Amelia Reagan Tingle

Peyton and I have decided to name our new little girl, Amelia Reagan Tingle. Peyton started painting the nursery and we've put in the furniture and the bedding. I can't wait for our new little girl to arrive. We are five months pregnant now.

It's a Girl!!!

We went to have an ultrasound on Sunday, September 13, 2009. We took all of the kids and they watched on a 120 in. movie screen. It was beautiful. The girls were very excited. It was priceless to see Samantha's smile when she heard the baby was a girl. She was the only one who guessed the sex correctly. She said, "See, I told you so." Our little girl was smiling for the camera. I think she smiled whenever she heard her big sister's voices. Daddy is tickled that he's having another little princess. I have changed my mind again about moving the girls downstairs. Now the downstairs room will be a playroom and I'll put bunk beds and a crib in the new Nursery/SIT/SAT room.

Kids say the Darndest Things

Sabrina: Daddy, I wish you didn't have to work. I wish you already had money.

Samantha: Peyton told Samantha that it had been so long since he cleaned out her pool that there were tad poles swimming in it. Then he explained that tad poles were baby frogs without legs. Samantha asked, "How do they jump without legs?"

Happy Birthday Sabrina and Samantha!!

My little girls are four years old now. They are not baby anymore. I am a proud and happy Mommy. We had a tea party for the girls. We invited four generations of women from both sides of our family to the party. I couldn't find my camera, so the pictures that I took need to e scanned into the system. I will post them soon. We all wore our dresses and hats and had real tea sets to drink from. Peyton bought two little onesies today. They are yellow and blue and orange and blue...perfect for a boy or a girl. I think he starting to feel bad for me. He went grocery shopping today too. It's obvious that I am stuggling. I wanted to go to breakfast today. We all piled into the car and not five minutes after sitting down at the table, I was in the bathroom, throwing up. This is really not getting any easier yet. I'm really good at lying around in bed and doing nothing. I keep hoping for a burst of energy. I was full of energy with the girls, but really I did spend weeks in bed recovering from back surgery, so I doubt I would have noticed how tired I was.

Aunt Jenn and Uncle Neil: We really love the carseat. It's perfect.

Awake Again

It's 0600 and the sun isn't up yet. It's also a Saturday. WHY am I awake? I don't really know, but this baby seems to be waking me up every morning before the sun comes up...and I'm only 9 weeks pregnant. I'm so tired of not sleeping through the night. We had cake again on Thursday night for the girls actual birthday. Publix made the wrong cake the first time, so they let us keep the first one and gave us the second one as well. It was nice to have the small cake on their actual birthday. Peyton and Michael left for a trip to Alabama and then a trip to Savannah, before the sun came up on Wednesday. They made it back home at about 2130 on Thursday night. Just in time to blow out candles before the girls ate cake and ice cream and then crawled into bed an hour late. Samantha cut her hair again. The day after her birthday party, she wacked off all of her bangs....and this time, she took them all the way to the scalp. I'll post before and after pictures. I finally found my camera a couple of days ago. Destiny has spent the past five days at Grandmother and Granddaddy Tingle's house. Mary is really enjoying having a few days alone with her.

Aerosmith

Michael went to his first real concert last week. I bought tickets months ago for the three of us and one of Michael's friends to go to see Aerosmith. I really haven't been feeling up to doing anything after about 5pm, so he got to take two friends. He picked Austin and Alan. They had a really good time. I know that Peyton has really enjoyed spending time with his son this summer. Michael has been working with Peyt almost every day. He's made a lot of money for a fifiteen year old. Now we just need to get him his learners.

I love you....

I am feeling very nervous tonight. The first prenatal is in 13 hours. I know that once I hear the baby's heartbeat, this pregnancy will be completely real. I keep thinking about the past. About dancing with Peyton at the pub and eating at the Waffle House at 4am. I'll never forget the night we got the moving truck stuck between the fence and a tree over at Jonesboro High School. I laughed until I cried. Just before Thanksgiving in 2000, we bundled up in the back of the truck. We were snuggled up in moving blankets and coats. It was freezing. Peyton pulled me close and whispered very quietly, "I love you." I didn't react at all. I knew him well enough to know that he thought I was sleeping. A few days later, I said "I love you." He gave me so much grief about it that I reminded him that he said it first. He denied ever saying it. It was a month before he said it again. I had no idea the floodgate of emotions that would come when he was really ready to tell me how he felt. Again, I laughed and I cried. I think that was one of the happiest nights of my life. It was the day after Christmas.

A few weeks before, I tried to get Peyton excited about the upcoming holiday, but he had sworn off celebrating Christmas. I think he was spending too much time with Josh and it was rubbing off on him. Jessi Leigh and I broke into Sir Galahad, literally. We popped the lock on the front window while he was out. Thank goodness the alarm wasn't set. (I would learn years later that David Pooley watched me break into the house...twice. He said he figured I was spending enough time there that whatever I was up to, Peyton deserved it...so he didn't call the cops.) We were on a mission. We would bring Christmas to Peyton. Peyton came home from work and found this bright little tree sitting in the center of his pool table. We still put this tree up every single year. What a magical time for us.

....but nothing could be more magical than hearing our baby's heart beat for the first time. I can't wait to tell you I love you, little one.

Morning Sickness

I don't remember being sick with the girls, but I've been really feeling "green" all week. Around 10pm, I'm finally feeling hungry for more than a bite of food. I'm pretty grateful I'm not throwing up though. Strangely enough, I wanted chicken salad today. I drove across town to get the kind I like. Maybe I'm already heading past this. I'm fighting the fatigue every minute. I can't wait to get another month behind me so I'll have the energy I did when I was pregnant with the twins. I could barely sit still with those two. We are going for our first prenatal visit on Tuesday morning. They were going to schedule for this week, but wanted to wait until they had an ultrasound appointment available. I'm excited to see this baby. I don't know if I've let the odds convince me that it really could be twins again, or not. I do know that there is about a 1 in 30 chance that it could be. My odds double since I've already had a set of fraternal twins without doing any fertility treatments...and for every year I age, the odds go up. If the odds in Vegas were this good, I'd be on a plane. I've spent the day gathering my ideas and some props for the Mommy and Me Tea party next weekend. It's the girls fourth birthday. They are so excited. We are going to play dress up and have a real tea party. They can't wait. The disagreement continues on the sex of the new baby. Sabrina still really wants a boy and Samantha really wants a girl. Mema Lorelei has told them that they might get both!! Peyton is painting our bathroom this weekend. Next week we'll begin finishing the big room in the basement. It will be a bedroom for two little blonde girls in a couple of months. Their old bedroom will become the nursery. I wasn't sure about moving them downstrairs, but they are really excited to sleep with the big kids. My mom bought a swing today. It's navy and tan. She bought it for little "Peyton". She's pretty confident she's getting another grandson.

Tingle Baby

I almost can't believe it. We are going to have a baby. I'm excited and terrified all at the same time. I've really been feeling it for about a week. I had taken a test about 10 days or so ago, but it was too early to get the positive result. Peyton offered me a Corona on Friday afternoon and I decided I had better go to the pharmacy first for a test....just to be sure. He pretty much laughed at the idea since he knew I had a negative test a week ago, but I knew better. Less than 30 minutes later, I found myself saying: "So Daddy, you ready to be a Daddy again?" He was a little shocked at first, but I don't think I've ever seen him this excited. He's really wanted us to have one more for about two years now. I've been off birth control for 18 months, which is the exact amount of time that I was off when we conceived the girls. I also lost 20 lbs, which is the same amount of weight I lost before I got pregnant before. With my PCOS, it really does make a huge difference. If you change your weight by 10 to 15%, it kicks those hormones into gear. And now for the big question....IS IT TWINS again? It's always possible, but I think it's unlikely. I can handle being The Tingle 7, but the Tingle 8 is really pushing it.

So little tingle baby....your sisters are really excited about you. They have asked at least a dozen times: "When are we going to the hospital?" They're finding it hard to understand that it will be a long time before you arrive. Your Daddy finally explained that we have to have their birthday, Michael's birthday, Daddy's birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mommy's birthday, Valentine's Day, and then YOUR birthday. They think that's too long to wait. I think it will take me that long to be ready for you.

You've made the Fourth of July a happy occasion again and given me a reason to celebrate.

*****If you happen to be reading this and it's before Monday, July 6th, don't mention it on the facebook page please. I want to tell some very important people at work on Monday. My boss and two of my closest friends just happen to be facebook friends too. But I should be able to post a message by Monday night.*****

Mr and Mrs John Herndon

Jessica and John got married tonight. It was a beautiful service and one of the best weddings I've ever attended...if not the best. The food and drinks were great. The music was perfect and the bride was beautiful. I remember putting Jessica on the school bus when she was six years old. She was so cute. I got to see Brad, Kathy, Jim, Jessica, Michelle, Alexis and all of their family. It was so good to see Franklin. I feel like my oldest little girl was married tonight. I was with them for so many of the milestones in their lives. I hate it that I missed the teenage years. Jim wrote and sang a beautiful song for Jessica and John. It was fabulous.

Riverbend Pictures

Vacation Cont

Mema Shirley, Momma, Aunt Jenny, and Aunt Rosie came up to visit yesterday. They spent the whole day with us and the night. They left this afternoon to go do some sight seeing before heading home. It was fun to spend the evening with those four. We drove into Ellijay and had to drove back after dark. You should have heard the screams coming down those steep mountain gravel roads in the pitch black night.

Vacation

We've really enjoyed the solitude of the cabin. We've only seen a handful of people since we've been here and then only at the pool. There are no other houses on the three roads that lead up to our cabin. If it were just the two of here, I think Peyton and I could have been nude all week and no one would have noticed. Of course with the kids, there's a level to how much fun you can have. The girls are just starting to get used to the water again. They are still wearing armies, but today they got rid of the rings. One float instead of two. Sometimes I wish we had just bought a house in a neighborhood with a pool. Destiny is like a fish in water. Michael and Chase have been enjoying the creek. They are out fishing now. Peyton went kayaking this morning and actually caught a fish while he was out. The girls and I spent the day at the pool. I've finally gotten into my new book. I've been lucky to have a new MHC book out the past couple of years just in time for vacation. I usually can't put them down once I pick them up. I've got a couple of steaks on the grill and Peyton is cooking up some french fries. Yummy!!! We're so lucky to be here this week. I always know how much love Peyton, but sometimes, when we're away like this, I really have time to think about how special he is. He's a fantastic father and when he wraps his arms around me each night, I feel so safe and so happy. We tried to go out and enjoy the hot tub last night. The kids were watching a movie. Problem was, we set the tub to 102....TOO HOT for the summertime. I turned it down this afternoon. It will be great by the time they all go to bed tonight.

Riverbend

We have been at Riverbend since yesterday afternoon. It is a beautiful cabin on the river. The rapids are just fast enough to produce that perfect soothing sound. The kids have played in the river twice and been to the pool. We had a birthday party for Destiny today. She will be 9 years old next Saturday. Since vacation fell on the girls birthday last year, we decided to go on her birthday this year. She was really excited. They are all having cake and ice cream now. We've grilled out twice already and I can't wait to do it again tomorrow. What a lovely place to spend a relaxing week. I'm reading the new Mary Higgins Clark book and I bought two enquirer type magazines today. I can't wait to read by the pool again tomorrow.

Vacation Time

The kids are so excited about vacation. Samantha and Sabrina are counting down the days. Every afternoon they tell me how many days we have until vacation. We're headed to Riverbend on Saturday. I need a break so desperately. Work has been really tough the past few weeks. I haven't taken any time off this year and it's not good for us. We all need a break. I took the girls to see UP this weekend. They were all really into the movie until the very end. I was impressed.

UP

I took the girls to see UP today. We watched the 3D version of the movie. I was really impressed with this one. Pixar has done it again. Even Mantha, who usually gets antsy the last 30 minutes or so, watched this one to the end. It was colorful and it moved quickly. No boring scenes at all. Kati Durkee suggested I take a box of Kleenex, and she was right. I cried no less than three times.

The Biggest Loser

I was really inspired by the group on The Biggest Loser Couples this season. They gave me a reason to get off my rump and start working out. I would not allow myself to watch any of the shows I taped on the DVR, especially that one, unless I was on the treadmill...or had already walked for the day. My back has really been hurting for a week or so and I haven't really felt like walking much, but I haven't given up. I hope I'm only getting started.

A couple of months ago, I posted my weight on the wall in the warehouse at work. It looked like this.


Bobbie Tingle
March 17, 2009
216 lbs


That means that the 150 people that I work with every single day, knew exactly how much I weighed. It makes me accountable to a whole bunch of people who are cheering me on and encouraging me to keep going.

I've been weighing in on Tuesdays and Fridays, on the big FREIGHT scale in the middle of the warehouse. About a month into the process, Bill Diephof joined me. A couple of weeks ago, Sharon Leon added her name to the wall. We are three strong at the moment and I hope a couple of others will join us.

Today, my entry looked like this:


Bobbie Tingle
May 29, 2009
197 lbs

I've lost 19 pounds since the middle of March. I hope I can keep up these healthy eating habits forever. The kids are now eating brown rice, whole wheat breads, whole wheat/low carb tortillas, 1% milk(down from 2%), and sugar free snacks (chocolate syrup, ice cream, cookies). They still have junk food, but it isn't nearly what it used to be. We haven't bought sodas in two months. I'm so proud of us.

Graduation

I watched the local high school graduation tonight and was really hoping to get Michael and Destiny excited about the concept. They don't care. Even Michael, who is getting so close doesn't seem to understand how much work he needs to put into school these next couple of years. I keep hoping that he'll get excited about it. If I can pin him down long enough, I'll put up a new picture. He doesn't really like the camera. He'll be 16 in less than two months. He's at least two inches taller than I am, and his hair is really getting long. It's crazy!!! How do I have a kid whose bigger than I am.

Crying Wolf

Destiny didn't want to do an assignment in school a couple of months ago. She went to the nurses office with a tummy ache instead. My child who NEVER misses school, discovered that she can come home on school days and play with her little sisters if she says she threw up. She has been picked up at school three times in the past two months. I believe she was only a little sick the first day and pretending the others. I told Peyton on Tuesday morning that Destiny was going get come home from school sick. She left the house excited about getting her yearbook. Since Destiny never brought an order form home from school this year, we didn't order one. Peyton sent a check in on Tuesday morning. As soon as I realized it was a check..I knew we were in trouble. They won't take checks the last week of school, you have to send cash. Well...to make it worse, when Peyton called to tell them he would bring cash, they told him the yearbooks were all sold out. All of the extras were gone. Within an hour of that phone call, the school nurse called to tell us that Destiny was sick and needed to come home. Her Daddy picked her up. She wasn't too happy when she had to spend the whole day in the bed..."getting better." She also wasn't happy that she missed her ice cream party at school on Tuesday afternoon. She was so mad that she didn't have a yearbook that she FORGOT her ice cream party was Tuesday afternoon when she decided she was too sick to stay in school.

May 2009

I am disappointed that I haven't posted in a while. The month of May was long and full of fantastic surprises. We celebrated Mother's Day. I was completely spoiled by Peyton and the kids. Flowers delivered to work...flowers at home....new perfume...gift cards (I Tunes)...bath and body works massage oils and bath treats....and just when I thought it was all over, Peyt took the kids out for the day and they detailed my van for me. It's completely clean still!! I ordered two beautiful sets of pearls for my mom and Peyton's mom.

We spent May 17th at the Varsity and then Turner Field. Jace got to play on the MLB field. He had three rows of supporters. The Braves did not have a good game. We left at the 7th inning stretch and they were down by 6 runs. I was hoping for an exciting game for the kids. Just being with their cousins is more than enough for them, though. Dippin dots, cotton candy, peanuts...you name it, they all had it.
Blake came by the house this week in his TRUCK. I remember the night he was born like it was yesterday....and now he's driving!! Wow...I really am getting old. Jessica Taylor is getting married in less than a month. I just don't know where it ends....they keep growing up...

Things continue to change at work as I take a more commercial approach to our business. I spent last Tuesday evening at PF Chang's with Al and Wade (my senior VPs), dicussing the plans and direction that we are taking. The recession has been tough on us, but we (the ATL office) remains in the black...my product as a whole has not been so luck. We just have to keep pushing.

The kids got a new trampoline today. It was the first big project that Peyt and Michael have really taken on together. It looked like they were actually having a good time working on it. I am really proud of them. The girls and I made twice baked potatoes, steak and salad for dinner tonight. We're having a very special dessert....chocolate cake and ice cream. It's our holiday treat.

I am so proud that I've managed to lose 17 lbs in the past couple of months. I posted my weight at work on St Patty's Day. 216 lbs. It's in big numbers on the dock for everyone to see. (I needed something to push me in the right direction). I weighed in on Friday and I was 199!!! I finally made it below 200...haven't been there since right after the girls were born. It feels great to be in 14's again. Not all 14's, but I'm getting there. We'll talk again after this monster dinner we planned for tonight is over....

Sabrina is turning into the little Mommy more and more each day. She has gotten onto Samantha several times today. We're working on "not tattling and not telling" her sisters what to do. She's really cute.

Samantha talks very quickly...she has a lot to say and she likes to say it fast. The problem is, I find myself smiling and agreeing....if I ask her what she said, she gets really frustrated that I didn't understand her the first time.

Michael is looking foward to getting his learners in the next couple of weeks. I'm looking forward to him getting passing grades so he can get his learners. I bought us tickets to Aerosmith. Me, Peyton, Michael, plus 1....(still haven't decided which of his friends we'll invite.)

Destiny had field day last week and is having a huge ice cream party at school this week. Four more days to go...!! Everyone is really excited that the school year is coming to an end....especially Daddy...he doesn't have to get up early for months now.....

We rented a cabin on Talking Rock Creek in North Georgia for the second week in June. We'll celebrate Destiny's 9th birthday on the river complete with a campfire and marshmellows. We all need a break. Seven nights in the middle of nowhere....20 miles to the nearest restaurant. 3 miles to the nearest house....hot tubs in and outside....wish we were going tomorrow. Only 9 more work days.