"I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Weiner..."

My niece, Emily, usually comes and spends some time with me in the summer or whenever she is up visiting her dad, my brother Eric. She is the cutest, sweetest, hyper, funny, and well behaved little gal! And since she has moved to Newport (near Jonesboro) she has picked up the craziest southern hick accent I've ever heard coming from a 11 year old. Anyways, she is a hoot and this morning we had our radio debut! We heard on KLRC 101.1 that they were having a talent show and anyone could call in and demonstrate talent for a chance to win a backpack full of back-to-school supplies. So I convinced her we needed to call in and sing! So we did. We called and sang the Oscar Mayer Weiner theme song. It was pretty hilarious. We sang less than amazing cuz we were trying hard not to laugh. But they did air it a few minutes later- my mom and Gloria both heard it! Unforunately we did NOT win the grand prize. (Some kid who could say words backwards beat us out.) But we had fun laughing at ourselves.

Bueller... Bueller... anyone?

I feel really blessed to be able to honestly say that I love my job. I truly do. Being a music teacher is definetly what God had in mind when he was designing my curly headed brain. I've had an awesome summer, but now it's time to go back to teacherland and I am really excited to see my students again. Teachers in Bentonville don't officially start until Monday, but I've been working in my classroom this past week- cleaning, decorating, organizing- all my favorite things! It's going to be a great year (my seventh year!) and I can't believe I only have to teach until February... such a strange thought. I'm hoping to find the perfect long-term substitute for my students (ahem, Miss Brown). I usually am not into cheesy quotes, but this has been one of my favorites for a long time...
"A teacher affects eternity; she can never tell where her influence stops."--Henry Brooks Adams

Front Porch Livin'

My final project in photography class was to find a photographer's work who I admired and try to mimic their style. So I found this great book of photography by Leslie Parr Sutton entitled "Ozark Elders". In the 1980's she traveled around the hills of the Ozarks and took photos and stories of interesting older folks she encountered. So, that's what I did for my project! My dad drove me around the backwoods of Kingston and Huntsville on Thursday and introduced me to several elders he knew (mostly through my brother Eric). I took people's pictures and listened to their stories- it was great! I really enjoyed the whole afternoon with my dad and it made me miss living on a dirt road when the big excitement was wondering if the creek would get too high to cross the low-water bridge. I took alot of photos but here are just a few of my favorites from the project.

Shopping For Two

So my belly really doesn't show this much yet, I just exaggerated this for a self-portrait assignment I had to do for photography class. I did get to have my first adventure in maternity clothes shopping yesterday though! My friend, Mel, went along with me for moral support. I'm so glad she did because I needed someone to witness me trying on the "fake bellies" in the fitting rooms. It was pretty hilarious, but I did find some cute clothes. I also bought a cool thing called a Bella Band and it allows you to wear your pants unbuttoned or unzipped and this tube-top like band fits around your lower belly and just looks like a black undershirt. All my clothes still fit but my dress pants are getting a little tough to button, so I'm hoping this Bella Band will allow me to wear my "teacher" clothes for awhile.

"Here's Looking at You, Kid."

I am starting to run out of people to model for my photography class assignments, so I convinced my brother Caleb to sit for a few pictures- he was a very patient model! With this assignment I was supposed to recreate special lighting effects to shoot a picture that mimics old black and white films.

Baby Sighting!

So, the craziest thing happened tonight! We were hanging out at our friends Jim (aka Dr. Burrow) and Emily's house and Jim says "hey, wanna go get an ultrasound?". We said yes of course. So we drove to the medical clinic and got to see our baby again. But tonight was SO awesome, because we got to SEE THE BABY MOVING! Oh my goodness, it was so wonderful to see the baby kicking and moving and waving his/her arms around. I cried. And Jim let Jamie do the ultrasound for awhile and Jamie got some great photos of our baby. Good news- the baby has two arms and two legs! And at one point the baby stuck out it's hand and you could see five little fingers waving at us. So cool!

In this pic you can see longways down the baby. The head is first and then the arms, legs and tiny feet in the background. If you look closely you can see the right arm bent at the elbow. (And you can see the baby has Jamie's long skinny legs!)

This one is of the baby sideways. The head on the right and the body, arms and legs curving up to the left. You can almost see a little nose on the face here. The legs are blurry because the baby was kicking alot in this picture. (I can't feel any movement yet because I'm only 12 weeks, but maybe around 20 weeks...)

America's Next Top Model...

I bribed Jamie into being the subject for one of my photography assignments and I thought this picture turned out pretty cool.

Snake Charmer??

I actually held a snake at the Gentry Wildlife Zoo! (I had to get a picture, because Jamie never thought I would really do it.)

And I got some really great shots of giraffes, kangaroos, baby tigers and a lot of adorable animals, but my favorite pic was of this cute little squirrel. (You can see him giving me the stare down here- I think he thought I might take his acorn.)

More Pics from Photography Class

Here are a few more photos I took this past week. (Our assignment was to work on taking up-close shots with narrow focus and shallow depth of field.) It is so fun developing these in the dark room, but it is very time consuming. I'm sure, like anything, it just takes alot of practice and paitence. It only took me ten years of piano lessons to get any good, so maybe by the time I'm 40 I'll be able to call myself a decent photographer!

This first pic is from the UA Senior Walk (where they put all the graduates names on the sidewalks) and I thought how the tree shadows frame Jamie's name was pretty cool.

I was driving through Fayetteville and saw this statue in someone's front yard, so I jumped out of my car (left it running) and snapped a picture.

And who couldn't resist photographing this beautiful model! (I have connections with her agent...)

"Thank You for Being a Friend..."

I'm always amazed by the blessings in my life and this week it seems my "girls" have been there for me! On Sunday Erin so graciously allowed me to pass my babysitting duties off to her with no notice, Gloria came to my rescue for one of our hetic music workshops at school (I used to think it was kind of joke to say that G knew everything, but now I'm scared to think it's really kind of true...), Kim has been such motivation for my photograhpy and even let me stop by unannounounced tonight for help with an assignment (and to photograph her beautiful children), and then Mel (and Brian!) came to my rescue this evening with a delicious dinner (I have been craving a juicy hamburger all week and she just happened to be grilling burgers so I inivited myself over for yummy food and a homemade chocolate malt by Mr. Ward himself)! So, I'm home now... fat and happy and so thankful for close friends!

Alien Baby due to arrive on February 5th!

Here's the first official picture of our baby! I'm not sure if you can see anything in this alien blob, but if you squint your eye and stand on one foot, you can see the round head on the right and the little body across the left. We got to see the tiny heartbeat pulsing away in there today and we feel everything is a little more official now. It was so awesome to see that I actually have a little Cornett, Jr growing inside me! Jamie got a little choked up, but I was busy trying to stare at the picture to see if the baby looks like me... Jamie says it does.

Kim Wanna-be

I started taking an Intro to Photography class last week at NWACC (Bentonville teachers get free classes there). And it has been SO much fun! Already I feel like I have learned so much! The class is black and white photography and we have to use film cameras. Thankfully Kim let me use one of her fancy cameras and has been giving me a lot of helpful pointers. Last Friday I spent several hours in the dark room developing my pictures and here is one of my favorites.

Kim took a picture of me trying to act like I knew what I was doing...

(And here's what I was taking a picture of... some cool graffiti that just happened to have Jamie's initials and my name in the same spot.)

Here's another picture I took that I thought turned out ok.

And I took a picture of these crazy frogs we have in our front flower bed that our friend Jim gave Jamie for his birthday last year. I have to admit that at first I was not a fan of the frogs in our yard but now I think they're pretty funny.

Baby Daddy

Jamie calculated that if the average baby needs 6-8 diaper changes a day, multiplied by 2 years until potty training, divided by the amount of diapers per package... we are going to need alot of diapers! So he decided last night that every time we go grocery shopping we need to get a package of diapers and start stockpiling early. (This comes from the same man who insisted a couple years ago that I buy about a five year supply of feminine products at Sam's Club!) Jamie is very excited about the baby and I'm pretty sure he is reading more pregnancy books than I am. He's going to be a great "Baby Daddy" and our little one should have plenty of diapers!

"There was a little girl, who had a little curl..."

When we were little, my dad always use to say the same thing before we went to bed each night... "big day tomorrow". Whether we were just doing nothing at home or leaving on vacation he would always say we needed to get to bed because "big day tomorrow".

So today was a pretty big day. Jamie and I (and Cornett jr) had our first doctor's appointment. Everyone there was so nice and friendly and excited for us. We could tell right away we are going to love this women's clinic. In two more weeks we get to hear the heartbeat and see an ultrasound! I can't wait.

I also got all my hair chopped off today. I love having short hair! And my hair grows so fast (even before prenatal vitamins) so I'm sure in no time it will be long again. But for now I love the new do. Then I got a massage from a girl my age who I have become pretty good friends with. (I trade piano lessons for her husband for free massages!) She is such a strong Christian that I love talking to her and today she said a little prayer for my belly. I'll post a picture of my fat tummy when it actually looks like more than just too much Taco Bueno, but for now here's my new hair do.

Always a Bridesmaid...

Evan and Erin's beautiful wedding was this past weekend and it was so wonderful! The rain stopped just in time and they got to ride off in her dad's convertible mustang. So adorable! As much as I've absolutely loved being such a special part of both Melanie and Erin's weddings, I am glad to finally not have to worry about fitting into anymore bridesmaid dresses and I can officially get fat! Whoo hoo!!

Jamie was a groomsman in their wedding, too. (I don't think he had to worry about squeezing into his suit though.) And doesn't Jakey look so cute in his top hat?!

This is a pic Jamie took of me at Mel's wedding. (I promise I have a beautiful red bridemaid's dress on...) And actually when Jamie was taking this picture I was trying to give him that annoyed look of "please stop taking my picture" but I guess I need to work on my "mean face".

This pic Kim took at Erin and Evan's rehearsal dinner. Yummy food! (I had to break out my new turquoise heels for the special event.)

Happy Birthday!

Can't believe I'm turning 29 today! My last year of the twenties... well, until I start lying about my age of course. All our friends came over last night for a big birthday dinner and Erin made the usual Funfetti bday cake we always have when one of us has a birthday. The cake topper she put on it was amazing! A "Super Mom-to-Be" figurine. I hope I can find this outfit for Halloween this year...

And, of course, I had to celebrate with my brother Caleb who shares my birthday. (He was born on my 12th birthday... interrupting my 6th grade slumber party). Mom made us seperate cakes yesterday- me a Carrot Cake and Caleb's was an ice cream cake. Naturally, since I'm eating for two, I had to have a piece of each!

'ello, Governor

Today I drove to Little Rock to attend a Governor's Luncheon honoring all the teachers in Arkansas who obtained their National Board Certification this year. I took my mom (she is my usual "hot date" for these type of events that Jamie isn't dying to attend) and we had a good time. We stopped by the Clinton Presidential Library for a little while. At the luncheon the Governor gave a little "you can change the world" speech and said that we never know when we might be teaching a little future governor or president. So maybe next time I want to strangle one of my middle schoolers I'll pause and wonder if they might be the leader of the free world someday...

Mrs.Ward!

Mel's wedding was amazingly beautiful and so much fun!!! She was getting a little nervous waiting to go down the aisle, but we had alot of fun "backstage" before the wedding started. The ceremony brought tears and then we danced the night away at the awesome reception!! The whole day was perfect! I can't believe our Mel is an old married woman!

I Only Have Eyes for You

Jamie always says he is going to change my name to "Impatient" but I really think waiting to see our baby is going to be longest wait ever! I'm just barely about a month and a half along, but already I'm so excited I can't stand it! I wonder if the baby will have Jamie's light brown eyes or my blue/green "Lowery" eyes...? (When Kim took these pictures for our anniversary I was already pregnant, but didn't know it... just a gleam in Jamie's eye?)

Isn't Kim an amazing photographer?

I can't wait until she's famous and I can say "I knew her when..."

Just the THREE of us?!

Jamie's early Father's Day present...!!!