Our Yard in Pictures

The boys (my Hubby, Dad and some workers from my company and Andy's company) have been working in the yard here and there ... today they got serious!

Mom and I had pulled all the weeds and planted some "green" along the pool then added some concrete scallops around it. The boys had been working on the sprinkler system and removing of some large plants and such. We (they) added another retain wall to the yard to cut out the SLOPE of it. Now we have a retaining wall and a Sea Wall. Here are the before and afters ...

Whatcha Think?!

Front Yard when we first bought it!

Weeds and over grown bushes

Notice all the grass in the beds and weeds!

After - Weeds all gone - all we need now is MULCH!

Back yard - BEFORE

Back Yard - before - look at the beds

After - Added some plants and cut all the others back & Mulch!

Back Yard with BIG Slope - Before

Back Yard with big slope - Before

During - Building the retaining wall

Bringing in the Sod ... 6 palates

Front yard all done ... from the sprinklers and all the trucks in and out we had to put down new sod!

The light green grass is all new ...

Retaining wall and all sod in place!

No more slope!

Retainer wall and Sea Wall ... with beach!

New Yard with Pool

New Yard with River View!

Pool with deck and yard all cleaned up!

I'm Okay and Thanks to all of YOU!

I am swamped at work, but I really wanted to thank all of you for your kind words, and all of your support! It means so much to know that some/most of you have all questioned your ability or been overwhelmed too! Thanks for sharing and being honest with me!

I am not sure why it has been easier to write about my "bad" emotions than to talk to people around me, but it is ... talking just makes me say it out loud and I feel that it makes me cry even harder ... haha

Anyway I am doing well ... yesterday and today have been good - we are in the end of the house - Andy has been home 2 nights in a row for dinner and bath time with Tatum and that has helped me a lot! We will start to move middle of next week :) I will be posting pictures very very soon!

Weepy

Well the cries are back. The tears turned on today and I can't shut them off.
Tatum Bell has no idea how much her life is getting ready to change, the house is STILL NOT ready, I am fat as a house and it is 100+ degrees outside! Work sucks and my husband is off working his ass of to get us into that house that still is NOT ready. Tatum just left to go to my mom's for the night and I can't stop crying! Not because she left but because no one is here to see me at my worse! No one has even looked at our house (the one for sale) but we did have 1 ... ONE call this past weekend! I want to crawl in a hole and hide until it is all over ... the house, the baby and the stinking heat! I hate that I am down, I hate that here I am crying trying to see the screen trough tears and really what is there to cry about?! Some people don't have an abundance of babies, or 2 houses or too much on their plate - OVERWHELMED ... can I say that again ... I AM OVERWHELMED! At Tatum's 1 year old check up they asked if she knew any body parts?! No ... I cried ... am I already failing her ... we are too stinking busy to teach her ... nose, eyes, ears ... Where am I supposed to find that energy?! It is hard enough to get her home, feed her, bath her, and put her to bed ... never mind the WIFE I am SUPPOSED TO BE~! I can't do this! I can't be all I am supposed to be! I can't be a mommy, a wife and a worker. I can't be a 2 house owner, and a business owner. I can't do it! I need HELP! You know what is bad about all of this ... I have help - it is surrounding me! NO ONE not one of my family members, or friends expects ANYTHING from me ... Sunday I took Tatum to the house ... we swam while everyone worked ... everyone was FINE with it, they were just glad to see us out and about ... but me I cried ... I am the worker, I am the DOER ... and NOTHING I can't do it!
Okay .. enough of this crying ... I am off to take a bath and relax, suck it up and be a big girl! Love to you all and if you have some prayers left ... please think of me!

Baby name and Date set!

We have a name for baby boy Kemp and a C-section date! I am not posting it here ... if you know me and I know you and you wanna know ... just let me know ... I will tell you! But with all the crazies out there don't want to post the name and date together!

Father's Day

Only one thing could have made this Father's Day better ... cooler weather!

I told Andy and my dad that the only thing happening on Sunday was NO WORK ALLOWED!

Those 2 men have been at our River house working every evening after work and EVERY weekend since February 10th. I feel like a girl with no dad and no husband on some days! So you ask how did it go?! It went well! NO ONE worked at the house at all!

We woke up and got ready for the beach, we figured we would hit the beach early to avoid the heat ... being 7 months preggo in 100 degree + weather isn't FUN! ... so we were at the beach by 8:30 and were there until about 11. Tatum ate only a few hands of sand and it was wonderful ... then we came home, Andy opened his presents ... he got new sunglasses and 2 battery operated fish for the pool. Nothing like some pool fun! Tatum took a 2 hour nap and mommy took a 1.5 hour nap! Both much needed. Then it was off to Andy's parents ... his Papa came over, and my parents came over ... we grilled out and opened gifts for Tatum's Birthday! It was wonderful ... now for what you have been waiting for ... the pictures!

First Tatum with Grammpy (My dad) this year first and last year second:

With her Grandpapa (Andy's dad) this year first and last year:

Tatum with both Grandpa's last year ... they forgot their shirts this year!

At the beach ... notice the one of her choking on the sand ... haha silly girl!

Love my Daddy!

Bubbles with Grandmama (Andy's Mom)

Finally Cake!

Look at all the cake on the side of the chair ... haha

Hope you enjoyed all of the pictures! See you guys later this week!

My First Blog Award

Thanks Robin for my very first award, and just after my blogoversary (is that is a word) haha.

I am speechless ... not because it is my first award, but because you are like my sister! I love you - I really can can tell you anything and I don't even think twice about it! I feel like in my worst of days that I could cry on you and you would help wipe my tears and yes even some snot! Sometime I think that is weird, but every time I say it is weird I stomp that out and get over it real quick! I love you and I am so so glad to have met you and I look forward to our real meeting very soon!!!!

Now I have to pass this award on - I don't think I can give it right back to you, but that would be my first choice!

I am going to stick with 2 ...

My other KimmyK you get the first - I think you may have been the first outside comment on my blog! You have helped me in so many emotionally ways and mostly have been honesty with me ... kids, hubbies and life - you have helped me see so so many times that IT IS OKAY to worry, cry, be mad, be scared ... but with all of that you also make me see that it too will be okay! so to you KimmyK ... the Rose award!

My second one is for MelBel - she is MY BEST friend in real life! (Robin you are too) I have known Melanie for about 10 years ... I am not sure the year ... but I can tell you when ... it was Carole and Clint's wedding ... we bonded and it has NEVER stopped! I love you Melanie and even though your blog lacks of updates ... haha I do love you and I know you will be in my life forever!

Well for now that is it ... on blog awards PLEASE stay tuned for Fathers day pictures and Tatum's 2n'd birthday celebration!

My Baby is 1 today ...

Happy Birthday Tatum ...

I am so upset ... the date on the freaking camera is WRONG ... I promise this picture was taken this am by her daddy just before school! Didn't he do a good job dressing her for her Birthday! What a Princess!

My precious Tatum Bug,

You came into our lives just 1 year ago, but it seems just like yesterday. You are such a joy, such a good baby. You started sleeping though the night at 3 months, I was so very proud. You amaze me everyday with your laughter, your smile and your ability to take it all in. I know you are only 1 and I make it sound like you have conquered it all, but anyone you meet says the same. You are so so happy and so easy going. This is amazing, especially considering that I have not been so easy going as your mommy. The first few weeks you were home with us I cried and cried, uncontrollably. Your daddy was wonderful and so were you. You were so patient with me, even though you didn’t have a choice, but together we have DONE IT!!! We have made it … a year! I love you, you are my sunshine, and you are my life! Daddy is my rock, my love and my best friend; you are my reason to make it all work! You are my reason to fight everyday for a better me, a better us and my reason to RUSH home! I love you with all my heart and I could not imagine our lives without you.

Our world is getting ready to change so so much, we are moving, we will have another baby in the house, and things will be harder. I promise I will do my best to put “us” time aside every week, I promise you that we will have our time, our fun together!
I thank God everyday that you are in my life and I can’t wait to see what the next few years will bring us! I look forward to learning with you, growing with you, and all the Birthdays to come. Happy Birthday to you, to me and please know how special you are to me. I never really believed all the mommies that said “you’ve never known love until you are a mommy,” but that is REAL! So very real! One day (a very very long time from now, like 30+ years) you will see what I mean. Having you in my life is amazing, you are my world and I LOVE YOU! Happy Birthday I hope we continue to have so much fun!
Love, Mommy

Several BM's

If any guys are reading or any woman who do not care to talk about bowel movements ... stop reading NOW!!!

You see this is the problem ...
at home Tatum only poops 1 MAYBE 2 times a day
at daycare she is going poopie 4-5 times a day!
I have NEVER had to use diaper ointment on her, but at daycare ...
they have to use it with every change from Tuesday on!

She was home from School last Friday, because Aunt MelBel came to visit. Tatum was with me Friday, Saturday and with her Grandmama on Sunday ... she only went #2 2 times Friday, 1 time Saturday and 2 on Sunday ... no ointment needed!

They are changing her 6-7 times a day at school, so I know she isn't sitting in it ... I get a report card with times and description ... gross I know! I also get description on her time of each bottle (which we pre make and send) her snacks and her lunch ... which I also send! The ONLY difference I know if home and school is this:

1) Her length of nap. At home she takes 2 1.5 hour naps ... one in the am and one in the afternoon, at school she takes 1 nap ... ranging from 45 minutes to 2 hours. Usually after 12.

2) At school she is on more of "eating" schedule. It is a 3 hour cycle. At home we eat the same amount, just not on such a schedule.

So this is where you all come into the picture ... what is the problem?! Is this a bad sign? Are infants like adults ... they get nervous poops?! Is she having nervous problems at school?! Is she okay?! Should I find a new daycare?! Is it daycare at all?! Help ... advise PLEASE!!

Who needs a walker

Tatum is OFFICIALLY walking ... Check her out!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Walking

Well Tatum is starting to walk. She is on her way to becoming a BIG girl, and all right before my eyes! She is taking several unassisted steps - 6 - 7 at a time now ... but check this out - when she is using her push walker she is hauling booty!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

FRUSTRATION

I have tried for a week to post a video of Tatum walking behind her push walker - I freakin' give up! I will try again tomorrow ... I am so mad at this darn thing!
Love to you all!

Introducing Baby Boy Kemp

I had a US on Tuesday evening ... here are some of the shots -

Looking right at you ...

Profile ... what a belly already!
Boy parts ... see his turtle?!
Little hand - all crammed in there!

Since the US was not performed at the Dr. she did not give me a estimated weight -

I do have another US with the Dr. not sure when it is, but I will update ... you know I will!

UPDATE ON TATUM ...

Okay ... first let me say THANKS! Not only did you all have very GOOD information and support for me about Tatum's B-day but you also have all sent very warm and caring thoughts about Tatum and her "procedure."
It was today and she did GREAT!!! Daddy did well too ... he said it was not near as bad as he thought it would be! She only cried once they got her bladder FILLED UP to the point she had to pee pee on the table, which is exactly what they wanted her to do! So she did great ... I could hear her crying and yes I cried a little, but not near like I thought I would!

The test revealed that the Bladder and Kidneys are functioning perfect ... NOTHING is going the wrong way and the UTI's may be cause simply from bad explosive potty's or the soap we are using ... so now it is trial and error! The Dr and tech in the room told my hubby that, but we will still have to talk to her Dr. directly! But they said all was perfect!

I has a US yesterday and can't wait to show you pictures of our little guy!!! I will post them tomorrow, I was too worried about Tatum Bell today and I left them at work! So tomorrow I will give you some pics of baby boy Kemp!

Tatum's "Procedure"

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is Tatum Bells BIG day ... we go to the hospital at 11 and have her little self checked out - keep us in your prayers!

If you don't know what I am talking about here is a copy of my post about it:
The update on Tatums' UTI ...The Dr thinks she may have Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). She goes to the Dr on the 28th for a test: voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) . They will catheter her and insert a dye into her bladder and push it to her kidneys ... then if it backs up into the kidneys they will use the dye to determine just how bad it is. If it is slight ... (which is the most likely) they will treat it with a long term antibiotic if it is sever (not likely) they will treat it with surgery.I will keep you posted!

1st Birthday For Miss T

Well I am beating myself up over here but I don't think we will be having a BIG birthday bash for Tatum Bell ... With work, working on the River house, Preggo and her I am EXHAUSTED!!! Last night I was in bed by 8 and up with Tatum at 4 ... she hasn't slept through the night in 4 weeks. :( Which is very hard since she has been sleeping through the night since she was 3 months. So up with her once, up to pee 3 times and my body HURTS! I tried so hard to work at the house all day yesterday ... I made it from 9 - 3 and my ankles were swollen and my fingers were too. I had to leave, go get the baby and then tend to her. So I was still up on my feet. We have missed the move in date of June ... not sure how we will be moving in in another month when I am really miserable, but we will figure it out, I guess.

Anyway back to the point - sorry I went on that whining spree ... I hate to rob her, but I thought] that it would be easier on ME (and her too) to have just the family over. It is only 2 weeks and a couple days away ... and I really just have NO ENERGY! is that horrible?! I have been to several1st birthday's with TONS of kids, and parents and really they are more for the parents than the kids, and I just can't see me spending energy for parents at this point. I love my friends, but I can't find the strength to pull it all together ... and I a horrible mommy?!

TOO TIRED TO WRITE

So here are some pictures to satisfy you ...

Tatum at her PRETEND birthday

Playing on the stairs @ Tommy and Nikki's

Opening more presents ... her Kitchen from Aunt Judy!

Andy and I at my Birthday dinner!

Me, My Grandma and Tatum

Tatum looking out the window of the plane!

2 posts one day ...

The update on Tatums' UTI ...
The Dr thinks she may have Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). She goes to the Dr on the 28th for a test: voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) . They will catheter her and insert a dye into her bladder and push it to her kidneys ... then if it backs up into the kidneys they will use the dye to determine just how bad it is. If it is slight ... (which is the most likely) they will treat it with a long term antibiotic if it is sever (not likely) they will treat it with surgery.
I will keep you posted!

Our first plane ride

***Didn't mean to write SO much ... condensed version at very end ***

Well I am home, on safe ground! This was our week last week ...
We were scheduled to fly out on Thursday at 12:50

On Wednesday the school (day care) called to tell me that Tatum was not acting well ... They wanted me to know because they knew we were leaving on Thursday and they thought we should make a trip to the Dr. So ... I leave work at noon ... not a good thing when the PLAN was to work late so I could miss Thursday, Friday and Monday. But FAMILY is FIRST, so I go pick her up, take her to the Dr. "she has a viral infection, you just have to wait it out." (WTF is a viral infection anyway?! I think it is the Dr's way to say I HAVE NO CLUE .... good luck!)

Anyway I tell the Dr I think she has a UTI again and that this is EXACTLY the way she was with the last one ... to which Dr replies ... "it is NOT common to get UTI's with teeth, I am sure you are just nervous b/c you leave tomorrow, she is FINE" I ask her ONE last time to check for UTI ... she says that is excessive no need.

Okay so we leave ... with the okay to fly!


Wednesday night - guess ... go ahead ... guess ... 104.3 fever ... a very unhappy baby and a pissy mom. She was miserable. I am in tears, b/c I am not about to make her fly.

Thursday am - back to the Dr we go - 2 hours later ... guess what ... UTI. Didn't I call that one?! Um yeah thanks, that is what I said yesterday! She said go ahead fly she will be FINE ... it may even be easier since she is a little "out of it."

Thursday noon-ish board our first plane. Tatum is on my lap - it went OKAY ... she was NOT "that baby," but she was not great either. She wanted down, she wanted the man next to us, whom by the way was NOT AT ALL HAPPY we were beside him. Layover (Charlotte) no big deal ... Tatum would NOT nap, she was getting cranky ... I took her temp 103.2 I freaked out - started to CRY ... called Andy - bad idea ... made me cry worse. For some reason even though he is MY rock I just cry harder when he says "honey, breath it is fine, she is fine you are fine" ... I ball like a baby. Thanks to 2 woman ... they helped me! They were angles sent from God! Tatum had her own seat ... I think only because the ticket taker man felt so sorry for me ... he moved me beside a empty seat and guess what the 2 ladies were right behind us ... Thank God! They helped me entertain her and keep her occupied!

But not once did she SCREAM and be bad!

The visit was great ... the best part - we got to see my cousin and his bride to be's house ... she is very very talented and artsy ... I loved everything about it! I wish I had a ounce of that talent!
We saw my Grandma (94) who is still very "with it" she spoiled Tatum and even gave us money for her college fund!

Trip home - I think I was SUPPOSED to fly home on this day at this time ... I changed my flight to a earlier time and bought Tatum her OWN seat ... took her car seat and strapped her ass in!
(I know I said she wasn't bad, but I really don't have that much of a lap and I was not comfortable with her on my lap ... nor was she for that matter!) So- I met 5 different people that had/have children within 14 months of each other - one man ... another angle from GOD ... boy girl 12 months apart ... PLANNED!!! He talked to us for a long time, helped me get the car seat on and off the plan ... helped me get Tatum Bell off the plane - had to walk down stairs - I KNOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET HIM!!! I know it! It was all part of "HIS" plan!

The ride home was MUCH better with her in her own seat ... she slept on both flights and was an angle ... even when she had a blow out diaper! Not a peep ... just a stench! Haha but she was WONDERFUL!!!

The best part - seeing her see her Daddy! I cried! She almost jumped out of my arms to get to him!~ I am not 100% positive, but I think I saw a tear or two in his eyes too! She giggled SO HARD when she got to him I almost peed my pants! Guess what else - she is WALKING ... Walking I tell ya ... 5 - 7 steps at a time, but she is going to be taking off soon!

Okay well I didn't mean to write SO MUCH I am sorry! But we are home, she did great and we now have a Dr appointment with a specialist for her bladder/kidneys to see what the problem is ... that is on the 28th I will keep you posted!

Pictures to come ... and also this week to come ... names ... I need help picking one!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Were home, baby was sick, the flights were good, she was great and we only had one blow out! Dr appointment with a specialist (another UTI) on the 28th - pictures to come and baby names this week too!

OMG

My Husband ROCKS ... not only did he get me THE BEST card ever ...

I got a pregnancy massage, a spa pedicure, spa manicure and a XOXOXOX diamond tennis bracelet!!! Geese! I think he loves me and you all know I LOVE HIM!

OH YEAH I LOVE THE PRESENTS TOO!!!

Guess What ...

It's my Birthday!!! I am old!


Or at least I feel like I am old. 33 ... that is old!
However yesterday driving to work I looked out over the waterway as I was going over the 501 bridge and I was so calm ... I get to live there! It is so peaceful and beautiful, I have a beautiful daughter and a baby boy on the way ... I have the most wonderful Hubby in the WORLD and even though it is tough right now life is good! I am thankful for all my friends, I am thankful that our business is still busy even though everyone around us is slow and you know what I am BLESSED!!!


The card Andy left me this am said this ... it made me cry ... so perfect!



Once there was this guy.
A nice guy, really.
And he met this girl.
An incredible girl- truly amazing.
So naturally the guy falls
head over heels in love with her,
and pretty soon they're picking out
china patterns and rings
and there's a wedding
and the starry-eyed couple
rides off into what will surely
be a rosy future.


Okay, so now some time has passed
and the guy is living in that future.
He's still married to this girl,
but now their life includes a lot of stuff -
appliances and bills and loads of laundry
and home repair projects.
But between all the to-dos and have-tos,
there are these moments
when the guy stops for a minute
and looks around him.


He looks at his wife,
who is still truly amazing,
he looks at their life together,
all the ways and different
directions it's grown,
he looks at all
the responsibilities he's got,
and he thinks to himself,
so, this is my life.
And then he thinks,
I am one helluva lucky guy.


Happy Birthday
I love you!




Serriously how much better can it get?! That card was made for us!

THis is for you ... Chris!!!

Seriously no time to type and talk - here are some pictures to hold you all off until we return from Ohio - which by the way I am going up for a wedding shower - my cousin is getting married in July and the Dr so far has said I can't go - so I can't miss the shower! Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Being a cutie patootie

Bathing in the RV sink

She loves the water
Why is it so slow mom?!
We got her a baby pool ...
Dunking her head!
Yeah! Feels good!

Watch out Naked baby in the yard!

Eating my glasses...

U ready to Go Mommy?!

This will be a great picture at 16!!!

So glad to be home ... notice her loving her new Blankie!!

Love my fingers too!

Night Night everyone!

PS - think of us not only while we are flying but Tatum Bug is getting 5 teeth this week - The 2 beside the I teeth, the I tooth on the right side and the 2 front ... yes all at the same time - last night she was so pitiful!

nothing

I am home from the races, getting ready for our trip to Ohio. Pray for us, I leave with the baby on Thursday and we FLY by ourselves ... yikes! I didn't take many pictures at the race - only some of the baby in her blow up pool. I will try to post them tomorrow! I Had a good time, glad to be home!
I am happy to tell you all that Tatum likes ALL of her blankies - I got her 4 blankies all very different than her "ducky" but she loves them all the same! YEAH!!!

Tornado

Not really a tornado but that is what I feel like my life is doing right now ... roaring and racing and destructing. Everything is happening so fast ...


~I am already 6 months preggo, only 3 months to go.



~We still have 2 houses, and the one we want to sell isn't even showing. I am starting to freak out about it!The market isn't really good for our house ... $495,000 is not what people want to buy right now, right now they all want a DEAL just like we did with the river house.



~River House - it is going well, we let people "talk" us into going ahead and redoing the kitchen (all new cabinets, counter tops, and appliances) also totally reworking the bathroom upstairs ... making the biggest the smallest, adding a laundry room and making the master portion bigger, adding a separate bath and shower, with a double vanity. Long story short I am GLAD that we did it now, but it really BROKE our budget ... now we are at the end of the budget and still have to buy tile for the bathrooms, and laundry room (both of them one up and one down) We still have not bought any towel racks or lights for the baths or fans. So all that means our BUDGET is busted ... haha. I guess they always are huh?!



~Baby 2 - things are going well but that is just the filling in the cake ... I am HOT, HOT People ... I can't do ANYTHING without "glistening" I am out of breath and I am only 3 lbs from the weight I gained with Tatum, and I still have 3 months ... 3 LONG months in the SUMMER HEAT OF SC and did I mention I am HOT.



~Work - SUCKS ... I have told you lately how hard it is to work in the construction field ... we don't employee the brightest of the bunch. They live from pay check to pay check - not that most of us don't, but the majority of them live that way for one of 2 reasons - ALCOHOL and or DRUGS! I am serious! This week I caught 2 workers getting high behind our dumpster - yes at work ... are you serious?! Then they question me when I fired them?! Uh here is your sign!



~Teeth - I now hate Teeth ... for some reason Tatum got in her bottom 2 middle/front teeth and her top ... not in the middle but the 2 on either side of the middle are coming in! I am serious about this too. I don't even understand how or why that is possible.



~Husband, he now thinks he is Bob Villa ... I am so proud of him, but I am over it! I want that house finished and my family back!!!



I will finish with the best 2 things that will happen this week - 1st tonight 8 pm my time, 7pm her time I get to TALK TO ROBIN!!!! I am so stoked, and the best part - both of us asked our hubbies "what if she doesn't like the sound of my voice and she doesn't want to meet me in the end" I am serious as a heart attack when I tell you we both asked and talked to our men about that! 2nd good thing - I leave tomorrow to go to Darlington,SC ... going to the races baby! I can't go to the race this time ... It is my turn to keep Tatum, but I will be at the track ... away from home (both houses) work and life!!! I will be with my hubby, my mom, my dad and of course my Tatum bug! YEAH!!!





Now here are some pictures ... 2 of teeth and the rest are of Tatum in the bath ... she LOVES IT!



Do you see that?! Why isn't it in the middle?!

Sorry about the food, she wont let me take a picture of them ... bottom 2

Happy baby!

Getting ready to dunk her OWN head ... yep!

My water baby!! She loves it!

Dunking herself again!

Good night every one ... I have a important phone call in 15 minutes ... yeah! If I don't blog tonight I will blog on Monday after we get back from the races!