Thursday, November 15, 2012

You know you're a Speech Pathologist when...

A couple of months ago this was posted in our monthly speech meeting.  I loved it and had to share!  Every bit of it is true and I feel my fellow SLPs will feel the same!  I honestly feel I have one of the best jobs in the world!!!
 
 
YOU KNOW YOU'RE A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST WHEN......
 
 
*You speak entirely in acronyms (just ask my husband).
 
*You are the only adult who still plays with bubbles on a daily basis and enjoys it.
 
*You could easily do language therapy with the items in your purse.
 
*You understand that "ship" and "sip" do not begin with the same sound.
 
*Friends and family ask you to assess their children and you already did it mentally without them knowing.
 
*You genuinely enjoy your job everyday!
 
 
 
 
 

HAPPY THURSDAY!! One more day and I am off for a week and headed to home sweet home TN!!!





Sunday, November 4, 2012

Mac's singing!!



Anyone who knows me knows why I am so excited about this!!!!! He started singing last night with "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" which I always sing to him before he goes to bed.  It was such a sweet moment when he joined in.  Happy tears were everywhere!!!  Here is sweet boy singing The ABC song!  Happy Sunday!














Tuesday, October 9, 2012

An Amy weekend!!

This weekend my very best friend came down to see us before she has her sweet baby boy in January. I cannot wait to see her as a mom and meet this sweet little guy. Amy and I met In graduate school and have had such a special friendship ever since. I thank God all the time for placing me at ASU because she is such a blessing to me and my family! When I lost my best friend Mica in December Amy drove 6 hours to Bolivar and back to Little Rock in a day to be by my side without me even asking her to. She is so wonderful. Go Here to read about a mission to save and change children's lives that Amy is apart of. This is a beautiful example of being God's faithful servant.
Amy and I now enjoy our visits doing the simpy things in life that we can't normally do together. It's funny how our lives change and we notice it more with every visit. This trip we were on our way home from shopping and my dad called. He said "oh you and Amy shopping must mean you girls bought shoes." I said, "Nope baby boy clothes." Lol. One day we will go back to buying those shoes!
Friday night we ate at this hidden oasis in the city called Tiny Boxwoods with some of my new friends here in Houston. It was wonderful food and a fabulous atmosphere.








When Amy and I depart from one another it is always messy, so we make it quick. Amy I am a better person for knowing you! Thank you for everything!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Never stop exploring




About a month ago Mac started playing in this box and I of course took some pictures! Once I put them all together and up on Facebook I realized what the box said. I think that motto is one we should all try to live by! Mac certainly is and I am loving every second I get to watch him doing it even if one of those exploring moments involves dog poop! I love you my sweet sweet Mac!!!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Our Summertime in Pictures

This is not a surprise, but we have been traveling EVERYWHERE this summer!!! In 7 weeks we went to 7 states. It was lots of fun and we got to spend time with lots of people we love! Mac got to meet some of my friends he had never met. Both sets grandparents got lots of Mac time which they loved!! I got to spend tons of time with my nieces and nephews which was long over due. When my oldest brother and his family picked Mac and I up at the airport Jamie and I both were in tears loving on each others babies. Jack tackled me and I could not believe how big he was. It had been over a year since I had seen them. Once back to Texas we were home for 3 days and then went to our favorite low key TX beach with some of my oldest friends and their better halves. One thing I love about where we live is it's so close to the beach!!!! So here are some of my favorite moments of the summer!












Lindsey & Tim's wedding in Charlottesville, VA ( beautiful)




Happy 4th of July with a yummy crab boil in Arlington!








Ashley Brown's bachelorette party in New Orleans, LA




Finally back in Tennessee with oldest brother's family who had just moved back!! Fun times with his cousins!!




One of Mac's favorite things to do with Mimi & Papaw!







These two has a blast together!





Second favorite thing to do at Mimi and Papaw's house: throw rocks in there fish ponds "boys"







Back home to the beAch in Texas! Mac LOVED it!! He wasn't scared at all which kept mommy very busy. Everyday when we would drive out on the beach Mac would start squealing with excitement.




His cousin John joined us from NJ!







He loved fishing just like his daddy!

Ps this post was supposed to have been done last month! Haha
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Saturday, June 30, 2012

He shoots, he scores!!

This summer the Rigby family is traveling all over!! So far so good! Since I am now working for a school district ( which I love so much more than I ever thought I would) we decided to take advantage of me having the summer off. Friends and family are worth far more than any amount of money, so we are spending June and July visiting lots of family and friends. We do not know if we can do it every year, but for now we live for the moment. This past weekend we went to Media, PA and stayed with Mike's brothers family. They have 3 boys, so Mac had his first official dirty boy day. He was filthy and LOVED it. His cousins are older and they got their first basketball goal that Saturday and after watching them Mac had to join in on the fun. He found a volleyball and would carry under the net and try to put it in. It was soo cute! Daddy saved the day and held him up many many times so little buddy could make it in like the big boys.
Mike's brother is a fantastic cook (and a beer brewer) like the other men in the family, so we had good beer and a delicious Mexican feast.
Have a great weekend everyone!! I am on a plane right now to New Orleans for a girls weekend!! My best friend Ashley Brown is having her bachelorette party there. I am so excited to see her!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad











I love how proud Mac is when he does things ( notice the clapping above)!!! Hehe
*teeny tiny crocs are so cute, big people ones not so much!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Happy Father's Day!!

I have been blessed with the world's greatest daddy, but my husband is not far behind.  My curiosity to see him as a father was one of the reasons I wanted to have children.  Mike you have not let us down.  Mac is the luckiest boy in the whole wide world.  We will love you forever!  Here is a video my bestie help me make for him this Father's day. 
Happy Father's Day to all the amazing men out there!!


 




Thursday, May 31, 2012

Father like Son

Mac came out looking like his daddy 100%.  Everyday he acts more and more like him. 
Here are some of the Mini Mike highlights:

* Mac loves his books- He loves looking at the animals.  He has even begun labeling them and making their sounds.  His favorite by far is the DUCK.  The ducks come and visit Mac at his daycare everyday and we go to the many ponds in our neighborhood to see them weekly.  As soon as Mac can tell which way we are going he starts saying "duck" "duck".
*At daycare we have caught Mac many times playing with blocks while the other kids were dancing or getting loved on by their teachers.  Mike hopes we have another engineer in the family.
*Mac loves loves his daddy's office (Mike works from home).  He squeals when we let him go in there.  He loves to look at the animal mounts on the wall too.  He will point and say "deer".
Almost two weeks ago Mac started walking and now he is climbing ladders just like daddy!  We are very excited about Father's Day around here!!!

One more day and I am a stay at home mom for the summer!!  We will be traveling everywhere this summer. I can't wait!!!
 

Friday, May 25, 2012

Mr. Independent

Mac has finally taken off with walking!!! I can't believe how big he is. This video is great because you can see how proud and surprised he was about walking. He had taken his first step or two the weekend before, but Sunday was when he finally let go of my finger.  We were all so happy and excited.  We made sure Mac knew how proud we were of him.  Don't you just want to eat him up in his little tank top.  I am obsessed with those from baby Gap.  Those are on sale right now BTW.  They are perfect for this insane heat in Texas.



Mac has also started to show lots of interest in using his spoon and fork. This is a good and bad thing. The other morning Mike was out of town which means I am racing around our house like a crazy person. Major props to single parents!!! I get us both dressed and Mac has 15 minutes to eat breakfast. I pick big boy oatmeal quick and easy ummm wrong!  Mac refused to eat the last half with me spoon feeding. He wanted to use the spoon by himself.  I was proud and irritated at the same time.  We did not have time to let him feed himself, get really messy, and then have to change his clothes.  The compromise was me doing hand over hand with a couple of bites and we were out the door for the day. 
In this video I love how hard he is focusing on sticking the food with his fork.  This was at dinner on Monday night.  He is his father's son for sure, but one heck of a mommas boy right now.  I am loving every second of it because I know it won't always be this way.


We are going to the beach on Saturday and then there is a big Memorial day party in our neighborhood on Monday.  4 more days of work for me and then I am out for the summer!!! 
Happy Friday everyone! 

Thursday, May 24, 2012

My mourning process

...This topic is one of the main reasons I have stopped blogging the past few months.  I don't really know where to begin, so here goes nothing.  As many of you know I lost my sister, my other part of my brain (we used to say we shared a brain in high school), my sorority sister, my maid of honor, my dog god mother, MY VERY BEST FRIEND in December 2011 one day after her 29th birthday.  I know that by expressing my feelings on here will aid in my grieving process.  The big turning point after this happened was when I posted for the first time on facebook in January.  I know that seems silly, but it did really help me move forward.  I was able to get out my frustrations and anger about the whole situation and have a big cry and move forward.  That night after I did that Mica came to me in a dream where we just sat on a bed and hugged each other bawling our eyes out and her telling me how sorry she was, but that she was finally happy in heaven.  Mica took her own life December 16, 2011.

Mica Lynn Breeden Martin was the perfect example of Beautiful Inside and Out!! She had battled with depression for years.  I had no idea how bad and dark things had gotten the last few months before she was tired of fighting it.  After it happened I did realize things that had been different over the last few months, but at the time I thought was just her being stressed with planning a wedding.  Mental disorders have always been something that I have had a hard time understanding because God blessed me with such an optimistic and positive spirit.  This awful situation has opened my eyes at how serious and hard mental disorders are for people.  It has also taught me how doctors, so poorly manage medications they prescribe.  Mica sought help in many ways and honestly I believe her doctor aided in her death.  Mica knew how lucky she was and fought a hard fight to beat this, but depression won this battle.  I hope to one day be able to help pass a bill that puts stricter regulations on doctors management of psych drugs.  When you prescribe people medicine with side effects such as suicide it needs to be taken seriously!!

This is the hardest death I have ever experienced.  I have definitely been going through the stages of grief.  Shock & Denial, Pain/Guilt, Anger, and now I feel like I am at the reflection stage.  I don't know that I am depressed, but here lately I am constantly thinking of memories and wondering how I have to live the rest of my life without her.  She was supposed to be here.  I do smile thinking of the day I do walk through the gates of heaven and she is standing there.  Mac is the one who saved me from laying in bed all day those first few weeks.  When you have a baby you don't have time to do that and at your saddest moment in life they will still find a way to make you smile.  After Mac was born Mica recorded herself reading him a book.  He will always know how special she was to me.  She loved him so much.  His middle name is Raylynn and the Lynn part was after Mica and my daddy.  I know Mac and I have the most beautiful angel in all of heaven looking after us.
 
This is a great shot of typical Mica and Mari

Mica's family is my family too.  Going home to her funeral was TERRIBLE.  It was not supposed to be this way.  I was totally in denial/shock.  I wanted to stay in Texas and make it all go away.  I knew I should have gone and seen her parents and Brian prior to the service, but I just couldn't because it was just nuts that 3 months prior to this I was standing beside her on her wedding day.  The pain I have felt I know does not even compare to what they have been through.  We all know that this was not our Mica that did this.  Mica was the most thoughtful and caring person.  She loved her husband, family, friends, and dogs more than anything.  Mica is Christian and would seek his guidance daily.  I know where she is and we will be together again.  This gives me the most comfort and knowing that she is no longer in pain.
 High School-Sophomore Year

Mica, life will never be the same for me.  I am so thankful that I was blessed to have been a part of your life for so many years.  They were the best times of my life.  I remember before we were friends thinking you were the prettiest and coolest person ever.  I believe our first trip together was in the 5th grade to Shiloh.  We planned to pick a Looney Toon Character and dress head to toe in it. hahaha DORKS.  The slumber parties, blow up backpacks, matching outfits all through high school and then it finally stopped in college when we realized it was NOT cool, our night with Justin Timberlake, concerts, Nashville, Memphis, my engagement night, my wedding day, meeting your soul mate, my surprise pregnancy, you meeting Mac for the first time, your wedding day, and so many more (some I couldn't mention) lol were all things I will NEVER EVER forget.  I love and miss you everyday and always will.  You have changed my life in so many ways and I hope to make you proud up there.  Until we meet again my sister "Fly High"
 
"My Beautiful Angel"

Thank you to EVERYONE who prayed for me during this time.  I will be ok, but please continue to pray for her family and husband.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

This year

This year has been the best and hardest year of my life! This boy that saved me turns 1 tomorrow and I cannot believe it!!! I have taken in every second!!! I love you Malcolm Raylynn Rigby to the moon and back!!!!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone