Say Cheese --It's Christmas through pictures.

Okay, so this isn't on Christmas, but it is a memorable moment. This is Uncle Bill holding Hunter for the first time!!

Christmas Eve at the Stratman house


Yes, all 3 of us are looking at different cameras/people. But at least we are smiling.


This was the best picture I got of the grandkids with their Grandma & Grandpa. Daddy is wincing in pain I believe. He mumbled something about kneww


Hunter and his meltmyheart smile and giggle. Doesn't he look handsome in his Chaps vest, etc. ?

Jerry and I opening our calendars.

Arissa drew Hunter's name for the cousin gift exchange. She did a wonderful job of getting Hunter this Ocean Wonder Sea Horse. He LOVES it!!

Christmas Morning in Harriman

Hunter getting ready to open his presents from Santa.

Christmas Day at Papaw's with the girls

We got them new bikes!!!!

The girls got Barbie scooters from Uncle Scott and Aunt Becky.

Hunter and Papaw enjoying talking to each other. Papaw still won't hold Hunter, but he will talk to him all day long.

We had a wonderful Christmas!! Hunter made it even more special this year. I am looking forward to next year and the years to follow. I hope everyone had a nice holiday as well.

Safe and Sound

Monday morning I woke up to Olivia and Hunter throwing up!! All before 6:00. I believe they are both sinus related, but icky all the same.
Yesterday, I went to Maryville for a doctor's appt. I was able to visit 2 good friends I hadn't seen in a very long time and Hunter and I went to lunch with Jerry.
Hunter and I went to Target to get his new carseat and were headed down Alcoa Hwy to the Target in downtown west.......
And then it happened in a instant...........
Some teenie bopping, cell phone yacking, didn't see me 2 lanes over and decided to merge anyway chick, hit me and Hunter!!!
We are fine. My first thoughts were to check on Hunter as I am cursing, yes cursing at the girl. My front passenger part of my car hit her driver side back end. I remember laying on the horn and seeing that she never looked up the whole time. I saw her coming. I am very sore today.........but we are safe. Thank the Lord.
Jerry came and got us. Thank goodness he works right around the corner from where the wreck happened. The police didn't take long and we were on our way to get me a rental car. I ended up going to the ER to have my wrist looked at and it is sprained. Again, I am soooo thankful that we are safe.
Life changes in an instant and we forget that sometimes. I am lucky and thankful that the wreck was no worse than it was. ......................

Have a Merry Christmas..................... Be Safe.

Ho Ho Ho -- I'm on Christmas Break : )

Just a quick update............. I am super-excited to finally be on Christmas Break!! 2 weeks with Hunter and doing and sleeping when I want to : ) Hunter came to school with me this afternoon and was talking up a storm and smiling at everyone ...... even for the camera!!


The girls and I when I gave them their Christmas presents........ new shoes!!!


Talking to his Aunt Lana


Smiling with his Aunt Bette

Chillin with Aunt Crystal................

When the wind blows

This is what happens when the wind blows a little too hard and your apparently rotten pine tree cannot handle it anymore!!!!!!!!!! I am standing on my deck at the backside of the house. All I can say is ..................... Thank the Good Lord above! That tree very well could have fallen directly on my bedroom (to your left of this photo). I am VERY fortunate that it did not touch a thing except for the backyard.

It even missed the neighbors shed and the end of my privacy fence.


Again, I know how lucky I am. This tree could have wreaked havoc on my already falling apart house.

Another bonus for the day................. we get a snow day today, so Hunter and I are already snuggling, giggling, and cooing at each other. Olivia and Chloe will be here later, so we must enjoy our peace and quiet now.

Stay warm and if anyone wants some pine wood for anything, come on over!!!!

Paraders

I am officially on the countdown to Christmas Break. I cannot wait to spend all that time with Hunter!!! Although I don't cry anymore when I drop him off, I still miss him sooooo much while we are apart. He makes my heart melt. He has this addictive smile and now laughs when you tickle his pits and thighs. He also "talks" and can tell stories for hours......... okay, minutes. He has so many people that love him and smother him with kisses and hugs on a daily basis.

This past Saturday, we went to watch Olivia and Chloe in the Halls Parade. They are in Girl Scouts (Daisies) this year. (side note: Hunter went to stay with his Aunt Bette and Uncle Doug for the evening. It was too cold for him to go out to the parade.)

They meet the Tuesdays that Jerry has them. He has informed me that he is the only Dad there. Someone at school told me that Dad's are called "Doo-Dads".
Back to my story............. we met the girls with their mom to give them their vests then were on our way to watch for them to come down the street. It wasn't our weekend to have them, so as soon as they passed and waved and Olivia threw candy at us, we left to come home.
We made it about 20 minutes down the road when we recieved a call from their mom that Chloe was wanting to see Jerry and come home with us. We pulled off the interstate and waited for them. We brought them home for the rest of the weekend here. Of course, they smothered Hunter with so much love this weekend. They are enjoying making him smile and laugh. They are such good big sisters.

They were exhausted from the parade and couldn't keep their eyes open on the way home.

Sunday I was invited to a wedding shower for one of my former students. I think Hunter was the hit of the afternoon. I had a great time visiting with my former students and reminsing about old times. I needed to laugh like that.

Jessica (the bride to be) , Myself, and Hunter.

My big boy with a stuffed animal he got from one of my students.

As I type, there are 8 days until my Break begins!!!!! December 19th can't come soon enough. I am looking forward to the holidays. But first, I have to get through semester tests and Christmas parties.................... arggggghghhhhhhh.

Thanksgiving Weekend and the Christmas Tree

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. I sure did. This year was the best yet. Jerry and I and the kids.......... Olivia, Chloe, and Hunter......... went to my Mom and Dad's to eat "lunch". Before eating, we had to attempt to get a photo for our Christmas card. Yeah, none of the pictures are perfect. You get 2 of the kids looking and smiling at the camera and one is doing something else. It was fun though.

This is just one picture we took.

We sat around, socializing and letting our food digest. Jerry and I took the opportunity to lay with Hunter on the floor and Kathy was able to get some really good arial shots. Thanks Kathy.

I love this picture.

After lunch it was time to head to Jerry's Dad's for "dinner". His niece Courtney came in from Virginia for the holiday. The girls absolutely adore her and she was excited to meet her newest cousin, Hunter. She was great with him all weekend. We will get to see her again at Christmas.

This picture is my current favorite. I think Hunter looks so darn cute and grown sitting in the recliner at Papaw's. We were watching "Elf" on t.v. All he needs is the remote and a bottle.

Yesterday we got a half day snow day and today we were on a 2 hour delay, so Hunter and I have spent more time together. We snuggled in the bed this afternoon before I got the urge to put up my Christmas tree.

My little man under the covers in Mommy's bed.

Yep, I know our self portrait is blurry. I tried. Sorry.

I had gotten a Pre-lit tree on sale last year and was excited to put it up. That tree kicked my butt. It was heavy. I am still not happy with it, but it will have to do for now. I am tired. I am ready for bed. Here are some pics of the tree decorating. .........

Hunter admiring (staring) at the tree with lights only.

Decorating (watching) a tree is hard work.

The finished product. I think my living room is shrinking.

Peace, joy, good tidings and all that jazz........................

Perspective and Thankfulness

How do I feel about this upcoming Holiday season?? BLESSED!!!!! So very blessed.

Perspective -------
A few weeks ago, my entire family walked (the younger, more in shape crowd, Ran) in the Buddy's Race Against Cancer, a 3.2 mile trek. We have done this for many years now, some missing a year here and there. This year we all walked....... even Hunter. Well, Hunter was in the carrier on the front of me. It was soooooo stinkin cold, but we weren't the only ones cold. As the race began, it felt good, until the first little hill. But it still felt good.............. it felt good to know that my family is generally in good health, that we are free of cancer, and not facing that daily battle. Kathy helped me see that as I wanted to complain about walking. She pointed out that there were people facing uphill battles every second of every day. That is when I found the Perspective I needed. The rest of the race was good. I was completely tired from walking with an 11 pound kid on the front of me, but it was good. I am healthy and cancer free. So it was good. And bonus, I wasn't sore at all from the walk, just tired.

Thankfulness ----
For the new and old blessings in my life...... especially the 11 pound, eating, sleeping, pooping machine sitting in my lap right now chewing on his fist!! I could not be happier or more thankful to have him in my life. What an unexpected Blessing he is!!!! I cannot imagine my life without him. And he still reminds me at various hours of the night how much of a blessing he is by smiling and cooing at me.

For Jerry (and the girls)....... Jerry and I are closer than ever and I am embracing and loving every minute of our times spent together. It doesn't matter what we do, we have fun. Our real journey together began in September, our journey as parents to Hunter. As Jerry delivered Hunter and placed him in my arms, an umbreakable bond was formed.
I am enjoying the special times with the girls as well. They make me smile and cry all in one sentence. They are awesome Big Sisters to Hunter. I look forward to our future together.

For my family..... Lordy be, where would I be without my parents and sisters?????? They are such an amazing source of support, laughter, and tears. I was able to share Hunter's birth with them this year and I am thankful for that. It was probably the best moment of this year!!! (At least I think so anyway) My family has seen hard, crazy times, and pulled through. There is no doubt we have challenges ahead of us, but I know we will make it through, together. We always do.

For my friends ..... Everyone who reads this and even those who don't -- I am thankful for you. I am thankful for friendships that went astray and somehow found their way back to me...... you know who you are...... and for new friendships and old ones.

Right now, I feel like I have it all. Those of you that know my story, know that I have come a long way. I feel that way too. As much as that time sucked, I would do it again to find the happiness and joy and contentment I feel with my life today. Yeah, times can get tough, money scarce, tempers flare, and crankiness abounds........but at the end of the day I have more than I deserve to be Thankful for.............

Thank you to all of you who bring that joy to my life.

Chloe, Hunter, and Olivia one random morning.......

Handsome Boy, Tired Mommy

Hunter and I have survived yet another week. We are slowly but surely getting into a routine. If he catnaps at the sitters house, then we are usually in for a pretty good evening. We get home from afterschool..........fyi -- Hunter and I answer the phones in the office 3 afternoons a week for our afterschool program. Hunter had to find a way to buy his diapers and formula : )
I give him a bath, play/talk to him, watch t.v. and he finishes up with a bottle with some rice cereal in it. If I am lucky, he will sleep for about 4 hours! I never thought I would be that excited to get such a small amount of sleep. We get up about 2 times during the night, he eats, and goes right back to sleep. He decides to wake me up for the day about 5:00.................. he eats then plays on his gym mat.

He loves this thing. He is such a "talker" now, cooing and smiling ALL the time. It makes me smile!! He is changing sooooo much. It seems like he changes every day. I know they grow right before your eyes.

This past weekend, Hunter and I had some visitors. Our childhood friend, Heather, came to visit Anne and she needed to meet Hunter. And of course, Auntie Anne had to get her "num-nums".

The goofy family and Heather. Hunter appears to be distracted by what I believe is the ceiling fan. And no, it wasn't even on. Strange boy I have.

On Sunday, Hunter and I went to church with Yvette (aka Aunt Bette and Uncle Doug) and her family. We had a nice service and Hunter was a good little baby. The preacher came up afterwards and told me how impressed he was with Hunter. We also had a little boy, about 8 years old, come up and tell me how beautiful Hunter was............ I wanted to take that little boy home with me too.
My man looked so handsome, I had to take some pictures. I just melt each time I look at the pictures.




Jerry has been gone for the last 2 weeks on a hunting trip. I can't wait for him to see Hunter talk to him. I am ready for Jerry to come home. He should be home either Saturday night or Sunday morning. Hunter and I are going to get Chloe and Olivia after school today for the weekend. I know they are excited to see their "baby brudda".

I think that is all for now. Have a great weekend...........................

Love, hugs, and snuggles...................... Carol and Hunter

Halloweening

My little Pumpkin : )

Hunter and I survived my first week back to work. He stayed with the babysitter on Thursday and Friday. Unfortunately, I think he slept all day on Thursday, meaning he didn't sleep much for me that night. I ended up with about 4 - 45 minute naps!! Needless to say, I was extremely exhausted on Friday. I still had to deal with pre-teens all day and go trick or treating that evening. My students were good. I had warned them at the beginning of class that I lacking sleep and to be on their best behavior.
That afternoon, Sandra ended up going and getting Hunter for me and bringing him to school early so he could spend the afternoon with me. That was fun.
Mrs. Sandra holding Hunter

After school, we ran by the house and grabbed the pumpkin to take to Jerry's house. We got to Jerry's and got the girls ready for the evening, then left to go by Mamaw and Papaw Carver's house (Hunter's Great Grandparents). Hunter hadn't met them, so they were excited to meet "Jerry Jr." as they called him. Here is Mamaw Carver..........

After visiting there, we were headed to Oak Ridge to trick or treat, roast weenies, and marsh mallows at the Freeman house. We all had a good time. Hunter was still decked out in his pumpkin gear, although you couldn't see it because he was in the carrier on the front of me. When it was time to go home, I was ready to leave!! I was about to fall out. I had no problems falling asleep and apparently snored very well too. Here are some pictures of the evening:

Me holding Hunter in the carrier.............

Olivia and Aekyrah (I probably spelled her name wrong.)

My little family...............................

Take care and thanks for checking in.

Unplanned

I am sleep deprived...... I am sleep deprived...... I am sleep deprived...... I am sleep deprived......

Notice a pattern here???? This workin and NO NAPS is for the birds!!!!! It is only Weds. and I am ready to fall out in exhaustion. I need prayers and some sort of Speed.
And to top it off...... my babysitter got sick the second day she was to keep Hunter. So, Thank the Lord, my Mommy never hesitated to keep Hunter on Tuesday. I don't know what I would do without her. Today, Wednesday, Hunter is going to stay with his Uncle Stebie (Steven) for the day. And, again, Thank the Lord, Steven never hesitated to keep him. I have heard Uncle Stebie is extremely excited to do this favor for me. I hope they both know how much it means to me. As of right now, Hunter will head back to the sitter's tomorrow.

Tell me when I will get used to this lack of sleep and sickness?

Hope you all are having a good week and getting some rest.

Thanks for checking in.........................

Dreading it : (

I am sick to my stomach thinking that tomorrow Hunter and I will be separated for the first time in our lives. My bag is ready for school and Hunter's is ready for the sitter's house, complete with diapers, formula, extra clothes, wipes, bottles, and anything I think he will need. I am sad each time I walk by the door to the garage and see our bags sitting there.

I am dreading going back to work. It sucks that I can't stay home with him. I miss teaching and all that goes with it (well, most of it anyway), I really do, but who wouldn't want to stay home with that precious face?

I know he will be taken good care of. I don't worry about that at all.

But will he know I am gone? Will he know the sitter isn't me? Will I be able to make it through the day without crying at the drop of a hat? I would like to think the answers to the first 2 questions is Yes and I am sure the anwer to the last question is NO.

I know I am not the first mother to have to leave her child. But this is a first for me........ leaving a child I never thought I would have.

As much as I am dreading leaving Hunter, I am excited at the thought of picking him up after school and smothering him with all the kisses we missed during the day. That thought will undoubtedly carry me through what will most likely be one of the hardest days of my life.

Priceless

What I have learned about being a Mommy (so far)...............

• "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Roseanne" are on NickAtNite, pretty much ALL nite.

  Info-mercials start about 3:00 each morning. Bowflex anyone??

  A Poopy diaper can awake you from a sound sleep.

  Making bottles in the middle of the night with your eyes half open is easier than it sounds.

  Sleeping for more than 2 hours at a time is a gift.

  Going to the bathroom without a 1 month crying is also a gift.

  Taking a shower is a gift............. (notice a trend?)

  Spitting up is inevitable.

  Giving a 1 month old a bath at 4:30 in the morning b/c he just hurled formula all over himself and you is a Gift. Yes, I said a gift.

Watching your little boy smile at you for no particular reason at 2:00 in the morning, AND taking great pride in it and smiling back............ PRICELESS!!!

Sleep deprivation

Life as I know it is now in the hands of a little boy named Hunter. He makes the decisions around here. He tells me when to sleep and when to be awake. He is the most precious little boy. I just want to smoosh his little cheeks and kiss him all day. I can't imagine my life without him, although I still can't believe I had a baby!! Then, 4:00 in the morning comes, he starts crying, and then I remember, I did have a baby. How life changes !!!!

Here are some pictures for you all to drool over............ and he is mine, no, you can't have him!!

Welcome Hunter William Jones : )

Words cannot explain the joy and love I feel right now. I feel so blessed to have a healthy baby boy ----

Hunter William Jones

Born September 15, 2008

At 6:03 a.m.

Weight: 6 lbs. 12 oz.

Length: 19.5 in.

Jerry and I are beyond happy. Our little boy is here, on his due date, and healthy. Jerry got to deliver his son, with Dr. Vick standing right behind him. It was completely awesome having him do that and my family being there. It is definitely something I will not forget as long as I live.