August 20, 2009
Even though summer will not officially be over until the end of September but going back to work means the end of summer fun for me. We had a wonderful time! Even though we did not take a fancy vacation we really enjoyed our time together. We spent some time in Alabama and were able to go to Six Flags. They have a Thomas and Friends area and Mattie loves Thomas. She is still talking about going to the island of Sodor. She rode her first roller coaster and loved it. We stayed part of the week with Matt’s parents. One day we were playing in the backyard and Mattie learned about shadows on the sheets that were hanging out to dry. She put on a show for us with shadows. It was so fun. We then had an impromptu play session in the water hose. It was so much fun! That night we caught lightening bugs. It was such a great summer day.
Later that week we stayed at GeeGee’s house and Mattie had a tea party. It was Mattie’s idea and Gee Gee went all out. She had cheese straws, sugar cookies with purple sprinkles (at Mattie’s request), and pink princess crown cookies. She also had M & M’s that are her favorite! It was a special afternoon. She also loves to play with Tanner, Gee Gee’s dog!
This week I am going back to work. Mattie has done great at daycare. I was really worried about her drop offs but she has done so good. That is so helpful to me. It is so hard for me to leave her when the last thing I hear is her crying. I am hoping that this year will go fast. I will work until the baby comes and then I will take the rest of the year off. Next year is up in the air. Hopefully everything will work out! We are praying God’s will. I know that He knows the desire of my heart and I have faith that He will provide!
August 4, 2009
I go back to work in about 2 weeks and I am not looking forward to it. I have a pretty great schedule but I am teaching a journalism class too. Like I have any idea how to do that. I think it will be more of a learning experience for me than the kids. Even though I have had to pay for daycare this summer I am keeping Mattie home with me. I just miss her too bad when we are not together. She is so funny! When we were in Gadsden we spent some time with Mur, Matt’s grandmother. She showed us some pictures of Matt’s mom when she was about Mattie’s age and it is so scary how they look so similar.
Jean Bearden Simpson age 3
Jean Bearden Simpson age 3
So as promised I will include some pictures of Mattie from her third birthday. You compare. I think it is save to say she looks very little like me.
Twirly Girly
Beautiful Baby!
Photographer in the making.
We had an amazing time at her birthday party. This year we invited friends who have kids close to the same age and they had a great time. It was like Christmas in July for Mattie. We are slowly opening all her gifts. Not until I have organized and edited what she already has.
Pregnancy Update:
I am 11 weeks pregnant. Only a couple more weeks and I am through the first trimester. I am already starting to feel better. I still get pretty tired but I think that will probably last awhile. It still makes me want to puke every time I run the dishwasher. Something about the hot water smell. I can’t stand it. We had an ultrasound at 7 weeks to check progress after the traumatic experience we had two years ago. The dr. said the heartbeat was much stronger than our last little one. That is very reassuring to me. I have made it past the point were I started spotting the last time and am trying to be patient to get over the 14 week hump. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. It is exciting and scary all at the same time. Mattie is telling me she wants a sister but we won’t know until the end of September!
July 30, 2009
I am going to use my blog to announce our second pregnancy to the world. We have been very cautious as to when we wanted to tell everyone because we lost a baby in the second trimester two years ago. I feel very hopeful that this pregnancy will be good. I have felt pregnant which is good, although I have felt bad. When it comes to pregnancy BAD=GOOD. Please keep us in your prayers though. There is always that little ounce of doubt in the background.
Mattie Grace is 3, apparently knows all now and is amazing. She had great birthday celebrations with friends and family. We are so blessed. I promise to update this blog much more often. I have a ton of pictures to add from her birthday when I get them on the Mac. Stay tuned….
March 22, 2009
We are on our way back from AL and I always get a little homesick after spending time with family. I will get to go back for Easter and then Mom will come up for a week. I am not sure if that will make things better or worse.
Saturday Matt ran several errands and was done in an hour. If he had done the same errands where we live it would have taken half the day. Things are simpler at home. Mattie cried when we left this time. It was really sad. Home will always be go home.
January 2, 2009
I am writing this from my sweet new iPhone. Sometimes I love technology!
December 31, 2008
So I am going to do a run down of the Simpson Family Christmas for 2008. Hold on….
I guess the holidays began for us at Thanksgiving. We actually went to Alabama this year, the first time since we have been married. Matt wanted to go to “The Game” that weekend. Here is Mattie on Thanksgiving day!
On December 3rd Matt’s work had a Christmas party for the kids. Santa was there and it was yet another traumatic experience. Ever since then she gets nervous when we go into a story and says about 17 times “I no see Santa anymore Mommy.” I think I have scarred the child.
I think I already told you about her Christmas program at school. She rocked the mic. My baby is a born star. If we ever get the video uploaded I will put a clip on my blog. It was so fun seeing all the kids singing songs to Jesus and quoting scripture.
We went back to Alabama on December 20th and were able to spend 10 days there. On Monday night we went to Noccalula Falls to ride the train and see the lights. It is so awesome there. I really feel like the city of Gadsden gipped us when we were kids. There is a new lion and a huge barn with a petting zoo. Mattie did not have a great time and we found out why the next morning. She was a very sick little girl. When she woke up the next morning she couldn’t walk. It scared me to so much. Jason Ayers agreed to see her that morning and told us she had a very bad ear infection. The infection had caused her joints to stiffen. He gave her an antibiotic, some cough meds, and told us what to do for the pain. By that evening she was doing much better. Scary day though. 
On the 24th we celebrated Ashton’s 14th birthday.
On Christmas Eve we stuck with tradition and spent that time with the Simpson family at MawMaw’s house. This year Mr. Simpson took some pictures so we are able to remember our time together. All of the great grandkids are growing so fast. This is usually the only time of year that they are all together. After dinner and presents we met my family at MeadowBrook for the Christmas Eve service. It was a really special night!
Christmas morning Mattie was excited to open all her presents from Mommy’s family. She got a lot of great things. Santa left her presents at her house in NC. I got a lot of great things and money. I am saving for a laptop. Matt got some money and Rock Band.
Practicing at Heather's house.
We spent the rest of the week at the Simpson’s house and Mattie got to practice “driving” her new Jeep. She went to see her first movie, Madagascar 2. She did pretty good. Matt and I went to see “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, I highly recommend it. Good times. It felt like a real date. I was able to take advantage of some great after Christmas sales, especially at Belks. I’m turning in to my mother! That is not a bad thing though! We came home on the 30th, a day later. We are both a little homesick now but I am sure routine will take care of that. Here is Mattie enjoying her gifts from Santa!
We sincerely hope that your family had a great holiday season. Enjoy the new year and check back often. I promise to be much better about posting!
December 23, 2008
After six years in Charlotte “home” has a new meaning. We are in Gadsden now and will be here until December 29th. I haven’t posted in awhile, not because I haven’t had anything to say, but because we have actually been really busy. We were just in Gadsden for Thanksgiving and the past month has flown by. Mattie had a Christmas program at daycare on the 11th. It was great. If I can figure out how to post a video when we get home I will show you all her preformance debute. Mom and Michael were able to come up for that and it made it very special. Never in a million years did I think I would say that I miss Gadsden, but I do. I miss the familiarity of th places and the people. We took Mattie to the falls last night to ride the train and see the lights. It is impossible to appreciate how beautiful northeast Alabama is until you leave and then return. I have visited some really pretty places, but my home is beautiful too. It is strange to realize that this is not my daughter’s home, and when we come here she is just visiting. I hope that everyone gets to spend Christmas at home, where ever that is for you, and that you get to spend it with people that you love. I will have a lot of pictures to add when we get home. Love you all!
November 25, 2008
So Matt and I have been trying for weeks to help Mattie come to grips with meeting Santa again this year. We have read books, showed her pictures and movies, and talked about Ho Ho or The Clause, as she lovingly refers to him at times. Well this weekend we took her to Northlake Mall so that she could tell Santa what she wants and have her picture made. They also have a life size snowglobe with a Polar Express theme that we thought she may enjoy. Not so much… She had a death grip on me and screamed and cried from the second she realized what we were about to do. We have the experience for ever on record. This will be known as the year Mommy got to sit with Santa.
It
Santa did give her a little white bear that she named White (she names everything by color). That night we met my college roommate Staci and her family in Concord for dinner. It was so good to spend time with her and for our daughters to play. Mattie and Abbi are only two months apart in age.
On Sunday I was outside most of the day raking and burning leaves. I know that our neighbors are sick of our leaves but they are all retired and work in their yards all day. We both have full time jobs and a two year old to raise. We just don’t have the time they do. I spent three hours out there and only got half of the front yard done. On Wed. we are going to Gadsden for a few days. Matt is going to the game on Saturday. I love Auburn but what is our problem this year. Matt and I have been together for six years and Auburn has won every year. That may all come to an end this year. I can only pray. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!
November 8, 2008
This was a good week. Work was good and things at home have been good. Mattie is learning so much. She knows how to really clean up after herself and lets me know when she has “made a mess.” I now know that she knows what it means to obey. Too bad for her I am going to expect her to do it. She is a little sickly right now with a cough and low grade fever. Funny thing she did this week… She is really into the alphabet and likes to play with letters. I have some magnetic letters on the fridge and she was playing with those this week. One of the toys will let you put the letters into this box thing and it will sound out the letters and say the word. Well she spelled a word this week. I looked on the fridge and saw the letters S E X. Now why couldn’t she have just spelled cat or dog? Figures!
November 5, 2008
We were finally able to upload the pictures of Mattie from Halloween. I wasn’t able to be here, I was in Denver. Matt and his mom took her to a carnival in Gastonia. She had a great time. She loved riding the rides but did not like waiting in line. I guess that is the lot for an only child. I hope we can change that sooner than later. Here she is. I say she was a Republican for Halloween. Matt thinks something different 
To him she was an Alabama fan. You decide.
Mommy
All smiles!
You have to be creative with this one. Apparently the changes didn’t save. Here is one from my birthday. Mattie was amazed by all the candles.
Blinded by the light.
