Finally,,, a movie!

I am one of the thousands of "30+" women who are in love with a fictional character and my husband knows about it. I am obviously talking about Edward Cullen from Twilight. When I was little I used to love Fred from Scooby-Doo, but I'm all grown up now. On to vampires. :) I, like many others, was very skeptical about reading this book series until my bestest friend Leslie told me about them two summers ago. Read them all in one month, maybe less. While Nashville was going through a gas shortage, I was using all the gas I had to get me to Target to buy the last 2 books and make it home. If I was gonna be stranded at home, might as well have something to read!

I say all this because I finally saw "New Moon" last night. I am a month behind, but I couldnt just see the movie with just anyone. I met my friend Kristen in Huntsville, AL to watch this movie. She came from Birmingham and it was a good middle point. Of course we dragged our hubbies along to watch Charlie. They are good friends so they didnt mind! All week I was looking forward to this day! I get to the movie first to go get our tickets to the 4:40 show,,,,and the 13-year old behind the desk says "the show started at 4:20. the next one is at 7:20." Normally this wouldn have been a problem, but with a baby who wont take a bottle, it is a problem. I calmly tell the tween that on the website it has showings at 4:40 and 5:20. She said, "Hmmm. Sorry." Sorry? SORRY????!!!!!! I have been waiting for this day for a year and drove 2 hours to see it with another diehard fan and this is my 2nd movie in almost 6 months, and all you say is sorry??????????? How about---"OH NO!! Let me check the website and give you a free ticket for your trouble!" ok. I know I'm dreaming but still, a little sympathy would have been much appreciated.

So I tell Kristen asap our predicament and we decided that after previews we have missed about 10 minutes. I have read the book two times so I got the beginning. Plus I will be at Walmart at 12:01 am when it comes out on DVD. So, we race to the theatre and sit and enjoy the movie, and it was a very good movie. I know some people become Team Jacob, and I can see how one might waiver, but I am a faithful Team Edward activist. My Ashley knows how I feel about Edward and he still seems pretty secure about it:) Already counting down the days for the third movie! Ash and Kristen's husband went to Ash's favorite restaurant---Buffalo Wild Wings, so it turned out to be a win win. (My Ash secretly likes the movie,,I just know it!)

I hope I get some responses on the Twilight Saga. Do not be ashamed if you are a 30+ year old woman who loves vampires! There are others out there like us!:)

So, moving on to Christmas... (No smooth transition here at all. Sorry. )

Getting Charlie ready for his first Christmas,,,here are some pics!

Is he not ridiculous? Merry Christmas everyone!

My Nana

So sorry it has been,,,well awhile since my last post. Most of the time I dont feel like I have anything interesting to say! But for the faithful 5 who read then I will keep on posting...

This Thanksgiving was a special and sad holiday for my family. My grandmother, Nana, passed away the Sunday night of the Thanksgiving week. She was in the hospital for blood clots in her lungs and one ended up taking her life. As unexpected as this was, we had just been down to Memphis a week before for a friends wedding. Nana fixed a Thanksgiving feast since it was technically not our turn to be together for the holiday. She was in her element cooking for all of us. We got some wonderful pictures of her and Charlie, as well as her, Gran, and her other great grandchildren--Sam and Coleson.

What I will miss the most about Nana is when I walk through her door and she gets up and says "I thought you were never gonna get here." Never failed,,she said it every time. Even when I lived in Memphis for dental school and would eat there for dinner every Wednesday before church. When I see a Starbucks I will always think of her. Gran would hardly take her cause he said it was ridiculous to pay that much for coffee when he had some at home, so when I was in town I would take her. I will miss her trying to get us to eat more food than we could possible eat, shopping for the absolute best deals, and showing us off to her friends at church. I will miss how she gets into my moms kitchen and moves things around and my mom rolls her eyes:) I will miss her smell--she always smelled like home to me.

Funny story about Nana. Most of my adult life Nana has pointed out to me that I am big boned like her. (Thank you Nana.) So when I was having a C- section with Charlie the doctor told me my pelvic bone was too small for him to come out naturally anyway. Guess who my first phone call was to? Thats right. Nana. I called to tell her that I had at least one small bone in my body per Dr. Trabue! She just laughed and laughed.

Travis and I were talking the other night about another time when we were younger and staying in Memphis with Nana and Gran for the week. It was after church and she stopped at Wendys to get us some food, but when we got up to order she ended up making Trav and I split a hamburger and fries. We were of the age where we needed more food than half a hamburger I am sure. Maybe this goes back to her thinking I was big boned and she was trying to help...:)

I loved my Nana very much. She was always gracious in opening her home to others to make them feel welcome. And she loved her family very much. Not much she wouldnt do for the grandkids. People tell me how much I look like my mom, who looks and acts like Nana so I take that as a compliment. Her and Gran were married almost 66 years this month and have taught us alot about marriage. I will miss her, especially every time I walk into her house, but I know I will see her again someday!

Here are some pics from the week together in Memphis when we gathered to celebrate Nana's time here with us...

And here is my little 5 month old man...I cant believe it...

4 months!

So after many threats from the four people that actually read this blog (Keeley, Whitney, Kelly, and dad) I am writing another post. But just for the record,,,I just dont think there are alot of exciting things going on right now to post!! But I will put together a couple stories for this one just for you guys!

We took Charlie to his first pumpkin patch a couple of weeks ago. Little chilly but I was determined to get a great family photo. So the 14 year old that was working seemed like the perfect person to come take a snapshot of this momentous occasion. Little did I know he was going to near cut off Ash's head in the photo and not center at all. Bless his heart. (this one doesnt look so bad,,,but the other one was ridiculous. I do not see photography in this kids future,,,maybe just pumpkins)

So Halloween rolls around and everyone wants to know what Charlie will be. But for the record I have NEVER been a fan of scary stuff and after I grew out of the plastic masks of strawberry shortcake and wonderwoman,,,my eyes were opened to lots of scary creatures. I remember going trick or treating at our old house with Todd and Keeley. You guys remember that? Good times. Of course now that I am a dental hygienist, I understand the detriment candy can cause to your teeth. Yet another reason to skip Halloween. I hate scary commercials promoting scary movies. Even the Verizon ones that talk about the "dead-zone". Seriously!! Can you come up with a better slogan? yeesh.

So Ash wants to know what Charlie was going to be for his first year. I was going to be creative and have him be a "biker baby". His Aunt Jennifer got him a cute onesie that has a baby on a motorcycle and and the head would be Charlies. Then my hairstylist Nikki got him a rock-n-roll sweatshirt. Ok. so not exactly black leather chaps but he was going to be a "Bad to the bone baby." Ash was embarrassed at my attempt so here are those pics. I will do better next year. Promise:) I mean its not like he was out walking around asking for candy. He was watching the UT game to be exact...

Also, last night we got together with our dear friends the Rayburns. We have grown up with this family and around the holidays used to always get together for dinner and exchanging of presents. Of course summer times were filled with trips to Opryland and still would be had Nashville not have made the bonehead call to tear it down. Anywho, over time with new marriages and kids we havent been able to get together as often, but last night we finally got together at Mrs. Dixie's house. It was perfect! Great to laugh at old stories and new ones, and see all the kids playing! Mom was taking pictures, but she may have taken photo lessons from the 14 year old at the pumpkin patch cause half of hers had heads cut off or mouths full of food. I cant pull the good ones up to my post,,, something wrong with the attachment or some computer lingo. But we love you guys and loved loved loved getting together!

Couple more pics of my now 4 month old!!! BANANAS!

I do have some cute Christmas outfits though,,,and some cute Turkey Day ones too!!! So I will put my biker baby in those a little later....

Its football time in Tennessee!

So, last weekend we went to Atlanta to see Ash's brother, Jennifer and grandparents. Lots of family down there and Jennifer was nice enough to give us tickets to a Braves game! Lets just say he made it about 5 minutes sitting in our lap before we had to walk a few laps to get him to settle down. Here are some pics from that trip:

2 of my favorite men in my life,,,if only my dad was in the picture too:)

experimenting with Mcdonalds ice cream on the way home,,,(no mom--he didnt eat it:)

And today we watched the UT/Georgia game with everyone and also celebrated mom and dads birthday and Travis FINALLY moving home! We are gonna start to combine mom and dads birthday,,much easier that way:) Everyone was in orange except Ash. UT unexpectedly stomped UGA 43-19. Crazy.
Yes I cut my hair,,,and can you find where Charlie slobbered on me?





We are so glad to have our Travy-Wavy home for good!

the boys enjoying the game and LU-LU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM AND DAD!

And then a quick diaper/wardrobe change and....TAA-DAA!!! Another UGA fan!

what do you think he looks better in? I think orange,,,brings out his gorgeous blue eyes!! Oh well,,we are so glad football season is finally here!!

Jello-Legs

SO....I havent posted in awhile because our computer crashed. Yes. Crashed. Gone. Lost lots and lots of pictures. I got that horrible pit in my stomach,,,oh yeah,,,Ash lost some business stuff too but i lost PICTURES!!! Women know how important pictures are, and so this loss was a devastating one. Other than that,,,here are some new pics of my Charlie.

We went to Memphis not too long ago to see grandparents and cousins. Here Charlie is with Gran watching Baby Einstein. No,,,kidding. Next best thing---FOX NEWS.

here with Nana and Gran...

We have started this week of working on tummy time for real. Earlier I would do it and he would cry,,,so I held him instead. :)

Reading MOO, BAA, LA LA LA

So, yesterday we went for a walk. I am trying to get him used to the Baby Bjorn so I plopped him in there. He whined for a bit as I talked to him on our walk around our street which is 1.4 miles long. Why is it that when you talk to babies you add a "W" to most words? For example,,,"how is my widdle boy today?" Anyway,,,so towards the end of our walk I looked at him and he was asleep. I didnt want to wake the sleeping dragon so I decided to walk some more. Take another lap,,,get some fresh air. An HOUR later,,,I was about to pass out. I decided to chance it and go inside mainly because I was worried my jello legs were going to give out any minute. I quietly opened the door,,,those blue eyes pop open,,,,and this is what happened:

The sleeping dragon woke up. Obviously. So we took our baths(because mommy smelled horrid from walking ten miles) and here he is all smiles again,,,

Then we decided to eat a snack.

Here he is looking at a ceiling fan, They always make him laugh. Whoever invented ceiling fans,,bless you.

Mommy is now off to ice my knees. :)

6 hours!!!

So over Labor Day weekend, mom and I decided to drive to Michigan to see my older brother, Kim, Palmer, and Lainey Hope. They had yet to meet Charlie so this was perfect timing. We left on Friday, but Thursday I was really hoping I could get some good sleep for the long drive ahead. Well, my prayer was answered because he slept from 10:30-5:30!!! Whoo-hoo right? So you would think I would have slept that whole time,,,,,wrong!

I woke up around 3:45 panicking because I could not hear him. So over the next hour I got up, walked into his room, put my face right into his so i could feel his breath about 10 times!!!

Ridiculous. Then when I finally relaxed and started to fall back to sleep my angel woke up. Oh well,,,lately he has been sleeping longer, but last night was every 3 hours again. But I know he CAN sleep longer,,,so I hold onto this idea with every last bit of strength I have:) This too shall pass Mere,,,this too shall pass,,,(my mantra)


Here are some pics from the trip up North. My precious niece Laniey Hope got into my mascara,,hilarious. Hazardous? sure. But funny too. Oh, and her first word was "shoes". Randy is in for an expensive baby girl! :)

Lainey Hope LOVED Charlie,,,calling him her "Ba-e Cha-e"

Now while this looks dangerous I assure everyone I had the situation under complete control. I am the aunt,,,so whatever they want to do is fine with me. :)))

Aunt Kimmy making Charlie laugh!

Palmer holding Charlie. That precious boy turns 7 in October! I cant believe it,,,

Priceless...

Lainey loved patting Charlie's head,,,,little rough at times:), but overall adorable!

Look at my little flirt!!!

I guess with this face I could stay up all night if he wanted me too!!

Mom of the year? Hardly!

So yesterday we took our man to get his first shots. I didnt realize how traumatic that was gonna be for everyone! I was dreading it all day,,,promised him ice cream afterwards (actually for me) and the trusty old saying my mom used to say to me--"I wish I could get the shots instead of you." Yeah right.


She brought in 4 different shots! Ash was holding him, and I was kissing his head and ears while she gave him his first shot. I didnt know if he would feel it that much cause he is a bit of a chunky monkey:) But as soon as the first shot happened, his face went red, mouth wide open, and the silent cry commenced. It was pitiful. Here are some afterwards with the band aids...

So, I have had a bad case of mommy brains. The other day I put my glass of milk in the cabinet instead of the dishwasher. I also left our crock pot on for an entire week!!! Yep. I did. Did I mention that our house caught on fire a few years ago so we try to be careful around fire? OUr crockpot sits in a cubby in the cabinet. So, I was going to put something in to have a nice dinner for Ash when he came home, lifted the sliding door to get it out and the smell was horrid. The lid had melted to the pot. Unbelieveable. Praise the Lord we did not have another fire!



Another reason to be nominated for "Mom of the Year" is our walk we took the other day. It was beautiful outside, and so I wanted to show him all that nature had in store for him. Here is the progression of the walk...


Fine so far...



starting to get upset...



notice the redness,,,really mad now!



as soon as we got home,,,sleeping.

Love this little man!!