchkin will be born on my birthday!  I don't share well, but for a little niece or nephew I would do it gladly!  Besides, I don't so much like celebrating birthdays anymore.  My numbers are getting a tad too high.

We've been in and out of the doctor's office.  Coop has had five, yes FIVE, ear infections since the tubes were put in.  We now are battling eczema as well.  However, the kid is a champ.  I mean, he is awesome.  For a kid that is sick as what he is, he's always so well mannered and just, well, happy.  I'm pretty proud of him, and his father would say the same thing. 

Speaking of Cooper, he has a new love in his life in the form of Alvin and the Chipmunks.  We watch it on a daily basis, sometimes twice.  Between "Witch Doctor" and "Christmas Don't Be Late" we are about Alvin-ed out.  Don't get me wrong, it's a great movie, but come on!  Every day is a little excessive, don'tcha think?

Lola is doing well.  Her current spot is directly in front of the fireplace as it is FREEZING in Ellettsville right now.  Since Christmas, she has gotten her chops on most of Coop's toys.  If we're lucky, we catch her in time.  She usually will pick one out, lay it on the floor in front of her, nose it a bit, look at us out of the corner of her eye like she's asking if it's acceptable to eat it, and then promptly get yelled at for taking his toy.  Then she gives us a look like this:

And as much as you want to keep yelling, you can't because, well come on!  Look at that face!

In our spare time, Nate has been studying for the GMAT, which he took yesterday and did very well on.  His goal is to start back to school next Fall to get his MBA.  If you know Nate, you know he'll do great at this.  I'm pretty proud of him.

Of course, IU basketball has been on our priority list.  While we are always and will always be fans, the past few years have been nothing less than a struggle.  We would watch, but usually with a grimace.  But now...well now it's a pleasurable experience and we can't wait until the next game.

Other than that, I think that we are all very excited that Spring is not too far away as we're all ready to get outside.  I got a bike for Christmas (that's right, with an attachable carriage for Coop to ride in...the posts from that should be ha-larious) and I'm anxious to get out on it.  I'm ready for Bobby and Cheri to open the pool, I'm ready for the trees to start budding, I'm ready to go outside without a coat on.  Bring on the flip flops, tank tops, and outdoor grilling.  I want flowers in my flower pots and I want to see green grass.  I want there to be sunlight at 9:00 and I want to wake up to it at 6:00.  Yes, this girl is ready for Spring and Summer.  BRING IT ON.

That's all for now.  A brief update, but an update nonetheless.  I promise to try to be better.  We have lots of stuff going on in the next several months that I think you will be interested in.  So come on back ya'll.  Ya hear?

Halloween a Year Later

It's amazing how much things can change in a year.  And today, I have the perfect example for you.

Last year, Cooper was a cute little pea in a pod for Halloween.  He was about 6 weeks old, all cute and little and cuddly.

And now a year later, he's bigger.  Stronger.  He has teeth.  He crawls.  He still doesn't walk, but he's thinking about it.

And tonight, he was a pirate.

We went to see Reece down the road.  He was Buzz Lightyear.

And it's not Halloween if Lola isn't in her tutu.

It was quite chilly out tonight.  But we had a wonderful time handing out candy to the local kiddies.  There were a lot of good costumes and a lot of great fun.

Happy Halloween everyone, from the Myers family!