You can call at 1:00 now

Jarrett called at 1:45 today.  What was he thinking?  It was the finale of all finales.  All My Children aired its last episode today.  Jarrett thought I had lost my mind, but it was no time for a "check-in" on how the day was going.   Mom and I were glued and don't know how Breaker slept through it all.  It was a the perfect "soap" finale; characters came back from the dead, women were popping up preggers, lots of bling being placed on the left hand, sight returned to the blind, the perfect couples were finally happily ever after . . .and then the twist:  Who did JR shoot?  It's not, "Who shot JR?" anymore.  I'm pretty sure it was Erica.  She was in the line of fire and Susan Lucci did not sign a contract to do webisodes.  Nothing gets past E! News.  So that's it.  After thirty-two years no more AMC for me.  I don't know what will replace my and mom's one o'clock lunch date TV.  Mom has a lot of resentment towards The Chew and rightfully so.  I think she's watched AMC since, um, the beginning?  I don't want to give away any age secrets:)  ABC's cancellation is also going to cost the fam laughter too.  There was nothing like hearing Dad give his take on the AMC storyline (he's home for lunch at one sometimes too).  But he doesn't have much room to tease mom and me.  He liked the soap opera with vampires.  What?

So it's a wrap.  I'm sure you all will be anxiously awaiting to learn of our new one o'clock appointment TV.  I'm thinking something on Bravo . . .

Race time

Raising two children is kicking my butt.  I've told many of you, "I thought baby number two would just blend right into our family of three routine."  Psych.  Combo-ing Breaker with Finley has presented me (and Jarrett) with crazy new challenges.  These challenges are sweet blessings, but whoa.  I do everything like I'm running a race.  If it's not race time, I'm strategically planning the family routine down to when to load the car and what needs to be laid out where to trigger me to do what's next.  I sound neurotic, don't I?  But if I don't plan carefully we crash and burn fast around here.   Make bottles, lunches and have EVERYTHING laid out the night before.  We're figuring it out.  Kim Landers says to give it six months.  We've got three months under our belt.  I think we can make it.

All of the racing and planning has me very thankful for modern conveniences.  Below are my "mom" faves:

1.  Clorox wipes
2.  Gummies (they can be my worst nightmare too)
3.  Noisemakers
4.  Jogging strollers
5.  Portable DVD players
6.  iPhones
7.  Bottle/babyfood makers
8.  Pull-Ups
9.  Angel Monitors
10. Swaddlers
11.The Black Eyed Peas
12. Soothie pacifiers
13. "Squeezy" fruit
14. Gripe Water

Whatta weekend

It's Saturday night and I'm dreading Sunday, but for good reasons.  Our house has been buzzing with family since yesterday and I hate to see it come to an end.  Five-two-five Timmons Street will be under the Sunday blues tomorrow afternoon.  Thank goodness for the Primetime Emmy Awards.  They'll be momma's bright spot, bless dad's heart :)

Last night we went to the VHS v. BHS football game with Finley and Eli in tow.  Finley was so frightened of the band I thought we were only going to make it one quarter, but she rallied.  Eli was glued to Uncle J's side.  I couldn't help but tear up when I saw him with his arm around Jarrett.  He was taking it all in with Jarrett and his "Valdosta Boys".  Oh, and while releasing her fears Finley also released in her britches.  Thank goodness it was only number one.  I sat the entire second quarter and through halftime before realizing my pants were wet too.  The joys of motherhood!  I wouldn't have traded it for anything.  She was sitting so sweetly in my lap learning about the football game social scene :)

I was hoping last night was going to be Breaker's first football game, but after a trip to Dr. Aljabi's office and confirmation his poor little ears weren't quite better he got to spend QT with Beebe and Big Daddy.  Bless my little man's heart.  His left ear isn't quite putting up the fight like the right one.  Dr. Aljabi says it's still as red as it was last week.  He's on his second round of antibiotics along with ear drops this time.  Jarrett and I are praying they do the trick.  If not we're headed to the hospital for blood work and a urine culture on Monday.  He's been eating and sleeping like a champ though.  He's back on house arrest too.  I couldn't tell if Dr. Aljabi sensed my fear Friday.  I was praying in my head he wouldn't ask me about Breaker's activity outside the house.  Whew.

We heard from one of our NICU families this week too!  Jarrett got a letter from the Chad and Krista Kennedy at the office.  Both of their little girls are home now!  We hope to see them at the NICU reunion next month!  We lived with them at Ronald McDonald for a week and shared the same tight bond with the HRP nurses.  Man I miss our Savannah Family!  I hope we get to visit soon. . . maybe bring them some sweet treats.  Gigi's new fall menu is out . . . whatcha think HRP girls?!

I better run.  Speaking of sweet treats, Katie has sent me a pumpkin cupcake to try!  Nothing like a pregnant woman's baked goods :)

Raising an RN

Much to Jarrett's weak stomach's dismay I think we're raising an RN to carry on the Carter Family tradition.  Lately Finley is demonstrating all the signs of a nurse in the making.

1.  As you can see in the picture below, she LOVES Band Aids.  She wants them for herself and anyone within a five mile radius.  Everyone needs Band Aids.  Thank goodness there are no latex allergies in the family.

2.  She is bowel-obsessed.  Today she told me her poop comes from her booty.  She inspects for color, size and smell.

3.  "I need a snack," is her tag line.  She could make it through a twelve hour shift without a meal.

4.  If a bathroom looks suspicious to her she can magically hold it.  Unless the ocean is nearby.  In that case, go hide in the waves and get take care of business.

5.  Bath time is never complete until all of her "friends" are carefully bathed.

6.  The sheets are pulled up and friends in line on her bed before leaving in the morning.  Clothes, shoes, undies etc. for the following day are in a perfect stack before bed at night.

I think the signs are there.  The only thing needing work are her therapeutic communication skills.  She's going to have to learn screaming isn't the best way to get what you want:).

Has it really been ten years?

I can not believe tomorrow marks the ten year anniversary of  9/11.  It's amazing how time has passed and how things have changed. 

What was I doing that day?  I remember it like yesterday.  I was living in the ZTA house.  Sarah was my roommate and she had already left for class.  I was rolling out of the bed to head to Ramsey when the first tower was hit.  I thought it was a terrible accident, bless the poor pilot's family.  On the way to Ramsey, as I listened to the radio, the second tower was thrown into the mix.  I got that terrible, butterly-in-your gut feeling, terror.  I was afraid.  Having a dad in the Navy Reserves and being a news hound I knew these plane crashes were a sinister act. . . on our country, not in the middle east or somewhere far off.  I proceeded with my routine and called mom.  As soon as I made it to the treadmill I was tuned to TODAY.  It wasn't long before the Pentagon and Shanksville became a part of the day's tragedy.  I was really getting that nervous-gut feeling.  Where could we go for safety?

When I made it back to the house everyone one was buzzing.  Susan wanted to go home and Sarah had made it back from class.  I got ready and headed to the NS15 Newsroom.  I couldn't get there fast enough.  When I got there my classmates were glued to the monitors and surfing the net for the latest.  This is what us news junkies live for, bringing the story to the people.  NS15 is a CBS and CNN affiliate.  We watched live, uneditted feed.  It was mind boggling.

I spent most of the day with my sorority sisters in the TV room trying to make sense of it all.

That night a group of us went to Redeemer Presbyterian for a special prayer service.

Those are the memories most vivid to me.

Now I think about how our world has changed and how most of us in the TV room that day now have children of our own to protect from terror.

I hope our country spends tomorrow in reflection and remembers how we all joined together that day (and since) to protect our families from harm's way.  I hope it doesn't turn into a day of politics and jargon.  I hope we take time to recognize our resilience and comradery and how we are all more alike than different.

Strollin' with my homies

We've crossed-over.  The Bridges now stroll via the mini-van version of strollers, we have a side-by-side :)  Our double-stroller arrived yesterday and we went spinning tonight!  The weather was perfect for our maiden voyage.  You may not be able to tell by the pictures, but Breakman isn't quite big enough (three months to go per guidelines).  Finley was determined to have a co-pilot though.  Check it out.

Randomness from Timmons

It is some craziness up in here.  Colic is a beast, not like Beauty & The Beast (had to explain that to Fin), but a real beast.  You never know when it's going to strike.  We thought things were getting worse instead of better this week, but after a trip to Aljabi's office today we now know poor little man has a double ear infection.  Yes, I am a nurse, but don't own an otoscope.  None of the other signs were there.  The bright side is maybe Breaker is getting over colic.  It's just his ears?  We'll see when the Amoxicillin is complete.

The second crazy is our little lady, Miss Finley Bridges herself.  This house exists for her to watch princess movies, eat gummies, drink Arnold Palmer,  smush Play-Dough, color on with permanent markers and scream at the top of her lungs. . . or at least this is what she thinks.  Enter Montesorri Christian Schoolhouse and the answer to momma's prayer!  Miss Sandra and Mr. Robert are working miracles. Finley has started picking up after herself and pushing her chair in.  OMG.  We have been making lots of "treat" trips lately.

Let's see what else?  I think I should do a "Sonal" list of the month's tops.

Listening to:  The Black Eyed Peas, again.  Boom Boom Pow soothes Breaker just like it did Finley.

Eating:  YOBE!!  Our family is obsessed with Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwhich.

Watching:  Not much of anything. . .some Big Brother, some Rachel Zoe, some Flipping Out, the Weather Channel (it's hurricane season) and of course Disney Princess Sing Along.  Oh! How could I forget last weekends's discovery--RIO!  Love it.

Wearing:  Scrubs again, but in fall colors.  Um. .  .running shoes I got while I was on bedrest :) 

Reading:  Who What Wear blog, AWOHHN Vitals, Ladybug Girl and  Beauty & The Beast.  I'm aching to get going on The Help.  Oh and there was a touch of Strong Willed Child at the beginning of August.

Favorite Family Activity:  FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL! 

I better jet.  It's past my bed time.  Gonna be back sooner next time.