Deep Thoughts, Not Really

Wow it has been a busy week! We finalized the plans for the new house! I would post them, but I don't know how? The system keeps telling me I've made an error. It is an adobe file, so if any of you have suggestions please let me know!

However, I think I have successfully posted the link to Catherine's baby dedication pictures? Dedication Pictures Take a look at how much she is changing! The dress she is wearing was made by my mother. It is so hard choosing pictures of your own child. Without fail, I want to get one of all the proofs of Catherine by herself. Then when I'm in the picture I'm definitely more selective and don't have the urge to buy them all. Maybe I should be in more pictures so I won't buy as many?

Work has been extremely busy! I have had 2 closings in the last week and one has now been moved to Monday. The closing set for the 31st will now be moved up to next Friday! I'm really looking forward to next weekend so I can breathe.

Johnny's high school class reunion is tomorrow night at Cajun's Wharf. I must admit I'm quit excited about going. I am not looking forward to seeing anyone in particular, but I'm very pumped about the food! I could eat seafood all day long, everyday! I am the senior class president of my high school class, so it will be a good learning experience for me to see what we might want to do or not do. Catherine is going to be staying overnight with my mom for the occasion. I'm a little nervous, but really looking forward to a little break. I went to Elle the other day for their sidewalk sale and found the best jacket! Don't you just love finding something you feel good in? It is like the magic jacket. I can put that thing on and feel completely different about how I look. Needless to say, I'm wearing it tomorrow night! I called Johnny when I got it and here's how the conversation went.

Me - Hey I just got the most precious jacket!!!!!!
Johnny - How much was the jacket?
Me - I got it at the sidewalk sale and it was a good deal for a jacket. It was $...... (not important)
Johnny - uuugggghhh. So, I guess that means you now have to buy stuff to go with the jacket?
Me - No, I think I'll just wear heals, jeans and a tank with it.
Johnny - Ok, good. Then I think it's a precious jacket too!

You can tell I'm married to a financial man! I'm so lucky! Because of Johnny, I will be able to retire one day. If I were in charge of the finances, then we'd probably have to work till we're 90! That's it for deep thoughts from Claire today! Have a great weekend!

Here are some of the pictures of Catherine we have taken lately. There is bathtime, the beach, and the pool. Enjoy!

Calling All Opinions!

Well, this week has been soooo busy! God has blessed me with 4 closings this month! Who said the market was slow? So, I've been going back and forth between feedings, to appointments, to taking care of my dad etc.... I think it has all been overwhelming and now I'm getting a cold. I have decided that it is time to turn in on the whole breastfeeding thing. I'm becoming too stressed in order to make it beneficial as a mother. It took a long time for me to be comfortable with that fact. One more thing that people don't tell you about is the physical pain of the whole process! Oh well, what choice do I have? I can't be the dairy forever!

Ok, so I went and got my hair cut and colored yesterday and I'm not too sure about it. I had it done for the first time about 3 months ago and didn't really like the color then either? Sunday a friend that I hadn't seen in a while came up to me and said, "Oh Claire, I didn't recognize you with dark hair." That sealed it, something had to change fast! I told my hairdresser this, but I don't think it sunk in? I look like a tiger! I have dark hair with these gold highlights that don't match. I'm completely open to all suggestions on cut, color and more importantly stylists! I'm shopping for a new guy or gal now, just to audition them. Let me know your thoughts please!

Catherine is starting to teeth a little. I can't see any nubs yet, but she loves to chew. We have started adding fruits to her cereal and so far she is only fond of bananas. It is so fun watching her eat! She gags with applesauce and peaches and makes a sour face, but attacks the bananas. She has started rolling over all the time now, but still not crawling. This week she has also discovered her voice and loves to scream and squeal now. It is hysterical!

For the 4th we went and hung out with Aunt Sunnee and Paw Paw Nic. Catherine had her first swim in the pool. Paw Paw Nic consulted our neighbor ER Doc., and heated the pool to 94 degrees! It was a giant bath tub.

The house is coming along slowly but surely. We should finalize our plans within the next week and construction will start in late August/early September. I'm going to try to post the plans if I can figure that out? I'm usually doing good to post pictures, can't you tell?

That's pretty much all the excitement in our house. I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend between appointments.

Everybody Poops (especially seagulls)!

Well, our trip to Gulf Shores (aka redneck riviera) was interesting! The car ride was great with Catherine! She was such a trooper. Both of our families were down there on vacation, so we split our time between the two. It is always good to catch up with family members you haven't seen in a long time! As a person who has extreme eczema and a 4 month old child with eczema, I really wasn't looking forward to going to the beach on vacation! So, I found the outlet malls and spent a lot of my time and money! The very last day we were there I decided to get Catherine in a swimsuit and take some pictures of her on the beach. They aren't on here because she cried the whole time and hated the whole experience. Probably because she was ready for a nap. Anyways, we go out to the beach and I had just handed Catherine to Johnny when a flock of seagulls came overhead. Then one of them decided to #%*@ on my head!!!!! My entire extended family was sitting in chairs under a tent watching the whole thing. As one might imagine, they all started laughing. I hadn't been on the beach for 5 minutes and a seagull christened me! Naturally, I didn't want to believe that's what happened so, like an idiot, I put my hand on my head to see if it were raining or what? Well, it was the what factor. Needless to say, I was ready to go back indoors immediately. I told Johnny I would really prefer to go somewhere else next time for vacation, maybe where there aren't any seagulls!

Big Changes!

It's official we're building again! Here is a picture of the lot we bought last week. It has a lot of trees on it to make a great shaded backyard! The idea of moving is very bitter sweet for both Johnny and myself. We love, love, love our house, probably because we put so much of ourselves in it. Then we are also going to be moving, though just down the street, away from Aunt Sunnee and PawPaw Nic. When we told them, Sunnee started crying! We met with the draftsman last night and the plans are looking really good!!! I am starting to finally get excited! When we tell people we're building again they always respond with, "What? Why"? Our street is like Brodie Speedway and we have no backyard! In the spring/summer when the house is complete Catherine will be toddling around and will need to have a yard for a swing set!

Speaking of Catherine, here are some new pictures of her having some much needed "tummy time." She is starting to tolerate it better and actually enjoy it, but not for too long. She is getting so big and much more aware of everything around her. I could listen to all the sounds she makes all day long, it is such sweet music!

Memorial Day Etc...

Sorry for not posting sooner! We went down to Opelousas, Louisiana for Memorial Day weekend. All of my mother's side of the family lives in Louisiana, which she refers to as "God's Country." I must say the food and culture down there is the best! I always look forward to going down and visiting. It was Catherine's first time to meet her Great MeMaw! Here are some picture of them together.

Also, our neighbors are like surrogate grandparents. Their names are Glenn and Sunnee, but Catherine calls them PawPaw Nick and Aunt Sunnee. We go over to their house a lot to visit and hang out. They are so good to us! They give us Christmas presents and take us out on our birthdays. We could not have chosen better neighbors! Glenn is a Vietnam Marine Veteran and gave Catherine the outfit she is wearing. We put it on her and she went "ouraw" and then gave a salute! He was so proud of her!

Tessa Baldwin!

All I have to say is thank goodness he chose Tessa! Who knew that he would keep one of the psychos all the way til the end? I don't think his family really approved of Bevin. I wonder if it was the whole "I study women's libido and sexual dysfunction" or "I'm of the Bahai faith." Either way that spells freak! The only think I'll never understand is why any guy thinks its ok to tell a woman he loves her knowing he's not choosing her! You don't do that, especially when their crazy! My mom is all like, "well I really think he broke her heart and it was a difficult decision for him also." Who cares he dodged another bullet and the best woman won I believe. Watching him act like he just lost his best friend makes me wonder what Tessa was thinking watching all of that? I would be having some long conversations with him, that's for sure! My opinion is he had more love for Tessa and more lust for Bevin. Thank goodness a man has his family to help him see that, because we all know how most men make their decisions! You would think that Bevin would have picked a dress to cover up some of those tattoos? She would fit right in at a prison with all those tats! Though I'm disappointed that they are not having "the women tell all" show, I am looking quite forward to the "Andy and Tessa" special on tonight. Hopefully, it will be live and we'll see what she thought about everything!