Kentucky

Things I've learned, things I'm confused by:
-I get why KFC started in Kentucky... the state looks like a chicken leg.
-People don't have fences here... as in no privacy fences, those tall wooden sticks that keep yours dogs in your yard. There are no fences like we are used to in NM and TX. IF they have a fence, it's usually a chain link fence. So strange. It's like the houses are all just floating around in the yard. Strange people, strange.
-When watching the local news on the weather one night, we got pretty overwhelmed when they showed the map of Kentucky and its surrounding states, and NM and TX weren't on the screen!
-On the news they say we live in South Central Kentucky, yet Ryan works for Western Kentucky. Humm.
-Coming from Lubbock and Austin, we have been spoiled with the No Smoking laws... there are NO restrictions to smoking here- ANYWHERE. We had to rent an apartment for 2 months while we decided where to live, were SO excited to stop living in a hotel and walk into our (way overrated, very expensive) SMOKED in apartment. Disgusting. I can smell myself when I go out in public. I feel like I need to tell everyone that is around me that, "no, I don't smoke". I told my apartment that it wasn't acceptable for us to live in a smoked in apartment and was told "they can't discriminate against smoking". Well, we've since learned they this is Tobacco country.
-We feel like we are in the heart of America... we are "close" to: Cincinnati, Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis, Charlotte, etc.
-We are closer to Washington DC than both of our families and are closer to NYC than we are to Roswell.
-I am surprised at how much I like it here. I am happy here and am thankful for our opportunity to come here.
-It's overwhelming to think how far we are from our families and old friends.
-Time to make new friends.
-Bowling Green (BG) is like living back in Roswell. People and the pace of life here it like a snail farm. Slower than Christmas.
-People here really are very kind and accommodating.
-When I say we are from Austin, people look at us funny, then I remember how far away we are and then quickly say "Texas!".
-People in the USA STILL don't remember NM is a state... a girl @ my apartment said "her dad is driving here from Mexico"...
-I feel like I am right @ home in Cisco- there are some country folk here. Our cable guy showed up in: a baseball hat, shirt that had wolves on it, cutoff jean shorts, white socks and calf high boots.
-We know several people from WKU that in turn know/are related to long time friends from Roswell. It's a small world after all.
-I still don't know what a flurry blob is (aka Big Red). Google: Big Red.
-BG doesn't have: Taco Bueno, Taco Cabana, Chipotle.
-It only takes 15 minutes to get across town.
-There is a Mennonite community here.
-Home of Fruit of the Loom.
-Home of the National Corvette Museum.
-Kentucky Derby! Mint Julep, big hat, here I come!
-My 80 (almost) year old grandfather told me he almost went to college @ WKU and was "hitch-hiking through BG selling Bibles once".
-I thought Bowling Green was an interesting name and had never heard of it, now I learn there is a BG in the following: KY, OH, MO, VA & FL!

That's all I can think of right now.
G-night!

27

I'll be getting old pretty soon, too soon. I can hear my husband already making fun of me.

Dad, when's my birthday? I know you know it's in September, but WHEN in September? Just messing with you old man.

Anyhoo, anyone who wants to buy me a gift (or perhaps now), I'd like a Cricut machine. Just a basic one. I found this one on Amazon for less than $110.00. Who loves me? I have LOTS of cool projects I want to do! Perhaps the lucky person who buys me one will get a unique gift personalized with the Cricut machine? Better hurry!

It's never fun to be woken up...Mr. Independent...a Pug lover

He is his mothers son. He didn't like waking up yesterday from his nap and surely didn't like me laughing at him or taking his picture. Sorry baby, it was just too cute.

Another reason G belongs to me... he's turned into Mr. Independent! He doesn't want help eating, which means, he's going to turn into a baby Cheeto (b/c that's all he can feed himself). As I once told my parents, "you are what you eat". Well Gage, you are officially a baby Cheeto. Congratulations.

One last reason (as least for tonight) that G comes from my womb, he sure loves a Pug! He misses his sisters and can't wait until they come back to live with us!

(Dad, notice G is sporting a Beatles t-shirt!)

Never too young for a yearbook photo...

G in 1968

Happy kid?

You think he's happy? And that he enjoys his bath time?

Big eater

G is doing GREAT at feeding himself and prefers to do so. Definitely seeing Mr. Independent coming out... hum, I wonder who he gets it from?

I took this first picture because I love his toes/feet... he's a little monkey and puts them up under the tray when he eats.

Babywise, where you at!?

I type this as my son is screaming/crying at the top of his lungs. Where oh where did my Babywise baby go!? This transition to KY has jacked his poor routine up! According to the book, got to tough it out for 3 or so days to get it back in check. I don't know that I can last that long. It's only been 15+ minutes and I want to give up and go get him. But, NO. I am the adult and I am in charge. It's time for a nap!
Anyways, all is good here. Enjoy a few recent pics...
uHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. BEFORE I could upload those pics, I gave. I couldn't take it anymore. Picked up the little booger, sat down and just held him, and out he was. Poor guy is not only jacked up from the move, but is also cutting this two top teeth and the right one came in yesterday. Poor baby. I don't know WHAT in the world people do with constantly fussy babies. I seriously, seriously think I would go crazy, well, more crazy than I already am. We have SUCH a good baby. I guess the Lord wanted to make it easy on me since I barfed every day for 40 weeks.

Every night and every nap, G sleep like this.




G has very successfully mastered crawling backwards.



Wow, don't ask who I think he looks like in this picture. I have NO clue. He hair is definitely getting lighter!





Sweetest guy, ever.

7 months and growing, growing, growing

As you will see in the below pictures, we are working with what we have in order to get this post out before Gage turns 8 months old! Since all of our things are in storage, we had to make due... we are staying in a hotel that happens to be next to Cracker Barrel (where I got the sock monkey that appears in G's monthly pictures), so we walked over for b-fast and took a quick picture with one of their sock monkeys. Hope they don't mind that we didn't buy him. We pretty much have a sock monkey colony already. But hey, we love sock monkeys so if you see a unique one, send it our way!

What precious Gage is up to:
-2 bottom teeth
-continues to sleep through the night
-discovering opening and closing his hand this week- like he's waiving
-rolls over quickly and turns left and right very fast!
-sits up well
-pulling his legs under him like a crawling position, will rock back and forth then falls forward on his face
-loves crackers, puffs, squash, bananas, squash, apples, mashed potatoes
-LOVES the water and spent his first weekend at Lake Cisco on June 19th
-He's been to NM, TX, AR, TN & KY
-working on picking foods up with his fingers and just now is putting them in his mouth
-He's lived in Austin, TX and Bowling Green, KY
-is 17 lbs 9 ounces
-loves his jumper and is strengthening his legs
-He's a very long, skinny boy
-People CONSTANTLY say, "what a beautiful little GIRL".... we've heard it so much, we just laugh and say "thank you!"... then we get in the car we tease G saying "you're a little girl, you're a little girl!" He doesn't seem to mind. Story: we were @ Staples in Austin and G was in the carseat in the shopping car looking up at Ryan. This girl behind me said, "aww how sweet. She's so in love. She's staring right into your eyes! What a pretty little girl!"... we said "thank you!" I guess people don't notice the red and blue he's constantly wearing.
-LOVES his Pug sisters and we can't wait to get them to KY with us!
-is happy about 95% of the time. He wakes up with a huge smile on his face.

Gage,
You are the most special boy. THE most precious gift. WE are so thankful we get to call YOU OUR son. It's so very exciting to see you grow and discover new things everyday. You are such a trooper and did/do so well in the car as we go through this transition to KY. We are so thankful to have you with us in KY. We LOVE seeing your huge smile with those little bottom teeth shining so bright! Gage, we love you SO very much. You sure are one special little boy.
Daddy & Mommy


I Love You More
By: Laura Duksta

Walking outdoors one day a little boy turned to his mother and asked, "Mommy, just how much do you love me?"
Surprised by the question but with no delay, she replied...
I love you higher than the highest bird ever flew.
I love you taller than the tallest tree ever grew.
I love you longer than the longest path ever wound.
I love you prettier than the prettiest flower ever found.
I love you mightier than the mightiest wind ever blew.
I love you fuller than the fullest moon ever knew.
I love you brighter than the brightest star ever shown.
I love you more, so much more than you've ever known.

So, I'm a little behind

It's not like we just moved across the country or anything!

Enjoy 4 new posts w/ pics below.

Pugs, cheeks and baths oh my!

Gage looks like he's riding a bucking Bronco... I mean PUG! :)

Oh those cheeeeeks! He got those from his mamma. She had the same ones when she was a baby.

Gage LOVES bath time! He ate a few bubbles this evening. Whoops!