i DON'T LIKE getting tagged

Tag, you're it.

First, I beg forgiveness for those I am going to tag. Feel free to blame my sister for tagging me first.

Here are the rules:

1. Post rules on your blog
2. Answer the six '8' items
3. Let each person know by leaving them a comment

8 favorite TV shows (I don't think I watch eight shows):

1. Lost
2. Monk
3. Psych
4. Ellen
5. Crossing Jordan (reruns)
6. NCIS
7. CSI (all versions except Miami - can't stand that guy)
8. College Game Day (football)

8 things I did yesterday:

1. Got up at 4 a.m.
2. Flew from Dallas to Houston to Salt Lake City
3. Wrestled with a wiggly baby onboard an airplane (actually David did most of it)
4. Watched "Errand of Angels" with David
5. Washed travel laundry
6. Had a nice conversation with my husband
7. Took a shower
8. Watched True Beauty (very interesting show)

8 things I'm looking forward to:

1. Watching Baylie walk (that may change once she's getting into everything)
2. David's graduation (Masters, but especially Doctorate)
3. Baylie's first birthday party
4. The millenium (hopefully that will get rid of Nancy Pelosi)
5. Getting our tax return
6. Summer vacation to anywhere fun
7. David coming home in an hour or so
8. Finishing the afghan I've been knitting forever

8 favorite restaurants:

1. Ruggels
2. Le Madeleine
3. Jason's Deli
4. Pizzeria 712
5. In-n-Out
6. Cafe Express
7. Via Emilia
8. Saltgrass Steakhouse

8 Things on my wish list (whoops, I had to change things I'm looking forward to, I guess they were mostly wishes):

1. Selling our home in Houston
2. Losing 100 more pounds
3. Getting a stamp in my passport (I had to get insert pages added and haven't gone anywhere since then!)
4. Adopting another baby
5. A read job and no debt
6. For Baylie to have a long and happy life
7. Finish Baylie's curtains
8. Seeing Josh Groban, Brad Paisley or Josh Turner in concert

8 people I tag (don't hate me):

1. Kelli
2. Kellie
3. Sara
4. Janelle
5. Chari
6. Dayna
7. Heidi
8. Michelle

Everything's Bigger in Texas

Lexie, Baylie, Teryn and Mamaw

When I first moved to Texas, I was surprised at how much advertising uses phrases like "as big as Texas," "as strong as Texas," "as wide as Texas," "as strong as a Texan needs it to be," etc. David, having been born and raised in Texas never even noticed this until I pointed it out to him. Texas is a unique place. I loved living there and I love going back. I miss it a lot. Unfortunately, everything's bigger in Texas, including my appetite, sigh.

We spent the long weekend with Mamaw, David's grandmother, in Dallas. She is a classy lady. I really enjoy being around her. She is a true southern belle with a soft accent and gentle manners. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. She has been undergoing chemotherapy for several months. Ironically enough, her only sibling was also diagnosed with cancer - but a different kind. The two of them are the best of friends and do everything together. Now they are even battling cancer together. All I can say is "cancer sucks." I was relieved to see both of them looking as beautiful as ever (they really are striking women). They have such great faith and optimism. They are inspiring to be around.

I wish I had been able to spend more time around David's grandfather. He died the year after David and I were married and I only got to meet him once. It seems that David's character is very much like his grandfather's.

I know a lot about my ancestors. I was raised surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles and my grandparents. David doesn't know as much about his side of the family and I have sort of developed a passion to find out as much as I can about them. Mamaw gave us some pictures of David's great grandparents as well as a towel that his great grandfather used when he was a barber. It has his name embroidered on it. These things are treasures to me.

I wonder if Baylie will be satisfied to just have our family history be her family history. I wonder if she'll want to explore her biological family history. I wish I knew more about them. Hopefully it's something we can explore together. My primary concern is that she not feel anything is missing in her life. I want her to feel complete. For me, I wouldn't be able to feel that way without this knowledge I have of my extended family. For David, it's not as big of a deal. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how Baylie feels about it.

Continental Flight 3407

For those of you who don't know, I work for Continental Airlines. I take reservations phone calls from our home. I was working last night when I learned about the crash of flight 3407. I have had a heavyness in my chest ever since I first heard about it. My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash and for the individual who was sitting in his own home. Each passenger has their own family, history and realm of influence. So many lives are impacted by something like this.

As an airline employee, everytime I hear about a crash, the first thing I listen for is whether or not it's one of our flights. Then, of course, I listen to hear if there were any fatalities. In this case, the news on both counts was very sad. I didn't have to wait for the news to tell me about it. I received an e-mail telling me to sign out of the phone and call in to our office in Salt Lake. They briefed us on the crash. As employees, we don't learn much more than what you can learn by watching CNN. The hardest part was when I started taking reservations phone calls again and had to assist passengers who had no idea there had been a crash. I had to continue being upbeat and friendly, pretending like nothing was wrong. While on the inside my stomach was churning.

It always hits close to home since so many of my friends and coworkers fly on a regular basis. I also used to fly at least once every other month. Since adopting Baylie, we have only flown twice. Ironically enough, we are scheduled to fly out today - Friday the 13th. Even as an experienced flyer, I'm a little nervous since there have been three airline crashes in such a short time frame. I think my anxiety is heightened because of Baylie. I wouldn't be so nervous if it was just me and David.

I should mention that airline travel is still the safest mode of travel. I don't have the exact numbers, but on CNN this morning they mentioned that the chance of dying in a car crash is 1,600+ to 1. The chance of dying in an airplane crash is 500,000+ to 1.

I should also mention that the airplane involved isn't actually a Continental aircraft. We market with Colgan air for them to operate some of our regional flights. It's painted like a Continental plane and marketed like our plane, but it is actually owned and operated by Colgan. That doesn't lessen the impact we feel as a company, particularly since in the public eye it is a Continental flight.

Again, my first thoughts are for the lives that were interrupted and the families that are impacted. I'll be thinking of them all as we travel today.

Be sure to hug the ones you love today and let them know how much you love them.

Elikya Dancers

Our family had the most amazing experience last night. We went to the Provo Public Library to see the Elikya Dancers. Per the local paper, "The Elikya Dancers are a group of children and teens who seek to celebrate their African American heritage. Directed by Jennifer Stott, they perform high-energy cultural dances in traditional costumes." Because it is Black History Month, this particular program also featured quotes from Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Beecher Stowe, Barack Obama and others.

These girls don't just dance. They also discuss their self worth and heritage. They learn how special they are. They are all different sizes, shapes and shades of black. As I sat there watching these beautiful girls dance with confidence, energy and pride, I was embarassed to find myself getting emotional. I got teary eyed and choked up. I wanted Baylie to have this same experience. I wanted her to throw out her arms and dance, confident in herself. I felt better about my emotional weakness when we got to the car and David said that he cried during the performance (I hadn't told him about my crying yet).

For those of you in the area, I think they'll be performing at the Orem Public Library Friday, February 27 at 6:30 p.m. (I couldn't find it on the library calendar, but I think it's a go.) I highly recommend it.

Uh, Oh, Baby's Getting Mobile

I think we're in trouble (and one bonus shot because I love the velvet pants Grammy bought Baylie).

Love the Leggings!

Baby Aerobics

My sweet friend Dana made the cutest leggings for Baylie. I have looked for leggings and never found them. Well Dana made these out of women's socks. She cut the feet off and sewed the bottom. They are so dang cute!

I have to add that Baylie has figured out that when the camera comes out, she should pose. It's pretty funny.




















Note from the picture below that I need serious little black girl hair help. I'm calling in all the promises made to help me with this. I thought her little pigtails looked cute, but the parts weren't very even. She's only 10 months, so maybe I need to wait awhile till she can sit still.

Crazy Sports Weekend

I don't think my poor husband knew what he was getting into sports-wise when he married me. I went to my first football game when I was eight weeks old. David went to his first game after we were married. He didn't even know what the Heisman was! (I made sure he didn't tell my dad that until after the wedding.)

This weekend has been an awesome sports weekend for us. I really like tennis and have been staying up until the early hours to watch the Australian Open. Friday night we stayed up to watch Serena Williams play Dinara Safina in the women's finals. Unfortunately, we fell asleep and missed it. Fortunately, it was replayed again Saturday and we got to see Serena win.

I set my alarm for 1:30 a.m. this morning to watch the Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal men's final. My alarm didn't got off, so I didn't get up until 5:30. Fortunately, the match wasn't over and we got to see the last set and a half. Unfortunately, Federer gave away the match with too many unforced errors and had a minor breakdown after. It was pretty sad. I think Federer is a class act and wish there were more professional athletes like him.

And then tonight we went to a blast of a superbowl party. I didn't get to see much of the game, but had a great time getting to know some of our neighbors better. (Thanks to Josh and Kenna for letting us trash their house.) I don't think I've ever had more fun watching the superbowl. And thank goodness it was a real game and not a blowout.

(And now we're watching a hilarious double episode of The Office - great weekend!)

p.s. We didn't just watch t.v. We also went miniature golfing at Trafalga and out to dinner at Jason's Deli.