The ABC's Of Me!

A. Age: 32

CeCe-age 6

Patterson-age 3

Tee-8 months

*Archer-age 33

L. Life's Dream: This sounds so cheesy, but I really just want to be a good mom and raise healthy, happy kids that don't grow up to be a menace to society! I really do love being a mom!

M. Mom’s name: (I'm stealing this description from ML) Dulcie, she always describes it to people like the musical instrument the dulcimer...yeah, I know! We've tried to tell her that her example only confuses them! ;)

N. Nicknames: Mommy, Miss, Miss Priss, Missy Prissy, Shug, Little Bit

O. Overnight hospital stays: Several stays growing up with stints of dehydration (yes, I was a puny child), emergency appendectomy in 2002 and with each of my babies' births!

P. Person you'd like to hang out with: Kenny Chesney
Q. Question you hate: "Are you ill?" My family is the worst about asking this and it's pretty annoying! I mean, if I wasn't in a bad mood before, this question usually sends me there! (again, borrowed from ML. The question drives me crazy but I still manage to ask. What's wrong with me?) Oh and I hate hearing from the girls, "Can I have a snack?" I hear that numerous times a day!

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Lots but have never had a broken bone.

Y. Yummy food you make: I love to cook but don't do it often enough... I make a good chili and always serve it with my Grandma's fried cornbread. Makes me crave winter just thinking about it!

Z. Zoo- favorite animal: Hmmm.... I'm a big fan of the lions and tigers... They are so majestic and fearful, yet so beautiful! I am also amazed by the size of elephants! Holy huge!

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: two younger sisters who also happen to be my best friends... Katherine and Mary Lanier

T. Time you wake up: 7:00 unless I'm awoken by one of my munchkins :)

U. Ugly habit: I pick at things constantly... and I may or may not have an occasional cigarette. I know, it's a really disgusting habit!

V. Vegetables you dislike: I'm not a huge fan of veggies period, but especially not eggplant or beets. (and I really don't like baked potatoes...does that count?)

W. What people may be surprised to know about you: I came very close to skipping my senior year of high school-didn't decide to stay until a few weeks before school started... and I was engaged before I met Archer. Funny how things work out!?! I love to have a glass of red wine every night but don't always get around to it. I say my prayers every night as soon as my head hits the pillow and I love to read but can barely keep my eyes open long enough to finish a chapter.

B. Bed size: King! Just purchased right before Tee was born. I'm one of those moms that loves having all of her babies snuggle in the bed first thing in the morning and sadly, a queen size wasn't going to cut it with three so we moved on to bigger and better and I don't think I'll ever go back :) - not to mention, Archer snores, but that's a whole other story!

C. College: Meredith College (why yes, I am an Angel!)

D. Dogs: Stella, our yellow lab/puppy! (She was supposed to be the third baby-Oops!)

E. Essential start to your day: Diet Coke over ice... done!

F. Funny Fact: I like fast food, McDonald's especially, much more than I should admit.

G. Gold or silver: Both

H. Height: 5 feet and 1/2 of an inch (and I'm darn proud of that 1/2 inch)

I. Instruments: I took piano for years but was never any good at it. I played the handbells in church while I was growing up and I played the xylophone in the school band. (yes, I even marched my freshman year of high school - wow!)

J. Job title: Mom, wife, maid, launderer (not sure if that's even a word), excellent dish washer, carpooler, class parent, professional wine consumer... wow, I'm starting to look like an overachiever... I'll stop before I start making others feel bad. ha!

K. Kids: Three kids (well four if you consider Archer)

Totally taking this from "Life in Stepps" but thought it would be a fun post! Sorry for the theft, Mare! :)

The ABC's of Me!

Music is what feelings sound like. ~Author Unknow

Some days I think I should have a job in music. I love music. I really love music. All kinds...give me rock, rap, beach, classical, country, Christmas, soul, R&B, old school, whatever... I'll listen! The problem with pursuing music is that I can't sing... nor do I play any instruments... and well, that kinda defeats the purpose. I mean, don't get me wrong, I can sing my fanny off in the shower or in the car... and I can play the heck out of an air guitar or air keyboard when I've had a few too many drinks, but I don't think that will help me with my pursuit of a Grammy. So... I listen and I love!

Music, to me, is one of those things that can make or break a day. I can be in the worst of moods and hear a good song on the radio and I'm automatically uplifted. It can also set the mood for a night out... say I'm not looking so forward to an event and I hear a certain song and... uh oh! It's on!! The night has just changed for the better... I love Christmas music and feel that one should start listening as early as possible, say November 1st! None of this after Thanksgiving crap for me, bring it on early... but not until the day after Halloween :) I quit listening to Christmas music on December 26th. Christmas is over - no need to be depressed about having to wait an entire year for it to return. SO... beach music it is! There's nothing I love more than listening to good ol' Carolina Beach Music while I take down Christmas decorations. Music sets the mood to so many aspects of my life. It's really crazy!

I love that music can take you back to a certain place and/or time in your life. I can be riding down the road and hear Dr. Dre's "Ain't Nuthin but a "G" Thang" or Shai's "If I Ever Fall in Love" or definitely Paperboy's "Ditty" and be taken back to 1993 and one of the most fun summers of my life - the summer I didn't think fire would burn. (By the way, it could and DID) Or I could hear just about anything from TLC, R. Kelly (think Down Low) or Weezer and be riding around with a car full of screaming girls deciding whose house we were going to "stalk". Fast forward a few years and I hear Travis Tritt, Hank Jr. or anything by the Dixie Chicks and I'm quickly taken back to another crazy fun time in my life. These are just a "FEW" songs that I hear that take me back to some of the best times of my life. It comes on and you're automatically right there... circa 15 years ago. I love that about music. I also think there's nothing better than hearing a song on the radio that makes your heart stop and takes your breath away for a quick second. You know... like the one song that reminds you of a special time or the song that you had your first dance with your husband at your wedding, or the first time you had your heart broken. While music can bring so many happy memories, sadly it can bring the not-so-happy ones, too.

Another thing about music that makes me a little crazy is that I tend to listen to lyrics carefully and can identify with them. Those that have ever been with me "late night" know that I honestly think that Rascal Flatts' "Movin On" was totally written for me. The writers of that song took my whole experience of "moving on" from my hometown and used it for writing material. I just know it! ;) I have listened to the words of many songs and cried as I identified with them. I can also listen to songs and cuss someone out in my mind as I sing them. Those are the songs that I get really pumped up when I start singing! Watch out cars around-ha! Then, there are the songs that remind me of my sweet husband and my beautiful babies. Sometimes they have nothing to do with the subject matter, but Tee and I have danced to Zac Brown's "Colder Weather" many many times. I do love dancing with my sweet baby boy.

The other day CeCe's Taylor Swift CD was playing in the car as I was riding by myself and I heard a song come on that really made me think. The song is called "Never Grow Up" and a sample of the lyrics are as follows:

Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that


Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No, no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up


This song brought so much into perspective (especially since I tell my CeCe on a regular basis to "STOP GROWING UP" to which she replies with a giggle "I can't, Mommy)... and once again, I was reminded of how much I love music... and my babies.