stonewall babies

hey kids. do you know anyone that lives in the m-streets area (specifically for stonewall jackson elementary school) of dallas? if so, please tell them to look us up on facebook, stonewall babies.

i, along with two other girls, am helping to re-start the early childhood PTA for stonewall jackson, formerly known as GWRA (there is still an active yahoo board for the group, but no activities). sooooo, we had our first event today, a play group, and had a great turnout! but we want to grow more, so please tell your friends in our area about us. and if you live in the area, come to one of our upcoming events!

find us on facebook here.

spread the word! and if you don't live in the area but would still like to be involved, feel free! the more the merrier.

eleven. exactly one louder.

or in this case, one older AND one louder (if you haven't seen spinal tap, you don't get it, but trust me, it's funny). link, you have found your voice this month!!! and you know how to "talk" much LOUDER!! ;)

goodness gracious! my baby is so near one and i can't take it!! each month that goes by, he gains more and more independence. now that he is fully mobile and able to walk, this has taken on a whole new meaning. he is captain crazy pants busy - everywhere we take him we get comments and folks are wide-eyed with his energy level. it's EXHAUSTING and so much fun.

so here are some things i want to remember about this time in your life, link.

- you are starting to walk. it's precious, the confidence this has given you and the fun this has brought to all our lives.

- you eat. and eat and eat and eat. when we sit down for a meal, you start slapping the table for food, and you DO. NOT. STOP. until we take you away from the table. at most restaurants, i bring you some sandwich meat, fruit, cheese, crackers/bread, a full container of puffs, beans, some sort of veggie...and you eat it all. THEN, you eat an entire kid's meal. it's unbelievable. several people at restaurants have made comments in amazement (like, "does he need a shovel?"). i'm wondering how much you will eat as a teenager?!? my goodness, boy.

- your precious sounds and words. you've got dada and mama down. you say ball all the time, but not necessarily always directed at an actual ball. :) you're starting to say hi, which is hilarious because you LOVE the "h" sound and drag it out a loooong time. you love to make snake noises, ("ssssssssssssssss") and are absolutely in awe when someone sounds it back to you. you will mimic pretty much anything we say to you to the best of your ability, and you seem to love this sense of the beginnings of true communication. i bet! it's nice, isn't it?

- you absolutely love, love other kids and people. you smile and wave, giggle and grin and just get so excited to see people paying attention to you. you LOVE to flirt with girls. i'm in trouble. :)

- you adore music of any kind, dancing, and bobbing your head to the beat. awesome. baby einstein has you wrapped around it's warped and weird little finger. but it's okay - you also love the rolling stones, beatles, U2, justin timberlake, beyonce, and the black eyed peas (you should see him shake it to "single ladies"). ;) you light up like a christmas tree when you hear one of those videos start. you love elmo (especially elmo's potty - son, if you want to be potty trained now i'm okay with that. haha) and nothing is as cute as seeing you dance to the sesame street theme song.

we are starting to plan your birthday party and although you don't know it's coming, i know you will have so much fun. :)

we are blessed and thank God for every day with you. happy eleven, sweet boy!

2010 College Football Season for Housewives: What you need to know…

It's the first post by me, Jay!

With the 2010 College Football Season looming upon us I felt like this is a perfect opportunity to help guide our readers through the basics of what to expect from your husbands’ and your teams this year. Hopefully this will give you some tidbits that might help out when your husband starts ranting or raving about his team or their opponents.

Teams – In Alpha Order

Baylor

Preseason Ranking – Not Ranked

Outlook

This is shaping up to be an interesting year for the Bears. Everything hinges on QB Robert Griffin’s health. He is practically the entire team. True this team is much better than it was 10 years ago, it will only go so far as Griffin can take them.

Best Player

QB – Robert Griffin – Athletic kid with world class sprinter speed and a decent arm.

Offense Rating – B (with Griffin) Defense Rating – C-

Schedule

Predicted Wins: Sept. 4 Sam Houston St, Sept. 11 Buffalo, Sept. 25 at Rice

Predicted Toss-ups: Oct. 2 Kansas, Oct. 16 at Colorado, Oct. 23 Kansas State, Oct. 9 Texas Tech (in Dallas)

Predicted Losses: Sept. 18 at TCU, Oct. 30 at Texas, Nov. 6 at Oklahoma State, Nov. 13 Texas A&M, Nov. 20 Oklahoma

Best Case Scenario Record – 7-5 Worst Case Scenario Record – 4 - 8

Oklahoma

Preseason Ranking – 8

Outlook

Coming off the disaster of 2009, losing Sam Bradford for the year finally turns into a positive with Landry Jones gaining a full year of experience. While the Offense will be good, the Defense will decide the outcome of the Season. Oklahoma’s defense should be among the top 3 in the Country. Oklahoma holds the longest home winning streak in the Nation with 30 consecutive wins in Norman.

Best Player

WR – Ryan Broyles – Fast kid with nifty moves.

LB – Travis Lewis – 3-Year Starter that will spearhead the unit.

Offense Rating – A- Defense Rating – A

Schedule

Predicted Wins: Sept. 4 Utah State, Sept. 11 Florida State, Sept. 18 Air Force, Sept. 25 at Cincinnati, Oct. 16 Iowa State, Oct. 23 at Missouri, Oct. 30 Colorado, Nov. 13 Texas Tech, Nov. 20 at Baylor

Predicted Toss-ups: Oct. 2 Texas (in Dallas), Nov. 6 at Texas A&M, Nov. 27 at Oklahoma St

Predicted Losses: none

Best Case Scenario Record – 12-0 Worst Case Scenario Record – 8 - 4

Southern Methodist

Preseason Ranking – NR

Outlook

Did SMU win a bowl game in 2009? You bet they did! After years of struggling and churning through coaches year after year SMU seems to have found the right guy to return the program to glory after the death penalty 25 years ago. June Jones has the Ponies headed in the right direction and look for a repeat bowl birth in 2010.

Best Player

QB – Kyle Padron – Former Southlake product that lit it up in the Hawaii Bowl.

RB – Shawnbrey McNeal – Dual Threat out of the Backfield.

Offense Rating – B Defense Rating – B

Schedule

Predicted Wins: Sept. 11 vs UAB, Oct. 2 @ Rice, Oct. 9. vs Tulsa, Oct. 30 @ Tulane, Nov. 6 @ UTEP, Nov. 20 vs Marshall

Predicted Toss-ups: Sept. 18 vs Washington State, Oct. 16 @ Navy, Sat, Oct. 23 vs Houston, Nov. 26 @ East Carolina

Predicted Losses: Sept. 5 at Texas Tech, Sept. 24 vs TCU

Best Case Scenario Record – 9-3 Worst Case Scenario Record – 6 - 6

Texas

Preseason Ranking – 4

Outlook

Losing in the National Championship to Alabama without Colt McCoy was very tough for the Longhorns because they rarely lose bowl games. Although it will be tough to replace the Seniors McCoy, Shipley, Cosby, and Kindle, this is Texas though and they truly don’t rebuild they reload. Garrett Gilbert will have some ups and downs at QB but will benefit from a relatively weak schedule to start and a very good Offensive Line. The Running Backs are going to have to step it up. On Defense, this looks to be a top 3 unit again this year.

Best Player

QB –Garrett Gilbert– Helped by a very good O-Line he has a great Arm

LB – Sam Acho – Great speed with a nose for the ball.

Offense Rating – B+ Defense Rating – A

Schedule

Predicted Wins: Sept. 4 at Rice, Sept. 11 Wyoming, Sept. 25 UCLA, Oct. 23 Iowa State, Oct. 30 Baylor, Nov. 6 at Kansas St, Nov. 13 Oklahoma St, Nov. 20 Florida Atlantic

Predicted Toss-ups: Sept. 18 at Texas Tech, Oct. 2 Oklahoma (in Dallas), Nov. 25 Texas A&M

Predicted Losses: Oct. 16 at Nebraska

Best Case Scenario Record – 12-0 Worst Case Scenario Record – 8 – 4

Texas A&M

Preseason Ranking – Not Ranked

Outlook

Coming off a disappointing 2009, the Aggies are very hopeful that their offense can keep progressing like it did last year with QB Jerrod Johnson. The Aggies were absolutely horrible on Defense last year and hope to get much better. Look for a ton of points to be scored at every Aggie game.

Best Player

QB –Jerrod Johnson– The most experienced returning QB in the Big 12

Offense Rating – A Defense Rating – C-

Schedule

Predicted Wins: Sept. 4 Stephen F. Austin, Sept. 11 Louisiana Tech, Sept. 18 FIU, Oct. 16 Missouri

Predicted Toss-ups: Sept. 30 at Oklahoma State, Oct. 9 Arkansas (in Dallas), Oct. 23 at Kansas, Oct. 30 Texas Tech, Nov. 13 at Baylor

Predicted Losses: Nov. 6 Oklahoma, Nov. 20 Nebraska, Nov. 25 at Texas

Best Case Scenario Record – 9 - 3 Worst Case Scenario Record – 8 - 4

Texas Christian

Preseason Ranking – 7

Outlook

The Frogs finally pushed their way into the BCS in 2009 and looking for a repeat performance in 2010. Although they lost a few key players, QB Andy Dalton returns and the boy just doesn’t lose. TCU will play anybody, anywhere and have a chance to make a splash the opening game of the season with Oregon State a favorite to win the PAC-10 this year.

Best Player

QB –Andy Dalton– He wins football games. Period

Offense Rating – A Defense Rating – A

Schedule

Predicted Wins: Sept. 11 Tennessee Tech, Sept. 18 Baylor, Sept. 24 at SMU, Oct. 2 at Colorado State, Oct. 9 Wyoming, Oct. 23 Air Force, Oct. 30 at UNLV, Nov. 13 San Diego State, Nov. 27 at New Mexico

Predicted Toss-ups: Sept. 4 Oregon State (Arlington, Texas), Oct. 16 BYU

Predicted Losses: Nov. 6 at Utah

Best Case Scenario Record – 12-0 Worst Case Scenario Record – 8 - 4

Texas Tech

Preseason Ranking – Not Ranked

Outlook

Who cares what happened in the 2009 Season. The Red Raiders fired the most successful coach in school history for locking a rich kid with a high profile daddy in a closet. What a mess. It looks to be a rebuilding year for the Raiders in 2010 with new coach Tommy Tuberville. He’s a good coach but it’s going to take some time getting his house in order in Lubbock.

Best Player

QB –Tyler Potts– Had an up and down year last year but should be improved.

Offense Rating – A Defense Rating – B

Schedule

Predicted Wins: Sept. 11 at New Mexico, Oct. 2 at Iowa State, Nov. 6 Missouri, Nov. 20 Weber State, Nov. 27 Houston

Predicted Toss-ups: Sept. 4 SMU, Sept. 18 Texas, Oct. 9 Baylor (in Dallas), Oct. 16 Oklahoma St, Oct. 23 at Colorado, Oct. 30 at Texas A&M

Predicted Losses: Nov. 13 at Oklahoma

Best Case Scenario Record – 9-3 Worst Case Scenario Record – 6 - 6

mover and a shaker

link is starting to walk. he's been at it just over a week, and he could not be more proud of himself. we think it's pretty darn cute, too. his favorite way of walking is holding my hand. he walked halfway down the street with me this afternoon. precious.

this is one of his new favorite games, "link's room." he will crawl into his room, close the door, and then wait for me to knock. then he answers the door and comes to me. adorable.

"come and knock on our door, we've been waiting for you..." ;)

just funny. a kid walking with a sippy cup in only a diaper is just funny. and then i'll stop with the videos. promise.

apparently...

that last post came out differently than i had intended (based on the emails i got back!) - i was really just trying to say i might be taking a little break and bringing jay's thoughts to add a little sumthin' to the blog. no biggie. and jay, where the heck is the post you promised?? ;)

i'm tired. i'm bored.

of the blog. i'm the first to admit i need feedback to go on, and since comments don't exactly abound around here, the hubs has offered to help with the blog posts, too. we need to change it up around here! i have wanted to go private, but he somehow thinks we have more than 15 readers and should keep our lives public. :) so, in the spirit of love for my jay and his wishes, we shall remain public for now. after all, this is a family blog, or so it has transitioned into one...

anyway, look forward to some posts from the big guy.

want to feel old? here are the kids i hung out with all week (before their younger siblings were born) when i graduated from college, in 2000...


and here they are now, with my CHILD!

if you say it doesn't go too fast, ask my sisters in law. :( i miss those babies, but they are oh-so-fun now, too!! gosh, it's seriously unreal.