Spring Break: Tifton

"G Mama" and Jake

BETH AND I WOKE UP IN ATHENS WEDNESDAY MORNING AND HEADED TO THOMASTON SO THAT I COULD PICK UP JAKE FOR OUR TRIP TO TIFTON... WE ALL ATE LUNCH WITH THE KINGS AND THEN JAKE AND I HEADED FOR T- TOWN... THE TRIP USUALLY TAKES AROUND TWO HOURS AND SOME CHANGE, AND JAKE SLEPT THE WHOLE WAY FROM THE KINGS' DRIVEWAY IN THOMASTON TO THE KFC IN TIFTON, I WAS THRILLED ( HE USUALLY RIDES VERY WELL, BUT THIS WAS GONNA BE HIS 3RD LONG TRIP IN FOUR DAYS AND I FIGURED I WAS PRESSIN MY LUCK)...

ANYWAYS, WE GOT TO TIFTON AROUND 4 ISH AND MY MOM (GMAMA) WAS HOME FROM WORK, SHE AND JAKE PLAYED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, WHILE I RELAXED... LATER THAT NIGHT, JAKE AND I RODE OVER TO SEE AUNT AMY (MAMY), UNCLE COURTNEY (KING COLE), AND JACE (BABY JACE)... WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE HOWELLS LIVE IN TIFTON SO THAT WE CAN SEE THEM AND MY MOM IN THE SAME TRIP... JAKE LOVES PLAYIN WITH HIS COUSIN JACE, JAKE WAS PULLIN JACE AROUND IN A VERY COOL, REFURBISHED RED WAGON FROM JACE'S GRANDDADDY JC... THEY WERE FUNNY AS THEY COULD BE, THE HIGHLIGHT WAS AMY WAS HOLDIN WAS JACE AND JAKE WAS PUSHIN THE WAGON BY HIMSELF WHEN HE LOOKS OVER TO JACE AND SAYS, " COME ON JACE, GET IN THE WAGON." WE ALL LIKE TO FELL ON THE FLOOR LAUGHIN...

I SHOULD BE SHOT FOR NOT TAKING ANY PICTURES, I BROUGHT THE CAMERA JUST FOR THIS REASON AND I ONLY TOOK PICTURES OF JAKE AND HIS G-MAMA.. WHILE WE WERE IN TIFTON I MISSED PICTURE OPPORTUNITIES WITH COACH SEWARD, EMMETT AND PENDY BOWERS, ANDY AND PAM ELLIS, THE HOWELLS, AND ALL OF MATT WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL... WE HAD A GREAT TRIP IN TIFTON, MY MOM IS ALWAYS SO AMAZED WITH HOW BIG OF A BOY JAKE IS BECOMING!!! WE LOVE YOU G-MAMA AND WE WILL SEE YOU WHEN WALKER GETS HERE...

Spring Break: Thomaston

Mom, Dad, and Jake

For the most part, we based our Spring Break trips out of my parents' house in Thomaston. You see, I'm "recliner bound," meaning I am no longer able to sleep in a bed due to my large pregnant state and I have to sleep in a recliner. My parents have a very large comfortable recliner, so I made our trips work out around that recliner. :) Plus, it's always nice visiting with my parents!

We got to my parents' house last Sunday and just kind of came and went as we pleased. My parents bought Jake this new "motorcracker" (as he calls it) pictured above, and he had a blast riding it around their house. Mom also organized a playdate with the Boatright girls next door while Tyson and I were away in Athens, and Mom said Jake had so much fun playing with the girls. Apparently, though, Jake was a little shy around them; one of the girls asked my mom, "does he talk?" Ha!

Jake and Tyson went to Tifton for the last few days of our trip, and I stayed back with my parents...to be near the recliner. :) My parents were so good to me and pampered and spoiled me the whole time I was in Thomaston; I think they were afraid I was going to go into labor, so they were trying to make me rest as much as possible. It was so nice!

Thanks for everything, Mom and Dad! We really enjoyed this week! Love y'all!

Spring Break Trip 2: Athens

Me, Jill, and Ansley

Jill is lovin' on baby Walker!

Tyson and I left Jake with my parents for a day this week so that we could have some time together just the two of us. We had a hard time deciding where we wanted to go, but we knew we couldn't get too far away from my parents or from Birmingham just in case baby Walker decided to make an early appearance. Anyways, we decided to drive over to Athens on Tuesday, spend the night, and then head back to my parents on Wednesday. It was a short trip, but it was very much needed and enjoyed!

When we decided a few weeks ago on Athens, the first words out of my mouth to Tyson were "you are not allowed to go to the Butts Mehre (football office) while we are there." :) I immediately saw the disappointment in his face because 1) he loves talking football and 2) he loves visiting with his coaching friends any time he gets a chance...even if it is on our "one day mini vacation from our child." He agreed to my terms, though, because he's good like that.

So Tuesday morning comes and we are getting ready to head out the door for Athens, and Tyson says, "Just in case you want to go to Georgia's (spring football) practice, I got us on the list...just in case." :) I knew where that was headed. Luckily for my husband, I caved and said ok. So sure enough, we spent the first 3 hours on our "one day mini-vacation from our child" watching football practice. Seriously, I love football, so I was more than happy to oblige. It ended up being a beautiful day, and I had so much fun at the practice with my hubby...I love it when he talks football. :) I wish I had some pictures from Georgia's practice, but they don't allow cameras in...nor would I embarrass my husband by trying to take some pictures. :)

After practice, we headed to Gnat's Landing to meet my friend Jill and her daughter Ansley. We had so much fun! It makes me miss Jill so much! Good times!

Our trip to Athens was way too short...I can't wait to go back! Thanks, Mom and Dad, for keeping Jake for us!

Spring Break Trip 1: Cochran

I just love Ryleigh Kate's expression here!!


MaMa and Trey
Headed to the creek...
Hand in hand...

Testing the water...
The last picture before...
...he fell in the creek face first.

Me and my Granddaddy!
Spenser, Ryleigh Kate, and Carson
Finally...a picture of the grown-ups! (Spenser, Renee, Christy, Tyson, and Jake)
Throwing sticks in the creek...from afar!

The big boys- Connor and Chase
Cutie "Pen pen"
Christy coachin them up in a game of football

My child looks clueless!

Touchdown Pen Pen!

Tyson, Jake, and I are making another marathon trip around Georgia to visit our families one last time before baby Walker joins us. Our first stop on the trip was to Cochran to visit my mom's family; as usual, we had so much fun! We got to spend a good part of the day with my grandparents and my cousin Ryleigh Kate while we waited on the rest of the family to arrive. Ryleigh Kate and Jake play so well together and are just the best of friends. They are soooo cute together!

And yes, Jake fell into the creek. My mom calls it the "Right of Passage"- every kid falls into the creek at least once in their life; well, it was Jake's turn this time. You see, Jake, RK, Ma Ma, and I were out taking a walk while Tyson had gone to Dairy Queen with my cousin; I tried really hard to teach Jake to be very careful near the creek. He was doing really well and was so cautious, but he got tricked by a big patch of thick monkey grass...he ended up running straight into the creek face first!!! You should have seen my big pregnant self take off in a dead sprint to rescue him! My flip-flops went flyin' and all! By the time I got to to him, he had already popped up and was standing there (with algae in his hair) with his arms out at me like "HELP ME, MAMA!!!" and screaming at the top of his lungs. It was so scary, but after I pulled him from the freezing water, I couldn't help but laugh at how funny that all must have looked.

I think Jake has learned his lesson about the creek, and so have I...an 80 year old grandma, a 4 year old, and an 8 month pregnant lady aren't the best people to have around when a toddler falls in the creek. :)

After Jake dried off and got some new clothes on, the rest of the cousins got to my grandparents' house. We tried to stay away from the creek to avoid another casualty, so we just let the boys (and girl) play in the yard. So much fun! I miss them all already!

I Went to Work Last Night...

...and when I woke up today, this is what I saw:

Jake has a black eye...or will have one tomorrow for sure!

Not to say that Jake hasn't gotten hurt under my watch, but you can imagine the look on my face when Jake came walking in my room with his new injury before Tyson had a chance to tell me about it...I almost passed out. He's never had a black eye before; well, not that I can recall. Oh well, it was bound to happen sooner or later!

What's ironic about this is that Tyson and I had just had the discussion about why I don't work day shift. There are several reasons why I'd rather work the night shift, but the main reason is thatt hings are a lot more likely to happen during the day, and I would rather be home (even if sleeping) just in case. After all, what's being awake a couple more hours after you've already been awake for 24.

Jake showing me his boo boo.

Poor baby...it breaks my heart. It doesn't help that when I woke up and started getting ready for work tonight, Jake says, "no work, Mama." And poor Tyson, too; he has my illness from last weekend and feels awful. Despite Jake's injury, Tyson has done an amazing job taking care of Jake while being so sick.

"Watchin' Girls"

Jake kept beggin' to go "higher...higher!"

Blurry picture but so cute!Jake kept staring off, so I asked him what he was doing. His reply? "Watchin' girls!"


Jake and I went to the park today after naptime, and then later enjoyed some play time with our neighbors. What a beautiful afternoon! Why can't the weather stay like this every day?

Oh, if Jake looks a little warm in the pictures, it's because my 2 year old is very stubborn (like his father) and insists on dressing himself in only long sleeve shirts and long pants every day. Yes, he dresses himself...it's one of those battles I choose not to fight. Tyson actually had to apologize to the nursery workers at church this last Sunday for the way Jake has been dressing lately; he is definitely the worst dressed kid at church. Again, it's one of those battles we chose not to fight. Know what I mean?

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately...I am just at that miserable phase of pregnancy. I'll try harder, but no promises.

Stopping to smell the flowers.

The 3 of Us at the Zoo

Tyson and Jake and the new stroller
Jake waving "hey" to the Zebras

Riding on the carousel
Lookin' for mama

The ole stump on the log and Jake

Tyson, Jake, and I enjoyed some quality family time together today. I was supposed to work the night shift all weekend, but ended up getting sick and having to miss work last night. (I also missed my work baby shower, too). :( I got some much needed rest last night and some good medicine, and I felt like a new person today. Apparently the lack of sleep from taking care of a sick child all week long + the lack of sleep from working night shift + the lack of sleep from pregnancy= a bad deal. Anyways, I hated missing work and my shower, but I definitely enjoyed my sleep and my time with my family today.

If you can't tell from the pictures, we made a quick trip to the zoo. I say "quick" because I am getting way too big and pregnant (if you can't tell from the pictures) to walk around very comfortably any more. We hit Jake's favorite spots (the giraffes, lions, tigers, zebras, and ostriches) and we even rode the carousel today. Jake loves to ride the "el-phant," which is his newest obsession these days. So cute.

Did I mention that we tried out our "new" sit-n-stand stroller today? (It's "new" to us, but I got it at a consignment sale here...isn't it awesome? I probably wouldn't have gotten neon orange if I would have bought it first-hand, though.) Anyways, I thought it was a good idea to go ahead and let Jake try it out, and it was a great idea! He was so much better than I thought about standing and riding and being able to get on and off as he needed...he's such a big boy! Now let's just see how he does when Walker is riding in the front! :)

I have a great job and work with some amazing people, but it's days like this that really make me miss my time with my family on the weekends. Hurry up maternity leave!! 6 weeks or less to go!

***Quote of the weekend...from one of my young patients, "You must be having a boy because your face is real swole." Nice.

"All Better"

If you read my previous post, you know that Jake has been battling a stomach bug this week. It's not over yet, but according to Jake, he's "all better."

More on this later. Have a great weekend!

Worst Parents Ever...

For the worst parents ever, see picture below:

Yes, Tyson and I are the worst parents ever. Really. We selfishly left our child at home with a babysitter (well, not just any babysitter...the best, Casey Rae) while we attended a fundraiser for UAB, and Jake got sick...bad sick. Let me back up, Jake woke up in the middle of the night last night with a stomach virus, but we didn't have any problems all day, so I thought we were in the clear. I thought wrong. Poor Casey Rae, she ended up having to clean up not only diarrhea, but a massive amount of throw-up. And poor Jake. I feel like the worst mom ever. At least we left Jake in really good hands, though; Casey Rae did the most amazing job ever. Thank you, Casey Rae! I owe you BIG time!

By the way, we did have a great time at the fundraiser before finding out about Jake getting sick. Somehow, though, my big ole' belly always ended up being the brunt of all the jokes. :)

This is an awful picture of me, but getting a picture of the 3 of us is a rarity. And yes, those are Christmas pajamas on Jake. Don't judge. :)

Big Boy Haircut

So in a temporary moment of insanity, I let Jake's beautiful blond locks get cut off. Tyson and I had been talking about it for a while, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it...I'm obsessed with his long hair. Anyways, Tyson had Friday afternoon off, so I told him that it was time to get Jake's hair cut. (Tyson usually always takes Jake to get his hair cut, but this time I wanted to go, too). I'm usually a control freak about most things, but I agreed to let Tyson handle everything when we got to the barber shop. We had already discussed what we wanted..a big boy hair cut with a lot off the sides and back but still some length in the front. Well, Jake gets into the chair and Tyson starts telling the man what we wanted, but he left out the part about keeping it long in the front. I just bit my tongue the whole time and hoped for the best. Not so much...his hair is so stinkin' short!

I'm slowly coming around to Jake's big boy haircut; however, I miss his long hair! He just looks way too grown-up now! And his hair is so much darker, too! I knew it would eventually get darker, but it's like everything is happening all at once. Gosh, I'm way too hormonal for all of this right now...what was I thinking? Thank God it's just hair and will grow back, right?

I hope everyone had a great weekend! 7 more weekends (or less) of work for me and then I'm on maternity leave!! Oh, and I forgot to mention that we scheduled the c-section for April 20th! Woo hoo!