Gratitude to the Land of Koz

I found out I have a lot of readers this weekend, secret stalkers. Oh the pressure!

(she says with the back of her hand on her forehead like Scarlet O'Hara)

I don't really post on the weekend but the opportunity is here and I'm not sure when I will have another chance to post the rest of the week. Things are still in the air with Adrienne. We are in waiting.

I've enjoyed the out pour of visitors in the ICU waiting room. The friends that have hung out, some until the wee hours, just chit chatting, laughing, crying and even just sitting in silence. You know Chip and I have come to terms with the situation. We have said our goodbyes, given her kisses, held her hand and run our hands through her hair. It's more of a comfort to us than to her I'm sure. We are never truly prepared, but who really ever is?

This may be a monumental moment. I have things in my head to say, but no words to say them. I just can't seem to relay the meaning of friendship and how wonderful it is. When I married Chip 3 years ago I married more than just my soul mate, I married an entire town. I'll be the first to openly admit that Kosciusko was nothing less than culture shock to me. I'll be the first to step up and say I cried many many days and nights knowing my husband brought me here and dropped me off to go work in Alabama and I knew no one except his family. Yet, because of his phenomenal family and friends, and the wonderful people of this tiny foreign village taking me in, I am a better person.

I realize I've known some of you longer than 3 years, but most of you I have not. It's hard to believe that these friendships I've formed are so strong in such a short time. Sometimes I don't understand why you guys want to be my friend. I know my abrupt personality and broad open mindedness and need to play devils advocate at times can be a hard pill to swallow. I speak my mind more than the average bear, but those of you that are around me often carry a salt lick around because most of the time a grain of salt won't work.

I appreciate you all taking me in and making me feel like I've been a Hawkins since birth. My family back in Texas appreciates you all taking me in and making me a part of your family too. I don't just mean making me a part of the Hawkins family, but your family, the stalkers who are reading this without posting comments and even those of you that do post comments. To me friends are family. So, if you find me in your house eating food out of your fridge it's because I think of you as a sibling or parent.

Chip and I are expecting our first child. I've always heard the saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Well there is no other village I would rather have raise my bambino - - and Lord knows any kid of ours needs all the rearing it can get!

Love to you all. Keep us in your prayers. Be sure to pray for my moms safe flight tonight as she comes to be with us during this not so fun time.

I leave you on a happy note.

Only in the Land of Koz will you see this cruising town on a Saturday night.

Welcome...please come visit us any time!

You sure do have a purdy mouth! (queue banjo)

A pick up truck pulling a trailer with a 4wheeler and a miniature horse on the back.

Blur

Wow my friends, I don't think I've ever in my life been so glad to see a Friday. This has felt like 5 weeks rolled into one week. Our friends are probably the best friends ever. I mean seriously our friends should win awards and trophy's for being Heaven sent. There are no words or explanation to comprehend the wonderful people in our lives.

Adrienne had a good night last night. Very few seizures is my understanding. She deserved a good night sleep after at least 3 awful nights.

I really believe that God doesn't give you more than you can handle but he truly tested me yesterday. As you can imagine my cell phone right now is my life line. I need it to keep in touch with my husband and worried friends. Well yesterday during one of my 40987365 trips to the bathroom (pregnancy symptom) umm it fell in the toilet. This was less than 24 hours after it survived falling out of my purse in the parking lot at work. It died. It bit the dust. Well I guess there was really no dust involved more like toilet water. I said a few choice words that felt appropriate at the moment then gathered my cool.

So as I'm questioning Him (I know I shouldn't). I say, Lord, Really? I mean, really? Now? Then it was like he wanted to say SIKE! Cheer up, but he knew my phone was junk and sent me Joyce's phone that she doesn't use. Again, Joyce saved the day.

Now every time the phone rings I am looking around like SOMEONE ANSWER THAT PHONE! Because I 'm not use to the ring. So if you call, and I don't answer....I will get back with you.

Keep up the prayers and love to you all! Thanks for being the best friends ever.

Clean House

Yesterday I get a call from my mother in law, Joyce (Chip's stepmom). When she calls my phone she is calling from my house. I was so confused, I hear this is called pregnancy brain. Anyway, she and the cleaning lady had been at my house cleaning all day. What! Why? I mean I know my house is a wreck and I haven't done laundry in like 2 weeks. What gave it away? Chip wearing the same shirt 4 days in a row? He does that anyway. I was pleasantly surprised! What a God send! She knew what a hellacious past week and a half we'd had and it was just so unexpectedly wonderful. Then it hit me.....Oh no. She's at my house....cleaning.

Some people would think oh no they saw my holey granny panties! Some would say oh wow, all of those dishes in the sink. My owning 3 inside dogs may have thought about all the dog hair needing to be swept up. Or maybe even the bathtub looking like a filthy Cuban john boat used to cross the ocean to get to America. Not me.......the first thing that popped in my head was MY BRA!

Who cares about a stinking over the shoulder boulder holder, Right? And I mean these suckers are boulders, thanks pregnancy. Well there is a story about the bra laying out on my bathroom sink and here I go......always telling on myself. Since my blog is titled "No Really...This is my Life" I only feel it appropriate to let you know how my life truly is. Here it is guys, I'm laying it on the line.

Every morning I take my prenatal vitamin. Well, I don't take it at home because I have to let my stomach settle. You see, I wake up every morning with my sinus' draining down my throat (another pregnancy symptom) this causes me to cough, usually pretty hard. I don't know how to "hark it up" as Chip would say, so I cough. My stomach gets queasy from coughing so hard, then I brush my teeth. Chip is to the point where he told me yesterday - Seriously, stop brushing your teeth. When I brush my teeth it inevitably sets off this gag reflex. I don't have to brush hard, I don't have to brush my tongue, I just insert toothbrush and toothpaste into my mouth and gag. So you understand that my morning has to be strategically planned. Nothing to eat or drink before brushing of the teeth. Then about 30 minutes afterwards my stomach is still weak so I have to take my vitamin at work.

Ok, now you know the preface to the story. Continuing on about the bra. Everyday I wear dress clothes. Skirts, suits, etc. Most of the time they have no pockets. This causes a problem for my prenatal vitamin. I can't take it just to throw it up so I have to stick it in a special place where I won't forget to take it to work with me. This special place is my bra.

I looked for a picture online to post of what my vitamin looks like, but could not find one. I assume it's because if you saw what a PreNexa vitamin looked like you wouldn't want to take it. It's a vanilla smelling, gelly textured, brown horsepill. To put it so bluntly it looks like a terd.

So morning before last I stuck my brown vitamin in my bra and went about my morning. Went about my day. Went about my night. I forgot to take it! So when I went to get ready for bed that night I took off my bra and there was a smushed brown dookie stain in my bra. So tired, I couldn't even function to crack up laughing at my absent mindedness; I took a shower and would deal with it later.

Well shoot! I didn't know that people were coming to my house to clean! So you could imagine why my mind wasn't on dishes, dog hair, holey panties...but on my skid marked bra laying there all big and open on my bathroom counter. When I got home I saw it in the laundry room. They washed it. I felt the need to call and explain. Joyce laughed so hard and then Chip, Jane Claire, Meryl and Joyce all proceeded to pick on me. I don't think that this story will ever leave my life, at least not for a long long time.

Only me. At least I am able to laugh at my own stupidity. Therefore you are not laughing at me, you are laughing with me. Right?

Special Request

I usually don't post in the middle of the day, nor do I normally make special requests of my readers. I have a favor to ask of each of you. Please stop for one second right now and say a prayer for my mother in law, Adrienne. Pray for her strength, pray for her healing, pray for her well being. Pray for Jane Claire as she travels to Kosciusko and pray for Chip as he helps everyone stay focused on what needs to be done.

For those of you that know my mother in law you are aware of how lucky I am, how lucky all of us are, to have her in our lives. We all wish there was something different, something more we could do but our charge is still the same as it was 18 months ago. Pray. Miracles subsided the unthinkable once before who is to say it won't again.

Please keep my family in your prayers. Please ask others to do the same. The more prayers the better, in my opinion.

She is at home now and as you can read on her CaringBridge they are sending a home health person over to see what can be done about her medication. Chip will update on there as often as he can.

Thanks.
RCH

Grilled Corn and Feta Salad

Yum-o! I want to eat this now! Even so early in the morning. Chip, Fire up the grill!

Does anyone have any fresh zucchini, corn, tomatoes, basil and parsley? Oh wow can you imagine the superb flavors in your mouth right now? Since being pregnant I really want veggies more than meat. Even for breakfast. I hope that my kid ends up like me and not like Chip with his/her eating tookieness.

I've not made this before, but if the thought of it keeps brewing in my head today then I will have it by the end of the week! I will let you know how it turns out. Again, if any of my local friends have a garden or grandparents with a garden I will pay you for your goods. I really really dislike our produce selection at our local supermarkets.

Grilled Corn and Feta Salad

Ingredients
1 whole Medium Zucchini, Halved Lengthwise
2 ears Corn, Shucked
2-½ Tablespoons Olive Oil, Divided
¾ pounds Assorted Ripe Tomatoes, Chopped Into 1" Chunks
1 can Roasted Green Chilies, Finely Chopped
2 Tablespoons Chopped Fresh Basil
2 Tablespoons Chopped Fresh Parsley
Juice Of 1 Large Lime (about 2 Tablespoons)
¼ pounds Feta (or Goat) Cheese, Crumbled
Salt And Freshly Ground Pepper

Preparation Instructions
1. Preheat a grill over medium heat.2. Brush the zucchini and corn cobs with ½ tablespoon of the olive oil. Grill for about 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until the vegetables are lightly charred and soft.3. Set aside to cool.4. Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, tomatoes, green chillies, herbs, lime juice, and cheese in a large mixing bowl.5. Chop the zucchini into 1/2” half moons, cut the corn kernels off the cobs, and add both to the bowl.6. Season with salt and pepper.7. Stir to blend, and serve warm or at room temperature.
* Salad tastes best if served when prepared (flavours intensify too much if refrigerated).

Prep Time 10 Minutes
Cook Time 5 Minutes
Difficulty Easy
Servings 6

Sweet Dreams

I got a call from my best friend Angela in Southaven that her little Dinky Dog passed away today. I just wanted you guys to keep her in your prayers because it's hard to lose a family member. I truly can't imagine, but I know that my little one eyed nephew sure loved him some Foxy Mama. He use to pretend to pee on her to flirt. Katie use to tattle tell on him for things he didn't even do. I swear those silly kids. I sure will miss my Stinky Dinky - he had a great life and an even greater mama.

Speaking of silly kids. Chip was like a kid in a candy store this afternoon in Oxford when he had the opportunity to go and watch the Rebels practice. He sent me a text and all it said was, "on the field with the football players and Houston Nutt!!!" I replied back and said, "No way" and of course the reply I got was, "WAY!" I asked him if he thought they would let him be the water boy? He never got back to me. He is super stoked about this season and only plans on missing one game which is in another state far far away or something. I will be big and pregnant and unpredictable so I make no promises. You all know that if we go to a Bowl game I will be without husband and doctor to birth this baby come January. It's ok, I guess I can take one for the team.

I had a great time at Cosmo tonight. I really enjoy hanging out with every single one of those girls. We have a lot of wonderful new members and I think we will have a great year! Good stuff, good friends and always good conversation.

So lets talk about my complexion and how I look like a 9th grader that should have started school this week with monster zits that have a heartbeat of their own. Gross! I have two big ol zit-olas that require their own zip code and currency. One is located directly in the middle of my 'God said Shhh!' Do you know where that is? It's that divot between your upper lip and nose where God placed his finger when you were born and said, Shhhh. Then it left that dent there. There ya go, your history lesson for the day. Don't ever say I haven't taught you anything. The other Mount Everest is on my chin in the place where you put your hand when doing the fist to chin Glamour Shot pose. Again, you know what I'm talking about. If not then go watch Napoleon Dynamite. I am at a loss with these monsters. There is no end in sight for them to go away. I guess this too shall pass or maybe I can become an under cover 9th grade narcotic agent at the high school. When life gives you sour lemons make lemon tarts! or something tasty.

Night Night. Katie and I are going to bed. Have sweet dreams.

I am a cantaloupe and Katie loves me

If you are on facebook then last night you read that my cantaloupe was full of Wendy's salad and I did end up going and eating Chippy's Rice Krispies.

I get the What to Expect emails every day and it said my uterus is the size of a cantaloupe. I really really really wanted to take pictures with a cantaloupe but my camera is lost. It's around the house somewhere......but that requires my cleaning to find it. So sorry that is not happening.

Speaking of cantaloupe, Katie Lou loves cantaloupe more than the average dog, but her favorite is watermelon. You have never seen a dog go spastic until you have seen Katie Lou smell watermelon. It's her favorite food in the entire world. More than steak. Wait, you have to understand that my dogs don't eat people food. They can eat fruit and veggies, but no meats except for on their birthday they get a hamburger. I guess you could say they are vegetarians when it comes to people food. Katie has eaten shrimp before, but prefers cocktail sauce on it. She eats salad, but only with dressing. Foster really dislikes cucumber - - have you ever seen a dog spit something out they hated, it's hilarious. Foxy just tastes things and then decides if she likes it. Usually she doesn't. Here are pics of my babies

I read an article yesterday about Dogs are Smarter than Toddlers. If you have met Kate Lou then you all know that I am going to say, I already knew that. Katie is something else. She's not a dog, but she's not a human.....she may a doman, a manog, a hug. Whatever she is she's my little smarty pants with a cocky attitude and I wouldn't trade her for the world. For the past 9 years I've been living with a loud potty mouthed kissy face who calls the shots. I'd say that she knows as much as a border collie or poodle hands down. Anyone that has met my Lou knows exactly what I'm talking about. It's hard to explain. She is literally a two year old that communicates through actions.

She knows word recognition like Go, Car, Food, Ride, Water, Mommy's Bed, Inside, Outside, TT/PooPoo, Kisses, she knows the names of ALL of her toys, Mommy, Chippy, Foster, Foxy Mama, Look, Night Night, Mama Lou, amongst others.

She's very observant if the other dogs are out of food or water she is their communicator, their Speaker of the House. She will go in their room and pick up their bowl and drop it causing commotion, then bark. Half the time if it wasn't for her I'd assume Chip had fed them, but no, Katie Lou lets me know real fast. She takes care of everyone. Katie has a different bowl in a different room than Foster and Foxy. She likes to eat one of two places.....in bed or on the couch. When you get her food for her you must follow her so she can tell you where she wants to eat because forget sitting or standing on the floor to eat, she wants plush surfaces to dine on.

Thank goodness I broke her from having to eat by hand....MOM! That took about a year. When I went abroad to Europe for half the year I came home and Katie had my mom fooled. Katie said she needed to eat on the couch and be hand fed each meal and would only eat the colors of the Benefuls she wanted and turn her head if you tried to give her a hard kibble. She's a handful I tell you. She also throws a fit when you bring out her t-shirt. She WANTS to wear it.

When it is time for bed she is a lot like me. She just gets up and goes without telling anyone. You could have a house full of people, but it doesn't matter. Into Mommy's bed she goes. She is a grouch pot when she's sleepy, just like her mommy. The difference is that I usually bite and Katie does not.

The mornings are Katie's favorite....but she is always a sleepy head if you wake her up before she's ready. Katie LOVES to give kisses, abundant amounts of kisses in the mornings. I usually get them as soon as my eyes open and Chip asks for them and she'll go to his side and give him a couple too. Sweet girl. When I am sad she kisses my whole face, she thinks it makes me feel better and usually it does. She's my little guardian. She too is very emotional. She's intrigued by most things and expresses it through her human looking eyes. When she is sad, her body language lets you know she's been let down. She's also a great listener.

What are her favorite things to do? Her leash is her security blanket and she loves to "fight" with Chippy. When you hold her you have two positions, on your hip like a little kid so she can see around or upside down on her back with her head flopping over so she can be silly.

My Katie Goose is a trip, she is one of a kind that is for sure. She keeps me and Chip on our toes and has us both wrapped around her finger, I mean paw. She knows it, she thrives on it, she eats it up. We let her. She's my first born and I pray that she doesn't take a back seat when the baby comes. I will work really hard to prevent that. It makes me sad to think about. If you haven't met my Lou Lou please come do so. Maybe you will see what I find so hard to explain about her being more human than dog.

Big Days

First of all, I want to wish my mom a happy day of birth. She turned 25 on Saturday and said she had a great day! I wish I could have been there to hang out, but I will see you in 10 days! Can't wait!

Do you all know what today is? Of course you don't! Today is the day that in 2005 my boyfriend proposed to me. Yup, we were young and crazy and stayed up late and talked and seemingly had no worries. The proposal was so perfect.....for us. Nothing planned, nothing really romantic, nothing abnormal, just a night hanging out on the back patio in Oxford. We'd been together for 4 years. Which breaks down to 94725 years in relationship years.

I had gone out with some girlfriends for one of their birthdays that night and came home where Chip was hanging out on the patio. We were talking about how long we'd been together amongst other worldly things and then out of the blue Chip said, well would you marry me? I said well sure. Because I thought that we were having general conversation and I answered in a nonchalant way. He said, no Rachel, like will you marry me? Still confused if we are hypothetically speaking or maybe it's my numbness because we'd been together for 94725 years......I said ummm, what? He said it for the third time, Will You Marry Me? Me, still a little bit taken back said, Seriously? I mean, YES.

There was no ring, there was no down on one knee, no talking to my parents first, there was no Eiffel Tower; just me, the plastic patio furniture, Chip and Katie Lou. Perfect! I wouldn't have changed one second of it. Not even the fact that we both jumped up and hugged and Katie Lou barked at Chip like DON'T TOUCH MY MOMMY (she still does that by the way.) I called my mom and since it was like 11:30 at night I didn't call anyone else until the next day. Then of course everyone was confused because I'd tell them I was getting married and they look at my naked finger like.....ummmm sure you are honey. Whatever helps you sleep better at night. Then turn around and say, Nurse, give her her meds please.

That went on for like 2 weeks until Johnny Sides made my dreams come true with the most special beautiful ring in the history of rings. I love my ring. I love my ring not because it has diamonds and I love diamonds but because these aren't just your go to the jewelry store and pick out a ring type diamonds. These are Chip's grandmothers diamonds. They are all different sizes and shapes and are beautifully special beyond words. Chip and his grandmother were so close and I hate I never had the opportunity to meet her.

In the mornings when I put on my ring I can only pray that she knows I love her grandson more and more each day which just seems physically impossible from the day before. For the past 8 years Chip has been my world, and it just makes me cry those uncontrollable happy tears we spoke of the other day to think of how far we've come, how much we've grown and the things we have overcome together. I can't imagine, nor do I want to imagine, what my life would be like if 4 years ago tonight my world had not changed.

Love you, poo.
Me

Roller Coaster

Being pregnant has been an adjustment. I like being pregnant, but one thing I or no one else is ever prepared for is the emotional roller coaster I live on. My goodness my hormones are crazy. For example:

Last night I was watching TV, the So You Think You Can Dance finale to be exact, and when the sweetest most talented girl won I noticed my nose getting all tingly and my eyes a little watery. I was so happy for her I shed a tear. What's up with that? Hello, it's a reality tv show and I felt like she was my daughter that I personally had professionally trained her to dance myself. I was proud.

Then I started thinking about times where I just can't control myself. Like yesterday and the kolache incident. I was leaving work walking across the parking lot thinking, I could cry. I could literally get in my car and drive to Texas and get a ham and cheese kolache and drive back. That is ridiculous.

Another thing that makes me cry, even if I only hear half of it- is the dang OnStar commercials on the radio! I can catch the tail end of an OnStar commercial and know that those OnStar people helped save someone that were in a crash or helped the little girls whose mommy isn't moving. Oh my goodness it is bad. I even teared up before I was pregnant so now it's like a sob. Sometimes I just turn the radio down so I don't have to go through the trauma and be so scared for these people but relieved that the OnStar support person was there to help.

Then the first time that I truly remember thinking, Rachel, get a freaking grip on yourself was when my husband told me he was in line at the grocery store, Sunflower, and an elderly lady was short money for her groceries and she only had staple items like milk, bread, etc and didn't use food stamps. My heroic husband helped out a lady in need and paid for the remainder of her groceries. Sigh...I'm tearing up now thinking about it. Anyway, he told me that he did that and I cried. I called my mom barely breathing I was crying so hard and said I know I'm stupid and can't stop crying but guess what Chip did? He is so sweet and I told her he helped an old lady out. I could not keep myself together and I know I sounded like a freak, we all know Chip is a great guy I just needed to cry about it.

Anyway. I just thought I would share a few of my moments. I know there will be ample more along the way and there are a few I've left out I know. Thank you to all that lend an ear when I have my moments.

I hope you all have a great weekend. I'll try to keep myself together till we talk again.

Food Dilemma

Ok friends. This is serious. I have never had a craving like I am having a craving now. This is worse than the cheese puff with vinegar craving! I NEED, there is no "want," I NEED ham and cheese kolaches from Praseks, now. This is a dilemma because Praseks is located like 9 hours away and over 600 miles south west of my current location.

I tried Googling 'kolaches in Jackson, MS' and the closest is in Pascagola, MS. I'm not risking it, I need Praseks if I'm going to make that hike. You have to understand. I've traveled to the Czech Republic before, I've been to both Prague and Budapest and they don't compare to my friends kolaches. If I could take a vacation day tomorrow, I would leave now and drive to Texas eat about 3489762 of them and then have dinner with my family and drive back. It's that worth it.

For those of my non El Campo Texas friends who are asking, what is a kolache and how do you say it? Ko-lah-chi is a Czech pastry that is a bread filled with a cheese, fruit or meat. Don't you dare think of a run of the mill pig in the blanket thats all thin and wrapped in a crossant or something silly and a kolache in the same sentence. It doesn't do it justice. Let me see if I can explain the Praseks ham and cheese kolaches, they have been such a big part of my life I think I can describe it. Ok, close your eyes. Imagine a warm soft cloud with a twinge of sweetness then biting into it and your tastebuds dancing to the complimentary semi salty smoked ham and creamy lava hot cheese. Can you taste it? Isn't it divine? You aren't even pregnant and you want one don't you?

If you go to Praseks or order online, don't pass up the peppered turkey jerky, it's like nothing you've ever tasted either....while your at it grab me a homemade cream cheese strudel. Holy cow, there is no place like home, there is no place like home. My ruby red slippers aren't working.

Oh man, I'm getting in the car. I'll see you in 12 hours.

Adrienne Update

I know many of you have been asking about the status of my mother in law, Adrienne. Chip called me and said I could post this.

He just got off the phone with her husband Ed and he said the doctor came in and let them know that the tumor site has become more active. They are going to step up her chemo and keep her in the hospital for observation a couple of days.

As always, continue your prayers. I know that she would love to hear from you all but please keep in mind her rest. I'm sure she will be posting on her CaringBridge as soon as she's up to it and will definitely be able to give you more of a first hand explanation. When I know more I'll be sure to fill you all in.

I think I can speak on behalf of the family when I say, thanks for your continual support and prayers.

Who has the hook ups?

My awesome friend Lindsey hooked me up on a good deal.......AGAIN! I think she has some underground connections with the discount people at all local stores. Her and the Wal-Mart smiley face are BFF and he calls her when he's slashing prices. Her and the Dirt Cheap chicken communicate through Morse Code about special deals that may be of interest to her. Needless to say, she's the ultimate hook up and a wonderful friend that shares her inside secrets. And thank goodness for her iPhone so she can do on the spot email alerts of killer deals she comes across.

Lindsey saw 2 Jenny Lind (3 in 1) cribs on clearance at Wal-Mart for $50 each. So I got one for Charlie & Joyce's house and then JJ wanted one for her moms house. I would have LOVED to have one at my house but the trim in the baby room is more of a cream than a brilliant white. Plus, my cream colored bedding would not look good against the white either. Maybe something else will pop up somewhere. I thought about painting the crib, but my luck I'd use some paint that causes mesothelioma, black lung or some asbestos infected lead flaky ingestable stuff. I'll stick with the store bought prepainted crib.

Lindsey, I think your savings tab has gone up to over $300 by now. Maybe Chip will let me use that money you've helped me save to decorate the baby room with all of your goodies.

You all know what I like to do when I am happy and to return thanks?!?!
Write a Haiku....the only thing I am creative enough to whip together.
So Lindsey, here is your 5-7-5 of the day. I will always be indebted to you, my gorgeous friend.

Ode To Lindsey

Hooks me up on deals.

So my baby can be cute,

And save Chip money.

and if that wasn't enough for you...

Underground secrets.

You rock by telling me them.

You are my hero.

Much love to you girlfriend. I was glad to see your happy face yesterday while I was in action making the hot purchases...even if it was your 3rd trip to Wally Martinez that day.

Confirmed Friend

Darden Hays North confirmed you as a friend on Facebook...

We are BFF now. I saw that Lauren & Alysha are friends with him too, that is great!

Last night on my facebook I was checking out pictures of Dr. North's beautiful family and I showed them to Chip. He was so confused why I had photos of my gyno's family. I said "Oh we are friends on facebook." He thought this was soo funny....but I know him. He'll be looking him up today wanting him to be his BFF to - just you wait and see. Chip loves Dr. North just as much as I do.


I wonder if he will ever comment on my status? Uh oh, what if I have a status that says something like Rachel Childers Hawkins is eating a whole cheesecake in one sitting. Do you think he'll write that in my chart? I didn't think about how this could be a double edged sword. Ahh, it's ok...that's what BFF's do. We call each other out when we do something wrong. If your BFF can't tell you then who can?

Speaking of BFF's - I have many, Chip being one of them. I wonder at least 2 or 3 times a week if couples, married or not, laugh as much as we do. There is not a day that goes by where some inside joke or some random thought crosses our path and we don't crack up. I also often wonder when this happens in public if people think we are weird-o's? Not that it matters, but I'm curious to know outsiders perception of our antics.

Example: Last night we went to Sonic and I was asking him how much money it would take for him to eat certain items on the menu that included onions, lettuce or ketchup. As we waited for our order I'd point to a picture of onion rings and he'd say no less than $250. I'd point to the picture of the chicken wrap that has lettuce all in it and he'd say $8,498 (which is the price of a new 4-wheeler he's wanting), then I'd point to the breakfast burrito that has funky stuff in it and he'd say $1,000. It will take no less than $10,000 for him to take a ketchup packet put a dab on his finger and put it to his tongue. There were no promises made that he'd swallow it.

So as I was pointing at pictures on the menu and laughing so hard my abs hurt there were people looking at us from other cars. What were these people thinking about us? Maybe, who are these immature freaks? Maybe, those people are super fun? Maybe, those people are really really weird and are making me uncomfortable? Any of those answers are probably the truth. It's ok though, at least I have my own weird-o in this world that gets who I am....and we have procreated meaning there will be more of us. (insert evil laugh here - Mooo whooo haaa haa!)

Winner(s) of the Haiku

As promised; since Melanie was the first to correctly answer what that weird kidney shaped pan is and the plastic box/bucket too - - Here is a Haiku in her honor.

A friend of Jane Claire's,
Will be a friend of mine too.
Because you are smart.

Since I am feeling super creative I decided to write a Haiku about everyone that posted a comment.

Meredith
The best friend ever
Even though her phones not broke
I will still love her.

Lauren
My friend has nice boobs
She is a super hottie
I wish I was thin.

Leah
Leah was just wed
I have not met her husband
I bet he is nice.

Jennifer
A good friend to have
Always puts up with questions
That I have daily.

Sorry to those of you that didn't post missing out on my rare creative spurt. You know you don't have to have a blog to post comments! Click on comments, type your comment in the box then choose the Name / URL option and type in your name then publish comment. Voila! You will speak to me.

I insist all of you blog stalkers at least say hi so I know you were here and I know who to not talk about. Ha! Just kidding, I'll talk about you anyway!

Weekend in Review

Before I start I just received some great news. Jane Claire and Bubba found out today that they are going to have a little girl!

What a great weekend!
Friday night since Chip and I felt like we'd been eating out every meal I went and grabbed a few things from the grocery store and we had cook out night! Chip cooked chicken breasts, pork chops, hamburgers, mashed potatoes, sauteed potatoes in garlic, black eyed peas and I guess that was it? What we do is make mini meals in tupperware out of this and we just grab one for lunch or dinner and it still gives you a little variety with out all the fuss. Just set it and forget it.

Saturday was an eventful day for me. I woke up to volunteer at the Helping Hands Thrift Store. I'd never been in there and it was so much fun! You know how I get when things are at a discounted rate even if "gently worn". Chip made me promise I would not come home with a puppy, rooster or used underwear. I told him I was not going to a Flea Market but to the Thrift Store. Men, I swear. Later that mid day I left the thrift store to go and get my hair did. This is interesting to me. Since I am with child my hair is weird. My hair is growing at the speed of light due to the vitamins and then on top of that it's coming in dark brown - almost black. Yes, blackish brown would be a safe way to explain it. So, since we are about to come into Fall I went ahead and had it done a shade or two lighter than my new natural color. I will post pics soon.
I have to go back because the pesky grey hairs did not take, damn them....I told her to just pull them out...but there are a lot and I would be bald.

After getting beautified I got a call from my friend JJ. She was solo Saturday night and didn't know if maybe I wanted to go on a date...a prego date. She came and picked me up and we headed to Starkville. Since we are both due within mere seconds of each other we had lots of notes to compare and things to talk about. Also since she knows I'm addicted to Dirt Cheap she is such a sweet date showed me where the one in Starkville was. Oh man, this D.C. was awesome! I got a hugemongo never been opened industrial size Black & Decker food processor for $16, a 4 pack fancy thing of baby bottles that makes the baby feel like it's still breastfeeding for $8. I have no idea about bottles, but whatever it sounded like a good deal. Then the Mamma of all purchases; it was such a good find that JJ and I split the cost and we will automatically be crowned the most awesome parents / aunts in the history of parents / aunts. We bought a HUGE inflatable waterpark with a slide and things to climb on and pool. I think the original sticker on it was $499 and we got it for less than $100 bucks. The air blower inflater on it works and everything. I can't wait to have a fun day soon where her nieces and my niece and nephew can blow it up and try it out. It will be a couple of years before our kids can use it, but that's ok....we are still the coolest ever.


After Dirt Cheap we ate and then went to Walgreens to get candy for the movies. There was no denying our pregnancy - We looked like Willy Wonka with arm loads of candy. I got Junior Mints, Airheads and Hot Tamales. JJ got Sour Patch Kids, Hot Tamales and something else. We went and saw The Ugly Truth. Oh my goodness drop everything you are doing right this second and go see it. Obviously you aren't doing anything interesting so go! Get off your Duff! I honestly don't know if I have ever in my life laughed that loud in a movie theater. I laughed so hard and loud I heard my laugh echo in the theater. My stomach was so sore from having to catch my breath / laughing. At one point JJ was crying she was laughing so hard. It's not just a girly movie. It's got some funny guy stuff in there too. Gerard Butler has officially made my Top 5. Love Him!
We got home around Midnight. What a great date JJ is! We should do that every weekend.

Sunday we woke up late and went out to Chip's cousins house. Some of you know Glue....most of you didn't know we were related to him, sometimes we prefer to keep it that way. Anyway, we went out to his house where he has grown these watermelons I'd never heard of; they are called Moon and Star Watermelon. I will post pictures so you can see why. Their skin is green and has yellow speckles like stars then some have a big yellow spot which is the moon. It is really neat. When we went out there and his garden looked like a big ol weeded Hot Mess. This is my type of garden where you don't pick the weeds because it helps protect the melons from getting burned up in the sun. That's what happened to my garden last year....I was trying to protect it from the sun...uh yup, that's what happened. Around my house I am known as the Grim Reaper of Growing Things. So anyway, we got three big melons and took one to Chip's mom and cut up one to take to Charlie & Joyce's for dinner last night. Chip cooked up fish, hushpuppies, okra and green tomatoes. My niece and nephew were there being cutie patooties and I was just a big ol lump in the recliner.

Yesterday a new pregnancy symptom popped up. My feet & legs are wanting to start retaining water. Hello! KANKLES are NOT ok. I've been propping them up to prevent this and drinking nothing but H2O and cutting back on the salt intake but friends, I am scared. Is this another one of those things we talked about where it's too early for this to be happening? I think my niece Hannah predicted the kankles when she drew a picture of me and Chip. She drew a picture of me pregnant and my brother was quick to point out the kankles she drew on me. I will have to post it. It's true.

I hope you all have a great day. I am going to go prop my feet up and drink water while I work.

Hospital Paraphernalia

Ok here is a real conversation between an expectant mother and an expectant father.

(*Note: not me and my hubby)



One night they were laying in bed and the husband asks -why do hospitals give you the plastic box, urinals, weird curved pan and a pitcher when you leave?

Wife said because you pay for them so they give them to you; then says the urinal thing is only good for boys anyway. Is that curved pan for girl pee? What do you do with the curved pan? Both perplexed, the husband says, What's up with the box?

The wife said it must be for sponge baths or to soak your feet. The husband suggest it's just to carry all that other crap home in.
The couple (not us) is still unsure of the use of any of these items. They easily figured out the pitcher and the boy urinal but the curved pan and box/bucket thing?



The wife thinking about the hospital and the delivery of their first born and then the horror stories she's heard quickly turns to her husband and says...with all seriousness. What happens if you have to wipe my hiney? Will you wipe my behind if I am unable to? The husband confused and appalled all at the same time with no hesitation says, Absolutely Not! The wife laughing but wondering why not asks, you wouldn't if I couldn't? The husband replied No, I am paying those people to do that! I am not going to do their job! Wipe your butt, ppsshhh. Pah-leez - Do I ask them to come and sell stocks and bonds for me?



The couple pauses from their uncontrollable laughter and the husband says, I have a feeling this is going to end up on your blog for some reason.



Since this couple is not us; even though ironically the husband from the story sells stocks and the couple is expecting their first child and the wife has a blog....it's not us. But still - someone PLEASE answer for my friends what in the world that curved pan and box are for? I tried to research it on google, but only found the pan is called a Kidney Pan from some wholesale hospital supply store. I wish I could reward the first person to answer this question with something but I'm not as creative and crafty as everyone that reads this blog. Maybe I can write a haiku about you. That is as creative as I get. And my friend from the story, her and her husband don't have any talents either or they'd offer a prize.

If I get the answer I will be sure to let that couple in the above mentioned story know what it is, since it wasn't us or anything. I'll relay the message to them for you. Thanks.

To soon to feel this way

I am officially 4 months pregnant today. For some reason 16 weeks just sounds like I have eons to go until 40 weeks. Yet when I count it in months it sounds like January is around the corner....kind of. When people ask me how far along I am I usually tell them in weeks. I think I'm switching my answer to months now - It sounds like I'm further along. It's a mental thing.

I've never had a baby nor kept track of the girth of any woman throughout her pregnancy. I have no education or viable knowledge to what a person at 4 months pregnant should look like or how big their belly should be. In order to appease my keeping up with the Jones' mentality of girth I went to google and looked up images of how big ladies that are 16 weeks pregnant are - comparatively speaking of course. I came to the conclusion that everyone is different and I hope I don't look like half of them.

Here are my preconceived notions about the early months of pregnancy.

In my mind at 3 months you aren't to be showing yet. I mean really, I get my oil changed every three months how would a baby have time to even show up? It's just like the other day was May. There are 12 weeks in 3 months. That isn't even enough time to read a book from front to back...(in my world at least). It's not even enough time to accumulate a full day off in sick time at my job.

Here is the reality. It's complicated no man will ever understand it and personally I don't expect them to because I am living it and find it hard to comprehend myself.

At three months it's almost as if you want people to say something about a truly non existent sweet baby pooch only to justify the fact that you've already cleaned out your closet twice because nothing fits. You wish someone would acknowledge the fact that there is a baby in there so that you can at least not feel like the bloated Fatty McFat Butt you claim to be. You don't sleep even though you are so tired that you can't function, you eat Pop Tarts like a Tasmanian Devil, your bladder is the size of a pin head, your hormones make you cry happy tears while yelling cuss words like you have turrets.

Now here we are at 4 months and both the scale and you know that your baby weighs only ounces and something doesn't add up. Mathematically it's impossible. I work with numbers, ratios and coverages everyday and I would not approve of these numbers to send onto management.

I've had two people tell me this week that they can see my baby pooch. I've had one person tell me this week they couldn't tell yet. I was happy about both. Hello does that make me bipolar? They both are double edged swords. Thank you for recognizing my belly because my healthy baby is in there growing the flip side is thank you for telling me I'm the same even though I feel like a bloated cow. What's the right answer? I mean I want people to acknowledge my belly....maybe? kind of? Because then I can feel like a fatty for a reason.

I think it's too soon for me to be feeling this way. At what month is it appropriate for me to feel like the following?
1) I walked down a flight of stairs yesterday and was out of breath. Did you catch the part where I said DOWN the stairs? By month 6 I will need a handicapped decal to get close to the door at Wal-Mart to get on my shopping Rascal.
2) Then I was giving Katie Lou a bath the other day and bending over the tub for just that short time and it was like I had run the Boston Marathon. I had to rest on the couch with an oxygen tank for like 30 minutes.
3) I waddle. I really feel like I waddle when I walk. I've felt that way for a while now but am just now willing to admit that openly.

Then there is one more question....when does the abdominal pooch unite and become become one with the fat roll under the boobs to form one big bump I can call my baby? I know it's too soon for that because it hasn't happened. I just look like a Rolly McLump Front. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH FRONT BUTT! I do not have front butt. I can deal with my "butt shelf" in the back a.k.a. ghetto bootie, but not front butt.

Thank you for letting me vent. Love to you all!
Have a Wonderful Weekend!

NCF Dancing Award

I myself do not claim to be a splendid dancer; so there may be funny pictures of me plastered on others blogs that I have no idea about....and I 'm ok with that. I watch enough So You Think You Can Dance and Dance Your A$$ Off to be secure with my white girl with ghetto bootie moves. I'm sure many many people have thought. Whoa, lady! Watch where you swang that thang.

Now what you all have been waiting for the Neshoba County Fair Dancing Award.

Here are my Top 2 favorite dancers of the night.

Meet Cowboy In Tight Jeans Doing Splits.

Chip said it wasn't the same guy as last year so this must be his younger brother or cousin, or maybe both his brother and cousin?

I am really sorry I coudn't get an action shot of the splits or the lightning speed his feet were moving doing a little shuffle doe-see-doe. You have to use your imagination because due to the lag of digital cameras coupled with the speed of his down to the ground splits and back onto his feet swiftness that can only be explained by the spring action of the tight jeans, I failed to capture this greatness. This pure skill can only be mastered in the privacy of your own home in front of your bedroom mirror while your square mom and dad are downstairs watching the evening news wondering what's wrong with the world today not knowing their kid upstairs is some secret rockstar who only wants to dance the rest of his life and make his debut on CMT and not be an accountant like his dad. breathe.

Now meet Ballerina Hippie.

(in the white shorts)

I watched this guy come on the dance floor. He neatly took off his muddly flip flops at the corner of the pavilion like he was walking into some sacred Chinese feng shui temple (do the Chinese have temples?) Anyway. He was excited to share his dance moves with his partner. We will call her Lady Luck. I don't know that she knew she was in for such a treat. Ballerina Hippie ruled his area of the floor while knocking out little kids in the process. He was twirling Lady Luck and she was trying to follow to the best of her ability....poor gal. He too had fast moves with his feet like Cowboy In Tight Jeans Doing Splits, but his were more of a ballroom or a Pasa Doble smooth manner on the balls of his feet unlike the way CITJDS does his line dancing.

At one point Chip turned to me and said...."I'm sure this is not the first time that hippie has danced in the mud" (I'm not sure why buy Hank Hill from King of The Hill's voice popped in my head as Chip's voice - - now I am laughing uncontrolably)

Sorry, back on track. I'm trying to paint a picture here. At times his limp wave-like body rolling was almost as if he was a Chipendale Dancer.....in a sensitive way. As if we wanted to gather all of the butterflies from the sky and take them to a special place.

I could go on about both of these guys and many many others there, but I won't. I shouldn't. I am going to be cursed with a kid with no rhythm whose photos will be plastered on the internet like all the other middle aged white guys in that email we've all received that shows how to dance like a white guy (Click here to see video). The spin squat point to the Lord move you all know so well. I can't have that for my kid. I must stop now.

Mississippi's Giant House Party

Last night, in the honor of tradition and fun, we went to the Neshoba County Fair. Every Wednesday night of the fair for the past before I was born Chip's dads band Class Reunion has played at Founders Square.

I encourage each of you that are not familiar with the fair to research it's history. It's extremely interesting. It was founded in 1889, "and has grown from a two-day meeting of local farmers and their families to an eight day Giant House Party in over 600 cabins and over 200 RV campers. The traditions of the Fair continue today. Families still gather for reunions and friends, old and new, visit every summer as they have since 1889."

It's like nothing I've ever seen or even heard of. And being from Texas, the most friendly place I know of, that says a lot! I've heard that these shotgun shacks, umm..I mean cabins, cost like $100,000 and you can really only use then 2 weeks out of the year. It's that big of a deal.

Hanging out in Founders Square is like you are surrounded by a breath of history. It is where historical icons like Ronald Reagan and Ross Barnett have given political speeches. Heated debates of political chaos have formed there and most importantly it's the same stage that my father in law rocks out to songs that would make even a Baptist get up and dance.

An article was written in the Clarion Ledger on July 5th and I think this sums it up...I love it, I wish I had thought of it myself....I'm not sure I didn't say it. Here is what Gale Denley said about The Neshoba County Fair: "It's a lot like what I always imagined Hell would be - it's hot, it's dusty and all my friends are there."

As much as hot and dusty rings true to the history of this July heat sweltering house party last night was an exception. The much needed down pour we had made this place a mud wrestlers dream pit. It was every little kid theres fantasy for being so dirty that even their parents couldn't say anything. More interestingly to me were peoples feet. I was like a foot stalker in the night checking out peoples foot attire. It's like I was an emissary for a podiatrist or something. It was as if the mud made me have a foot fetish. I got some good photos in my foot trans, I hope you find them as funny as I do.

As always, more than anything, I love to watch people - - - especially people dancing. I got a few good shots of random dancing. I hope they are able to portray their dance skills through a still shot photo. Ballerina Hippie was my favorite right next to Cowboy In Tight Jeans Doing Splits. I hope that none of you know these people..........Lord I hope none of you know these people.

But I'm So Sorry! You will have to wait until I can download the photos so you can see how obscene I was about feet last night and how Ballerina Hippie was feeling too comfortable dancing barefoot in the mud.

More than you care to know

Last night me, Kim, Whitney and Tanner met Whitney's sister, Stephanie, in Madison to eat at Nagoya. I would like to express a SUPER YUM to Nagoya. I love you so much even though the salmon I usually eat looked really under smoked so I took it out of my Miami Roll for precautionary reasons and it was still fabulous. I ate hibachi fried rice and veggie tempura...all with no less than a liter of soy sauce. (hush, I know the sodium is not good, but I've been eating the salads from Wendy's so that makes up for it...in my mind.)

I had a lot of fun girls and little boy.

It's approaching the end of the month. Do you guys know what that means in my world? Not only is it end of the month for business, it's end of the month for Rachel's checkbook. I'm odd. No, really odd. I know I'm odd and I think my husband hates that I do this (I don't know why), but I get a kick out of it. I am anal retentive when it comes to my checkbook. I balance it, re balance it and then check my balance again online no less than once a day sometimes more than 3 times. Not that I'm scared it's going to be taken away, I guess it's because I'm a control freak? Yes, I admit it. So on top of knowing to the penny what I have in my checkbook at all times I like to account for where the money that isn't in there went. Oh man, I'm psycho. I'm telling on myself.

You see I have this spreadsheet. Oh Lordy, the spreadsheet. This spreadsheet is euphoric for me. It allows me to categorize my spending. We have 4 categories:
1) Food Out
2) Gas
3) Unnecessary
4) Wal-Mart

There use to be 5 which was dog food because at $60 a bag I had to account for that hunk out of my checkbook separately. Now my pups are at a manageable weight and we eat Beniefuls from Wal-Mart.

Breaking down the categories:
Food out is exactly what it sounds like, as is gas. I account for all the times I eat out; like last night at Nagoya or even the K&S donuts in the weekday. Gas is how many times and how much I fill up my car. I do usually like to see how many miles to the gallon I got on each tank, but I've gotten bad about tracking that.

Unnecessary for example is the Dirt Cheap expenditures (which doubled my unnecessary category this month, thank you) or the Magic Boppy Pillow and the clothes I've had to go get so I can not look like a hoochie in tight pants and tops with gaping buttons when I go to work. These items are necessary, but they just aren't regular expenses...therefore I deem them unnecessary.

Then there is the Wal-Mart category. This is the one that we all cringe at when we think about it. In our house this category is for the huge Showcase Showdown adventures and the here and there things that come up. Truthfully it's not limited to just Wal-Mart it crosses over to Sunflower too; anything that has to do with groceries and misc at Wal-Mart.

How does the spreadsheet work? Glad you asked.
Since I write down EVERYTHING in my little checkbook register, I go through and under each category enter in the date of the expenditure, where the money was spent, sometimes I enter what for, then the amount. OCD much? Each category has a total that automatically sums up everything because that is how cool Excel is. From there once the month is totaled I have another worksheet within my Excel sheet that compares month to month. I know I'm sick right. So I can see if I spent $140 this month in one category compare it to the $175 I spent the month before - - Wow, Rachel you comparatively speaking saved $35 from last month in that category! Oh man, I am a nerd.

Hold on to your seat because there is more. Not only does my little comparison tally up this info monthly. It is also annually. So as horrifying as it is, I know how much money I have contributed to Wal-Mart just this year. Point your fingers call me a freak, give me the Scarlet letter because I'm an outcast.........but I love spreadsheets and keeping account of every penny, understanding why my money isn't there, tracking where it went, having buyers remorse. It keeps me on track. It makes me the tight wad I am today. It makes me appreciate the things I have because I don't go affording the things I can't. I hope that gets me somewhere one day besides a one way ticket to the loony bin.

Notice that my normal bills aren't in any of those categories...like the mortgage, phone, utilities, car insurance, pest control. That is because they have their own seperate spreadsheet. Those are reoccuring expenses. That specific spreadsheet goes back for eons. Do you want to know how much my electricity bill was in 2006? I can tell you. I used my 2007 & 2008 spreadsheets just last week to compare my astronomical Entergy bill this month. Come to find out July 2007 was about the same as it was in July 2009 and in July 2008 it was actually higher than July 2009. I could rest easy knowing I wasn't out of line that month.

Wow, you all see me in a freakish light now. I have told on myself. I have let you all know more than you care to know about me. This is my blog I can make fun of myself if I want to. Also, I guess because I am this way it is good I am in the career I am in. I'm an analyst, I weigh risk before it happens. I account for everything in peoples financials some of whom don't always care to admit or have dug up. I love it.

P.S. - Per our car conversation yesterday; because of the way I am I will go and clean the highlander and take good good care of her because she will last me until Baby Hawkins is ready to get his/her drivers license. It will have an antique tag on it by that time. Then at that point I can go and buy a used 2010 GLK350 it will be inexpensive by that point because it will be the year 2026 and affordable by then. Hopefully.

Salad Shout out

I wanted to drop in right quick and say how much I really really really like Wendy's salads. I am the pickiest person when it comes to my lettuce and they have fantastic salads. I strongly encourage you to either get a side salad or the regular salads (there are different options).

I will tell you a little secret though. Even though you are thinking you are making a better decision calorie wise by eating a salad vs a 1/4 lb hamburger and fries that is not always the case. I had a BLT salad with a large rootbeer the other day and compared it online to the 1/4 hamburger medium fry and large rootbeer. The salad came in with 30 more calories than the burger only because I used 2 pkgs of ranch. I did not check fat and sodium, but I assume the burger had more in that department.

Either way, eat the salad. It is fantastic. You don't feel like a big greasy blob after you eat it and it gives you the greens you need....even if you do smother it in ranch.

Cars

I am sorry to say that this post today is not very interesting. It's a bunch of unthought out babble. (wait that is mostly everyday...but today is worse)

Chip and I have been talking about getting a new car, eventually. Those of you that know me understand my preplanning syndrome so really we aren't getting a new car for like 2 years. My highlander is paid for and we love her dearly. She does exactly what I need her to do - Get me from point A to point B safely and most of the time (because I'm driving) she gets me there rapidly. I am probably the only person on the face of the earth that HATES to buy cars. It makes me grouchy, It makes me want to throw myself in front of a moving semi truck, it usually makes me cry because I always feel buyers remorse and like someone is taking advantage of me. I like to think about it, I don't like to do it. So we can think about it here today.

I've wanted a Volvo SUV for about a year now. I loved my volvo (what I had before the highlander)....I cried when I sold that car. It was the first car I'd ever bought and paid for in full on my own. But the reason I sold it is because I was worried about maintenance and the high costs if something were to go wrong and she was racking on the high miles. She went to a good home in Jackson and I think about her often and sometimes think I see her in a parking lot or in traffic, I think she misses me too. I hope so.

But onto new things. I've wanted a Volvo SUV for a while and Chip will never let me go test drive one because we aren't technically "ready" to buy one and he doesn't want to lead on the car salesman. I on the other hand told my Chippy that what if he wanted to surprise me one day and buy it and bring it home and I hated it. I would never know because he wouldn't let me test drive it and he'd be up a creek with a car I don't like. He assured me that that would NEVER happen because he knows me better than most and I am a picky and critical person in the history of history. He said he'd be so scared that he'd pick out the wrong color or not get an add on I wanted. He's smart. He's a really smart guy. Plus he knows I hate surprises. Plus he knows I'd be mad he spent that kind of money and didn't discuss it with me. Anyway back to cars since we've established how well my hubby knows me.

This is the 2010 Volvo XC90, she's pretty, but I'm being superficial because I've only seen the outside never the inside or driven one. I want a 3rd row seat, I think that is a prerequisite in my search. I am not opposed to a minivan. I'm not opposed to a used car but if I buy a new car you will see me driving it until the wheels fall off. I don't want a sunroof. The rest is up for debate depending on the vehicle.

When Chip worked at the Toyota dealership they had a minivan that I sat in and even though I had no use for a minivan being in college; it had some extreme gadgets and a comfort I didn't know possible in a vehicle. If I were to get a minivan it would probably be a Toyota. But I don't know if I am ready for the minivan.

The other day when we went to Yazoo City, I saw something. I saw something I've never seen before. It was cute. It was sporty. It was boxy like the G-Class, but not the G-Class Mercedes. Hey there cutie patootie! You are the 2010 GLK350.


After research, which you know I've done. I can't seem to find the 3rd row seating, so as cute as you are...I don't know if you are what I need. Even though you are not $100,000 like your Daddy the G-Class which is pretty much the epitome of kick hiney, I will check you out when my husband lets me finally test drive cars and in the mean time think about you (and your Daddy, the G-Class).The G-Class may be my lottery car. If I win the lottery I would think about getting one, but since I have not won the lottery.....I will not be getting one.




So here is the deal. I am up for any suggestions because like I stated earlier, I've never test driven ANY car/SUV/truck etc because my hubby won't let me. I'm going all on superficial exterior looks. I don't have to have a foreign car at all....these are just the ones that have caught my eye. Another car that caught my eye due to the cool brownish color is this....

2009 Buick Enclave

Maybe I should check out to see if it has 3rd row seating?

Since I know my good friend Toby reads my blog every day let me ask him. Does your cool old boxy white SUV that you drive around every now and then have 3rd row seating? I would love to have that vehicle. I think it's right up there with the G-Class. Maybe you can take me for a spin in it one day? I love it.

I also like my friend Marsha's car. She just got an Acadia or Equinox or something really neat.

Any advice is much appreciated. I need all of your help in making a list of vehicles to test drive & not to drive so when Chip finally gives me the green light I can have an idea.

Productive & Old

What a fun weekend! Very productive and you all know I love to have the feeling of accomplishment and productivity at all times.



Friday night the Hart, Whitney & Tanner Pettit Family came over and Chip tried out a new recipe on us. We had Prime Rib (from Prime Meridian cookbook) and it was good, everyone seemed to enjoy the specialty. We also had pineapple casserole (page 200 of the Prime Meridian cookbook) which is pretty much a staple in our household. I always double the recipe so Chip (and I) can have seconds and left overs. Joyce was cooking her summer veggie casserole and made an extra one for us; it is fantastic it has home grown squash, zuchini, and tomato with Velveeta, butter & rye bread...wow, yum! Thanks Joyce you are the bomb. We had a spinach salad with pecans and mandarin oranges with the make it yourself Italian dressing (my fav).

After we ate we visited on the patio in the wonderful weather then headed to the Pettits so that Tanner could sleep in his own bed. The Pettits, The Bells, Chip, Paxton and Brandy all gathered on their patio and chit chatted while I slept on the couch. Man am I a trooper or party pooper? It's still undecided.



Saturday I woke up super early thinking about K&S donuts only to be reminded (like every Saturday morning) that the donut place is not open on the weekends. Glenda, I will never understand that - if I've asked you once I've asked you a thousand times to get onto your in-laws about that nonsense. You can't withhold cravings from a pregnant lady - it's not pretty.



Since I had to wake up early and ironically enough pick Glenda up I gave her an earful about no donuts all the way to Starkville for a J.A. Conclave meeting. It was a very good meeting, all the Presidents, Vice Presidents and Treasurers from our region/area are so nice and fun and productive....as I've stated you all know I love productiveness. We got home around 1:00 and I came straight home to find Chip loading up the boat to go skiing.



Chip is addicted to skiing. We all have our vices, we found out last week mine is Dirt Cheap. Chip's latest obsession is with his boat. He likes to talk about how lucky I am. I mean really, he could be addicted to bad things like booze, women, gambling or drugs. I guess it's his way of justifying it. I'm cool with it, just like he uses that same booze, women, gambling & drugs line when hunting season comes around....then again when it's time to start fishing or when he has his boy time during Mountain Man. I must be the best wife ever. I should get an award.



Speaking of award. I should get an award for being the best gestating mother too. Not only have I organized hand me down clothing by month and ordered labels online so I can account for all the hand me downs, I sat for 3 hours Saturday afternoon and hand wrote 2748967256 pages in my "Waiting for Baby" book. Let me just toot my own horn. Toot. Toot. I have not hand written anything that much since before 1993 when I got my first computer.



Ohhh, do you want to feel old? Quick change of subject A friend of ours (who is in their 30's) had a box in the garage that his kids were going through. In the box were items from when he cleaned out his old truck. The kids pulled out this weird rectangular thing. The 16 and 14 year old looked at whatever this foreign object was all funny and finally asked their dad "What in the world is this?" He said.....that kids, that is a cassette tape. They had no idea what that was. TRUE STORY.



I leave you now staring in the mirror wondering where in the world the past 20 years have gone.

Have a great day!

The Life Cycle of Stretching

The other day I was thinking about the word Stretch and it's many meanings through out life.

When you are a baby you stretch your body out so that you can grow big and strong

When you are in grade school you stretch before dance practice, playing sports, etc so that you don't pull a muscle

When you are in high school you lay on the bed and stretch on those jeans that are way too small but you want to wear them anyway.

When you are in college you stretch the money in your checkbook to be able to afford Thursday Ladies Night.

When you are a working woman you stretch out on the couch when you get home after a long day.

When you become pregnant you find your body stretching in places you didn't think were suppose to stretch....and it leaves a mark. What up with that? (this is what had me thinking about the word stretch and it's many meanings)

When you are a working mom you stretch your time to fit everything in.

When you are retired your face is stretched with wrinkles from you job and kid.

When you are old your face is still streatched but your boobs are pretty bad too.

Then one day we all stretch out and lay 6 feet under.

This is the life cycle of the word stretch. Do other people's minds think about random stuff like that too? Don't answer that.....Maybe it's just me?

My name is Rachel, and I have an addiction

Ok, so I diss on the Dirt Cheap a lot and how I fear I will get the swine flu or pink eye every time I go there and how I need to wear a SARS mask to enter then bathe myself with germ-ex when I get in my car.

Well since we are all friends here I feel I can admit to you all that I am secretly addicted to Dirt Cheap. They say the first step is admitting you have a problem, so maybe that is progress? It may come to the point of intervention before this baby gets here. I may be risking this baby's life with the filthy shelves and sitting on the floor constructing devices to make sure all the pieces are there before I buy it for mere pennies, but I love it. I love getting something for nothing, I love getting crap I don't need but may find handy one day, I love it when old ladies come and look in my basket like I'd found gold and say "Oh! Where did you find that?!?"

For those of you that are not living in the Land of Koz and aren't privy to what I am speaking of you see - around these parts they have this place that gets stuff from stores like Target, Lands End, Gap, Wal-Mart, Polo, Liz Claiborne, K-Mart, etc etc. It's either stuff that has been returned, stuff that they have too much of, stuff that is last season, stuff that may even be broken. I think it also gets stuff from like metropolitan dumpsters and even landfills. No matter what angle you look at it, it's just stuff. If you don't have a visual yet, it pretty much looks like a tornado came to this store and threw up a bunch of "stuff" that you don't need, but there is a jewel in there somewhere....you just have to find it. And when you find it it will be no less than 50% off and up to 90% off. Clothes they are either $3, $5 or 60% off.

I fall into a time warp when I get into Dirt Cheap. It's like the world around me doesn't exist and it is just me and all this stuff piled sloppy on the shelves and on the floor and in bins and on racks. It's an OCD persons nightmare.

In the past month, I have been there more times than I'd like to share with you all. I've spent more money than I care to disclose to you (or my husband) I've contracted a rash there is no cure for (just kidding) - -but I have found some great stuff and I'm not ashamed. Today I have received 2 compliments on my linen shirt from Lands End and the day hasn't even begun. Guess what pumpkin......Dirt Cheap $3. What's that? You want a hamburger off of my husbands new Weber portable gas grill as you drink on that Toddy in the Grove? Sure thing, $20 at the Dirt Cheap.

Chip has dubbed me the "Dirty Cheap Hoochie"........well, he didn't use the word Hoochie, but I improvised for the sake of my readers. Let's just say it starts with a Wh and ends with a ore.

My name is Rachel.........and I'm addicted to Dirt Cheap.

Scale of 1 to 10

If I had to judge the way I've been feeling on a scale from 1 to 10 I'd say I have felt like a 9.75 this past week or so. I've been feeling so well that it's almost scary because it doesn't feel like this should be a sense of normalcy for a pregnant lady.


The sleep fairies visit me every night with sweet dreams on my magic Boppy pillow.
They have stopped calling me Fatty McFat Butt because I no longer feel like a bloated cow.
I do not have to eat every two hours like I'm in some Pop Tart eating competition.
I'm tired, but not nearly as tired as I was. I almost started bribing people to let me pay them to keep quiet while I take a 15 minute nap under my desk at work.

The weather has been so nice, that may have played a part in my lack of couch potato-ness. I've also heard about how great the Second Trimester is and maybe I have arrived? I've mowed the yard, done laundry, cleaned the house, thought about washing my car (didn't happen, but I did think about it). I mean wow! These are milestones in my energy level compared to how it has been. It's great, but very scary because in my head I think I'm suppose to feel like dookie, but don't.

I don't want to push my great fortune, but I really need to move stuff up in the attic, write in the baby book before I forget the past 14 1/2 weeks, wash my car, further clean out my closet, organize my proverbial "plate," and take my pups out to the Country Club to swim in the lake.

These will be my goals for the next week. I hope I continue to feel good.

I have to admit that at lunch yesterday I ate something bad and it is still threatening me but I'm not letting that bring me down. Everything else is going too great to complain.

YAY, I think me and Hill or Catherine Henderson (whoever you are in there) are finally going to get along.

I have to give a big shout out to my friend Megan L. that came over last night. Chip and I had a fun time talking and eating dinner and hanging out with her. Good friends are a part of my mojo and play a part in making me feel better too. Sorry, Shanda....just another place for you to read about all that you missed out on. Man, that tuna filet with lemon garlic butter sauce, rice and garden picked tomatoes with fresh basil, cracked pepper, kosher salt drizzled with red wine vinegar & evoo was fabulous! I enjoyed my O'Douls while Chip and Megan enjoyed their Rolling Rocks. Good times...good times.

Road Trip

Saturday we had planned to go to the Reservoir with a couple of friends, but one of them didn't feel well so we ended up going on a road trip. It was me, Chip, Charlie (Chip's Dad) and Joyce (Chip's Step-Mom).

Joyce is originally from Yazoo City and had been telling us about Wolf River and how back in the day they use to have some good parties down there. Well you know us Hawkins, always looking for a good party. We loaded up the boat and headed down there.

This is me and Joyce. We are wearing the 50 cent visors I bought at Wal-Mart and our black shades, aren't we too cool for school? No, I'm not naked....or am I? No one will ever know.

I look naked because my b-suit doesn't have straps. This happened in some of my wedding photos too. I guess I'm all about the nakedness. It leaves a little something for the imagination.

This is Charlie & Chip straight chillin'. Chip's got the visor flipped backwards the wind in his hair he is the epitome of the thuggish ruggish bone.

I like this picture. She doesn't know I'm taking it and you can tell she's just soaking it all in. Reminiscing about the old party days.

Then I left the best for last.

(Queue Miami Vice Soundtrack)

I tried to zoom this picture in a bit so that you could see the pure coolness that my Chippy exudes. The whole dark shades with hat flipped back hat and reflection in the mirror making sure danger is not around the corner. Taking everything seriously with his Performance Fishing Gear t-shirt as he maneuvers the boat rapidly thorough the open waters. (You get the picture?)

You may not know this about my Chippy, but he is a man that knows exactly what he wants to do with his life. His dream is to be on the B.A.S.S. Fishing Tour with Toyota and O'boy Oberto beef jerky as his official sponsors. In the off season he wants to be the guy that reads the books on tape and make the funny and serious voices.

Back off ladies...........he's mine!

What's In A Name?

Some of you have heard, some of you have not......but we have names for Boy Baby Hawkins and Girl Baby Hawkins.

Are you ready?

Hell Yeah, Damn Right

Hotty Toddy

Gosh Almighty

Who the hell are we? Hey!

Flim Flam Bim Bam

Ole Miss By Damn!

Sorry, I got off on a tangent. Can you tell I'm excited about the upcoming football season? Anyway, back to what you want to know since the majority of my readers are State fans. I don't discriminate.

Ok......for real this time..... Are you ready?

Most of you know Boy Hawkins will be named

Charles Hill Hawkins IV

"Hill"

Girl Hawkins will be named

Catherine Henderson Hawkins

We will decide what to call her when she is born. Will she look like a Catherine or a Henderson?

Catherine Henderson is named after my great great grandmother Katherine, but we will spell it Catherine. Henderson is my mothers maiden name. Both names end up having Chip's initials C.H.H.

We cannot wait until August 20th. It is a month from tomorrow and it can't get here soon enough!