Randomness

I don't think I ever realized how boring my life had become until I started this blog! Oh well. It might be boring, but I am very happy.

Sarah started her new daycare yesterday. She was upset when Dave left (she kept saying "please don't leave me daddy") but Laurie said she only cried for about 3 minutes or so. She was pretty quiet all day. She carried around her cup and a stuffed Barney all day. She is just so shy - she will warm up. I think she is going to be happy here. Just a few more weeks and Emily can start too. Whew!

Last night was award night for the kids run. Sarah was very excited to get her trophy. We ran all 7 races this year! She was laughing out loud all the way home. She kept saying her trophy was funny. She carried it around most of the night. Next year we will have two little girls with trophies!

Thursday is Jacob's birthday. It's hard to believe that he is going to be four years old!

I am planning another big fundraiser. A guy I work with has Leukemia and we have been working on a "Ladies Night" to benefit him. We are going to have several different vendors (Mary Kay, Partylite, Pampered Chef, etc.) at the Java Hut on September 15 from 5-7. A portion of all purchases made that night will go to benefit him and his family. We will also have several prizes to raffle off. Come join us if you can.

Exciting things

There are a few changes happening in the Pettigrew house. Emily is almost crawling! She can get up on all fours and bounce - but then she gives up and falls down and just rolls across the floor to get to where she wants to go. It's adorable.

We found a new daycare. We are so happy. It is Laurie's Angels and it is here in Danville. We went there yesterday to check it out and Sarah loved it (even though she fell off a swing and scraped her face - what a first impression we made!). Emily won't be starting until September 1, but Sarah gets to start Monday. What a relief! Thanks to our friend Heather for recommending the daycare!

Our friends Adam and Lisa just had twin boys yesterday. They are adorable. Lance and Landon. I can't wait to hold them.

Thanks to everyone who is helping with our efforts to raise money for the Youhas family. I appreciate all the rummage sale donations and also everyone who bought a basket. A special thanks to our friend Jill for offering to donate her profits.

Just my opinion

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about how important it is to help each other. No one ever plans for something bad to happen to them or their family, but the fact is that things happen all the time to people everywhere. A couple of years ago, my friend Dan was diagnosed with oral cancer. Just as he was finally getting better, his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sarah was born 8 weeks early. This young guy I work with has Leukemia. My friend Debbie has ovarian cancer. These are just a few recent examples of how bad things can happen to good people. But good things can also come out of these situations. Sarah is healthy and I know more than ever how special she is and how much she is loved. I look at Dan and Gail and think about how some marriages could have fallen apart with everything they went through, but I think they are stronger now than ever. The place where I work has pulled together to help raise money for the guy with Leukemia. Lots of friends are trying to raise money for Debbie. I guess my point is that no one can get through everything in their life alone. If you know someone who could use a little help, whether it is money or time or just someone to talk to, take the time to be there for them. You will be glad you did. And you never know when that person who needs help could be you.

Merry Christmas

Yesterday we took Sarah to Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana. She had a really good time. DACC sponsored a bus trip down there and Dave's dad volunteered to drive the bus. We got there right around Sarah's nap time, so she was pretty tired most of the day. We rode a couple of rides and then had lunch. Then it was super hot, so we headed over to the water park. We played there for an hour or so, but she was a little intimidated by all the people. So we went back and rode some more rides. All the rides in the Christmas Land section are for little kids, so she was able to ride them by herself. She loved it. Then she played the duck game and won a stuffed duck. Then she said she wanted to ride some more rides, but before we got over there (and it was not far), she fell asleep. So Dave and I watched a dive show and then headed back to the bus. Sarah was so good on the bus. It was almost a 4 hour drive, so I was worried. She slept for about the first half of the drive home. Then we stopped and got something to eat and she was wide awake the rest of the way home. But she was happy and we played and everything was fine. We forgot our camera so we had to take pics on a disposable. I will post some when we get them developed.

On an unrelated note, my babysitter told me the other day that she is not going to keep my girls anymore after Christmas. She is pregnant and only wants to stay home with her baby now. So, if anyone knows of someone reliable and who will love my girls like her own (or his own!), let me know. We are currently looking.

If you have a prayer to spare ...

I forgot to mention that last week we got rid of our dog. I was kind of sad to see him go, but it was for the best. With two girls and jobs and all the other activities we do, we just didnt have time for him. We found him a great home with a lady who adores him and treats him like a baby. She only works 2 days per week, so he gets LOTS of attention.

We had a low key weekend. I was on call Friday and Saturday, so we just stayed home Friday night. I ended up having to work for about an hour. Then Saturday, I went and got my hair done and then we took Sarah to the mall. She rode some rides, threw a fit, and ran around. It was a normal trip. Then that night she spent the night with Grammy.

Sunday we went to gamestop and bought Guitar Hero III and American Idol with our store credit. I am so excited. Dave is mad cause I am so much better than him at Guitar Hero. Then we went to Marcies and hung out at the pool. And later that night I went to my mom to take her some shoes and make-up, and she sold me her Wii Fit! Dave says we need to take a week off work to play all of our new games.

I have some sad news though. Our friend Debbie Youhas, who has been a family friend for many years, has ovarian cancer. She had breast cancer several years ago, and now this. It sounds pretty bad - the cancer has spread outside of her ovaries and she is having surgery in St. Louis this week to remove several organs and parts of organs. My mom is organizing a rummage sale so that we can give all the money made to Debbie and her family. If you have any stuff lying around that you have been wanting to get rid of, please consider donating it. I would even come and pick it up (assuming you live in Illinois!). Even if you have nothing to donate, please just keep her and her family in your prayers.

Here you go

I put it off long enough - it's time to post again. We had a pretty good 4th. We spent the day at Marcie's house. It started off kind of cool and rainy in the morning, but the weather cleared up and it was a beautiful day. The kids had fun playing and swimming, and I just kind of hung out. Then that night, Sarah and Emily stayed with Grammy and Dave and I went out (separately). One of my bestest friends whom I miss like crazy was in town for a visit. Theresa and Garett had to come home for a wedding, so she made time to go out with me for a while Friday night. I had a good time. Dave was supposed to go out with his friend Jason who was also visiting from out of town, but instead he just ended up on the deck at Doug and Sandy's. He still had a good time though.

Saturday we went to Mohomet to visit our friend Kayte and her twin boys Will and Luke and watch the Cubs game. We had a good time even though Kerry Wood blew the save in the 9th. Also on the subject of the Cubs, Sarah's favorite song is Go Cubs Go! I have it on my phone and when we were in wal-Mart the other day, she kept making me play it for her over and over again. She will come up to me sometimes and tell me she wants to "listen to baseball on the phone" and she means she wants to hear the song. I hope it can't be considered child abuse that we are raising her for a lifetime of heartache and disappointment as a Cubs fan ...

Sunday we took the girls to Champaign, mainly so Sarah could ride the "horsies." She loves the carousel at the mall and she rode it twice. Then on the way back home, we stopped in Catlin to visit with Dave's family.

I am happy to report that Sarah continues to do fantastic in gymnastics. On Tuesday, she went with Miss Barbara all by herself and she didnt cry at all. I am so proud of her.

Well, I started a diet on Sunday. I decided that since Emily was almost 5 months old that it was time to stop blaming being fat on having a baby. Wish me luck!

Go Cubs!

So good news! Sarah did such a good job at gymnastics on Tuesday!! All the way there we had our little talk about how she was going to go by herself with Miss Barbara and that mommy was going to wait for her. And then when Miss Barbara came to get her, she cried as usual. But she stopped almost immediately and went through the whole class without me! I was so excited. We went to McDonalds to celebrate.

Sarah LOVES baseball. She will come home and out of the blue tell me she wants to watch baseball. The other night I had to watch a stupid Cardinals game because Sarah wanted to watch baseball and that was the only game on. We took her to a Dans game the other night and she had a great time, especially playing with Grandpa Jim. We went to another game last night and she kept talking about how she wanted to watch baseball with Grandpa. But then she was really disappointed when the game got rained out, so we went home and watched the Red Sox until bed time. If you ask her who her favorite baseball team is, she shouts "Go Cubs!" She can also say Fukudome better than most adults - and saying Fukudome makes Emily giggle.

I dont know what her deal is, but she is going through a phase where she is really scared of imaginary stuff. The other morning she completely FREAKED OUT and told me a bear was coming. She was so scared she was shaking and screaming. It even scared me. And now she is scared to go to bed because either a monster, a bear, a bunny or a turtle is going to get her. I think she must be having nightmares or something - who is scared of a bunny?

Emily is doing well too. Just the same old happy baby. She eats, sleeps, plays and poops. She is healthy and adorable.

We have a busy weekend ahead of us. Marcie's tomorrow for the fourth and then tomorrow night I get to see Theresa (and I miss her like CRAZY so I cant wait). Saturday we are going to our friends the Holleman's for a cookout and then maybe to a Dans game that night depending on how tired everyone is. Sunday we might go to Doug and Sandy's, but I am not sure. I better find some time to start making baby shower decorations though ...

50 for Jen

Jen Carlson posted a new blog with 50 facts about herself. Then she challenged me to do the same thing. So, here are 50 facts about me that you never wanted to know.


1. I was born on September 24, 1980 in Columbus, IN.

2. My full name is Alicia Dawn (Wentworth) Pettigrew. My aunt Barbara came up with my name.

3. My mom was so set on having a girl that she didnt even pick out a boys name. She said she would have cried had I been a boy.

4. My parents got married a month before I was born - I think they got divorced when I was 4.

5. When I was born, I had four grandparents and five great grandparents. Now, I basically have one grandparent - all my great grandparents have passed, my mamaw passed away, and I dont speak to my dad's parents.

6. I was on my 9th school by the time I started high school.

7. Each of my parents are on their fourth marriage.

8. I have 5 half-siblings: Jamie is 20, Hollie is 18, Timmy is 14, Jared is 9, Jacob is 3.

9. Timmy was hit by a truck when he was 5 and suffers physical and mental damage from that accident to this day.

10. I got a full academic scholarship to college. I attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and majored in Mass Communications.

11. I have been engaged three times.

12. The only sport I ever did was gymnastics. I was okay. Sarah is in gymnastics now.

13. I played the trumpet for about six months.

14. Sometimes when I am drinking, I start to think I can sing and like to do karaoke.

15. I am addicted to ebay.

16. My oldest daughter, Sarah, was born eight weeks premature.

17. I am a dedicated volunteer for the March of Dimes.

18. My first job was at Walgreens accounting center when I was 16.

19. My first job out of college was as a Project Manager at Sports Publishing.

20. I had a crush on Dave from pretty much the first moment I met him. We were friends for several years before I finally talked him into dating me.

21. The last guy I was engaged to (or seriously dated before my husband for that matter) was also named Dave. We refer to him as Dave the former.

22. I am still best friends with several peope I went to high school with.

23. I hate milk.

24. I have never been out of the country.

25. I love baseball and going to baseball games. Nothing like an Old Style at Wrigley or a miller Lite at Victory Field - or even a bud lite at Danville Stadium!

26. I have been to Fenway Park, but they wouldnt let me up on the green monster.

27. I have stayed at the Ronald McDonald House.

28. I currently take anti-depressants and have been in therapy before.

29. I had bad post partum depression for about a year after Sarah was born (hence the therapy).

30. My favorite color is green.

31. My two favorite movies are Gone with the Wind and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

32. My favorite musician is John Mellencamp.

33. I still LOVE New Kids on the Block.

34. I won my school spelling bee in fifth grade.

35. My favorite TV show of all time is The Office.

36. I have a real Coach purse.

37. My oldest daughter was born on Groundhogs Day and my youngest was born on Valentines Day.

38. I've had two C-sections.

39. I had my "tubes tied."

40. I love rummage sales.

41. I have never broken a bone.

42. I suck at softball.

43. I have two tattoos - a ladybug for good luck and a red bird in honor of my mamaw.

44. I love to read and will read just about anything.

45. I live less than a mile from my mom.

46. I watch wrestling (WWE, not the real stuff) every single week. I am even going to Summer Slam next month.

47. My favorite color used to be green, but ever since I had kids I have started loving pink!

48. I was voted biggest flirt in 8th grade.

49. I am addicted to diet pepsi and drink way too much of it.

50. I use WAY too many post it notes. I use them for everything at work - even to take notes on when I should really just use a notebook.