Carter @ 2 months!

Our little monkey

Congratulations Corrie and Justin!!!

Our friends Corrie and Justin got married on November 19th! They are such a beautiful couple! We love you guys!

Carter's Favorite Things

Hi, my name is Carter Swayze. Here are a few things you need to know about me:

1. I like to sleep.
2. I like to eat. Preferably every 2-3 hours even though the hospital said I would want to eat every 4 hours. I'm a growing boy after all.
3. I love my Mommy.
4. I like making dirty diapers for Daddy.
5. I like staying up late and watching Star Wars with Daddy. Daddy says that the Force is strong with me, but I think that he's just confusing the Force with my gas.

7.4 pounds of healthy baby boy

Baby Boy

paging dr. McSexy

Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails...

that's what little boys are made of.

I went to the doctor yesterday and my blood pressure was high, so she sent me to have a sonogram to check the baby's fluid levels, etc. Before the sonogram began, I jokingly said to the nurse, "Just let me know if the baby has changed from a girl to a boy." So we are looking at the baby (we = my mom and me...Richard is in class)...fluid levels are fine, breathing is fine, heartbeat is perfect. Then the nurse says, "Yep, it's a boy." At that moment, I scream, "WHAT?!" Then the nurse shows me the definite proof that our sweet little girl was in fact a sweet little boy. I being to laugh and cry all at the same time...quite loudly. The other nurses thought that I was in pain. Since I was the only patient in there at the time, I quickly became the talk of the office. I then returned to my doctor's office (with lower blood pressure). She told me that in all of her 20+ years of practice, this has never happened. I love being the exception! I am now home on bed rest and I have to go back to the doctor on Thursday.
For the 1st time, I love Babies 'r us. They took back our girly travel system without a box and fully assembled! We now have a very masculine stroller and carrier. We went to Target and bought a few pieces of clothing. Erin has found cute bedding in Birmingham and is bringing it with her tonight. She is coming to stay with me just in case we have to have this baby on Thursday.
Richard and I have gone through a grieving process. Don't worry though, we will eventually have a daughter, so all is not lost. I just hate having to pack up the cutest nursery ever! I have unpacked the dresser and the closet to store until a little girl is born. Her blog has been deleted as well.
So what are we going to name this little boy? Well, after much discussion, Richard and I have decided on Carter Harrison Swayze. We will call him Carter. It's still so surreal to say the words "his" and "him." I can't believe we are having a son and we only have 3 - 7 days to get used to that idea! I am now the minority of our family...Richard, Carter and Tobey vs. me! I don't stand a chance!

Pregnancy update

This past weekend, Richard and I attended childbirth classes. I think I can safely say that we both had a good time. We were one of four couples. The other couples included the hippie couple, the 2 doctors, and the high-risk couple. Everyone was so sweet! Anyway, here are a few things that we learned in class.

1. Induction = 50% chance of having a c-section. (Guess talking my doctor into inducing on the 23rd is out.)
2. If I reach 8cm without getting an Epidural, I don’t get one. (Must get to the hospital early.)
3. Wait time in OB receiving at Wiser can last up to 2 hours.
4. Newborns only have to be bathed 2-3 times a week. (I’m not following this one.)
5. It is important to have “Preggie Pops” available for nausea.
6. Eat and shower before heading to the hospital.
7. Personalize your experience. (I will be making a labor and delivery mix on my iPod.)

I went to the doctor today. (Haven’t dilated anything yet and we do not expect Syd’s arrival this week.) When my doctor was measuring my stomach, Sydney was poking her but in the air. So I am assuming she gets the “showing her butt” trait from me. Then the doctor checked Syd’s heartbeat and said “She’s just laid back and mellow.” My reaction to that was, “Great. She’s going to be just like her daddy.”

MC Library 0, Me 2

So MC's library sent me a letter saying I had an extremely overdue book and if it wasn't returned in 10 days I was going to have to pay 50 dollars to have it replaced. I however, had kept excellent track of all of the books that I checked out for my research paper and knew that I had returned it. I also knew that one of the student workers had checked my account after that class was over and told me that I had returned all of my books. So I went to the library about 15 minutes ago, looked on the shelf for where the book was supposed to be and there it was!!! I win!!!! Library loses!!!! Oh, and I'm also using the WiFi connection in the library to post about this so I win again!!!!!

Richard

Surprise Baby Shower

Yesterday, the Pharmacy Department threw me a surprise baby shower. I don’t know how they planned the whole thing without my knowing! They were so sneaky! I even scheduled our conference room (which is directly behind me) for the event; however, my friend Demetra told me that she was having a staff meeting at that time. So, when the window to the conference was covered with a garbage bag, I knew something was up, but never questioned anything. Then, Josie and Demetra showed up in my office. Funny thing is- Josie is on bed rest. (She is pregnant with twin boys and is due 6 days before me.) Then the two of us were escorted into the conference room, when there was food and decorations and presents everywhere! They had split the room decorations in half. My side was pink, Josie’s side was blue. Even the cake was decorated half pink and half blue. It was great! We took turns opening gifts and everyone celebrated with “ooo” and “awe”. We had a really nice time. I felt blessed.

8 weeks and counting...

I think I finally look pregnant and not just overweight! Wow! I get to enjoy this for 8 weeks. However, every morning I have to tell myself that I am 8 months pregnant and my clothes aren’t going to fit the same as they did last month or the month before that. My pep talks have been getting me out the door sooner, but I’m still late for work 3 days out of the week. Which is sad since Richard drives me to work everyday and I don’t have to walk from the stadium to the hospital (which takes 10 minutes). In case you don’t know, the reason why Richard drives me to work is because my stomach touches the steering wheel and if I move my seat back, I can’t reach the peddles! Ha Ha! Jokes all around!

We put the crib together last Sunday. Well, I should say that Richard put the crib together, but I did help! It looks great! The dresser should be shipped tomorrow. The bedding and curtains will be shipped “on or before September 23rd.” We are cutting it close with the bedding. Thank goodness we have a back-up plan: one crib sheet and a quilt.

And so the third trimester begins…

I cannot believe that we have reached the third trimester! It seems like yesterday that I was freaking out over the two lines on the pregnancy test. My doctor told me during our last visit that this is the most stressful time of pregnancy – the transition form the 2nd to the 3rd trimester. I would believe it! Between my nesting and my restless leg syndrome, the transition sucks! However, I am excited that Sydney is on her way. I am excited that I finally decided on crib bedding and a color scheme for the nursery. I am excited that I will be off work for a little bit. I am curious to see how Tobey reacts to Sydney. I am curious to see how Richard and I react to Sydney.

What does your birth date mean?

Emily's birth date: December 26th

***Your Birthdate: December 26***
You lucked out the the skills to succeed in almost any arena. Put you in almost any business or classroom, and you'll rise to the top. You're driven and intense, but you also know when to kick back and cooperate. Your ability to adapt to almost any situation is part of what's going to make you a success.
Your strength: Your attention to detail
Your weakness: You can be a little too proud of your successes
Your power color: Turquoise
Your power symbol: Arrow pointing up
Your power month: August

Richard's birth date: October 18th

***Your Birthdate: October 18***
You are a cohesive force - able to bring many people together for a common cause. You tend to excel in work situations, but you also facilitate a lot of social gatherings too. Beyond being a good leader, you are good at inspiring others. You also keep your powerful emotions in check - you know when to emote and when to repress.
Your strength: Emotional maturity beyond your years
Your weakness: Wearing yourself down with too many responsibilities
Your power color: Crimson red
Your power symbol: Snowflake
Your power month: September

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyourbirthdatemeanquiz/

How cute is this?!

I love this picture! Richard and my cousin Angela’s daughter Baylee are trying to figure out each other while at my parents’ house over Memorial Day weekend. I love this picture for 2 reasons. First, I think Baylee is the most beautiful child! Second, this is what I imagine Richard will be like with Sydney.

I can just see Richard and Sydney bonding and having the best time playing and just being kids (both of them). I really could not have asked for a better man to raise a child with. He has already had to put up with so much during my pregnancy – diet, mood swings, shopping sprees, mood swings, etc. He has so much patience and love. I know he will be a great father! He just has to remember to have his game face on once Sydney figures out that I am not the one who will let her get her way. She is going to be such a daddy’s girl!

HOUSTON PICTURES

Corrie and Justin in front of the water wall.

The water wall

a closer look at the water wall

Corrie and me

sculpture at the Menil Collection

everything looks better in black and white

funny sign

DSL woes

Had to give up fast access service. Sitting in the library at MC posting. I hate doing this with people looking over my shoulder. GRRRRRRR.

Richard

Sydney's Space

Sydney has her own blog: www.sydneyswayze.blogspot.com

Richard is a Fieldmarshal

So Richard took the quiz below and he is an ENTJ. I am not sure if this is completely him...let us know what you think! This is what D. Keirsey had to say about being an ENTJ:

The Portrait of the FieldMarshal Rational (ENTJ)

Copyrighted © 1996-2005 Prometheus Nemesis Book Company

Of the four aspects of strategic analysis and definition, it is marshalling or situational organizing role that reaches the highest development in Fieldmarshals. As this kind of role is practiced some contingency organizing is necessary, so that the second suit of the Fieldmarshal's intellect is devising contingency plans.

As the organizing capabilities the Fieldmarshal increase so does their desire to let others know about whatever has come of their organizational efforts. So they tend to take up a directive role in their social exchanges. On the other hand they have less and less desire, if they ever had any, to inform others.

Hardly more than two percent of the total population, the Fieldmarshals are bound to lead others, and from an early age they can be observed taking command of groups. In some cases, Fieldmarshals simply find themselves in charge of groups, and are mystified as to how this happened. But the reason is that Fieldmarshals have a strong natural urge to give structure and direction wherever they are -- to harness people in the field and to direct them to achieve distant goals. They resemble Supervisors in their tendency to establish plans for a task, enterprise, or organization, but Fieldmarshals search more for policy and goals than for regulations and procedures.

Fieldmarshals will usually rise to positions of responsibility and enjoy being executives. They are tireless in their devotion to their jobs and can easily block out other areas of life for the sake of their work. Superb administrators in any field -- medicine, law, business, education, government, the military -- Fieldmarshals organize their units into smooth-functioning systems, planning in advance, keeping both short-term and long-range objectives well in mind. For the Fieldmarshals, there must always be a goal-directed reason for doing anything, and people's feelings usually are not sufficient reason. They prefer decisions to be based on impersonal data, want to work from well thought-out plans, like to use engineered operations -- and they expect others to follow suit. They are ever intent on reducing bureaucratic red tape, task redundancy, and aimless confusion in the workplace, and they are willing to dismiss employees who cannot get with the program and increase their efficiency. Although Fieldmarshals are tolerant of established procedures, they can and will abandon any procedure when it can be shown to be ineffective in accomplishing its goal. Fieldmarshals root out and reject ineffectiveness and inefficiency, and are impatient with repetition of error.

Jung Typology Test

Thanks to Trey, the following quiz is being submitted for your enjoyment:

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

Let me know what you find out!

To give you a little insight into the world of Emily (and probably baby Sydney), here is what D. Keirsey has to say about my being an ENFJ:

The Portrait of the Teacher Idealist (ENFJ)
Copyrighted © 1996-2005 Prometheus Nemesis Book Company

The Idealists called Teachers are abstract in their thought and speech, cooperative in their style of achieving goals, and directive and extraverted in their interpersonal relations. Learning in the young has to be beckoned forth, teased out from its hiding place, or, as suggested by the word "education," it has to be "educed." by an individual with educative capabilities. Such a one is the ENFJ, thus rightly called the educative mentor or Teacher for short. The Teacher is especially capable of educing or calling forth those inner potentials each learner possesses. Even as children the Teachers may attract a gathering of other children ready to follow their lead in play or work. And they lead without seeming to do so.
Teachers expect the very best of those around them, and this expectation, usually expressed as enthusiastic encouragement, motivates action in others and the desire to live up to their expectations. Teachers have the charming characteristic of taking for granted that their expectations will be met, their implicit commands obeyed, never doubting that people will want to do what they suggest. And, more often than not, people do, because this type has extraordinary charisma.
The Teachers are found in no more than 2 or 3 percent of the population. They like to have things settled and arranged. They prefer to plan both work and social engagements ahead of time and tend to be absolutely reliable in honoring these commitments. At the same time, Teachers are very much at home in complex situations which require the juggling of much data with little pre-planning. An experienced Teacher group leader can dream up, effortlessly, and almost endlessly, activities for groups to engage in, and stimulating roles for members of the group to play. In some Teachers, inspired by the responsiveness of their students or followers, this can amount to genius which other types find hard to emulate. Such ability to preside without planning reminds us somewhat of an Provider, but the latter acts more as a master of ceremonies than as a leader of groups. Providers are natural hosts and hostesses, making sure that each guest is well looked after at social gatherings, or that the right things are expressed on traditional occasions, such as weddings, funerals, graduations, and the like. In much the same way, Teachers value harmonious human relations about all else, can handle people with charm and concern, and are usually popular wherever they are. But Teachers are not so much social as educational leaders, interested primarily in the personal growth and development of others, and less in attending to their social needs.

1st our due date was wrong and now this...

We have changed our daughter's name. Thank goodness she hasn't arrived yet! My mother "accidently" called her by this name yesterday (Saturday) and it has stuck! So our daughter's name will be Sydney Elizabeth Swayze. We will call her Sydney. Our families have really taken a liking to her name, especially my dad. "Sydney is SO much better than Sophia." (3rd person qoute from my dad through my sister.) Anyway, just thought everyone would like to know.
Em

science

my kind of kids.

hey scott, this is your science class for next year.

richard

Nerds

only nerds have this kind of time. but you do have to give them credit for it.

the fountains at the bellagio have nothing on these guys. (hope the link works)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1498735521253677636


richard

Woodblocks!!!

Even more work.

Etchings!!

As promised, some new artwork.

The Evolution of Dance

I must give props to this guy. Everyone needs to watch his dance routine. You might just feel nostalgic. I know I did.
-Emily

Thank heaven for little....

GIRLS!!!!! (just one girl) Sophia Elizabeth Swayze. We now have a name to attach to 'it'. pretty soon she'll start kicking emily. that'll be fun.....for sophia.

We're really excited about the new house we are renting in clinton. bye bye apartment life!!!! we move june 24 so if you wanna help that would be great. but don't expect anything except a 'thank you' in return!!!!! so come on down!!!!

richard

HOW DO I TELL MY MOTHER?!

So we FINALLY find out what we are having tomorrow morning at 9:30 am. I would love to update our blog with a new post, but I don't know how big of a fan my mother is of our blog. Just to keep her in suspense a little longer, Richard and I are not telling my parents until we get to their house tomorrow night. So that means that the rest of you will have to wait until the screaming and hugging stops and Richard and/I can get to the computer.

Now the big question is how we go about telling my parents. For some reason, there seems to be a need to make a big deal about it with them. This is not their idea, but a scheme that Erin and I have decided needs to take place. My cousins Angela (w/Blake and baby Baylee) and Peggy will also be at my parents’ house tomorrow night, adding to the anticipation.

Erin and I thought that wrapping-up a Cabbage Patch Kid for my mom’s birthday present would be funny. Erin suggested that I find the doll that has the name we have chosen, but I think that’s too much trouble. So we would just wrap up the doll with the same gender. It’s a good idea and our child will already have one toy. I don’t know though. What do you think?

NO MORE PINK!

As some of you may know, I have been an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay for about 7 months. While struggling to walk pass my bookcase in the den with all of my MK products displayed and collecting dust, I began to wonder if I had made the best decision in getting involved with this company.
I think that I am truly destined to be one of those people that actually goes to work and earns a paycheck. I do not see myself dressing up in a suit and trying to convince women that they need my products. Even though I was “working for myself,” I still had to conduct my business under the guidelines of Mary Kay. Among other things, this meant no advertising. Sure, I could put up flyers and announce my phone number to everyone, but do I really need people stalking my cell phone for unrelated issues?
Since deciding to close my business and return my products to the company, I have had a sense of freedom come over me. I emailed my director (who is trying to talk me into staying) to inform her that I was finished. Did you know that once you return your products to MK, you can never return to the MK Consultant life? This is pretty drastic for a Godly company. Being excommunicated isn’t as bad as I thought though. All I had to do is call the MK repurchasing department (had to find the phone number on a website other than MK’s website) and request a form. I will have to box up all my stuff that I’m not keeping and return it for a 90% refund. Too easy.
Even though I am feeling free, I began to wonder if I was alone in my questioning the MK way of like. then I stumbled upon the best online support group a former MK consultant could ever have. I encourage everyone to visit this website. It does not bash MK; it only informs the public of the truth behind the pink. Here is the address: www.thepinkingshears.org
So I am ending my career as a beauty consultant. I am not sad about my decision. I am excited about the return of my money. :)

Schooooool's out for summer!

Ok maybe only 3 weeks, but you rock alice cooper!! we just finished another semester of school. we are tired and the house is a mess. it's a good thing our friend trey is coming to visit so he can clean our house. he said he had a wedding to go to but i don't think he'll have enough time for that.

as soon as i take some pictures of my work from this semester i'll post them. anyway, i'm tired and kathy griffin is on TV making em laugh so i'm gonna go laugh too.

richard

13 weeks and counting...

I am now entering my 2nd trimester. I would like to think by now that I would have realized that I am actually having a baby. Unfortunately, that "ah-ha" moment hasn't happened yet. I keep hearing that when I see the next sonogram, it will hit me. So I guess I'll get hit in 2 months. Boo to that!
Richard is being the best expecting father ever! He is taking such good care of me! I just wish that I would get off my lazy butt and take care of myself! If only I could only pass the couch and go straight to the treadmill.
Oh! I almost forgot! The baby's heartbeat was 144. "They" say that if it is over 140, it's a girl. I think that 4 bpm is just too close to call. So I'm thinking that either we are having a metrosexual or sporty spice. :) I wouldn't expect anything else though.

- Emily

What Makes Me Sad

So I got depressed a couple of days ago when I heard some disturbing news. It seems that when President Bush signed the revamped version of the Patriot Act into law earlier this year that he issued another one of his signing statements, basically saying how he interprets the law and how he will apply it. The signing statement for this law basically said that Bush will ignore the Congressional oversights that the law requires to protect the rights of citizens whenever he chooses. Which is basically Bush flipping the bird to some of his fellow Republicans and many Democrats in Congress because the Patriot Act was in danger of not being renewed because of concerns that there were no Congressional oversights in place. After those oversights were put in the law passed. And now we get Bush saying the law doesn't apply to him. He's done the same thing over and over again since he took office. The other notorious time was when the McCain bill banning torture got passed. Bush fought tooth and nail to block it but he failed. Seeming to concede defeat, he invited McCain to the signing ceremony, said what a good bill it was (now who's the flip-flopper?), and signed away. Then when no one was around, he issued a signing statement that said he could ignore the law if he chose to. This is friggin' ridiculous. People keep saying how long Bush has gone without vetoing a bill, but he doesn't have to veto it if he can sign it and issue a statement that says it doesn't apply to him. He has done this some 500 times, using the signing statement more forcefully than any president before him. What happened to the Rule of Law? That great indicator of democracy that says everyone is equal under the law and no one, not even our leaders, are above the law.

Speaking of democracy. It seems over the past week or so a man in Afghanistan who had converted to Christianity some 16 years ago is about to go under trial for doing just that, converting to Christianity. Under the Afghani constitution that was put in after the ousting of the Taliban, Sharia (which I'm assuming is some kind of religious law) law is the supreme law of the land and converting to Christianity is punishable by death. Since when is that democracy? Since when is that the "freedom that is on the march" that Bush always talks about in Iraq? What has actually changed in Afghanistan? Ok, so they can vote, but it seems they just get to elect who will persecute them next. That ain't no democracy! Well, you'll be glad to know the man was released and has taken asylum in Italy. But still, the very fact that this actually happened is appalling. And that is the reason of my discontent.

Richard

new due date

We obviously cannot count, so we were a little off on the due date. Since having the sonogram, we have been informed that I am now due October 24th. This is 6 days after Richard's birthday and 8 days before Erin's birthday. So I have decided not to get either one a birthday present this year...other than a new son/daughter and a new niece/nephew. So mark your calendars for October 24th! I just hope he/she gets here as close to the due date as possible...I have a wedding to go to in November!!!!

First Baby Pic

Here is the first picture of our baby!! S/He looks more like a butterbean or a peanut than a person right now. We go back for another sonogram in 4 weeks and we should know if its a boy or a girl in about 9-12 weeks.

TWO LINES!

I never expected there to be two lines! But as I looked at the pregnancy test on the counter I realized that the unexpected just became reality. I called the doctor the next day (Valentine's Day) to make an appointment. Thinking that it could be a kidney infection, I waited about 3 days and took another pregnancy test (different brand). This time there was a plus sign screaming at me, "You're pregnant!!" Well, today I went to see my doctor. She decided that my due date would be September 23rd. So Richard and I are going to be parents! I wonder how tall he/she will be.

This one is funny

We both agree this video is funny. Search Google videos for "Blair + Bush at the gay bar".

Now that's good times.

That didn't work

Alright so that link doesn't work. Go to Google video (if you don't know how to get there go to google.com, click on more and then click on video) and then search for curry-n-rice girl. it's funny!

Putting It To A Vote

Click on the link below (i hope this works) and tell us if what you see is funny or not. Emily thinks it's stupid but i think it's hilarious.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4532245984549289375&q=curry-n-rice+girl&time=10000

Senseless yammering

I was wearing one of my aqua teen hunger force t-shirts tonight and realized how much i have missed the adult swim block of tv on cartoon network. so here are some fun quotes from some of my favorite episodes:

"don't put that wet towel on my computer!"
"i'm gonna!"
(that one's for corrie)

"have you seen a woman in a bikini around here?"
"you mean the beer promo from the liqour store?"
"um yeah."

"rabbit troop sucks!"
(another one for corrie)

anyway, another watercolor posted, this one of ventress hall at ole miss. and a woodcut posted. not telling you what it means, you gotta do that for yourself. it's up to you to decide if it means anything, as with all art.

richard

One more time

Here is our first Christmas tree (notice the down comforter bed skirt). And a watercolor of the side of my grandparent's house........Hopefully.

We register for classes this week. On my agenda is printmaking, curriculum development, and figurative watercolor painting. And in case you were wondering, no, there are no nude models in art classes at MC, Christian college ya know. The professors are talking with administration to see if we can at least get models in bathing suits or tights.

We had air-popped popcorn in our brand new air-pop popcorn popper (say that 3 times fast). It was bought with the gift card I found in my wallet last week. I didn't even know it was there. I'm cleaning my wallet out more often!!!

Richard

OK so I lied.

Yeah, in the last post I said it would be a few days before we posted again and you can see how long ago that was. Anyway. We took a family photo in front of our first Christmas Tree and I tried to upload it along with some of my paintings but the painfully slow dial up just won't let me tonight. Maybe next time.

Our Christmas was great. It was spread over about 2 weeks so we could visit both of our families. That was nice, getting gifts for 2 weeks.

Classes start back in a couple of weeks so we are getting a long holiday. Emily made A's in her classes. I haven't gotten my grades because I owe five bucks in overdue library book fines.

We went out with a friend of ours tonight and ate sushi. Mmmmmmm....crawfish roll.....glaaaaahhhaaaaaaaa....oh hang on...got a little drool. There we go.

Finally we would like to congratulate Corrie Tyner on her wonderful news. I think she has a blog (corrietyner.blogspot.com) so go check that out! Good night.

Richard