Long over-due pics from July 4th

 

Here are some pics we took on July 4th. We had a very busy day and did a lot of yard work but it was an enjoyable day anyway. Hope you all enjoyed a great 4th!

Thirteen again

 

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NKOTB baby!!! If you don't know what that is...well...you're just not a true fan who grew up in my era! Remember Hangin' Tough? The Right Stuff? I'll be loving you forever? What about Joey McIntyre or Jordan Knight? The big, BIG buttons, trading cards, posters that donned every thirteen year old girl's bedroom walls? New Kids on the Block, people!

Let me just start out by saying that from the moment I heard they were going to be at Mud Island in Memphis I wanted to go. Ok, so maybe that is an understatement. I asked my BFF to go with me but prior plans were already made and she couldn't go. I was searching for ways (and people) to go. For one reason or others, it just was not going to work out. Tickets were expensive, yada yada. So, being the responsible, grown-up adult I am, I put it out of my mind. Well, ok, at least I didn't pout about it--for long anyway. =)

The concert was on a Thursday night. The Thursday night before July 4th holiday. It was the Tuesday before that that I had a drs visit in Jackson. On the way to my appointment I was driving along when I heard an advertisement on the radio saying to call in to the radio station for tickets to see who? Yep, NKOTB! Certain that I would not get the tickets I called from my cell phone anyway. What did I have to lose? I was stuck in traffic anyway--what else did I have to be doing? Made the call several times, each time getting a busy signal. Finally, it rings!
Star 107.7--"Hello?"
Me--"Yes, I'm looking for some free tickets?"
Star 107.7--"You got 'um"
Me--"What?"
Star 107.7--"You got 'um! You do want them, right?"
Me--"Well YES I want them! Are you SERIOUS?"
Star 107.7--"Well, we'll have them at the station for you to pick up! Have a great time!"

We exchanged names and I picked them up after my dr appointment! WHAT???? This is CRAZY!!! I've never won ANYTHING!!!! I was on Cloud 9! Immediately called my husband, who of course was now going to get/have to go! He was thrilled as you can imagine. Of course I placed a few other calls. One to my sis-in-law, my BFF of course, and my brother. I was giddy...and thirteen again for a short while!

I just have to say this: I probably have THE most incredible husband in the ENTIRE world. He took off of work to take me to the boy band concert where (his words, not mine) the only men there were selling beer! He was SUCH a great sport--and I think even enjoyed a little of it every now and then. Of course we would not have been able to enjoy all of this if it weren't for my mom agreeing to watch my little ones for the night. (What? LIttle ones? Aren't I only thirteen?)

The concert was AMAZING! We had AWESOME seats and were SO close. The band members came up one row from where we were sitting and actually hi-fived the people in the row infront of us! Again, I was thirteen and just could NOT stop smiling!

I've decided that everyone should get the opportunity to go back in time for just a little while and be thirteen again! It's awesome and HIGHLY recommended! =)

I'll try...

 

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So, I know over the past couple of months I've been TERRIBLE at keeping up the blog. No one wants to hear my excuses; however several (you know who you are Pappy and Jordan) stay on me about updating. I know those of you who live away are especially interested in what we are doing. So as not to disappoint, here is a little of what we've been up to over the past couple of months. (I'll try to post a little each day over the next few days or so--but NO promises!) The pictures above were taken at Duck River. At the end of June my grandfather who lives in California came for a short visit. My dad's sister lives at Duck River which was where he was staying so we drove up there for the day and had such a wonderful visit. It was so good to see him. Deb, my aunt came with him along with his brother. I had not seen my grandfather in almost five years. Lawson was only 11 months old when we went to visit them. They had never seen Jagger or, of course, Rhett. It was so neat to see him with my boys. You could just tell how much he enjoyed spending every minute with them.

He and my grandmother recently purchased a house in New Mexico which is where my uncle and aunt live now. As it just so happens, Brandon's uncle and aunt live out there also. We have a trip planned for next summer to all meet in New Mexico and spend more time together. We are already looking forward to that!

A day late

Hahaha! I just realized that my "Wordless Wednesday" is actually a day late! How excited am I that, afterall, it is THURSDAY! Only one more work day this week! Woo-hoo! Just had to laugh when I realized I had done that! It's just been one of those days, well, weeks...ok, ok...years! =)

Wordless Wednesday

Oh, who am I kidding?? Anyone who knows me knows that I am ANYTHING but WORDLESS!!! =) I just love this picture of Rhett and the little tractor. This tractor has been in the family since my brother! Both my bigger boys enjoyed playing with it and we pulled it out for Rhett to try as well. We got tickled how he kept checking every inch of it out before getting on it! True boy! =) Happy Wednesday!

Beach buds

This week at iHeartFaces the theme is the beach. I had TONS of beach pictures to choose from but this is one of my favorites. Not only are they brothers, but on most days, best friends--plotting, telling secrets, making wonderful childhood memories. Perhaps I love the story this picture tells rather than the picture itself? The story of a younger brother looking up to his bigger brother, ready to take on the whole world together. Makes my heart smile. =)

6 years ago

It was six years ago. Right about this very time. I was returning from a walk around my neighborhood with my mom and husband. One of those MANY walks that was supposed to induce labor. I was two days overdue. And big. And miserable. And SO ready to meet the blessing that would forever change my life in ways that, then, I could only imagine.

We came in from our walk and I began getting ready for my dr appointment that I had hoped I wouldn't need--because I was SUPPOSED to have already had a baby. My mom went with me to that dr visit that day. Me in tears and an emotional wreck. This baby was not coming out! Nope! He had just decided to stay in there in the comfy (albeit crowded) confines of the womb. I walked in to the dr office, climbed up on the table and burst into tears as soon as the dr walked in. You see, we didn't know it at the time but the baby inside of me was 9+ lbs! It was hot July and I was swollen and I swear if one more person had looked at me and given me the, "Awwww, bless your heart!" I might have knocked them to the next state.

That poor doctor. There I sat sobbing. Letting him know that I could not go another day with this baby in my belly. He patted me on the back and told me he would check me and hope for some progress. Still at 4 cm. I had been at a 4 for three weeks. I sobbed more and he politely told me that hopefully it wouldn't be too much longer--and that on the bright side, I would only have to dilate one more cm before getting my epidural. I know he meant that to cheer me up but honestly all I could think was that I bet the epidural wouldn't last the next 14 years that this baby would be stuck inside me! He told me that unless we had a baby they would see me back in a week and would talk about inducing then. And I left. Still sobbing.

On the way home from that appt I began hurting. Was that a contraction? I wouldn't know. This was my first baby. My mom put her hand on my belly and after feeling how hard it was felt pretty confident that I had begun having contractions. The whole way home I hurt. Should we turn around? No. Didn't have my bags in the car. (Must have intuitively known the dr wouldn't keep me that day.) So, home we went. We began timing contractions. Steady. Closer and closer. Around 6:00 my brother came over and we told him we would probably head to the hospital soon. He made a quick run to McDonald's and then we set out on our way. Jordan drove me to the hospital (begging to speed and use flashers) and Brandon met us there.

Honestly, the rest of the night is mostly a blur. I do have some vivid memories--some good and some not so good. It was a hard night and an even harder morning the next morning when I still didn't have a baby but had been through three epidurals that kept wearing off. I don't remember a lot about being taken back to surgery. I do remember my mom crying while trying to look like she wasn't concerned or worried sick. I remember the nurses telling my mom to get my dad in there if he wanted to see me. At that moment I thought I might not make it out of there the way they were talking. I barely remember the surgery. I do remember the moment they lifted my baby boy out of my belly and the rush of emotions that had built up over the past 9 months and had only escalated over the previous night. The doctor walked around the curtain with my new baby boy in hand and all he could say was, "Would you LOOK at the size of this boy???!!! He's PERFECT!!"

That was the beginning. The beginning of a love that I can't describe or explain, but once you have it you just glow with it. I didn't think it was possible at the time that I could love him any more yet here I am 6 years later, loving him even more. That love has made it worth it all! My Lawson sure is special for so many reasons. I'm so thankful for him and hope that he has the happiest of birthdays tomorrow! :)