Tagged (HHH)

Happy Father's Day!!  I am blessed to have Heath as a husband and father.  I also love that we are blessed with my dad, his dad and my 2 grandfathers as well.  What wonderful examples!  Heath was up to Abbie's challenge and decided to answer this tag game...Here goes (it has been edited for spelling and grammar :)).  

8 Things I did yesterday:

1.  Took Turner to Chick-fil-A for breakfast and hung out with him practically all day...poopy diapers and all.

2.  Cut the grass after changing the blade on the mower...we will now be able to stay in the neighborhood.

3.  Read two chapters in a book, while Turner slept.

4.  Watched the Braves and Golf on the same day!  Yeah!  Trying to raise the boy well.

5.  Went to a cookout at Jeanne and Jeremy Wells' house.

6.  Tried to figure out what Kelly thinks is wrong with her Jeep brakes, unfortunately I am far from handy with cars.

7.  Washed the dishes and a couple loads of clothes...I am somewhat domesticated.

8.  Read a blog for the first time since the last "list" game that I was tagged on!  Thanks Abbie!

8 Things I wish I could do:

1.   Take a nap.  In my past life (BT), I loved Sunday afternoon naps.

2.  Exercise more regularly, but this is more of a discipline thing than anything.

3.  Be President.  Someone needs to save this country from Communism.

4.  Be more excited about Kelly's "couponing".

5.  Accept new technology...i.e. facebook, and twitter, etc.

6.  Give away Gordon...any takers?  (for those pet lovers and PETA members, I am half kidding...that does mean I am half serious!).

7.  Be more funny.

8.  Be less anal/type A scheduled.  This might help my marriage!  

8 Shows I watch:

1.  Boston Legal (RIP)

2.  Brothers and Sisters

3.  Two and a half Men

4.  Auburn Football Review (in the Fall)

5.  The O'Reilly Factor (except now I can't)

6.  Any Sports shows...SportsCenter, Braves, et. al.

7.  Bachelor/Bachelorette...I know, but at least it is not The Hills, Housewives of wherever, or the like.  Right TJ?).

8.  Castle

8 Places I have traveled:

1.  New York City, my favorite!

2.  San Diego, and by result LA.  I much prefer SD to LA.

3.  Boston

4.  Whistler, British Columbia...home of the greatest skiing trip ever.

5.  Hawaii

6.  Several spots in Mexico

7.  Panama City Beach, FL...and thus Club La Vela!!

8.  Spain and France on a high school trip.

8 Places I would like to travel:

1.  Australia

2.  Hawaii, again

3.  Washington, DC, again

4.  Andalusia, AL

5.  London

6.  To every baseball stadium for a game

7.  Mt. Rushmore...I am a nerd.

8.  National Championship Football game.

8 Favorite Foods:

1.  Fridge Cookies, for every one else that would be fudge stripe cookies.

2.  Home grilled steaks.

3.  Area 41 Pizza, not Pizza Hut, Jeanne!

4.  Carrabba's Speidino de mare

5.  Green Beans

6.  Milo's Sweet Tea

7.  Mom's four layer dessert

8.  Rollie's pork tenderloin and Sherry's zucchini and squash.

Thanks for tagging me, Abbie.  HHH

Tagged

I just wrote another post (I know - when it rains, it pours).  I hope I finish this little tag challenge - just to spice up some blogs!

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1.  Drove back from the airport at 7 a.m. - by choice

2.  Shot a death look at a woman in Wal-Mart was crazy (see below post)

3.  Went to sister-in-law's wedding shower in Andalusia

4.  Hung out with some former students

5.  Ate at a meat n' three in Greenville, AL (and recognized a girl from classes at Auburn but couldn't place her and she didn't seem super-interested either)

6.  Gave 5 dollars to a church youth group who attacked our car at a drive thru in Prattville - I am a sucker when they say you can send a kid to camp

7.  Traded 95 dollars worth of formula at Wal-Mart (and it was just 3 and a half canisters)

8.  Changed 3 poop diapers (most in a day that I can remember to date)

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1.  Lose the rest of this stinkin' baby weight - don't worry, this weekend renewed some of my determination 

2.  Meet Brody Jenner and/or the Gosselin family (even though they are played out, I know)

3.  Read books more often - I read 4 at the beach just because I had free time!

4.  Teach part-time (So far this is not an option)

5.  Sew and applique like my mom and sister (but why if they can?)

6.  Be at Auburn again - like go back in time as a college student, not just in the town

7.  Have more consistent quiet times (this is controllable!)

8.  Give this dog a tranquilizer because he is screaming in a thunderstorm and just woke Turner up

8 Shows I Watch (just 8?)

1.  The Bachelor/Bachelorette - on right now

2.  Jon and Kate Plus 8 - hoping for the best

3.  The Hills - Speidi???  Seriously.  Dear media, stop giving them attention!

4.  Army Wives

5.  King of Queens

6.  Brothers and Sisters - Heath's favorite

7.  Live with Regis and Kelly - she is so cute!

8.  American Idol 

8 Favorite Foods

1.  Spaghetti - but only how my mom makes it

2.  Milo's - but no special sauce

3.  Fruit

4.  Chocolate 

5.  Breezeway chicken (Auburn)

6.  Steak

7.  Chick-fil-A anything

8.  Quizno's turkey sandwich (but only after being pregnant)

8 Places I Have Traveled

1.  New York, New York

2.  Hawaii (honeymoon)

3.  Europe (but it has been a while)

4.  Los Angeles (this month!)

5.  Phoenix, Arizona (Grandad's old stomping grounds)

6.  Colorado (I am very graceful on skis)

7.  Mexico

8.  Jamaica

8 Places I Would Like to Travel

1.  I wish I desired to go to Europe more.  Kinda like it around here.  

2.  Australia - but it would have to be a while to get on the plane for that long

3.  The beach more often

4.  Scottsboro to see a dear friend

5.  St. Thomas

6.  New York again

7.  Orlando (been there, but it will be fun to take Turner when he is older.  Right, Emily?)

8.  Nashville - it is so cool, and I don't go there a lot

8 People I Tag

I don't think 8 people will do this, but I will say Kate and Lindsey.  Some people groan when they are tagged, but don't act like you don't read these.  At least I do! 

I am leaving you with a cute picture of Turner in Andalusia yesterday with Grandpa Frank on the tractor!!

Why didn't he get the Henderson skin?  Poor thing.

Beach

Wow - we have been at the beach for 2 weeks.  It was wonderful!  Lindsey and I (and the 3 kids) stayed in Orange Beach.  The first week Nanny and Dink (my grandparents) and Mom were there.  It was nice, but I wish you had seen the looks we got at restaurants when we walked in with Lindsey, Mom, me, a 6 month old, 7 month old, 2 year old, 85 year old and 91 year old.  At one restaurant we literally got the farthest table from the front (Oyster House) and Dink had to walk about 6 miles on his walker.  Luckily, Heath was there to help him and Dink was totally driven by oysters in sight!!  Heath stayed the weekend with us, and it was great to have him there to help.  Turner and I have been traveling since May 21st (California and then the beach), and then yesterday Heath left for New York until Wednesday night.  I had to introduce Turner to Heath.  Just kidding.  It will be nice to be here in town all together again, though.

Turner went swimming for the first time.  He loved the pool and floating around.  However, he would have NO PART of the beach.  Zero participation.  We walked outside and he screamed as if I was beating him.  Let me tell you that Heath Henderson is always hot-natured.  Always.  Our house is like an igloo.  He has passed this trait on to his son.  Turner noticed the heat and lack of air conditioning when we walked outside.  We spent 10 or so minutes setting an umbrella and chairs and exersaucer and bouncenette outside and towels and snacks and bottles and pacis, etc. for the kids.  Then, we literally walked out on to the beach, and Turner was hysterical.  He never gets that mad.  His face turned purple and he was grunting while yelling.  I tried to make him wait it out, but about 4 minutes into it, he let me know he was serious.  He and I made our way back up to the condo.  The millisecond that his little self hit the air conditioning, he calmed down.  I had to strip him down (out of his cute little bathing suit) and put him in shorts and a t-shirt before he would totally calm down.  And I think sand was on his nerves, too.  He was fine and fell asleep when we finally got changed.  No wonder, he had worn himself out!!  The weasel.  But, he made up for it when we went swimming in the afternoons and at night.  Very cute.

Kate-Bug, Blake-ems, and Turner with Gigi.  Matching outfits on the boys thanks to Lindsey's sewing!

It was great that he (and Blake and Kate) got to spend time with Nanny and Dink.  Dink calls him "smiley" (however he is Captain Whiney as I write this right now).  He mastered rolling over again and again while we were at the beach.  However, if he gets stuck on his stomach, he will let you know.  We started calling him our songbird because he does this screech/laugh talking thing constantly.  Cute but sometimes annoying!!  It is his happy sound, and it is better than crying.  However, he did it in the grocery store today and he sure can get loud!!

He also turned 6 months while we were at the beach.  We go for his 6 month appointment tomorrow, and I just can't believe how fast it goes.  I am really liking him at this age.  He giggles a lot and has funny facial expressions.  That leads me to my next story...

Yesterday I had an odd experience.  Turner and I took Heath to the airport at 7 for his flight, and then I had some errands to run.  I am a psycho about not ever paying full price for diapers and formula.  When I went back to work, Turner started taking more formula during the day (not every feeding, but about half of the feedings) and formula is SO expensive.  And it is annoying to watch bottles every day - Heath is much better at it, but anyway.  I make sure I have coupons and sales when I buy diapers and formula.  I have been waiting on formula at Publix - he likes a certain kind and they are always out of it.  Anyway, I traded some there yesterday morning.  Precious only likes Similac.  He won't take Enfamil well.  How does he know the difference???  All this to say, I was returning Enfamil at Wal-Mart after I hit Publix.  It was an ordeal - I had to trade everything in, then go get new things, then come back up to Customer Service and then go to a separate line to buy my traded-in diapers (Precious also can only wear Huggies - he breaks out in Pampers).  As I was waiting in the line (at 7:45 on Sunday morning?!) this woman started talking to Turner.  I was holding him because he was hungry, but I was trying to finish shopping.  She turns to me and says "I think y'all (who - all new mothers on the planet?) put these babies in their carseats too much.  What - is it hard to just carry your baby?"  I wanted to say, "Well, he isn't getting any lighter and how am I supposed to carry him and push a basket and then am I supposed to Britney Spears him on the way home?  You know these carseats just pop in and out?!"  But I just smiled.  Turner stuck his tongue out at her.  She walked over and said "I am going to get that tongue."  I didn't freak out - she said it sing-song and that wasn't too weird.  However, the weird part was when she stuck her FINGER in his MOUTH!!!  Then, she pulled it out and did it AGAIN!!!!  She said, "That is what I do when my cats are screaming."  I am thinking - your cats?  Seriously?  But I chickened out and said, "Oh yeah, their tongues are like sandpaper. Ha."  What??  Why did I do that???  I wanted to say "You think everyone else has germs but you, but I just saw the dirt under your fingernail caress my little boy's tongue.  INSIDE HIS MOUTH is off-limits, especially to strangers."  I should have said it.  I think she saw the horror on my face because she said, "What?  I have hand sanitizer on."  From when?  2 hours ago?  Thanks.  Here, touch his tongue again.  Seriously.  Then, she said "He is a big old boy.  Is he eating baby food?"  I said, yes, he likes peaches and sweet potatoes and bananas (Aunt Lindsey helped me with baby food boot camp at the beach).  She said, "Well, I used to eat baby food apricots ALL the time.  But now they done took the sugar out and they taste disgusting.  Poor kid."  Weirdo.

I am hoping to get pictures uploaded and then I am going to hopefully write another blog that I was tagged on.  I know - I have time on my hands since Heath is out of town.  No worries about the groceries that are still on the counter and the laundry that I haven't gotten to yet.  :)

Hangin' out in the condo and then Kate helping at bath time.  What a big girl!

Happenings

A picture from San Diego.  Turner grew a little more hair (I think, Heath isn't so sure) and learned to stick out his tongue while we were on our trip!

So many things to write about!  There will be no particular order (of course) and I am telling myself no pictures so I will actually sit down and write this.  I get overwhelmed when I think of pictures - silly, but then I end up not writing anything!  (Later - I changed my mind and got the pictures on here).   Here are some recent happenings:

1.  I took a year's leave off of school next year.  I feel lucky to be able to take a year and see how it goes before I officially take a few years off.  It was a big decision!  I went round and round about it.  Turner was in a wonderful home daycare with a friend who I used to teach with.  His friends were all teachers' kids, and I was very pleased.  But, I felt like I didn't get to see him that often.  I couldn't balance it all, and I am very impressed with my friends that can!  Heath and I were talking about the Iron Bowl being on Friday, and I said "Well, at least we will be off work anyway."  He looked at me and said, "You are now always off work!"  It hasn't hit me yet because it is summer!  Thank God for summer!!

2.  I thought it would be sadder to leave my classroom.  The kids helped me take it all down - I mean every child took a box to my car - and as they did I could see memories of putting it all up over the last 5 years.  Weird.  But, I completely feel in the center of God's will about this.  I know He will provide and bless us for following His will and making the decision we felt the best about.  And, I tell myself that I will still be able to see my friends at school, just not every day!

3.  Last week was my birthday.  I like for my birthday to be all week long, and Heath does very well with this! We went to dinner several nights in a row with friends and family as my "birthday dinners".  I loved them all.  Also, an elementary school is a great place to work on my birthday.  I started a countdown with them on May 1st.  I would say "Whose birthday is in __ days?"  Then I had small children roll their eyes at me.  Did I care?  No.  They were wonderful to me on my big day - presents and cards and surprises and a balloon and cookie cake.  So fun.

4.  Turner and I got back at midnight last night from a trip to L.A.  We went to my cousin Amy's wedding.  She is a couple of years older than me and she is my dad's sister's daughter.  My dad has a brother, Tom and a sister, Mary that live in Orange County. 

 Dad with his brother, Tom, sister, Mary and Granddad at the wedding.

However, while in L.A.,  I didn't see any celebrities.  Not even one.  I thought I saw Adrian Grenier (not that I have ever watched Entourage), but Derek didn't think so.  Also, I thought I saw a girl from that NBC award-winning reality show "Momma's Boy" that had been a Penthouse cover girl.  But, not even sure on that one.  Pretty sad.  But I digress.  We had a blast spending time with my uncle Tom and aunt Candy, aunt Mary and cousins Paul and Amy.  Grandad Starr went with us, too.  It was a zoo trying to get a 90 year old, 6 month old, me, Mom, Dad and Derek through the airport.  Especially in Las Vegas, where we got to wait for 5 hours.  Mom still doesn't have her luggage, and I am not sure why because her bag is 1980's fuschia and you can see it from across the airport.  How they lost that bag of all of them is beyond me.  Grandad's comment was "At least it wasn't mine."  Nice.  We had a party for Grandad because his 90th birthday is next week. 

5.  Turner was a champ the whole trip.  He has a little cold (confirmed after not one but 2 doctor visits, who is the new mom??).  His cough got worse while we were out there and I lovingly called him 'Emphysema Joe.'  He would wake up in the night and cough so much he would choke.  I got used to it, and I would pull him next to me so I could hear him better.  One night at 2, Mom woke me up asking where Turner was because he finally WASN'T breathing like Gordon (the pug).  He had actually stopped snoring, and it scared her.  Mom of the Year here was oblivious.  I wondered if he would be fussy because he wasn't 100 percent well, but he was very smily and sweet.  He went everywhere with us, including Universal Studios.  He slept through Shrek 4-D (I don't know how because it was one of the loudest rooms on the planet), and didn't want to sleep a wink during the studio tour.  He didn't like his carrier, and wanted to be in my lap.  During the simulated earthquake he laughed!  What?!  Same with the wedding.  I kept saying "Go to sleep!"  And he would just laugh in my face!  I like him - good thing, huh?  And the flights were great.  I learned to have a bottle ready to stick in his mouth if he was fussy, but I didn't have to use it that much.  

6.  As I am typing this, I am watching The Hills from tivo.  I just saw a shot of this little cobblestone road where we went the other day in Beverly Hills.  

Grandad treated us to Baskin Robbins near here, and Dad was doing this when I turned my back. 

 However, Turner didn't hate it!!  In fact, it is the first good response I have seen to anything remotely "human" food.  Back to The Hills, Heidi and Spencer are ri.dic.u.lous.  Seriously.  I watched them on Regis and Kelly in the hotel room and my dad asked, "Who are these people?" with a look of disgust I wish I had taken a picture of.

7.  We also went to San Diego and visited a hotel called the Del Coronado.  I called it the El Dorado.  Oops.  San Diego was beautiful.  My aunt and uncle wanted to make sure that Turner had a hat on because it gets so hot out there.  (A welcomed change from Birmingham).  This was a picture of Turner on the beach of the Pacific Ocean and with Uncle D in his hat.  

Derek did a great job with him.  He was even trying to rock him to sleep in his carrier during the wedding reception, all the while telling my cousin to make sure to let all the single ladies there know that it was his nephew and not his son.  Nice.  But he really was helpful this trip.  It was great having so many hands to help out with Turner Bug and play with him and love on him.  

Turner with Uncle Tom and Aunt Candy

8.  I think this is all for now.  We are about to head to the beach for about 2 weeks and I am excited.  A lot to pack - a ton of stuff for a little tiny baby!  Lindsey and Kate and Blake will be with us while Brandon is on a mission trip.  Heath will be visiting on weekends!  

9.  Oh yeah, on a completely unrelated-to-me note.  This Jon and Kate stuff is killing me!  I should have realized a few years ago when I was genuinely crushed about Nick and Jessica splitting up that reality shows are never a good thing in the end.  But, I will say that I am a little irritated with all this hatred towards Kate coming from everyone.  Jon is the one that made a bad decision, and he admitted it!  (Heath tivo'd the season premiere for me while we were in California)  Anyway, I can't imagine how she holds things together with 8 kids!!  And 6 of them are 5 years old!!  I want them to work it out.  I feel like they used to have their priorities in order, especially spiritually, and now they are so astray.  I want to believe the best in them - call me naive.  

I will leave you with one of the little presents in Turner's End of the Year goodie bag.  It makes me laugh!  

Happy Mother's Day!

Yesterday was Turner's (and mine as a mother) first Mother's Day.  Saturday my husband and son got me a makeover and some new makeup from Trish.  Heath was heartbroken he couldn't go with me on this little venture, but he stayed home and kept Turner.  Then Sunday morning Heath (and Turner) gave me a pedicure certificate and this card - 

 - very fitting because we usually have two tiny feet between us.  They are usually closer to me, and by closer I mean that this tiny person has the crazy ability to push me off of the bed.  I will wake up 1/4 of an inch away from the bed - and he started out in the middle!  How does he do it?

Side note - I always SWORE I would not let my child sleep with me.  And I don't let him sleep through the night in our bed, but God help me if I don't throw him in there any given morning between 4 and 6 if I want a little more sleep!  He is just so snuggly.  Don't decide what you will or won't do on some things until you actually have a baby.  You will eat some words for sure.

Anyway...Heath made breakfast and we started our Sunday routine.  We were surprisingly not late, and I checked Turner in the nursery at church.  Our pastor did a great sermon honoring mothers and encouraging us of the job God has given us to build the character of our children.  

Then, we ran home and picked up a few things and headed to Mom's for lunch.  We had Outback to Go - delicious.  Nanny and Dink and Grandad Starr came over to eat with us.  

   Nanny with Turner

Grandad and Dink 

    Gigi with Turner - Grandmother's Day!

Heath even made blueberry pie for dessert.  Then Derek (and Heath) set up the jewelry armoire that Lindsey and Derek and I gave Mom for Mother's Day.  

Someone got a buzz cut

In the afternoon, Heath let me come to the house and sleep for an hour while he ran errands with Turner.  

Funny Dink story (since he is pictured above) - Dad came home last weekend and Dink was freaking out because he could not find his golf cart anywhere.  Now, he is 91 and not "allowed" to drive anymore, so he loves that little morsel of freedom left in his golf cart.  My aunt and uncle had been over, and my cousin drove it back to their house.  Fast forward to where Dad comes in the picture.  He was working in the yard and waved at a passing car.  He did a double take when he realized it was Dink.  Dad chased him down and waved him in the driveway, trying to convince him to turn around and go back home.  Dink was set on finding that golf cart!  Dink agreed to go home, yet turned left out of the driveway, towards the highway!!  Dad raced to his speed racer van and followed him.  He had to chase him in a church driveway at the end of our road and beg him to turn around, promising he would figure out the mystery of the missing golf cart!  

Dad chased Dink back up the street and into my aunt's yard, where my cousin was standing, taking it all in.  Dad watched as Dink had a rope tied to the back of his Lincoln Continental and was going to lasso the golf cart and pull it back to his house (next door).  My cousin and his wife were still standing there in shock!  Luckily, Cowboy Dink didn't get to try out his skills because my dad and cousin talked Dink into trusting they would re-charge the golf cart and return it home safely!  When Dad followed him back to his house, my sweet Nanny was in the front yard - looking VERY overwhelmed.  Dad said she just kept saying, "What am I going to do with him?"  Evidently he had crept out (loudly - he uses a walker) while she was napping.  Dad said it all ended with Nanny calming down in the house as she and Dad watched Dink knock his right side mirror off the car as he screeched back into his driveway.  Needless to say, this entertained us thoroughly as Dad retold it.  

The Mother's Day ended with a trip to Publix (saved 35 dollars - went from 90 to 55!) and Turner actually ate his they-gave-it-to-us-with-all-the-coupons-I-had sweet potato baby food.  I will leave you with this picture.  Don't worry he threw most of it up a few minutes later, but at least he is starting to take some!!  My first Mother's Day was a success - I wish it wasn't so close to my birthday, because it is like a second birthday!!  I am beyond blessed that God has allowed me to be a mother for this little guy.  As cheesy as it sounds, I never would have imagined what a blessing motherhood is!  Thank God and praise Him for all mothers!

Gross

I am sitting here holding a now-calm, talking and giggling Turner.  However, about an hour ago he was not so  calm!

Normal thumb

Swollen thumb

This is a picture of his thumb - normally and then the infected one.  I vote myself mom of the year for the gangrene I almost gave my child.  I will rewind.

Last week when I went to get Turner out of bed, he had sliced his face open with his fingernails of death.  They grow freakishly fast - but so do mine.  Guess I passed that on.  Anyway, his face had a cut down the front for a matter of days.  Then, his daycare called (more on that in a minute) and asked if I had seen the scratches on his legs.  Oops, yes.  His also-freakishly grown toenails had scratched his legs up.  They wanted to make sure it had not happened there!  I assured them that he had done it at home, I just didn't realize his leg had bled!  Wow.

So, I decided to cut his fingernails the other night.  When he is awake this is a 2-person job.  Heath held him in the bathtub while I attacked the nails.  Looks like mom of the year clipped too far into his thumb.  Fast forward to last night when I noticed his thumb was swollen and red.  Who did I call?   You know it - Lindsey (and Brandon by default).  The final word was to keep neosporin on it, but not to worry until it turned green.  Ha - we thought - it won't turn green.

Well, later last night was wonderful.  Here was the rundown:

9:00 - Turner went to bed

10:30 - Heath and Kelly went to bed after watching The Hills - very much against Heath's will, but I love it.  Spencer is ridiculous, but I digress.

12:30 - SCREAMING from the nursery.  This child has been a blessing across the board, but especially in the sleep department.  I tried to calm him down, then Heath relieved me (since we are both at work).  I tried to give him a small bottle, and he wouldn't have it.  

1:00 - Heath takes Turner to the guest bedroom - holding him upright because he wouldn't lay down at all

2ish - 3:00 - Turner and Heath nap

3:00 - Screaming from guest bedroom - I go in and take the boy to feed him

3:30 - Turner back in crib, Heath and I are in the bed, but not for long

3:45 - Heath takes him to calm him again, walks around the house sitting upright - concludes something is wrong with his ear from the blood-curdling scream

4:00 - I go in because he is still crying.  I rock him to sleep and place him in his swing at about 4:30.

4:30 - I realize there is no way I can teach today!  Put in for a sub, email Leighton to help me with plans.

5-6 - Heath leaves for Bible Study, Turner and I nap

6 - Guess who is screaming at the top of his lungs again?  I feed him, and rock him until he naps with me until 7.  

Long story short Heath called the doctor and we went at 8:45, to realize Turner had some pressure on his ear, but not an infection.  Side note - I took him last week to a different doctor in the practice, and he told me that ear was clean.  Dr. Brandon had suspected differently.  Dr. Brandon proved right today.  Also, Turner got on antibiotics for his large green thumb.  You are welcome, son.  

A little while ago, when Turner was a whole different level of hysterical, I noticed his thumb was throbbing.  Like a cartoon.  I reached for the phone and tried to call guess who - Lindsey.  She didn't pick up.  Heath and I had to make a game-time decision - pop his gangrene thumb or not?  Heath sterilized a needle, and we did.  His blood and pus covered several kleenexes.  How could someone so tiny bleed so much??  This was after we tried to soak his hand in warm water, and he continuously knocked over our bowls of water.

Okay, so back to the daycare.  I went back to work last Wednesday.  Rip my heart out.  Turner is staying at "Mrs. Lee's".  Lee used to work at our school, and now graciously opens her home up as a daycare for several of the teachers' kids.  It is right across the street from the school, and a true blessing.  However, I have been spoiled spending so much time at home with Turner.  I got pretty used to it!  I cried all day Wednesday, again on Thursday, but Friday and yesterday I was okay.  In fact, I had adjusted by today and it was weird not to be there.  Staying home was not as fun when Precious was sick and Screaming!!!  

I told Heath the other morning (while crying) that I didn't want to go to work.  He said "Neither do I."  Good point.  Meanwhile, though, Turner is having a ball.  He has made several friends, and it is so neat that I remember most of them from when their moms were pregnant.  He has already been invited to a birthday party, and to spend the night with a little girl.  She is 3 and her mom told me that she came home the other day asking if they had baby food, blankets, diapers, etc.  She told her mom she needed them for when Turner spent the night.  That makes me laugh.  I think of him as a baby, but he is their friend.  Most of the kids are 2-3, and they make a point to speak to him and take care of him daily.  One kid told his mom, "Oh yeah, I like Turner, he is really nice."  That is so funny to me.

Well, that is a rundown with us.  Trying not to give my son any infectious diseases and balance working and mommying for the next month.  Then we will pray about me going back next year.  As much as I have LOVED my job, I would love to quit.  But Heath reminds me we would also love to live.  We will really be in prayer about next year.  When people said my life would change with a baby, I didn't realize my heart would grow this much!

I am sticking the following pictures on here to have something besides disgusting thumb pics in this post.

Turner willing to try rice cereal

He hates rice cereal.  Has hated it for weeks.  Hopefully that will change!!

Hangin' with the cousins

Update - a mom of one of my students just emailed and asked if Turner was okay.  The kids assumed that since he was sick that he had "the really bad flu"  - SWINE FLU????  Lord help us!

Happy Easter!

We took this picture at the mall - I guess starting a tradition to continue over the next several years.  I laugh when I look at it because he was smiling!  Maybe that tradition will continue over the next years' pictures, but who knows?!  (Side note - I would not have picked the lovely ivy on the side of the picture, but it came with the package.)

We sent this picture to family in a card.  It was frustrating because I could not find cute, true meaning of Easter cards anywhere.  There were some precious bunny and egg cards, but none that spoke of the true meaning of the season.  In fact, I have never really thought how this has been "secularized."  I am not opposed to bunnies or eggs AT ALL (you will see further in the post), I just have to be careful to keep it in perspective.  I got an email from school the other day (not that I have gone back yet) that said to make sure during our Easter celebrations in the classroom that we do not make it religious, but that we can appreciate the "birth of Spring."  This got me fired up!  I understand I have to be CAREFUL of the religious line in a public school setting, but I DO NOT celebrate the birth of Spring, but the resurrection of my Savior!  That is the message I want to convey to the children (carefully) - it breaks my heart to think that they would think more about an Easter bunny than our Lord and Savior making the ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross, and the miracle of His resurrection!  If you know me well, this doesn't surprise you - I don't respond greatly to authority!  Ha!

Anyway, the point is a balance.  Bunnies and egg hunts are not wrong - in fact I love them!  But, it was very refreshing today to be at church celebrating our Risen Lord!  Every year it is such a reminder of the miracle of God sending His only son.  I think I am thinking more about it this year on Turner's first Easter.  I have a whole new thought process about God sending His son for us, knowing He would die!  What a miracle - I adore my little son in a way I never knew I could!

Now, for the balance (almost negating my little rant from earlier)....I made these Easter desserts this weekend.  I have made the cake the last several years, and it took less than an hour start to finish.  I wasn't going to, but Derek asked for it, and I think it is funny!

Chocolate Bunny Cake

Easter Basket Cheesecake

The cheesecakes, however, took a little longer because I decided to get creative late into the night.  The recipe called for coconut.  I hate coconut, so on both recipes I used shaved white chocolate.  I melted the white chocolate down and mixed the green food coloring to look like grass.  Then shaved it with a carrot peeler.  The pleasant surprise was that it tasted pretty good!

Here were some pictures from our day - what a fabulous day to celebrate Jesus with family and friends.  

Turner's Easter outfit - made by my friend Jane Ann's mom

Family Easter picture - hard to get everyone looking :)

Turner took a 2 hour nap with Uncle D on the hammock!

We watched Kate hunt easter eggs and eat her candy - hilarious

Grandsons with GiGi - they both had duck outfits on...our original matching plan for all 3 grandkids got sidetracked with Lindsey and Brandon's move into their house this weekend!  Our seamstress was busy to say the least!

Random - Dad was cleaning the pool and we saw this little gem!  Brown recluse?