Toy chest?

Due to Christmas toys and the overflow effect they are having on Anderson's room. I am in search of a wooden toy chest for his room. I have checked ebay and several other sites. I still am not satisfied and simply cannot pay those prices!!! Ranging from 150-200$ Somebody please tell me I'm dreaming. Any ideas of where to get a toy chest?

100+1 Things About Me

1. I was born Susannah Smith Ivey on July 16, 1978
2. I am an only child
3. Although, I do have one sister, Jana, who is my stepsister, but I consider her real
4. My parents have been divorced since I was 3 months old
5. I grew up thinking there was nothing wrong with spending every other weekend with a different parent.
6. My mom is my BEST friend, I talk to her at least 3 times if not more per day
7. She knows everything about me, EVERYTHING, even the bad stuff
8. But there's not much bad stuff ;)
9. I made terrible grades in school, I went to summer school twice and nearly didn't pass Anatomy my senior year.
10. I became a teacher, go figure
11. I am a person who says she doesn't care what people think, but really I do.
12. I met my husband in 9th grade, he was introduced to me by my cousin, Matt
13. We went to Homecoming Dance our senior year
14. We didn't like each other like that
15. Our sophomore year in college, we fell in love, for good
16. We dated for 2 and a half years and we broke up
17. 4 months later, I went to the hospital to visit my ailing grandmother and he was there to visit his, and we met on the elevator and agreed to talk it out.
18 WE did
19. We dated for 2 and a half more years
20 Adam asked me to marry him on my birthday, he put a ring on a teddy bear.
21. I was surprised!
22. I thought I was getting a digital camera
23. So did my mother, when we told her, she stirred up the potato salad she was making (very hardand fast)
24. After 5 years of marriage, we decided to have a baby.
25. I secretly hoped for a boy
26. Anderson came 1 month early and had to stay in NICU
27. That was the HARDEST thing I've ever had to do was leave my baby at the hospital
28. I cried the whole way home and didn't know if I could stop--EVER!!
29. He came home 6 days later!
30. Anderson and Adam are the number one loves of my life
31. I don't know what I would do without them
32. Sometimes I am mean to those I love, Anderson and Adam included
33. Sometimes they are mean to me;)
34. I have a degree in secondary education/social science
35. This is my 8th year of teaching
36. I hope it is my last
37. I teach high school seniors, but secretly don't want to work
38. I love chocholate, but most of the time can't spell it
39. I eat it everyday
40. I have never lived in another state, besides Alabama
41. I lied, I was born in Florida
42. I love make up
43. Especially mascara, cover girl, remarkable
43. I spend 7 minutes on each eye, each morning.
44. Before Anderson, it took me 2 hours to get ready
45. After having Anderson it now takes me 45 minutes
46. I have blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair, my son, Anderson has brown hair and brown eyes
47. I love to blog
48. I love to talk on the telephone, but only when I'm in the car
49. I don't like to do it at home, because I want to focus my attention on Anderson
50. I pick him up when he cries-everytime
51. I am NOT a fan of babwise
50. I spoil him, people say...
51. I don't care. I want to tell them to mind their business
52. I delivered Anderson by an emergency c-section
53. i want another baby, so that they will be 2 years apart
54. I'm not getting any younger
55. I want another boy-maybe Andrew?? If a girl then Anna Bennett
56. Our son does not take long naps, only 30 minutes 2x per day
57. I love God and pray every morning, it's hard to find time and that is terrible!
58. I have a memorized prayer route that I go over every morning and I ask the same things, there is a little variation at the end though
59. I love dogs
60. I love seeing dogs doing funny things, it makes me laugh
61. I would TOTALLY fight somebody if they hurt a baby, old person, or dog
62. I love babies, this didn't happen until Anderson
63. I love dressing up, I always wear black or dark brown dress pants
64. I don't own a pair of jeans-period
65. I used to, but when they got too small, I told myself, Nope, not until you can fit into those again
66. I never did
67. But I am still trying
68. I gained 35 pounds while I was pregnant
69. I have lost all plus a little bit more
70. I also love to dress down, black exercise pants and sweatshirts with Ugg boots
71. I so love my Uggs, I wear them with everything
72. I buy a sweatshirt everywhere we travel to
73. We used to travel alot before we had Anderson.
74. We had been to Seattle, British Columbia(Canada), Texas, Fl, S.C., N.C., L.A. and Gatlinburg many times
75. I hate getting ready in the mornings, if I could I would never put on makeup.
76. But, I like the way I look with it on so.......
77. I love Christmas, it's my favorite holiday
78. For many reasons, the lights, the decorations, the weather, but most of all the birth of Christ
79. Poor Mary, she must have been scared delivering Jesus in the manger with all those animals watching
80. I hope the people at the Inn who told her their was no room felt bad about themselves
81. In life in general, I jump from one subject to another
82. I do this when I work too
83. I am not diagnosed, but I think I am dyslexic
84. I spell backwards sometimes
85. I sometimes say things backwards
86. I am a good friend
87. If you are my true friend, I will do anything for you
88. I am a good mom, I hope;)
89. I am a good wife, I hope;)
90. I am not a good house keeper anymore
91. I used to be, but again when Anderson came along, it all fell by the wayside
92. I can type very fast
93. Over 75 words per minute
94. I made a D in typing at Northview with Mrs. Snell
95. I love staying going and staying with my momma
96. I feel like a teenager again
97. Sometimes I act like it too
98. I love Adam and Anderson soooo much(did I already say that)
99. Your are Awesome for hanging in there and reading about me, I'm super boring
100. I miss my Aunt Beverly and Grandmomma Ivey terribly, though both had character flaws, doesn't everybody
101. They, along with my momma and daddy, shaped my life tremendously.

Whewwww.....

Anderson's First Christmas 2008

Adam's UGLY Christmas sweater and yes, it's a joke!

Wow! What a whirlwind Christmas turned out to be! It was so awesome to be able to have Anderson this year and see his excitement for bows and paper and Gus' toys...;)

We went to the McCord's house for Christmas Eve and celebrated with Tami's family. It was fun! Anthony(adam's brother) and his wife Kelly spent the night at the McCord's also, fun, fun, fun! Anderson had been sleeping so well the week prior and then BOOM on early Christmas morning...he woke up at 1 a.m, 2:45, 3:30 and finally 4:25a.m. Adam and I jokingly said he was waiting for Santa Claus and swore he kept hearing him that is why he kept waking up. But the real reason is he is cutting his upper top tooth and boy did it make him fussy!

OUR Family Christmas Eve Night

Finally on Christmas morning around 7:00a.m. we began opening presents with Pappy and Nonny(Adam's parents) Anderson received some great gifts...one cool one was a John Deere tractor that Adam was given on his 2nd Christmas. Adam's parents repainted it and it looks so neato. Anderson will really enjoy that one in the near future.

Anderson and Gus in Anderson's John Deere hat that matches his tractor

We gave Anderson a sit and spin pony that sits and rides in front of the television and has games and learning tools on it, PRETTY COOL!!

Then we went to Nana and Pop's(my mom and Bob) house to open presents with them....where Granny Hall(Bob's mom-who is 92 by the way-held Anderson as much as he'd let her)

We were lazy the rest of the day, Adam took a 3 hour nap, due to lack of sleep the night before!

We have a tradition of going to my Daddy's and Mimi's on Christmas night and spending that time with them. It would have been fun, but Anderson was so ill that Adam or I spent half the night in the bedroom with him, pleading with him to take a nap. He NEVER did! Papa Ivey came over just to see "his boy" Papa Ivey is 90 by the way

Anderson and Nanny(Adam's grandmother) the day after Christmas

We had a wonderful time, but were glad to get home and get back in our routine. Anderson especially was thankful to get back home and get into his bed. I can't believe next Christmas Anderson will be 20 months old! How CRAZY is that!!

8 months old and Merry Christmas!!

8 months old!!

On Tuesday, the 22nd, Anderson was 8 months old! I thank God EVERYDAY for our wonderful blessing! This past month you have learned to sit up, got two teeth, started babbling a whole lot and have been the BEST BOY A MOMMA COULD ASK FOR. We love you so much and can't wait to spend our 1st Christmas with you!

Merry Christmas everybody! Do you still believe? We do!

Fantasy in Lights

This year, Adam and I decided that we would not give each other presents and focus on Anderson. We decided that we would take Anderson to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia and go see the Fantasy in Lights Tour. Now, for those of you who have never seen this show, shame on you, go take your kids, it's fabulous!! We left on Saturday and spent the day at Callaway Gardens, where we walked some trails, went to see Mr. Carson's vegetable garden and relaxed.

The Fantasy in Lights Tour started at 6p.m and of course, when it got to 6 p.m., Anderson was exhausted and fell fast asleep. Adam and I enjoyed the show from the car, it takes about 45 minutes to drive through and boy is it beautiful. Half way through the drive, Anderson woke up and we took him out of his carseat and put him up front (no, I'm not a bad parent, we were only going 2 miles, if that, per hour). Anderson LOVED the tour, he looked at all of the lights very intensely and listened to the music that accompanied the lights. He even cried when we were done with the tour.

On Sunday, we went to Warm Springs, Georgia and went to the Little White House(which is the former home of FDR)who just happens to be my favorite president. Anderson and I got our picture made in front of the Little White House(knocking on FDR's door). Adam made this picture of me when I was pregnant with Anderson and I thought it would be neat to recreate the scene again with him.

We had such a wonderful time and Anderson was sooo good!

Oh, I almost forgot, Anderson is 8 months old today!!! I can't believe it! This last month you got another tooth(a total of two bottom ones), grew your hair back and sat up by yourself...such a big boy!! My baby is growing up!! I love you Anderson

On a holiday note, Christmas time is coming, (on Wednesday to be exact) and we are thrilled for Anderson's first Christmas! We are headed to Dothan, this will be our last year traveling there for Christmas, since we have a son now, we want him to be able to open presents at his house from now on. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!;)

Thankful Thursday

We have SO much to be thankful for
I am thankful for my wonderful husband who loves me no matter what
I am thankful for our WONDERFUL son Anderson, who God has blessed us with and who I look at each and everyday and think, "wow, he is a miracle"
I am thankful for my momma, who is the best momma and friend a girl could ask for
I am thankful for Mrs. Sherri, who babysits Anderson, she is so wonderful and does so much for him, (she got him a rid on car and made us an Alabama quilt for Christmas) she is too sweet!!
I am thankful for Gus who loves me just because I'm his mommie and is ALWAYS faithful to me
I am thankful for Christmas break and time home with my babes
I am thankful for Carmellos and water(the best snack ever)Adam just brought me one!
I am thankful for a God who sent his son into this world and who died for our sins

Good night :)

Heavy on my heart

As I go from day to day. I find that I worry about well Richard Carlson put it best, the small stuff. I worry if Anderson doesn't eat all of his food or if he wakes up in the middle of the night or cries for no reason or countless other little worries. Today, Adam, Anderson and I went to the reunion Christmas NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) party. If you don't know, Anderson was in NICU for 6 days after he was born. I had him 1 month early and had an emergency c-section and didn't even get to hold him or kiss him after he was delivered.

I feel that I was sent to that party for a reason, to give back. I encountered the Footprints Ministry lady, who her non-profit organization was so kind to give us a bag with gift card, disposable camera, scent blanket, bible and poem in it when Anderson was in NICU. I began reading their blog and really want to get involved in their ministry to the NICU babies.

We have so much and are SO BLESSED to have Anderson happy and healthy. I always felt guilty in NICU because Anderson was healthy (he just had wet lungs was jaundiced and wouldn't eat too much) and I would look around at all of the babies who weighed 2 and 3 lbs.

Please consider giving a donation or even your time if you live around somewhere that has a ministry like Footprints Ministry. You can go to http://www.nicufootprints.blogspot.com/. It was a life saver for us. I remember sitting at home after the first day I had to leave my child in the hospital, crying uncontrollaby and opening the bag that Footprints had given to us. I remember feeling a peace when I read the bible verses that had been provided. Oh, my God had come to me in my darkest hour! There is HOPE!

Thank you God for our wonderful baby and I continue to pray for those parents who are or have experienced the same thing.

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him." (1 Samuel 1:27)