Life as Usual

We had such a really good weekend.  Minus, of course, the fact that Thomas refused to nap.  That was sort of a big fat bummer.  But who can blame the poor dude.  He had really bad diaper rash and I think had a really hard time settling down. 

But, wow--we sure did fit in a lot of stuff:  T's buddy Allan's birthday party, a trip to the library, the Whistle Stop Festival, and T got to meet his new "cousin" baby Lyla!  So, on that note, here's the weekend in pictures....

Cuddle Time on Friday Night

Early Saturday & Ready to Get Goin!

What's better than donut holes and a cozy coupe at a birthday party???

BT and his mini-me

Playing with the sand table

T's first hayride.  He wasn't  a huge fan

I love this picture.

Ready to GO!

T & buddy Allan

Going on the Hayride

The morning took it out of him and he sacked out at the Whistle Stop Festival

BT & Beau are such good sports: Thomas wanted everyone to wear bibs

Playing in his new 'big boy' space in his room!  No more rocker (sigh)..

This isn't from this weekend, but the weekend before: meeting sweet baby Lyla!  I love proud Grandmother's face :)

Thomas meeting baby Lyla this weekend.  He was so super sweet with her.

So that was the weekend.  I am so excited for Halloween, T's upcoming birthday party ("I'm TWOO!"), and everything else that has to do with my two favorite people right now.  For some reason, everything else is just totally on the backburner, and I'm okay with that.

I've been doing really well lately.  Then I had to hear a song this morning that NO ONE had warned me about.  I broke down in tears like the wind got knocked out of me on the way to work.  But that's okay.  It's just going to happen like that.  Now, though, for some reason, I just keep listening to it.  It's actually a beautiful song, but I really wish someone had warned me about it.  So for those of you women who are right where I am (many of the beautiful girls I've met on this journey), consider yourself warned and know that I love you.

That's the thing about when it all hits: it's as raw as the day she died.

Probably won't be writing much until after this weekend.  We're headed to a little slice of heaven and quite possibly my favorite place on earth.  I can't wait to feel the sun, to hear the wind, and just close my eyes.

Cause It's Gettin' to be that Time...

Y'all, have I shared my super easy (not so homemade) crock pot chili recipe with you?

It's great for football saturdays, when you want something hearty for the game in the evenings, but don't want to put in the effort to cook.

Here it is:

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 onion, sliced/chopped
1 can original Rotel tomatoes, undrained
1 can original stewed tomatoes, undrained
2 cans of Bush's Chili Magic Starter Beans, undrained

Brown the beef and onions together, draining any excess liquid/fat when they're done.
Dump all ingredients in the crockpot, and cook on low for 4-6 hours. 
Serve with cornbread, fritos, or any other favorite chili sidekickers.

If you want to make it meatless (I've done this many times), replace the ground beef with Boca Soy Crumbles, and add a can of corn and/or black beans to the mix.

Go Razorbacks!

just a note...

dear kathryn,
i'm really busy these days and have been feeling like i wanted to write you.  so now, amid all the chaos, i just decided to close my door and make it happen.

i've been missing you lately, but not in a super sad way.  just a sort of how it is way. we're all doing okay.  i keep shaking my head, wondering how on earth we're doing this, but we are.  some things are slowly getting easier.  i'm finally able to go back to "our" publix.  for a long time, i wasn't able to go there.  i've been TERRIFIED that the bagger man and the deli lady were going to ask me how you were doing.  but i moved past it about two weeks ago, and now i'm back.  i can still only go if BT goes with me.  for some reason, i can't do it on my own yet, but maybe that will come soon.  dear Lord i hope so because i really do not like going to wal-mart.

and i did put off my dentist appointment last month.  my hygenist is so wonderful and she and i have spent the last couple of years talking about babies: thomas, her new grandbaby, and at my last appointment in march, just before i found out you were sick, we talked all about you.  she was so excited for me to bring you in this fall at my next appointment.  so i dread that.  i put it off until october 5th, but i'll go then.  i just dread the look on her face.  and the jittery feelings it causes.  the sadness and the rehashing.  but i'll deal.  for crying out loud, i'm not going to switch dentists. 

i had a dream about you the other night, and it was so good.  you were beautiful, smiling, chubby, and it was so real.  i'm so happy on those mornings i wake up after God has shared you with me in my dreams. 

your big brother will be turning two in less than a month. i spent some time showing him your pictures yesterday, and asked him if he remembered you.  He said a quiet soft "yes," then tooted and smiled.  He's very into toots these days :-) 

The other day, someone on facebook posted a picture of their baby boy who is the exact age you would be if you were still with us.  Ugh, it makes my heart ache, but at the very same time, makes me so excited to see those pictures because it gives me a little glimpse of what you would be looking like right about now.

Of course, I don't know why I need to see it in pictures, when I have the real thing in my dreams.

I love you sweet girl.
Love,
Mom

Hallelujah

"And even though it all went wrong, I'll stand before the Lord of Song

With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah"
Leonard Cohen, Hallelujah

Suddenly, it's September 19th. 

How on earth did that happen?

I've been in the Recruitment Advisor zone for about ten days now. 

I really love working with those girls each and every year, but man, it's exhausting!

So now, we're done, and it's back to normal.  Have I said lately how thankful I am for my fantastic husband who kicked it single-dad style for the last five days with Thomas?  Not many would do that, but he did, joyfully, without complaining. 

And it's crazy, since the last time I've posted, it's been a baby EXPLOSION!  In the last two and a half weeks, we've welcomed to our group of friends and family baby Liam, baby Liliana, baby Laney, baby Helen Claire, and finally, BABY LYLA!  (are "L" names the thing right now?).  It's been really exciting.  I haven't had a chance to see the Dobson twins yet, but hope to see them soon. 

As for the other ones, they were adorable.  I have a special place in my heart for my "niece" baby Lyla (what do you actually call your cousin's child?).  She is BEAUTIFUL.  I want to post a picture, but I haven't gotten the 'ok' from Angela & Brock yet for that, so I'll wait. 

I thought it was going to be tougher than it was to go see baby Lyla.  She was born at UAB, and Angela was actually in the same Labor & Delivery room that I was.  But it wasn't tough at all.  I was so excited to see that beautiful little baby.  How can you be upset over a precious little prayed for miracle?  You just can't be. 

So between the babies and the recruitment and the work and the home and the Thomas, well, y'all, it's just really really  hard to complain.

Love yall.
Mean it.

Flashback Friday

A year ago...

Thomas & the TV have both gotten bigger, but besides that, it's still life as usual with Mickey!

And a year from now, OH MY, this boy is in for the biggest surprise of his little life :-)

Lee, Gymboree, and other fascinating things....

Y'all, we have been busy!

Of course, our weekend plans were altered a bit due to the 48 hours of rain we got from Tropical Storm Lee, plus T got a little 24 hour fever virus.  But here's a little peek at what we were up to on our long Labor Day weekend...

Did a little colorin....

T's first Gymboree Class.  He LOVED it!

He was very into these shapes

Love this picture.  He was so excited

He strategically placed his shapes onto the corresponding shapes printed on the stairs

Hanging out with Gramps Saturday

Fun @ McWane

Celebrating that T finally agreed to put on his jersey!

Hanging out with Mom at work on Tuesday since Lee closed school.  We pulled up, and he pointed and said, "Momma Work!"

Watchin' Mickey in my office

And a little more colorin!

So we had a great weekend!   I told BT that I had an absolute ball with T yesterday on our day off.  We did half a day at my office, then after that, came home, took naps, then ended the day with a trip to the library, followed by the store.  This kid is too funny.  I know all parents say that about their kids, but the difference is that mine actually is :-)

We were walking into the store yesterday and I said, "Thomas, help momma remember what we need to get: diapers, wipes, milk, and meat." 

Once we got in the store, and I loaded him in the cart, I asked him what we needed, and he replied: "Dipes and Milk!"  LOVE HIM.

I cannot.  BELIEVE.  this boy is turning two next month.

Sigh.

Thursday

Y'all---I have had a busy week!

I had a hard day yesterday.  They come and they go.  Yesterday was really hard, but luckily I'm learning to identify the triggers emotionally for me.

But today, it's better.  And TODAY is officially college football season!

I could not be more excited: Thomas is wearing his new football jersey to school tomorrow, so many pictures to follow I PROMISE!  Lucky for me, I won the football jersey war, and in the battle between Hawgs & Dawgs, the Dawgs won out, if only because there wasn't a 2T razorback jersey in the store (Little Rock relatives, feel free to send one down this way if you can find one!). 

So for now, a great little video of our sweet, growing boy. 
My, how he makes my heart smile....