SEATTLE ROCKS!!

Postcard from Seattle

We made it! And almost without incident, if you don't count my expired driver's license and the strip search that resulted from it! Note to all travelers: Check the expiration date on your license BEFORE you are at the ticket window! And it wasn't like it was a few days expired, we're talking 3 months, people! That sends up a few red flags in this day and age!

The babies were wonderful on the plane - we even got multiple compliments from other passengers. Wade and Debbie did actually get automatically upgraded to 1st class, but they graciously traded their luxurious seats to sit in coach and help us out. Irma and her friend thought they'd hit the jackpot! The only major incident was when I was playing with Maryn and threw her up in the air and bonked her head on the overhead compartment. Apparently, babies don't like that very much. We looked like a circus crew getting out of the airport with all the babies and carseats and strollers and luggage...Wade had to rent a stretch Excursion to fit everything! Parker loved riding in the "lemonade" and the babies loved the overhead twinkle lights!

Mark and Joseph get here tomorrow. The girls are going shopping tomorrow afternoon, we have Jennie's fancy birthday dinner Thursday night, and then Jennie and I get to have an afternoon at the spa on Friday! Now that's a vacation! I've posted lots of random pictures (mainly for my parents). Enjoy!


Now I sort of know what it feels like to have twins!

Debbie and Parker

Up on the Grassy Knoll


I could just eat him alive when he scrunches up his nose!

Cousins sharing a hot dog, peas and carrots


Papa and Parker doing the daily watering

Look out Delta, here we come!

This picture is from our family trip to Charleston in June. I think it's next to impossible to get everyone looking at the camera at the same time, much less smiling, so this is the best we could do!

Ford and I are heading to Seattle bright and early Sunday morning! It will be his first flight, so I'm having a bit of anxiety about it...I just don't want to be the lady on the plane with the screaming baby! Joseph's dad, Wade, and his stepmom, Debbie, live out there, and we've always had the best time on our visits. Jennie is turning 30 September 23rd, so they are flying the entire family out there for a week! Wade and Debbie flew to Charlotte this morning for a wedding this weekend, so they will pick up Jennie, Parker, and Maryn at a ridiculously early hour Sunday morning and hop on a flight to Atlanta. Ford and I will meet them in Atlanta, and then we'll all fly to Seattle. It's about a 5 1/2 hour flight, so it should be pretty interesting how we do with 4 adults, a 2-year-old, and two 10-month olds! I figure Wade and Debbie will desert us at the first sign of trouble and try to upgrade to 1st class! I probably would if I were them!

Jennie, Parker, and I went out there last summer when Parker had just turned one, and the flight was one to remember. Parker threw up all over himself and Jennie, and while she had packed a change of clothes for him, she didn't have anything in her magic mom bag for herself! We cleaned her up as best we could with wet wipes and bathroom paper towels, but it was not a pretty sight. She had to sit through the rest of the flight and the ride to Wade and Debbie's with a lovely smell wafting around her. So at least we'll be a little more prepared this time!

Joseph and Mark are flying out on Wednesday, and then we all fly home on Sunday. Please say a prayer for us for safe travels and that we all make it there in one piece! I'll try to post some while we're out there because I think Granny and Crawdaddy would sink into a deep depression if they didn't at least get to see new pictures of Ford while we're gone!

Ford Crawls! Ford Crawls!

Well, I walked into Mrs. Pat's house today to pick up Ford after work, and lo and behold, the little man crawled right to me! Once I got over not being there to see it the first time he did it, I was so excited! He was so proud of himself. He'll crawl a little on his knees and then get up on his feet like a little monkey and take a few steps like that. Hilarious! I know crawling is a typical occurence in the life of most children, but I really thought he was just going to skip straight to walking. It's funny how once you become a mom, ordinary things become extraordinary when it's your child that's doing them. I remember right after he was born, all the (bajillion) books I had read said the most favorite thing for a newborn to look at would be his mother's face. Well, apparently my face was not very interesting, because Ford would look everywhere BUT my face. Then he didn't smile when "they" said he would. So of course, like any hormonal, sleep-deprived new mother without a clue would do, I panicked and started researching what could be wrong with my baby. I must have diagnosed him with 25 different disorders, all before he was 2 months old. Then one morning, he gave me the biggest grin I'd ever seen, and I started sobbing hysterically and uncontrollably, and had to go wake Joseph up so he could take care of Ford while I got ahold of myself! Short story long, Ford has hit every single milestone, but in his own time, not some checklist's. My advice to every new mom is throw those books out the window and soak up the moment you're in instead of stressing over what comes next. Ford is exactly who God made him to be and we're just along for the ride!

*This picture has absolutely nothing to do with crawling, as Joseph so kindly pointed out to me, but I just thought it was so stinkin' cute I had to share it!

Parker's 1st Day of School

This is my precious nephew, Parker! He had his first day of preschool yesterday. Jennie (Joseph's sister and the most fabulous sister-in-law in HISTORY) said he told her he played in the kitchen and ate pretzels. Sounds like a good day to me! If it weren't for Parker, I don't know if we would have Ford. Joseph and I were more on the "let's have time to ourselves" marriage tract, but when Parker was born in May of 2005, we quickly changed our minds! He is such a sweet boy, and extremely bright. I love him to pieces!

Ford is 10 Months Old!

My little boy was 10 months old on Sunday! He's getting so big. He has two bottom teeth, and he refuses to eat baby food. We're all about some grilled cheeses these days. As for crawling, he can go a couple of "steps" on his knees, but he usually just slides everywhere on his belly, doing the army crawl! He can pull up and his favorite thing to do is walk around holding on to Mama or Daddy. He is the BEST sleeper ever...he takes two 2-21/2 hour naps during the day that I usually have to wake him up from and he sleeps 12-13 hours every night. Joseph and I are spoiled rotten by this happy little boy!

Ford's 1st Auburn Game!

While the game may not have been pretty, we sure did have a great time! Ford did so well all day long - the only time he wasn't happy was when the jets flew over the stadium! He recovered quickly, though. We had so much fun tailgating with friends, eating good food, and just being on the Plains with thousands of Auburn fans! Ford and I went home right after the game started, but Joseph stayed on campus and watched the game at the tailgate.

We stopped by Clay and Lenzie's tailgate first so Ford could give them a present for the baby.

Then we went to see Becca and had a mini OHS reunion with Laura and Kyle. It's always great to see old friends.

We made it to our tailgate just in time for Tiger Walk!

Whoa, King Dunlap is HUGE!!

This is how we spent most of the day...Ford wants to be on the move at all times. I don't think he'll walk by himself anytime soon, though! His balance is a little off - he looks like he's had about 6 too many cocktails!

I lost count of the number of people who said, "War Eagle, little man!" to Ford. One guy actually walked all the way across the street to see him and tell us we were raising him right! I can't wait for next week!