Happy Birthday, Bud

I can't believe you are nine years old today. I still clearly remember how I felt when the doctors told me you were breathing. I remember the first time I held you. You were so tiny. Three pounds, four ounces.








Now you are huge. I can wear your shoes. You come up to my shoulder. The time has gone by so fast.








I remember when your daddy took picture after picture of you in the NICU and eventually you brought you tiny hand up to your eyes, covered them, and cried. It was so cute.








When you were three months old you were finally the size of a "normal" newborn. You were five months old by the time you caught up to Daddy's birth weight - 9lbs 8oz.









On your first Christmas you made an adorable picture in your mini Santa suit.







You always had a smile on your face - even when we were taking embarrasing pictures to later use against you... I know someday this particular one will probably humiliate you... But, just so you know, I think it is adorable.









And that love for driving things around that you have now? You aquired that early in life, too. You were SO GOOD on that cross country trip to California.





See the way your are eyeing that bottle? Your affection for food hasn't changed, either. Boy,I can't KEEP food with you around!! I wonder if it will get worse when you hit your teens....






You always loved being with all of your family, and you still do! You'd probably be totally ok with spending a week at Grandma and Grandpa's house, a week at home, a week at Aunt S and Uncle D's house, a week at home, a week at Aunt B and Uncle K's house, a week at home... If I sent you to this Aunt and Uncle's house, it would probably be a little more cost efficient to leave you there a little longer than a week.





You are a very laid back boy. You are a joy and a blessing to have. I thank God for the miracle of you, for your kind and loving heart and for your heart after God. I love you, Bud. You are by far my favorite son.

I Found This For You

Dearest Brother,

I have been thinking of you lately, and getting quite excited that you will be returning home to the states for a little visit with your exceptionally beautiful wife and sweet *little* baby. I wanted to find something to give you when you got home - after all, it is almost your birthday AND your anniversary. I found something I think you will *love*. Unfortunately, I was unable to pick it up and bring it home. The best I can do is give you pictures. I really hope you like it. We were thinking of you.

All our love,
Your favorite sister, coolest brother-in-law and beloved niece and nephew
xoxo

A Day With Daddy

We had a meeting in the town next to the town that J works in, so rather than spending a TON on gas, we all just got up very very early and went in to work with him. The kids had a blast helping him with little odds and ends and then getting to ride on the equipment when he had to move it from one area to another. Don't they look like they are enjoying themselves?

More Cool Giveaways

Ya know, being a mommy pays off!! (Ok, it pays off whether or not there are giveaways..... but still, these are pretty cool!!)

This one is from Everyday Mommy and it is for a redesign for your page. *hallelujah chorus*

Tips of the Day

Here is what NOT to do:

1) Do not get loaded of your rocker and drive your four wheeler from Town A to Town B 18 miles away.

2) If you DID that, please, upon arriving in Town B, DO NOT steal a 1970 diesel flat bed dulie farm truck with a water tank on the back from the one of the town's largest farmers who also happens to be our neighbor and drive it from Town B to Town C five miles down the road. While you are still loaded of your rocker. It just isn't a good idea. Really, it isn't.

3) Upon arriving at Town C, it would NOT be in your best interest to turn left on to Main St. from Route 36 and cross two oncoming lanes and go around a car (oncoming) and then turn in to Friendly's parking lot. In. front. of. a. cop. It is a REALLY bad idea. Trust me on this one.

4) Assuming you still are not listening to my advice and you have done the above three things, the worst thing you can do at this point, when the cop drives around and shines his spotlight on you is to get BACK in the stolen truck and take off up Route 36. On 36, your maximum speed will ONLY be 60 mph because the truck you stole is, after all, a FARM TRUCK. Used for watering fields. Oh yeah, did I mention that it is not registered, not insured or anything of the sort? Yeah, right now, you are racking up some serious tickets. Remember, you are still LOADED.

5) Leaving Route 36 and going up Route 21 toward Town B is also not the greatest of ideas. That would turn your non-high speed police chase into a VERY SLOW one. You can only go up the hill at a shuddering 10 mph. Who knows, maybe you are trying to get back to your four wheeler.

6) Once you get back into Town B, turning onto Cream Hill Rd probably isn't very smart either. See, it is pavement, but then turns to dirt, and immediately on the change from blacktop to dirt, you will find yourself heading into a 70 degree corner. Chances are very high that you would wipe out 20 feet or more of guardrails and then go over an eight foot embankment into the stream and muck that feeds the reservoir.

7) After landing, please know that if you jump out of the truck and are now fueled by tons of adrenaline as well as alcohol and you start running, all of the police that have been chasing you in their cars would then tackle you and you would wind up face first in the reservoir. I just want you to know this so you can be prepared.....

If you didn't listen and you did all of those things, then, I have to get called out and get out of my warm cozy bed at 2:30 in the morning, and, well, that just doesn't sound like fun to me. When I get there, I'll have to help put a C collar on you and get you strapped to a backboard. I will have to listen to you tell all of us how stupid you were for doing this, mainly because you just got off probation for the very same thing. And because this is not your second offense, it is the third time that some of these very nice police officers are arresting you for this. And because you are supposed to go fishing tomorrow. Personally, I don't think you are going to make that fishing trip, but that is just my opinion. All the way down to the hospital my colleagues and I will have to ask you all sorts of questions, try to keep you awake, and listen while the very nice police officer reads you your rights. So, just keep in mind next time you think this might be a good idea, it isn't. You probably didn't really think this one through that well the first time... or the third... Hopefully I won't see you in a few years when they let you see the light of day....

More Awesome Stuff!

SIL, this may be something you'd like to jump into!! And, for those of us withOUT little babies, you can opt for the credit. YAY! I checked out the maker's site, and she has wonderful little soaps and shampoos and eye pillows and neck pillows and *sigh*... that credit would be so nice....

So - what exactly is a Mei Tai? It is actually is a baby carrier that originated in Asia and is sometimes referred to as an ABC - an Asian Baby Carrier.

I am really starting to like Five Minutes For Mom's Mother's Day Giveaways... wait a minute, what am I talking about?? I liked it the first time!! *crossing my fingers* Pick me! Pick me!! So, if you are a mom and haven't joined in the fun yet, click on this link and sign up!! Or, go to my sidebar and click on the Five Minutes For Mom Mother's Day Giveaway Button. :) Go on, you know you want to.

Fun Mother's Day Giveaways!

Best Buy is partnering with Five Minutes For Mom and giving away an Apple iPod Nano AND chocolate! How awesome is that? (Oh and of course they know we love all things cute, so they made sure to wrap it up just right!)

The facts:

The Apple iPod Nano and Chocolate Gift Set:

• Features a pink or silver 4GB Apple iPod nano, slim enough to fit in mom’s pocket, purse or palm
• Includes a variety of pink-foiled milk chocolate meltaways
• Packaged in a mod polka-dot-patterned box inspired by the prism of iPod nano colors and this spring’s hottest accessory: dots!
• Price: $214.99
• Available in Best Buy stores beginning May 6,2007