Did you know?

I think everyone has a few random things that even their best friends may not know. I'm sure everyone has thoughts that run through their heads that seem normal...but when these thoughts are spoken aloud those "normal" thoughts are told that they are strange or biazarre. Well, I'm going to share a few things about me or some of my random "oh, so normal" thoughts.

1. Coast Guard- If I had a do over, I would join the Coast Guard. Seriously. I mean have the you seen the movie The Guardian... it's the closes thing to sexy as a military movie gets.

2. Dead Bodies- EVERYtime I see a garbage bag on the side of the road my FIRST thought is, "I wonder if there is a body in there." Crazy I know- but I bet you'll think about it next time. :)

3. Buzzards- I don't care what science says... I think that a turkey mated with a quinea and that's how we got buzzards. It totally makes since to me.

4. Hotdogs- I'm not a huge fan, but I like them burnt. Same for bacon, bologna, and marshmellows.

5. Morning- I have a burst of energy in the morning once I GET up. I really don't lay around thinking about it- I just do it...get it done...move on.... check it off.

6. Tapping- I usually tap my foot three times before I put my foot through something ex. pants. I don't always to it- but I still do it. It drives Shad nuts. So I do it more.

Material Things

I'm not one who thrives off of a particular brand-
I honestly don't understand all the hype.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE nice things...

I have a nice house, ONE nice car, and some nice clothes.
And

I love for things to be beautiful and complete.
I love decorating...
having parties....
buying clothing...
which all have to do with material things
BUT
I don't understand someone who HAS to have a
Chanel bag, a Tiffany this or that...or a certain type of car, shoe, or jeans.
You get the point.

To hear someone say-

Oh, that a (insert brand name) ______...

is very nauseating to me.
I don't think it is a money thing-
if I love it, I'll buy it.
Period.
Recognizing a material thing because of it's brand- not because of it's beauty

is a nauseating.

For example:

But I would never
-mark my words-
NEVER
own Louis Vuitton bag.
I said OWN.
Not because I think they are ridiculous amount of money;
it's because I love beautiful things.
I see nothing BEAUTIFUL about a two tone brown bag.
I wouldn't want it.
I see nothing beautiful about anything that has a brand name slapped all over it.

Just saying.

Sorry if you are offended.

Tubes

I told Lawson yesterday that he would be getting tubes in his ears and here is his reaction in pictures.

"Handsome, I have some news for you... listen carefully to Mommy."

"Lawson, mommy is serious."

"It's kinda bad, but it will get better."

"You are getting tubes in your ears, and it will make you feel better. We have to be in Laurel at 6:15 in the morning to check in. Lawson, you can't have any food after midnight. I think the worst news is that you can't have your passy after midnight either..."

"It's going to be okay; it's just a few hours without it. You can keep it for now. AND you're going to feel SO MUCH BETTER!"

****** So we get up, get going, and drive to Laurel. Check in, go back, and talk to the doctors.

Lawson did great. They warned us that when he woke up that he would cry a lot. Which he did! They said it was from the anesthetics. The doctor said that his ears were horrible; I've never heard a doctor say something was horrible. So they must have been bad. He said that he didn't see any permanent damage. Lawson's ears drained a lot of gross fluid when we first got to go back to see him- he's gotta feel better! Seven infections in six months is rough. Hopefully, happy days are ahead!

6 month

I can't believe it... 6 months. Lawson is rolling over and over... If I put him on the floor he is never where I left him. He is eating rice cereal once a day and taking 5 oz in each bottle. He has had MANY MANY ear infections (5 in 5 months- plus he has fluid behind both ears as I speak), so we have now scheduled to get tubes on April 5th. Hopefully, this will really help him out! We go for our 6 month checkup on April 8th. He is a really happy baby except when he is hungry...then it gets ugly FAST. I think I may be rubbing off on Shad or brainwashing him with my favorites... we were just getting Lawson ready for bed and it was getting UGLY...He was STARVING...as we tried to give him his medicine, change his diaper, and put on his pjs, he was SCREAMING, because he was starving. Shad muted the scream by sticking the bottle in his mouth while I was trying to get him ready. Shad proceeded to reference my favorite movie- He said, Lawson you are acting like Gustoff (Augustus). Just hold on a minute, and you can eat. Don't act like Gustoff. Andrea, he wants the chocolate river, NOW!- I laughed and laughed! Do you know the movie?

You're my cousin TOO!

Shad's cousins flew down to Tupelo from South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado. So during spring break, we traveled north to Tupelo to spend a few days with them. We had a great time letting all of the kids meet each other....FYI- four babies born this year alone! We all went to Ballard Park to enjoy the beautiful weather and feed the ducks. Here are some photos-

Mimi and Lawson

All the little cousins PLUS Brad and Shad

Our Schipke boys


Too much cousin love can wear some girls out~

Grandma Jo with her two boys. They were born 12 HOURS apart.

While in Tupelo, Lawson got to see his other cousin , Harper. They are three months apart. They enjoyed looking at each other.

They were sweet to each other. Lawson told her how pretty she is, and Harper shared her toys with him. She even let him put her foot in his mouth. :) The next two photos are of my grandparents and Lawson. He LOVES Mamaw.... he talks to her NONSTOP, and smiles at her all the time... I think he likes her hair :) That afternoon is when Lawson starting "mouthing" mama. He didn't have the sound until the next day, but flapping those jaws in the motion mimicking me was really cute! Mamaw kept telling me that he was trying to say Mamaw NOT Mama :)

We had a great time with all of our cousins...it seemed like ALL weekend I told Lawson, "that's your cousin." I really wouldn't be surprised if his second word wasn't "cous-in."

Look Alikes

My mom and dad sent these pics to me last night...

Andrea or Lawson?

Just Like Me...Just Like Shad

Shad played football and was a defensive end in college... he was good. He was a quarterback's nightmare. Football was a huge part of his life growing up.

A couple of months ago, I thought of a gift that I really wanted to give him, but I had NO luck in finding what I really wanted...I thought I was going to have to do it- but my skills aren't so great; so, I kept on searching. I finally ran cross a lady whose shop is called Tutu Bella and after many emails, she made my idea that was in my head, and I couldn't be happier! Everything is cut out by hand... she did a W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L job!

This is the back of the shirt: A powerhouse last name ;) , and Shad's college football number which is also on the front. I'm sure our little DE is going to be following in his daddy's footsteps.

He may play like his daddy, but there is NO doubt he looks like me. Shad claims he looks like him, but I think deep down he knows that the kiddo looks like me only with blonde hair. Below is a picture from the day I was born. I know you can't tell from the picture, but they STILL use the same paper gowns at the hospital- same design; pink and blue teddy bears... I noticed it when I was looking at Lawson's photos from the hospital.

Lawson at five months.

Ahh, Love

This little boy....

is so sweet and totally has my heart. But that little boy has been so sick for a month! BUT HOPEFULLY, we are on the road to recovery!!!! We went back to the doctor for a recheck and came home with this...

Roscos the dog. He will be helping us breath three times a day.

His First

His first masterpiece, which was created at daycare. I LOVE that they do art with the tiny ones! The day I picked him up he was covered in paint... :)

We rolled over, and I got in on video! SO SO SO excited! It isn't the best quality since it was captured with my phone, but it's definitely great documentation!

Paint, Pencil, and Thread

Someone has been a little crafty. And it's been fun.

Below is a t-shirt I designed for my niece, Audrey. She was born VERY early and is a pure miracle! Kristy asked me to design a t-shirt as a fundraiser for March of Dimes. Below is the back of the design, and it's on a gray shirt. Her work, Citi Financial, is selling them for $12. If you would like one, email me. aschipke@gmail.com

Here is my latest painting. It's for a special little girl.

Today I sewed two appliques for Lawson. One is a car and the other is a heart. I was in the mood so I dug in L's closet to find a "blank" onesie that I could use. I didn't have any really cute fabric, but it didn't stop me. Oh, well cuter fabric next time. :)