Two Old Crows

This was my favorite gift tag from this Christmas:

And just who are these "two old crows"??

None other than Uncle Larry The Lurker and Aunt Sandy!

Babybird loved his gifts! Thank you so much! Have fun in Minnesota!

Sunday Afternoon Friends

A couple of Sundays ago, EC and I ventured to Old Spencer Mill. We spent the afternoon pretending to watch football, so that we could hang out with Donna, Douglas, Penny, Squirrell and Marley.

More Christmas pictures to come soon!

The Garton "Greats"

The Garton Great-Grandkids
Kenzi, Holly, Haley, Harley and EC

Santa Girls

This picture is a little blurry, but these girls don't stay still for long.........so it is hard to get a picture of them. Harley and Kayla just get prettier and prettier every year.

Hangin' and Snugglin'

EC loves hangin' out with Uncle Clay......

but he REALLY likes to snuggle with Aunt Lauren.

EC Meets Aunt Judy

EC finally got to meet his Aunt Judy last Saturday. She loved and loved and loved on him.

Mortimer The Moose

Santa sent EC a book this year about Mortimer The Moose........so imagine our surprise when Cousin Debbie gave EC a Mortimer toy for Christmas! EC was so excited and LOVES Mortimer very much.

Brian The Lurker

This is Brian..........and he is a lurker. He is just as bad as Larry The Lurker........but at least Uncle Larry left one comment.

I cannot tell you the amount of people that come up to me and say, "I am a lurker!" This is NOT something to be proud of. So you have fair warning............ALL LURKERS WILL EVENTUALLY BE EXPOSED! :)

(We love you Brian! It was good to see you this weekend!)

Long Winters Nap

Taking a nap under Grammy and Granddaddy's Christmas tree...


....and he found his thumb.

Allen Christmas Card

I am really excited that Matt gets to spend the holidays with his kiddos and wonderful wife this year. He thought that he would be deployed again, but prayers were answered and he gets to stay state-side for a while. Now, if only they would move to Tennessee! Merry Christmas Matt, Jennifer, David, Ainsley and Brent! We miss you and can't wait to see you again.

Beautiful Blondies

We cannot wait to see Catherine and Lily on Thursday! I am so excited to see what Santa brings them.........because I am SURE that they are on his good list this year.

Month Three

Dear EC,

Yesterday, you turned three months old. I know! It is so hard to believe! I can’t believe that I have kept you alive this long. I am sure that some of my friends have a pool going and whoever bet on 3 months just lost a great deal of money.

This month has been my favorite so far. I am sure that I will say that every month, but this month you have changed so much.

You have grown by leaps and bounds! When I weighed you last week, you were sixteen pounds. Holy guacamole! You were only 13 lbs 13 ozs at your two-month checkup. I am really working out my biceps carrying you and the car seat. You have outgrown so many of your clothes…..some you didn’t even get to wear. Your double chin seems to get larger every day and everyone loves your chubby cheeks. I am sure that if I stopped feeding you, you could sustain on the fat in your cheeks for at least four weeks.

This is the month that you really started smiling. At first it was just little smiles that lasted a few seconds. Now, you smile with your whole body. Your face glows and you shrug your little shoulders. You REALLY smile when someone asks, “Are you a good boy?” Sometimes the smile is accompanied by a small giggle that gurgles in your throat. It makes me laugh……which makes you smile more.

You smile and talk the most on your changing table. We call it your “happy place”. When you were born, you hated being changed. You screamed when we took you out of warm, spit-up laden, poop-soiled clothes to put you in a new fresh clean outfit. Why were we doing that to you???? Why? Why? Now, you would be naked all day long. You would lie on the changing table until you had to start kindergarten if I would let you. Believe me, there are some times that I wish I could build a little fence around the top. I would leave you there for hours. Anything to make you happy!

You got a letter from the North Pole this week. It was signed from Santa and had a sticker stating that you were on his good list. It also had a really cute little book about Mortimer the Magic Moose. Grammy and Granddaddy went to North Pole, Alaska, on their vacation before you were born. They got to meet Santa and told him that you would be arriving in September, so I am sure that is how he knew to write you a letter…..since you haven’t completely figured out how to use your opposable thumbs yet.

Speaking of thumbs, in the past week you have started reaching for things. One of the first things that you grabbed was a rattle…..then you pulled it back and popped yourself right in the nose with it. You were screaming and there was a little blood, but I was so excited that you grabbed something that I was giddy!

Last night, you slept through the night again for the second night in a row. From 8 o’clock until 6 o’clock! This happens randomly and, although I love this, it makes me a nervous wreck. Just because you sleep through the night, doesn’t mean that I do. I get up at least once to check on you. You have a pretty good bedtime routine and by the end of your lengthy bath with daddy and bottle with mommy, you are a rag doll that seems to weigh 50 pounds. I can leave you in the bed, eyes wide open, and after I turn off the light, you are snoring in three minutes.

Your father and I love you more than you know!
Merry Christmas Sugar Plum!

I love you,
Mommy

On The Good List

Great-Aunt Betty bought EC tickets to see Santa Claus this weekend......and he had a blast! I highly recommend if you are in the Dickson area, that you go to Breakfast With Santa next year. There were all sorts of fun activities for kids.........and SANTA WAS THERE!!! You should have heard the screams when he entered the room.

Breakfast With Santa is sponsered by the Dickson Women's Club and all of the proceeds go to the Imagination Library for Dickson County. The Imagination Library is a really cool program that was started by Dolly Parton. Every child in Tennessee gets one age-appropriate book per month mailed to their house until the age of five! EC hasn't gotten his first book yet, but he can't wait!!!

Thank you Aunt Betty! We had so much fun!

My Cup Runeth Over

This week, my spirits were lifted by a Christmas card. My friend Tobi always writes the sweetest notes in her cards. This time was special. This is what she wrote:

Thank you so much for being such a good friend to me. I’m really glad we’ve gotten to be so close this past year. Also, thank you for being a spiritual inspiration. Watching your journey has nudged me in the right direction to be able to renew my relationship with God. You are very near and dear to not just my heart, but also to my soul. So, thank you.

What a wonderful Christmas present Tobi’s friendship is! She is an inspiration to me in so many ways. She is a loving mother. She is a wonderful wife. She is strong. She is honest. She is beautiful inside and out. She lets me cry. She makes me laugh. She is always there……..even when I call her late at night because I am so sick I can’t hold my head up.

I strive to be the friend to her that she is to me. I am so blessed to have her friendship.

I love you Tobi and I am so glad you are on this journey with me!

Scotch Tape Visit

We got to visit with Scotch Tape & Matchbox Cars while they were in Kentucky several weeks ago. Reed needed a nap, so Babybird didn't get to play......but he got lots of snuggles. EC is super-excited that they are having another little boy. Wallace boys 3 - Wallace girls 2! Catherine and Lily - you better watch out!

Forbidden Love

A couple of years ago, I blogged about my first encounter with a vampire. A ninja-karate-vampire to be exact.

Recently, I have become acquainted with another vampire, Edward Cullen. For those of you that don’t already know, he is the vampire that women have been swooning over in the Twilight saga. I am a little late to hop on the bandwagon, but I started reading the books last week and I found myself wanting a vampire of my own.

I was really into a good part of the book when Birddog walked into the living room and the following conversation ensued.

“What are you reading?”

“Twilight. It is that vampire book that everybody has been talking about. The movie came out this week.”

“Is it good?”

“Well, I hate to tell you this, but I think that I am falling in love with a teenage vampire.”

“Isn’t that illegal?”

“The teenage part or the vampire part?”

“The teenage part.”

“I tell you that I am falling in love with a vampire and all you are concerned about is if he is old enough for me??”

“Well, I figure that I can’t fight a vampire. As long as he pays me what you are worth, then I guess he can have you.”

“How much am I worth??? Hey, come back here! We aren’t finished with this!”

(PS – Dear Santa, I want a vampire for Christmas.)

Happy Birthday Granddaddy!

Happy Birthday to EC's Grandaddy! We hope that you have a great day and start feeling better soon!

Happy 89th Great-Granny Garton

Great-Granny Garton celebrated her 89th birthday on Saturday. EC sure loves spending time with her. She loves to snuggle just as much as he does!

First of Many

It doesn't seem like it has been a full year since Clay and Lauren's wedding! Congratulations to the best little brother and sweetest sister-in-law on their first anniversary.

Larry The Lurker

This is EC’s Great-Uncle Larry. He is a lurker.

I say that with love.

I love that he checks the blog and he says something about it every time that I see him. But he never comments on the blog itself……which makes him a lurker. I have LOTS of lurkers. People tell me all the time that they frequently get on the blog, but it seems that the same people comment all the time.

So, if YOU are a lurker, here is your chance to de-lurk. Please leave a comment, even if it something like “Your blog stinks!”

Who is out there????

(BTW – You can comment if you don’t have a Blogger account. Simply use the anonymous option, but remember to put your name in the comment, so I can see who you are!)

Uncle Clay & Aunt Lauren

EC sure loves his Aunt Lauren and Uncle Clay. They play and play and play and play some more. We sure missed them on Thanksgiving.

Giggles

Daddy BJ cracks EC up! He is too funny!

Puppy Hat

Ummm......EC didn't like his hat very much.

Waiting On A Bottle

He was so patient.....he is always good in the mornings waiting for mommy to make his bottle.

If anyone knows where I can get some more of these gowns in larger 6 or 9 month sizes......I would love to know. The Gerber 0-6 month sizes are too small and I can't seem to find any larger ones. Just call him a little piggy!

Deep Discussion

I am not sure if he was talking about religion, politics or diaper brands. Regardless, he was really telling me something.

I'm A Hoot!

Grammy and Granddaddy bought EC this really cute outfit! It really is true........he is a HOOT!

Cuddling

One of my favorite parts of the day.

Splish Splash

Somebody REALLY likes bath time and is learning to splash!

Love Overall

EC has been smiling for several weeks, but I think this might be the first semi-smile that I have caught on camera. Everytime the camera comes out, he gets extremely interested in the flash and "forgets" to smile.

Helping Mommy Clean the Kitchen

EC and I were having a really great conversation while I was washing bottles and cleaning the kitchen. Then he got really quiet........and started snoring.

Month Two

Dear EC,

Today you turn two months old. It is hard to believe that time has flown by this fast.

Two months ago yesterday, I forced your father to take me to the Mexican restaurant. I am not sure if the Chile Pobueno made me go into labor or if it was your father hitting every pot hole in the road on the way home. Regardless, it worked. Thank goodness! We were so excited and couldn’t wait for you to get here…….and my feet could not swell any bigger.

At four o’clock that morning, I awoke when my water broke. I was so excited that I couldn’t go back to sleep. I finished packing our bag for the hospital and pacing the floor until your father woke up. He was so ecstatic! Your NuNu rode to the hospital with me and helped me check in. By nine o’clock I was in a room and things were rolling. I called your Grammy and Granddaddy and they started the trip from Kentucky.

You were coming! I couldn’t believe it. I was going to be a mother. I couldn’t wait to hold you in my arms and kiss your little head. I wondered if you would look like me and hoped that you would have your father’s beautiful blue eyes. I wanted to hear your voice and whisper sweet I-love-yous in your ear.

Your father got to the hospital around ten o’clock and had called everyone to let them know that you were on your way into the world. Daddy BJ, Uncle Brad and Aunt Mimi stopped by because the just couldn’t wait! Grammy and Granddaddy arrived around noon and my labor was progressing well. The nurse said that she expected you to make your grand entrance around five o’clock.

Then something went wrong…….the little waves on the monitor disappeared. Your heartbeat was gone. The room flooded with nurses. They were pressing on my belly and rolling me back and forth. Nothing was working, so they had your Grammy sign paperwork for an emergency c-section. I must have said a million little prayers when they were taking me to the operating room.

When they were prepping me for surgery, they found your heartbeat again. It was going strong, but they decided to take you anyway. Your father came rushing in, wearing his scrubs just as the surgery started. He kissed my cheek and we exchanged “I love you”s ………and then, I heard you! I heard your little cry! You were perfect and wonderful and healthy.

I thank God for you every day. I thank Him for your ten little fingers and your big beautiful blue eyes. I am thankful for the curve of your ears and the little dimple in your chin. I thank Him for letting me be your mommy……..and I will try to be the best mommy a little boy could ask for.

I love you,
Mommy

Roar!

I love this outfit, but Birddog thinks that it looks like he is a jailbird.

My mother made the quilt that Babybird is laying on. It was her first attempt and I must say that she did an excellent job!

Nascar Kid

Great-Uncle Ronnie loves Babybird so much that he gave him this really cool Nascar outfit! Hhmmm......I wonder who his favorite driver is?

The Many Faces of a Seven Week Old

When he made the face in the big picture, I put down the camera and picked him up. He is already spoiled.

Paybacks

Birddog's mother is a real estate agent. When she came over this morning, she was telling Birddog about a new listing that she has.

Birddog's Mom: "I am listing a house for so-and-so today. It is the one that we used to live beside when you were younger."

Birddog: "Which one was that? The one on which side?"

Birddog's Mom: "It is the house that you shot the windows out of."

Birddog: "Oh! That one!"

I just shook my head. If paybacks are heck, raising Babybird is going to be a rollercoaster.

Halloween Pics

Old School

My college sorority is having a reunion this upcoming weekend. Yep, that's right, I was in a sorority. I am not going to attend, but it is so fun looking at all the old pictures that people are posting online. This is my "big sis" Maria, Scotch Tape and Matchbox Cars, my "grand big sis" Allison (in the wedding dress), and myself. Ironically, none of us remember our hair color being that way.

I am always amazed at how tall I am in pictures. I don't think of myself as a tall person, but I seem to be a giant in pictures. Are you ever surprised at how you look in pictures?