Life with my sister

Henry had fun having his 3 month pictures taken by Lindsey on Saturday. Not every little boy gets smoochies from his photographer, you know. We love that she is taking his photos for us. It is a great excuse to see each other too! We met up at her parents house this time and had lunch and visited all afternoon. I always love my time with them. They are so dear to us. Henry was quite the dude in his pictures. He posed well and I quickly learned that taking photos of a 3 month old is NOT an easy task. Whew. He likes looking at the camera. I think he might be a ham like his Mama. We took some "naked" pictures and he really liked those. We have to pray he grows out of that phase before he gets to be a big boy! Ha. And no visit to that area is complete without a little stop at Nana & Papa's. We had dinner and visited with them before heading home for the day. Henry is a rotten mess at their house, of course. I can't wait to see the pictures Lindsey is editing of He

I'm back! And we had such a great time. We ate at El Chico(a long time fave of ours), Bonefish Grill (on a recomendation from Abby) and Mimi's Cafe. All were so very good. We shopped and spent money. But bought almost nothing full price. I think I was the only one that bought something not on sale. Cindy found flip-flops for the kids at Target for 25 cents. Can you believe that? 25 cents! What a deal! We laughed and laughed. And we slept! Until 8:30! It felt great. Abby called me on Thursday (we talk just about everyday) and asked what our plans were for the weekend. I told her I hadn't talked to Cindy all week so I wasn't sure what our plans were. Abby said we were weird. I don't think of us as weird really. We have been friends since we were 15 (25 years!), we have talked until late hours, double dated, traveled together and enjoyed countless hours on the telephone. We know each other. We don't have to talk all the time, or see each other often. We

I haven't made a big deal about what birthday this will be for me this year. I know what the number is but am refusing to believe and own it. But my bff from high school, Cindy, turned 40 in December. And for her birthday we are going away for the next two days. We are meeting this morning and plan to shop, eat, shop, eat, sleep and shop and eat! Oh, and take in a movie too. Without kids! I can't remember when that happened last. Stephen is in charge of the kiddos until Saturday night. And I am in charge of just having fun! I'm so excited!!! Have a good weekend!!

At this time last year my Randall was mapping out our route thru DC. We had just arrived by plane and were having lunch before our VERY long walk to Arlington National Cemetery. This is the photo I took at the JFK eternal flame. I love this view. I asked the security guard to take our photo in front of this view and he told me "no", he was not allowed to. I laughed at him because I thought he was joking with me. I then gave him my camera and he said "NO". Randall almost died. It was most funny. I loved this day so much. It was the most humbling experience. Today, a year later, I am sitting at my desk doing what hopsital marketing girls do best, a mother of a 3 month old baby boy, wondering if I will have time to plan a trip this year between bottle washing and laundry, and  dreaming of fitting into those jeans! It is funny because I bought those jeans in a bigger size before that trip because none of my other ones fit. Oh, the difference a year can make for a silly

Henry - 12 weeks Because I thought you needed a little sweetness today! Sweetness is that 12 weeks ago right now I was in very hard and active labor about to have this sweet little boy. Sweetness is seeing how much he has grown in those 12 weeks. Sweetness is how God has carried me through these past 12 weeks. Sweetness is that 12 weeks ago I became a mother for the rest of my life. Sweetness is that 12 weeks ago Randall showed me love in a whole new way and for that I am in love with him more today. Sweetness is the love that overflows my cup each morning when this little face looks up at me from his bed and grins that shy little grin he wears so perfectly on his sweet face. Sweetness is each day that I have with Henry Patton....stressful or easy, they are all the sweetest of days. Abby

Well, I told you I would update you on my weight loss each week and I am a woman of my word. I lost 3.1 pounds. That was with no exercise and a huge lack of water. I plan to try to move a bit more and drink some clear fluids this week and see what happens. So....on to week 2. Abby

I did this last year with Anna, so this year I did it with the boys. And Anna decided to join in too! Here we go: DRB - David, DSB - Daniel SCB - Samuel AKB- Anna What is something I always say to you? DRB -Lets do school DSB -Lets do school SCB - clean your room AKB- I love you What makes me happy? DRB -breakfast in bed DSB -breakfast in bed and when I unload the dishwasher SCB -sleeping in AKB-cleaning the house What makes me sad? DRB -when people do something wrong DSB -when one of us leaves SCB -when we ask whats for breakfast AKB-When we don't take the trash out How do I make you laugh? DRB -tickle me DSB -talk funny in the van SCB -when your hair is in a towel AKB-you tickle me What was I like as a child? DRB -smart DSB -friendly SCB -boring AKB-me How old am I? DRB -39 DSB -40 SCB -39 AKB-39 How tall am I? DRB -6 ft 2in DSB -6 ft 3 in SCB - 5ft 3in AKB-6ft What is my favorite thing to do? DRB -go shopping DSB -have a picnic SCB -go out with friends AKB-shop What do I do whe

Henry Patton decided to hold his head up and sit in his Bumbo for 45 minutes Friday night. Look at that proud face! He just smiled, drooled and cooed the whole time. I think he knows he was really something sitting in that cute seat for the first time. Randall and I were in awe at him and we were just gitty to see how he just becomes more "alive" each day. We never expected for him to be able to sit in in when we got it out Friday night. What a fun surprise for all 3 of us. Thank you, Lord, for our little HP!

Sunday night at church I noticed that Daniel's jeans had a hole in the knee. This is his only pair of jeans. For the first time, David and Daniel are different sizes. Well, not sizes so much as the cut of the jean has to be different to fit each one. Today was the first day I had to go find him a pair of jeans. I tried our local resale shop (that I love) and they had NO jeans. So, we headed to our nearest town with any kind of retail stores to find jeans. The poor thing tried on jeans at Walmart, Sears, and JCPenney to no avail! He probably tried on 20-25 pairs of jeans. Size 8,9,and 10. Bootcut, relaxed, loose, straight, skinny straight(which was defintely a NO!), husky and regular. We left with no jeans. Why is it so hard? Right now the only jeans that fit are Gap and Old Navy. So, we will be driving a little bit farther in the next couple of days to buy jeans. Crazy. But that is not what I wanted to tell you about. This is! We went to the mall today in our nearest big town and o

We are surviving daycare and work. I know many of you have asked. Each morning holds a challenge of its own, but we tackle it the best we can and move on. I have not been late to work yet and we are one week into it.. yay for us! We may scream, cry and shake all the way to our places, but we get there in one piece. The above photo was taken this morning before we left out. Yesterday was a tough day...the toughest yet. We did it though and we are alive to tell about it. I love being back at work with all my coworkers and friends. I like the way my friend Melissa described going to work, "It is something I know I am good at it" and it will keep my confidence up as I learn to be a mama. Henry is adjusting fine. He has not missed a meal yet, as you can see. The boy is a weed, I tell ya. He is learning to pacify himself a bit better and that is remarkable for that little spoiled mess of a baby. He cries when we get there most times, but he is bad about crying when we leave too

Can I just tell you what a proud aunt I am today! My Samuel is such a sport...wow! Please read the post below on his big accomplishment. My little heartbreaker has celebrated his first Valentine's Day! He got 1 Valentine at daycare. 1. I first thought he had not gotten any and I was so sad, but I cleaned out his bag for the week and it was at the bottom of the bag. It was from a friend named Sadey. I was afraid I was the odd mama bringing Valentines to the infant room. I am so glad Sadey's mama was excited about her first Valentine's Day too! This little heartbreaker got a St. Bernard puppy from his Mama and Daddy and we named it Sparky. I saw this soft, floppy dog at the store and knew Henry had to have it. And he loves Sparky. Henry's personality is becoming more alive everyday. I just love learning about him more and more each day. Such a fun boy, he is. This mama has the 2 cutest Valentine's in the whole world. Randall and I are not big Valentine's peopl

Friday night Samuel left at 7:45 to head to Cane Creek State Park for the Flapjack 20. The Flapjack 20 is a Boy Scout sanctioned 20 mile hike at night that culminates with a pancake breakfast. Personally, eating pancakes after walking in the woods for 20 miles and 8-9 hours at night makes me nauseous . But back to Samuel. He was decked out in his long johns, wool socks, coat and hiking boots. (Yes, jeans and a shirt) Stephen was in charge of providing hot chocolate and snacks at the 10 mile mark. So, he left sometime after 11:00 ( I had to sleep, so I'm really not sure what time he left) and went to prepare everything for the guys. 10 boys and 2 adults started the hike and at the ten mile mark, 4 boys and 1 adult were left. Samuel was one of the ones that stayed. Sometime while Stephen was gone to provide snacks I prayed that God would give Samuel the will to persevere and have endurance. Samuel isn't known for perseverance in other areas of his life, namely school work, and I

This is the little cupid boy who has stolen my heart. He was headed to daycare this morning looking most festive and lovable. He took his special Valentine's with him to give to all his little friends and his teachers. I love being the Gitty Mama Valentine of this cutie! Abby

First #1 was this morning when we took off our pjs for a change and got dressed so we could start daycare and go back to the working world. It was a cold morning but I felt warmed by all the prayers you were praying for us. Many thanks for that. It was amazing the way they protected me. This is the happy little boy who looks as though he is doing a daycare hand jive. "I am going to daycare. I am going to meet some friends. I am going to daycare. I am going to be the cutest one." He was so sweet this morning as we got ready to set out on our new journey. This is me about to hand my littlest heart to some sweet lady I had never met but I knew it would be okay and she would take good care of him. This picture of me is not okay though...whew, I need hair help. I have received 2 bad haircuts this month. My fixing the 1st one made it even worse. It is not about me, the baby weight still in my face, or my hair though, it is about this cute littlest love and his rite of passage thi

My wedding was a beautiful day. I love reflecting on it each year on this day. My dress was one of my most favorite things about the day. I still want to put it on and twirl in it but it won't zip, of course. The dress was fun, simple, comfortable, elegant and had the best story that went with it. Julie and I bought that dress one day while having a little mourning shopping trip in LR after my grandmother died in late Winter 2002. Randall and I had been dating for almost 3 months. No one knew we were trying on dresses and no one would have ever dreamed we were for real going to buy one until we called mother from the store to get her permission. I think Kathy had a mild heart attack and I think everyone in the west and central part of the state heard her yell at me over the phone. She made us fax her a picture of the dress from the store for approval. She then told me (all by phone) that it was my dress. I had to wear it no matter who I married. She then told Julie to take it home

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY EVE ABBY AND RANDALL!!!!! Tomorrow is Abby and Randall's 7 th wedding anniversary. If I know Abby like ya'll know Abby I'm sure she is figuring out which pictures to show us in honor of this special day. Can you wait? Me either! The day was beautiful. Cold, a bit windy, but beautiful. Abby was beautiful too. But since I am writing this lets talk about me. My hair looked GREAT! Randall's mom is a hair stylist , beautician, hairdresser. You get the picture. Anyway! She did my hair and it was really pretty. Probably the best it had ever looked in my life until that day. If Abby hadn't looked beautiful and been in a pretty white dress (ask her to post the story about buying the wedding dress!) I would have been the prettiest one there. HA! Stephen married them and I was the maid of honor(the married one). I just hate matron of honor, it makes me sound like an old haggard woman with a bun. Samuel was the ring bearer, Randall's dad had to put his

This is our last full week at home together. I go back to work next Wednesday and Henry starts daycare on that day as well. It is a bittersweet time for us...well, me more than him because he is clueless. It will be a tough transition for all of us, yet one that we have been prepared for since finding out I was pregnant last Spring. I am not a stay home type person. Being a stay at home mom never interested me. I am not a big TV watcher. I don't read unless it is a magazine or something that really sticks out at me and grabs my attention. I don't sew. I don't clip coupons. I don't sit still well. I don't cook square meals each night. I always have at least 1 or 2 loads of dirty clothes in my house and I like it like that. Morning talk shows wear me out by 7:30. Wearing pj pants everyday is about to do me in. My husband works out of the home and I believe distance makes the heart grow fonder. I like outlets...lots of different outlets. I have no business staying at

Henry Patton is 2 months old. He is 50% in height and weight. He has gained 2 pounds since his 1 month check up and has grown about a half inch. He still has reflux but we are trying some new meds and formula as we enter month 3 with hopes for some relief. He started smiling this past month, cooing and becoming more alert each day. He notices his Mama and Daddy's voices. He sleeps about 5 hours a night before waking up for a bottle. He also still loves to be swaddled. Henry is a sweet baby with a funny little personality. I love learning about him more each day. While at our 2 month check up we found out our little mister's cough was RSV (this picture was taken in the exam room). He is doing much better and is still as cute as ever. We are so thankful it did not get any worse than it did. He will have the cough for a few more weeks but he is now fever free and was able to get his first round of shots. He is right on track and we are so proud for that! Henry loves to smile

Granny & Sarah TBEO & Sarah Grace & Anna We have a few faves to say hi to today (really yesterday, but today will have to do!) February 1 was our Granny's birthday. She was the perfect Granny. She worked hard, loved hard, and man could she cook! She was a beautiful testimony of God's love. The girls in our family are blessed to have been raised around her and to have her blood coursing through our veins. The stories we could tell! February 1 is also our Aunt Janet's birthday. She is our blue-eyed aunt and we love her so much. (Not just because of her blue eyes!) She is always around for a hug (although I don't think I got one when I was home for the sip & see), a smile, advice or just to talk. She has made our lives richer. We love you TBEO ! February 6 is Grace's birthday! Aunt Janet's first grandaughter . She is the cutest thing. Smart, funny, and cute! She is blonde and looks so much like her mother it is unreal. I love it when Grace and A