Wordless Wednesday-Our Family

Swim Lessons

Meredith started swim lessons yesterday. Well you know, more like water acclimation, but who cares, she is learning. I searched online to find something relatively close. We live in the middle of nowhere so nothing is real close. Our YMCA doesn't do infants and I found a place called Aqua Tots. They are based out of AZ (we like AZ) and they just got started here. Currently they contract out the use of other facilities pools rather than have their own. They have strict standards so I felt very comfortable. Meredith's lessons are for 4 weeks and the price was $59, others wanted $85 or more.

The instructors name was Kimberly and she was great. There was only one other baby girl in the class and she is older than Meredith. Meredith did AWESOME. She was a little scared in the beginning, but she warmed right up to it. Of course she doesn't want to move her legs, which follows all her stiffness problems.

Swimming may be something we pursue further as she grows.

Happy 1st Birthday Meredith!

Today we celebrated Meredith's 1st Birthday! Well we did it a little all weekend. It started with some shopping, then we had her pictures made, and today we had the party. I am still in shock that she is a year old. I even think she acts different today than she did yesterday. We had a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends. We missed those that could not make it though. Here are some pics of Meredith's big weekend.

Dakota and Meredith, Meredith is 6 weeks older than her cousin Dakota.

She didn't think too much of the cake.

Helluva Deal!

My mom and I went shopping today and I saved $396! The best deals were at Old Navy by far. I suggest you go out and stock up!

High School Reunion

I got an email today from my Senior Class President that the South Forsyth High School class of 1998 will be having our 10 year reunion on Sept. 19. I cannot believe it has been 10 years since I graduated high school! I know I am still young, but I am growing old by the minute and am getting further and further away in age from the college students that I work with. Thank goodness they keep me fairly young.

I am very excited about the reunion, there are a lot of people that I hope to see. Most of my friends from SFHS are still in contact with me in some form or fashion thanks to MySpace and Facebook. The amazing thing to me is how many people I don't remember. We had a graduating class on around 200. The class president is still trying to find 100 of those people and gave out names in case we could help and there were names I didn't even recognize! I think I am going to have to brave the attic heat and bust out the yearbook just so I can put things together again.

Well, I am off to rest because starting bright and early in the morning the 1st Birthday madness begins. My mom arrived tonight and we will be getting the food done, picking up the cake, getting balloons, buying an outfit, and getting pictures made to prepare for Sunday. I can't believe my baby is 1!

Pulling Up

Meredith began pulling up on things low to the ground while we were in Arizona, but tonight she pulled herself up on the couch. It happened so fast Bill and I didn't even see her do it, she was just standing there.

Do the Meredith

Meredith has done this thing for a long time that when she gets excited she strains her face and grits her teeth together. In the past she has mainly done this when excited with a toy. Now she does it all the time and it is freakin hilarious! We are really considering sending a tape to America's Funniest Home Videos. With some voice overs it is even funnier. While in AZ we went to DQ for an ice cream break and she kept doing it and we were laughing the whole time. Another couple there was like "what are you doing to that baby" and we told them that if they could see her they would laugh too. On the way out Bill and Rileen took her by where they were sitting and Meredith did it for them and they cracked up. So do you want to see it? Here are some pictures and video.

Where are my french fries?!

Whad ya mean, there is no more food?!

Thus my friends, "Doing the Meredith" has been coined. I will add more of these pictures with captions as we take them. She is going to love us so much when she is older.

Wordless Wednesday

Time to Baby Proof

Here is video of Meredith crawling...

Our Trip to Arizona

As I stated in the one blog I was able to post, we arrived in AZ safe and sound. Meredith did great and adjusted just fine to the time change. Needless to say it was hot! But I will say that 90 here is worse than 114 there because of the humidity here.


On Sunday and Monday we pretty much just relaxed and played games. That is one thing I love about Mark and Rileen, they love to play games and teach us how as well. On Monday evening we went to have dinner with my Great Aunt Lois and Uncle Jack. She is my mom's dad's sister. Aunt Lois is the aunt that made me a stocking at birth and she made one for Meredith as well. I cannot tell you how much I love the stockings she makes. We had a wonderful meal and visit with them.


On Tuesday we went to Montezuma's Castle, Sedona, and Oak Creek Canyon. The first stop was Montezuma's Castle. It was only 110 there, but there isn't too much shade so we moved pretty quickly through it.

The Castle

Meredith enjoying the Castle

We ventured in to Sedona and made a stop at the church in the red rocks (The Chapel of the Holy Cross). This is always a favorite of mine because you can really feel God's hands here. After that we went into town and had lunch and walked around. There was a lot of road construction and it was sad to see how commercialized things are getting.

Sedona

Chapel of the Holy Cross

Snoopy Rock in Sedona

After we finished in town we drove up the highway to Coconino Overlook in Oak Creek Canyon. I love this drive because you can really see the diversity of AZ. Driving up here looks like you are driving in the mountains of GA, it is amazing the difference in the landscape. By the time we got to the overlook the temperature had dropped to 68.

Oak Creek Canyon

On our last day in AZ we went to a friend's pool down the street. While we got Meredith in the water on Mother's Day, it was really cold and we only kept her in for a minute or two, so this was her first big experience in the pool and she loved it!

Ms. Hollywood ready to go to the pool.

Having fun with Daddy.

We hated to leave on Friday morning, but we have to get back to reality. Mark and Rileen were so much fun and so gracious as always. We hope to go out again as soon as we can and plan some more trips around the state.

This time last year

I promise to put up pictures and trip stories up tonight. We have been very tired and busy.

I can hardly believe that this time last year I was at home on bedrest after going to my 34 week check-up and having high blood pressure. I spent the weekend at home, then at the hospital for two days, then home for two days, hospital for 2 more days, and finally back home for 4 days before Meredith's scheduled arrival.

This has been the best year of my life for many reasons, but especially because of Meredith.

We are busily preparing for her birthday celebration and I can't believe I am the mother of a child that moves around independently from me and can understand some of what I am telling her. Motherhood is the best gift that I have received.

Happy 4th of July

We got home this afternoon from a long day of traveling. Don't have time to recount our trip yet, but here is Meredith on her 1st 4th of July.