To the Birthday Boy (well, Man), Happy Birthday!!! I'm sorry I couldn't manage to get you a day off work for you as your gift this year. At least this year I will try not to end up in the hospital on your special day. We are excited to celebrate the wonderful man that you are, the incredible surgeon you are becoming, and the amazing Papa and the incredible husband that you are. We hope you enjoy your day! P.S., Thank you for my beautiful roses! You really surprised me that you would bring me flowers the night before your birthday just as a thank you and that you appreciate me. Words cannot truly express how thankful I am for you!
To Little T, You have your Papa wrapped around your little finger! We had a family outing to the grocery store the other day (to replenish our very very empty fridge from Masters week) and when Papa saw how much you loved the golf ball helium balloon, he convinced me that we needed to buy it for you. :) I am glad to see it has become your favorite toy! Although chasing bubbles outside became a close second today... 

Proof of the "Up!" old man face. :) Oooooh, I can't help but laugh every time I see this.

To Little T, You've grown up significantly since the last time I blogged (about when he figured out how to walk and I've been on the go ever since)! Can't believe that you are more of a little boy than a baby and I am nearly the mother of a one year old! The fact that you have had your first haircut and are going to a big brother really makes you seem like a big kid. Thanks for being such a trooper! You had quite the crowd watching at the salon. :)
To our Masters Renters, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Despite coming with a great recommendation, I must admit I was a little nervous to come home today and see what condition my house was in. My heart was so full when I saw that you treated my house with a pride like it was your own...you even washed, folded, and put away almost all of the linens! You are welcome back any year you have badges.
To Adam Scott, Congrats to you on the big Masters win! Way to go Australia! I watched a ton of golf coverage this weekend, but nothing could beat watching it in person. Can't help but be a little disappointed to not set foot on the property of the Augusta National this year, but I am incredibly grateful for the fun filled week we had with family.
To our wonderful families, Thank you for hosting me, Little T, and Long Dog (and Handsome Hubby for part of the time) this week... we had a blast! It was a little crazy trying to childproof all the places we stayed, but thank you for being flexible and making time for us! And thank you Papa Peter for not holding us to the you-can-stay-here-for-half-your-Masters-income deal we jokingly made. :)

Before the haircut...post nap time hair :)

Visiting Granny D at work

On his new big boy tricycle from Grandmother...thank you! Little T loves it! He may not be able to pedal yet, but he almost has the "Flinestones" method down. P.S. This face reminds me of the old man from Up!

 

Coolest kid on the block!

Little T at the playground with my cousin (the other Little T)

To Weathergirl, Happy Birthday (a little belated...)! I was so blessed and so thankful that we were able to spend our special day together this year...a real treat! Thanks for helping to make my day absolutely wonderful. To Mama Ne', Congratulations on being a mama for 28 years! And what a wonderful mama you are!
Dearest Celeste, I did not know you well, but I watched your celebration of life last night and was so incredible moved. Father, when you call me home, may I leave that kind of legacy for you! May my life bring such honor and glory to you that it could be celebrated in that kind of way.
To Little T, You're in a hurry to grow up! Now almost 8 months old, you are cruising around on the furniture, walk around while holding only one of my fingers, and absolutely boycott crawling. Try not to grow up too fast... I'm grateful that you and Long Dog have become playmates!
To Handsome Hubby, Last weekend you used your one afternoon off to paint Little T's nursery. I am so thankful for all that you do around the house! His room looks great. What's next to be done on the honey do list?!

Never Under Estimate the Strength of a nearly 7-month old...

To the Naive Mama (aka, me), Upon entering in on a conversation about Christmas tree safety with some other moms, I can remember saying, "I don't think I really need to worry about [Little T] this year. I think it will be more of an issue next year when he's 18 months old." Oh, how very wrong you were! I now wish I could go back, undo those words, and take my own advice to fasten the tree to the wall with fishing wire or a bungee cord to keep the tree from falling over.
To Little T, In a matter of only a few days, you went from barely knowing how to move the walker to racing around in it...even on the carpet. You had been playing right next to me yesterday, when I heard a crash across the room and saw the Christmas tree laying completely on top of the walker (with Little T legs sticking out the bottom, but no other signs of him...). My heart nearly leapt out of my chest! Thank you, Lord, for protecting my little boy! Thank you that my sturdy little guy didn't have a bump or bruise (or tears) to show for the incident. Poor kid was thankfully only covered in Frasier Fir needles. Unfortunately, this has not made him any less interested in the tree... If Little T not being seriously injured wasn't miracle enough, not a single ornament broke.
To those of you who asked if I got a picture, Um, no... I was too concerned with collecting my buried child from the Christmas tree wreckage. If I could go back, would I take a picture? Probably not...but, my, would that have been a picture to cherish over Little T's lifetime!

To Santa, Thank you for making a special visit from the North Pole this week to meet my little guy. He obviously hasn't reached the age of being afraid of you (maybe next year?!) and found you quite interesting instead.
To the Jesse Tree, You have been such a wonderful daily reminder to our family of the reason for this Christmas season. I hope to make you an annual tradition! Little T may only look at the leaves as we add them to the tree, but I know next year I will appreciate decorating the tree himself! Thank you, Lord, for drawing in our focus during this Advent season.
To Weathergirl, I've decided it would be nice to have winter weather during this holiday season. Would you mind placing a special order for me? How about snow? That would be nice on Little T's first Christmas! Thanks. You're such a dear.
Jagbirder, It warmed my heart that Little T loved the one-on-one time he had with you at the Ladies Christmas dinner. You may officially be our go-to babysitter. :) Besides, who else is going to teach him about the birds that are visiting our feeder?
To Uncle Drew, Congrats on winning first place for your Mechanical Engineering project! We are so very proud of you and can't wait to celebrate your graduation! Wahoooooooooo! You did it!
To the Hubbster, Last week you performed a two-man procedure solo. Half way threw it, the attending whipped out his phone and started recording it. Simply put, you became the talk of the department. It's no wonder PawPaw's nickname for you was "Hot Shot". :)

He's still looking at Santa...

...and we're back!

To the Move, No offense, but I'm so glad you're over! You have absolutely consumed my time since the last time I posted... 1 house packed up, 2 houses cleaned, 1 house mostly now unpacked (not to mention helping host a baby shower and caring for a little man who only wants to jump, but is too small for the door jumper...)
To Little T, Happy 5 months!...a little belated. 5 month pictures coming soon. They just need to be taken before 6 months, right?! :) You are becoming such a big boy and you have been a trooper with all of this moving and transitioning. You are just about out of your 3-6 month clothes and you've started growling and roaring all day long (quite appropriate that it started on the day I dressed him in a dinosaur outfit). The fun just never ends with you!
To all our friends and family, we couldn't have done the move without you. Thank you for collecting boxes (largely from my work family), thank you for literally helping us move (the guy's Bible Study), picking up and delivering our new fridge with your trailer- and even having to take off the doors to get it into the kitchen- (Fritz Landscaping), providing dinner for us (Morris family!), painting (Mama Ne'!), building a temporary fence for Long Dog (Popmiester!), watching Little T so that I could get lots done (Granny D and Mama Ne'), and countless others who helped with words of encouragement and support that helped me keep my sanity (Ray Ray and Weathergirl... I promise I'm not normally this emotional). Thank you all for being part of our amazing community of family and friends. We are so humbled by your never-ending acts of kindness.
To Handsome Hubby, I love our stay-at-home date nights. Your schedule is so unpredictable and you come home so late, that the only way we can go on dates is if we bring it home. Last week your brought home frozen yogurt (my favorite!) and we ate it out on the oh-so-cold screened porch and just caught up on life. Then we had a pumpkin carving date night! I feel like we've never spent this much time together...it helps that we got rid of the DVR when we moved and we are no longer compelled to "catch up" on missed TV.

Proud homeowners! Just after closing...

Carving pumpkins...can you guess which one is the surgeons?

My happy boy!

Sitting in his new chair in the new kitchen

We voted! it cut into nap time a little...can you tell?

Visiting Papa at the hospital

To the Fall Front-Door Wreath, I was slightly frightened this morning when I heard light taping on the front door. After some minor investigating, I decided to be brave and open the door...only to find that the cardinals that hang out in our yard are picking you apart! Don't worry! The next house has a storm door that will protect you. :)  T minus 12 days until closing! Thanks Jagbirder Judy and the rest of the crew for collecting boxes!
To Little T, You were such a good boy at your baptism! It was the first of many special occasions in your lifetime and if this one is any indication of the ones to come, I will cry at them all. :) I was so moved, so proud, so humbled, and felt so blessed yesterday. May you never know a day that you do not know the Lord!
To Mama Ne', Popmiester, Weathergirl, Hurricane Hunk, Banker Boy, Granny D, and all those without blog names yet (Uncle Drew, Jackie, Mormor and Morfar), Thank you for coming this weekend and really making the celebration of Little T's baptism a special occasion. I absolutely loved having you all here, even if it was for such a short visit. Handsome Hubby and I are so blessed to have such a loving family and only wished that you lived a little bit closer. The new house is 10 minutes closer to you all...at least we are moving in the right direction! :)
To Handsome Hubby, I'm so grateful that you had the whole weekend off (and even got home early on Friday evening!). I will always cherish the weekends you are home, the Sundays that you are able to attend church with me, and the evenings that you are able to kiss Little T goodnight (and even bathe him and rock him to sleep!). 

With all the aunts and uncles

My family

Handsome Hubby's family

 

To Little T, Happy 4 months! You're getting so big so fast! You were such a good boy this weekend with all the errands we ran and you absolutely loved being outside "playing" disc golf with your Papa! And you are absolutely adorable in your hat. Outside is much more enjoyable when you don't have to spend all your time squinting your eyes to keep the very bright sun out. :)
To Handsome Hubby, You were post-call Friday, but since the hospital was full and not accepting any new patients, you didn't have to recover much when you got home. I'm sure you non-medical readers are wondering what that means... It means that you essentially had all Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off! What a wonderfully beautiful, exciting long weekend! What a treat!!
To the Incredible Long Weekend, At this stage in the home-buying process, we should be spending every moment of Little T's nap time packing. But, it was such a privilege having Handsome Hubby home, that what did we do? Be broke out Settlers of Catan and had our own little family tournament and went disc golfing! The house will eventually get packed up...
To the Catan Tournament, Two days. Eight games. Two sore losers (well, not too sore...there were two winners too). Ultimately, an even two-day tournament tie. Thanks for letting us have a little impromptu fun!

To Little T, One year ago this week we found out we were expecting you, on our church's day of prayer! The Lord blessed us with much when He sent us you and our life completely changed after that day! Thank you, Father, for blessing us with this beautiful child!
To the House Hunt, You are complete! Thank you to Mrs. Realtor for all your help! We are excited about this next transition this next month (What a year! A baby and a new house!) and slightly overwhelmed all at the same time. I will miss the home that we've had for the last 3 years. Now all I'm wondering is where will I get all the packing boxes?! The last move was all Fisher Scientific and Sigma boxes. :)
To the last three weeks, Where have you gone? Time flies when you are having fun! Now that the summer is over (hasn't the weather been beautiful?), our Bible studies have started up and I'm so looking forward to spending some wonderful time with our married group and my new moms Bible studies. We also ramped up, and then completed the house hunt, and started the process of all things paperwork and packing before closing next month. Handsome Hubby started a new rotation; we found new renters for our current dwelling; I broke a window (I blame the nice weather...); we've had three total visits from Little T's grandparents; and I feel like I'm still missing something...
To Handsome Hubby, It's going to be an interesting month ahead. Glad that I'm in this with you! I wouldn't have picked a better partner to make these big decisions with. Eeek! I feel like a real grown up. Nothing like having a mortgage to make you feel like an adult...Let's start packing!

Happy Labor Day!

To the Nursery Rocking Chair, While rocking Little T to sleep, I somehow get myself turned 180 degrees... and I always end up in the middle of the room. I wonder, if I rock long enough, could I end up turned 360 degrees and in the opposite corner of the room?
To Granny D, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Wishing you a wonderful, beautiful, amazing day. Wish we were there to celebrate with you! We love you, Son, D-I-L, Long Dog, and Little T!
To Long Dog, The other evening, I went to check on Little T after I heard him moving around in his crib. Lo and behold! You beat me to it! I found the nursery door open, and you sitting quickly next to his crib, listening. Thank you for being a good watchdog. I'll always know if something is up, since you supervise everything from bath time to pajama time and rush to his side at every little cough, sneeze, squeak, squeal, and bowel movement. Yes, I said bowel movement. Apparently Long Dog assumes something is very wrong when those sounds are made. :)
To the Neighbors Down the Street, I must admit that I was quite embarrassed as you walked by my house the other day. I'm sure you thought I was crazy when you saw me standing on my porch, leashed dog beside me, after dark, throwing sticks at the house just above my front door. I'll have you know that my husband (i.e. bug killer) wasn't home yet and there was a giant (I'm not kidding...) Palmetto bug just waiting to leap at me when I made my way inside. There is a method to my madness.
To the Yellow Jackets, Happy first game of the season! Go Georgia Tech! P.S. How did I become friends with so many Georgia fans??
To Handsome Hubby, It's Labor Day! Here's to landing a rotation at the VA hospital on a federal holiday. Surely they will send you home early! Sending happy home-early wishes your way! :)

To the Baby in the Mirror, You have never been so entertaining! I've decided that Little T is going to be a social guy just like his Papa. Now I just need to get him to have regular play dates with other babies, so he doesn't grow up just talking to himself in the mirror. :) We start MOPS next week! I'm excited about him meeting some more real friends! For now, thank you for spending some time talking to my little man.
To Long Dog, Around lunch time the other day, I heard your tummy growl. It was then that I realized I had completely forgotten to feed you breakfast. I felt like such a bad Mama! Thank you for forgiving me and loving me anyway. Next time, you can remind me to feed you... You're such a good boy!
To the Dr. Husband, You starting a new rotation this week and I was happy to hear you got some OR time this week! I love getting to hear about your day, even if it sometimes involves almost getting bitten by an elderly patient (thankfully, he doesn't have teeth!) while putting in a central line! Thank goodness you got away unscathed.

To Little T, Happy 3 months old! You're getting to be so big!  And I'm so thankful that you still think your Mama is funny... One problem: you are now attempting to blow raspberries when I do it. I can see this becoming an issue when you learn to eat real food.
To all the family, We so enjoyed all the time we were able to spend with you over the last week! Thanks for welcoming the four of us and all of our stuff into your homes and making us feel loved... and I loved seeing you all love on my little man. :) He has never laughed as much, talked as much, and smiled as much as he while being entertained by each of you. And, a very happy belated birthday to Popmiester and Banker Boy! So glad we were able to celebrate with you last week.
To the Blueberry Cake, As it turns out, some of the people in Sunday school were waiting to see who picked up the platter you were on after class ended to ask for the recipe. I have never had so many people oooh! and ahhhh! over a recipe and I am grateful and humbled by all of the comments! You may just be worthy of a Food Friday post!
To my Best Buddy, Yesterday was your perfectly gorgeous last day of vacation! Even if it was just the two of us, I loved that we grilled out and had a picnic lunch and played corn hole on the newly-cleaned back deck (thanks Granny D!). I had a blast and we all know Little T and Long Dog loved being outside. We enjoyed having you off for a whole 9 days and wish you didn't have to go back to work...although some one has to work, right?! :) P.S. Thanks for being Pest Control Man and spraying twice for mosquitoes. I think we finally eliminated some of them and it makes enjoying the weather that much easier!

(From the left) Popmiester, Handsome Hubby, Banker Boy, Hurricane Hunk

Nice job on the cupcakes Mama!

To Shark Week, I know your intention is to promote education and not fear, but it was a little disturbing to find out that the Great White Sharks in the Atlantic Ocean "summer" off the coast of Georgia. Eek! It was even more disturbing to find out that they have begun traveling into the Gulf of Mexico to feed on giant squid. I have always been afraid of dark water (I know, it's a phobia really... I don't even like the 2 feet deep water on the It's a Small World ride), but this makes me afraid of even the shallow/mostly clear/unexciting waves off the coast of St. George Island. Not sure if I will even again go deep sea fishing...
To Little T, Bless you! Thank you sweet baby for almost 8 hours of sweet, uninterrupted sleep, especially after the last few nights of waking up 5+ times per night. Can we keep this up?? Your mama feels like a whole new person.
To Long Dog, Are hiccups contagious? I swear that you get them from Little T and vice versa. It makes me wonder when they will get all three of us at one time...
To the Rescue Doctor Bee, Only one more day of Trauma Surgery before nine glorious days off. You can do it!! I know that it has been full of long hours, horrific cases, distraught loved ones, and stories that I always first hear about on the news, but I can say "job well done". I'm proud of you! You earned a new pair of Gel Scrubs. They will be delivered tomorrow. :)

To the Splash-Monster!!!, You have begun to thoroughly enjoy bath time and I love that it makes you so happy (and love a little less how wet I end up before it is all over). :) You can tell by the picture how much splashing is done by such a little man! I take such delight in the fact that you love to entertain me
To the Cancelled Picnic, Sad day that we won't be able to spend this Saturday afternoon at the lake with some of the most amazing people because of the nasty weather! I was really looking forward to it! Handsome Hubby and I now have a dozen chocolate cupcakes with chocolate mousse centers with mocha buttercream icing to eat all on our lonesome. To Trauma Surgery, you are getting a special snack for breakfast tomorrow! To Weathergirl, I'm told it will actually have stopped raining here by the time the picnic should have started. Here's to needing a "weathergirl" on staff at the church! I'm all for you moving out here. Maybe they are needing a weather professor at the James Brown Downtown College of Good Knowledge (which really is the best name choice anyway...)?? To the "Rain Tax", Really a Rain Tax?? Surely the citizens of this fine city should not be penalized for the weather. Especially when it was not our poor planning that has caused all of this poor drainage in the first place. I'll get off my political soap box now...
To the Ants that Invaded the Laundry Room, Poor Long Dog had to eat a non-dog food breakfast (He's not complaining) yesterday morning when I came downstairs to find a whole anthill worth of your guys crawling on his dog food container (note to self: it isn't actually an airtight container as it was advertised to be). It took nearly 2 hours, a half bottle of Windex, a roll of paper towels, a pair of purple dishwashing gloves, 3 Ziploc containers, a large amount of freezer space, and several interesting stares from Little T to reclaim Long Dog's food. But, eventually, SUCCESS!
To Handsome Hubby, At last...almost a whole weekend with you! I can't believe you just have to round today and tomorrow and we get the rest of the day with you. I think you are going to be very surprised by the big boy our little man has become! Here's to some major family bonding time! :)

To Long Dog, Who knew you love the handsome dog in the mirror as much as Little T likes the beautiful baby in the mirror? I set up a mirror angled on the floor this morning so Little T could see the ceiling fan while doing tummy time (in hopes that he might enjoy it more if he sees his favorite friend!), but you completely blocked his view as you gazed at yourself. You're so funny! I love my boys! P.S. I noticed you left the black beans in your bowl when I put some leftovers on your dinner. :) It took me awhile to learn to like them too.
To Little T,  Happy 11 weeks (plus 2 days)!! The ceiling fan may be your first love, but your airplane mobile must be your second, not counting Mama of course! I love hearing your laugh and coo, even if it is at the mobile in the middle of the night. :)
To the Employee at the Grocery Store, You may have thought I was completely crazy to do self-checkout of a major shopping trip with a baby in a Baby Bjorn strapped to my front, but I'm particular about how I bag my groceries... It was above and beyond your call of duty to unload my groceries, scan them, hand them to me so I could pack them in my reusable bags, and then load them all back in my cart. I commend you for your kindness, I was touched by your thoughtfulness, and I just wanted to let you know that you made my day.
To my Dr. Bee, You got home at 4:30pm today! Why?! Because it was your "turn". Ha! I loved having you home early, but I feel as though they must have given every one else at the hospital a turn first before allowing you yours. ;) Here's to more "turns" in the near future! It's amazing what you can get done when you get home so early...you took out the trash, took a nap, played with Little T, got a hair cut, and managed a grocery store run for the two items on my list that I forgot to get. I'm impressed!!