More Love for the Ledfords

Please continue to pray for my friend, Amanda, and her husband, Michael, as they received sad news about their pregnancy.

Here is an excerpt from her blog:

Well, there is some bad news to report. The ultrasound went like we thought it would. We were diagnosed with a form of miscarriage known as a blighted ovum. This is where a perfectly normal gestational sac grows (the baby’s home) but the baby never develops. We also elected to proceed with surgery (a d&c) on Wed, so please continue the prayers as we face surgery and the emotional journey of TTC again. My OB was encouraged by the fact that my body continued to think it was pregnant by having symptoms, no bleeding, and a very healthy gestational sac. She feels confident that we will be blessed with a healthy baby one day.

I talked with her this afternoon and she was in good spirits and was optimistic about the future. I think I cried more than she did. At any rate, I know she and their family would appreciate your words of encouragement. Her blog is linked to the left.

The verse that keeps popping in my head is Psalm 37:4:

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

The greatest desire of Amanda's heart is to be a mommy; please pray that she will find great delight in Christ and that He will bless her and Michael with a sweet baby very, very soon.

Bringing Home Baby

Our family is completely in love with its newest member, Zoey!

After two days in the hospital, Miss Zoey got to come home! We were all there to greet her and make her feel welcome. Okay, so, we borderline smothered her with attention, but she is the sweetest baby girl we've ever seen. She looks a lot like both of her parents...she has the Eaves coloring and dark hair, and she has my brother's eyes.
I love my niece! As I was holding her, I told her about all of the important words she would learn from her aunt, like: "French manicure," and "Buy one, get one half-price!"
My mom and dad with their TWO grandchildren...and yes, that's Great-Grandpa in the background watching over his two great-grandchildren!
I had to sneak a shot of her wee little foot. So precious. Can you believe it will one day slide its little self into a red peep-toe heel?

Welcome, Baby Zoey!

Meet Zoey Taylor Eaves...my niece! She was born this afternoon at 1:12 p.m., weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces and measuring 20 inches long! She has a ton of dark, beautiful hair! We are SO EXCITED!!!! Here are a few pictures right after she was born...
Seriously! It's too bright!
The proud parents...my brother Jason and his wife, Krystal.
Can you say "Love at first sight?"
Sweet little one...
My parents set the world record for texting picture messages of their first granddaughter!


We are heading back to the hospital tonight to see Zoey again...we can't wait to hold her and love on her and get to know her!

"This Was Some Meet-Cute"

One of my favorite movies is "The Holiday." If you like romantic comedies, you must see it. There are some great lines...and the one about the "meet-cute" is just the beginning.

For those who aren't movie buffs (nerds?) or who don't have every line of the movie memorized (overachiever!), allow me to explain a meet-cute:

It's when two characters meet in a movie.
Eli Wallach's character in "The Holiday" explained it this way: Say a man and woman go to the same pajama store at the same time. The man says to the clerk "I just need some bottoms" and the woman says "I just need a top"...and they look at each other...and there's the meet-cute!
He and Kate Winslet's character had a "meet-cute" in the movie when, because of Alzheimer's, he can't remember where his house is as he's returning home from a walk, and she stops in her car and gives him a ride home. The cuteness!!

Our sweet friend Leigh Ann asked myself, Meagan and Megan to each write about the first time we each met the other. I can tell you that they were two of the best meet-cutes of my life.

Meagan
I honestly don't remember exactly when we met. We were about 3 or 4, and we went to the same church. I'm thinking our meet-cute happened when I asked her to pass me the pink crayon in Sunday School, or when I stood next to her in the children's choir. What I do remember is that there are few memories without her in them. From church to middle school to high school to college, and all the moments in between, she has been my best friend. It's actually a little freaky because I can look at her? And she knows EXACTLY what I'm thinking because it's basically the same thing she is. We have been so many places together, both literally and figuratively. I know I can call her at any moment and no matter what craziness is going on, she will totally get it. If you met Meagan, you would find out that she is hilarious, easy-going, fun and extremely loyal. She also makes guacamole that makes you want to slap your mama.

Megan
I remember the night I met her, just over a year ago. We were at Meagan's for a party. She told me so much about Web's wife before I got there, and how sweet and thoughtful she was. I remember her saying "She's the kind of girl who makes football-shaped cookies from scratch and takes time to ice it with the laces up and everything!" What a great, great description. I remember walking into Meag's kitchen with my hands full of food, and Moo being the first person to offer to help me. She was VERY pregnant at the time, and I remember thinking "Gosh, I hope I'm this nice when I'm 9 months prego." After I talked to her, I remember feeling like I had known her for my whole life. She is truly a kindred spirit. If you met Moo, you would find out that she is the most sincere, thoughtful and genuine girl you'll ever know. And she makes a mean chocolate chip pound cake.

So, that's how I met my two galz. I know that we'll be 84 someday, still e-mailing all the day long, making plans and feeling a little deprived when a week goes by and we don't see each other.

Here's to a ton more of "meet-cutes" throughout our friendship!

The Adventures of Papa and Gran

Our Saturday began with an early-morning phone call. My mom was on the other end asking, "What do you have planned today?" in an ever-so-innocent-but-you-know-there's-a-reason-she's-asking tone of voice. Heh. I know my mother. Oh, yes...and I knew it...they were coming to see us! I was very glad.

They stopped at Jason and Krystal's first and my dad mowed the grass since J is at Fort Benning. While he was slaving away, Mom, Krystal and I ate at Mimi's and talked about Zoey's impending arrival.
This is the last lunch of the Eaves girls when it's just the THREE of us!
After that, Papa and Gran came to our house to spend some Q-T with the D-Man.
Sheer joy...
Laughs and drool with good-bye kisses!

They will be back this week to WELCOME ZOEY!!!

Pretty in Pink

Thursday = happiness because I got to spend some time with my galz! I apparently did not get the pink pant memo, but how cute are they??
We ate at Mimi's Cafe (yum!) and this is outside of the restaurant. We had a great time eating (duh) and swapping random gifts...it looked like Christmas!
I ordered this...pot roast, mashed taters with gravy (extra,please!) and zucchini...
Meag ordered quiche and fruit...
...and Moo ordered the bleu cheese and walnut salad. We laughed ourselves silly while we ate and then went to check out the new Belk. I'm sure the security officers watching on hidden camera were highly entertained at our antics. One cannot commit commerce with these two and NOT have a good time.
And? This is what happens when I leave my child alone with the two of them. They turn him into a street thug. As if he's not already exposed to enough ghetto-ness when he's at home with me. I'm sure his first words will be something like, "Yo, madre, can I get a cup a milk up in here?"

Love for the Ledfords

This is my sweet friend, Amanda Jacobs Ledford, whom I have known since I was a kid.



A few weeks ago, she found out that she will be having a baby - her first! Because she's had some problems before, like endometreosis, she was been a little nervous and apprehensive about the baby being healthy.

Today, she had an ultrasound, and there is much cause for concern. The sac, a wee baby's home, is measuring appropriately for gestational age, but the baby itself is behind. The position of the baby inside the sac is also a concern.

Amanda took off from work today after her doctor's appointment and is at home right now, feeling very worried and upset. I ask now that you pray for her.

Pray that the baby will be safe and healthy. Pray that Amanda's body will do the miraculous thing that God has enabled it to - support a new life. Pray for Amanda's husband, Michael, as he cares for her and supports her. Pray for Amanda's parents as they do the same.

Her blog is linked on the left-hand side of mine if you'd like to leave her an encouraging comment.

Amanda, we love you!

Veggie Tales

Or, "If You Shove Those Green Beans in My Mug Just One More Time, Lady, I'm Gonna Hurl on You."


This? Is Dawson on green beans.
This? Is Dawson on sweet potatoes.
Bottoms up, baby!

It's clear that other than his eyes and mouth, Dawson inherited one more thing from his mommy: a sweet tooth. Atta boy, sugarpie!

Take-Your-Kiddie-To-Work Day, Part 2

On Monday, Dawson had to finish the final paperwork for his latest house sale, so I toted him to the office so he could cross the t's and dot the i's.

He LOVES going to the office for three reasons:

1) It gets his crazy mommy out of the house, making some bank and
2) He is the constant object of adoration by both men and women alike and
3) He gets to see his Aunt Michelle, and if he's lucky, her son JADEN!!

Jaden is quite the athelete and we think Dawson will grow up to love baseball just as much as he does. The two sluggers spent some quality time together while the Mamas worked a little.


I think that when Dawson's teeth start coming in, he and Jaden will have the exact same number.
"What? We're just chillin'. Turn back around and keep working."
"Dude. My mom is totally nuts." "Yeah, I hear ya. Mine's just as bad."

Who's Your Daddy?

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating Father's Day in Chattanooga with my dad and grandfather. I always love going home because there's no stress; just time spent with each other, talking and hanging out and watching Seinfeld on DVD! And eating. Lots of eating.

Here are a few shots from this weekend. My parents have a gi-normous magnolia tree in their front yard. You can smell the blossoms the moment you step out of the front door. I love making pictures in front of it.


David and his Mini-Me
Me and my two children
Three Generations of Ricky Skaggs Fans
Great-Grandpa and his first great-grandson
The other three most important men in my life


I am very thankful for my dad and my grandfathers...even though my Papaw isn't here with us, I thought of him often throughout the day. I am very thankful for David and the way he loves Dawson. Our son is very blessed little boy!!

Man About Town

To be just five months old, Dawson is a busy lil' bee!

This week, we had lunch with Aunt Meag and Aunt Moo at Panera Bread...
...then, we visited the grocery store and he helped me shop...
...and then, he sold this house! Can you say "college fund?"


It has been a busy week...we're looking forward to a quiet Father's Day weekend!

When Bad Neurons Happen to Good People

Help. Me.

Does anyone else see what is wrong with this picture?

Oh, yes. That? Is lunacy in a fridge. Insanity in the icebox.

You, my dear, are observing the last of my neurons misfiring in a dangerous attempt to filter through what used to be my brain matter to find the file that tells my hand where to put the cereal.

The sad part is? I actually closed the refrigerator door before I realized what I had done. And then I about laughed myself into an asthma attack once I did. Because after all? What else can one do when they put the cereal in the fridge?

Lest you think this is an isolated event, allow me to share a quote from this past weekend. I was asking my parents, who had stayed overnight and were helping me prepare breakfast, "Do you need self-purpose flour to make the biscuits?"

Take a second.

Re-read it.

Self-purpose flour.

"Um, honey, do you mean self-rising? Yes, you need self-rising flour."

I totally do not blame them if they start talking really, really slow to me.

I don't know if it's the hormones that still have not righted themselves, or maybe it's because I'm now thinking for three people instead of two. Or maybe my brain has been tapped by the alien in the Indiana Jones movie a la Cate Blanchett.

Please, please tell me I'm not the only one.

Or if I am, please humor me.

Dawson is Five Months Old!

Can you believe that five months ago today, around 3 a.m., I looked like this?
And then, just 12 short hours later, we finally met this little guy? Look at how tiny he was!
And now, he's anything but!

Dawson is now a very healthy 18 pounds and 26 inches long! He loves to EAT! His favorites are bananas and peaches, and he can't get enough white grape juice. He smiles constantly and laughs out loud all of the time, especially when we sing "If You're Happy and You Know It."

He is SO CLOSE to rolling from back to his tummy, and he's chewing and drooling on everything he can get his wee hands on.

At his last doctor's appointment, Dr. Kline said "He's perfect" and "He's got the best baby skin I've ever seen." Well, duh. We knew all of that!

The past five months have flown by, and I can't imagine how quickly the rest of this year will speed along. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Dawson's first cousin, Zoey, on June 25th. It's the Year of the Babies!