Life with my sister

...That is what little boys are made of. IT'S A BOY!

Tomorrow is the day we find out if our home will be filled with pink or blue! I am so anxious I could not eat much today and was unable to focus on too much. I can hardly wait to know if I will be buying ball caps or bows! Julie has plans to hit A&E as soon as I call her with the news to pick up things she has had her eye on, Mama plans to hit the stores tomorrow night and start buying things gender specific, Diana has bids out on EBay and is waiting to know which ones to increase... and who knows who all else is waiting to jump on things....I just love the excitement everyone has for this baby. I feel like the race is about to start and I have that nervous stomach you get before the gun goes off. Wow. Abby

So, this week I am at childrens camp. We are at COW week. Now, doesn't that just make you feel skinny?! (COW-Children only week)So there are about 900 3rd-6th graders and a few adults sprinkled amongst them. Not too many to dampen their energy or their little pranks though! Anna is with us. She and D&D and I are staying in a family unit. Which is not to be confused with a hotel room at all. AT ALL!!! It is a small room with 4 twin beds, a sink, and its only saving grace a dresser! I love me a dresser! Oh yeah, there is also a shower and toilet, but please, this is a famnily kind of blog! Anna has had a couple of funny statements this week. Last night we were standing outside waiting on the kids to join up with us Anna said "these bugs are all around me!" " the bugs talk to me at night in bed" I said, surprised!"the bugs talk to you?" she said matter of factly "yes!" I said "what do they say?" she said" I don't know! I ...

Here is one of my most favorite photos of our childhood. Julie is a ghost and I look scared to death of the ghost. I crack up every time I see this picture of the floating face/ghost of a sister.

When I think about it, I think we have both had good parenting practice...at least as much practice as one can get. I am not sure you are ever fully prepared. Having been around my 3 nephews, my cousin Claire and my niece Anna as babies, toddlers and now children...I feel like I am their parent at times! My sister and cousin Hollye have taught me well when it comes to parenting. Julie has taught me the most efficient ways to get things accomplished and Hollye has taught me how to juggle a career and a family. Both are most helpful to me as I prepare to bring Baby L into this world. Randall came along after the boys and Claire were born. Claire had a huge crush on him when he came into my life...she melted for him. It was hilarious. She was 1 and so were the twins, David & Daniel. Samuel just thought he was too cool. Randall didn't really know what to think or do with the kids but since these children had my heart, he had to learn fast! Anna came along after we got married and...

"What names do you have picked out" Well, none at the moment. We always wanted Dixie & Dalton. It has been a standing joke amongst family and friends that those are our names. In fact, I have a monogrammed bib with "Dalton" on it that my sweet sister bought for quarter at a thrift store in Florida about three or four years ago. Since Patrick Swazye has ruined that name for us ("The name is Dalton..." from Roadhouse) we will not go this route. I have also realized there are a lot of rowdy/rough boys in this area with that name and I would rather not make people think my child is from the rowdy crowd. We all know how so many people play the name association game...especially teachers. I would rather not set my boy up for trouble! Dixie has been a hot/cold name game with us over the past six years. The name Dixie L was discovered by my sweet husband on a headstone next to my grandfather's stone at the National Cemetery back home. Randall loved it, I h...

You know that children don't often filter their thoughts before they speak them. I was once again witness to this yesterday. There is a man at church that the kids hadn't seen much of lately. He is a nice kind man. He will joke with you, tell you stories from his life and laugh with you. But for some reason today he looked a little sour. Anna had seen him in the morning service and again at the evening service. After looking at him Anna said "Mom, is his face always going to look like that?" It was laugh out loud funny, but since we were in church I just laughed softly. You know what I told her don't you? I got to use the "your face will freeze like that" lesson! It brought back to mind one of Abby Jo's sayings: Remember to be happy because you never know when someone is falling in love with your smile. So let this be a reminder to you. SMILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Julie