Ed, Shalayne, & Sweet P

Nov 29, 2009

Football, Oil Wells, & Chicken Fry

Posted by Shalayne

A favorite pastime for my dad and I is watching High School Football. During my high school years, I cheered for the JV on Thursday nights, and either filmed or distributed water to the boys on Friday nights. During my varsity cheering days, I truly believed it was my obligation as a cheerleader to do everything possible to help see the team across the goal line. Every sign I painted, every chant yelled in between classes in the hall ways was for those boys. I was the best football player who ever wore a cheerleading skirt.

Last Friday, my dad and I loaded up his big ole pick up truck and managed to participate in every Texas cliche except riding a horse and shooting something. Our destination? Sweetwater, TX to watch Graham vs. Monohans. (Side note: Colt McCoy's little brother is the Quarterback for Graham.) Of course, we took the scenic route. The first stop: Dad's oil well.

On location smack dab in the middle of the Permian Basin

Checking the water to sediment to oil ratio. Thankfully, there was more oil than water.

After spending an hour on location, we pulled into Sweetwater just in time for dinner at Buck's where we devoured giant chicken fried steaks, baked potatoes, and fried okra. YUM.

The game was a good, the company, even better. I enjoyed more than anything spending time with my dad. Looking forward to more games to come! Love you, Dad.

Self portrait on the oil tank:

TOP

Nov 28, 2009

Yo Ho Ho

Posted by Shalayne

A face only a mother could love:

"Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum (Milk?)"

The Christmas tree provides hours 3 minutes of baby entertainment.

Family Christmas Card 2009, take 1:

TOP

Nov 15, 2009

Run Like Hell & 1 Month Old

Posted by Shalayne

As I mentioned in the previous post, my hometown's cross country team advanced to the state meet. I was so proud of the kids, that I really wanted to do something for them but was not sure what. Then, an idea came to me. I have not run in almost a year. Slowly, the itch to run has been building within me. I was so inspired by this team of athletes that I decided now was the time to come out of "retirement."

So, at 10:20 AM, the same time the boys ran their race, I ran with them and for them. If they could endure 17 minutes of the biggest race of their high school careers, the least I could do is slowly jog around the track...even if it killed me.

I'll be darn. Nobody had to scrape me off the track. I ran...and never stopped. I seriously thought I would have to run/walk the 17 minutes. I can not think of a better way to reconcile with something I used to love so much. All thanks to a group of kids who give it their all every day.

Sweet P slept through her first track workout.

Poor baby. Before our "race", I prepped her for a bath. As I removed her onsie, my hand slipped and flicked her little nose hard. She immediately screamed and cried. I picked her up and consoled her. Her response? To pee all over me. Niiiiicceee.

Guess who's a month old?

Love,

Shalayne

TOP

Nov 11, 2009

Posted by Shalayne

Ed's step mother, Carol Anne, made this drawing which hung in his room when he was young. It now belongs to Sweet P.

This is my living room. I thought it needed little robots on the wall.

The living room officially rivals that of Pee Wee Herman's.

Hi baby girl, you're my whole world!

I have a four week old daughter today. She has CHANGED so much in the last month. She has some serious eyelashes coming in. I love it. She has attended 4 sporting events in her short life thus far. Start em young, I say.

Speaking of sports, tomorrow I am giving a little pep talk to my home town's state qualifying cross country team! I am honored to have been asked to do so considering I am not coaching this year. ( I took a year off from coaching to better raise my baby girl.) Coaching hours in my neck of the woods are not pretty. Oh, it's great fun and the kids are amazing, but traveling 6 hours away just to play a district game was out of the question for my little family this year. I am so proud of our cross country kiddos.

*Hi Meghan & Jessica! We can not wait to come visit!

*Shalayne

TOP

Nov 9, 2009

:)

Posted by Shalayne

If I had not given birth to this child myself, I would have no idea who's baby this is. Oh, child of mine. Who do you look like?

Helping Daddy play Call of Duty on Xbox Live. This lasted about 45 seconds. About the same as her Mother's Xbox attention span.

TOP

Nov 6, 2009

Baby Night Lights

Posted by Shalayne

Sweet Dreams Sweet P

Sweet P is 3+ weeks old and growin' like a weed. This photo is hiding her adorable double chin. Oh, baby. I'm so in love with you.

Tonight is a big night. It is baby and Mama's first night out. Where are we going, you ask? To bask under the Friday Night Lights. Texas High School Football, how I've missed you.

I love the "Daughter" song embedded in my blog. I can not take credit for finding it. I discovered it on another blog. I encourage you to read "Cold Marble". I do warn you. This blog is absolutely heart breaking...and beautiful. Please, have a read.

Love,
Shalayne

TOP

Nov 4, 2009

First Step is Admitting

Posted by Shalayne

Hello.

My name is Shalayne. (Hiiiiii, Shalayne)

And, I don't talk to my baby.

Yes, it's true. I did not know I had a problem until my loving husband brought this issue to light. I denied everything. Now, I am ready to admit my problem. This disease has a name: New Mothers Who Won't Talk to Their Offspring Syndrome. ( At least I'm not postpartum or have Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy.)

It's not like I don't want to talk to Sweet P. I am completely in love with this little girl. I often just hold her in awe. Many thoughts and emotions consume me when she is in my arms. I often silently pray over her and dream about her future. My intentions are loving and motherly as possible...just not verbal. In my defense, it is a proven fact that the majority of communication is NON verbal.

What I don't say, I communicate with a touch. Sweet P does not understand the words "I Love You" at the moment. She does understand when I brush a cheek with my hand and kiss her tiny lips that it is love. Surely, her future GPA is not disadvantage due to my lack of newbornonics. I did try talking to her during a diaper change the other day. The changing table is against a window which provides a view of trees and cute squirrels. I attempted to describe the seen using as many adjectives possible in hopes that millions of baby girl's nurons would fire off increasing her mental capacity. Mid squirrel lesson, I stopped. Sweet P doesn't have a dang clue what I'm talking about. She knows my voice. She knows I'm a little quiet and that I do not have the best singing voice, but she knows it's me.

There will come a time when I will painstakingly describe every minute detail about the world around her, but for now, I will whisper in her ear what I always do: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine..."

Most unimpressed with the Pumpkin Patch