We were able to pick names for James and Maggie with ease and had a lot of comfort in our decision!

• Did you stick with family names? Yes! Maggie is named after Our Grandmothers and James is named after My Grandfather and also each of our Dads!
• How do you feel about "matchy" names? They are okay for some people, but we were not real keen on them. I was more worried about them matching there last name...since it is long and unique beautiful!
• Did you worry about their names "coordinating?" Not really, since we were having a Boy and a Girl...just wanted them to be gender specific.
• Did you name your babies before you met them, or wait until you saw them to assign names? Definitely before we met them...I always wanted to call their name in prayer...so they were named once we new what we were having.
• What were your second choices? Katherine Elise was the alternate girls name...and the boy alternate...well, the boys name was always changing!
• Did you consider the popularity of a name as a deciding factor? No, I was pretty much set on the girl having an adult name for when she out grows the cute nickname...and the boy was not going to have a nickname...his name is James and he is called James!

This was an exciting time in my pregnancy...names are important, they tend to establish who you are or who you have the potential to become!! It is all in a name!

This morning I let the dogs (Franklin and Lucy) out to "do business", just as I do every morning. Was it the sun finally shining after several days of rain, the cool air just right for not needing a jacket, or this pesky Ol' Kat perched a top my fence that told me it was not going to be a normal day? This kat was perched on the top of the fence near our little shed. This kat was minding his own business, unaware that we had two of the nosiest dogs in the neighborhood...who were about to be all up in his business.

Midway through brushing my teeth, I hear howling and barking that is seriously too LOUD for this early in the morning. I walk out on the deck to check on things...and I hear dogs but don't SEE dogs. Where O' where have the dogs gone. I call them and and get nothing, so I continue to call them...

out of this hole under the shed pokes this little head. Well, her head may be small...but it is attached to a bit larger body. I was not sure if she was going to make it back out of the hole...

She tried for several minutes and finally after wiggling and writhing her body she was able to get her front paws out so, she could push against the shed for leverage. I have never seen her work so much for something. She might have thought she was going to miss breakfast! (You are probably asking...why did I not help? Well, I am a firm believer... you got yourself in, so GET yourself OUT!!) I would have helped if she had needed it...I am not that awful, I promise.

Now, you might be wondering how did I get such great pictures. Well, as I am standing on my deck (like any typical Alabamian) I am yelling "Git Owt, Git Owt" (pronounced as it is spelled)...don't you want to be my neighbor?

"Rocking" Elephant made by Paw Paw
Maggie riding "rocking" elephant with her feet on the handles...ABSOLUTELY NO Fear!
Reading My Little Prayers with James. He loves this book and we read all 94 pages multiple times a day...Raised in the word, I am not complaining! Preacher man...because when it is not going right, it is time to "Re-d Peez"!

Where's James?
There he is!
Where's Maggie?
There she is!

I am amazed that Maggie and James are 17 months old...they are growing into big kids right before my eyes! They are so much fun...play so well together, and then there are those times that they don't. We read A LOT, play with the alphabet train, our rocking elephants, our vacuums and lawnmower and of course our scoot cars. They turn the living room in to a disaster area each day and mama & dada clean it up each night.

This is the only picture where they are both looking forward...after this it all went down hill!

1. I am a Christian...soaking in God and His word
2. Number Cruncher by day...Mama by night
3. Very rule oriented...can't we all just get along?
4. Do NOT wear/OWN make up (yuck...)
5. Do IT Yourself-er...I (heart) Lowe's
6. Love College Football (ROLL TIDE!!!)
7. NEVER meet a stranger...I could be-friend a stop sign : )

Passing along to all those that follow...You guys are the best bunch of blog peeps a girl could ask for...I LUV YA!!!!

Still need PRAYER WARRIORS!!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/samnix

Sam Nix is an Uncle (in our family, we are all close...I love that about us) and he was seriously injured while cutting down a tree. Please pray for him, pray for his family, pray for the doctors, pray for all of those involved with his recovery...PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!! I truly believe God has His hand in this situation, and God's will will be done.

I was given my very first BLOG Award by Annie (Thanks for thinking of me)!!! In accepting this award, I am to list 10 things that make me happy and then pass to 10 others!

What makes me HaPpY!!!

1. Knowing I am saved and have a Father to love me unconditionally
2. Being married to the World's Greatest Man
3. Raising two AWESOME kiddos
4. UA Crimson Tide Football (and other sports)
5. Our Great families
6. Super Duper Friends
7. Home Improvements and the corresponding Lowe's Trips (My Favorite Store)
8. My blog...I love posting, commenting, be-friending, and so on...
9. a Clean and Organized everything...(still a work in progress)
10. doing for others...
11. DVR...(obsession, I need to get better about this)
12. pretty hands and feet (Love, Love, Love a mani/pedi)

Okay...so I went over...have you ever known me to stay within the boundaries???

And my nominee's are...

1. Missy (Two Little Monkeys)
2. Noelle (Because Nice Matters)
3. Samantha (Our Story)
4. Cat (Juggling Act of Life)
5. Sarah (The Great Umbrella Heist)
6. Steph (Silly Precious Piggies)
7. Helen (Three Times the Giggles)
8. KJ (KJ & Kids)
9. Me (Viva la Vida)
10. Saving the best for Last: Candice (the Chenault's)

Yes...that is ICE!

Did you want to look at this catalog...

I actually got to hold them in my hand...BCS National Championship tickets...that is about as close as I am going to get to the game!!! Our friend Keaton is going; our departing words to him...If we lose don't come back, and we will ship your dog to you!

I had a total of 7 comments for this give away...and lucky number 7 won!!! Congrats Noelle (left comment onJan 2, 2010)! I'll be in contact soon to find out what you want...since it is a you pick!!!

WOW...it is officially 2010!!! So, what is this year going to be called...(a question posed by FOX6 following a UC Bearcat beat down at the Sugar Bowl) Two Thousand Ten or Twenty-Ten or there is my new favorite Two-O-One-O, either way someone will label it something and it will stick, so I promise I won't lose sleep.

I did manage to see the new year come in, but that is because I am nosy curious and had to catch up on my blog reading (just so you know...I am caught up now).

Lots of people are talking about resolutions...and I am still trying to find a piece of paper to write on. I always try to choose meaningful resolutions; it takes a good week just to figure out what I want to write down, then I spend the next week trying to figure out how I break them before the ink dries? This year is different...it is 2010...and I resolve to keep my resolutions (that is, once I decide what they are).

Here is the number 1 on my list. I am going to give a huge effort for Radical change in my Christian Life. I love knowing I have a Heavenly Father that cares for me, but now it is time for me to learn more, grow more, love more, help more, and really give back. I have been looking forward to this for quite some time...so, look out Bible, I am DIVING IN!!! Also, if you too are not sure what you Resolve to do this upcoming Two-O-One-O...try this:
I DARE YOU!!!!

Oh...don't forget about the GIVE-away time is closing in and you definitely want the chance to win a free purse/bag...besides you get to pick, what could be more fun than that?

ta-ta for now!