Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July!  This holiday is one of my favorites.  Ranks right up there with Christmas.  I love it!!  I was able to exploit Turner in a "Baby's first 4th of July" shirt and a star-spangled bathing suit.  Awesome. 

 I really do get too excited about this day, but it is always so fun!  A few years ago I was watching the fireworks and I yelled "These own me!" and my caring sister said, "You are ridiculous.  Get in the car."  

Around lunch time we went to my parents' house to go swimming with family and friends.  The weather was wonderful and we had more food than we knew what to do with - ribs, burgers, hot dogs, brats (not so wonderful to me), but the best were the desserts.  I made a fruit pizza, brownies, apple pie, potato salad and Texas caviar dip all Friday night.  Like I said, a little psycho about our Nation's birthday!  Lindsey made the peanut butter pie from The Pioneer Woman blog.  Oh. My. Goodness.  Amazing!  

We played a rodeo game in the pool (my coordination was amazing) and the boys played bocce ball and cornhole.  Grandad Starr was there to take it all in.  Funny story about him.  Brandon, Heath, Turner, Lindsey (with Blake in her lap) and I were sitting at the table.  Grandad asked Lindsey if she was still nursing.  The 4 of us looked at each other like what do we say here??  Then Grandad said, "Are you still hospital nursing?"  She tried to respond in all seriousness about how she is flexi now because of the 2 children, etc.  But Brandon and I kept saying things in a low voice to Lindsey like "Are you lactating?"  "Do you still feel the let down?"  "How many ounces?" etc.  I am laughing as I type this because it was so awkward.  Luckily Grandad informed us that he only had one hearing aid in, so he probably didn't catch it.  Oh, breastfeeding humor.  Things change so much after you have a baby.

Back to the 4th of July.  Heath and I went to our friends Ty and Meg's house for a great steak dinner.  They have a 17 month old (Charles) that Turner is going to be tight with as soon as he realizes he can.  He went to bed and then Meg went with Heath and me to downtown Homewood to watch the fireworks.  I always love them, and Turner slept right through them.  This year they added some gold fireworks that looked like a waterfall as they fell in the sky.  Wow - it doesn't take a lot to amaze me in the fireworks department.  All in all, a perfect American holiday!  You know that always makes Heath happy!!

Cute Meg.  I love her because of course I was wearing red, white and blue, but she and Ty and Charles were, too!  How festive!  Turner had on those red, white and blue overalls - I couldn't resist.

Anyway, today I have a 7 month old.  That is crazy!!  In his sixth month, he officially began eating baby food and 100 percent formula.  His mother does not like change, so these things were an adjustment.  I never knew watching him grow up would be kind of sad.  However, I believe the cliche that I like every age better than the last.  Though he is not a tiny newborn anymore, he is more fun when he laughs and makes faces and develops his own personality.  Side note - one thing not as fun has been his teething the last 24 hours or so.  He got a bad report in the nursery at church today.  This is his first bad report ever - evidently he cried a lot.  He doesn't usually do this (Praise God!), so his teeth (which haven't shown up yet) must really be hurting.  Thank God for Tylenol and Orajel.

When he eyes his bottle, his eyes get big and he gets excited and grabs it and sticks it in his mouth.  Also, he rolls from one side to the other, flips up and is starting to get in position to crawl.  I said starting.  He doesn't get very far, but he is determined to try as often as possible.  I am okay with him not being too mobile yet.  I don't want to wish the time away where he sits somewhere and I can leave him!

Reunion

This jumperoo-lover didn't make it to the reunion!!  I just thought this picture was cute!

We have had a fun weekend and I am very tired!!  Last night was my 10 year reunion for Briarwood.  We had it at B & A Warehouse and I was highly entertained.  I will try to hit some of the high points:

I called Megan and Gina (high school BFFs - sad Blair wasn't there) on the way there because I was literally giddy.  Gigi and Pop came to our house to keep Turner, because it was going to be a late night. 

 Right before we left

Before I left I had my mom blow dry my hair because I seriously STILL can't do it myself (at 28) where it won't flip out in the back.  Lindsey definitely reminds me this is ridiculous.  But I digress. 

It is safe to say that I loved my high school!  (Luckily I loved Auburn even more or I might be THAT girl that can't get past high school.  I hope I'm not THAT girl anyway, but there were a few moments last night that aren't helping me out on that.)

Gina and Megan laughed at me for calling them, and Heath rolled his eyes.  Wow, was he in for a long night.  But, keep in mind he was his class president in high school, so we have already attended his reunion back in October.  We have an ongoing joke, because I call it his 9 and a half year reunion.  Anyway...

We were the third couple to arrive at B & A (behind Gina, of course).  Our nametags definitely had our senior pictures on them - but only if you paid in advance.  Seriously - is that what some of the money went to??  I could have saved some there!  

Jealous?

I went to the bar and got a coke, to which the bartender said, "This night will be a whole lot more fun if y'all stop ordering cokes."  Who is y'all?  The 5 of us there?  Come on.  And, pretty sure he didn't know my excitement level (spastic).  

People started arriving and my first embarrassing question came when a guy we graduated with had lost a bunch of weight.  Of course I said, "Wow.  How much weight have you lost?"  I am blunt.  If you are reading this, you more than likely already know that.  I can't change.  Heath has tried.  In fact, there is a bruise on my arm.  Heath saw it this morning and said, "What is that from?"  And I said, "Remember, it's from last night when I was saying something "inappropriate."  He was mortified, because he didn't know he had pinched me that hard.  I honestly can't remember which comment/question that was regarding, but I can only imagine.  And, I bruise easily.  Ha.  Well, the guy had lost 80 pounds!  How - you wonder?  I asked.  Nutrisystem.  I was very impressed.  And his wife had lost 45 on Weight Watchers.  I will move on (I am sure they were glad that I moved on last night).

I was waiting to see my friend Evan and introduce her to Heath.  We are buddies from Stroller Strides and Turner and York are BFF, they just don't know it yet.  Anyway, she made me laugh because she saw Heath and said, "Oh my goodness.  That is Turner!"  There aren't many people that know Turner and me and not Heath, so it was interesting to see her reaction.

Another guy friend I haven't seen in years said, "You have a child?!!"  I had to stop and process that.  Yes, I do.  I was trying to think back to when I graduated and I did not think I would be married or if I was I would not have a child.  I thought I would be working for Stampede (old high school ministry out of Briarwood church), I guess.  I am glad God is in control of my life, and I am thrilled at how it has turned out.  But I really didn't picture myself having a child by now.  Or being a stay-at-home mom.  

High school friends

Best attempt at a class picture - thanks Heath!

It was just nice to be in the same room with people I used to spend every day with.  And a little awkward.  But mostly nice.  Someone reported to my sister at church this morning that I was a spaz last night, and I think that is mostly accurate.  But it was worth it!  I liked that Heath could see and get to talk to so many high school friends.  And I loved talking to other classmates' wives/husbands/boyfriends/girlfriends.  The 2 reunions I have been a part of have been really fun!

I laughed so hard 2 different times that I started crying.  In fact, one friend from high school thought that I was upset and stopped what she was doing to ask if I was okay.  Don't worry, just laughing to the point of tears.  That is a fun night.

As I type this, Turner is rolling back and forth across the floor.  That is his favorite pastime. 

How he looks most of the time.  Roly poly.

 Also, he JUST finished his first full bowl of oatmeal in his life.  He will NEVER even choke down a bite.  Yesterday Jay and Kate witnessed him literally gag.  Drama.  But tonight he ate some!  I just had to mix bites with applesauce!!  Hallelujah!!

Before I forget, Turner went for his 6 month appointment last week.   He weighed 17 pounds, 2 ounces and was 27 1/2 inches long.  50th percentile for weight and 75th for height.  Said he was developing right on track!!  I love him!

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!