9.27.09 Nadia has always been partial to her Papaw. We’ve made it our Sunday afternoon routine to go to Cheyenne’s parents’ house, and when we get there, Nadia always runs straight to David, shouting “Papaw!” I think it’s so sweet that my little girl would choose to be in Papaw’s arms anyday… and David loves it, too!
9.18.09 We took our annual trip to Jackson’s Orchard, but there was some added excitment for the kids this year… in the way of a ji-normous slide called “The Cidar Slider”. (Yes, the name cracks me up, too!)
We made the trek up the many, many stairs… but I wasn’t sure if my kiddos would be willing to go down. I mean, it was high up even for me… I can’t imagine the view when you’re 2!
As usual, Liam proved me wrong and went down gladly.
And every time he finished, he would head back to the stairs saying, “One more time!”
I decided to take Nadia down “The Cidar Slider” to see what she thought. (We wouldn’t want to leave her out, now would we?)
We She loved it! Ha! And even went down by herself a few times! That’s my girl!
She looks a bit tense in this picture, but I promise she loved it. At least, I’m pretty sure she did.
I love going to this orchard each fall. It’s how we initiate the new season.
And a trip to Jackson’s isn’t complete without chowing down on apple pies, apple cidar slushes and apples… yummy!
9.15.09 Nadia is all about some corn. Once, the child ate SIX EARS at one sitting… and then we cut her off! Yeah, it was the corn from Nana’s garden that anyone would have drooled over, but still… SIX EARS!!!
And for the record, Liam likes it too!
9.14.09 Yep. That’s my girl. Too cool for her own good.
9.9.09 I’m taking advantage of this stay-at-home mom thing! We’ve already done so much, as you’ll see, including our second trip to the zoo this year. It was my sister’s idea to take the kids back, and since I no longer have to ask off at work 
, I went too!
Nadia favorite part was the petting zoo. She loved the billy goats. I wish I had gotten a picture of Nadia kissing those goats on the lips! I’m just too slow.
Liam didn’t want his picture taken that day, but here’s an attempt with Aunt Nena and the zebras.
*Photos courtesy of Joe Imel 2008
We spent a lot of time this season watching the Bowling Green Purples soccer team, notibly my nephew, Cory. As you can see, he’s a pretty dynamic player and definitely puts his ALL into the game. The pix above are actually from last season, but I thought they were worth posting.
Here’s one from this season, also taken by Joe Imel. (Oh, and can someone tell me how my baby nephew is already in high school?)
There isn’t anywhere Liam would have rather been this summer than this soccer field. My 2 kids sure love their cousin Cory.
8.29.09 We had a great time celebrating sweet Bella’s 2nd birthday. Bella’s mom, Brooke, and I have known each other for “forever”. Brooke has done so much for me over the years, and, seriously, she’s gotten NOTHING in return! I promise I’m the most rotten friend, but Brooke is super cool and, for some reason, keeps at our friendship. I love the girl to pieces… and, truthfully, she feels more like a sister than a friend.
Plus, she hosts the most fun parties… complete with mega water slides, baby pools, and slip ‘n slides! Here’s Liam getting a boost from Bella’s big brother. (Yes, Brooke. I swiped these pix from your facebook page!)
Brooke also is one of those friends who sends invitations that are so deliciously adorable, you’ll just want to gag. Like the one to this party, for example:
I know. Gag.
8.28.09 Wow. This one is hard to write. After nearly 10 years at a job I adore, I’ve decided to take on the role as a full-time stay-at-home mom. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s one I know I’ll never regret.
I have so much gratitude toward WBKO. It has been a wonderful place to work, and everyone there has been so gracious to me. I truly loved being there. And, unlike most jobs, I never found myself checking my watch wishing it were time to go home. In broadcasting, you look at the clock and say, “Four o’clock already??!!! I need more time… more time!!!” It was never boring… and everyday was exhilerating and unique.
I have to thank Bob Noonan for giving me a shot, hiring me back in 1999. I was a soon-to-be college graduate when he called and asked me to come to his office. He said he saw potential and kindly held a position for me until I graduated. The morning after I walked the line at WKU, I began my career at WBKO.
Since then, I’d say I performed practically every job in the newsroom. I started out as a reporter 3 days a week and a producer for AMKY the other 2. Then I moved to anchoring weekends and reporting. (I have Amy Bingham to thank for that promotion.) At one point I produced, edited, AND anchored weekends. For those of you who understand the world of broadcasting, THAT was paying my dues!
I left for a short period to work at Christian Family Radio, WCVK… but found my way back to television, this time producing the 6 and 10 newscasts. From that point, I switched to producing and anchoring MidDay Live as well as producing the 5 o’clock news.
And that’s, literally, what I was doing when my life changed forever. I was sitting at my desk after just wrapping up the 5 when I got the news that my parents had been hit by a drunk driver. Naturally, after losing them both, I wasn’t ready to go back on-air for awhile, so my understanding boss let me produce AMKY. It was an overnight gig that allowed me to escape from my reality. After a month or so of hiding from the world, I put on my “game face” and went back on the air… scaling back to part-time hours as producer/anchor of MidDay Live. The first show I anchored after burying my mom and dad was oh so difficult. I felt like I was wearing a “happy mask” when, on the inside, I was crushed with grief. Amy B. became my personal cheerleader and somehow coached me through. I promise, she earned a degree in counseling (and angel wings!) after dealing with me during that time I can see my mom in heaven giving Amy a standing ovation for her absolute commitment in caring for me. And I’m sure there’s an extra crown waiting for Amy when she arrives at the Gates herself!
Being a part of MidDay Live was exactly where I wanted to be. I had found my niche. I loved every minute of that job… and in the end, I was able to help spearhead the project that I am most proud of… MidDay’s Child. As an adoptive mother, there isn’t a mission I am more passionate about (besides The Great Commission) than helping children find their forever families.
And that, my friends, is where the story ends. I am consumed with gratitude, though, because so much of my life story took place during my time at WBKO… and the people there became family. I walked in a naive kid and walked out a mother of two.
Growing up, I had been told to find what you love and do it so that it never feels like work. And that’s exactly what I did.
Thanks, WBKO, for the story of my life.
My dream job was always to be a stay-at-home mom. My mom stayed at home with me and my 3 siblings, and I always envisioned my future the same. I went to college and obtained a degree with the ultimate goal still of being a stay-at-home mom. The day after I graduated from WKU, I began reporting and producing at WBKO-TV. The following year, I got married and expected my stay-at-home mom gig to not be far off.
It’s funny how you can do your best to map out your future, but God’s plan usually trumps your own. His Plan for my life didn’t include kids right away. For seven years we waited. It was excruciatingly painful. Dreadful. Agonizing. But worth it.
My husband and I were blessed with a son literally overnight. After we got the call that a birth mother had chosen us, I remember calling Amy Bingham, my co-worker and friend, at about 9pm on December 20th, telling her I wouldn’t be at work the next day… or the next… or for the next 3 months!!! I was finally a mother!
That’s when I realized the Darla of my childhood and the Darla of my present had changed… and so had my ideas of my role in life. Much to my surprise, I chose to return to work. WBKO had always been so good to me and allowed me to work part-time after the loss of my parents, the perfect job working M-F 8:30-noon, producing and anchoring just one show. As a mother, this position gave me the best of both worlds. I had the opportunity to interact with adults on a daily basis… I had a reason to take a shower and brush my teeth!… and yet, I still had time with the kids! I’ve always said going to work each morning was my “break”… and when I came home I went to “work”.
So during my 3 1/2 hour “break” each day, my kids spent time at Ma McCoy’s house. She’s a private sitter who’s been a blessing to our family. Her husband is retired which made the situation even better. He was also there everyday… and both my kids adore him.
Since my parents aren’t living, it was important to me that Liam and Nadia had grandparent figures in their life, and Wallace and Shirley have been just that. Plus, they had a couple of other kids they watched as well, so Liam and Nadia always had friends to play with.
The McCoy’s house was part of Liam’s daily routine from the time he was 4 months old until he was 2 1/2.
Ma McCoy and Wallace loved on and cared for Nadia from 3 months until she was a year and a half.
We are so grateful for Ma McCoy and Wallace. They have certainly been there for our family and have done a great job taking care of Liam and Nadia. After 3 years as a “working” mother, I now feel equipped to leave my dream job at the TV station… to take my dream job as a stay-at-home mom. Hoorah!
Our little friend Kaylond (or as Liam calls her, “KK”) turned 3! She had a fun beach party at the lake on 8.8.09. It was at Cedar Creek in Mt. Juliet, TN which was such a cool place for a party. The kids were wiped out after such a good time! Thanks KK!
