Showerama

Saturday was a beautiful day for Krystal's baby shower! We celebrated Baby Zoey's impending arrival with a ladybug-themed extravaganza complete with too-cute cupcakes, balloons, gifts, and yes, pickles for the mommy-to-be. Krystal and Jason received lots of thoughtful gifts and I think everyone had a good time (Judy, we missed you!). Thanks to my mom for being the Co-Hostess With the Mostest and to my hubby for the last minute sweeping, candle-lighting and balloon-blowing. Only two months left and we get to meet Zoey!

More Prayers, Please

I wish I had better news on this rainy Friday, but it seems as though God's going to challenge everyone a little more when it comes to Brooke.

She has been re-admitted to NICU at Erlanger in Chattanooga. Upon admittance, her heart rate and oxygen saturation were both in the 40s (normal for heart is 120-150; oxygen should be at 100%). Her PKU levels (carbon-dioxide) were double what they should be. The doctor said that if an adult were to have that much CO2 in their body, they'd be unconcious. Brooke has dealt with it so much that she's just used to it.

My aunt Leatha has barely slept for 3 days, and I know it's taxing on my uncle and the boys as well.

Please pray that Brooke will continue to respond well to sedation and to oxygen. Pray that her little body will continue to fight and be healed. Pray for strength and wisdom for my aunt and uncle, and for understanding for those who are helping take care of them.

I believe God challenges us every day. Some are small, some are bigger than we feel we could ever cope with. But He is with us every step of the way, and challenges us so that we can become even more faithful and more dependent on Him. Brooke is a big challenge in a tiny package.

Dawson is Three Months Old!

Happy Birthday to our little man! Time has absolutely flown by. I feel like we just brought him home from the hospital, and yet he's laughing, cooing, holding his head up and trying to scoot around. He also LOVES to watch the ceiling fans in our great room with his daddy. Dawson smiles all the time and is truly a ray of sunshine. Having him is like Christmas morning every day!

Hail To the Chief!

You're looking at the future President! That's right...my baby brother, Brandon, has been elected the Junior Class President at Baylor School in Chattanooga. He had to write an essay and outline goals and a vision, and then all of the members of his class voted...and he won!! He is quite the little socialite as well as being extremely smart and athletic, so how great is it that he can add "leadership" to his well-stocked resume? He's pictured here, hobnobbing with future constituents. I'm so proud of him!

Buca de Best-O

Does happiness = chicken cannelloni? At Buca de Beppo, it sure does! Our family, Web, Megan and Vance, Julie, Rob, Chris and Meagan all headed down to Cool Springs tonight enjoy some good friendship and some great food.

David and I had never eaten there before, and we were not disappointed. The servings are huge, the food is awesome and the atmosphere is unlike anything we had experienced before. You expect Tony Soprano to round the corner any minute and say "Aaay...you lika da lasagna? You waid 'til you trya da canoli. My cousin Vinny makesa da best." Megan, our resident Italian, informed us that "buca de beppo" means "grandmother's basement," and that's exactly where you feel you are. Low ceilings, exposed lighting, dark colors and tons of cluttered photographs and art make it very homey.

Dawson didn't get to eat any spaghetti, but he inhaled his bottle like no tomorrow. Vance enjoyed his hot dog, peaches and Kix. Both boys were a big hit with all the ladies and the waiters (big surprise, I know. When you're that cute, who can resist?).

Tonight was a great reminder of how fortunate we are to have such good friends, and also a reminder that if you're going to eat your weight in pasta, there's no better group to do it with.

Worker's Comp

It's hard work being a baby. You have to eat all the time...and cry....and grow...and rely on less-than-perfect parents to take care of you. Which leads us to the fact that were he able, I'm sure Dawson would file worker's comp for the injury he sustained today due to his mother's lack of attention as she went to pick him up, and somehow scraped his nose with her wedding ring. Don't ask me how it happened, I don't know. All I do know is that he cried, and then I proceeded to cry while he looked at me like "What? What's wrong with you? I'M the kid with the scraped nose!"

Proof positive that no one is perfect, even mommies.

Ars Gratis Artis

Because I'm a nerd, I know that this is Latin for "Art for the sake of art." (It's also the phrase imprinted on the gold circle around the MGM growling lion that's shown at the beginning of all of their movies...betcha didn't know that, didya? Did I mention I'm a nerd?)

ANYWAY, I'm sharing with you today art for the sake of....CUTENESS!!! These are pictures of Dawson's nursery, which was lovingly designed by my dad (art teacher) and mom (preschool minister), and painted by every member of my immediate family.

See the painting that says "Dawson"? That was designed and painted by arteest extraordinaire, Kim Wheeler, who lives right here in Murfreesboro! She has actually put pictures of it on her website and her blog, too. We're famous! You should visit her site at http://www.shopsmallwords.com/. She designs and paints adorable customized art for kids and grown-ups alike! Check it out!