Thursday, August 28, 2008

You know you're from North Carolina when...

You know you're from North Carolina when...

I read some of these, and they are SO true! Especially where I live...to give you an idea, I'm surrounded by tobacco fields, and its pickin' time! So about once an hour a parade of tobacco-wagons comes haulin' fresh picked tobacco past my house on the way to the curing barns. (If you don't know what a curing barn is, you can stop reading because these won't make sense to you.)

I highlighted the ones that apply to us the most :o)

**Disclaimer - I did not write these, and after reading them I can easily say that someone from Eastern NC wrote these (see #s 8, 17, 34, 40, 55, 78, 82).

This is for ya'll North Carolinians...You know you're from the heart of NC if:

1. You've gotten used to the smell of chicken manure on a car trip to Raleigh.
2. Saying "y'all" isn't just a cute expression; it actually means something.
3. There are big labrador retrievers in the back of every truck.
4. You give directions using KFC and Waffle House as landmarks.
5. You still see Dale Earnhardt tributes on cars.
6. You can't imagine life without Bojangles' sweet tea.
7. Your annual church fundraiser always deals with BBQ and potato salad.
8. You have a sunburn from May to October.
9. Your 'heavy winter clothing' consists of some turtleneck sweaters, a fuzzy jacket, and your daddy's boots.
10. Your family has fried chicken once a week.
11. You can tell the difference between cotton fields and tobacco fields while driving.
12. One of your neighbors has a confederate flag hanging on their front porch.
13. Those "damn yankees" are taking over your school/church/workplace/neighborhood...
14. You've been "properly raised", and yankees love it when they hear you say "ma'am" and "sir".
15. You get your carbs from biscuits, rolls, pancakes, and grits.
16. You know the difference between a "redneck" and a "hick".
17. You own at least one t-shirt from Bert's Surf Shop, AB Surf Shop, or The Sanitary Fishmarket.
18. No matter what those people in Ohio say, we are still "first in flight".
19. The Coca-Cola 600 is as big as the Super Bowl.
20. You prefer Chick-fil-a to KFC.
21. You know pastry is a chicken stew, not a dessert item.
22. Every time you visit someone you’re offered something to eat and a glass of tea.
23. Your granddaddy always wore overalls and your grandma always wore an apron.
24. In summer you have home-grown tomatoes with every meal.
25 When it rains and the creek rises, everyone gathers to see how high it rose.
26. You know that "chunk" the ball means to throw it.
27. You've had a burger "all the way" - chili and slaw on it.
28. You can recognize a copperhead and your heart drops when you see one.
29. You have at least one relative that raises collards.
30. You know Krispy Kreme makes the best doughnut.
31. You have an opinion about UNC. You went there and loved it, or you hate everyone who did.
32. You know the difference between eastern BBQ and western BBQ (see number 85).
33. You would rather eat at Bojangles than McDonald's.
34. You have actually uttered the phrase "It's too hot to go to the pool".
35. You faithfully drink Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sundrop or Cheerwine everyday of your life.
36. You have your own secret BBQ sauce.
37. You or your neighbors have more hunting dogs than you have family members.
38. You know Pepsi originated in New Bern, Cheerwine in Salisbury, Mountain Dew in Lumberton, and Sundrop in Gastonia.
39. You know Coke tastes better in the little bottles and that peanuts make Coke taste even better.
40. Your folks have taken trips to the mountains to look at leaves.
41. Your school took a field trip to the State Fair in Raleigh.
42. You would elect Richard Petty or Ric Flair for governor if either ever ran.
43. You watched as Dale Earnhardt was the only man who ever lived who could go 200 mph, spin somebody out, call them a you-know-what, and win the race, all in the last lap.
44. You skipped school or work to go to Dale Earnhardt’s memorial service.
45. A tobaggan to you means a knit cap, not a sled.
46. You sold Krispy Kreme doughnuts for a school or church fundraiser before those glazed doughnuts went global.
47. When you're traveling out of state, people ask if you're from Mayberry.
48. You remember watching the ACC Tournament on television at school.
49. The local newspaper covers state, national and international news in one page, but sports requires six pages.
50. Most men in town consider the first day of deer season a national holiday.
51. Fifty degrees Fahrenheit is “a little chilly."
52. You have no problem spelling or pronouncing “Conetoe", “Topsail", or “Beaufort."
53. You know it’s pronounced APPALACHIAN and not “App-a-lay-shun."
54. Your school classes were cancelled because of cold.
55. Your school classes were cancelled because of a chance of snow.
56. Your school classes were cancelled because of heat.
57. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waitin’ to pass a tractor on the highway.
58. Your school classes were cancelled because of a hurricane.
59. Your school classes were cancelled because of hunting season.
60. Your school classes were cancelled because of a livestock show.
61. You’ve ridden the school bus for an hour...each way.
62. You know more about ACC basketball than professional basketball.
63. You know the Carolina League is the greatest baseball league in the country.
63. You know that "Carolina" refers to UNC-Chapel Hill, while "State" refers to NC State.
64. You think South Carolina was dead weight well shed.
65. You know tea is served sweet unless you specifically ask for unsweetened.
66. You’ve ever had to switch from “Heat" to “A/C" in the same day.
67. You think ethanol makes your truck run a lot better.
68. Stores don’t have bags...they have sacks and are called Piggly Wigglys.
69. You see people wearing bib overalls at funerals.
70. You see a car running in the parking lot at the store with no one in it, no matter what time of the year.
71. Most of the festivals around the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, tobacco, or seafood: Seafood Festival (Morehead), Mullet festival (Swansboro)...
72. Priming was your first job...and you know what it means.
73. Your idea of a really great tenderloin is when the meat is twice as big as the bun and comes with cole slaw on top.
74. You say catty-wampus, yunto, ill-ass and ah-ite.
75. You know the difference between a deer dog, a bear dog and a coon dog by the way they bark.
76. You put security lights on your house and your garage and leave both of them unlocked.
77. Your four seasons are almost summer, summer, still summer, and highway construction.
78. You can tell if another North Carolinian is from Eastern or Western North Carolina as soon as he opens his mouth.
79. You can spell words such as Ocracoke, Fuquay-Varina and Chocowinity.
80. When asked how your trip to any foreign, exotic place was you say, “It was different."
81. Hyde County is considered a foreign or exotic place.
82. In the Piedmont, you see all the grown-ups go out and play in the snow.
83. Schools and churches hold barbecue fundraisers with banana puddin’ as the dessert.
84. After church you either stay for the barbeque lunch or the pig pickin'.
85. You know that barbeque is a food, not an occasion, and it applies to pork, not hamburgers or hotdogs. You also know that the best of any version, whether chopped or pulled, vinegar or tomato, can be found somewhere in NC.
86. You know what a "pig pickin" is and you can't wait to go.
87. You consider being a “Pork Queen" an honor.
88. You carry jumper cables in your car.
89. You know what “cow tipping" is.
90. You've driven with "Carolina Hurricanes" flags on your car because WE WON THE STANLEY CUP!!
91. You dip.
92. You've seen One Tree Hill and/or Dawson's Creek being filmed in Wilmington.
93. Pop refers a lot of things, not including soda.
94. You learned ALL about The Lost Colony in 4th grade...(and you know where Blackbeard's treasure really is ; )
95. You listen to beach music and you can shag.
96. You can pay the mechanic who worked on your truck with a quart of moonshine in return.
97. Your school was declared a "Tobacco Free Zone", but there are tobacco fields right outside.
98. You constantly see signs for tractor pulls and turkey shoots while driving through eastern NC.
99. You mash buttons and eat creamed potatoes.
100. You show this to some Carolina friends ‘cuz ya know it’s true, darlin'!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

New Mom Awards

There are some things that I strongly believe new moms should get congratulations for -

1. Taking a shower without someone there to watch baby.
2. The first time she cooks dinner without help.
3. The first time she drives with newbie in the backseat & doesn't require someone else to ride back there to make sure s/he is ok.
4. The first time she gets the laundry done all by herself.
5. The first time she goes shopping with baby all alone.
6. The first time she leaves baby with someone else to do something good for herself.
7. The first time she can make-love to her husband without saying "Owww!"
8. The first overnight trip away from home with baby.
9. The first night that baby sleeps through the night.
10. The first time that baby gets a booboo & mom realizes she can't protect them from everything.

If ya'll have any more to add feel free to comment.

Love ya!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Good Morning!!

This is a short video from this morning when Fiona was waking up. Too cute! (then again I am biased) :o)





Thursday, August 21, 2008

Fiona updates...

Hey Everyone!

This past week I finally discovered Facebook...I think I was the last person on the planet to sign up. Since then, I let my bloggin' slip to the side a bit. (Who knew fb could be so addictive?) So to make up for it - here is the Farmer Family update:

Fiona is growing and growing and growing. Today we went to the doc's for a second opinion on some screaming bouts she has been having. She weighed 9lb 9oz at one month old (still smaller than the birthweight of her good buddy Jude). The doc's think she may have reflux and that the pain from the acid has been causing her to have these screaming spells. So daddy-o went to the pharmacy and we're going to try some Zantac. (Mom's not too keen on medicines, but after watching Fiona whimper herself to sleep after screaming for 2 solid hours several times in the past few days - we're willing to try something.)

I finally captured Fiona smiling while she was sleeping...hopefully I'll capture it while she's awake next time.

As for me - I'm working on being a good mommy to Fiona and pondering when to go back to work.

As for Will - he is working insane hours at Apex Equine and debating getting his PhD. He's applied for tons of jobs but God hasn't opened any of those doors...however the door for getting his PhD remains wide-open. Please pray that we follow HIS path and not our own.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

One Word Meme...

Kathleen Tagged me for this meme (what this means I don't know), the rules are you have to answer each question with only ONE word, then you tag friends to get them to post it on their blog.

1. Where is your cell phone? Bed
2. Your significant other? Lovey
3. Your hair? Unstyled
4. Your mother? Helpful
5. Your father? Working
6. Your favorite thing? Fiona
7. Your dream last night? None
8. Your favorite drink? Hermitage
9. Your dream/goal? Heaven
10. The room you’re in? Bedroom
11. Your hobby? Sewing
12. Your fear? Fire
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here
14. What you’re not? Bored
15. Muffins? Bran
16. One of your wish list items? Peace
17. Where you grew up? Carolina
18. The last thing you did? Kissed
19. What are you wearing? Cotton
20. Favorite gadget? Refrigerator
21. Your pets? Insane
22. Your computer? Necessary
23. Your mood? Peaceful
24. Missing someone? Always
25. Your car? Element
26. Something you’re not wearing? Makeup
27. Favorite store? Etsy
28. Like someone? Love
29. Your favorite color? Green
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Postpartum

Ok, now is the fun part- I tag Emily & Catherine...cause I know ya'll just have nothing better to do than to fill this out. ;o)

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Wishes...

I am constantly amazed at how fast babies change. Fiona is almost 3 weeks old...I truely believe that it is a gift from God that I am able to stay at home (at least for now) to watch and participate in her growth.

Some firsts this week - her cord fell off & she now has a "real" bellybutton, she'll take a paci, she'll sleep in her crib for a nap, & we're having long bouts of awake/play time.

Some things that I'm not ready to change yet - I love that she sleeps on my chest and nuzzles into me, I love her long brown hair (i don't want it to fall out), I love her baby smell (i still won't use soap on her - she smells too good), and most of all - I'm not ready to go back to work.

Call me crazy, but I want to be a stay at home mom. I realize that we just spent the equivilent of a new vehicle on my nursing education, but I don't want to go back to work. At the same time, I understand that in our current situation I have to go back, and that I need to be ok with it and not upset at our situation, or jealous of my friends who are able to stay at home with their babes.

Recently, my Aunt reminded me, "At least Fiona won't remember that you went back to work...her memory won't start until she's at least 18 months old." But it still breaks my heart to think of leaving her and missing so many firsts - first words, first laughs, etc.

The funny thing is, I used to say "I hope I have a husband who will stay at home with the kids so that I can work...it would drive me crazy to be around kids that long." Shows you what I knew at 21.

So my most recent prayer is - Please God, let me have the opportunity to watch my child grow. Please let me be able to stay at home with her so that I can actively raise her to be yours. Please God, I just want to be her mom.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Tabasco + Breastfeeding = Sad Bottom

Yesterday while my family was visiting I had a Chic-Fil-A sandwich. Naturally I put tabasco on it and started munching away. It was only a few bites later that my brain kicked on and said "you shouldn't have done that."

Today Fiona has a raw bottom and it has caused us much turmoil. Please be advised that if you're breastfeeding - do not eat tabasco.

Right now we're doing no diapers & lots of cream to help soothe the pain.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Family

WOW! We have been totally blessed to have our family around for the past few days. I think just about everyone has come to visit & has gotten to hold and love on Fiona. We have had a special treat with Will's Mom & my Mom coming and helping us out. THANK YOU!!!

We also had Will's sister's over last night (Nina & Lea -I should have gotten pics - but Fiona was needy and I didn't get any - sorry!).

Today we had Christopher, Jennifer, Eli, Zeke, & Caleb all the way from Boone. Thank you guys for making the 4 hour drive to see us even if it was just for the day. Be safe going home!

Caleb, Kelly & Zeke

Eli, Christopher & Jennifer

So thats about all for now. Thank you to all the people who love us so much and who mean so much in our lives. We are truely blessed to have you all as our families and friends. I hope we can visit more soon - but for now its naptime...Fiona you've got the right idea.