A few months ago Dan didn't show up at home on time. I am not a worrier, so I didn't call. Finally he rolled in a few hours later. Upon questioning, I got nowhere. Finally he admitted he went to look at a bike. The next day, he told me at 5am (on my off day, when I was still half asleep) he'd be going to buy the motorcycle he looked at the day before. I cried. I was scared. I know he's not an idiot but he has a need for speed ("I'll run it as fast as it will go just once" he once told me.) I was less than thrilled but figured "This is better than another woman."

Upon talking with his parents, his mom told me she used to ride a bike too. I was shocked. His Dad talked me into calming down, as Dan just needed a project bike. "Projects make him tick" he told me.

Advance 3 months. Mothers Day. We all show up at my mom's, Dan and Danson on motorcycles. Then my mother gets on my brother's bike and takes a ride. She tells us "I used to have a motorcycle." There I sat, shocked again. Both of our mothers should have never told me they rode bikes. That was clearance.

I generally don't take a "backseat" in life, so I finally asked for my own motorcycle. He opened up the paper and the perfect one was listed. It's a pretty low-powered bike, not much better than a scooter. You can't get on the interstate with it or you'll get ran over. I intend to ride it between Alabaster and Shelby, on country roads ONLY. If it scares me too bad, I might just get rid of it. But in the meantime, I thought I might join Dan in doing some things that HE likes. I hope he waits up on me......

Daniley drives this thing around like a Nascar driver. She knows how to change the gears, including using reverse. She and James got on it and Honey just wanted me to put it into low (= slow) gear. I tried to explain that Daniley knows how to change the gears so it's no use "putting" it anywhere. After she nearly had a heaButrt attack, hopefully she realized Daniley could accurately drive this thing. She'll have it floored and let off just inches from cars, walls, etc. LOL. She hasn't hit anything yet. We had no injuries, just fun!

Daniley went for her first real pedicure. She let the polish dry without messing it up. However, after it was dry, it stayed pretty about 4 hours, because when she walks she scrapes her toes across the floor at times and the polish comes off. Oh well, it was fun!

Everyone always wants to know how Big Sister is adjusting to the new arrival. The first week, she tried to ignore her totally. She spent a lot of time that first week with family and didn't seem all that interested in coming home. Then she was thrust into reality and her adjustment has been pretty good. She hasn't seemed to be doing anything for extra attention (except singing Old MacDonald at the top of her lungs when adults are talking). She is acting the way she always has acted. She has told me a time or two to "Put Danslen down and talk to me." She has even been nice to her. She does get wild and jump around near her at times. We have to make her calm down but she graciously complies. When Danslen was about 2 weeks old, I had laid her down on my bed. Daniley was in the living room and Honey (Dan's mom) and I were in the kitchen cooking. We turned the corner and Daniley was holding Danslen, headed in to the living room. Honey saw it first and gently said DANILEY DANILEY DANILEY DANILEY, making sure not to yell so she wouldn't drop her. When questioned, Daniley stated she grabbed her feet, pulled her to the edge of the bed, SOMEHOW (this is the part I can't figure out and don't want to) got her off the bed, into the correct carrying position, and walked her out of the room. She didn't quite have her head supported totally but she was actually doing everything perfectly. Although Honey and I both nearly had heart attacks (and a good lesson), Danslen seemed perfectly happy with the tote.

This is not how I like to blog. It's equivalent to CRAMMING. Save it all for the last minute then do it as fast as you can...
April 21--birth of Danslen Jane Connell
April 24--Easter
April 27--in-laws lose house in tornado
April 28--in-laws move in
May 7--Crystal's Wedding (out-of-town adventure)
May 8--Mothers' Day
And all the regular stuff in between.... Most each of these events have their own post now but they aren't necessarily in order. Things have been really hectic. Yesterday I went to Shelby to pick up Danslen (I worked, Mawmaw kept her) and while there I took a nap and spent some time on the farm just to gather my thoughts. My emotions with everything going on have been all over the place. Seems like one minute I'm happy and the next I'm sad. I've had a little more going on 2 weeks post partum than I had prepared for. However, things seems to be settling down, at least for now. I had a great time in Shelby yesterday where I walked, rode the gator with Brooke and Daniley, checked out the woods, watched my now-grown brother pull up trees with a tractor, and visited with my family. I also ate Mawmaw's cooking which really deserves a post all by itself. As I was spending time down there I had a series of random and unrelated thoughts.
--Money can't buy happiness; it comes from within.
--That true friends never fade is untrue...when a friendship is more trouble than its value, it's time to move on.
--I love Dan Connell Jr. and when duty calls he takes care of business. It doesn't matter what you think about it either.
--I LOVE Dan Connell Jr. Wait I already said that.
--I love that Daniley plays on the farm and has experiences there rather than sitting in a classroom all day. When I picked her up yesterday she was on Pawpaw's gator getting mad at the "aints" (ants) while watching him burn a huge pile of trees and brush. I'm pretty sure she inhaled no air, just smoke. She was dirty, with grocery store feet, and her fat cheeks were red and hot. I reminded me of me from times past. I love that there is lots of family to see her and spend time with her, and for a minute I wanted to move back home.
--There's no place like home. Now I will get to Crystal's wedding, the last of events to share.

First, IT WAS AWESOME. I had such a great time. Daniley was the flower girl and she was soooo cute (well I might be biased). She did great (in my opinion). When she got to the end of the aisle she did a little "dance" with each flower throw. She got applause. Then, at the wedding, she was tearin' up the dance floor. Even when the music went off, she kept dancing. Then Ring-Bearer Blake joined her and they looked as if they'd been practicing for months! (Turn your speakers on.)


Then here she is when they called for people to give toasts. She screamed into the microphone. Scared people to death! Me, for one.

In my pictures you will see a "Lovelady Sweets" sign. I made it! Yep, that's right.

Here are my new baby photos...
Langley Studios www.photoshootusa.com

And a few horizontal ones...

Photos by Langley Studios www.photoshootusa.com
My mom and stepdad own Langley Studios and took these pictures in their back yard. They are all so beautiful. I made two of the dresses shown (not the pink frilly one). The green with bright polka dots dress was her Easter dress this year.

We arrived home from the hospital Saturday before Easter. Daniley stayed with my dad where the Easter Bunny visited, and then went to church with my grandma. Then our families all met up at our house with lunch. We enjoyed a nice meal together and then had an Easter Egg Hunt. It was really a lot of fun. In one picture in the slideshow, you can see when Daniley got around near the strawberry patch, she had to take a break from the eggs and eat all the red strawberries along the way. That kid is just like I was when I was little. I robbed Mawmaw's patch every time I could find a red berry. Daniley loves her Dad's garden....and her Dad.

Birth day:
Here I am, at my biggest:

And ...Dan was sure tired after that delivery!

Danslen's Birth - create a slideshow

When I get all my pictures uploaded and catch you all up, you won't be able to reach the end of my blog....one of my maternity leave goals was to kind of 'get caught up' on a few things, one being getting my pictures organized, burnt onto DVDs, and put in the organizing box Dan gave me for Christmas IN 2009!! Still hoping to get that (among MANY other things, including painting a room or two) done....

Honey and GPaw have been living with us since the tornado blew through. Honey has been a big help, helping me with the dishes, laundry, and dinner. I know Honey and GPaw are stressed out. Not only are they dealing with the loss of their house, but there's a 2 year old Sugar Booger (becoming better known as "Crackhead") jumping around the house, singing Old MacDonald and Mary Had a Little Lamb at the top of her lungs, among other things. I have to know when you get in your 50s your nerves can't be like they were in your 30s. So I feel pretty sorry for GPaw especially, who seems to just want some quiet time. With that said, Daniley lives at 471 Oakwood Lane and life for her must go on. Thankfully Dan Jr. set Gpaw's TV up in the bar, and there's a comfy couch in there, and now half a sleep number, so it's ideal living conditions. (LOL, yes I'm kidding!) In addition to all the tornado drama, I'm on maternity leave, so there are a lot of emotions I'm having right now dealing with everything. This is not exactly how I had planned my days at home but no one can "plan" an emergency, else it wouldn't be an emergency.

I have to take this time to recognize my family who have called me numerous times to check on me and in-laws. My sister offered to spend her Saturday helping them pack up their house or do anything I or they needed. My sister-in-law (Brooke, Danson's new bride) even offered to cook and bring in dinner for everyone, perhaps for them because she is familiar with my cooking, or perhaps for me because I had just had a baby. ;-) My dad offered to bring his dually and pack up their leftover belongings. My mom has called to check on us numerous times, and my grandmother has done the same. I have to thank EVERYONE for your love and concern. Every day I love and appreciate my brother (wife included!!!) and sister more and more and I hope when they have been in need I have been there for them, and when they are in need in the future I can live up to the example they have set!

I hope soon things can get back to normal. Honey and GPaw are moving out of the Grove and are beginning to look for a new pad. I'm excited about the future. I think they are going to come out ahead, after all the dust settles. The plan is for them to get somewhere in between our residence and Dan's sister's. I'm thrilled about the closer location, not that any number of miles would ever stop us anyway!

Dan's parents lost their house in the tornadoes. (They lived in Pleasant Grove.) As we were sitting watching to storms roll through, they called us to tell us there were some pants and shingles flying above their house. About 4 minutes later, they called again and all I heard was Dan ask "The house is gone?" Then he hung up. Then he said, "The house is gone." I kept waiting for the punch line. After a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, I knew there was no punch line. The house was gone.
We now have some live-in in-laws...I was wondering if there were any good comedy flicks to prime me for this adventure. ;-) On a serious note, we are just so happy they were safe. Other houses on their street were completely leveled. Most of their closets remained intact, allowing them to salvage quite a bit of their possessions. You could argue life couldn't get much worse, but for some reason I just feel blessed. Blessed to have them safe and sound!

Danslen Jane arrived Thursday afternoon at 1:35 pm. Getting to 10cm was a lot faster this time, but Danslen took a much slower ride through the ol' canal. She weighed 9 lb. 1 oz. Despite her larger size, my recovery has been easier this time. I've been much less sore and able to do a lot more. I have to remind myself to take it easy.
My milk hasn't come in yet so I'm struggling to provide Danslen with the nutrition she needs. We are using formula but she seems to spit it up. She has yet to spit up what milk I do have, so that just confirms that my milk is the best food for her. She is such a little cuddle bug and since I understand how fast this goes by, I spend extra time holding her and cudding with her. If I could freeze my life right now....I think I just might! Danslen is sleeping good. We've only woke up one time for both of the first two nights. I know this can still go the other way so I'll be careful bragging on her. :-)
Daniley isn't all that interested in Danslen, although she tried to give her a cup of water last night (ie. pour it on her, lol), when I said no she went and got a bottle of water and tried to offer her that. I still said no. She gave up. When I ask her if she wants to kiss her or hold her, she just says "no thanks." We aren't forcing them on each other..I think that would be regrettable.
I don't have any really great pictures yet but our newborn photo shoot is Wednesday. Hopefully not long afterwards I can ooh and ahh you. :-)

Well...here we are. This pregnancy has flown by. I can't believe it's actually time to deliver. I am so glad it went by fast. My only regret is that I haven't been able to play with Daniley as much as I would have liked. I like to be in the floor with her, or on the slides with her, or in the trees with her, and flying her through the air. Those things I have been unable to do.
I wanted to post one last picture of me before delivery. Here it is.Mentally, I am totally unprepared for another baby. When you already have one, it's hard to focus on another one, because the first one uses every bit of attention and energy you have available. However I'm not nervous about a second baby. I know I'll handle it just fine. I might get less accomplished, but we'll have no less fun in a day! I look forward to taking both of my babies out to paint the town....Life is going to get crazy, but I'm ready for the ride. And that picture I posted...that's exactly how I feel, but might not be exactly how I look!

A couple of weekends ago we attended Family Counts, or "the Fair" as Daniley calls it. Family Counts is an annual event sponsored by my employer for its employees all across the state. This is our second year to attend and it is one of the funnest activities we do all year! You wouldn't believe what all is included...and everything is free. Free food (candied apples, funnel cakes, corn dogs, cotton candy, ice cream, drinks, BBQ, turkey legs, everything standard at a fair!!), free carvinal games--free prizes included, free rides, concerts, reptile and magic shows, safety demonstrations, train rides, pony rides, on and on......

I am grateful to work for a company that values family!

For whatever reason I just looked at these pictures and DIED out laughing. (I think it was the look on Dan's face that got me!) Daniley took both of these. That means, stand back 6 feet, hold the camera correctly, get us in the screen, and snap the button. Not too bad!
Afterall she has natural talent....4 of her grandies and her Dad all have photography running through their blood!

"MOM I FOUND SOME STICKERS!!!!!!" as she came out of the bathroom. A couple minutes later, we saw this.There's lots of drama around this fish tank. She is still telling me she ate Daddy's fish. Same story..."I chewed him up and swallowed him." hahaha.

Our first really bloody injury....Daniley was running into the bathroom at Target when her shoe/toe caught the floor (and leather shoes don't give)! She fell down and her head hit the corner of a steel door frame. She SCREAMED. Then she BLED. And I mean BLED. It filled up two napkins. We weren't sure if she needed stitches but we decided we'd try to get by without them. Everything has healed up nicely now.

Friday we played with Sarah Katherine at Pump It Up. The girls (and their Moms) had a great time! This was SK's first time and she did really well. She did get stuck in one (you can see Daniley on the top and no SK in sight) so I had to do a rescue mission. I'm too big to do rescue missions. I had to jump between some tight spaces...I said "Erin I'll jump in, you make sure I don't hit the floor." Hahahaha. We were successful! :-) Then we had lunch at Pizza Hut which was super delicious. What a fun day with great friends! :-)

We had our first visit HERE:
We have an "Olivia" book where Olivia paints on the wall and goes to Time Out! Daniley is mesmerized by it. She always gets the book out, finds that page, and says "Olivia in Time Out! Her painted on the wall!!!" So I thought, since she seemed to get it, that this might be an effective punishment for low profile crimes. I decorated the dining room wall (because it's boring in there) and we've had this chair in this location for many weeks. Frequently she would ask if she could go to Time Out but we always said no.
Then yesterday she decided it would be a good idea to stick her hands down in her glass of milk and spread it over the table like Pledge when Mom and Dad were still in the kitchen. (Yes, she drinks out of regular glasses, not sippy cups generally.) So I said, "OK, you're off to Time Out." You would have thought I had killed her. She boo-hoo-ed, tears and all, while Dad and I sat at the table and........silently giggled. Hahahahaha. We'll see if she plays in her milk again. :-)

Daniley is Curva-a-licious!!!!!!!!!!
Family, please limit the amount of candy and junk food you give her for Easter! Instead she needs a new piggy bank since her glass one has a crack in it. She's been earning some coins for helping with chores. I love how a nickel is bigger than a dime. I'm saving TONS of money on my hired help. Getting it for half price, in fact! :-)