Oct 22, 2008
Oct 9, 2008
Sorry For The Delay!

Sep 21, 2008
Sep 12, 2008
I Have Been Tagged
Here are the rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Write 6 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
4. If you’re tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag.
So here we go! Here are six random facts about Ladybird:
1. I don’t like it when people have decorations hanging from their car rear view mirror. I am not sure why this bothers me so badly, but it seems like it would be so distracting to the driver. I never have been a decorate-my-car kind of gal, maybe which is why.
2. My friends laugh at me because I think that some words are fun to say. I have an ever-growing list of fun words. Some of them are chimichanga, onamonapia, buttafucco, oxymoron, undulant and gorgonzola. What is your favorite word to say?
3. I really miss my friends from college and wish that we could all live closer. We are spread out in so many states now. I had such great girl friendships in college. Even though we pick up right where we left off when we see each other or talk on the phone, it would be so wonderful to spend more time with them.
4. I totally have a crush on Craig Ferguson. It must be the accent. I just think that his sense of humor is fabulous. I think that it is wonderful now that he has become an American Citizen and recently said that “If you don’t vote, you’re a moron”. (The last two minutes are really worth listening to!)
5. I tend not to have strong opinions and try to stay open-minded. I love hearing other points of view and enjoy an intellectual debate. I am not afraid to think that I might be wrong about something. I guess that is why it bothers me badly when people try to tell me that THEIR way is the ONLY way. (Maybe this is why I hate politics so much.)
6. I once ate at a dinner party sitting next to Mick Foley, aka Mankind. He was hilarious! I am embarassed to say that I remember being surprised that he was so intelligent……which is not what I had initially expected. I was impressed that he wrote his own books instead of using ghost writers. Maybe I got that first impression because he was wearing a Daffy Duck tie that was way to short.
You can find 100 other things about me here.
Now for the tagging:
Cosmo’s Crazy
Shortymom
Scotchtape and Matchbox Cars
My Life On Fire
My Life As A Nurse
Jenni Catron
Sep 11, 2008
My Story
Like her, I did not know anyone personally in the towers, planes or government buildings, but my heart was still broken. I was at work and sat quietly hoping that people could exit the building safely and that not too many people would be hurt. I remember being amazed at how quiet the phones were at work, because the world was staring at the television with me.
I had to fly to Manhattan about a month after. There were only ten people on the airplane, including the two pilots and the stewardess……everyone was still afraid to fly. Unlike planes that I had been on in the past where people were quiet, everyone on the plane talked and shared their story.
Even though I was traveling for business, I had a few moments to sneak in some sightseeing. NYC was always on my list of places to see, even if it was a bittersweet trip. Scotch Tape and Matchbox Cars, who lived in New Jersey at the time, took me on a mini-trip of the city. Although I enjoyed my time, you could feel sadness hanging in the air. She told me that I needed to come back to the city when things were back to normal……..that I wasn’t getting to see the real New York. In the back of my mind, I wondered if things would ever be normal again.
The closest that I got to Ground Zero was at South Street Seaport. I remember the distinct smell in the air. Not far away was a car still covered in dust and there was a store window that had been sealed off as a time capsule…..filled with dust and paperwork. It broke my heart that the owner was not able to come back for that car. That image is seared into my head more than the towers themselves.
I guess, like Deb said, that somewhere along the way I stopped thinking about it. I was tired of feeling sad. But every year on this day, I still get a lump in my throat. I still see that dust covered car.
I still hurt. I guess that I always will.
Sep 9, 2008
Not Fun Anymore
Well, that was all crap!
This baby is killing me. He has taken over my body and is inside secretly laughing at the pain that he is putting me through. He likes it in there. The nerve of him!
The only comfortable position that I can find is walking. Not standing or sitting or laying down……but constantly walking. I have easily walked a hundred miles since Saturday. Birddog and I walked around the county fair and I walked the mall and Target on Sunday.
Supposedly walking is supposed to help onset labor. I have come to believe that this is some crappy story that people make up to get you to exercise more before the baby comes. Walking doesn’t help anything…….except maybe I sleep a little better because I have worn myself out walking.
I have resorted to one thing that I know will make Babybird want to be born.…….I have made plans. Like plans IN ADVANCE. Plans that I will have to cancel if I go into labor.
Plan A: Bunko night is always the first Wednesday of every month. This plan totally backfired on me. I was really hoping that laughing really hard and all that table swapping would help to onset labor. No such luck. Although at one point I sat in a chair that had been outside and the cushion was wet. When I stood up, I thought “Can your water break and you not know it???” Apparently, I had the expression written all over my face and the ladies had a really good laugh at me.
Plan B: This plan totally fell through. I signed up for a women’s get together at church for Monday night. Several women were meeting at a pottery place in town to paint ceramics and discuss some of the small groups at church. I signed up a couple of weeks ago because I thought that it would be fun……..and I hoped that by making plans for something exciting, that Babybird would want to ruin it and arrive early. It didn’t work…….but I did meet some wonderful women and painted an elephant bank for the nursery. It hasn’t been fired yet, so I am not sure how it will look……pictures pending on cuteness.
Plan C: This plan should have been made weeks ago. I am scheduled with Penny to “get my hair did” on Saturday morning. No momma wants to have nasty dark roots in the pictures of her and her newborn. I hope that for pictures sake my hair is shampoo-commercial-beautiful by the time Babybird arrives……..but somewhere deep down inside, I really hope that I have to cancel.
Plan D: I finally gave in and purchased a dress for Birddog’s high school reunion that is this upcoming weekend. I have put this off hoping that I would have a legitimate reason not to go to the reunion. While I was walking around the mall on Sunday afternoon, I found a cute dress that doesn’t make me look like a blimp. Pro: it was on clearance. Con: Clearance items cannot be returned. I bought it anyway…….surely non-returnable merchandise will make Babybird want to move toward the light.
Plan E: I know what you are thinking. Don’t even suggest it. He won’t come near me. I freak him out a little right now.
Plan F: F stands for food. I bumped into my doctor at Target last weekend while I was walking myself to death. She laughed at me and said that she has heard that eggplant parmesan or really spicy Mexican food seems to work with some of her patients. I plan on eating at the Mexican restaurant every day next week. I will need volunteers to go with me, since Birddog has sworn off Mexican food.
How do you suggest that I coax Babybird into the world?
Does anybody want to walk?
Do you like Mexican food?
Sep 3, 2008
Shout Out!
Hop on over to My Life On Fire and give her some blog love!
Not Ready Yet
While lying on the couch last night (my new favorite past time), I did my favorite thing…..watched my belly move. Babybird was demonstrating his love of Mexican food by doing lots of gymnastics. While watching him roll and tumble and kick, it really hit me that I don’t have that much time left.
I never thought that I would say this, but I think that I am going to miss being pregnant.
I know that I will be thrilled when he is here and I cannot wait to hold him in my arms, but I am going to miss having him be part of me. I am going to miss having him with me all the time. I am going to miss rubbing my belly. I am going to miss when Haley runs up to try to feel Babybird kick her hand. As many days as I have wanted him out of me……now I want to keep him safe inside.
Did any of you other mothers feel this way?
Aug 26, 2008
All Grown Up
As anatomy goes, I did NOT grow up to be Dolly Parton. Far from it. But as a roll model, I think that she is an awesome person. The music and awards are just the icing on the cake compared to her philanthropy and genuine love of helping people. I can't wait to sign Babybird up for her Imagination Library!
A nasty rumor started circulating this week that Dolly had passed away from congestive heart failure, Dolly fired back to let everyone know that she is still kickin’! I haven’t found the exact quote yet, but I heard on the news this morning that she said "I almost had a heart attack to find out that I was dead."
She cracks me up!
Here are a few of my other favorite Dolly quotes:
You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try.
I'm not offended by dumb blonde jokes because I know that I'm not dumb. I also know I'm not blonde.
I'm not going to limit myself just because people won't accept the fact that I can do something else.
I wanted to be the first woman to burn her bra, but it would have taken the fire department four days to put it out.
Some of my dreams are so big they would scare you.
I describe my look as a blend of Mother Goose, Cinderella, and the local hooker!
I still close my eyes and go home - I can always draw from that.
Who (or what) did you want to be when you "grew up"?
Aug 25, 2008
Busy As A Bee!
Today, I am 35 weeks and 2 days pregnant……….and I REALLY feel pregnant. I can’t blame anyone but myself though. I really overdid things this weekend. That is what I get for not using the word “NO” enough.
Saturday afternoon, after a vigorous morning of cleaning house, Birddog and I ventured to the
After the birthday bash, I met up with Kelly because we were invited to the Cross Point Volunteer Appreciation Gala. Awesome is the only word to describe it. I was blown away! Once a year, the staff of CP get together to honor everyone that has volunteered at the church. There were over 520 people that were there! A few weeks ago, I did a video for RadioShackin' and
In the mean time, check out some of the other bloggers that attended the Gala:
The Waxy One did a little behind-the-scene footage.
I finally got to meet BrandiAndBoys. She is super sweet!
I didn't know Full Of Boys was there or I would have hunted her down.
Jenni could not have looked prettier!
Radio Shakin’ did a wonderful job with the media!
Aug 21, 2008
Sawing Logs
Also, I might have mentioned before that I am not the quietest of sleepers. I snored, but I didn’t think that I snored THAT loud. With gaining 30+ pounds and Babybird messing with my sinus cavity, apparently things have gotten worse.
To put it lightly, Birddog says that I snore like a hibernating grizzly bear.
I believe him because my snoring has even woken me up in the past few weeks. On top of that, Birddog is a drummer and has lost some of his hearing, so I have to be snoring at 400 million decibles for him to hear me in the first place!
In my defense, I haven’t been sleeping well. I have to make the multiple prego bathroom trips and then it is so hard getting comfortable in order to fall asleep. So when I do sleep, I REALLY sleep hard. Hence the snoring. Hence the husband’s frustration.
Birddog knows how hard it is for me to get comfortable and fall asleep, but my snoring keeps him awake too. So he wakes me up to tell me that I am snoring, so that he can fall asleep. Hello? I was finally asleep! (I guess that it is kind of like waking a grizzly bear.)
So I did what every loving wife would do to save her marriage ……..I got him these:
Enjoy those earplugs while you can, sweetie! In a couple of weeks, you will hear me snoring and Babybird crying!
Aug 18, 2008
Charlie + Ladybird = BFF
Now to all of you, Charlie may just be a television personality, but he was my first friend in Nashville…….whether he knew it or not. It was nice to see a familiar face in a sea full of new ones.
Apparently I voiced my opinion on Charlie a lot without realizing it. Whenever he would come on the television screen I would unconsciously say, “I love Charlie Neese!” Birddog rolled his eyes at me for a while. Then, he started mocking me by saying it with me……adding a huge sigh, like I was hopelessly in love with my meteorologist friend. Finally I just stopped saying it out loud, because before I could even think of it, Birddog would say, “I know, I know, you just LOVE Charlie Neese!”
It became a running joke that Birddog would pretend to be jealous of Charlie, someone that I had never met. I thought that it was cute. Like the time that I had a dream that Kenny Chesney was trying to get me to be his girlfriend. I thought it was so funny, because I don’t even like Kenny Chesney, but every time one of his songs came on the radio, Birddog would quickly change the channel and mumble things under his breath.
On my way into church a couple of weeks ago, a nice looking gentleman opened the door for me and welcomed me inside. About the time I got half-way across the lobby, I did a double-take. IT WAS CHARLIE NEESE! Charlie goes to my church! It was so hard for me to contain my laughter and I could not wait to get home to tell Birddog who had greeted me at church.
I had looked for Charlie every week since then with no luck……..until this weekend. On Sunday morning, I was walking toward the front door and I noticed that he was standing on the stairs outside. Here was my chance......I waltzed over, stuck out my hand and introduced myself. As soon as I got my name out of my mouth, his eyes widened, he smiled and said, “YOU’ RE LADYBIRD GARTON! I have been looking for you!!”
I was thrilled! My first Nashville friend was looking for me too! And then I realized that he had been sent as a lookout. Chad, my Dickson pastor, needed to speak with me and had sent Charlie to try to find me on my way into church. (I am sure with the baby-bump that he could see me from a mile away.) But at least I got the thrill, even for a moment, of thinking that Charlie was looking for me too!
I got to chat a few minutes with him and explained my husband’s jealousy over my pseudo-obsession with him. It was nice to finally meet him face-to-face and thank him for being my first friend in Nashville. He seems like a genuinely nice guy and I hope that I didn’t freak him out by telling him my story!
The same thing is now happening with Amy Watson……ever since she moved from WPSD to Nashville, I keep saying that I love her too. Ironically, Birddog isn’t jealous of her and even agrees with me. Hhhmmmm…….maybe I should be worried!
Take a minute to check out Charlie's blog too!
It turns out, BrandiAndBoys has a big tv crush!
Aug 14, 2008
My New Boyfriend
They also brought their son, Owen, who I think has a crush on me. He blatantly flirted right in front of Birddog! I totally have a new boyfriend!
Kim, Brandon and Owen – Thank you so much for the gift and we look forward to getting together soon!
Aug 13, 2008
Pregnancy Update Week 33
I painted my own toe nails on Saturday......all by myself! This is a HUGE accomplishment and it only took me 30 minutes!
I had some problems breathing last week. I could breathe, it just hurt. Since it lasted for over 24 hours and allergy drugs didn’t seem to work, my doctor wanted me to go to the emergency room. Then I cried, because I didn’t want to go to the emergency room. I was worried that there was something really wrong. The nurse mentioned pleurisy and the doctor mentioned blood clots…….which made me worry even more.
After lots of tests, including an EKG, x-rays and eight (count ‘em EIGHT) vials of blood, the doctor confirmed that I have acid reflux. I went to the emergency room for acid reflux. I felt like a putz. But the important thing is that everything was okay. I would much rather it be reflux than something else…..no matter how embarrassing it is.
Meanwhile, while I am laying on an uncomfortable hospital gurney, while having people poke and prod me, Babybird was having a fun time showing off for the nurses. The nurse that had all sorts of belts strapped to my belly actually said “He REALLY likes to move, doesn’t he?” I told her that his father is a drummer and she couldn’t stop smiling. You could see the pride in Birddog’s face.
Also, while I am laying there……on my rock-solid-rolly-bed……the same nurse asked me if I had felt any contractions, since I am nearing the end of my pregnancy. When I told her that I had not, she said that was wonderful, because I just had one. What??? Did you say that I just had a contraction? Actually I had two during the twenty minutes that she had me strapped to the belly-contraption. It was really cool information to know, but at the same time, it freaks me out a little bit that I was already having contractions at 32 weeks. It is just another reminder that Babybird will be here before we know it.
My Tennessee baby shower was this past weekend and it was wonderful. Unfortunately my camera decided to go dead right at the beginning to of the festivities, but I will try to grab some pictures from my mom. (The camera thing is true……I didn’t really like the huge bloated look that I was sporting that day, but I wouldn’t deny you pictures if my camera didn’t decide to conk out on me.) Birddog’s family did such a wonderful job. There were so many cute decorations and the food was wonderful. Aunt Betty even made me her infamous chicken salad poofs that I love so much. We got so many wonderful gifts and I got to see people that I don’t get to see on an everyday basis. Jessica, the missing Queen Pin, even made it! (If this doesn’t make sense, I will explain in a later post.)
I am starting to feel the weight of this pregnancy. So far, I have only gained around thirty pounds, which is great. The bad thing is it wears me down. I have energy and enthusiasm in the mornings and then by two or three o’clock I am drained……and I hurt…..and my feet are swollen…….and I am cranky. I try to practice perfect posture, so that my back and abs (what is left of them) won’t hurt, but sitting up straight still seems to smoosh Babybird. If I lean back a little, it seems to help, but that makes it hard to get anything accomplished. If Babybird ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy! Life is tough being kicked from the inside out, especially when I don’t feel well to start with. If I stop to think about it, I will cry……so on to something else.
Babybird’s room is starting to come together, slowly but surely. Now that we have had our last shower, we can start to put things away and decorate. Birddog finished painting the trim in the nursery on Saturday and I got things semi-organized again. By Sunday afternoon, the floor was flooded with gift bags. I refuse to unpack a gift until I have written a thank you card for it, so that is what my afternoons have consisted of this week. Thank goodness I am almost finished, because I am excited about decorating. Maybe I will have the energy to do it on Saturday.
So that is the news from Casa de Garton……..emotions, bloating, acid reflux and all! More updates to come soon!