Just Like Daddy

Someone told me today that Raegan looks just like Arnold, even more than Peyton. Am I ever going to have a kid that looks like I had anything to do with it? :)

Lots of Pictures!

Below is the most random assortment of pictures ever. A lot of the pictures are from Christmas...I know...I'm really late.

We had a big Saints tailgating party at work for all the students. GO SAINTS!!!!
Raegan is five months old now! 13 lbs. and full of joy. She's started sucking on her toes and babbling, especially at night. We think we may have a night owl on our hands. But her speciality is waking up multiple times in the middle of the night for no particular reason. :)
We got to see some good friends over Christmas. We met at Chick-Fil-A and had breakfast. Four kids under the age of two. It was a miracle we got them to sit still for this long. Peyton, JJ, and EliALEGRIA!
Peyton taking one of her baby dolls for a spin on her new tricyle.
Raegan and Maw Maw.
Peyton, Maw Maw, and cousin Jaycee.
One of two tricyles Peyton got for Christmas.
Peyton and Papa J, whom she talks about still.
My Granny turned 91 the other day.


Peyton got a "Princess Dress" for Christmas from Santa.
Peyton put her babies to sleep beside Raegan.

Friday Thoughts

Have you been watching American Idol? I have, and I would like to share a few thoughts about it.



Is it just me or is this year's auditions boring? Simon just sits there and doesn't have many witty comebacks, he seems really checked out. He doesn't talk much. Come on Simon! We need you.



I can't believe I'm saying this, but I miss Paula. My mom and Paula Abdul. Even though Paula hardly said anything coherent, I miss her fights with Simon, her zaniness, and the positive things she told the contestants.

Kara is annoying me. I don't want anyone new on the show, and to me, she is still a newbie. And she seems to be dominating the judging. Maybe I'm just not good with change.

Have you seen "Pants on the Ground" by the 62 year old veteran Larry Platt? Hilarious! The best audition so far. It's a catchy little tune.

I think after this year they should retire the show. You know I got to thinking the other night that eight people have won American Idol, but only two people became famous for winning...Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. So does American Idol really work? It's kind of like the Bachelor shows. Those relationships never work out, so is it worth a show?

In other entertainment news, I read an article about one of Fox News' political analyists, Brit Hume who was on a panel that was discussing Tiger Woods. Hume, a Christian, basically told the panel that Tiger Woods would only find healing, forgiveness, and redemption through Jesus Christ. Of course he's received a lot of criticism for this comment from the media, but what a statement to make on tv! That's one way to share your faith, and the best advice Tiger Woods could ever receive. Awesome!

A Good Ending

Yesterday it took me almost an hour to get home from work. The traffic was horrible every direction I turned because of a bridge being closed, road construction, and maybe a wreck thrown in there too. Raegan was screaming, somehow Peyton was not. Go figure. I went the LONG way to get home. It was not a pleasant experience, but when I got home, Arnold had vacuumed the living room, had a pizza in the oven, and was fixing salad. That made the day so much better.

Thursday-Date Night

Last night Arnold and I went on a date!!! My friend Tara called and said she had two free tickets to see a screening of Dear John. Arnold was absolutely dying to go see this movie, so I told her we would take the free tickets. When we got to the theater, they had cancelled the screening. Arnold was really bummed, so he decided that we should see Leap Year instead. The movie wasn't that great, but the company was. After the movie, we went to Cafe Dumonde, had hot chocolate, coffee, and beignets, and talked for about an hour. That is the longest adult conversation we have had in a long time! It was awesome! And a big thanks to Tara for watching the kids. Tara, I don't think you read this blog, but you are AWESOME!



PS-Insert the name "Joy" in place of "Arnold" in the previous paragraph.

Never a Dull Moment

Want to know what my night was like last night? Arnold was teaching a class, so it was just me and the girls. There was nothing to eat because the previous night the Crockpot had gotten turned off half way through cooking, so we had to throw that out...no leftovers. :( So I found some hamburger meat and some buns. As I'm fying the hamburgers, Peyton, who has been sitting on the toilet stands up and smears poop all over the toilet. Then some poop drops into her pants, which are down around her ankles, as she's walking away and as I'm yelling at her not to walk. Raegan starts crying and then the timer on the stove starts beeping at me. Ahh! There is never a dull moment. ;)

I Am Not Supermom

I read a lot of blogs. Well, I guess that's relative. Would you consider seven or eight a lot? Regardless, a lot of the blogs I read are written by stay at home moms. I am really encouraged and inspired by these godly moms who seem to have it all together, but I am here to tell you that I am honestly and truly not one of those moms. I'm just trying to survive. I am a working mom and I barely have time to brush my teeth in the morning. By day starts at 6 am (well, really my days are just continuations of other days because I never get more than three or four hours of sleep at a time, and these days it's more like two hours) when I stumble into the shower trying not to wake up Peyton, who at the slightest noise, will pop out of bed. It's usually not until I get to work that I realize that I'm missing my lunch or I forgot to put on my wedding rings or Raegan doesn't have a change of clothes. I've started drinking cappuccinos at work to stay awake, because by the time five o'clock rolls around, I'm ready to pass out on my desk. A little before six o'clock we make it home so that I can open up a can of soup or something out of the freezer for supper...I know, sounds appetizing right? I used to love to cook, but who has time for that anymore. The Crockpot is my new friend. I have two hours to divide between my two year old, four month old, and husband before the kids are (need to be) in bed. This time includes baths, nursing sessions, cleaning up, lots of meltdowns(from Peyton), laundry(maybe I will get half a load done), bedtime rituals, and preparing for the next day. And somewhere in that two hour time frame, I would love love love to sit down on the couch and relax for five minutes. This is my day, five days a week. On the weekends, I would love to hang out, but I'm so exhausted, I just want to sleep. I decided to write this blog not to complain, but to let you know that it's hard. So for all you working moms out there who might read this blog (are there any out there reading this?), I just want to let you know that I sympathize, I emphathize, and I feel ya! We will make it through.
Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. Psalm 77:19

Graduation Pictures

Can you spot Arnold?Walking across the stageArnold with his mom and dad at graduation

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU ARNOLD!